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Original poster

to take 5yo ds to see a 12A film?

337 replies

LittleLionMansMummy · 16/12/2015 12:02

The film being the new Star Wars one. I know I'm officially 'allowed' to, but would usually check film content (by watching it) before making a decision about whether it's appropriate for him. He loves Star Wars and has asked specifically to see it at the cinema.

OP posts:
DisappointedOne · 16/12/2015 14:26

Why does a 5(!)yo need to see Star Wars?

Nothing to do with need, is it? She wants to see it, it's something she does with her dad, she couldn't give a monkeys about Xmas or Santa or snoopy or minions, so they're going after school to see it.

Radiatorvalves · 16/12/2015 14:26

DSs 11 & 8 don't like Star Wars so we won't be going. I did however take them to the recent Mission Impossible and the James Bond Spectre. The 8yo found the Bond boring, but was ok with the action bits. I didn't let them see Skyfall at the cinema when they were about 6 and 8 - too young imo. Going to the cinema with DS2 when he was younger was always a bit stressful - WHAT IS HAPPENING MUMMY? WHY HAS HE DONE THAT MUMMY?????

SHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHUUUUUUUUSH!!!!!!

Each to their own. My DB is taking his just 8yo daughter this week.

Nataleejah · 16/12/2015 14:45

DH is taking our almost 12 and almost 7 dc.
Myself i find them way too boring, but its apparently a "thing"
At 5 -- i'm not sure. Kids of that age often cannot sit still through entire length of a film.

Original poster
LittleLionMansMummy · 16/12/2015 14:53

Thank you everyone for your views. Ds has seen Return of the Jedi so he has seen one of the originals, hence his desire to see the new one. I am not convinced about all the certification classifications tbh - apparently the original Star Wars films were classified 'U' but I think they'd probably be classified differently if they were released today. Some of their scenes are quite scary - and violent. And supposedly 'family' films can also be quite dark - think Coraline and Frankenweenie.

But all of that aside, it's a long film - he's sat brilliantly in the cinema for 1.5 hour children's films but 2 hours feels like a bit of a lottery (and an expensive one given the cost of cinema tickets!) I also think it's a lottery with the content, so dh and I will watch it first and if we believe it's ok for ds we'll wait and buy the dsd and have a 'cinema night' at home. He'll be disappointed of course but will presumably get over it once he sees the light saber father Christmas has got him!

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SatsukiKusakabe · 16/12/2015 14:55

I wouldn't. A 5 year old wanting to do something isn't the only consideration.

I'm really looking forward to sharing the Star Wars films with my ds, but when he's old enough to properly enjoy it. Things get stuck in their minds at this age, especially if it's live-action. No matter how much you may think they understand the difference between real and imaginary, the line is still very fine, and at five it is nothing to do with intelligence or maturity or comprehension, and everything to do with age and development.

My ds is sensitive to violence in things, and, at 5 I guess I want him to be. There's time enough and no rush to see things they can't unsee.

Alibabsandthe40Musketeers · 16/12/2015 15:01

We are taking our 4 and 7 year olds on Sunday. They have seen the other films and love them, they have watched Lord of the Rings and Hobbit films and enjoyed them all.

They found Nicole Kidman as the taxidermist in Paddington absolutely terrifying, and were very unsettled by UP which was rated a U.

The certifications are guidelines and by their nature blanket. Individual parents have a far better grasp of what kind of things will upset or frighten their own children.

Snoopadoop · 16/12/2015 15:06

They found Nicole Kidman as the taxidermist in Paddington absolutely terrifying, and were very unsettled by UP which was rated a U.

Mine too! We had "I want to go home Mummy, I really don't like this!"

MarmiteAndButter · 16/12/2015 15:18

DisappointedOne
For the little one's sixth birthday we did a full on Star Wars party and DH and I dressed up and did her older sister (and even the dog.)
Now, that may be talking things a bit too far...
I made a damn good Leia though. And the dog was a very sweet ewok.

harryhausen · 16/12/2015 15:32

I saw Star Wars in 1977 when I was 5. Totally blew my mind in the most fantastic way! Anyway....

I'm taking my dcs aged 11 and 8. We're going as a family. Wild horses wouldn't keep us away.

My dcs are used to the cinema. Eldest dc has watched all Hunger Games films (last in the cinema) and as a family we all went to see The Hobbit, Avengers etc. we've never had a problem.

Me and Dh are film buffs and DH works in the film industry. We make it our business to read lots about forthcoming films. We knew without question for instance that The Woman in Black (12a) was totally unsuitable, but The Hobbit most definitely was.

SatsukiKusakabe · 16/12/2015 15:49

Well, yes, Nicole Kidman my ds for a week, which is why I wouldn't consider a 12a.

I wouldn't know if it would unsettle my child or not if we were all viewing it together for the first time at the cinema, is more the thing for me.

Stiles · 16/12/2015 15:53

Mine are 8 and 11 and are going. Didn't enter my head that it would be inappropriate. It's Star Wars - ultimate family films! Well for us anyway. Xmas Grin

I probably wouldn't have taken them when 5 - not because of the film content but because I don't think they'd have sat nicely for 2 hours or been able to stop asking me questions. That's not fair on other cinema goers so at that age I'd wait for the DVD.

My DH is going tonight (showing just after midnight) so in the unlikely event there's something he thinks will be too much for our DC we won't take them. But we already have tickets for us all on Friday so it better be fine!

SatsukiKusakabe · 16/12/2015 15:56

*unsettled my ds for about a week.

I had to find photos of her on the internet with her children to prove she was a regular person.

Can't do that with Darth Vader, doesn't get papped much Grin

SatsukiKusakabe · 16/12/2015 15:58

My ds is just under 5 btw, 8 and above different unless you know they're particularly sensitive, but much easier to discuss with them.

Seryph · 16/12/2015 15:58

If your wee man has seen them all before and isn't bothered then yes take him. BUT as soon as he fidgets, or starts making noise be prepared to take him out. This won't be like seeing a kids film where people are a bit more accepting and a disruptive child isn't fair on everyone else.
We're going to the midnight screening tonight so there should be minimal children jumping around, but there will be some, there always are.

SparklestheUnicorn · 16/12/2015 16:00

I watched it yesterday. It's quite a lot more bloody and graphic than the others; certainly in comparison to the original three instalments.

That said, I will take DS 7 and DS 5 to see it over the holidays because they are massive SW nuts. DS 7 is a lot more sensitive and got upset at Return of the Jedi but DS 5 seems impervious to any and all that takes place on a screen. TBH, they're most excited to see BB-8 and I imagine they'll be waiting to see him more than anything.

ottothedog · 16/12/2015 16:03

Must remember to go to the late screenings of this, it is obviously going to be full of bored 5 year olds. Hopefully not terrified 5 year olds, as the hunger games one was :(

SparklestheUnicorn · 16/12/2015 16:06

Well there's certainly plenty of screenings to choose from, otto. SW has always been billed as a family film franchise; just look at the marketing of the toys. Hunger Games though? Really?!

Original poster
LittleLionMansMummy · 16/12/2015 16:10

Christ on a bike - 5 year olds watching Hunger Games?! Surely you're exaggerating otto?

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ottothedog · 16/12/2015 16:22

Well to be fair i dont know for sure but they were very tiny and led off in tears. It was a bit :( I didnt realise 12A meant any age child til then, i kind of thought it was 10+ (in a vague hadnt thought about it before sort of way)

atticusclaw2 · 16/12/2015 16:26

I haven't even let my ten year old watch the Hunger Games. Its quite disturbing.

atticusclaw2 · 16/12/2015 16:27

12A doesn't really mean that its any age until 12. It means that 12 is the appropriate age but if they are younger than 12 then they must be accompanied by an adult. That movie will have a 12 rating when its released on DVD and will not be able to be sold to anyone below the age of 12.

Saukko · 16/12/2015 17:12

To a child it's going to be a lot of adults talking, hitting one another, shooting one another and stuff exploding.

Torture? Killings? Dead bodies lying around?

I don't get it. If you want your kids to see some Star Wars stuff, show them the cute Lego cartoons. I don't know why people do this at all.

I speak as someone whose parents thought I was "a sissy" and yelled "grow up!" at me when I cried and covered my eyes as they made me watch "the good bits" from popular 80s horror films like Nightmare on Elm Street. Even one of the Batman movies (a Keaton one) had scenes that upset me and I covered my head and said I didn't want to watch anymore, and they yelled I was being a baby. I was about 6 or 7. So yeah, I get a bit pearl-clutchier than most, but only because I really don't get the desire to take your little innocent kids off to see violent adult films just because they might like the scene where a hero says funny line.

SatsukiKusakabe · 16/12/2015 17:50

I get where you're coming from saukko, I was exposed to older films as a child and it colours my view somewhat. Unlike you though, I seemed fine at the time, but had trouble with anxiety and sleeping for years afterward, and it was definitely related to certain imagery.

I am now seeing it with my niece, she 'loved' certain older rated films from toddlerhood, still has lots of problems settling to sleep at night and switching off thoughts she doesn't want to have, but no one makes the connection.

There's just no harm in waiting a few years, IMO. They're not missing out.

DisappointedOne · 16/12/2015 17:53

DD's brain has always taken a while to switch off - practically from birth.

SatsukiKusakabe · 16/12/2015 18:03

I don't know your dd, I was talking about my own experience and that of my niece, and how it makes me careful about what I do with regards to my own children. You do as you see fit with yours.