But people, don’t worry. The TOS and TNG shows are popular within the
11-14 age group. Most of them first saw anything Star Trek related from the movie. Me, I was lucky to have seen all of TNG by the time I was 7 (my dad being a trekker and all).

http://www.popcrunch.com/kyra-sedgwick-the-tonight-show-with-conan-obrien-video-aug-11/

It always amazes me how many don’t seem to know that theater management are very understanding about a movie turning out to be inappropriate for a child and will readily give you tickets for an alternate selection at a future date if the situation requires that you withdraw.

#159., that should be “guiding while watching,”

One thing I’m extremely grateful for with respect to quiding while watching. is that Drive-Ins are not extinct in my area. Also, they seem to be about the only places these days that have double features.

“Star Trek” is a show that delivers for several age levels. At its best, it delivers its message at the most basic level. Sometimes, as a child, if you stick with it, it reveals more and more. Look at the ‘best of the best’ of TOS, and you get that. JJ’s Trek does in fact succeed on that level. Hopefully, our kids can look at it in a few years, and have the same measured debate.

I admit, that my wording was clumsy, I’m not even sure I was trying to question anything so much as simply curious as to the various approaches to the PG-13 and some reassurance that families were addressing it.

In spite of that, your response was exactly what I was hoping for. Thanks.

I’m not sure I fully understood the question. I take the ‘Parental Guidance’ moniker literally. As a parent, I was with my kids watching and explaining things. Sometimes, I was softening the impact of scenes (Vulcan genocide), or I was (desperately) trying to make the two Spocks comprehensible to my two gradeschoolers (7 and 8 at the time), and I did (We later watched the Matrix, and boy, were there brains activated by that one).

With Star Trek, I want my kids to get into it because I believe in the message. If it takes a fast-paced flawed version to draw them in, at least they’re in. My 9-year old daughter understands Spock’s duality, and my 7 year old son enjoys space-oriented action, but he’s already a Star Wars kid. This film was supposed to be the for dads to bring the kids into the fold, and it’s been successful to a certain degree. Debates above aside, it’s a fun ride with parental guidance included.

I’m not a nay-sayer; I’m a chipper and upbeat voice for positive Trekness, surrounded in a radiant halo of feelgood, slightly trippy colored light and welcoming, huggy warmth.

I’m just fucking snarky about it, is all :)

If you have any questions, as is often the case, consult Batman. “I won’t kill you. But I don’t have to save you.” THAT would have been the right and appropriate decision for Kirk and Spock when faced with eliminating a group of Romulans that were for all intents and purposes an endangered culture.

Star Trek is far far more moral and far more sensible than this movie made it out to be. This MUST be addressed by the writers. Don’t let them get away with destroying Trek’s heart and mind.