MovieChat Forums > Small Soldiers (1998) Discussion > Misleading marketing - still ticks me of...

Misleading marketing - still ticks me off.

posted 13 years ago by mjl1966
45 replies | jump to latest

I saw this when it originally came out in the theaters. I remember my 6 year-old responding very strongly to the marketing for this film that was aimed point blank at him and other kids his age. When I took him to the theater, I didn't pay much attention to the PG-13 rating. Boy, I wish I would have. This was *not* a film for children. I wrote a letter to Dreamworks regarding the matter, I was so upset. It would have been fine if the marketing had been somewhere close to the truth, but they were pitching ice cream and wound up serving tequila shooters. To this day, I refuse to watch Joe Dante movies and I'm hard pressed to watch anything by Spielberg, who should have known better.

[–] pitchwhiteawi 12 years ago

I was 8. The film was marketed to me. Mismarketed. I saw the movie in theatres. I hated it.

So *beep* all you for shooting op down

[–] Cletus-Vanne-Damme 12 years ago

I liked this movie as a kid but I remember seeing it in theaters thinking that this wasn't the movie that they advertised as some of the toys were bad guys. But I was 9. Looking at it from your perspective, you took your 6 year old kid to a movie that was PG-13 and was from the director of the two Gremlins films and the remake of It's a Good Life from the Twilight Zone movie. Maybe you should have done some research or at least know a thing or two about film history and not make all of your decisions based on commercials that trick people like you into seeing them. Especially for the sake of your child. I can't wait to be a Dad. I will never have a problem like this.

[–] PenguinTom 12 years ago

Children have unpredictable responses to different stimuli. I was six years old when this film was released, and although I was pretty much a wimp, I loved it. I had no problem with "Jurassic Park", but I was terrified of "The Nightmare Before Christmas" and "Star Wars". This film was completely suitable for the target audience, which was older kids, particularly boys.

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[–] daydreamer021979 12 years ago

So you're blaming the creators because responsible parenting is hard? Laughable.

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[–] BrainGremlin 12 years ago

So, you ignored the rating thinking you knew better? That's on you. No sympathy.

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[–] bethgoth17 12 years ago

Oh God, yes I know what you mean!! I can't remember exactly when I saw the movie for the first time, but let's assume that I saw it in the cinema. I was also six years old, and I vividly remember being terrified. I can't remember what it was that scared me, all I remember is that feeling of terror. But then again, I was also scared of Toy Story, so I'm guessing I was just sensitive to the idea of inanimate objects coming to life.

[–] 12 years ago

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[–] kmavity 12 years ago

My dad took me to see this as a five year old and I loved it. Wasn't traumatized or anything. It was one of my favorite movies for years afterwards!

Son, that's not a rainbow, that's just the light reflecting of some baboon's waxed ass.

[–] 12 years ago

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[–] codyorr 11 years ago

All I can do is laugh at this guy. I was 14 when this movie came out. I didn't care about it because I thought it was too childish. Now, I love it.

[–] LordJesusChrist 11 years ago

Saw this when I was 8 and absolutely loved it.