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

The Secret of NIMH is another horrific one. Poor Mrs Brisby was having a right shitty time of it.

I still haven't forgiven my Dad for showing me it when I was about 5. He also took my DM to see it for their first date. Fuck knows how there was a second after that, I would have run for the hills

It was a regular film at my primary school - always always ended the same way with kids in floods of tears and teachers standing around looking at each other, who then forgot in time for the next year when exactly the same thing happened! I went to a small primary school (think 50 in the whole school) and everyone watched it the last afternoon of term.

Doesnt it have something stupid like 'really mild threat and/or peril' on the back as a warning(!) I think it was a PG originally (could be wrong about that though).

There was a thread in chat awhile ago by a watership down innocent who bought the film because thay thought it looked like a 'cute bunny film' to watch with their four year old. They were very very

rugger a first date?! it would have been my last too!

King Joffrey love the sound of your tattoo!

Thanks. I have posted this picture before on one of the AIBU To Despise Peeps With Tattoos? threads but this thread is more relevant.

I like it...

Becca yup. Been married over 30 years now so god knows what he had to do to get another chance but it worked out

KingJoffrey that's gorgeous! I always found the black rabbit kind of comforting. If death is a rabbit then I'm ok with it Other than that, yes WD is fucking horrific! Although actually Kia saying Piss Off was the funniest thing my dsis and I had ever heard!

Completely agree with the OP. No way it should be U. I think it's a reflection of how little the genre was understood at that time - no one today would think it must be alright because it's a cartoon.

I don't think it would be a U if released today. Were there not many other animated films out at the time? Because the guidelines explicitly specify the difference between realistic and non realistic violence now along with specifying the difference between animation and live action, I think. Unless I'm getting confused with video game ratings.

We had it a few times at my primary school for our Christmas treat film. I was 4 the first time and it scared the shit out of me.

KingJoffrey I'm no fan of tattoos but that is lovely. I too like the black rabbit.

I guess we were just well 'ard in the 80s

Well Watership Down was a lot less traumatic than The Smurfs and the sodding Magic Flute. My first two cinema experiences . I can still remember buying 'Bright Eyes' in Boots afterwards. If you've any read any Grimm's Fairy Tales it's not much different.

I am traumatised by Watership Down. I can't believe my parents let me watch it, repeatedly! I don't know why I watched it more than once, I can remember being terrified!

YANBU, some of it is quite harrowing, even for adults!

Don't think I will ever forget my introduction to General Woundwort..

It should be an 18 definitely. Dds 7 and 9 and love rabbits have them as pets. No way will they be seeing this film on my watch!

YNBU. The part where is a hare claws open another animal's chest and it starts bleeding. Is horrible. I cried for hours as a little girl seeing that and had nightmares.
I can't believe it was rated as universal

Ah yes flys it is Where the Red Fern Grows... Not scary but devastatingly sad!

If you think Watership Down is disturbing, check out Dot and the Kangeroo on Youtube.

Bloody hell!

I still have nightmares about the bunyip song.

I read the book/watched the film for the first time as an adult and the warren flashback still gave me nightmares.

Happy little kids film this is not!!!

It's one of the creepiest things I've ever seen. The book isn't much better.

Mine are 7 and 5. No way will I be showing to them voluntarily, even as an adult it makes me sob. Parts like when they're suffocating and crushed in the tunnels is really horrific.

I do like the ending though...when he floats away with the shadow rabbit (Hazel was it?) it's kind of...uplifting.

BUT the ending doesn't make all that came before it worth it IMO.

Why did I watch the montage? Why? I had blocked most of it from my memory and now I can't put it away again!