today's headlines read that GOF is not for preteens.the reason was given as-it has a lot of stunts and dark magic not fit for children.it is fit for years 13 and above.
do you agree?what's your take?
i do!

Just to let you know that I've moved this topic into the news discussion because it seems a little more at home there.

Yeah, I read that in The Mirror today too. I don't know...personally, I think that it can't be *that* bad. I reckon they're treating everyone with kid gloves for some reason and I have no idea why. When there are kids out there who've seen the Chucky, Halloween, Freddie Kruger and Scream films, I really don't see what more will be in HP that they can't take. I guess it must be pretty bad for it to deserve such a rating though which can only mean that WB, in their [SARCASM]infinite wisdom[/SARCASM] have decided to up the violence to make it more *said in booming voice* mature and to show how much Harry has grown up.

Yeah. Fine. Whatever. I guess they'll do whatever they need to to make a buck, eh?

Yeah...slightly cynical about the movies these days......

The books started as such a fun loving kids series made for children who love to dream, and now it's a scary teen and above book for action and mystery readers alike, fit for a bunch of people sitting around discussing theories that a kid wouldn't understand for their life. The first time I read GoF I was a tiny bit scared myself. (I was also reading at like 1:00 am in the morning, when everything is scary.)

xOx Mischief Managed xOx

I dont think that young kids cant handle seeing GoF. I mean, there are haunted houses for kids as young as ten. And if they can handle being scared to death by zombies, elves, monsters, and..... clowns (ROAR! >O evil!!!) Then they can handle other immaginary things such as wizards and dragons.

Sorry. This post was mostly based on personal expierence of me going to a haunted house recently >.< heh

But yeah. I mean, if they make future movies pg-13, thats really all the better, they'll be able to do more stuff that was in the book. I.E. The sectumsempra spell. That really should be kept in (off topic)

thats all.


cheese puff

Yeah,right!If children can read the books,they can see the movie too!
We are living in a different world today!

i'm just 13.i'll be able to watch the movie right?i hate it when people think kids really don't have brains,they give you that don't-interfere
kinda look!sceptical!
neways!lets not diverge from the topic!i don't really support these now!u members changed my mind!
LOL!
guys,are you listening?i want your opinion!



MOD EDIT: hiya I just want to let you know that double posting is not allowed on the forums..if you need to edit something then you simply have to click on the edit text button and add whatever you need to..it wastes valuable bandwidth if we have double posts..if you have any questions feel free to PM me or one of the other mods or prefects..I merged your first post into this one

EDIT:OOPS!!! sorry Hermione_Resilda I just saw now that you said something about the double post!!!

Hmm..I don't really like it saying that it's not suitable for pre-teens. I was 12 about four months ago, and then I turned 13, and I feel no different in what I fear. It just depends on the person, if they're like 7 years old and know that HP is just a fantasy, then kudos to them..

And Chelsey_Princess, double posting is not allowed, so if you had something more to add, there's a little iocn on the right corner of your post that says 'edit', and you can change your post as much as you want .

A lot of you are assuming that if the child has the maturity to read the book, then they're capable of handling the images shown in the movie as well, which is not the case.

A book is something that is read, and created within the imagination. The reader has complete control over what images are portrayed in their heads, and can create the scenario anyway they want. This is one of the great things about books - the reader can conjure up this entire fantasy world that is completely different from anyone elses. Similarly, the reader has the ability to destroy this world at any one point in time. That is, the reader can close the book at any point where things become too frightening, or too tense.

A movie on the otherhand, is the exact opposite. It's a presented image that cannot be stopped. More over, it's not even the reader's interpretation anymore, it's another individual's idea entirely. Suddenly, the reader has no control over the images he is seeing, or the ability to stop it (short of leaving the theater). This is all well and fine for anyone who is 15 or 16 - as someone previously pointed out, most children by that age have become a bit desensitized to violence and/or other such images. Younger children however, are another story.

I remember a while back, George Lucas released "Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith" and advertised it as a "childrens movie." The truth of it is, when you have children being murdered by adults in a movie (the young Jedi children being killed by troopers) it is no longer a "childrens movie" - it has become a teenage movie.

Similarly, in the end of the 4th book, with Harry's torture and Cedric's death, it should be interesting to see whether or not it will remain a children's movie, or advance beyond that.

Despite all this, I have no reason to believe that children shouldn't see this, and expect quite a few to be there on opening night. I know I personally was trying to sneak into R rated films by the age of 8, so I have no doubt that others will be trying to see the movie.

I'm so glad. I thought at least they can make the third one a 12a with all the escaped mass murderer stuff, but ow no its a PG. I expected one and two to be PG's but not three. Well atleast now we know that it might be a partially serious film, so good.

quite right,we'll just have to wait and see.i hope it's gonna remain a children's movie.my sis's still 11,she's gonna kill me if i go alone for the movie!

what it all boils down to is that its another good vs. evil...the only reason that this might not be for pre-preteens is that good loses in this book, but its still Harry Potter...i think it should be PG-13, but that preteens should see it

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The way they could insure the film to make more money is by making it PG-13! Kids may feel the urge to see it simply because they are told not to (if they're under 13) It's like in OotP, when Umbridge banned The Quibbler, everyone was reading it.. Another example, if you leave kids in a room with all the toys in the world, and a gun, and they can touch anything but the gun.. what do you think they will touch? (Or like a certain Adam and Eve story..)

And I personally think that almost everyone will see GoF at one time or another, my 5 year-old brother watches it! But I think kids can handle it.. we are in a very.. er.. advanced society..

-Dominique

i dont like it when adults say you cant watch this because of some stupid reason so im going to see it anyway but i can im 13 anyway

LOL guys,well said!
I'm 12 now,but I'm gonna turn 13 on the release date of GOF!!!!Isn't that exciting??
I would watch it even if I were 12,I'm a maniac!I would probably push the guard and break through the windows.....anything...anything for Dan!
I am with you Dominique-the human tendency to crave for what he is denied!
You are right about that adult stuff,silverstag,I feel like a baby when my mother says,you are too young to watch this movie!Grrrrr!
I'm just waiting for the 18th.......sigh!

Well since the Goblet of Fire movie is composed of violent stuff. Like the morbid scene of the Rebirth of the Dark Lord, and Cedric dying (which in my point of view isnt actually morbid and disturbing), the scene where Wormtail's arm.. ooh. you know. its quite disturbing, right?

So, i guess its okay to put PG-13 as the rating. Im actually quite surprised they didnt put it on R-13. Oh well. im 14. so.. whatever happens. i can watch GOF. haha. Just kidding. Unless... they put it in R-18. haha.

I suppose ultimately this is something that parents have to play by ear. If the kids have already read the books, then I don't see any reason not to let them watch it. More than likely, they're just going to end up watching it sometime anyway behind their parents' backs. For younger kids, I'd say probably not. Some of it is very dark, I know if I were a parent, I'd have second thoughts. That PG-13 is there for a reason. It may be unavoidable though (letting the kids see it...)

Ok I realise that is is going to sound really stupid but I haven't slept and I'm not really well versed on American movie ratings.

What is PG-13 exactly? I'm from the UK and have never heard of that rating. Is it the same as 12A?

yeah 12A would be about the same as PG-13 in the states/Canada..and its not a stupid question so no worries mate basically it means that no one under 13 is allowed to see it unless they have an adult accompying them (I believe that person must be older than 18..but dont quote me on that one )

Thank you. I was wondering because I would love to take my little sister, she's 10. She adores Harry Potter and has read all of the books apart from HBP, which she is currently still reading. I was worried I wouldn't be able to take her but I can now, seeing as I'm 20.

Lets stay on the topic!I'm really surprised t=you want to take your sis Fantastic,I'm leaving my sis behind,anyway she doesn't even know JK's full name!
The post's about do you agree or disagree-remember???

Wait a minute PG-13 if for 18 and above that’s a bit excessive if you ask me they have lost half there audience if they have done that there not stupid and as ms Dessler said they are only trying to make a quick buck

I completely disagree with any limitations of this sort. Even if the movies/books are getting darker, scarier etc. by each new volume, it is the very essence of their artistical value: the book 1 was written through the eyes of an 11 year old, unable to comprehend the events around him, in book 6 we have a 16-year-old's point of view. I read a lot of books, and I never saw something like this - it's fantastic!

Personally, I don't think (young) kids are too stupid to realise what's good and what's bad, and I don't think they should be sheltered from "bad" - quite the opposite, they should be aware of it and be able to recognise it. As for "violence", I don't think that's an issue either, kids know it's just fantasy...

I think they should let atleast kids about 1o years to watch it. If they can read the book why can't they watch the movie!
I'm 12 but I think I'm still watching it anyway!

Above 10? Are you crazy?5th grade little ones are gonna watch HP?They are pathetic!They can't even spell Rowling!

MOD EDIT: watch the one liners! you know its not allowed on the forums

some how i think 10 is a little young 12 in my opinion should be the limit but if their parents think they can handle it then who are we to stop them.

and Chelsey_princess remember the books are designed for that age group so why shouldn't the film.

MOD EDIT: watch the netspeak it was minor but there..y should be why...I have edited it for you this time..but pleae be careful in the future

now now watch the tone there...I am taking my 9 year old nephew to see the movie...and he will be more than fine watching it...9 year olds have watched much worse than a harry potter film...oh and by the way he CAN spell Rowling 9 year olds are smarter than you think

OK!Sorry!
Fine,they can spell Rowling,what I meant was they aren't really mature enough!My 9 year old cousin bust into tears at the end of the movie THE PARENT TRAP! And he actually was scared while he was watching THE LEGEND OF THE ZORRO.

See this is where you need to use discretion..my 9 year old nephew has seen many movies and read many books and I really dont think its going to be that big of a deal..of COURSE I am going to go and see it first but I mean he has watched worse films that a harry potter film..I think if I child is old enough to read the book they know whats going on and know the outcome...then why deprive them? now I am not his guardian but I have my sister-in-laws full support on the matter...yes its true some children are not mature enough to watch a movie of that nature..but to say that all of them are not thats misleading too..I know when I was nine I would have been able to handle it...really what is going to be sooo bad in the movie that would traumatize the child for life? a person dying? they see that all the time...a scary guy in a mask? true graphics these days are very very well done..but thats when its up to the adults to explain it is only a movie...Voldemort is not real..he will not come a get you...its a makebelieve story...
Again..yes I know some kids his age would not be able to handle it...but to ban them all is not fair either because there are probably some adults who will think its too scary for them..then where do we draw the line?

I think it depends on the child. If they've read the book, I'm sure they're at least somewhat prepared of what will happen. Kids have good imaginations, so when they read about this, they probably have an idea of how everything will look.

I agree with the poster that basically said that reading a book and seeing the visual representation of it are two different things. However, I think that determining what age child sees the movie is up to the guardian that takes them. They know the child best and what he is used to, dark or otherwise.

I would let a nine year old see it if they had read the book and seen the other movies. I would also explain that what they were about to see is going to be way more intense that what they've read. Spooky music alone can make someone freak out, kid or adult.

Heck, I gasp at things that I've just seen in the trailers and I'm in my 30's! Every time Hermione screams, "Harry!" I clutch my face as though Harry has met his maker. Some kids aren't as sensitive as others and you just have to decide for you and them what they can tolerate.

As to whether or not this is no longer a "kids" franchise, I've always thought it was mature from book one. That it takes into account that children are more savvy than they are given credit for. The series opens with murder and someone dies in every book thereafter. If that's not deep subject matter, I don't know what is.

I think they are right to say that this new movie is not suitable for younger children! I'd say about the age of 6-9 might be quite frightened! Then again things don't seem to scare kids like they used to scare me at that age. I used to get scared of scary creatures and scary faces so something like Harry Potter probably would have scared the crap out of me at that age. I was watching lord of the rings the other day and thinking my god, this is quite scary, I couldn't have watched it when I was about 6 or 7!
The 4th book is so much darker, to me I think they are starting to get more for adults than for young children but I think its great that kids are reading them and enjoying reading. Kids are a lot more mature these days for their age. I've managed to convert my 11 year old cousin who is now on the 4th book trying to finish it for when the movie comes out.

We saw it Monday with my 9 and 7 year olds and thought it was okay. We had, however, really prepped my seven year old for what might happen. My 9 year old and his friend had read the books so I was not too worried about them. There were some scary moments but I think I was more scared than the kids. Also, I was surprised how touched they were when Cedric died.

I was curious to know whether the kids had nightmares as sometimes it takes my 7 year old a couple of days to manifest one. He has been prepped but I'm not sure it will be enough. He loves unicorns and he was fine with the LV in the forest scene in Sorceor's Stone but playing the video game and being able to zoom in on the dead unicorn and its silver blood gave him nightmares. He's in second grade and is not a proficient reader yet so he hasn't read the books. I think I will wait until it's on DVD and play it in a safe environment at home so we can stop it and talk about it. That might be an option with younger kids not old enough to read. Also if the child is violence-orientated, or used to seeing violence on TV, video games etc. they might just fall asleep.

well maybe not everyone under 13 but the movie is kind of dark for really young children. I was watching it with my 8 year old brother and i felt uncomfortable with him watching certain scenes. Even the Hagrid's accidental forking scene that was supposed to be funny is too gruesome for little kids.

I think it all depends on the individual child. Some are obviously going to be more mature then others and I think that is why the rating is PG-13. It is up to the child parents/guardians to decide whether or not their child is mature enough to view the darker themes potrayed in this movie.

Personally I'm not at all worried about my little sister. We have had several discussions on Harry Potter and she is intelligant and understands the meaning behind the words. She knows it is all fantasy and my family and I think she is mature enough to deal with it.

I git the message Fantastic! the topic is draging on,I'm happy
really good!i rwally don't know what to say.but i support all of you!just jokinh!i think +13 is a good decision!

I feel as though a parent's decision on whether they allow their child to see this movie or not should be based mainly upon what the childs maturity level is. I mean honestly, I know kids who are 6 years old and could handle this movie. On the other hand, I know 12 year old who might cry with horror at some of the scenes.

Parents can not help it if the law is 13+!-_-
Its declared as an adult film!It is fair!I am ssure I am going to cry when Cedric's gonna die.It will be too much for younger kids!Dark Arts,emotional scenes,an d things like that!Can little children really take it?

okay this topic is starting to get heated I am afraid..so please bear in mind everyone is just voicing their own opinions Chelsey_princess.just as you are
me personally I have seen the film and I have absolutely no worries taking my 9 year old nephew to see it..really its not that bad! also I have heard of people taking 5 year olds to see it and I saw them walking out of the theatre and they thought it was great! and honestly I think PG 13 was a little steep after I watched it..I mean Bambi's mother gets shot Mufassa gets killed by his own brother, Nemo's mother get eaten by a shark,Tarzans Parents get mutilated by tigers or whatever they were; need I go on? but since its Disney its rated G...PG would have been an OK rating it really was no worse than the dementors in PoA...so to all those out there..from someone who has seen the film its really not that bad..if your child understands that this is a movie and know voldy isnt going to come and get them at night they will be fine...especially if they have seen the first three and were fine with those this one reallly shouldnt be a problem

Owmigod!Owmigawd!Was I that bad pig?
Okay doki!I'll try to be good,as good as gold!
I've not seen the movie yet,so I can only predict that it will not be fit for kiddies like pig describe!

I agree with everyone who is saying it depends on the child.

We went and saw it and then took our 9 year old son to see it and he didn't think there was anything remotely scary in it.

Wormtail cutting off his hand bothered me the most, as did Cedric's death.

Actually, the only thing that's kinda gruesome is Moody changing back in to Barty Jr. when the polyjuice potion wears off. I thought that was a bit overdone, but that's just me.

You have to judge by what other movies that child has seen, and his/her reations to it. Some kids are really bothered easily by movies (I was) and some just don't get bothered by what we expect.

I still at this age have nightmares about a Twilight Zone episode, how stupid is that? But my son isn't fazed by stuff like that at all. He thinks its pretty cool and he really enjoyed the whole Voldemort scene and he loved Mad Eye Moody!

Actually, I'm a bit more concerned about Dolores Umbridge in Phoenix. That is one sadistic character.

I mean Voldemort and Wormtail are despicable with no redeeming qualities in the movies (or books so far), but she's just a twisted character. My middle son will be old enough to see Phoenix when it comes out and we're going to have to see that first and judge what's okay for him and what's not.

Kids are all different with these things.

Dloers Umbridge? Yeah.She's gonna be worse than Moody!As I said,I haven't watched the movie sooo...I dunno!Is the Barty scene that bad? We have seen the trio turn into Slytherins in the 2 movie,so is it worse?Mad eye does look horrible,b ut is it even worse when he turns to Barty?I think the worse scene will be the one in which Voldy cuts Wormtails hand! Is it included?Better not watch that!

Yeah I think kids 9 and under might be frightened by it. When I first heard it was PG-13 and not little-kid-oriented I thought nobody would pay attention to it. But after seeing my mom asked me if I thought my 7 year old sister should see it, I said no. She was scared by the Dementors in PoA, so I thought the DE's would scare her a lot.

Also, there are many sexual jokes and references in the movie that would be unsuitable for younger kids.

Ooops!Is that really true Feeder?Thre are sexual jokes in it?Have you seen the movie?I never knew this!Are you sure about it?
Oh!Oh!I'm going for the movie with my family!
Guh-reat!I'm done for sure!

I think that the film should be rated pg 13 because the book was really intense and some people might not be able to cope with the film. Being only 14 myself, I also believe that any person who believes that they will be able to cope with the movie should ask their parents permision and would therefore be satisfied. The age of a person can not altogether determine a persons ability to understand and grasp the concept and true meaning of literature. [COLOR=red]

The movie has scary images and a lot of sexual meanings (No comments I can be banned again). But I think movies like "Peter Pan" has even more sexual meaning than HP4 and it was no PG-13.
And I think kids dont realize about sexual meanings in these movies, only adults realize about some hidden/double meaning messages.
So

i dont get the big fuss over movies, kids can handle it and loadsa kids are already fans of the other harry potter movies so a 12 rating or pg13 isnt gonna stop them seeing it. Theyll just get it on pirate copy or go in anyway, since i was about 8 or 9 i went to see 12 movies cos they didnt ask for ID and from the age of 12 i went to see 15 rated movies.
Loadsa people will find a way of seeing it and young fans will definatly want to see it.

well. if kids CAN read the books, which they do.. as you say, they should be allowed to see the movie. Firstly, the movie has a lot of graphic scenes, which can relate to a "scary" movie, especially if you see the trailers for it, they format it like a horror movie trailer. Another tidbit is.. kids were not intended by J.K. Rowling to be reading the book in the first place. She first and formostly meant it for adults. She never imagined it would become as popular as it is now. so yeah, just my two cents.


by the way.. i`m turning sixteen this year, and i believe that the harry potter series has grown a lot more political, and complex with each new book. the first 3-4 books were a lot more innocent, with a single storyline and the added details hidden until the later books. I believe that younger kids don`t fully understand the true colors of the book like readers who trully appreciate the literature and elements to it all. I know I didn`t when I started reading it in 4th grade, (i`m now in 10th). I also think that the only reason the preteens like it so much is because the characters/actors and the magic, which of course is perfectly okay.. the movie should be watched for the enjoyment of those who have the nerve for it, which could be anyone.