they're going to see cheesy chick flicks!

Someone is going to be in trouble.......!

While this film is the most violent of the 6, I dont see the cry of alarm here. If you dont want your children to see it, there is an easy out. It is called No.

Dr. Guy, you missed the entire point of the article.

This movie has been hyped to the gills, to adults and children alike. Children are very excited to go see it. Telling them "no" is NOT EASY at this point. It may be necessary, but thanks to Lucas' gigantic marketing machine, it won't be easy at all.

This movie has been hyped to the gills, to adults and children alike. Children are very excited to go see it. Telling them "no" is NOT EASY at this point. It may be necessary, but thanks to Lucas' gigantic marketing machine, it won't be easy at all.

Sometimes Parent's jobs are not easy.  But blaming someone for making a buck is a cop out.  You can hype a movie to the gills and it does not make any difference if the audience is not there (Remember Heaven's Gate?  Gigli?).  The marketing hype was because there is a market for it, and a big one. To not Hype it would only allow black markets to abscond with the marketing.  It would still happen, but Lucas would not benfit from his creativity.

Basically, he said, and I quote, the movie is 'dark, dark, dark' and not suitable for young children.

So we suffered through two movies of Jar Jar Binks HELL that was justified because he was included FOR THE CHILDREN, only to reach a finale that said kids can't watch?!?

Oh, well, I won't get to see it till it's on DVD anyway. My kids'll just have to go to their rooms...or wherever they go when I feel the urge to watch "Kill Bill"

"Someday Anakin, I fear you're going to be the death of me." -- Obi Wan and "Lost a planet Master Obi Wan has. How embarrasing, how embarrasing." -- Yoda

umm, Lucas never has been much of a scriptwriter...

Exhibit A: "But I was going to Toshi station to pick up some POWER CONVERTERS"

Exhibit B: "How RUDE!" (over a decade PRIOR to "Full House", and TWO decades prior to Jar Jar Binks' ad nauseam repetition of this remarkably uncreative phrase).

Sometimes Parent's jobs are not easy. But blaming someone for making a buck is a cop out.

I think the point is not that she is against making a buck, but if you have Yoda lollipops, you are targeting a set age group, an age group for which this move is apparently inappropriate.

Also, yes, you have to tell a dark story. This is after all Darth Vader not Dandy Vader, but there are wayds to shoot scenes to get your point across without alienating part of your audience that wants to see the film.

IG

I think it is worth pointing out that this isn't the first time a movie that was rated PG-13 was potently marketed, and to plenty of people under the age of 13. And while others may not be on the scale of Star Wars that is simply because they didn't have the cultural influence that Star Wars has. Let's not forget movies such as Spiderman and Spiderman 2 and Men in Black and Men in Black 2.

Both PG-13, and both heavily marketed (though not with the market penetration of Star Wars) with items very specifically designed for kids younger than 13.

So is the issue the fact that the marketing is to children younger than 13? Or is it really the scope of the marketing? Because precedent has clearly been set for similar marketing.

Just a thought.

OK, I feel I have to clear this up...I am not suggesting that Lucas sanitize the new Star Wars movie. Yes, as a parent, I have control over what my children watch and have the choice of not allowing them to see the movie. That's not the issue. What I find wrong...unethical...is the way that the movie that I've been repeatedly told by the actors as well as others is "not for children" is being marketed.

Maso:

How crazy is this? Makes me wonder with the final instalment coming out if there are going to be 'burning Jedi children' dolls and such.

Exactly!

SPC:

Now you finally see........Lucas has gone over to the Dark Side.

Hahahhahaaa...that explains a lot....

SHE:

The topic of marketing to little kids and then making the movies too adult for them is also a bit of a Harry Potter debate. After Dobby irons his hands, a lot of parents had issues with it. That's why the third movie was softened for little kids.

We've only seen one of the Harry Potter movies, but I can understand parents being upset with something questionable in one of those movies particularly, as they are children's movies.

Jill:

I don't know if you saw my blog but boy do I feel your pain!

I will have to go look for it. I'll put a link to it here, too.

My 8yr old is preparing himself for the possibility that he might not get to see it but the 4yr old will be devastated. He is sooooo obsessed with Star Wars! We own all of them on DVD and have seen the cartoon of the clone wars so they already know General Grievous and other characters of the final installment.

I'm glad to hear from someone else who understands what I'm talking about from a parent's perspective. Right now, a child simply can't escape the constant barrage of Star Wars advertising, so of course they're going to be crushed when they find out that despite all the toys and commercials and snacks, etc. that they are surrounded by that the movie is not for children.

I think it's very wrong.

Dusk:

It is deceitful advertising.

Yes. That's exactly how I see it.

Lucas wants it to have it both ways: entice the kids and get them to buy the toys and satsify the adults who rather see something grown up. Unfortunately it's the kids who miss out because they are the main moneymakers but not the ones filling out cards during test screenings.

You're absolutely right.

It's possible to make a movie aimed at both kids and adults without it being violent (The Incredibles, for example.)

We loved the Incredibles! But really, it's not even that this movie must be a family movie...it's just the fact that the kids are being targeted for marketing and at the same time the news is running interviews with the cast warning that the movie is far too gruesome for children. It's very dishonest.

SHE:

Or Shrek. Though, it was funny to see the three-year-old laughing at the "compensating" joke just because we were laughing. I love a movie with "levels".

Hahahahaa...the Shrek movies were great. I think the second was even better than the first.

ParaTed2K:

To me there's nothing "deceitful" about George Lucas. From the very beginning of the whole Star Wars craze, he has made it clear that it isn't about the movies, it's about the marketing. While merchandising is as old as movies and television themselves, George Lucas has made it an artform. I still remember freaking out when I saw plastic toys for droids that were nothing more than background props for a 2.3 second scene.

Maybe I shouldn't have been surprised, then?

Bakerstreet:

Violence is part of the story. I don't think it would resonate so much if they swatted each other with newspapers.

I agree with you. The issue I have is not with the content of the film. I'm sure that the violence and gore is probably tame compared to many recent movies, anyways.

My little girl wades through a cess pool of Britney culture every day, sexually demeaning commercials, perverted humor, imposed sexual stereotypes even in toys. They market slutty toys and clothes to kids, but we are gonna get all outraged when a jedi gets his arms hacked off?

Again, I'm not enraged about arms being hacked off (although that is NOT the full extent of the gore in the movie)...I don't know how many times I can say this. It's not the content of the movie. I enjoy action in movies. I watch CSI. I'm cool with stuff like that. I'm upset because my children are being pushed and pulled with the aggressive marketing over a movie that according to the ratings they should not be allowed to watch.

Violence is at least as natural as sex. Since i have been told over and over my JU's Liberals that I shouldn't shelter my kid from the blatant perversion of modern culture, I'd say why the hell are we worried about a little blood and guts?

I've NEVER told you that you shouldn't shelter your kids. Personally, I try to strike a balance between them understanding the realities of the world they will be adults in and keeping their childhood pleasant...and a CHILDhood. Images of massacred children will give my four year old nightmares. I can guarantee that. Is it wrong of me to want to keep my child from seeing something that will scare him for weeks? I certainly don't think so.

Toblerone:

Although I feel sorry that you boys won't be able to see the film I do not blame George for doing what he did. I'm glad he made the movie dark and didn't comprimise the story just so more people could see it. This story needed to be dark, it's about turning to the dark side, if it was all sunshine and lollipops I would have been very pissed off.

I have no problem with the movie. It can feature an orgy with psychedelic frogs and deranged hermaphrodite strippers for all I care. The problem I have is the way the movie is being marketed to children.

It sure sucks for your kids though.

Yes, it does.

Vune:

The Darth Tater, Mr Potato Head variant is possibly the best bit of merchandising I have ever seen for a film.

You're kidding right? Please tell me you're joking...

kingbee:

(reportedly god used adult language at several junctures during the precreation process stress thing--and we're really committed to authenticity no matter who gets hurt),

I would too, hehe.

Zoomba:

Those toys and snacks (well, maybe not the little kid tightie-whities) are as much targeted at us "grown-up" boys as they are at the little ones

Really? Do you watch Ozzy and Drix on Cartoon Network (commercials for the movie)? Do you play with $7 light sabers? Do you wear $4 plastic child-sized Darth Vader masks? Do you buy Episode III Kelloggs cereal (and do the activities on the back of the box to find out if you have what it takes to be a Jedi)? Do you eat Star Wars Pop Tarts? Star Wars fruit snacks? Do you wear a child-sized Jedi robe? Child-sized Anakin Skywalker robe? I could go on...

Yes, there are items marketed for adults. But a lot of this stuff is designed specifically for children.

Ok, ok, I'm George Lucas' bitch, I admit it.

That's ok. At least you're honest, hehe.

Boogie:

I wonder if this movie is big enough to constitue 2 seperate showings...the cut version for families, then the uncut version for the less squeemish (or those over 13). Even if it was just for the first few weeks...most fans will end up seeing it more than once anyways, so they'll get treated to a movie they can enjoy with the tots, then one they can enjoy with their thirst for blood

Interesting idea. And when the movie comes out on DVD, it will be easy to edit it for the children (fast forward or have them leave the room during inappropriate bits)...but the movie is what it is. It's a movie for adults.

He now has the nearly impossible task of rectifying the greivences of die-hard fans as well as accomidating children and families the product has been marketed towards.

Yep. As Dusk said, he wants to have it both ways.

If he would've put a few more "cut people in half" scenes and a few less "Are wesa gonna die" scenes in E1, none of this would be a problem.

Hahhahahaha...I suppose you're right...

DrGuy:

While this film is the most violent of the 6, I dont see the cry of alarm here. If you dont want your children to see it, there is an easy out. It is called No.

I don't think you understand what I'm saying. I have full parental control. That's not the issue. The problem is that the movie is being marketed in a completely dishonest and unethical way.

As far as the merchandise, it would not be marketed if there was no market for it. I dont blame Lucas for that. if you want to place the blame on it, check out where the other 3 fingers are pointing.

Wow. I can't even begin to tell you how wrong that is. The responsibility for the dishonest marketing does not belong with me. I did not create a market for this stuff. For someone who has a problem with pretty much everything Hollywood does, you sure seem eager to let them off the hook over a movie that you like.

Marcie:

If I have kids...boys (yup...I think that Ryan only has "boy" sperm)...they're going to see cheesy chick flicks!

Hahahahaha...I dare you to try and see how long it lasts...

citahellion:

Dr. Guy, you missed the entire point of the article.This movie has been hyped to the gills, to adults and children alike. Children are very excited to go see it. Telling them "no" is NOT EASY at this point. It may be necessary, but thanks to Lucas' gigantic marketing machine, it won't be easy at all.

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU! EXACTLY!

DrGuy:

Sometimes Parent's jobs are not easy. But blaming someone for making a buck is a cop out.

As a parent, I would expect you to understand this issue. Possibly you are missing it because your kids are older now. Would you have a problem with Showgirls lolipops for little girls? Showgirls fruitsnacks? Showgirls costumes for the 3 to 9 year old girls? After all, they'd just be making a buck.

Gideon:

So we suffered through two movies of Jar Jar Binks HELL that was justified because he was included FOR THE CHILDREN, only to reach a finale that said kids can't watch?!?

Hahhahahaha...you have a way of getting right to the core of the problem...

My kids'll just have to go to their rooms...or wherever they go when I feel the urge to watch "Kill Bill"

We do that, too. We have a Blockbuster movie pass and so we can rent 3 movies at a time and keep them out as long as we want. We usually get one thing we can all watch together then one for the grown ups and one for the kids. While we watch our movies, the kids go upstairs and watch theirs.

So is the issue the fact that the marketing is to children younger than 13?

Well, I saw Spider 2 and MIB 1. Now they were not appropriate for 5-6 year olds, but there were not many scenes that were, lets call them "nightmare causing". Well, the Goblin is a bit scary. And the shooting of the guys head off in MIB was a bit too, but that could be explained.

If you are going to make a dark movie, fine, Hitchcock and Sterling became famous that way, but you don't market Psycho to 10 year olds.

"Hey kids, it's the new psycho wig and steak knife set! And don't forget the Anthony Perkins Ripe Casaba melon!"

And Lucas wanted to make a dark movie, I just think, as others have pointed out, that if you make 1 and 2 so an age group can see it, you should make 3 the same "way", but darker.

IG


IG

BlueDev:

I think it is worth pointing out that this isn't the first time a movie that was rated PG-13 was potently marketed, and to plenty of people under the age of 13. And while others may not be on the scale of Star Wars that is simply because they didn't have the cultural influence that Star Wars has. Let's not forget movies such as Spiderman and Spiderman 2 and Men in Black and Men in Black 2.

This is a good point. I didn't even realize that the Spiderman movies were PG-13. Spiderman was very much marketed to children. The Men in Black movies had toys and if I remember correctly one fast food chain included MIB toys in their kids meals.

My kids have seen all of those except for Spiderman 2. Despite a lot of action and intense scenes as well as some major gross out factors (MIB movies), I don't recall anything realistically gory. My understanding is that the actors and news outlets, etc. are discouraging people from bringing their children to see Episode III because of the "grisly" factor. I don't remember hearing/seeing anything on the news warning parents that the Spiderman or MIB movies were adult-only movies. And maybe all the talk about how dark and un-child-friendly the new movie is is just a marketing ploy to get people talking and bring about more interest, rather than being a true statement about how inappropriate the movie is for kids.

Ha, maybe I am falling into Lucas' dark evil plan just by typing this.

So is the issue the fact that the marketing is to children younger than 13? Or is it really the scope of the marketing? Because precedent has clearly been set for similar marketing.

To me, the issue is the marketing coupled with the conflicting messages from the news media. The message the kids are getting is, "Go see Star Wars! It's awesome. Take your Star Wars fruit snacks and glowing light saber with you!" and the message the parents are getting is, "Episode III is dark and gruesome and inappropriate for children. You should not take your kids to go see it." So the children are all excited about movie that they believe was made for them, and the parents are being told that it's a grown-ups only movie.

I believe it's unethical marketing. And you could argue that the marketing for the Spiderman and MIB movies was also unethical, and I'd have to agree with you, although the issue did not seem as overwhelmingly obvious then as it does now (which could be, as you mentioned, because of the scope of the advertising).

As a parent, I would expect you to understand this issue. Possibly you are missing it because your kids are older now. Would you have a problem with Showgirls lolipops for little girls? Showgirls fruitsnacks? Showgirls costumes for the 3 to 9 year old girls? After all, they'd just be making a buck.

What is showgirls?  And if you are asking me would I object to something being sold like a lollipop to children taht I deemed inappropriate, again I say no.  I would not let them have one (and indeed I have done that already with other issues), but I would not dictate to all parents how they raise their chilldren.

test baby check one two one two

yay I see I can comment on your blog again, brandie, which is exactly the only thing I wanted to do here

excellent

I saw Yoda fighting a guy over a Diet Pepsi today in a commercial.

*gag*

I remember when Ep 1 came out I was in my last year of college and working at a Toys R Us -- dear god at the merchandising. Jar Jar Binks bubble bath. Darth Maul inflatable furniture. I kept expecting to see Obi Wan's Fresh Douche and Anakin Skywalker Ribbed Condoms on the shelves.

Having said all that, I don't figure Ep 3 is gonna hurt your kids much. Can't be much worse than some of the video games I'm sure they've played (I could be wrong on that score). I'm personally more pumped about "Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy" than I am Ep 3, but I'll go see the thing I suppose. Can Episode 3 really have anything worse than 'A New Hope' ? I mean, there was an ENTIRE PLANET destroyed in that one.

Glad I can put a comment or two on the best blog on JU again, *hugs*

The new NIN album is awesome you need to get it.

Cheers!

I can't help but think people are overreacting to Star Wars a bit. I will gladly eat those words if I am wrong, but I think people are more reacting to the difference between previous ones and this one.

We'll just have to wait and see.

Then again, I saw 'The Exorcist' when I was 10 so maybe I'm not the best judge of what's good for kids...

See how well I turned out? hahahaahahhaahhaahahhahahahahahahahahahaahahhahahahahahahahahahaa