Batman The Dark Knight - I don't like the 12a classification

[Frizbe]

www.bbfc.co.uk/classification/c_12.php

Went to see this last night, great movie fantasic true to the comic portrayl of The Joker by Mr Ledger (RIP) but I'm uneasy with the 12a classification....due to the psychological content of the movie. I honestly think any 12 year old I know would have nightmares after seeing this film, and 12a means Adults can take younger kids in, if they see fit, right?

Does anyone else agree with me? I think a 12 would have been more appropriate, due to lack of nudity it doesn't warrent a 15, but I can see this seriously messing with some young minds.

I really want to see this but hate violence in films, especially intentional and malicious violence, so maybe it should be rated "SMA" for Sensitive Mammy Alert

At what point(s) should I make a toilet break if I go with dh on the weekend?

I don't think it is too violent for an adult. The violence is often implied rather than explicit (sounds rather than blood for example). There were times when I put my hands in front of my eyes though! Mostly it's just a good ride though!

Also surprised at the low rating.

When I went to see this with DP there was a couple sitting next us who had bought their DS - he couldn't have been more than 4 or 5.

Have to agree about the 12A rating not being suitable - my 8 year old DS wanted to see it, but I have had to say no.

On the other hand - it was a very cool film. Heath Ledger was fantastic as the Joker - what an amazing talent he was!

Superb film, but definitely should not have been a 12A. Not explicitly showing the violence doesn't reduce the intensity of the disturbing violent atmosphere IMO. I had freaked-out dreams for two nights after I watched it and I'm 32! There's a great deal of psychological menace in the film, which can be far more disturbing than plain old gore if handled right - look at Michael Haneke's Funny Games, for example, which never explicitly shows any of the violence yet is still rated as one of the most disturbing films in recent years.

Having said that, I was glad this film lived up to its hype. Ledger was so, so good as the Joker - really true to the comic book vision, as someone else has said.

They do need to sort out Bale's cheesy subsonic Batvoice though

I saw this last night....

Now, I took the DCs (4,8 and 10) to see Indy 4 despite it being a 12A because I knew what those films are like. There is not a chance in hell that I would let the Dcs see this - it was fantastic, and awesome and I will definitely be getting it on DVD, but IMO far, far too dark for kids. There might not have been any swearing or actual gore, but it was fairly horrific. Unless the audience I saw it with were unusually wussy, there were loads of moments when everyone jumped/went 'ewww'/cringed in their seats (PMSL when HD turned his face and one lone woman shrieked)

However, as has already been pointed out, it is down to the responsible adult to decide if their under 12's could cope with it so I'm not sure if I would actually be angered at the BBFC for giving it the classification they did.

My son and his friend (both 15) went last week. They both said it should have had a 15 rating and that it was too violent for 12 year olds!!

We went to see this a couple of days ago. ('we' are me and two DSs aged 7 and 9).

Its a good film but IMO very grown up in more ways than one. First there's the obvious violence, way too much gore for a 12 certificate...especially the first look of "two face" which caused a horified look on DS2s face.

Then there's the actual storyline, the politics and love triangle which is a bit boring for little ones and I doubt many would follow it very well.

I have to say though, the Joker was brilliant, definately the star of the entire movie.

"Dp for instance found The Joker really, really scary - dd aged 10 found him funny."

Sorry I've just picked up on this and am so glad others noticed this too. The great thing about this joker was that he wasn't made out to be a criminal mastermind of any sort like most bad guys in films, he was a complete psyco and IMO that is much more scary than a criminal mastermind. And it would also go above the kids heads...When the Joker laughs it sends chills down my spine, DS found it hilarious.

i went with my 4 yesterday, aged 16, 11, 9 and 7

they all loved it, but then mine are partial to a bit of blood and gore, and werent at all bothered by any of the scenes

heath ledger totally outshone everyone, a brilliant performance i thnk

v good film

dh saw it in the states last week and said it was fab but totally unsuitable for dd1 (almost 9)

spiderman and pirates of caribbean quite tame really

I clicked into this topic catgory to start this exact same thread. I saw this film this afternoon with a friend, and as soon as the scene happened where the Joker played "hide the pencil" I leaned across to her and said "This film is a 12!!!!????" I leapt a foot in the air at least 4 times, thought the Two Face effects were terrifying and I wouldn't be comfortable with my boys seeing this when they are 15, let alone 12. Which is a shame, because I thought it was the most spectacularly cool film I've seen for ages, and what kid would not want to be Batman on tht motorbike? I Want to be Batman on that motorbike......

would it be terribly wrong for me to admit, that ds2 (7), when he saw that scene, said "WOW COOL!" ?

I just think may I am completely out of touch with what children are exposed to these days in terms of violence etc - mine are only 2 and 4 and the thought of them seeing this movie makes me feel sick.

i would say they are too young yes

12yo dd2 and I saw this at an Imax last week. Dd wasn't in the least bothered by it but I must admit, she's pretty bomb-proof in the scary stakes. I am a wuss and hate scary films but apart from that 'two face' scene, it didn't give me nightmares. I think 12A is about right.

Oh God, the pencil scene made me nearly vomit! It was soooo violent! Heath Ledger was fantastic, I agree, but that film should not have been a 12a - there were a couple in front of us with a child dd's age (3) and I just wondered what the hell they thought they were doing? DD would have had screaming nightmares over Two-Face and it was far too long for a child that age anyway...

DS went to see it he is 11, DD is 9 we went to see mamma mia. DS did enjoy it, but he is very technicaly minded and enjoys the making of a film documentary as much as the film itself. He has a very mature understanding and gets right into plot lines etc and analyses everything. He goes to filmmaking club too.

But I do think parents have to actually think about taking kids to these kids of films that are borderline. He went to King kong with a pal for his birthday, freind was a year older but was seriously not enjoying the film took him home halfway through, I hadn't even thought it would be scary like that as it was well King kong but there lesson learned.

The last Bond film was a bit borderline too, DS loved it, but I did my research and took DD to the loo just before the torture scene, she has watch the whole thing on DVD since then but we went and made popcorn, but its not quite as full on as when it is seen on the big screen in a dark cinema with soundtrack booming.