I think people should be required to become licensed before they are allowed to have children. Doctors, lawyers, police officers, even hair dressers for heavens sake, are required to have training and accreditation before they can perform their jobs. Tests are given and the ones who aren't up to the task, or think it's some sort of joke get the boot. Jobs that involve great responsibility should require some sort of preparation and there is no other job in the world that has more responsibility than parenting.
Yesterday AH and I drove into Woodridge to see Watchmen on IMAX. We were there a half hour early and were still one of the last in line so we ended up in the second row. (For the record, it wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be, but that close is in no way optimum IMAX viewing. Get there EARLY) As we sat there waiting we watched a man (in all fairness, he might not have been their father) come in with 2 small boys.....maybe 6 or 7.....and sit in the front row. Watchmen is rated R for very good reason. Just about everything you would (if you had a brain and the smallest amount of discernment) never want a child under 13 to see. Language, gore, sex, full frontal nudity, global war, you name it. It's the stuff of serious childhood nightmares. For awhile I thought maybe he had taken them out, but at least 2 hours in I heard one of them laughing at a nude scene and saw them still there when the lights came on 3 hours later. What is up with that? Are there no resources for parents to do their movie homework before they bring kids to stuff like this, or don't they care? I found it very upsetting.
Watchmen was quite a movie. I wouldn't say it was great, but as AH and I talked about it on the way home we both agreed that in the 3 hours we were never bored or aware of the time span. It is creative, well acted, and extremely brutal. The ending was controversial in nature and made for good conversation. If you are a Grey's fan, particularly the Denny/Izzy plot you will never look at Denny the same way again. Neither of us had read the Watchmen graphic novels and I think perhaps I would have enjoyed it a little more if I had, but I wouldn't let that keep you from going if you are a fan of this type of film. It took place in a sort of twisted 1980 something where Nixon is still president and super heroes (most with no super powers) are disbanding and living "normal" lives while the world is on the brink of nuclear war with Russia. If you think you might want to see it, don't wait for the DVD, it needs the big screen experience (although maybe not the second row of the IMAX.) I didn't love it, I didn't hate it but I do warn that there were places I covered my eyes and for goodness sake, leave the kids at home.
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