I just have to vent my frustrations a little. We've only been here 10 months and most things I can accept but this...
We have two boys that are 2 1/2 and 3 1/2. This past Sunday we decided to take them to see the movie Cars. They've seen enough previews for it on their DVD's and always seek out the toys for Cars at the stores. Right now they are both "Car" crazy.
We found a cinema in Zurich showing the film in English. We arrive at the cinema after promising it to the boys only to find out children must be a minimum age of 6 to see a movie even when the parents are with them. THIS IS A KIDS MOVIE!!! Shouldn't that decision be up to the parents and not the Zurich Film Commission?? Both my husband and I were completely astonished at this law.
We had to leave with two heartbroken boys screaming and crying because we couldn't go. As my husband pointed out, they can have the toys, see all the advertisements but not the movie. How much money are the cinema's losing with this law? I can understand if it were not a kid's movie or a late night showing but this is for any movie at anytime.
Your 2nd post certainly can be a rant But I think I'm going to go ahead and change the subject to actually describe your rant - how about - "Small children banned from kids film!"
This situation sounds very strange. I would be really surprised if it is a law, and I know that as far as film guidelines go the US is usually WAY too conservative (well, depending on your point of view). Things which carry an 18 certificate in the US often carry a 12 certificate here. For example the second Matrix film had an 18 when I was in the US (what's up with that?).
I suspect it is maybe a cinema policy, maybe because of screaming kids or something? I've heard that some cinemas here have just started bringing in crying rooms, so babies must be allowed?
I'm sure someone who actually has children might jump in and give some useful info at this point.
So what are your alternatives? Do you have the DVD? I take it that this is a must see. Maybe you should pop over to the P2P thread over in off-topic, maybe someone's "mate" might be able to help you out... Well, after all you did turn up with a fist-full of cash ready to pay, but you were refused...
Actually, that's exactly the reason i started downloading movies on the internet. My neighbour's 4 yr old was upset after they stopped them seeing The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe (i think it was) a few days before Christmas.
It took about 3 hours and one DVD burner to solve that problem!
Looks like you ended up in a cinema with really strict entrance policy.
All films normally show both the legal age and the recommended age for viewing. Cars is seven years old for both. Having said that, I still saw it with my three and six year old not so long ago in a local cinema.
Just checked. It seems that these limits are set in Zurich by the Zurich film commission. Isn't it cute that each canton does its own classifications - I wonder how much that costs? But anyway...
Films seem to be listed with the minimum age required by law and a recommended age. Cars is listed as 6/8 - so 8 is recommended, but they'll be admitted at 6. Garfield 2 was listed as 6, and Monster house was listed as 6/10. There didn't seem to be anything under 6 in the list I looked at.
I agree that such decisions should be left up to the parent, but if the parent hasn't seen the film, how could they know what's in it? I haven't seen it either, so I can't say if there are any scary bits in it
I remember seeing Lord of the Rings 2 (the Two Towers) in London. Sitting in front of me was a woman with a 3 year old and a 4 year old (I guessed). I guess she wanted to see the film, but the kids were pretty agitated having to sit there for 3 hours, so they were busy playing and making a noise (while I was trying to watch the film). I was kind of happy that they weren't watching the screen because there are some pretty scary scenes in Lord of the Rings - orcs being hacked to pieces, ring wraiths riding around the place. So I guess what I'm saying is that the cinema staff were happy to let this woman bring her kids into Lord of the Rings, but maybe they shouldn't have? At least we know the Swiss staff will follow the letter of the law, even if we don't always agree with it!
I wonder what happens if you take a baby in - technically they are under 6, but if they are asleep the whole time??
This is an issue here. My youngest was 5 when we arrived and couldn't go to the cinema in Zurich even to films that are certificated U in the UK including Disney films!!
We actually delayed our arrival by a couple of days so my then 8 year old could see the new Harry Potter film.
Fortunately our school arranges private viewings with the local cinema in Zug and they waive the age thing. But the films are suitable for kids.
Get used to watching more DVDs and do other things here such as zoos, museums and other outings as they rarely charge for any children under 6.
Well, I may going against the flow here, but I think this is an excellent policy of Swiss/Zurich cinamas. Sitting on seats that have been treated by sticky fingers to watch a movie to accompanyment of "What's that Mommy?" and crying - no thanks!
I'd add this to the list of things I like about living here...
I agree that there are many films not suitable for young children to see. But movies made specifically for children like the Disney movies should allow young children in at the parent's discretion.
If my kids were crying, not watching the movie and disturbing other patrons I would certainly leave with them. I know many parents wouldn't do this and this leaves many people not liking children in a cinema setting.
But, if you're going to an afternoon showing of a CHILDREN'S movie you have to expect that there will be noisy, crying children. I'm not talking about evening showings, or for films that adults will want to sit through. Children of any age should be allowed to watch children films with the parents consent and supervision. Certainly, if a parent was not parenting the child and the child is out of control the cinema has every right to ask them to leave. But my rant is not even being allowed to go period.
I can see this argument for older films such as Lord of the Rings and even Harry Potter, but Disney???
I didn't realise that you, your TV alter ego you and all the Swissies want to keep Cinderella, Dumbo and Toy Story all to yourselves. I think there is a requirement for childrens showings where you lot all stay at home and let us poor guys with kids sit though syrupy Disney films with our sticky sweets (which I am surprised are not banned too...) at a kid suitable time in the day.
Ashley
who owns a lot of kids DVDs since coming to Zurich
Thankfully all my children are over 6 now but I agree these restrictions for children`s films are a pain. The ratings are actually 6/8/10 but if accompanied by an adult all 6 year olds may view. It`s quite common here for children to go to the cinema without an adult. Whether or not you get in with "under age" children depends on the cinema and, in my opinion, they`re stricter on films being shown in English. There are a few films shown in Swiss German which 4 year olds may see.
As children start pre-school and school later here, I assume they think younger children would not have the concentration.
By the way, am boycotting Pathe (when possible) as they insist you buy your refreshments there - at extortionate prices.
I have been in Cinemax and seen children younger than 6. The last time I was there to watch Over the hedge I noticed small children running around and thought I hope they quiten down for the film and they did.
When I pay for a ticket I expect silence from young and old people. Some people seem to come to the cinema to chat and use their mobile phones.
I also see way too many parents who need to learn basic civic sense before bringing screwed up carbon copies into this world.
Redplaydoh you can always watch it at home on DVD. Atleast it will teach your kids the virtue of being patient and not buying into all Hollywood marketing crap
A tad off topic, I know, but I wonder if it is me or the changing times...
I rarely go to the cinema now, and every time I do I sear it will be the last. Why? The behaviour of the audience. In the last film I watched I put up with three woman behind me eating crisps (potato chips) for the first 45 minutes. Finally I turned round to then and said very loudly in English (never complain here in anything but English) "Are you going to make that noise all through the film - or what?"
It was very effective and they stopped at once, but this is just the tip of the noisy cinema audience iceberg. People somehow think they are at home and chat, kick the row of seats in front, check for text messages and reply to them etc. etc. That and the pulling of the plug mid-sentence for sales of more crunchy stuff for the audience to annoy me with - by the way, why when the film starts again is it never where it stopped? - have all but killed any enjoyment the cinema once held for me.
The final straw is the cinema employee who appears to ruin the final climax of the film in a burst of light through a door at the front, so they can fling open the fire exit to send punters out into the rain to second the titles come up.
really? ... then all the bad ass kids must live in my neck of the woods ...
(most recent) case in point: last week on the bus 4-5 yr old stands on seat and pushes stop button for every single stop between Baden SBB and Spreitenbach bahnhof. The poor driver seemed confused. The parents did nothing. Then again maybe it's more a reflection of the parenting style than the kids themselves.
This is the norm in the US. Movie theatres' main profits come from concession stands, I don't imagine that its any different here. You can always bring drinks in your pockets, wife's purse, etc.
Just last week, 7 people (across a wide range of social classes, including 2 university students), were arrested in their homes, with their computers searched and confiscated in SINGAPORE for P2P piracy offenses. They are all charged with illegal downloading and possessing P2P files (music and video)
Seeing how the Swiss authorities like to emulate Singapore's success in some instances, suggesting to goto P2P posts and solicit help for someone who cannot watch "Cars 2006" is not quite wise. (Zurich wants to implement Electronic Road Pricing in a few years' time, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_road_pricing )
For all we know, this person (who is a newbie BTW), is an internet policeman, trolling for victims. It may not happen, but it CAN happen.