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AIBU?

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Original poster

To not understand why watership down is rated as a U?

75 replies

TheArmadillo · 08/04/2011 22:35

So me and dh decided to watch watership down tonight after both being traumatised by it in our childhoods (along with most of our friends).

The box describes it as "a delightful film for all ages" and states that it contains "mild threat and violence".

I'll quote from IMDB who sums it up quite well.

It lists several examples of violence/gore - the worst being "In the final battle, which is likely the goriest scene in the movie, a rabbit has his throat torn out by another rabbit onscreen. We then see his body, he has a large hole in his neck, and blood is everywhere. Two rabbits then fight nearly to the death. They cut each other up, and are shown bloodied. Next, a dog is unleashed upon the rabbits, he bites and tears up many of them. One is even shown being thrown high into the air by the dog, and falling back down, covered in blood. Finally, it is implied that a rabbit is killed offscreen by the dog, no blood or violence but still very frightening."

ON frightening intense scenes it describes how "The most frightening scene shows rabbits being gassed underground, their heads then form an abstract ghostly head of a rabbit." but misses out how the rabbit describes the piling up of dead bodies and the others trying to climb over them to get out their warren which has been blocked up.

Oh and also the weird warren run by a mad dictator (General Woundwort).

For those of you who don't know the story it is about a young rabbit who has visions that terrible things are going to happen (he continues to have these throughout the film). He convinces a group of rabbits to leave the warren with him and they go off to search for a new home making their way through constant terror and danger.

It's supposed to be a religious allegory btw and is based on the book by Richard Adams (a very good book btw).

But aibu in thinking that this film should definately not be rated as a U?

OP posts:
blackeyedsusan · 08/04/2011 23:31

Not read the thread, don't want to have nightmares. can't watch it. too sensitive and howl. cried at bambi too.

Tanith · 08/04/2011 23:34

You think the bunnies are bad? You should read the Duncton Wood series!

LittleMissFluffBrain · 08/04/2011 23:37

I've not seen it, but know people who have watched it and been traumatised as a child! My own DH being one - he's 40 years old and to this day can't stand to listen to the song Bright Eyes as it makes him want to blub! Grin

OnEdge · 08/04/2011 23:39

BRIGHT EYES Shock

Quodlibet · 08/04/2011 23:52

Oh my god the trauma.
Brought back the memory of being left to watch this aged 7 alone with my 4 year old sister in someone else's house while my parents were moving. Horrific.

This one probably even beats Return to Oz in the 'films designed to give children nightmares' category.

Thingumy · 09/04/2011 00:11

I found Richard Adams 'Plague dogs' more frightening as a 11 year old (the book and the film).

I do agree with the U,it's down to the parents to allow a child to watch.

I saw the film under the age of 11 and was moved by the content as much as the book.

I'm still moved as a adult-it's a sad film about life and 'war'.

A good film remains in your mind I find.

Original poster
TheArmadillo · 09/04/2011 00:18

I'd forgotten about return to oz - the room with all the heads was so creepy

OP posts:
DitaVonCheese · 09/04/2011 00:21

YANBU, this film is horrific! Remember watching it numerous times Hmm as a child (and once at primary school, presumably at Christmas or something) and am still haunted by the dying bunnies and the bit where they have their ears shredded

DD loves rabbits, she won't be watching it for a verrrrry long time.

Read the book when I was in my 20s (under the desk at work because it was so gripping!), loved that. The film is evil.

DitaVonCheese · 09/04/2011 00:22

Forgot to say, I watched some bits of WD a year or so ago on Youtube as thought I must be imagining how traumatic it was. I wasn't!

Loved Return to Oz though, read most of the books when I was a kid.

LetThereBeRock · 09/04/2011 00:23

The Plague Dogs is possibly even more disturbing.

Thingumy · 09/04/2011 00:24

The Plague dogs is very frightening.

EdwardorEricCantDecide · 09/04/2011 00:32

I first saw it when I was about 5 and have always loved it, it was also my first introduction to death.
I still love it, did try to read the book at about 13 but think I was maybe too young to appreciate it and only got couple of chapters in will maybe try again soon.

I am however a hard hearted bitch and tend to not get very emotional about death it's one of the only things in life that's guaranteed

Fontsnob · 09/04/2011 00:33

Yup, another one traumatised as I child. No way would I inflict it upon dd! Shudder. I have really clear childhood memories of watching it, even down to where I was sitting.

Skinit · 09/04/2011 00:37

Is it some sort of re-telling of the Holacaust? But with rabbits?

howlonguntiltheweekend · 09/04/2011 00:41

I watched it on Christmas
Day as a child. Don't remember much about it although I enjoyed it enough to name two new dolls after two of the rabbits. I don't think i gave it a second thought after

DitaVonCheese · 09/04/2011 01:03

Skinit Richard Adams says in the intro to the book that it's supposed to be about real rabbits, not an analogy of any kind. I think. Not sure whether it's true though!

Skinit · 09/04/2011 01:12

Authors always do that "No! There's no hidden meaning" But there must be!

MardyBra · 09/04/2011 01:15

I just remember my dad's quote when I was a kid:

"You've read the book, seen the film, now taste the stew..."

Virgowoo · 09/04/2011 01:35

i just have to see the name in the Christmas Radio Times and I'm off...Waaaaahhhh! I'm surprised it's a 'U', thought it would be a 'PG' at least. Definitely not for little ones.

The Plague Dogs is worse though. I think I read that at about 10-12 yrs and wailed all the way through.

[something in eye]

HipHopopotomus · 09/04/2011 01:38

I've not seem the film. I really enjoyed the book and have read it a couple of times - it is very violent in parts. Probably why I never saw the film.

FellatioNels0n · 09/04/2011 21:07

I agree with you! People think because it's animated and about rebbits it will be all cuddly and child friendly and it's flipping well not! By DS watched this when he was quite little and was appalled/traumatised by it! [very bad mother emoticon]

A1980 · 09/04/2011 21:30

It scared the crap out of me as a child and I found the book really dull.

I don't understnad the U certificate either. it should be a 12.

coastgirl · 09/04/2011 21:33

DH remembered this from childhood and was convinced it was post-apocaplytic - we watched it again and it isn't, but I could definitely see where he'd got that impression. It's bloody terrifying.

Honeybee79 · 09/04/2011 21:35

Agree. I can't watch it either. The music alone makes me cry.
Mum wouldn't let me watch it as a child because it upset me so much, that and a book called The Patchwork Cat . . .

MrBloomEatsVeggies · 09/04/2011 21:37

My younger sister watched this (we all did, together) and she was very quiet right the way through. When it had finished we all went off and got on with whatever we were getting on with.

Nighttime came and we were all woken by my sister's screaming. She had dreamt (sp?) about the bit where Hazel? (Fiver? Blackberry? can't remember) went a bit spooky and mental saying 'The field's, the fields are covered in blood'. Cue blood spilling all over the field.

Anyway, it was that part that she dreamt about, for MONTHS. Every bloody night for absolutely ages. The screaming, it was horrendous!

I will never let my DS's watch it!! Not 'till they're a lot older anyway.