KEY POINTS:
The M rating has been given to the latest Harry Potter movie Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. It willl be released here on July 11.
M means: suitable (but not restricted to) mature audiences 16 years and over and that "it is advisable to
read the descriptive note to the right of the rating symbol before deciding whether you or your children should view the film."
Should parents take their children? Would you take a child to an M rated Harry Potter?
This forum debate has now closed. Here is a selection of your views on the topic.
klb
I would like to think that its rated M for a reason and parents would use their intellect and not allow kids under 16 to see it. Needless to say it's obviously not going to happen so I ask this. For all the parents that allow their kids to go see a movie they are not equipped to deal with, then please ensure you are there to hold their hands or to reassure them if they start to cry, because this patron will not have the patience. My son will have to wait till he is old enough to see it.
Deanne
I think that it is completely up to the parents. Many of these kids have seen scarier things than Harry Potter, real life events. TV today isn't clean like it used to be. If the parents believe that their child is mature enough and has seen enough of the "scarier" points then it is completely ok for them to see the movie.
Grandma's view
M. Recommended for Mature Audiences. Responsible parents would not want to inflict on a young developing mind something that it does not have the ability to comprehend. Some parents use cinema as a child-minding service. I guess you cannot rate a film "Responsible Parents Decide". That is provoking another argument. I am for the rating of Harry Potter being an M.
Time less
Oh come off it! What more can you add to the plot than what is already in the books? I mean if you (your child, or anyone else) grew up reading the books (granted that the parents gave permission) any person who meet that condition should watch it rated M or not, especially when you are a true fan of the series.
HP fan
My child has basically grown up with the HP books and movies. They stopped being "kids" books at about number three. You only need to compare the language and tone of book one vs book 5 to see that they're totally different. But they are well written, entertaining, not sexually explicit, not even overly violent and they are clearly fictional. Ask any 12-13 year old if they believe in witches/wizards and they will answer no every time. So yes, my under 16 year old will go to the movie, and will read book 7 (as soon as I've finished it) and I don't fear that she will be corrupted by doing so. She also saw all the LOTR movies which were also M and was of course 4-6 years younger. I didn't see her yelling "You shall not pass!" and waving swords!
Manda (Queensland, Australia)
I feel it is completely up to parents whether they feel their child can understand the themes and handle the content in "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix".
The reason that it is rated a lot higher than the first 3 movies is because, as in the 4th movie, there is a character death and more adult themes. The book itself is a lot darker and is quite political. I feel that they are right to rate this movie "m".
Bruce
Views expressed here make me wonder why anyone bothers putting a rating on a movie at all! As Harry moves closer toward adulthood I suspect the corresponding movie for Deathly Hollows, even if rated R18, would still have no effect for some parents and I'd be sitting next to a punch of 8 year olds!
Yolanda
In my view the Harry Potter movies were never meant to be children's books. The book follows a boy that would inevitably turn into an adult. It is more aimed at kids that were young when he was and grew older as he did. The rest will have to wait until they are older. Let them watch real kids' stories.
Old school
Yes! Absolutely! Parents should accompany their children to the Harry Potter movie. They will have the time of their life and get to enjoy some first-class literature and brilliant movie-making and exposure to a writer who sets high standards and values for young people. Have a ball! There was nothing like it in their day!
Michael Lane (Whakatane)
Yes. While Goblet of Fire was intense, it was not graphically violent or sexual. Our eight-year-olds will be there on opening day.
Dom (Auckland)
I think parents should take their kids if they think they can handle it. I don't expect that it will be too much more violence than other movies, like Spiderman etc. If the kids have read the books then they know what happens anyway, so what's the harm.
Kevin Jackson
If the movie is rated M then there is no reason to sob sob sob. It's for the good of kid, we need to teach our kid better, kids take it too easy in NZ.
