New Harry Potter film too strong for teens.

hELL, when I was a kid, I sw Barbarella, all I got was a chubby

Up to 15??? My daughter's 15 now, and read the book on her own when it first came out (I couldn't read it to her fast enough so she took over.)

I pay attention to the movies she sees, and this can't be as "bad" as some we enjoy together...

I thought it was great news that the Australians take violence in films so seriously. It's much more of a concern to me than sex in film. I think parents should have to go with young people to films that are violent - talk to them about what they're seeing - and that's what the Australian rating requires - adult accompaniment.

Such a perceptive man--he doesn't have to read the book (or see the film). He can tell by the letter, "M".

He has a gift.

Well, in the US of A, all the violence you can muster is grand - Just don't go on tv and let a boob pop out. I agree that violence is too often overdone. I like a bit of sex in a movie much more than bodies getting hacked or whatever.

Some people don't seem too bothered (these kids are 8!)

I've seen it, it would startle a child a few times and maybe give them a nightmare or two...It's really not that bad at all.

Controversy only drums up more interest.

Indeed, but then if it's based on a children's book and rated M, what mother is going to let their child see that?

To quote Fats Waller; "One never knows, do one?"
At any rate this one's outdoing the other Harry Potters. I believe interest in the series will continue to build, for the kids age with each succeeding installment, going from kids to near adults. That makes the characters become more complex in many ways.

Gee do Aussies rate TV News? Here there is more violence on one news program than in all the Harry Potter books combined. Not to mention in the Potter books the "good guys" win.

Sam

Very true Sam. Children can see enough violence, bloodshed, and drama in one hour of news to last them a lifetime - yet they can't watch a movie specifically made for their tastes and level of maturity.

I think adults underestimate kids ability to differentiate between reality and fiction. Sure there are a few who copy things they see on tv, with disastrous results but, they are a minority.

I know my inner child loves the special effects in the Potter films. The magical animals are enough to give me really neat dreams for weeks.

The violence in the Potter books and films is always initiated by the villains. The hero, his friends and mentors are defending themselves. Some of the stuff Potter and friends do to Malfoy and company are basically pranks and not outright violence.

All things considered I would read the Potter books to my kids, if I had any, and take them to the movies too. Afterwards we could discus the similarities and differences between them. We could also discus what makes Harry, Hermionie, Ron, Draco and the others admirable or creepy and why.

Sam

Check this out

That seems appropriate to me, the.

Jeez Sam, you sure hit the skids quick - don't think I've seen anyone change overnight like that.


Latest in Oz (wizards aplenty!) - the movie has been bumped down to PG (Parental Guidance). Course, when all these children start forming covens and sacrificing the family pet - you know that the censors are going to cop it in the neck.

I think it's a great teen film if for no other reason that it shows both boys and girls that there's nothing wrong with a girl's becoming the "take charge guy". Cheers for Hermione or as the boys and girls will say "Hermione rocks."

You've got to be kidding me! People are fretting over the age group appropriate for Harry Potter #3 but parents were purposely encouraged by churches and chain emails to take their kids to the R rated sado masochistic pornography of violence called The Passion?

buffy shakes her head.....

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp Hypocrisy, like greed, is one of the wonderful tenets that the church can occupy but it's a sin for anyone else to do it.