The Media-Discerning Family

In this house we want to honor the Lord Jesus Christ, when it comes to entertainment.

This is resident John policy matters. Our guest today is Bob Walsh. Bob is Dir. of Focus on the Family's media and culture department featuring the popular website plugged in.com where parents and children can find movie reviews, and other important information on TV programs via games and DVDs. Bob also host a daily 62nd radio feature called plugged in entertainment review that is heard in over 900 communities nationwide. He is the author also of the book was good parenting how to raise media savvy kids with love not war. Summertime is upon us, which brings the release of a lot of movies that are marketed to kids and family audiences. I and Bob is with us today to talk about some of the new movies being released and how we can determine whether they are truly family-friendly and will also be talking about how we can help our kids become more discerning about the media they consume Bob welcome to family policy matters were delighted to have you with us, I'm delighted to be on your show Bob as mentioned as we were taught chatting before the program I have used your resource countless times and in so appreciative of all that you do with plugged in online and we just thank you for that resource and Bob as we begin the our conversation today tell us about a few of the new movies that are being released this summer that are aimed at family or youth audiences, and in general would you say this is a good summer for family-friendly movies or not.

Well used to be that they kick off the movie season for the summer at Memorial day weekend will the last 3 to 4 years. They keep backing that up X-Men which did come out Memorial day weekend Alice through the looking glass war craft finding Dori Independence Day, the legend of Tarzan, the BFG, the secret life of pets Ghostbusters Star Trek beyond suicide squad that kinda wraps up the summer. As far as the movies that are geared toward kids now John, we've seen some of these we've not seen all of these typically we get we see most fit I take about 95% of the films we see we see in advance of release.

Every once in a while they don't screen in advance usually means they got a bomb on their hand. What you have is what we always have.

You have some hits were gonna have some misses were going to have some the same to understand the family audiences and I guarantee you there's going to be abundance that they just don't have a clue about. I know that the secular press dogs 2014 as quote of the year of the Bible because of the number of Bible-based or spiritual movies that will release them but it looks like to me this year is shaping up to be another similar year to that.

What are your thoughts about that or would you agree with the assessment, the 2016 may also be another quote year of the Bible this year. My goodness, it's been more than one a month, something I have been hoping for and dreaming for and praying for for a long time.

We kicked off January with a movie called the mass sainted. We had a movie called cage no more.

We had risen, which came out now. By the way out on DVD for those who are looking for a film that might be good for the family.

We had the young Messiah come out in March we had miracles from heaven came out in March. Then on April Fools' Day. God's not dead to so we and we have a new Ben Hur remake that Mark and Roma Downing, our ever been working on that I get to see very soon here. I'm looking forward to that. So this year when you when it's all already more than one a month, and we have a few more still in the works. It definitely is shaping up to be another you know you're the Bible part two or three depending how you're counting and I think that's a good thing because I'm looking for the day when families can go to the movie theater anytime they want to without ever looking at the paper without ever going online to see what's playing and when they get to the theater.

Look at the Marquis and go. I know one of those is a faith-based film because there's always one plant that this theater and they look up ago that one, honey, that's the woman going to were not there yet but were get there closer. It seems every year.

Well that's exciting now Bob I know when we look at movies that are heavily marketed to families and children. Those that are often rated PG for example some of these are not always appropriate or suitable for younger audiences. I know we talk about this often on this program about the content and the rating systems that are used to write movies and broadcast television, etc. in the past.

I know you recommended that parents not rely too heavily on the movie rating system talk about that if you yet. John, this is a great place to insert shameless plug for play. Because really, I do believe exactly what you just said that the ratings are trustworthy and if they're not trustworthy. Parents need some kind of tool. The only show in town.

I mean, I like screen, it.com, for instance, they charge a fee to access their reviews but they are pretty conservative and pretty reliable and and so there are few other places out there, but because of generous donors. Focus on the Family made a decision years ago to say. Working to our reviews for absolutely free. We believe in the family we want to strengthen the family to Syria media discernment stalking charge and you know people give generously because of it. We were very, very grateful. But concerning the ratings.

Here's what's happened, the MPA, the motion picture Association of America, made up of mysterious group that we didn't know what poster names per se show up in a room, watch these films and and then give them what they think is right.

A rating do a democratically and then they come away with that he gets that G or PG or PG-13 or R or NC-17 equity used to be the axles of the ratings and and you know maybe even 10 years ago. It was a bit trustworthy, but what's happened so recently is that especially say seven or eight years ago this thing was that 10 years ago, the MPA would've called an R-rated film. They are now calling PG-13 what exactly mean that means that according to the MPA that if a child is 12 years of age and 364 days, 12 years and 364 now, 12 years and 360 50. Now we don't call them a 12-year-old boy. Now there are teenager there, a 13-year-old that they should be able to see the likes of and you fill in the blank land of the lost love group meet the Spartans. Mr. Woodcock, I now pronounce you Chuck and Larry, a person being a wallflower rock of ages. The backup plan the internship. The other guys think like a man welcome Vicky Cristina Barcelona yes-man. You're one I mean those are just as several titles that come to mind that are rated by the MPA is acceptable for your 12-year-old and 365 day-year-old young person and I say we should be so R-rated that I wouldn't even want my mother to see it. I mean she would blush blush so it's it's completely unreliable. Every once in a while they get it right but you can't you can't rely on something to just every once in a while gets it right.

You have to be able to rely on it to get the right 99.9% of the time and I think they get a ride more like 15% of the time. The other 85%. They don't get right your listening policy matters a resource to listen to our radio show online resources that will place a persuasion in your community website, alleging lot have to agree with you as a parent of two teenagers.

I know that I have utilized your resource.

Many many tough times. I am in. It's important because the details of language which use the graphic nature, potential violence, sexual innuendo, although sorts of things are really important for discerning parents to understand. And speaking of teenagers, Bob. I know sometimes even mod my children have said, mom, dad, this movie is rated PG or PG-13 or whatever all of my friends are going to see it. Why can't I go, what advice do you have for parents who were facing that situation issues over movies or other forms of media entertainment for that matter, and discussions with older children what what is the best way to handle these kinds of disputes in a way that helps teens understand our motivation for saying no.

At times, and helping them learn the process of being discerning about the types of movies and other programming that they view such great question John and that my answer may sound a little simplistic and I think maybe some of our listers may be tempted to roll their eyes and go okay Bob that's so obvious, but but but it may be, but have you done it.

Here's my here's my advice.

We talked about having the sex talk with our kids.

We talk about having the drug talk with our kids and we had a media talk with our kids and I would recommend not just kind of a one time shot. We got out of the way. Good okay our kids know our boundaries are and that for now I would never have to mention it again. I like to think that will probably once 1/4 at least twice a year that we said our kids down at the dinner table.

We have a nice meal and afterwards best in a two-parent home. Dad gets back and he leave the conversation as a hey guys were going to have a discussion as far make sure were all on the same page here because as for me and my household were to serve the Lord in this and that's the area. Media discernment and in this house we want to honor the Lord Jesus Christ, when it comes to entertainment sources and guys. It's tough. It's a tough world out there.

Sometimes it's hard to make those decisions but to be doing. This is a family and is your father. I'm going to lead the way and I'm knocking to compromise, and in here's where our standard are here's here's here's what were going allow, and here's what were not can allow and it doesn't matter what every single other family at church seems to be doing. That's not our standard we want to glorify Christ.

Well, that's a great answer and I think the I love what you said is for me and my house we will serve the Lord that starts with me. So this standard applies not only to what parents allow their children to see, but I assume what parents watch at home themselves. Yes, because it we have some listeners.

I know because it's unfortunately a little too frequent where the parents cut some corners themselves with some racy stuff, you know, okay, we got a bedroom TV and the kids are asleep and okay were going to push the boundaries in Ravenna and it's kinda nasty but hey were gonna watch it in the bedroom assist the two of us and whatever I tell you it your kids are going to find out somehow. Don't ask me how but I promise you if you if you are not modeling it. Your kids will know someday they may not know when they're free when, therefore, but sometime around the hot summers, 10, 11, 12.

They are, no, don't ask me how they're going to find out that you're not modeling it and that hypocrisy in the home. It just is devastating for young person they told me not to watch MTV but look what they're watching know that we've gotta be parents that model. We believe in it.

We practice that we model it.

We want our kids to model it. They never see any shortcuts in our home that way. And when they leave our home there. They're not those kind kids are saying you just wait so I go off to college I'm gonna watch what I want to watch on the listen to what I want it to mean that there set their hearts are set on rebellion.

They can't wait to get out but they've watched to be modeled by their parents over and over again and they had healthy boundaries discusses a family and they know where those boundaries are by loving parents who are legalistic, but they're just loving and have good stern boundaries go for now that's a great admonition to our listeners and I just want to encourage all of our listeners to take advantage of these resources and unfortunately Bob just about out of time for this week, but I do want to give you before you leave an opportunity to share your website with our listeners and learn where they can go to find this valuable information about movies DVD reviews video games of the things that nature. What two places of plugged in.com is our website. It's awfully easy to get there plugged in.com but since most of us have the smart phones these days I but we have iPhone app and we have an android app for both of which has plugged in. Basically are reviews in the palm of your hand. I wonder how many of those apps are downloaded in the line at the movie theater. Parents don't don't wait that long. Go ahead and download app. Make sure you got it accessible to you and that you go online to plug them.com again plugged in.com and avail yourself of this incredibly valuable information without Bob also still want to thank you so much for taking time out of what I know was a very busy schedule to be with us on family policy matters and for your great very important work@focusonthefamilyandpluggedin.com.

Thank you. Thank you Jonathan a great privilege to speak your life you've been listening to family policy matters production of NZ family to listen to our radio show online, and for more valuable resources and information about issues important to families in North Carolina go to our website and see family.org and follow us on Twitter and Facebook