Note Of Caution On the Dark Knight

jock1 · **on:** July 29, 2008, 12:34:28 AM

Hi Folks
I took Jock Jnr to see this film today he's 9 turning ten in October and is a reasonably mature child who isn't easily upset by things he sees so I took the chance and given the cinemas rating of moderate violence and no real strong language I thought it should be ok.I was very wrong there is a scene where the Joker slashes another gangsters mouth open while explaining to him that his own scarred face was the results of an attack by his own father after he witnessed dad murder mum in front of him this seemed to rattle Jnr When this scene was repeated with one of the central characters Jnr became distressed and I then removed him from the cinema
I know like most parents I came under some pressure to take him but in this case I believe that the 12 rating doesn't go far enough Heath Ledgers portrayal of the sociopathic Joker is frighteningly accurate and reminds of some of the more violent frightening people that I encountered in ten years as a corrections officer prior to joining the police

ducktapehero · **Reply #1 on:** July 29, 2008, 01:45:07 AM

The ratings system is messed up. Graphic violence is OK but if there's a boob in it it gets slapped with an R rating.

BIG-TARGET · **Reply #2 on:** July 29, 2008, 03:52:46 AM

the "disappearing pencil" caught me a little off guard. This wasn't your Ceasar Romero's JOKER

Mike, Lord of the Spammers! · **Reply #3 on:** July 29, 2008, 10:48:29 AM

Good on you for taking him out of the cinema

, a lot of parent's would have just told him to grow up or something equally stupid

MultiMat · **Reply #4 on:** July 29, 2008, 11:41:29 AM

Jock we are a bit lucky in OZ it seems we ave a more accurate rating for the Dark Night . The misses & I went last week to see it & check if it was appropriate for our boys. I agree with you it is not a good one for younguns . It is really crappy the way they market these movies so aggressively at kids with toys & games when the movie is clearly not for kids. Basta##s

nezza33 · **Reply #5 on:** July 29, 2008, 02:36:45 PM

Like Mike said good on you mate.

NeitherExtreme · **Reply #6 on:** July 29, 2008, 11:48:59 PM

Good call there... It's tough to know what to do in situations like that.

Grant Lamontagne · **Reply #7 on:** July 30, 2008, 03:39:14 AM

Not being a parent, I really enjoyed the angle of the Joker in the new movie. However, your point is well taken, and good on you for being a responsible parent unlike the masses that would have let their kid see the movie with friends. Of course when the kids' friends are involved, he'd have not been able to leave, no matter how distressed he got.

I'll admit that this was not a movie for youngsters. I am not one to think kids need to be shielded from things, but this movie, even beyond the graphic violence and overt sociopathy, I feel was somewhat deeper than what a 12 year old could (or would or should) understand. The worst part of it though, is that it is obviously not for kids, but is marketed at them. I'd rather my kid saw a boob than watch a guy get his face cut open, but that's just me.

The only good thing about the Joker's character in this movie is that nowadays criminals and gangsters are somewhat glorified, and kids want to be like them.

No one will look at Heath Ledger's Joker and think "I want to be like that" and if they do, you know to lock them up ASAP because that person has much deeper issues.

Def

BIG-TARGET · **Reply #8 on:** August 01, 2008, 11:11:51 PM

Quote from: ducktapehero on July 29, 2008, 01:45:07 AM

The ratings system is messed up. Graphic violence is OK but if there's a boob in it it gets slapped with an R rating.

Extreme, graphic violence is perfectly acceptable,,,,,just so long as you don't use the "F" word!

But one positive thing, Ice T now has cleaned up his act and plays a detective on LAW & ORDER-SVU.

Grant Lamontagne · **Reply #9 on:** August 01, 2008, 11:20:59 PM

Just proving what a hypocrite the Original Gangsta really is!

I'd love to see an episode where a middle class white kid listening to "Cop Killah" is inspired to bust a cap in one of the SVU team!

Def

WhichDawg · **Reply #10 on:** August 02, 2008, 07:41:15 AM

wow Jock thanks for the warning bro, sorry to hear that happened to you but you did right and making the call,
both ways in thinking it would be ok and leaving when you did.

I still like the old TV characters, they remind me of somebody...

MultiMat · **Reply #11 on:** August 02, 2008, 08:28:24 AM

Quote from: WhichDawg on August 02, 2008, 07:41:15 AM

wow Jock thanks for the warning bro, sorry to hear that happened to you but you did right and making the call,
both ways in thinking it would be ok and leaving when you did.

I still like the old TV characters, they remind me of somebody...
(Image removed from quote.)

I think that batman's utility belt would be full of Vic gadgets

jock1 · **Reply #12 on:** August 02, 2008, 09:35:00 AM

Quote from: WhichDawg on August 02, 2008, 07:41:15 AM

wow Jock thanks for the warning bro, sorry to hear that happened to you but you did right and making the call,
both ways in thinking it would be ok and leaving when you did.

I still like the old TV characters, they remind me of somebody...
(Image removed from quote.)

Thanks WD luckily Jnr has suffered no lasting ill effects but it bugs the hell out of me that given the films content the way the merchandise is aimed at kids the age of mine and younger

Roadie · **Reply #13 on:** August 02, 2008, 10:02:02 AM

Yeah I went to see it and loved it, but i would never have taken a small child to see it, it's jsut not that sort of film. Good call mate

Mike, Lord of the Spammers! · **Reply #14 on:** August 02, 2008, 10:06:47 AM

Quote from: WhichDawg on August 02, 2008, 07:41:15 AM

wow Jock thanks for the warning bro, sorry to hear that happened to you but you did right and making the call,
both ways in thinking it would be ok and leaving when you did.

I still like the old TV characters, they remind me of somebody...
(Image removed from quote.)

Me and my boy just wet ourselves at that one mate

Whoey · **Reply #15 on:** August 02, 2008, 10:09:59 AM

They probably did it in response to the previous films being slated for being too cartoonish and silly... The title is "Dark Knight" thus I wouldn't expect to see too many fluffy bunnies or pokemons.

I do agree they rate some things very badly, but I seem to recall an era where horror flicks were scary, now you kind of laugh at them... obviously children see things differently.

I remember when the original animated Transformers movie (imdb link) came out and I was too young to see it alone (I was about 12 at the time... and it was rated PG in only SOME PARTS of Canada, and G in others) and that was DEFINITELY a movie aimed at kids...

jock1 · **Reply #16 on:** August 02, 2008, 10:31:24 AM

Quote from: micky d on August 02, 2008, 10:06:47 AM

Quote from: WhichDawg on August 02, 2008, 07:41:15 AM
wow Jock thanks for the warning bro, sorry to hear that happened to you but you did right and making the call,
both ways in thinking it would be ok and leaving when you did.

I still like the old TV characters, they remind me of somebody...
(Image removed from quote.)
Me and my boy just wet ourselves at that one mate

That kind of thing can happen at your age

Neil · **Reply #17 on:** August 02, 2008, 01:13:46 PM

Quote from: WhichDawg on August 02, 2008, 07:41:15 AM

wow Jock thanks for the warning bro, sorry to hear that happened to you but you did right and making the call,
both ways in thinking it would be ok and leaving when you did.

I still like the old TV characters, they remind me of somebody...
(Image removed from quote.)

I needed that

Neil