[darthdrew13]

I am seeing a trend recently with the new Toy lines based on movies in theaters. For the most part, a comic/retro movie is released (like Iron Man and Transformers) and the accompanying toy lines match the movie designs as accurately as possible (based on cost/benefit factors) but the movie is PG-13 or better and the toy line is aimed at young children.

I get confused when I see movie versions of Combat Heroes for G.I.Joe aimed at 5 year olds and they shouldn't even be seeing the movie associated with those toys and therefore would not understand who the characters are. My son is 5 and likes G.I.Joe now, but I only let him watch the classic cartoons (mainly the ones that came with the DVD packs). I may be an overprotective parent but my 5 yr old doesn't need to be watching Iron Man yet with all of the sexual innuendos, nor Transformers either (Sam's happy time?). It may not even phase him as he doesn't know what sex is, but when he does start figuring that out in a few years, I still don't think the Iron Man or Transformers movies are something he needs to see until he is at least 10 (both had PG-13 ratings).

So, lets pretend my son is 8 and walks the toy aisles with me and sees a cool Iron Man figure he wants, how does he enjoy the whole experience without a movie, comic or TV show to spark the interest? How will he know who Iron Man really is? I could let him read the old comics which are more kid based or even the Iron Man adventures comics out today, but none of that has the same armor suits in it. It's different. And if you have a child of your own, trust me, they will let you know when something is different.

I guess for me, having a media connection to the toy (via comic, TV show, movie or whatever) helps me understand the big picture of what I am buying and makes me want more. The Joe DVD packs really help in that area. Watch a fun DVD which contains the figures you have in front of you to play with.

I guess what I am saying is, if toy companies were really smart they could harness the kids buying dollar by continuing that strategy. Why not have a PG version of Iron Man available for kids to watch? It should be relatively easy to re-edit the movie removing the major cussing and sexual innuendos. They do it all the time when a movie comes out on TV, why not release it on DVD that way? (along with the PG-13 version) Or have a cartoon shown daily (or weekly) on TV or online? So when dad goes to see the HULK in the theater and junior wants to get excited about it too because he has some cool toys, there is a media outlet available for the 2 of them to share the experience.

I may be a prude, but my son won't even be able to watch the Iron Man cartoon movie (from a couple of years ago) due to the hard core violence (the guy who was shot in the head at point blank range isn't something I think a kid is ready for until he's 10 or better).

Kids may be getting exposed to more material in school than I was back in the 70s and 80s, but that doesn't mean we need to make them grow up faster by showing them thugs who get capped in the forehead or superheroes who bang the reporter. Those are adult themes. TV and movie ratings are there for a reason. Let kids be kids and enjoy who they are before they get exposed to stuff like that. I am NOT saying to protect them from those things forever because the world is a messed up place sometimes, just bring them along in their development at the right pace.

I am sorry I got on to this long rant. I just wanted to offer the idea of alternative and age appropriate media for kids to enjoy a story based around the toys that they are bombarded with in toy aisles today. Remember, they will play with Iron Man and G.I.Joe toys while they are kids, but then they will graduate to Sideshow collectibles, etc in their teens and in adulthood (if they stay in the collecting realm). If they don't have something that makes a toy come to life (via TV or movie) the toy will wind up in a garage sale or on ebay in weeks rather than months, an nothing else from that toy line gets bought in the stores. (that sounds like I'm promoting buying a ton of toys, but that's not my point. Here is my point).

I want my son to have toys that he can enjoy all of the charcters and come up with his own adventures but I think that having a movie (like Star Wars was for me as a kid) or TV show (like Joe cartoons) to nudge along those creative juices enhances the whole experience and make play time that much more fun.

I am a voice actor now because I would always imitate the cartoon and movie voices of characters while playing with my toys (I could never get Flint's voice to sound right) which made me believe I was creating my own episode of the show. I'd love for my son to have his own experiences like that or however he chooses.

Thanks for listening. Yo Joe!

[bigdaddyblue73]

As a father of three I understand your pain. The problem is Hollywood only wants to make $. They market movies to appeal to the broader audience. The target rating is PG13 because it brings the most viewers. PG isn't, let's face it violent enough, and R is too violent. PG13 allows just enough profanity and innuendo for the 14 and 15 years old to snicker. You also have to consider who is going to the movies today--it's teens. For me to take my family to the theater would be like 40-50 bucks plus popcorn. We don't go. We rent. The industry knows this, so it designs it's movies to fit the teen market, because that's who goes. All their $ is for fun, so they have no problem dropping the bucks. I am pretty sure I read somewhere that there are more PG13 movies released each year than the other ratings combined. And it seems like each one trys hard as it can to out innuendo the next one. Iron Man's innuendo kinds fit the character, the "happy time" thing in Transformers was out of line. It was gratuitous innuendo just to be dirty. It was juvenile. But what are you gonna do?

[Zoltron]

Much of the issue comes with the fact that afternoon programming has disappeared completely. I remember coming home from school from 5-14 and being able to watch cartoons on KTVU FOX, UPN 44, and the WB. I didn't have to worry about cable. Now, all they have on at this time is Maury. But thats for another post.

Many parents don't want the kind of programs we grew up on being on TV for the kids. MASK, gi joe, transformers, etc were all 1/2 hour advertisements for toys. Although, it sparked our imagination. The boomer generation eventually reformed this kind of advertising/programming.

But oddly, we still do have this. TF animated is a perfect example and I think if toys were bigger sellers. Then more companies would start doing this. But kids today seem to be more into video games than toys.

Comic shops are slowly disappearing, so there is no longer a point of reference for most kids. My 7 year old cousin didn't know who Iron Man was when the movie came out. Even if he wanted to go to a comic shop, his dad wouldn't take him. Superheroes may be big business for Hollywood. But the common person doesn't go to comic shops. They will however see the movies.

So I think that programmers need to bring back superheroes on network tv and make it for kids. Bring back Saturday Morning cartoons as well. Kids need positive heroes. Also, the shows should be written to kids and adults alike. Many cartoons don't have to be Barney, nor do they have to be the Animatrix.

But times have changed.

[CTGLinks]

I too am a father, and I get it, but I agree with bigdaddyblue73 that Hollywood focuses on cash by appealing to a broad audience.

That being said, when Hasbro and other companies make toys for these movies they also have to appeal to a broad audience.

That is why they make 25th figures and Combat Heroes.

I do not understand why 90% of the toy buying is by adult collectors though. Well, that's a lie, I do understand (kids aren't into toys, they want computers and video games) but what I don't understand is why they keep trying to draw in a market that is not buying and lose focus on who is, adult collectors?

[cliff secord]

Some Christian Group tried that awhile back ago if I recall...you'd call them and they'd sell you a "kid friendly" version of most movies out there...They'd re-edit the "offensive" parts they deemed not for kids outta the movie and stuff like that(language)and all...as soon as Hollywood got wind of their crap, they came down hard on'em hard for copyright infringement or some such reason...point is it won't happen, unless Hollywood goes thru the bother of making two film versions. They're just getting rid of pan & scan, a process they used to have spend extra money to get done, they sure as hell aren't gonna make kid friendly Iron Mans and PG-13 versions too, that editing process would take money outta their overall overhead. Just fast forward what you think is "offensive" in a PG-13 Movie...DVD's do it alot better than VCR's.

[copperhead33]

i get what you're saying, but if you're anything like i was, you grew up watching planet of the apes and godzilla flicks and were bored out of you skull during parts of the movies that didn't deal with giant monsters our monkies on horseback wrangling up humans.
Did i care about the people that lived beneath the city that worshiped the bomb? did i care about how Godzilla was the result of nuculear testing?
Nope. I just wanted to see the good parts.

I don't think todays parent should live or die by a movies rating. it's not hollywoods place to decide what your kid can or can't handle watching.
Some kids won't understand what "sams happy time is" while other kids'll giggle at it.
i can see you not wanting your kid to see a dude blowing another dudes head off at point blank range, but a vague referance to spanking it, shouldn't make you stop your kid from seeing an otherwise harmless fun movie.
personally i think Transformers was fine, iron man iffy, Hulk ok, and dark knight a no.
it's a personal choice on your personal opinions.

[facehammer]

Does anyone else remember that there was an F'n Rambo cartoon. Rambo. Seriously.

[arch2b]

i decide what is appropriate for my children, not some label or print on a package. i won't show my youngest the live action gi joe but my 9yr is plenty old enough for it in my opinion. ofcourse, this is based on the assumption it's not a graphic/sex oriented action flick. to be honest, i'd be happy to just keep watching the vintage cartoon series with my kids. i bought as many as i could find for transformers, still waiting for the gi joe dvd's and we also have he man, voltron and thundercats.

one of my complaints about parenting is often a lack of parental awareness of what thier kids are watching or really explaining to them what they are watching. i often have kids over and they simply reinact stupid things they've seen with no regard to the possible danger. i've had to have talks with my kids at times, no kid is perfect but some of the stuff i've seen other kids do just leaves me speechless.

[CTGLinks]

I'm big into non-censorship but am for warning labels. They are there for use to consider for ourselves and our children.

I am also big on not shielding people too much from the truth or how things really work. I know too many people that just do not get it and they are shocked at the most normal things.

Sex, death, war, anger, bad language, lies, are all a part of humans and will always be. Some people have great self control in public, some don't, but I think everyone no matter how saintly has a bad day every now and then and needs to get over themself sometimes.

Do I want my kids to grow up to be a foul mouthed, war mongering, stooge? No. But I want them to know what was is so that they can keep their distance...

[Uberlad]

i'm a schoolteacher, and i was astounded by the lack of quality material that is appropriate for all ages. Everything seems to have at least a few curse words and relatively racy material.

The film studios could make a killing by marketing all ages products. Instead of releasing another repackaging of a dvd with a new commentary section, release an all ages cut. Or just like dvd's have commentary sections, they could probably just as easily do a TV edit as one of the bonus features.

Of course, when you think about the stuff they show on network tv today, that might not be a good idea, either.

I'm all for artistic integrity, blah blah blah; but you would think it would be a worthwhile addition to the movie industry. (notice I mentioned addition, not alternative).