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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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:
Neondisco · 30/07/2021 21:45

@Thorilicious

I should add, I have never seen A Clockwork Orange, but know these characters and what they did. As someone said above, it wasn't a nice connection to have, when I was enjoying a kids film with my DC's.
Jesus you were upset by a connection to a film you've never seen? Wow
DumDum32 · 30/07/2021 21:53

Hmmm my kids are very observant so likely would ask "who is that mummy?" Luckily they didn't like the first one much so I might just steer clear of this one for them but watch it myself Wink

Nayday · 30/07/2021 22:01

@DumDum32 it's an ongoing crowd scene so they're unlikely to pick out characters specifically. The Droogs aren't particularly featured, I had to look out for them after thinking 'did I just see...!'
Even if they did 'they are characters from WB films' would do as an explanation, there's really no issue from a rating perspective or kids comprehension. Pennywise is a clown, not the IT version!

I'd be more inclined to miss it because it's a terrible film 😂

Original poster
Thorilicious · 30/07/2021 22:08

@Neondisco never said I was upset. I know enough about it though to query why they were in a children's film.

OP posts:
NiceGerbil · 30/07/2021 22:54

I do think

It's a massively famous film for a host of reasons that I posted earlier. It's known for including a lot of violence and sexual violence. It's a Kubrick film. It was highly contraversial. It's highly acclaimed as a must watch by loads of serious orgs.

Given that it's a bizarre reference for a kids film. Ditto the devils.

No the kids won't get it.

However how many parents will be jolted while watching a kids film and suddenly being prompted to think of extreme violence and rape...?

It's bizarre and for many adults won't be funny at all but jarring and weird.

DumDum32 · 30/07/2021 22:54

@nayday ha ha yes if it's terrible then won't bother. I actually find remakes always generally awful I must admit. Some exclusions to that obviously. I was actually looking forward to it but seeing everyone's review I'll wait till it's on netflix Lol

NiceGerbil · 30/07/2021 22:54

I think it's because of the Pepe thing.

You don't like that? Well how about this. Fuck you.

NannyAndJohn · 30/07/2021 23:16

@NiceGerbil

I think it's because of the Pepe thing.

You don't like that? Well how about this. Fuck you.

I think so.

Could also be the case that the writers/producers etc are bitter that they were assigned to work on a kiddies film rather than their preferred violence/rape fests so have decided to stick two fingers up.

NiceGerbil · 30/07/2021 23:23

There's been loads of examples of (let's be straightforward here) male animators putting all sorts into films etc.

NiceGerbil · 30/07/2021 23:24

I think it's a really good prestigious job working on this.

I also think it feels like the sort of thing certain types of men would find HILARIOUS.

just my take.

ALbigbump · 30/07/2021 23:31

Saw space jam on Weds, hadn’t even noticed the clockwork orange crew in the film, had to google it just now to check! V bizarre. I enjoyed the film though

Neondisco · 31/07/2021 08:45

[quote Thorilicious]@Neondisco never said I was upset. I know enough about it though to query why they were in a children's film.[/quote]
You said it wasn't nice to have that association while watching a film with your children. That implies at least some level of upset.

So you're being dramatic.

eightyfourandahalf · 31/07/2021 10:02

A film making references that kids can't understand or be upset by?
Not a big deal.

The professionally offended will always find something to complain about, maybe all movies will start giving them something to chew so they ignore the rest of the film.

Nayday · 31/07/2021 11:28

@NiceGerbil and @NannyAndJohn

Massive overthink here - have you actually seen the film? The crowd is made up of WB characters, Bad Man and Robin, Harlequin etc - lots of them. I'm not saying it wasn't odd to see the Droogs, but they were 'blink and you'll miss them'. I'm thinking it was an attempt at adult in-joke film reference. There was nothing visually inappropriate, and if you haven't seen Clockwork Orange you'd have no idea (there were lots of characters I didn't recognise).

NannyAndJohn · 31/07/2021 11:31

Then they should have kept it to age appropriate characters only, instead of including a killer clown and notorious rapists.

Rhannion · 31/07/2021 11:38

It’s all about pushing boundaries slyly and sneaky. It will be
“ you’re a prude or a killjoy, it’s just a wee bit of a laugh, see what we can get away with today” It’s not funny or appropriate.

Nayday · 31/07/2021 13:23

Personally I just don't think it really worked - I'm not offended as such, it came off as odd and badly done (some of the characters costumes are really amateur looking) rather than clever in-joke for adults. Another off note in a terrible film really.

lucysnowe2 · 31/07/2021 13:38

The whole film is basically a giant ad for Warner Bros, and pretty boring too imo.

The nuns and Droogs in the background was just odd, but not as bad as LeBron and Bugs Bunny inserting themselves into Mad Max (?) and Rick and Morty in character with speaking parts (??) why?

Rockbird · 31/07/2021 16:11

We saw the film yesterday and I thought the same thing about Pennywise. Haven't seen Clockwork Orange and wouldn't want to do so didn't recognise them.

All that aside though, nice as it was to see the Loony Tunes characters, the film was absolute shite!

Polkadots2021 · 31/07/2021 17:04

@Thorilicious

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?
It's to keep the parents entertained! I saw it too and noticed that. Kids movies these days all throw in some funny references for the parents.

Lego Batman do it the best.

VladmirsPoutine · 31/07/2021 17:22

It's really not a big deal. In many kids cartoons etc there are always underlying themes aimed at their parents or for adults in general. And why pin point Space Jam - some of the song lyrics your kids are singing along to aren't about bubble gum and rainbows...

NiceGerbil · 31/07/2021 17:23

You find references to the devils and a clockwork orange funny?

I'm interested why?

Genuinely because i don't really understand that.

NiceGerbil · 31/07/2021 17:24

The underlying theme of those two films is brutally sexual violence and the devils well just yikes really.

Are they good underlying themes?

plodalong12 · 31/07/2021 17:33

@NiceGerbil

The underlying theme of those two films is brutally sexual violence and the devils well just yikes really.

Are they good underlying themes?

I agree with you, I mean, it’s literally the tag line in the poster:
Age Inappropriate characters in the new Space Jam film..
wordsareveryunnecessary · 31/07/2021 18:07

Very inappropriate considering this is a kids film full of cartoon characters

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