Am I out of touch ?

My 14 yr old daughter came home from school last and told me they,d just watched 'saving private ryan' I was a bit shocked tbh, I mean I love that film but found the opening 25 mins to be pretty harrowing. Maybe Im out of touch or showing me age but I think 14 is a bit too young to be watching something so visceral as that, what does anyone else think ?

Yea, thats a powerful film you know. I find the opening scenes on the beach very chilling. Did she get upset by it at all?

[Bluepete]

I agree, 14 is too young for that film. Having said that, lots of things have changed since we were that age, kids really do seem to grow up faster now.

Jeez, how old did that sound! Even worse, I look at new Cops and think how young they look!

So long as she slept OK and wasn't bothered by nightmares, maybe she can just seperate reality from the make believe world of film better than us?

Now go and take your vitamins and put clean pants on, you smell of wee wee.

Pete

Originally Posted by alpinestarhero

Yea, thats a powerful film you know. I find the opening scenes on the beach very chilling. Did she get upset by it at all?

No, she only mentioned it in passing, she did comment on the soldier with his arm blown off on the beach and walking round looking for it, but she doesnt seem to have been fazed by it, different generation I suppose.

I think that, probably, younger people can deal with these things better than adults- we've had more years of 'programming' to say some things are bad or scary- plus the chance of more real life situations of a large impact (we tend to get far more cautious as we get older).

If it were something that glorified violence, then it would be more of an issue, but if it tells it how it is and shows the reality of war, then perhaps in some ways it can be a good thing.

Though I think that it would be more responsible if the person showing the kids the movie asked the parents if it would be appropriate- different people handle these things differently and all.

When I was at school we only ever learnt about ancient history, the closest we got to present day was the industrial revolution so I suppose showing it before the 64th anniversary of D Day isnt a bad thing, Ive always tried to impress on my kids that the lads on the beach on D Day and the guys and girls in Iraq and Afghanistan arent much older than they are now, so if it helps to give them some sort of perspective maybe its a good thing.

Originally Posted by thedonal

I think that, probably, younger people can deal with these things better than adults- we've had more years of 'programming' to say some things are bad or scary- plus the chance of more real life situations of a large impact (we tend to get far more cautious as we get older).

Also, adding to this, I guess since adults will generally pay more attention to the news, documentrys etc, perhaps scenes of a film which are like that of the openign scene of saving private ryan seem more real to us. Given that alot of lives where lost on the normandy beach landings, that opening beach scene from saving private ryan is probably quite close to the truth.

[G]

The film has a certified age rating on it for a reason.

The school has broken the law by showing it, a law which infact carries a prison sentence and/or hefty fine of £2500.

Me, I would have loved to watch a film like that while I was at school and it would have kept me occupied in a history lesson.

But that doesnt make it right for the teacher to break the law and possibly psychologicaly damage a child.....kids now days are violent and sadistic enough without the need for it to be forced into them any earlier, if it was my child I would probably complain to the highest levels and demand an explanation/action to be taken out of principle.

Originally Posted by BluePete

I agree, 14 is too young for that film. Having said that, lots of things have changed since we were that age, kids really do seem to grow up faster now.

Jeez, how old did that sound! Even worse, I look at new Cops and think how young they look!

So long as she slept OK and wasn't bothered by nightmares, maybe she can just seperate reality from the make believe world of film better than us?

Now go and take your vitamins and put clean pants on, you smell of wee wee.

Pete

How did you know I smelt of wee wee ?

I'm going out with a teacher at the moment and she teaches year 11 (whatever that is???). Anyhow, she showed them the Saving Private Ryan movie as part of their studies specifically to show them the first 25 minutes. It was in conjunction with reading material.