Red Band Trailers
Notice anything strange about this picture? It's not its normal bright green, is it? Look at it for a moment, look at the wording. It reads "The following preview has been approved for RESTRICTED AUDIENCES ONLY". Hmm... aren't most trailers usually approved for ALL AUDIENCES?
Welcome to the return of the Red Band trailers. Red Band trailers can contain pretty much any content from a movie - violence, sex, cursing, you name it. These trailers can be shown only before a showing of an R-rated movie. Sounds good enough, right? Wrong, in my opinion.
Not all R-rated movies have sex, language, and violence all at once. Even if you aren't 17, you're parents have probably let you watch an R-rated movie or two, right? I've seen one, so far. It was rated R for terror/violence, I believe. And there lies the problem: some parents may let their child see a restricted film, knowing its only rated R for something they don't care too much about their children seeing. So, if you let you're kid see an R-rated movie for, say, Strong Language, would you want them to see people having sex in the trailer before the movie? I don't think so.
The largest chain theater in North America, Regal Entertainment Group, just agreed to reintroduce these Red Band trailers to audiences. It's just my opinion, but I find it inappropriate to show certain material in a movie trailer. Not every moviegoer even wants to see those kinds of things! Because if you are seeing a movie that's rated R for Language, you didn't sign up to see people having sex, did you?
What do you guys think of the Red Band trailers?
By Poette
We've had these kind of ratings trailers for years and they are definitely useful for anyone deciding whether to watch a movie or not. Even if content is not shown in the trailer, the words "Contains Offensive Language, Drug Use, Sex Scenes.." or whichever set applies is still there to be seen. Can't say you haven't been warned.
Don't know about where you are, but here a movie is given a rating and these ratings apply even within the home, i.e., it is illegal for a parent to sit down and view an R18 movie with anyone under 18. How many times have I broken that law? Lost count...
Grandma, April 10th, 2008 at 06:04:36am
well, it is an R movie. so if you don't want your kids seeing violence/sex/bad language etc you shouldn't take them to see that movie knowing there is a posibility there will be those things in the previews. if it is that important for the kid to see the movie, rent it when it gets to DVD. i think these trailers are actually a good idea. i'm 17 and i have been watching R movies for years anyway, but there have been times where i've seen a trailer and i think the movie looks good but when i get to see the movie its full of sex or bad language. if the sex or bad language is in the trailer, well i know what i'm getting into. i guess theres good things and bad things about it, but i say keep them. of course, i don't really believe in censorship in the first place...haha.
suburban.zombie, April 8th, 2008 at 06:24:00pm
that's a very good point!
I think they're a good idea :)
Sarah!, April 8th, 2008 at 11:23:29am
well on the bright side, at least they don't show those red bands when your gonna see a kids movie...that'd be messed up
Moon-Doggie, April 8th, 2008 at 10:54:13am
you do make a strong point. and i think you are right. if somehting is going to be advertised to the public, then i dont htink people want children to see violence, and sex stuff.
Vegemite, April 8th, 2008 at 06:37:46am