The Dark Knight Will it be too dark for the children?

[CARNAGE-COMETH]

Who gives a ****?

The kid in me wants to see it especially if its scary.

 

[SolidSnakeMGS]

Q: Will it be too dark for the children?
A: HOPEFULLY!!!

 

[Luchastyle]

batman is supposed to be too dark for kids. but, the kind of dark that the kids want to still see. like it's the cool comic book movie to see. maybe the kind parents might not want you to see. not because it's too violent, but because it's scary and psychological. the kind of movie that kids might not get, but they really want to. i think that's the best argument for it being dark. the dark psyches of the characters should be a bit too much for a kid to understand.

 

[Andrex]

NOT that i am asking nolan to pull a schumacher, but do you guys think that this will be like Returns was and basically be a VERY adult, graphic bloody film with disturbing images, or will nolan kinda care about the younger audience as well? i mean, BB was not really a kids film, but kids could probably still enjoy it just like they did with B89 (*ahem* "batman will save us!" ). but TDK looks like its gonna be darker then BB was, especially with the joker interpretation this time, hence the title "the DARK knight". im not sure what news we have yet, but this looks like it may not be a film that will be enjoyed by kids at all. my little cousin loves batman and i want to see this with him, but i dont know if it will be....safe for him to see.

EXACTLY what I was thinking, to a tee. I hope they still allow Nolan to finish his series.

 

[WalterKovacs]

http://www.toxicshock.tv/news/wp-content/uploads/heath_ledger_as_the_joker.jpg

 

[The_J0k3R]

Is it too dark for children?

Quite simply... TURN ON THE LIGHTS!

Joker.

 

[Nepenthes]

Will the movie be dark enough for the kids, you mean

 

[LastSunrise1981]

I sincerely hope so. One of the aspects I loved about Batman Begins was hearing kids get scared and cry during the Scarecrow sequences, the Bat-Demon sequence, and so forth.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not a sadist nor am I getting a kick out of watching kids cry. I do, however, enjoy the fact that it's showing that this isn't a kids storyline nor will it ever be a storyline for little kids. I want this film to be darker than Begins, I want it to be more violent than Begins, and I want it to continue being a storyline/film that separates itself from the other blockbuster films of the Summer.

Of course parents and kids will complain, but you know what? **** them. This is the goddamn Batman and we don't need them ruining anything for us or for anyone else who is interested in this film.

 

[Andrex]

I sincerely hope so. One of the aspects I loved about Batman Begins was hearing kids get scared and cry during the Scarecrow sequences, the Bat-Demon sequence, and so forth.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not a sadist nor am I getting a kick out of watching kids cry. I do, however, enjoy the fact that it's showing that this isn't a kids storyline nor will it ever be a storyline for little kids. I want this film to be darker than Begins, I want it to be more violent than Begins, and I want it to continue being a storyline/film that separates itself from the other blockbuster films of the Summer.

Of course parents and kids will complain, but you know what? **** them. This is the goddamn Batman and we don't need them ruining anything for us or for anyone else who is interested in this film.

That's incredibly selfish thinking.

 

[LastSunrise1981]

That's incredibly selfish thinking.

Perhaps. But in the end I'm seeing it for my enjoyment and I'm tired of parents complaining about what their children sees. I remember Fox News doing a story about parents complaining about Saw 3.

So selfish? Maybe you're right.

 

[SpinyNorman]

hahahaha "the children"

What are you, Maud Flanders?

 

[Figs]

Perhaps. But in the end I'm seeing it for my enjoyment and I'm tired of parents complaining about what their children sees. I remember Fox News doing a story about parents complaining about Saw 3.

So selfish? Maybe you're right.

I don't think your being selfish at all. The kiddies have the cartoons and films of the past minus BR I guess lol. Nolans vision/direction is what Batman needs after those last two films. I don't want a rated R Batman, but I sure as hell don't want it too kid friendly. I want to hear some young kids in the audience cry or scream while watching this next movie. If I hear any of that in the theatre I will have such a big **** eating grin on my face it would rival the Jokers.

 

[TromaFreak64]

Ahh not always. Maybe your thinking just in one term of media, like TV, yes they have SO FAR been targeted to all ages. But I bet you don't want a little 9 year old reading The Killing Joke, or Dark Knight Returns, or Batman Year One, or The Long Halloween even. Too much killing blood and gore.

I don't know about you but I read all those when I was a kid! And this is about the linest argument that Batman hasn't always been "all age".

And yea kids no matter what will snatch up the TDK toys, but thats not the main point that Nolan is driving to. You never here him in any interviews like you do with Sam, or Tim Story saying how it's for the kids. Nolan never ever says that. 10+ yea I can see that but I think TDK definatley will be darker then BB, and it's not so much what the kids see that will be scary it will be the context of what happens.

That's interesting since in the ratings thread someone gave a source where Nolan said he would never make an ADULTS only Batman movie 'cause it's a family affair

So no Batman has not always been about little kids. They got their movie versions with Joel, and now the grown ups are getting a version more towards their tastes. I just don't see how some people don't get this.

Apparenlty you are the only one who doesn't get it cause even your "support" Nolan not claiming it turned out to be FALSE.

 

[TromaFreak64]

Is there something about this thread that makes it different than the Ratings thread?????

 

[redfirebird2008]

I hope it's too dark for adults, let alone kids. Caine keeps saying that Ledger's performance is one of the scariest he's ever seen and he's a friggin' 60+ year old actor. I want Heath Joker to scare the crap out of a lot of people. The scarier he is, the better. It makes it that much more satisfying when Batman beats the crap out of him if he's done some truly terrible, twisted things. And of course, the more Batman beats him, the more he laughs -- at least that is what I want to see. The footage from Wizard World and the phone message from Comic Con are both proof enough for me that he's gonna be one scary mofo. Walking down the street blasting people with a machine gun and laughing his ass off as Gotham is burning in the background or having a guy read off some unfunny jokes and killing him? Perfect.

 

[Joker773]

I sure as hell hope it is...

 

[Solidus]

I don't know about you but I read all those when I was a kid! And this is about the linest argument that Batman hasn't always been "all age".



That's interesting since in the ratings thread someone gave a source where Nolan said he would never make an ADULTS only Batman movie 'cause it's a family affair



Apparenlty you are the only one who doesn't get it cause even your "support" Nolan not claiming it turned out to be FALSE.

Wow, no need to be a dick, which you seem to be right now.

I have never seen that quote from Nolan, and if he did say it, it would not surprise me if it was just to say to the general public so no crying typical American Moms would try and sue WB.

I think a lot of people forget when you are saying dark material it is not just clearly the visual aspect of something. Story lines can be adult, and complicated, and that is Nolan's style through and through, not just in his story telling, but his deepness, and also his non-linear editing, and quick paced story telling. To me Nolan's work has never been purley for kids, including BB, maybe it's my opinion but I don't think there is anything wrong with that.

Even if Nolan says that it is a family affair, I'm sure he is not saying bring your 8 year old kid, those are the ones you hear screaming or crying in the theatres when there are creepy parts like Crane, and his toxin. And trust me I bet TDK will be much more dark then BB.

And you say Troma that you read those when your were 9, but I bet you did not understand half of the material or deepness in any of those ones I mentioned. I know you will say you understood it all because you feel it will degrade you if you say other wise. But even as my self, as a 9 year old I knew the basic plots of all the movies I watched, but some of the meanings, and adult material. Perfect example even though it is a comedy is Naked Gun, when I was little I laughed at the obvious stuff, but when I got older I laughed even harder because we understand so much more of the adult material, which clearly Naked Gun was aimed more towards adults, even though it was PG-13 and little kids could go see it, if you have watched the movies you will know what I mean.

So I will say again, I bet when you were that age, you were not old enough to comprehend half of the material given to you in TKJ. And I bet with BB a lot of kids will not understand it.

I guess to re-define my statement is that is the movie to dark for kids? Thats subjective to opinion, and to each indvidual parent. Are they more complex with much more adult targeted themes, and complex story. Yes. Sorry to call you a dick man, but from what I read, you were being quite rude to a statment that I to that point had not heard Nolan say otherwise. So show me the source as well, before you just rip on some one for giving their opinion.

 

[Solidus]

And one more point to show that just because it will be a big toy seller, does not mean that the movie is still aimed towards 10 year old+ which I believe TDK is.
Look at Alien, Aliens, Terminator, Predator, Robocop. All VERY VERY adult like movies, yet all of them made a buttload off of their merchandise selling.

So to sumarize what I said for those who do not want to read it all. To me visually is a movie suitable for some one under 10, ah thats subjective, but to me these movies seem to be aimed to a adult audiance, which is shown by deep character development, deep story lines, and more complex plotting, and telling of the stories.

If people bring their kids what ever, but to me, the only gateway of that is it's MPAA rating, which does not determine if a movie is adult targeted or not. There are many movies that are PG-13 that have more of a target audiance for 10 or more like late teenagers and older. But I think Nolan has brought his complex and beautiful more gritty dark, adult themed story telling to Batman. No we are not going to see people getting eaten alive, with blood going everywhere. But I think it is still more aimed towards late teens and adults. But hey if you bring your kids you can, I just don't think they will get the full extent of what the movie's dark themes are.

 

[A Dark Knight]

I hope it is dark, everything so far says it is going to be, IMO as long as it is as dark as BB everything will be ok, but with the Joker as the main evil man who just happens to be a raving psycho and what we all know is going to happen to Harvey Dent, I think we will see a very, very dark PG-13 film which will be great.

 

[Solidus]

I mean yea just look at it this way. You go up to a little 8 year old and say:

"Hey do you wanna go watch a movie that centers around a mass murdering clown, who has scary scars on the side of his face, and he kills many innocent people, including blowing up a hospital, and wanting a boat load of innocent people to die.?!!!"

I mean just saying the general premise of the film, having a mob boss in a club with his dumb girl friend, and just all the adult material in there. The mob? Kids movie? Usually does not also go hand in hand.

 

[Mr. Socko]

It should be dark, bloody, and gory.

I want to see Joker rip out Rachel's intestines and hide a key in her.

 

[Luchastyle]

mmm...the sarcasm is delicious. anything saw related is not welcome. but i wouldn't mind joker doing something really gory. slitting her throat would be pretty cool.

 

[contemporarydog]

I think it will be a dark film, but that won't necessarily make it unsuitable for children. Empire Strikes Back, as someone else mentioned, is a very dark film and that was a 'U' (UK ratings). In my view, B89 was much more unsuitable for kids than BB. B89 had some downright disturbing stuff (acid on girlfriend's face etc) whereas BB was dark, but I would not mind my boy watching it at all. I think The Dark Knight will follow in the same vein - very dark, but not at all disturbing, and hence watchable by kids and adults alike.

That said, I do think BB is perhaps a bit too slow for most young kids. I can see a lot getting itchy feet when they realise we don't even see Batman til about almost halfway through. But that's a different matter.

 

[Solidus]

I don't think any one is listening to what I said. I did not say that it needs gore, and IT WON'T.

But let's just recap some scenes described from Wizard Con, and The "Sides"

-Joker shoots a bank manager, right in the head
-A man has a bomb in his chest. He will blow up
-A hospital is destroyed with innocent people most likley still in side.
-A barge scene with innocent people about to die.
-The Joker killing random Gothamites in the street with a machine gun.
-Drug dealers worrying about the Batman

I mean I did not Mr. Socko say anything about gore and blood, I don't want that. But if you read my posts you can see, that the subject matter of TDK is quite dark for people under the age of 9 or 8. Aesticaly it will be fine for little kids to watch, but just because the MPAA says it's ok does not mean that it is not a dark movie.

I mean this is the country where if people get murdered and killed on screen, parents are like. thats fine. But if there is a breast or talk of sex on screen parents freak out and go OH MY GOD NOOOOO!!! Just shows how sick this country can be.

But visualy it is not going to have lots of guts and gore. But I think it is a dark movie, maybe too dark for the very young. Which is the Spider man kids and Fantastic Four targets.

 

[contemporarydog]

Of course, quite brutal violence does not necessitate an adult rating. Think of Bond film View to a Kill. There's a bit in that where Zorin (Christopher Walken) picks up a machine gun and starts randomly shooting his employees. That film was a PG in the UK, which is open to any age of kid.