A touch more than 70 years ago, Gone with the Wind kicked up controversy for its use of what was considered profane language. The line in question, of course, is now a ubiquitous cinematic staple, frequently repeated without hesitation. Frankly, no one really gives a damn about it anymore.
Kick-Ass makes its way into theaters this weekend, bearing a title that would have sparked considerable outrage on its own back in the days of Clark Gable, Vivien Leigh, and the Motion Picture Production Code’s stringent censorship regulations.
The title would have boiled blood. The film itself would have caused massive coronaries.
Kick-Ass proudly and quite audaciously features absurdly graphic violence and crude language guised by a sunny demeanor, vivid colors, and the appeal of superhero mythology.
At the peak of its depravity is “Hit Girl,” a pint-sized killing machine with the proficiency of some terribly powerful ninja master, donning a purple wig and cape or a schoolgirl outfit and pigtails—and just eleven years old. She smiles wryly, even sweetly, before driving her blade through the heart of an offender, or converting an opponent’s body into a bullet-riddled corpse.
Any sense of childlike abandonment she may yet possess is swiftly dispelled when she opens her mouth, unleashing obscenities as if they were mere yawns. Hit Girl even has the distinction of speaking the obligatory single “c-word” of the hard R-rated film, just as she verbally likens her cohorts to a specific feminine hygiene product (a “d-word” this time).
Hit Girl’s unexpected coarseness is effectively—very effectively—shocking. Whether the initial shock is followed by enjoyment, disgust, or some combination of the two is the point at issue.
As a character, her existence is a mightily depressing one: led by her father and fellow crime-buster “Big Daddy” (Nicholas Cage) through a life entirely devoted to deadly maneuvers and vigilante justice. When Big Daddy purposefully fires a round into his daughter’s torso to let her experience its physical impact, Hit Girl’s bullet-proof vest cannot protect her innocence from shattering into a million pieces.
The film does acknowledge the tragedy that Hit Girl has been robbed of her childhood but only with the passing deference of any issue brought up in a comic book caper. She is certainly no worse off because of her circumstances, nor does she seem to miss the freedoms of being a normal little girl.
On the same token, Hit Girl’s precocious antics are humorous in a disbelieving sort of way, and watching her massacre bad guys through increasingly improbable, ridiculous, and gloriously bloody methods proves quite exciting.
But the wasted innocence of a fictional character is not really what is at stake here. Hit Girl is played by Chloë Grace Moretz, a promising young performer on a serious spunky streak after 500 Days of Summer last year and, recently, Diary of a Wimpy Kid.
Hit Girl is lifted from a comic book, but Moretz, believe it or not, is a real human being who, at the age of twelve, had to really say the “c-word” and really participate in the graphic, albeit staged, sequences of violence. It is Moretz’s innocence that is potentially sacrificed by Kick-Ass, and no part of that is the slightest bit entertaining.
Of course, this is not the first time that filmmaking has exposed child actors to unduly explicit environments. In 1978, Director Louis Malle drew heat for his film Pretty Baby, in which a twelve year-old Brooke Shields played a child prostitute and appeared completely nude. Luc Besson caused a quieter commotion with 1994’s The Professional, placing a young Natalie Portman at the center of a murdering spree and sexual objectification.
Anna Paquin won a Best Supporting Actress Oscar at the age of eleven for her performance in Jane Campion’s The Piano, a film that featured nudity and graphic sex. However, Paquin was not involved in any of these scenes, and her father reportedly did not allow her to see the film in its entirety.
Distributor Lionsgate attempts to rationalize Moretz’s involvement with Kick-Ass by passing the film off as harmless fantasy. Her mother is described reminding the cast and crew, “It’s Hit Girl saying it, not my daughter,” in reference to that certain “c-word.” Meanwhile, director Matthew Vaughn has apparently crafted something “otherworldly,” a “comic book universe” with “hyper-real” violence that is “a signature of the revenge-fantasy genre in which the film is solidly steeped.”
Here’s the problem with that assertion: the principle conceit of Kick-Ass is that it takes place in our world—that a normal person without any special abilities decides to strap on a scuba suit and fight injustice in a society—our society—accustomed to looking the other way.
The film’s central character, “Kick-Ass” himself (Aaron Johnson), gains notoriety after a video of him facing off with a group of muggers goes viral on YouTube. He then uses a MySpace account to communicate with citizens in need of a superhero’s assistance. When “Red Mist,” another makeshift costumed avenger of sorts, docks his iPod onto the dashboard of his modified Ford Mustang, the supposed “otherworldly” setting of Kick-Ass seems particularly our-worldly, or at least embedded with a suspicious amount of familiar technology.
Eventually, the film does concede more of its connection to reality in favor of stylized violence and fanciful plot constructs—Hit Girl’s destructive rampages included—but it does so against its director’s own intentions, and while defying its previously established logic.
Vaughn wants to have it both ways: to ground his film in reality and partake in decadent fantasy. And so, ultimately, Kick-Ass transpires on the untilled fields of a fanboy’s paramount dreamscape.
Even as Lionsgate assures us of this notion—that no reality they endorse would include a gun-slinging middle-schooler spewing four-letter words—the studio has fostered the realism angle in its promotional push for the film. Real Life Superheroes.org, a website devoted to inspiring and chronicling masked crusaders in the real world, has become little more than a multi-tiered advertising platform for Kick-Ass.
Lionsgate does not claim ownership to the site—only to a coordinated campaign. However, the domain was not registered until January, 2009, three months after Kick-Ass began principal production, and otherwise lacks an internet footprint. A case of coincidental, simultaneous, and identical inspiration on the part of the Kick-Ass creative team and a group of genuinely concerned citizens, or thinly-veiled astroturfing at its most nauseating?
Either way, Real Life Superheroes.org claims not to endorse vigilantism but then provides links to several sex offender registries, local crime databases, and listings from America’s Most Wanted, along with more links to individual state laws on carrying weapons and making citizen’s arrests—all under the suggestive heading of “FIGHT crime.” Surely, this is not a practical or helpful way to shape up society (just to boost awareness for an upcoming movie about “real life superheroes”), but Lionsgate offers its stamp of approval just the same.
The publicized advertising blitz for Kick-Ass portrays masked heroes on brightly colored posters, images that are sure to appeal to younger crowds drawn to classic superhero iconography. Following the screening I attended, a boy no older than Hit-Girl wearing a “Kick-Ass” novelty tee-shirt trudged out of the theater with a sullen look on his face and his father, also vested in “Kick-Ass” branded swag, looking astonished right behind him. One or both of them had clearly just been duped, but seeing that confused, wandering ghost of a boy—he, too, robbed of his innocence, I imagined—was a little bit devastating.
Posters hung in cinema lobbies create a dilemma for certain theatergoers: so long as Kick-Ass is around, you can’t take a child to a G-rated movie without exposing them to content—to a word—that would automatically earn any film a PG rating. The same word, the film’s very title, is repeated on billboards, television commercials, merchandise, and, yes, tee-shirts for anyone to see.
On the other hand, far more inappropriate content can be just as readily found on magazine covers in the check-out lanes of grocery stores (the latest issue of Cosmopolitan boasts in bold face “The 7 Best Orgasm Tricks in the World!”), during beer commercials, and in Miley Cyrus music videos.
Moral implications and dubious marketing strategies aside, as an exercise in entertainment and filmmaking efficiency, Kick-Ass, for me, just barely squeaks by as something that can qualify as artistic expression—a crude, violent, absurd, and vulgar artistic expression. The film manages to maintain enough levity in its narrative and luster in its presentation to pass as escapist entertainment—crude, violent, absurd, and vulgar escapist entertainment.
Ironically, Vaughn’s failure to convince us that Kick-Ass takes place in our reality or any relatable setting is what salvages the film. Had Hit-Girl seemed slightly more human, her indiscretions would have been unequivocally reprehensible. Instead, she is, as is most of Kick-Ass, an outrageous cartoon brought to life.
For this reason, the film is no more offensive, even less offensive, than last year’s eight-times Oscar-nominated film Inglourious Basterds (sporting another lamentable title), in which director Quentin Tarantino wagered his crude, bloodthirsty revenge fantasy on a sensitive historical issue for stronger dramatic impact. By my estimation, that embraces the very definition of exploitation. As does the WE “reality” show Little Miss Perfect, parading three and four-year-olds around in their disturbingly skimpy “wow-wear.” Kick-Ass is certainly no more destructive than that.
To be honest, I can’t recall the last time I felt such strong and varied emotions while watching a movie as I did during Kick-Ass. Providing moments of shock, horror, disgust, excitement, intensity, hilarity, and general absurdity, Kick-Ass is a rollercoaster ride—a swift kick in the pants, ahem, in the ass, perhaps.
As a film—as an artistic expression and means of entertainment (for those of the proper age and condition)—I have to give Kick-Ass…
As a greater reflection of morality and decency in our culture, Kick-Ass gives me reason to worry.
Directed by Matthew Vaughn. Written by Jane Goldman & Matthew Vaughn based on the comic book by Mark Millar & John S. Romita Jr.
Rated R for strong brutal violence throughout, pervasive language, sexual content, nudity and some drug use – some involving children.
Runtime is 1 hour, 57 minutes.
Tickets & Showtimes» Watch the Trailer» Visit the Website»
Isn’t it refreshing to read a movie critique that is equally concerned with the effect the art has on our culture, as it is with the influence the culture has on the art. I have come to expect an entertaining, analytical and very, very thorough review from Mr. Mehring and this does not disappoint.As with many of his reviews, we not only learn a lot about the movie but a little about ourselves. Sempre Fidelis, Adam
Reading this review and especially this comment has made me question the limits of your both of your ignorance and stupidity. While stating the most obvious and least intriguing themes of the film, the writer belies a judgment that reflects his utter inferiority as a thinker. The response is even worse. If you read this review and see it as ‘new’ perspective, then there really is no hope for you.
No kidding. I can’t believe reviews like this get published. How do people like this have jobs? Journalism major? Despicable.
Wow, Wow, you’re intense. Reading your comment has made me question how someone having your both your intelligence and eloquence could write like a 4th grader. While stating the most obtuse and least developed of arguments, you belie your own judgment that you are superior to any one as a thinker. If you read this, I’m sure you’ll see the irony…or not.
And the quibbling begins….
Don’t be jealous that you didn’t write what he said first. It’s an opinion, which is more original than what you’ve said. On every blog there are always x, y, and z people who try to makes jokes the way you do, which is a little self-defeating to what you’re saying.
grow up, dude.
Interesting, but I fail to see what’s wrong with a child speaking profanely if they realize it’s just for a film. Even then, words are just words; just because a girl grows up using profane terms, doesn’t mean her life will be any worse or more crude. In fact, I believe it will do the opposite making her more mature and apt at handling mature situations. To contrast, I find this review to be slightly immature, and believe me, if a person cannot handle or come to terms with profanity even to a minimum (note the reviewer’s fear that children may become familiar with another version of ‘butt’) then that person is indeed immature. By the way, it is in no way wrong to say the actual word if you’re saying it to describe the word being said. In other words, you can say ‘cunt’ instead of ‘c-word’ since there is no malice involved. Honestly, cunt is a word like any other; I do not use it in my daily speech, but it’s a word, and saying ‘c-word’ only conjures up the word in our heads. It’s the same thing, and I deeply regret that some people are far too immature and unable to handle such words. Of course everyone has their own opinion, and I did not write to bash the reviewer in any way. I just thought that others might find this link on googlenews as I did, and I though it would be good to throw a little diversification of views in for good flavor. But honestly, get over yourselves.
I agree with both replies, but let’s cut these guys some slack. I can see where both are coming from and the opinions expressed are pretty mainstream, although admittedly, naieve. Would you really expect better from a movie critic and military slogan touting responder? If there’s anything to be learned here it’s just how far our standards have fallen in regards to what we read to pass the time.
Not to sound too over the top, but are you SERIOUS? I saw the movie last night with my mates, and we loved every minute. It’s a flick aimed at the 17+ crowd and the intent is not to get dads and kids together for an evening. I saw a few father-son outings in the theatre and just shook my head. This isn’t a spider man or normal super hero film, as the title boldy proclaims. If anything can be taken from this movie it’s that our children are in dire straights because their parents don’t have the intelligence to figure out what is and isn’t appropriate. There’s a topic for your next blogreview, author. You should be sacked for the quality of your writing. I’d be let go for such tripe.
As if limits of “exploitainment” exist anymore.
Look, it’s bad enough kids are constantly and prematurely burdened with unnecessary and/or harmful content ,
but it is beyond reprehensible when young children are charged to deliver said content.
Glad to see this review.
Hopefully people will read it, instead of trusting the three stars !
Believe it or not, I prefer watching most movies after they’ve been edited for television. I’d rather not be assaulted by the coarse language and explicit content and I don’t even have young children.
Can’t even imagine what parents go through looking after this stuff.
I don’t get it. You basically say this is a moral tragedy and then you recommend that we should see it? I was with you until you started praising it at the end. If something is offensive, isn’t it offensive no matter what it is? Even if it’s art? How can you make the distinction? And since you enjoyed it doesn’t that make you immoral too? A great read though. I just don’t understand your reasoning at the end.
Interesting. Apparently, coherence isn’t his strong point.
As you noted (intentionally or not) there has been a gradual erosion of decency standards in the last 70 years. No doubt you are a victim of this, as you are willing to tolerate even the crossing of a line by today’s loose standards in exchange for being entertained. And it will be thus until filmmakers are held to account (by risking the loss of an audience for any and all their work should they cross such lines). Not even sure the American film-goer has this kind of conscience anymore. Actors and filmmakers fear no backlash as evidenced most recently by their willingness to speak in praise and support (in some cases) of Roman Polanski, even now with his predatory deeds in black and white and for mass consumption.
Could be it’s hopeless.
Spare me the mockery of theatre as it relates to real life.
Upon The Globe; young actors killed in Shakespere’s era.
Group cry about this movie and the terrible harms it incurs:
BOO. HOO.
Has anyone bothered asking young miss Moretz what shattering effect this language & violence might have on her delicate psyche? In fact, she has been asked, and she appears, despite her young age (remember when YOU were 11? What were swears?) to be aware that she is ACTING.
Also: yes, this film is grounded in “reality”, but it still exists in a universe where, for instance, Nicholas Cage possibly does not exist. This is a simulacrum of our reality, but its still firmly grounded in an alternate, cinematic universe.
Obviously. What a tool.
Yeah….he’s the whole tool bag.
I asked her. She told me to “F*** off”.
Puhhhleeese grow the fuck up. Its a new world with new rules. Learn to adapt you old geez. I can only hope that when I become an old fart I have the decency to step aside and allow the younger generations to live instead of trying to leech off of us, making us pay higher taxes, and trying to control our future. This ain’t Casablanca anymore. I’m not gonna go as far as to say you don’t belong here because you are a human and you obviously have equal right to live… but if you don’t like it then tough luck… don’t watch it, and even more, don’t shit on it then praise it in the end. I can’t stand moral police… Let her fucking live
Sheesh, talk about someone who needs to grow up!
So, “its a new world with new rules”. (Do these rules include not needing an apostrophe in “it’s”?) Should we feel blessed that you and your generation are allowing us to temporarily live in your new world?
And, although you think you’re being cool with the gratuituous profanities (how seventies of you!), you must realize that every new generation from the beginning of time has thought that they have all the answers and the older folks were just in the way. Congratulations. You’re just like those you condemn.
Dave…
You need to take your own advice, “but if you don’t like it then tough luck… don’t watch (read) it.” Keep growing up until you develop the maturity that respects others opinions without resorting to immature name calling.
Remember, Dave, everyday you are getting closer to that old guy you have no tolerance for. Soon enough you will be there…
FYI: I saw the movie and agree with the reviewer that it was a roller coaster ride full of moments of shock, horror, disgust, excitement, intensity, hilarity, and general absurdity. It entertained me!
Following the screening I attended, a boy no older than Hit-Girl wearing a “Kick-Ass” novelty tee-shirt trudged out of the theater with a sullen look on his face and his father, also vested in “Kick-Ass” branded swag, looking astonished right behind him.
—-
You’re not suggesting that a father deliberately and knowingly took his son along to watch a R rated film, are you? Then why blame the filmmakers?
The child, to me was clearly robbed of his innocence by his father, since the movie is clearly R rated. It’s not as if some shit was spring on to the father and child out of the blue. You go into an R rated movie knowing what you’re going to get. I don’t understand what your problem is, if it’s R rated, then that’s it, the filmmakers have done their bit.
Excuse me, but you dropped an ‘s’ bomb that may very well rob children of their innocence. Who knows the traumatic effect that may very well result from children hearing what they hear EVERY SINGLE DAY. It happens at school, it happens at movies, it happens at church; grow up 🙂
Jews have been making movies sleazier and sleazier over the years. It is simply an attempt to lower the bar of proper behavior and thought in this country. They do this to make their own actions, i.e. Securities fraud, scheister lawyers, Insurance, etc. blend in with the crumbling values here in America. SHOOT YOUR TELEVISON. Read a book.(other than the diary of poor anne frank, who may or may not have even existed.)
You are an awful person; there is no excuse for unsubstantiated and arbitrary prejudice. Shame on you. And there are no crumbling values in America; there are only crumbling, arbitrary gender roles, racial roles, and censorship. If you cannot handle the expression held so dear in this country, get out.
PS: Anne Frank existed, and she will always have more pull as a literary icon than putzes like you.
I agree with the article author 100%. I saw a couple of parents bringing their little kids to this movie last night. My first thought was: “It’s R-rated, those kids shouldn’t be here.” But then when film characters were being made to kill themselves and were being burned alive and beat to death, I thought: “Holy f— get those kids out of here!” I loved the movie, but Lionsgate needs to make it clear in it’s promotional media that this film is NOT for children. (also at 1h53m, they could have have cut the microwave scene with no loss to story or momentum).
I thought it was a thoughtful review – and considering that reviews are allegedly intended for those who have not seen the movie or pre-judged it, admirably objective.
It certainly informed me of the specific ways that the promotion of the film differs from its reality. Apart from the title, previews I had seen had me toying with the idea of allowing my 11 year old to attend a showing. I think otherwise now.
And it also speaks to the benefits of the Internet, in that the reviewer was allowed sufficient space to discuss a variety of issues associated with the film. I see no contradiction at all in discussing how a film might be considered exploitative – and admitting to enjoying it nonetheless: that’s reality. Films may include ideas, but they are do reside entirely in the abstract.
It is a brave new world, one in which it is not possible to shield children or their innocent parents, from ideas (which may be a good thing). My main concern after reading this, is not the film itself, but the way in which it has been promoted online: especially the links to vigilante sites and the like.
(sorry for the ‘are do’ typo. I meant to say they don’t reside entirely in the abstract)
Really? There are movies out there that are way more violent than kick-ass. Fight Club, Inglorious basterds, Even The Patriot had a scene where some guys leg got smashed off by a speeding cannon ball, I could go on, but you get the point. Sure 70 years ago it would have caused an uproar, but guess what? ITS NOT 70 YEARS AHO ANYMORE! It’s today, its OK to say the word ass… is that really such a bad thing? Its just a word.
When I hear complaints about “decency” and “think of the children,” the first question that comes to my mind is: does nobody remember themselves at 10? I had an event in my life that clearly divided my life into the before and after 11, and I can confidently tell you that before 11 I already knew and used every profanity known (granted, I didn’t really understand most of them, I just knew they were bad). By 11 I had already snuck into my share of rated R films and seen a porno (being pre-puberty, I found all the sex-stuff boring). I managed to do all this while having extremely attentive parents (not all of my friends had parents that were as attentive hence unsupervised access to the inappropriate materials).
End result: Me and most of my friends from that time are now well adjusted adults. I personally hold a doctorate level degree, have a well paying job, and am engaged. I believe that most people get their panties in a bunch forget that they themselves were exposed to the same type of stuff, if not worse, with no ill-effects. Hell, I even curse less now than when I was a kid.
Big Daddy dies.
Honestly, reading through some of these comments the people that think they know what they’re talking about seem like they get out the least.
Having an opinion is one thing, being an elitist “intelligent” prick is another.
honestly, seeing that a dumb response on a blog caused you to feel a certain way shows how insecure and little you are.
Do you really think I care? You’re naive.
I just think it’s funny that I spoiled a big part for a lot of people. It was probably the biggest part, other than Frank D’Amico dying, Red Mist being evil, and the prep for a sequel.
Pro-Tip: Don’t take the internet so seriously!
Point proved. Tool.
Calling me a tool really got me fired up! >:[
Why are we all deciding what ‘the everyone’ will watch when the choice is within ourselves?
If you don’t like it, don’t support it with a ticket purchase or buying the movie etc.
Parents need to be held accountable for the raising of their children, nobody else.
Regarding the actress exposed to such things, its a movie. It only looks real from the camera view. Each cut is a few frames long… seconds. Between those takes are a hundred people laughing, sipping coffee, conversing, and working. You see the boards and wires that hold up props, huge light diffusers, cables, and all the equipment off camera frame boundaries. When you are on set you know its a stage and its fake. You are struggling to act the part and the very nature of acting means to become something you are not… its all fake, down to the girl saying the c-word people. Its not reality. You need to understand that movies and reality are very different, just cause it looks like it was recorded reality doesn’t make it so.
To properly make your voice heard, make decisions that do not support the movie. Put your words to action by not letting your children see such things.
Don’t watch Family Guy… note the title Family Guy implies its family oriented but you complain about the word ass in this movie title? You know what your walking into when you see the previews to this movie at least… use your heads for Christ’s sake make better decisions and own up when you do not!
Reality is reality. If people love the movie or hate it or something in between, a chain of events will go into play that make the movie a success or failure. Avatar is a multi billion dollar machine for this very reason, and Dawn of the Dead probably not. But don’t blame anyone for the raising of your children.
We are a planet full of people. Each one a unique personality. Each one generally knows what is best for him/herself, and should know what is best for their children. Let parents raise their kids.
Perhaps the best be a value to your cause is to educate parents, than to point fingers at society who you feel raise your children?
Teach parents how their actions affect their children in such a way that they are more effective.
You are putting a lot of energy in the wrong direction where it doesn’t yield a result. Work on parents, not studios, and you’ll you’ll have results.
You people take this way too seriously. If you don’t like the movie then don’t see it. Simple as that. It is called entertainment for a reason. If your child sees this movie and suddenly becomes some bad mouthed wannabe superhero, there are more problems in their life than seeing some 2 hour movie could ever cause.
Contracts were signed and scripts were read and rewritten before the movie was produced. If this actress really was exploited do you really think the FCC would even allow it a rating and let it be shown in theatres?
Not to mention that a PG13 movie nowadays is allowed brief nudity and vulgar language anyways so why would you even fathom taking your child to an R rated movie if you were that concerned about what they are subjected too?
Sorry to burst your bubble, but your kids probably hear language just as foul in the halls of their school.. are you going to write a long winded article about it and remove your kids from school because of it? No? Thought so.
And this article is presented via “The Dagger” (red background, “Hit-Girl’s” preferred weapon, stylized blood-spatter), “local news with an edge”. The “expletive” is still presented, frequently. “Exploitative” photos are displayed without the author’s implied “demanded” defensive censorship. And I stopped reading at paragraph 22, above the purple-hued movie poster – because those sentiments are absolutely hypocritical.
Next, Adam Mehring will try to figure out why the local police have gone from blue uniformed peace-officers with six-shooters to heavy armored stormtroopers with military weaponry. Yeah, the “cops” aren’t to be feared at all.
I beg of you, Adam, to determine the state of children worldwide as pertaining to the historical influence of TOYS and FICTION. Are girls not to become mere dolls in uncomfortable shoes, and boys to end up corpses in fashionable nooses? Or better yet, try and discourage the idea of “neighborhood crime watch” and see what the government has to say about it.
“The Dagger In Your Inbox”… Hypocrites.
calling something unoriginal is almost never original either, as well as being much much easier than coming up with any idea at all. I think it is morally reprehensible that kids are involved in producing this kind of ‘coarse’ content. For those of you who say that words are just words, this is partly true, but only to a point. It’s not just that the words are deemed ‘bad’ it’s that they signify a greater past hate, that we shouldn’t try to remind ourselves and others of. To use words that perpetuate negative views of women,different races or different orientations an not be the best thing to do.
Thread revival, movie on DVD now.
I rented ‘Kick Ass’ on DVD and liked it so much that I bought a copy on e-bay the next day. My 7 year old is not permitted to watch R or PG-13 movies, and I have enabled the v-chip in her TV restrict similar levels of programming. I have a 15 year old daughter that I will not lend the movie to, but I am not so jaded as to think that she has never heard the “c word”. As far as the young actress spewing the word, well, she’s an actress, her parents have taken many risks already by opening her up that whole scene. I read an interview with the girl where she discusses how much trouble she would be in if she used some of the language from the film in her everyday life. My opinion is that she seems to have decent boundaries, and can distinguish between reality and fiction quite well. For the parents who allow their young children to see R movies, here is what an R rating means:
R — Restricted. Children Under 17 Require Accompanying Parent or Adult Guardian. An R-rated motion picture, in the view of the Rating Board, contains some adult material. An R-rated motion picture may include adult themes, adult activity, hard language, intense or persistent violence, sexually-oriented nudity, drug abuse or other elements, so that parents are counseled to take this rating very seriously. Children under 17 are not allowed to attend R-rated motion pictures unaccompanied by a parent or adult guardian. Parents are strongly urged to find out more about R-rated motion pictures in determining their suitability for their children. Generally, it is not appropriate for parents to bring their young children with them to R-rated motion pictures.
source: http://www.mpaa.org/ratings/what-each-rating-means