Age Limit on Horror Films.

[Ken]

With this board being pretty much equal to younger ones with older ones, what do y'all think about the age limit on R rated movies?  When is it too young?  When I went to see Blade 2 on Saturday night, 2 of us got in no problem because we were 17.  Our friend was 16 and they wouldn't let him in, they didn't even ask him for ID.  They just said "You have to be 17."  Is there really a difference between a 16 and a 17 year old?  I remember watching horror films for a long as I could remember.  I remember Poltergeist giving me nightmares for a long time, of course when I saw it I was only around 2 or 3.  Maybe then it was too young.  I had watched horror films all my life, I remember when I was around 7 or 8 always liking those Leprechaun films.  Though they aren't that scary, but I enjoyed them as a child.  I remember seeing Pumpkinhead and other horror films back then.  Yet, by the time I was 10 no matter what very few horror films scared me.  The only ones that I saw when I was around the ages of 10 and 11 that scared me was Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Halloween, and Black Christmas.  Other then that the films just seemed like a fun flick.  I would check out all those Friday the 13ths and none of them would scare me, same goes with the Nightmare on Elm Street Films.  When I was 12 I would rent horror movies all the time, no one ever said anything about my age.  Yet, once I turn 16 I am forbidden to see such horror films as Valentine, Scream 3, etc. in the theater?  Those films are nowhere near as violent or scary as I had seen before.  

So I ask, what do you all think about the age limit?  Should people 16 and under not be allowed to see R rated movies?  And please state your reasons.

[MonsterX]

I don't think they should be allowed in. While the majority can handle the violence, there's always those who are too easily influenced. Plus the less people making noise in the theater the better.

[Ken]

When I saw Blade 2 the other night there was a little kid in there crying the entire time.  It was a 10 o'clock showing of it, a bit late for a child a the theater in my opinion, and especially for a film like Blade 2.  It was violent and quite gory.  It did get annoying for someone that young to be in the theater.  I think it depends on the person.  I never did see a horror film in theaters until I was 12.

[Playboy]

i dont think the whole movie rating system matters, back when i was way younger, i used to always sneak into R or NC-17 films, and now i wont see a movie unless it is rated R

[Mr._Crowley]

I hate the whole rating system so much, I have been watching movies 10x worst than the shit Im not allowed into now. I feel I'm mature enough to see a breast or two, to hear the word 'fuck' repeated constantly, and to see people being ripped apart. It sucks so bad tha because some people cant be good enough parents and teach their children the difference between fantasy and reality I have to suffer. The rating system pisses me off so much. Half the time I wind up sneaking in, which I wouldnt do if they'd just let me buy the damned ticket. People are so fucking stupid. The whole R-rated thing is a touchy subject to me. In the end they are being the ones who are immature by saying. "Ohhh this movie shows a tit, thats too adult."  

[Ken]

I agree dude.  My friend who was denied a ticket had to just buy a ticket for another movie and walk into Blade 2.  The thing that I find odd also, is that a couple of years ago you could get into any movie, and no one cared.  Sure, there was an age limit, but no one went by it.  Now we get such tamer films and youngsters are forbidden to see them.  I have quite a bit of Fulci films in my DVD collection, and I am sure that nothing in the theaters right now could come close to the gore those movies have.  I've seen plenty of movies with loads of T&A, there's nothing special about these newer films.

Also, I think that when they restrict the younger audience, it gives them a desire to want to see the movies more.  They find ways of seeing it, they can't stop them.  So as far as I'm concerned, there is no reason for them to give a rating systems.

[Mr._Crowley]

    I have also noticed the cut downs in "not seeing'' people sneaking in. Damned MADD!!! ;D
    The funny thing is I buy these movies when they come out on Video or DVD, I rarely have any trouble then, I started buying R-rated movies when I was 10, and not once has anyone stopped me.
    Ps. If you had your ID they should have let your friend in since he was accompanied by someone 17+. I would call and 'discuss' that with the manager. Ofcourse when you do mention that   ;)you had to see another movie and your night was ruined because you didnt get to see the movie with your friend***WINK WINK*** ( eh, Im an asshole)

[Ken]

Yeah, see there were a couple of us.  We tried to buy an extra ticket, but they wouldn't allow it.  Whacked-theaters. Oh well, at least we all got in.

I've been buying horror films for a long time.  I would go an rent them every chance I got, and no one ever stopped me.  I was about 12 or so and there was this one person who worked at the local Movie Gallery, well he saw me rent a bunch of horror flicks and was like "Dude check out Evil Dead" so I did.  But the thing is, I was around 12 and this guy that worked there was telling me to check out that movie.  Too bad most people that work at those places have no clue that that movie even exists.

Anyway, back on to the age limit.  Those people need to get with it.  I mean, no one ever stops you when buying a movie, though I did have someone stop me from buying a CD once.  Still, if people shouldn't inforce those rules as much.  There's bigger problems then allowing people under 17 into a theater.

[MonsterX]

Mine is a parents point of view. That law always pissed me off as a kid, and now I have to worry about the content just on TV, let alone R rated flicks. I know that I'm dreaming, but I don't want my kid to be exposed to that garbage. I'm not over protective, I ain't gonna hide the world from her, I just can't see any good coming out of her watching that shit.

[DaRk_mAn_X]

Here's my 2 cents on this.
I hate the M.P.A.A!!!! I believew this is a worl where you can express yourself without being censored, so whats with the damn M.P.A.A being such dickheads. Why does it matter if there is one stabbing or several, or a little bit of blood or tons!?!? It stupid, like Dario you feels you must feel like your a criminal with your fgilm being cut. This is a free world where we have the right to voice and show our opinions, well last time I checked it isn't so. FUCK THE M.PA.A!!!!
As for the age limit it it stupid how a 17 year old can get in and a 16 year old can't. Is it all the age? I know peopel who are 12 who are more mature and can handle more then an 18 year old. if you have parents permission you should be able to see any film you wan't, all films should be uncut and if you want to see it just egt your parents to permiss of it after hearign what the iflm is like. It's also lame how you have to get an 18 year old to egt you into an 18a movie, this all could be avoided if all films were uncut and you just had to egt your parents permission. The world is fucked now adays!

[MonsterX]

There are some types of film that everyone should have access to. Historical movies like Glory, The Messenger, The Patriot and such. Movies that accurately portray the way things happened and show the horror of the violence instead of glorifying it.