Okay, the 'Purple Parents' thread got me thinking: my son is eleven, and I can't help myself - I'm dying to show him Purple Rain.

You have to admit, there's some heavy stuff in there. I'm okay with the nudity (girls have boobs, it's true), and the swearing (people swear, also true), but it's a pretty brutal movie, in other regards. Suicide, alcoholism, parents beating their kids, parents beating each other, young men hitting girls, girls forgiving young men for hitting them, girls being thrown into garbage cans for 'humorous' effect, and some rather graphic vaginal stimulation.

This movie came out when I was thirteen. I incidentally came from a pretty violent household, and Purple Rain was an ecstatic experience for me - a sign that if I just stuck with what I loved, what I believed in, things could, would get better. But I think we can all agree there's a big difference between eleven and thirteen. Plus, my son has never been a witness to the kind of craziness that some of us may regard as just a 'normal' part of growing up.

So I should just call it a victory and stick with Star Wars, right?

But, I really want him to experience an exceptional performer at the top of his game. The joy of perseverance, of believing in oneself despite the opposition. I think Purple Rain does an excellent job of that.

So, what do you think: Purple Rain - yay or nay?

try to wait for when it airs on VH-1 and let them see the censored version first, then when they are older let them decide if they wanna see the uncut version for themselves, that's what I would do.

What about the domestic violence

I was eight when I first watched it, its what made me get into Prince and his music

Do things your way/

[Edited 5/22/11 23:24pm]

I'd say he's about old enough. With the internet etc there's a lot more that he can access out there. Let him 'find' the DVD and watch with his mates - they'll think he's cool for showing them titties and people swearing in new ways. Think I was 13, it was around Batman time - he's seen 8 Mile right? Now show him the original!

If your child has access to YouTube, then they've seen all that already... The question is... R U ready to help guide your child through everything they will be exposed to? Purple Rain is just a movie.

eyewishuheaven said:

But, I really want him to experience an exceptional performer at the top of his game. The joy of perseverance, of believing in oneself despite the opposition. I think Purple Rain does an excellent job of that.

Then, for the love of god, don't expose him to Prince's acting!

TheEnglishGent said:

eyewishuheaven said:

But, I really want him to experience an exceptional performer at the top of his game. The joy of perseverance, of believing in oneself despite the opposition. I think Purple Rain does an excellent job of that.

Then, for the love of god, don't expose him to Prince's acting!

I watched it when I was 7 for the first time, I thought prince looked scary with those eyes xD

of course that's changed now

I don't want to be judgemental of your parenting skills, but...

Only YOU know you child. WE do not.

You know what your child has seen and heard already. You know the movie, you know what scenes may affect the child negatively.

Don't ask US!

Watch it together. Skip scenes that the child may not be ready for. Simple.

Don't forget to have a good explanation about VHS tape degradation ready when it gets to the "that ain't Lake Minnetonka" scene.

[Edited 5/23/11 7:06am]

djThunderfunk said:

I don't want to be judgemental of your parenting skills, but...

Only YOU know you child. WE do not.

You know what your child has seen and heard already. You know the movie, you know what scenes may affect the child negatively.

Don't ask US!

This, I know. I'm more interested in hearing about the experiences of others who have shown the film to younger kids, or seen it as a younger kid themselves. That, I don't know.

KeithyT said:

Don't forget to have a good explanation about VHS tape degradation ready when it gets to the "that ain't Lake Minnetonka" scene.

I say, give it a few years yet. Let kids be KIDS for as long as you can. Someday our children will remember what we gave to them and kept from them.

What about the boobies and guns and cussing? I would wait till he's like 15

My sister was eight when she saw PR. I think you can show it your son.

blueharmony84 said:

I watched it when I was 7 for the first time, I thought prince looked scary with those eyes xD

of course that's changed now

!!!

eyewishuheaven said:

djThunderfunk said:

I don't want to be judgemental of your parenting skills, but...

Only YOU know you child. WE do not.

You know what your child has seen and heard already. You know the movie, you know what scenes may affect the child negatively.

Don't ask US!

This, I know. I'm more interested in hearing about the experiences of others who have shown the film to younger kids, or seen it as a younger kid themselves. That, I don't know.

It's amazing that you're bringing this up as I just streamed it on Netflix yesterday and kept shoo-ing my 6 and 3 year old out of the room, as they always happened to show up right when someone was either cursing or naked.

I first saw it when I was about 8. I think it was one of the first videos that my parents rented when we got our first VCR. My parents had already watched it by themselves, so when it was time for me and my sister to watch it, I remember my dad coming in and fast forwarding through a certain part. As I recall now, it was the bedroom scene with App.

To be honest, I didn't remember ANY of it when I got older. I just vaguely remembered some of the performance footage and a few other key visuals like when P tore up the room after his dad's suicide attempt. I didn't undertand it or know what it was about. I just watched it, without knowing what I was watching. I think lots of kids are like that.

My son's 9 and as far as I'm concerned, he won't see a Rated 'R' movie til he's 16 or 17, depends on his maturity at that point. Purple Rain included ...

Can we ask why you absolutley want your child to see PR?

Christ! if my parents sat me down at 12 to force me to see any movie I'd be in therapy for life!

PurpleLove7 said:

My son's 9 and as far as I'm concerned, he won't see a Rated 'R' movie til he's 16 or 17, depends on his maturity at that point. Purple Rain included ...

Kinda makes me wonder why my fairly level headed parents let us watch it so young.... but then I remember, at the time, Purple Rain was a BIIIGGGG deal... I mean Prince and that movie were THE thing in 1984/85 and was almost required viewing in some urban households. We were also a musical family too. Without the music aspect of the film, I don't think we would have seen it. And as I mentioned earlier, the only thing I really remembered were bits of the performance footage.

You've got domestic violence, cussing, drinking, half naked females, Prince sticking his fingers in Apples veejayjay, Prince slapping the crap out of Apples, dirty apartments, a bouncer that looks like Santa Claus, a woman getting thrown into a trash dumpster, raggedy looking clothes, and a club owner who appears to wear the same damn thing scene after scene.

I'd say 17 is a good age to show a kid this movie.

HotGritz said:

You've got domestic violence, cussing, drinking, half naked females, Prince sticking his fingers in Apples veejayjay, Prince slapping the crap out of Apples, dirty apartments, a bouncer that looks like Santa Claus, a woman getting thrown into a trash dumpster, raggedy looking clothes, and a club owner who appears to wear the same damn thing scene after scene.

I'd say 17 is a good age to show a kid this movie.

Exactly. It's rated "R" for a reason.

eireboy34 said:

Can we ask why you absolutely want your child to see PR?

This.

I'm 13 and I got it on my ipod!

It's great but I'm no parent. My mom was biting her nails the whole time when we first watched it

I think it depends on the parent and the maturity level of the child. I think parents should talk about issues with their children early before they learn about them the wrong way from their friends. Parents aren't with their children 24/7 and while they might not want their kids to see certain things, let's face it they will be through TV, music, videos, computers, friends, etc. You can't isolate kids from everything in the world unfortunately.

Damn, yall are funny. 17 in order to watch?! We're talking about PURPLE RAIN here folks NOT BOYS IN THE HOOD!

ThrillUorKillU said:

Damn, yall are funny. 17 in order to watch?! We're talking about PURPLE RAIN here folks NOT BOYS IN THE HOOD!

PR is more violent than BITH. In the latter, there wasn't any violence until the end. In the former, damn near the 1st 45 minutes has a crime (ditching out on cab fair), violence (two dudes gettin' head knocked by a bouncer), nudity (Apples billowing boobies bared to man she hardly knows) and misogyny (woman getting thrown in a garbage can for confronting her man). Oh, and there is the suggestion of pimpdom by none other than Morris Day who really looks the part from head to toe; and he called Apples a bitch without even knowing her.

I love PR but its not a family friendly movie by any stretch of the imagination. You have to be grown to watch this film uncut. Now if you want to show a kid the watered down version that is frequently aired on VH1 then by all means....knock the brat out.

HotGritz said:

ThrillUorKillU said:

Damn, yall are funny. 17 in order to watch?! We're talking about PURPLE RAIN here folks NOT BOYS IN THE HOOD!

PR is more violent than BITH. In the latter, there wasn't any violence until the end. In the former, damn near the 1st 45 minutes has a crime (ditching out on cab fair), violence (two dudes gettin' head knocked by a bouncer), nudity (Apples billowing boobies bared to man she hardly knows) and misogyny (woman getting thrown in a garbage can for confronting her man). Oh, and there is the suggestion of pimpdom by none other than Morris Day who really looks the part from head to toe; and he called Apples a bitch without even knowing her.

I love PR but its not a family friendly movie by any stretch of the imagination. You have to be grown to watch this film uncut. Now if you want to show a kid the watered down version that is frequently aired on VH1 then by all means....knock the brat out.

I was just using Boys In the Hood as in example for way worse movies with violent themes and cussing.

Those things you just mentioned in Purple Rain are MINOR things. The cab fair, the bouncer. A kid wont remember,understand or even notice those parts. I forgot those scenes were even in the movie..And the girl being thrown in the trash is obvoiusly used for comedy purposes. And this movie has very little cussing. This movie is HARDLY Rated R by 2011 standards. A parent would have nothing to worry about. If anthing would be the domestic violence, and maybe the 3sec shot of tits. Plus there is no nudity in the basement scene. Prince was just rub her down there, you can clearly tell there was no penetration of the finger. A kid cant watch because a few people getting back slapped? Big deal.

Boyz in the Hood - gang related violence, nudity, hardcore sex, drugs, Lots of blood, lots of cussing, racism, police brutialty and the list goes on.

[Edited 5/23/11 15:35pm]