my 6-year-old son knows I disapprove of him seeing movies rated PG or higher unless i've seen it and think it's ok for him.
this new movie Pirates of The Carribean is rated PG-13. this is supposed to mean it may be inappropriate for children under 13 right? So why is McDonalds marketing the hell out of this movie on a HAPPY MEAL??
Have you EVER seen a 13-year-old buy a happy meal. They wouldn't be caught dead with one of those! which means that mcdonalds is trying to get buyers of happy meals (3 - 8 year-olds) to see a movie they're not supposed to see!
how am i as a parent supposed to teach values that are being contradicted by MCDONALDS?
2006-07-05 00:56:55 · 42 answers · asked by jc1129_us 2 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Grade-Schooler
Now THAT, is a really GOOD question.
Welcome to corporate America
2006-07-05 01:00:31 · answer #1 · answered by Bruce B 4 · 2⤊ 3⤋
Think for just a minute about this -- the movie is rated PG-13. As you stated in your question, it MAY be inappropriate for children under 13 -- this doesn't mean that it is TOTALLY inappropriate for younger children. It simply means parents need to do their job and use their better judgement as to wether or not this movie is one they want their children to see. How is McDonalds contradicting the value in your household of not seing a movie without your approval? They aren't showing it there, are they?
The MPAA rated the new Pirates movie PG-13 due to "action adventure/violence", i.e. someone's going to get into a fight and either get hurt or killed. Did you let your son see the first movie? If so, what's your problem? If not, kuddos to you for making the "right" choice for your son.
As for the Happy Meals -- the food is geared towards younger kids. The older kids can get the Mighty Kids Meals, with more food and less "kiddy" feel, and still get a toy. I don't know about your area, but here I see alot of collectors buying the kids meals for the toy. The toys really aren't geared just for the under 8 set.
Do you allow your son to ride the Pirates attractions at any of the Disney parks? My kids (2&6) do and think it's cool having stuff like the ride. Why make such a big deal over such a small thing?
2006-07-05 05:49:18 · answer #2 · answered by Barney's Betty 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Seriously, those ratings on movies are just for parents who may be just a little too overprotective. I have seen the Pirates of the Caribbean and so has my 9 year old nephew. It just has a lot of violence and things but its not pornography being advertised. It is a movie just like all the others. Let your child enjoy it. You can't be upset at McDonald's because they give away toys to match the big movie premiere of the month and pirates are more of a 3-8 year old thing than other main stream movies out right now. And if you have control over your child you shouldn't have to worry about what seeing a movie will do to him.
2006-07-05 01:07:07 · answer #3 · answered by llsexychick16 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am a 13-year-old who buys mighty kids meals. Those also come with the same toys. McDonalds usually endorses disney movies. Pirates of the carribean is a disney movie and it is rated PG-13 for the more violent scenes.
2006-07-07 11:42:29 · answer #4 · answered by purplewowies 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Stop blaming McDonald's--go to Burger King or Subway! The "Pirates" movies are fun for kids, and carry the PG-13 rating mostly because of the "pirate-violence" and some romantic scenes.
Regardless, if you don't support the Happy Meal toys, don't go to Mickey D's! This is a free country; no one is forcing you to go see the movie or to patronize McDonald's.
My guess is your little one WANTS to see "Pirates" and you don't want him to. Fine; you are the parent. Just stop blaming McDonald's for a situation you can control. (And lighten up a bit; it's just a bunch of toys and a movie about fictitional pirates. Your son will forget about it as soon as the ads stop.)
2006-07-05 05:07:02 · answer #5 · answered by tiggyman41 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
McDonalds and Disney ALWAYS market together. You think that if there wasn't a Happy Meal toy your kid wouldn't want to see the movie? You are the parent. Say no and don't let him see it or see it first and if you think he can see it then take him to it. The movie rating system is a guideline for parents, so people raise their kids more or less strictly. Your values are your values, don't blame McDonald's when parenting becomes tough.
2006-07-05 01:07:16 · answer #6 · answered by therego2 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You need to RELAX! Kids are much smarter than you give them credit for. I think if you want to teach morals, you need to just talk with your kids and be open. Movies are make-believe, and kids realize this. If you let your child watch even R rated movies, it is my opinion that the child would come out unscathed, morals in tact. As children, my brother and I were allowed to watch whatever we wanted to. We survived, we are both moral and sucessful people. I am a kindergarten teacher. He is a writer. Niether of us ever did drugs or drank, we don't even use curse words except on occasion. We have never been in trouble with he law and we both donate generously to charity. Just relax. You don't have to jump all over McDonalds and worry about values. Since when is McDonalds resposible for raising your kids? Since when is McDonalds at all a moral presence in the world? Worry about the important values, not the insignificant movie-ratings and marketing ploys.
2006-07-07 05:50:10 · answer #7 · answered by kwinkle 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Im 14 and dont usually eat a wole reg meal at mcdonalds so i get happy meals, so yeah alot of my friends && even some adults i know get the happy meals and PG-13 just mean on some parts the child might misuderstand or get scared but maybe not, they just need parental guidence(sp).
2006-07-05 23:15:34 · answer #8 · answered by taco 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Honestly don't attribute to malice what can be attributed to stupidity. People who are older and don't have kids are not going to think of that. As a consumer you should write a letter to McDonalds expressing your disapproval and how you will not take your child there because of the effects of their choices. Customer satasfaction may not amount to a whole heck of a lot anymore but it still counts for something especially if there are a bunch of others who feel the same way and act on it.
2006-07-05 06:13:17 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
PG-13 means some material may not be appropropriate for kids under 13. It's simply a guideline though. My daughter did not lose any values watching the 1st 2 films.
2006-07-05 01:58:45 · answer #10 · answered by KathyS 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
PG is really fairly tame tame, pg 13 sometimes a bit less but not bad. Our 6 year old is allowed to watch such movies but we watch them together and i usually do a little research first. The guy at the movie store can usually tell you what kinds of mature content are involved and you can make the final descison on what to see. IF YOU DONT THINK ITS APPROPRIATE, DONT LET HIM WATCH! TO HECK WITH McDONALDS!
2006-07-05 02:31:37 · answer #11 · answered by binglejells2003 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋