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AIBU?

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Age Inappropriate characters in the new Space Jam film..

106 replies

Thorilicious · 29/07/2021 20:39

Genuinely not sure if I'm over reacting. I won't be sending a complaint or anything, but took my DC's to see the new Space Jam film. It's a certificate U.

They have loads of Warner Brothers characters watching a basketball game in the background.
Baring in mind, this is a kids film, I was a bit surprised to see Penny-wise and characters from A Clockwork Orange. Knowing that those films are about, AIBU to think they shouldn't be featured in a kids film?

OP posts:
NiceGerbil · 29/07/2021 22:55

Why on earth choose these films?

How many adults who get the references are going to be hahaha that's brilliant!

It's fucking weird and I don't get it.

NiceGerbil · 29/07/2021 22:58

Taking offence?!

Erm...

The devils

'The film faced harsh reaction from national film rating systems due to its disturbingly violent, sexual, and religious content, and originally received an X rating in both the United Kingdom and the United States. It was banned in several countries, and eventually heavily edited for release in others. In various countries the film has never received a release in its original, uncut form.

Film scholarship on The Devils has largely focused on its themes of sexual repression and abuse of power. It has also been recognized as one of the most controversial films of all time by numerous publications and film critics. The film remained banned in Finland until 2001.'

NiceGerbil · 29/07/2021 23:00

S clockwork orange

'. The film was met with polarised reviews from critics, and was also heavily controversial due to its depictions of graphic violence. It was later withdrawn from British cinemas at Kubrick's behest, and was also banned in several other countries. In the years following, the film underwent a critical re-evaluation and gained a cult following. It received several awards and nominations, including four nominations at the 44th Academy Awards.'

NiceGerbil · 29/07/2021 23:01

Two of the most notorious films in Western cinema, known for extreme violence and brutal sexual / sexually violent content.

Referenced in a children's film.

That's not fucking bizarre?

Ok then.

HeyGirlHeyBoy · 29/07/2021 23:03

I'm to see this tomorrow with 2 dc. This is very weird tbh. Why would they think that's an appropriate 'in joke' for adults.. Confused

GrandTheftWalrus · 29/07/2021 23:05

The Simpsons have also referenced A Clockwork Orange.

HarebrightCedarmoon · 29/07/2021 23:05

Seems to follow on nicely, given they had R Kelly in the first film.

JackieCollinshasnoauthority · 29/07/2021 23:08

I've seen it tonight. I saw penny-wise but didn't see any droogs. I would get the nuns reference. All the people in the background seemed really low rent fancy dress party types. I'm assuming that was intentional but I it seemed incongruous.

I do agree agree that references to hyperviolent movies are unnecessary.

GrandTheftWalrus · 29/07/2021 23:11

A lot of children's films will add in jokes for grownups. Could that have been what they were doing?

NiceGerbil · 29/07/2021 23:13

I would imagine so.

But how many grown ups would be all hahaha clever so funny about references to these particular films?

There are 1000s of films they could have picked from. It's just bizarre.

toocold54 · 29/07/2021 23:25

At least R Kelly isn't in this one.

GrinGrin

I was wondering if they’d use his song sang by someone else as it was very iconic for the original film!

All children’s movies have double meanings, innuendos etc that adults get and children don’t. They are meant to be quite shocking and not blatantly obvious.

NiceGerbil · 29/07/2021 23:40

So r Kelly and Pepe le pew dropped. Pepe apparently as lecherous.

And so they add two of the most notorious films in Western film?

'They are meant to be quite shocking and not blatantly obvious.'

I agree not blatently obvious. But meant to be shocking?

Surprising or clever maybe.

Plenty of women aren't keen on depictions of rape in films. Is that fair to say?

So she's sitting there with her kids watching a children's film and BOOM remember s clockwork orange! Notorious for extreme violence and sexual violence. A seriously disturbing film.

In what way is that... I mean usually the bits for grown ups are funny. Or trying to be!

I don't get it.

What are the people who made the film trying to say with this?

The devils as well.

Just. What?!

toocold54 · 29/07/2021 23:50

So she's sitting there with her kids watching a children's film and BOOM remember s clockwork orange! Notorious for extreme violence and sexual violence. A seriously disturbing film.

I haven’t seen either so wouldn’t get the references and that’s what it’s aimed at. If you haven’t seen those types of things you probably don’t know what it refers to.
There’s lots of films with extreme violence in and many children’s programmes reference things like Hannibal lecture but they don’t understand what it’s about.

NiceGerbil · 30/07/2021 00:16

These films esp a clockwork orange are incredibly well known.

Esp a clockwork orange. It's not only those who have seen it that will recognise the reference. By a long chalk. And know that it's extremely contraversial due to the extreme violence and sexual violence.

It was directed by Stanley Kubrick. Often noted as one of the best if not the best film director in the history of cinema.

Also it's very well known that he essentially banned his own film. Stopping it being shown in cinemas.

The reference will be understood widely- the droogs have such a specific look.

The reference- the droogs - lived for extreme violence and rape.

It's just weird as fuck and with the devils as well... What the hell are they saying?

NiceGerbil · 30/07/2021 00:18

These films make Hannibal lecter look like a cuddly rabbit.

chorizoTapas · 30/07/2021 00:24

@Thorilicious

Fair enough, as said, I'm not complaining or anything, just a bit surprised to see them. Probably to do with my clown phobia which came from watching the original IT Grin
My ds 7 is terrified by the sight of pennywise. He hasn't seen the film, just knows of him so this Space jam would definitely be a no. I have to avoid that bastard clown 100% or end up with a sobbing ds at night who is terrified pennywise (or someone in the costume) will be standing at the end of his bed in the night
MythsandSparkles · 30/07/2021 00:24

I haven’t seen either film so wouldn’t get the references. I haven’t seen IT either but would recognise the clown reference.

But having read the extracts a PP posted - why has anyone seen them? They don’t sound like entertainment? And I doubt from everyone’s reactions they’ve covered the content in a way that might actually educate people…so why would you watch it?

Not meaning to be goady, is there something I’m missing that means I should have watched these films? Some cultural back story I’m not aware of?

chorizoTapas · 30/07/2021 00:25

@suspiria777

At least R Kelly isn't in this one.
He might as well be by the sounds of it..
chorizoTapas · 30/07/2021 00:33

@MythsandSparkles

I haven’t seen either film so wouldn’t get the references. I haven’t seen IT either but would recognise the clown reference.

But having read the extracts a PP posted - why has anyone seen them? They don’t sound like entertainment? And I doubt from everyone’s reactions they’ve covered the content in a way that might actually educate people…so why would you watch it?

Not meaning to be goady, is there something I’m missing that means I should have watched these films? Some cultural back story I’m not aware of?

For me, I wanted to watch a clockwork orange as a teen out of sheer curiosity... now I don't watch any horrors or disturbing films because I don't want to tarnish my soul
NiceGerbil · 30/07/2021 01:03

'But having read the extracts a PP posted - why has anyone seen them? They don’t sound like entertainment? And I doubt from everyone’s reactions they’ve covered the content in a way that might actually educate people…so why would you watch it?'

Stanley Kubrick is often described as the best director in cinema history.
The film was enormously contraversial- which makes people want to see what the fuss is about.
Banned in several countries - ditto.
Kubrick himself trying to ban it and widely succeeding for a time- ditto.
The film is frequently listed as a must see etc by a range of high profile orgs.
The imagery of these characters crops up a fair bit. T-shirts posters etc.
It's a cult classic.

It's incredibly well known. And it's well known for all those things and it's well known for excessive violence and sexual violence.

Why would anyone want to watch it? To find out just how bad it is, to watch a cult classic, to watch a film cited as a must watch, to watch a Kubrick film that's very famous... Etc etc

NiceGerbil · 30/07/2021 01:08

And as for Ken Russell.

Christ.

Pervy fetishy rape filled nasty sadist horrible stuff.

I've seen ove of his films and that was enough tbh.

Massively famous for, well. Again extremely well known for depictions of sexual torture rape and.. extremely contraversial.

Less people would get that reference.

But WHY did the makers choose to reference these films of all the films they could have picked?

It's fucking bizarre.

WolfFleeceSpotter · 30/07/2021 01:19

Completely agree that this is bizarre and wrong. Why include these characters? There are plenty of jokes they could’ve made.

NiceGerbil · 30/07/2021 01:21

I wonder if it's because they took Pepe le pew out over sexual harrassment (the whole content of those cartoons iirc) and they're making a point. A sort of fuck you.

noodlezoodle · 30/07/2021 03:02

I haven't seen it, but I read an article that said they're trying to create a 'universe' where they cram in as many characters as possible from films that they own/have distributed. Kind of like the Marvel crossover universe, but... not?

I'm less sure what the purpose is, but apparently that's the 'why'.

NiceGerbil · 30/07/2021 03:47

I think the purpose was (bluntly) some blokes saying. You made us ditch Pepe? Stick this in your pipe and smoke it.