To wonder why the bloody hell Watership Down (the film) is rated U?

[TheCunnyFunt]

There is no way in hell I would ever allow my 4 year old to watch it! It is brutal

YANBU. It is terrifying. It gave me and my sister nightmares for years! It is the General that does it....shudder.

I loved it at about 4. I never thought of it as violent though of course it is in a way.

The seagull says, "Piss Off".

I do agree it was an odd ratings choice. Especially when there's far less violent films with 18 PG ratings.

Ah, Watership Down, the film that emotionally scarred a generation. I need that mug.

The seagull tells the rabbits to piss off. I think WD needs to be re-evaluated, it should be PG at least.

Love that mug :o

Slippery I think of that every time I see a new housing development being built

That mug is brilliant! Might get it for my friend who has still never forgiven me for showing her the film all those years ago!

The seagull says 'piss off' - bit of light relief

Defo not a U!

I think Disney films are worse.

WD is just basic/simple violence.

Disney films are far more psychologically damaging... Proper horror stuff.

Anyone else still bothered by Pinnochio turning into a donkey? That was some savage animation.

This article is interesting:

whatculture.com/film/shocking-moments-in-u-pg-rated-movies.php

I can remember it being on telly when I was a child and my mum, dad and sister watched it but I refused! I've still never watched it!

Just because a film has a particular rating doesn't mean you have to let your dc watch it.
You make your own mind up surely.
I saw the film when it first came out, I think I was about 11.
I don't think it's as scary as some of the HP scenes even the earlier ones and parents let young children watch this, introducing them to murder.

YANBU I shall not be showing the film to ds. I remember going to see it at the cinema when I was about 7. I sobbed the lights came on and the cinema was full of sobbing traumatised children

I still can't listen to Bright Eyes without getting teary when I hear the song I feel terribly sad

I won't be watching it again

I remember watching it as a child at my nan's house thinking it would be a nice cartoon. Still can't even face watching that you tube clip let alone the whole film again. One of the few early memories that really sticks in my mind

Is it the film that's changed or the audience?

I saw it as a kid & loved it, cried at the end - but then I still do!

In primary school I went to a 6th birthday party where the host parents showed Watership Down. Really bad choice! Most of the kids ( all 5 or 6 years old) ended up very upset, some had to be collected early.

Ah hell. Why did I watch that youtube clip?

I know I watched this when I was younger, buy I must have blocked most of it from memory.
I'm never telling my daughter this film exists!

Bri-ight eyes burning like firrrrrre

Dm took dsis to see Watership Down at the cinema when it was first out. She wasn't quite 3yo. She does remember the experience, and wasn't particularly scared.

However I was absolutely petrified to the point of hysteria at Bedknobs and Broomsticks when I was just over 3yo.

I'm sure I read somewhere that it remains the most complained about broadcast in the BBC's history. Guess people were expecting a cute film about bunnies.

I seriously can't believe that's a U. My parents had a sort of glossy picture book of the animation (it might possibly even have been a misguided present for me) which shit me up proper long before I even saw the film.

Awww, I was going to post the mug Happy I am drinking out of it as I type.

Agree it's a very dark film. I loved the Secret of Nimh when I was a kid and, on reflection, that was quite scary.

Dh loves the song bright eyes so last christmas i bought him the watership down dvd as a present as id never seen it and the song sounded so good. Dh not seen it either just heard the song.

We sat down after christmAs to enjoy this film. I think i managed half an hour but dh managed it to the end. Wouldnt be hurrying back to watch it. Those poor rabbits. Agree op no idea why its a u and im so thankful my dm didnt tell us about this film as a child. We were upset enough about bambie mother.

For those just wanting to watch the song (sorry about the advert at the beginning). It has speciAl meaning if you hear it for the first time and had just someone close. (Sorry song always makes me cry). m.youtube.com/watch?v=cGyQmH9NZcw

Wow, I'm surprised it's a U! Parental Guidance definitely needed.

I saw it one Christmas, snug on the sofa with my parents and a tin of Roses. I still associate the purple-wrapped chocolate and hazelnut ones with bloody rabbit-based horror.

The snare scene really stayed with me

I think I read the book before I saw the film all the way through, so I knew what I was getting in to.

It's the Star Wars ratings I find all over the place - I believe the original trilogy are all U, which seems a little low to me, but I can let it pass, but I think PG for Attack of the Clones is pushing it.

And yet snares, so incredibly cruel and indiscriminate, are still legal.

There's a campaign at the moment to get them banned: www.league.org.uk/our-campaigns/snaring/what-you-can-do-about-snaring

My aunt took me and my cousin to see it when we were about 8 or 9. I was so traumatised I've never been able to watch it since.