Rocky Horror at 16?

Jolene@foodiemom.com

November 16, 2007 by Jolene@foodiemom.com

0 votes

So am I a bad mom if I let the 16-year-old go see Rocky Horror? I loved going when I was in college, when I was 18 or 19.

It's not for the film lit assignment, but hey, maybe it could be, right? It's a musical, after all. And, now that I think of it, I might say it's my favorite movie musical. (I generally hate musicals, but with Susan Sarandon, Meatloaf and Tim Curry in fishnet stockings, what's not to like?) I like Rocky Horror way better than Spamalot (which I saw with said 16-year-old on Broadway; he loved it of course -- all that boy humor).

Forum: Movies

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Musicals, Rocky Horror, Spamalot

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4 comments

joe.shearer
joe.shearer, November 16, 2007
0 votes

I say why not? After all, I was suggesting you have him rent Boogie Nights. :)

Seriously, though, I've always thought people get too up in arms about keeping their kids away from certain movies. If you think he's mature enough to handle it, absolutely. I've actually wanted to start a thread about that very topic. Maybe I will now!

There's really not a whole lot of actual sexuality in that film anyway as I recall. Most of it is just suggestive.

I might caution you that going to see it there might be age restrictions. I'm pretty sure when I went at Hollywood Bar and Filmworks it was 18 and over only.

keycinemas
keycinemas, November 16, 2007
0 votes

I've been asked to do Rocky Horror many, many times throughout the last few years. The local cast has approached me many times about making Key Cinemas Rocky's new home. I first did Rocky when it came out in '75 and have done the show off and on since. Why not now? The show used to be a lot of fun; dialogue, props, camraderie. Then everyone wanted to do a "pre-show" and the fun turned into half-an-hour of filthy, simulated sex exhibitionism. The talk-back dialogue has evolved into every kind of filthy response possible. The spirit of the show has been totally lost. Is that a sign of the times? Perhaps. I'm no goodie-two-shoes when it comes to films, but I simply don't enjoy presenting this kind of entertainment to an audience, and, it ultimately reflects on my cinema.

Your point of age restrictions is well taken. Many, many cinemas no longer care about ratings. And, remember, in a multiplex, once you are beyond the guy who tears the ticket you can pretty much go where you want in the building without being checked on.

The rating system was created in 1968 as a GUIDELINE! for PARENTS! to determine whether their kids should see a show. It's not law! Over the years the responsibility has shifted from apathetic parents to cinemas. Again, a cinema can let in whomever it wants. It's a matter of company policy, not law. Those cinemas that belong to the MPAA have agreed to abide by the system.

When I was running regular fare, parents would drop their kids off no matter what the rating and get mad when you wouldn't let them in or insisted the parent had to go with them. The most common parental response, "Oh, they see worse than that on TV."

The rating system has become meaningless in that rules for NC-17 (X) material have leaked into R films. R materials into PG-13. PG-13 into PG and so on. The system is meaningless. I digress, but would love to see a broad discussion on this.

Should the young mother let her child see Rocky Horror? There's nothing harmful in Rocky Horror,I love the film, however, it is now an R rated movie with an NC-17 audience.

Best to all, Key Cinemas.

Jolene@foodiemom.com
Jolene@foodiemom.com, November 16, 2007
0 votes

"Should the young mother let her child see Rocky Horror? There's nothing harmful in Rocky Horror,I love the film, however, it is now an R rated movie with an NC-17 audience."

Yikes!

Wish there could be a toned-down version. Comedy Sportz manages to keep the stand-up clean (or clean enough) when the high school teams compete. (Yes, the 16-year-old is on an improv team.) But I know it would be tough to manage with what is probably, at best, an unruly crowd.

Maybe we'll just rent it. Kinda lame though to watch an audience-participation movie in your living room. And there's no way he's throwing rice unless he vacuums it up. But I wouldn't mind the cards. Or even the squirt guns.

And hey, thanks for the "young mother" reference. Love it!

joe.shearer
joe.shearer, November 16, 2007
0 votes

Ha...that reminds me. When I reviewed Rocky Horror for Halloween one year, I took my wife with me (and a friend of ours too). I was off talking to people and this d-bag who was about 20 years old with make up, spikey hair, a spiky dog collar, orange contacts and fake vampire teeth was standing in front of her in line. He commented to my wife that he "hates f---ing idiots," referring to me. You know, being all young and arrogant and hates-the-world. She said "that's my husband," and by the time I got back he had moved around his friends so there were like four or five people between us.

I didn't think the audience participation at Hollywood was all that bad. I remember Susan Sarandon's character was called a slut and Barry Bostwick was "A--hole,"...but there were no f-bombs or anything.

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