IMO, knowing about sex younger =/= better childhood development

It would depend upon how one is informed, I think.

Have you ever tried ripping a midget in half?

 

 

Well, as a matter of fact...

The masturbation joke was fine.

First off it was hilarious, and second of all, since when did Transformers have to be completely humourless?

Yeah, it added nothing to the plot, and if taken out the movie would flow just fine. Still, it didn't detract from anything, and it was a nice break in the plot to just laugh.

 

As for it being appropriate for kids, well it was rated PG-13, so parents should of known it wasn't going to be 100% kid-friendly.

Also, and this is JMO, part of the appeal of the movie is that it takes a kids toy line/kids cartoon show and made it into a real action flick that teenagers and adults could enjoy. It wasn't like TMNT where it was obvious you were watching a kids movie. So IMO removing the masturbation joke and Jazz's "lil' Protectobots" line simply because you don't want little kids to hear them would detract from the movie.

If you want a kid-safe TF move, find a copy of the '86 Animated movie and say "earmuffs" when the two curse words are used.

 

And if after seeing the live action movie a six year old asks "what does masturbation mean?" all a parent has to say is "I'll tell you when you're older."

Yeah that's basically what I did. It really isn't that big a deal; my real issue is that watching the movie at home, without the full theater audience, there's like *crickets* after that line. Same thing happens with Ratchet's line about Sam wanting to mate with Mikaela.

You don't really care about the specs of the car b/c neither in the movie nor in the original cartoon did it matter at all what Jazz's specific alt mode was. The Solstice is all rounded and stuff like Porsches are; Vettes have a completely different profile.

Yeah, Tracks is a Vette.

If they're 6 and ask what it is? That wouldn't be awkward for a parent at all.

It wasn't at all.

 

It was with my 7 year old sitting next to me. Now I either have to *cough, cough* over that part like I do with Spike's "Oh, Blot!" or not let him watch it. It was unnecessary, it didn't add anything to the film. It was played for a cheap laugh and that's all.

Yeah that's basically what I did. It really isn't that big a deal; my real issue is that watching the movie at home, without the full theater audience, there's like *crickets* after that line. Same thing happens with Ratchet's line about Sam wanting to mate with Mikaela.

 

I always wonder about parts in movies that are like that. I remember when Home Alone came out (what, 40 years ago?) The whole last 20 minutes of the movie, everyone in the theater was absolutely rolling on the floor. Then I watched it at home a year or so later and I was just, "oh, look, that guy got hit in the face with paint can."

 

Is that really comedy, or mob mentality?

If they're 6 and ask what it is? That wouldn't be awkward for a parent at all.

It wasn't at all.

It was with my 7 year old sitting next to me. Now I either have to *cough, cough* over that part like I do with Spike's "Oh, Blot!" or not let him watch it. It was unnecessary, it didn't add anything to the film. It was played for a cheap laugh and that's all.

Why is the cheap laugh always a bad thing? Why does all humour have to sophisticated to the point that half the audience is scratching their head? (Dennis Miller, anyone?)

 

Sometimes the cheap, in-your-face joke is refreshing, especially when it blindsides you like the masturbation joke did.As for your kid, well the movie is rated PG-13, so as a parent you have to decide if you want your child exposed to the content expected in a PG-13 movie. If you decide in favour of him watching these types of movies, then you really have no room to complain. You knew full well going in this wasn't a G or PG movie. Besides, what's the problem with letting him hear the masturbation joke? Chances are he's to young to get it anyway. So he'll either attempt to figure it out on his own, fail, and continue watching the movie, or he'll ask you. As a parent you can just say "I'll tell you when you're older" and leave it at that. Again, find a copy of the '86 film if you want something more "kid-friendly."

 

What you're suggesting, IMO, would drag the live-action movie down to the level of a kids movie, which robes it of most of its appeal.

Yeah that's basically what I did. It really isn't that big a deal; my real issue is that watching the movie at home, without the full theater audience, there's like *crickets* after that line. Same thing happens with Ratchet's line about Sam wanting to mate with Mikaela.

Yeah, I know what you mean. But that happens with most jokes in movies. You see it a couple of times, and you expect it, which reduces its comedic effect.I'm not saying that I would have thought to include a masturbation joke in a Transformers movie, but hey, it didn't detract from anything, and it was funny.

Same thing happens with Ratchet's line about Sam wanting to mate with Mikaela.

:tflaugh That's golden.

Yeah that's basically what I did. It really isn't that big a deal; my real issue is that watching the movie at home, without the full theater audience, there's like *crickets* after that line. Same thing happens with Ratchet's line about Sam wanting to mate with Mikaela.

 

I always wonder about parts in movies that are like that. I remember when Home Alone came out (what, 40 years ago?) The whole last 20 minutes of the movie, everyone in the theater was absolutely rolling on the floor. Then I watched it at home a year or so later and I was just, "oh, look, that guy got hit in the face with paint can."

 

Is that really comedy, or mob mentality?

Exactly. It really seemed like those moments were structured to play in a theater setting. Which is okay and all, but once you get the movie home and watch it on DVD, you realize that Bay's comic timing isn't that fantastic. When you feel the movie waiting for people to stop laughing so the actors can keep talking (especially when said moments aren't really all *that* funny), it creates a big dead spot IMO.