h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I saw the first UK TV showing of the Star Wars Episode III this morning.

Mmmm...

That should be 'first UK TV trailer' of the movie!!

Oh you watch GMTV?

Is it true it's not going to be suitable for kids? J will be so disapointed!

Indeed I do HPB - well it is not so much watch it, as the TV is still on front the night before. I have a 24 hour day at the moment interspersed with periods of sofa dozing.

I was surprised when they said they were showing it - they hadn't been plugging it.

Mina - I don't recall them saying anything about it having a high rating. If it has you will have to watch it and see what you think and then promise him he can watch it on DVD if you are ok with it. It would be a bit cruel if kids have seen all but one in the series. Not to mention the McHappy meals etc marketing!!

I can't actually remember much about it but I think I was in a hangover hell at the time. (And I had been so good lately too - oops)

I heard on the radio the other day that Mt Lucas is saying that it's the darkest episode, and unsuitable for kids - I think he said it was quite violent. It's a bit crap to let the kids can see all but this one!

Mina, I think Episode III will probably be a 12A.

Oh that's not too bad,k thanks - I can take J in that case. I was wondering if they meant little children, rather than just 'children'.

Don't forget Lucas will have been talking from an American point of view, which is more restrictive than the British Standard. All the previous Star Wars films except Attack of the Clones have been released as 'PG' in America, but 'U' in Britain.

I know someone from the BBFC said it was wrong to presume that because an American release getting PG13 that the UK will be a 15.

I'm betting it's 12A. This is the reason it was made, so the parents could decide if their children could see Spider-Man, James Bond etc.

Not a bad way to advertise a film and build the hype by saying ' unsuitable for kids'.

I was talking to Zagreb about that point yesterday - that by doing that it will perhaps pacify the fans that were disappointed with the others and encourage them to go see it at the flicks rather than wait for the DVD.

The DVD movies are changed from the theatrical one anyway..

I didn't realise that the Americans were sticter than us! I'd heard of lots of kids going to see horrors that were 18s over here, because kids were allowed in with an over 18.

I suppose the US is automatically stricter because of the Bible belt etc.

Need to appease numerous groups.

That's because they have a rating called 'NC-17' - no unaccompanied under 17s. Then they have R, the equivalent of our 18, but I think that's usually used for smutty films. Could be wrong there though.

http://www.starwars.com/ is showing the trailer so maybe you can decide from that.