Age for child to see R rated movie

I grew up in Israel and the American censorship rules don't apply there, I've seen a lot of R rated films as a kid and don't think it damage me in any way. I think that if you sit with the child while watching the movie and talk to him \ her and explain what's going on, reminding them every now and then that movies are about artistic expression and not representation of reality - it can be a good experience even at 12-13.

It really depend on the child and on the movie.

As far as I'm concern, I would rather expose a child to some sexual content (well, you know, not porn, but definitely some nudity) before harsh violence. 

At least at the age where he/she can understand the meaning of any film. The parents should know that if there kids has enough understanding about what they watch, the parents should always guide them to matter what age they have...

13

18 is a good age for a kid to start watching rated r movies that when i start watching them

I think that you should be at least 14 or 15 before you watch R-Rated videos . Exposing a child to sexual and violent scenes seems to make them less innocent . I watched an R-Rated film when I was 11 and I had nightmares for weeks on end after because I was so surprised at what I saw. There is a reason that films are the age certificate that they are . Nobody should change it .

If maddie had seen some lighter violence at a younger age then she might not have had nightmares for weeks when she was 11, she was obviously raised to be very sensative. I don't believe that children lose their innocence by watching r rated movies, but i think they can loose some of their sensativity, so the question is how fragile do you want your child to be, keeping in mind that they will have to encounter the real world at some point. I don't think that just any movie is ok at any age but you as a parent can decide for your child better than the mpaa. If you are watching a movie with your child and it's worse than you expected you can always tell them not to watch it, and/or you can watch it befor them to decide. I'll tell you one thing i know for sure i would rather my 3 year old daughter watch "nightmare on elm street" than "bratz." FOR THE RECORD SHE DOESN'T WATCH HORROR MOVIES BUT ONLY BECAUSE I KNOW SHE WOULDN'T LIKE THEM. If i thought she was ready for it and she wanted to watch then i would let her, even though she's only three, i don't think it's the age that matters but i Know Her.

I believe that is up to the parents.  If their children are more mature and are able to grasp the concept of make believe and realism, then go for it.   personally don't believe in hiding the world from your children.  I am a firm believer in telling children the truth about any questions they come up with.  I allow my children now to watch R rated moves.  However, they can't sit still long enough to watch a movie anyway!

  OK, well the movie is rated R.  They can't get into a theater to see it without being 17+ or with a parent or adult.  That being said, there are exceptions.  Our world is very desensitized toward a lot of topics now.  Just look at the Victoria's Secret commercials.

My children have seen "The Patriot" as I thought that the violence in it depicted actual events and was worth the benefit they recieved. I used it as an example of what our country has experienced.  I do not thing that worthless violence such as SciFi, or just stupid violence is wise.  I also think there is enough nudity and sex all over our billboards, TV ads, magazines and saturating our life that I would not let my children watch it in the movies where there are real human people involved.  Art expression or not, those are actual people doing actual things for money. 

My 11 year old asked me are they married during a heavy kissing scene once.  I said no they are pretending to tell a story.  She said are they married to other people, and because they are popular and I knew they were, I said yes.  She said to me don't their "spouses" get angry when they kiss other people? I said well, maybe but it is just pretend.  Then I started thinking, how do you really explain that one?  The divorce rate being what it is and lack of commitment it is, sex and nudity as it is portrayed in the movies is one thing I would not allow my younger ones to watch.  For what purpose?  For art is another story, but to me most of our rated R movies are not art, just a way to make a buck.  International and Independent films are different.

Just my two cents...