I hate to say it but my generation (Im 24) and younger are not cultured when it comes to movies (or entertainment in general). Hell if you notice the "favorite dance movie" thread everyone and their mother loves Save the Last Dance, was it a bad movie, no, but it certainly doesnt hold a candle to Singing in the Rain.

I had this debate a couple of weeks ago when Limp Bizkit was credited with producing new music. Im talking about "Behind Blue Eyes", a number of my peers didnt know that The Who were the originators of this song and thought that Durst did a great job coming up with new material.

Its not just the 20-somethings and younger, while in Love Actually there was a woman in her mid to late 40s that OUT LOUD said, "I didnt know they celebrated Christmas over there."

Yes Im sure Ill get blasted, but come on in ten (10) years are you really going to want to brag about having all three (3) American Pie movies and expressing your opinion about how Ashton Kuture (?) was an underrated actor?

Mindless entertainment is not a bad thing (in moderation), but at some point the hard honest truth is that (most) of those under the age of 30 have missed out on a lot of stuff when it comes to "well roundedness."

EDIT:

I think some people are not looking around in a theater, because during Last Samurai not only were there "teens" but three (3) infants that their parents left in the theater while crying/screaming. The age thing is not enforced, or hell buy a ticket to Rugrats and go see Freddy v. Jason. Hell when I was at FvJ there was an 11/12 year old their sitting with his mother/aunt.

retihsuhnt- I agree with everything you've said.

It depends on the theater. Some don't care and let teens in without an adult, others won't. Hell one theater where I used to live wouldn't let anyone under 17 in unless it was with a parent. Though people could lie.

Also, a lot of your post doesn't show anything, like saying you saw an 11/12 year old in FvJ with his mother/aunt. The rule is no one under 17 without an adult (and sometimes parent). Not no one under 17 period, that would be for NC-17 movies.

Anyone, my point is that I think ratings do have some impact, but not much.

The younger crowd isn't in to "artsy" movies and what not. Hell I'm 25 and I'd generaly prefer to see a popcorn flick. I simply view movies as 100% entertainment and usually want to watch one to unwind from the real world and relax. I do enjoy the occasional artsy movie, disturbing movie, etc. but I usually wait and rent though rather than catching them in the theater.

because the young generation is constantly being pandered to, by everyone creating entertainment.
the problem is that when you have a roomful of people ready to feed your every adolescant desire, and confirming that you & your peers are, indeed, the center of the universe, are you going to even be tempted to check out material that might not ackowledge or may even *gasp* contradict this?

I'd like to thank every one for posting in this thread that I created. Almost all of your comments were very enlightening and interesting. Many points of view I admit I previously did not consider. Thanks again.

...yes. And I do it quite frequently. I realize you're generalizing, but it's still irritating.

Im 18 and I fully agree, I dont like my peers.