...take kids to see The Dark Knight?
The below HAD a spoiler but I took care of that with my new ability to spoiler tag.
It's not a comic book movie.
That's the first thing you should know when your kids ask to see "The Dark Knight," this summer's biggest blockbuster. The film is vastly more true to Frank Miller's famous alternative view of The Batman than to the zap-pow camp of Adam West's TV portrayal and sanitized DC comics that filled our childhood.
So how do you answer? Should your children see "The Dark Knight?" We turned first to our resident film fanatic and visual designer, Chuck Kim, the first of the Yahoo! Kids team to see the box office smash.
"I would not take a kid to see 'The Dark Knight,' said Chuck. "The Joker and
alone could give a kid nightmares." The oft-mentioned violence is not of one of gore, he says, but more of the heart-and thus potentially more terrifying. "The main thing is that it is a very dark movie," Chuck concludes."There's no ray of hope for the city." He recommends kids be 14 or older to see the film.
Such cautions seem to be the consensus, beginning with movie's star, Christian Bale, who said this on the "Today Show:"
"It's quite haunting. It's something which will stay with you for quite a while afterward. I'm not sure how much a child will be oblivious to that. I would say starting at about 9, maybe 10 years old may be an appropriate age for kids to be able to deal with this."
A sampling of other comments:
- "'Dark Knight' is a staggeringly violent and disturbing film. Thought-provoking for adults, but potentially terrifying for children," says Jeffrey Weiss of The Dallas Morning News. "The PG-13 rating should offer some warning, yes. But this film dances just south of an R in my book." [/list:u:237b217253]
[*]"This film is not for children, and I would discourage parents from taking anyone under 12 to see this movie," writes Jim Pappas of The Trades.com. "'The Dark Knight' offers a glimpse into the darker places within each of us, which might be cathartic for some, but others will simply be afraid." [/list:u:237b217253]
- "The movie is sadistic, violent, disturbing and also one of the best and biggest movies of the year," according to MoviesOnline.ca. "That all said, 3 out of 4 of those components are absolutely not suitable for young children... regardless of how the MPAA rated the movie." [/list:u:237b217253]
Ultimately, the "Dark Knight" decision depends upon you, your children and your relationships with them. There are children at age 14 (and I was one) who would be deeply troubled by the darkness of the film. And there are children of 10 who could not only face down the terror but even discuss some of the film's layered themes.
In all cases, we suggest talking with your children about "The Dark Knight." Be sure they understand that it is not a typical comic book movie and that it is intended for grown-ups. And should you permit them to see the film, we strongly recommend discussing it afterwards; our Common Sense Media review has some excellent starting points.
How about you? Have you seen "The Dark Knight?" Would you take your children to see it? Please share your views in our comments.
Yes, I know about Christian Bale but I'm more interested in this right here.
When I saw the movie an 8 year old, a 10 year old and a 12 year old were there, too.
They did'nt seem scarred but I did'nt sit next to any of them during the movie so I would'nt know.
The only fear I experienced was the possibility of gruesome gore whenever The Joker was onscreen.
I think it depends on the children themselves. If they can handle scary movies, and some are better at it that some adults, I see no reason why they shouldn't be able to go see it as long as they have an accompaning adult.
If they're easily frightened, I don't think this movie would be good for them.
No, becuase they would be to loud & annoying & ruin the experience, But seriously I wouldn't suggest taking anyone under 12 to see this, I mean its gotta lot more violence,murder, etc, then the 1st one & well in all honstey theres just way to many explosions, but yea id say they'd at least be 12 before i'd take a kid to see it.
Although the one above seems a bit...off.
Hmm, yes if they wanted to see it, but also on another note....
they can count right? "3 out of 4"
"The movie is (1)sadistic, (2)violent, (3)disturbing and also one of the (4)best and (5 maby? atleast it looks that way the way it written) biggest movies of the year," according to MoviesOnline.ca. "That all said, 3 out of 4 of those components are absolutely not suitable for young children... regardless of how the MPAA rated the movie."
if not ignore what i wrote
Hell yeah I'd take my kids, IF they wanted to go see it. I'm not about to blindly take my own kids anywhere entertainmentwise if they're not into it, ESPECIALLY at a movie theater. Because I hate whiny, crying brats at a movie theater. So I would avoid that at all costs.
The movie was dark, big whoop. The movie was also A-FRIGGIN-MAZING!!!!
Yes, I would take my kids to see the movie if they wanted to and they were at least over 8 years old. But I would sit down with them to explain certain things.
However, I told my cousin not to take my 4 year old godson to watch it. He can see it in his living-room with both his parents when it comes out. That way if it gets too scary they can turn it off. After seeing the movie, my concern is not the violence since what's shown on the tv is much worse.
My sister, who is 10 watched the movie. Her reaction?
"The movie was cool and they blew a bunch of things up. Batman did this and that and guess what this person and that person showed up and then it was all so cool." Then she said the Joker was a very crazy person and he liked to blow things up just for fun...
Oo yeah that's what my 10 year old sister said... My mom thought the movie was too freaky, violent and complicated to understand.
Would YOU let your child play Shadow the Hedgehog? It has murder and people are shot and it says DAMN.
Seriously, though, I think people in general underestimate a child's ability to watch violence and gore and big bad scary and whanot and not be driven insane by it. It depends on the individual - I've seen kids that are much younger than me that can watch Saw-type movies without flinching, and I've seen people older than me that would burst out crying. In my highly professional and qualified opinion, these things don't do nearly hte amount of traumatizing horrifying psychological damage that people expect them to.
That said, I'd say there's still a lower-age limit, but I'd put it in the high single digits, not the mid teens. Also note that I've never seen the movie, I'm basing this off of a review and the reactions in here.
They wanted ME to see it 'cause I reads good.
LMAO I saw those at Wal-Mart the other day!
"The joker is a clown whose jokes are never funny. Sometimes they hurt people!"
You seriously could not downplay the character more.
"Merchandising! Merchandising! Where the real money from the movie is made!
Dark Knight: The T-Shirt!
Dark Knight: The Coloring Book!
Dark Knight: The Lunch Box!
Dark Knight: The Breakfast Cereal!
Dark Knight: The Face Gouger!!! (the kids love this one!)"
Ah, Spaceballs. Still sour about the no sequel thing. 
