to discover Kick Ass is not a jolly children's film?

[HerRoyalHighnessPrincessCervix]

so far we have had wanking, a man exploded in a microwave, gratuitous stabbings with an arseal of weaponry and language my granny never knew existed.

[cshock]

I saw it at the cinema with DH and what really struck is that we seemed to be the only ones flinching. Audience of mainly twenty-somethings. I suppose they are more immune to screen violence.

she's stopped it in favour of merlin. sensible girl. i'll vet the rest of it.

... same at Black Swan

I let my DS's (10 & 11) watch some 15s, if I have vetted them first. Some of those contain violence but the only films with violence in they are allowed to watch are the comic book/cartoon spin offs as there is a very clear distinction between fact and fiction, for example Wolverine jumping off to motorbike and hacking through a helicopter which then crashes. Very thrilling viewing for a 10 year old but utterly unrealistic so not something likely to make him think that a) violence is acceptable in a normal setting or b) he could do the same. The cost of adamantium is extortionate for a start

Based on my usual rule or comic book = ok, I watched Kickass to see if it would be suitable for them and Hit Girl is the main reason I decided it wouldn't be. Because the premise of the film is an ordinary, everyday kid with no superpowers or huge trust fund to pay for gadgets becomes a superhero, that makes it more 'real' for kids, who may then think 'they did it, I can too!' and as Hit Girl is only about 10 in the film, it would totally appeal to DS2. The fact that Hit Girl is the most ass kicking of all of them is excellent for shifting gender lines and opening a dialogue with DCs about equality between sexes IMHO but it also means that you see a 10 year old running around with automatic weapons, decapitating a mobster. Not an ideal example to be setting me thinks.

I love the film though and tbh am only really stopping them seeing it because of Hit Girl's trail of death and destruction, not her swearing. But then I am a horribly lax parent who takes them to comedy shows at festivals which are guaranteed to be full of f's and the like. I just chant "hear it, don't repeat it" like a mantra all weekend

DS1 and his mate (both 11) came in brandishing the DVD recently, and I said no ing way, you're not watching a film where some c is swearing the whole *ing time.

Actually, I checked up the reviews on the internet, then decided it was waaay too graphic and violent for them to watch. And a 15. Seems like I made the right decision.