Pay attention to those movie ratings

posted 02:21 PM 07/01
Permanent Link.

Sometimes movie ratings are deceptive. I took my grandchildren to see the newest Transformers movie last Sunday. To be honest, I didn’t pay attention to the rating, because I figured this was a movie based on a cartoon that kids from the age of five to 10 watch on television – or used to watch anyway. I saw the first Transformers movie, and liked it. I liked this one as well. There was just one thing different – the language.

I don’t know if there were lots of parents in there who, like me, didn’t think to check the rating, or if they just didn’t care that they were about to watch a movie with their 4-year-olds that was rated PG-13. And yes, there were no less than 25 four-or five-year-old kids in the theater. I consider myself a pretty open-minded grandparent, and I’ve been known to shoot out a few four-letter words myself in moments of high anxiety – or truthfully, just for the heck of it sometimes. I know it’s unrealistic to think you can shield children from bad language, and for the most part, my grandchildren are old enough to know the difference between acceptable and unacceptable language.

Now, if I had been one of the parents of the smaller children, say three years old, I think I might have been hard pressed to explain to my three-year-old exactly what that Gobot meant when he called a main character a nice word that means wimpy. I know, everybody says it. But I think it might get more difficult yet to try to explain to the daycare teacher why my three-year-old called thought it acceptable to use that word while playing with his friends. Or any of the other words that flowed pretty easily throughout the movie.

The movie and its rating sent a mixed message. The movie is a super-hero movie based on cartoons that our very young children watched. The rating says it’s a movie that’s not meant for kids that age without a parent. I guess my disappointment lies in the fact that I really enjoyed the first movie, and it didn’t have the language issue. It also did well at the box office. So, why add the rough language?

Anyway, I have nothing against rough language, if I know it’s coming. I didn’t expect it, and I wish they would have left it out. I guess I do now know to pay close attention to ratings, or the surprise could come in the form of unexpected profanity.

The Fourth of July is right around the corner. I’m kind of excited this year. Not for any special reason, because we’ve kind of decided to slide on in to the holiday quietly and enjoy a laid back sort of day with my daughters, grandkids, and most recently added to the mix, my sister and her newly adopted daughter. I miss the Fourth of Julys we had as kids. The day consisted of watermelon and swimming. I’m sure there was more, but those were the two things I looked forward to the most. I didn’t even care much about fireworks, but don’t mess with my swimming or my watermelon.

My hubby and I are going out this evening to buy a swimming pool, and I’ll be picking up the watermelon on Friday. I hope the rest of the family brings food too, but I’ll be happy with my pool and my watermelon.

Have a safe and fun-filled holiday weekend.

Comments

Emails and tweets vs. eye contact and conversation

posted 01:43 PM 06/25

Remember when email became all the rage, and everyone worried that actual pen-and-paper letter writing might fall by the wayside? I can’t say for sure, but I think if you were to talk to the Postal Service, they would tell you it indeed happened. Not such a big deal really, email gets where it’s going faster so folks are more inclined to write more frequently.

Laugh just because it feels good

posted 11:40 AM 06/19

Have you ever gotten caught up in one of those contagious laughter moments? It’s one of those things that you don’t know how or who started it, but you laugh so hard your ribs hurt. And within minutes, everyone around you is laughing uncontrollably, and not one of them can tell you why.

Reality - are you serious?

posted 02:15 PM 06/12

Are you a reality show junkie? I’m about to make fun of you, or more to the point, the reality show explosion, itself. I’m surprised with all of the different reality shows on television, there hasn’t been one about workplaces or offices. Of course, that one could lead to the inner meltdown of some huge corporations who pay big bucks to advertise, so that’s a scratch. Could you imagine a show built around the office happenings at a place like Microsoft, or Allstate Insurance? “You’re in good hands” will take on a whole new meaning.

Sometimes boundaries and goals collide

posted 12:06 PM 06/08

Throughout the years, I’ve frequently allowed the effect I have on other people dictate how I behave, and the things I say. This isn’t necessarily always a bad thing, but sometimes it’s detrimental. Yes, even at the ripe old age of 50, I still wrestle with, and try to defeat self-esteem issues. I try each and every day to have boundaries, as well as goals. I don’t let others trample on my goals, as I do that well enough on own sometimes, and for the most part I’ve found myself able to set boundaries, both in my personal life, and where I will and won’t let others tread. And, I try very hard to keep things pretty much within those boundaries.

Poker, Harleys and helping kids

posted 03:05 PM 06/03

Poker, Harleys, and helping kids, what better way can you plan to spend the end of your weekend?

Divine intervention or coincidence?

posted 03:43 PM 05/31

Do you believe in divine intervention, or is it just a set of circumstances that prevent an occurance? Let me tell you my story:

Riding the Crazy Train

posted 09:11 AM 05/27

FYI: The Crisis Clinic of Thurston and Mason Counties is an all-volunteer run, nonprofit organization helping people in emotional emergencies to solve problems. The crisis line number is, 360-586-2800, the Youth Help Line is, 360-586-2777. You do have a Crazy Train? Then perhaps you can help someone else find theirs, to volunteer, call 360-586-2888.

Create an epidemic of 'feel good'

posted 05:02 PM 05/22

How often do you get the opportunity to play a positive role in seeing someone’s dreams, or one of their goals fulfilled? I don’t mean just doing something nice for someone, you can do that everyday if you’re so inclined. I’m talking about finding yourself in a position of really being able to add to the realization of someone’s dream.

Women and their dreams - "Give them a stage"

posted 08:57 AM 05/18

As a woman who didn’t find a place in my own life until I was in my 40s, I’m very inspired by Michelle’s strength, and as I said, courage. So if you are so inclined, go see what Michelle has produced and fill up on live music, dance, acting, stand-up comedy, short films, and the spoken word: