PG-13 but still marketed towards children?

Regardless of the rating, Star Wars has always been marketed towards kids...the merchandising for these movies is HUGE. Who buys toys? Mainly adults for children (or so they say) and hardcore collectors. If it's gonna be in the toy section of the store, then why wouldn't it be marketed as toys to children? There's really no way around it. As for the many Darth Vader toys...well, yeah- he may not make his suited appearance in the movie for more than a few minutes, but how else are you going to market a SW tie-in without showing the casual fan (or those movie goers that really don't know) that this movie has to do with the evil, intimidating Darth Vader from the OT?
It's going to be a dark movie and maybe it shouldn't be marketed as a kid-merchandise movie, but how else are they gonna do it?

 

Lucas put up his warning to parents, but he also knows that they'll take their kids regardless of what he does. Whether he has the Younglings killed on screen or not, the parents will let their kids go. All he did was let them know in advance and he has documented proof of this. That's why he made a big deal for it on 60 Minutes. Hopefully people watch the news, watch cast appearences on talk shows and parents read the reviews in case they missed that.

 

Someone mentioned Snow White. Did you know that when Snow White came out in 1937 children under 16 had to have a parent with them to see it in England.

 

All marketing to children is in the context of children having no money or autonomy beyond what their parents give them, so in all cases the persuasion of the child is meant to indirectly influence the behavior of the actual wage-earner in the family. There is no inconsistency in marketing even R rated films to children because children can be admitted with an adult.

Parents that complain about their kids wanting to see a movie the parents don't want them to see might consider a better educational strategy than hoping their kids don't find out about things. If a kid's not ready for something they want, isn't it a good opportunity to discuss the issues of concern at a level they can understand? Maybe these parent-child discussions will prepare the kids to see the movie or convince them that, actually, they'd be too scared to see it. If they do see it after such a discussion, maybe they'll actually talk to their parents about their reactions. Wouldn't that be wonderful? Hoping to maintain a child's ignorance of challenging subjects until some random time when the parent loses control is just ducking responsibility, IMO. Better to deal with things head-on while the parent retains meaningful input into the child's developing awareness.

 

"The Lord Of The Rings Trilogy was M15+ (PG-13) but it was obviously aimed at people with the IQ of a cauliflower."
So true.

Eh, I'm not too keen with the younglings scene. It makes Anakin seem lost at that point, which he never truely is, even in the OT, if he were, he would never turn back. It would have been a lot better if it were the Clones that did this and Anakin discovers this and kind of has it out with them. We're supposed to get a sense of Anakin doesn't really want to turn and do evil things, he wants to do good. This is a little too much. But whatever.

 

Actually, Lucas says that he is lost in ROTS. All the way into ROTJ.

It really has to do with learning," Lucas says, "Children teach you compassion. They teach you to love unconditionally. Anakin can't be redeemed for all the pain and suffering he's caused. He doesn't right the wrongs, but he stops the horror. The end of the Saga is simply Anakin saying, I care about this person, regardless of what it means to me. I will throw away everything that I have, everything that I've grown to love- primarily the Emperor- and throw away my life, to save this person. And I'm doing it because he has faith in me; he loves me despite all the horrible things I've done. I broke his mother's heart, but he still cares about me, and I can't let that die. Anakin is very different in the end. The thing of it is: The prophecy was right. Anakin was the chosen one, and he does bring balance to the Force. He takes the one ounce of good still left in him and destroys the Emperor out of compassion for his son."
--George Lucas, The Making Of Revenge Of The Sith, page 221.

 

redundant

 

I think the reason ROTS is being marketed so heavily towards children is because of the competition it will face with "Madagascar" during its second weekend, Memorial Day weekend. LFL wants to do everything it can to avoid the media melee that would occur if "Madagascar" comes even close to de-throwning ROTS from the #1 spot at the box office.

 

I love the Star Wars Saga and The Lord of the Rings equally. I took a child to see The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King in the theater. No nightmares, and no adverse behavior came from that. He watches the extended edition of the DVD, and other than the occasional gollum voice (which is gut bustingly hysterical coming from a 5 year old), my boy is fine. I will probably take the same child to see Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith. I don't feel that PG-13 is anything. Fantasy violence I feel does not affect the mind of a child if a parent is diligent enough to teach them to differenciate between fantasy violence, and real violence. I will not allow him to watch R rated films with sex and drug use, however he has seen the Matrix many times and goes about his day just fine, as if nothing had happened. He knows it isn't real. He knows that it is a movie, a script, and the product of somebody's imagination. So my son is excited as I am to see the new Star Wars movie, and he will walk away from the theater with two thoughts in his head. 1) This was a good movie. and 2) When will it be available on DVD.
Revan

 

I actually think its good they show the younglings being slaughtered. Even if it looks like he's totally gone, thats how you want it. Remember, we're supposed to be watching these movies from 1 to 6. It makes it seem that he's gone, only to be a surprise ending to find that padme was right, and there was still good at him in episode 6. If it looks like he has good in him in episode 3, the surprise isn't there.

 

True, but there is supposed to be a sense of conflict with him until Obi-wan hacks him up. There's the shot of him crying when he's realised what he's done, if this is at the temple, that would be good, but I think it comes after the slaughter of the seperatists.

 

Its still Star Wars, Kids as young as 8 will see this movie reguardless of its rating.

 

Wasn't Spider-man 2 PG-13?
It definately was geared towards little kids.

 

Wasn't Spider-man 2 PG-13?
It definately was geared towards little kids.

Yes, also dont forget The Lord of The Rings.

 

Today my sister in law asked what ROTS was rated and I said 12A (UK rating) and she said that she had heard that young children shouldn't see it so I don't think Kieron will be able to go and see it (Kieron is my 5 and half year old nephew) I'm gutted I was planning on taking my nephew to see ROTS because he's a huge fan and keeps saying he can't wait to see Obi-Wan and Anakin fight I suggested she should see it first and then decide if he can go but what if she say's no I'll be devastated that I won't be able to take him to see the last Star Wars movie at the cinema I?m so conflicted because I want it to be dark but I want my nephew to be able to see it I just can't believe it.

 

But I don't think LOTR was really all that marketed to kids. Sure I saw LOTR toys at the stores. But it wasn't completely marketing overload. It was much more scaled back than SW and Spider-man.

Furthermore, I think there was a time not so long ago there was Alien toys. Not necassarily for the serious collector, but geared towards the more juvenile collector. And the Aliens movies DEFINATLY were not for kids

 

Lucas put out his disclaimer to cover his @ss.

With it being PG-13, kids will probably want to see it more.

 

who cares seriously

 

Curious to see the difference in how many people here that say "It's only PG-13, what's the harm?" actually have children.

/will see it first, then judge for my 5 year old.

 

who cares seriously

Obviously, the topic poster does care and others that have childern concerned about bring their kids to see ROTS in theaters.

 

Remember Raven... while I heartily agree with you, we must remember that not everyone has the constitution of your son (my mom cannot watch the belly bug sequence in the Matrix for example).
Someone mentioned Snow White. Did you know that when Snow White came out in 1937 children under 16 had to have a parent with them to see it in England.

Funny you say that Gobi... I remember bieng very frightened (by the witch of course) the first time I saw Snow White.

 

that's a real shame ObiWanCon i hope she agrees that you can take him to see it hopefully it won't be to scary

 

Kids will come anyways because there's two words in the title that parents can trust, "Star Wars". Lucas has done hardly anything to upset little children over the PT.

Yes, ROTS, like all other PT movies, are marketed at the younger population and this one, in addition, is market at the young adult movie-goers. When you hear "Rated PG-13" from "that voice" that does almost all TV spots for movies nowadays, non-SW fans won't just think that it's another Lucas flop with childish dialogue and horrible puppets.

Limbs go flying everywhere in this movie, people get disemboweled or a lightsaber stuck through their forehead. Characters get lit up with thousands of volts of lightning or burn to near death on a scorching beach of an lava planet. When you put it that way, children and young adults will come.

 

LOL^^^^^^

 

"I'd rather my kid learn about heroism, sacrifice, honor and the perils of evil, than listen to some jack-ass like 50 cent on MTV go on about how bad-ass he is, how many stupid dub-mobiles he has, or how overdressed with sports paraphinalia he can get".

AMEN!