Personally I've never seen this film as a children's movie and still can't believe it's 'U' rated. Just because it's animated and about rabbits doesn't mean it's kid-friendly. I agree as this film is almost 40 years old most people would be aware how gruesome this film is and that it includes swearing. However not everybody reads the TV listings prior to switching on the TV. If you're sitting with young viewers on Easter Day and you're just flipping through the channels then you may just stumble across something offensive by accident. The damage is already done so I can totally understand why parents would complain to the broadcaster. Channel 5 could've given "Watership Down" a more appropriate time slot. I don't necessary mean post-Watershed but how about in the evening? I'm not saying they should ban it - just be sensible with when you decide to televise it. Most of the fans of this film are adults who've grown up watching it anyway so what's wrong with them watching it later on in the day?
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But then who's fault is it for just flicking through the channels while they're kids are present. I mean let's take the example of
Doctor Who which is a family TV show that air usually after 7PM on a Saturday evening, a time when young children can still watch it. I mean only just six years ago there was an episode involving vampires that one mother complained about because her young son was terrified involving one feeding off of a victim. It was very tame of course with it being a family show but what's not to say somebody won't turn over by accident with their kids. And ultimately children are scared by different things. I recall an incident when Sarah Ferguson who was then the Duchess of York had to take her two young daughters from a pantomime crying. This was due to scene involving the show's villain holding a dagger to a characters throat. None of the other kids were bothered or at least not to the extent they were. You can't account for what's going to scare or not scare a child. There's no reason why Channel 5 had to screen the show later, hell there's Disney movies that could be too scary for some kids.
I'm an adult and yesterday I was switching channels whilst stuffing my face with chocolates and I also found a glimpse of the horrific scenes disturbing so I can see why parents with young children would be upset. People think they're being 'cool' or something calling this film a 'classic' and telling parents to "get a grip" but do these 'hippie' people actually sit with their own kids to watch it as a family? I doubt it! Maybe you don't mind showing this film to your kids but not every parent feels the same way you do when it comes to what their children should be exposed to. You can't go around saying people are just complaining for the sake of complaining. You only have a point if it's about the overly-sensitive parents who moan about "The Snowman" or "The Snowman & The Snow Dog". Those people need to get a life!
Anyway in terms good realistic animations about nature and wildlife I PREFER "ANIMALS OF FARTHING WOOD" :)
It doesn't have to necessarily be bloody to be disturbing to a child. Let's take the example of the 1984 film
Ghostbusters which scared the hell out of me as a 7 year old kid. I speak in regards to the scene with the ghostly Librarian. Then there's the more family friendly
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang with the child catcher or even some of the
Harry Potter movies. It's not a case of being "cool" or "hip" but asking parents that they take their own personal responsibility for not being more careful. You ultimately just can't account for what's going to to bother your child emotionally, ergo neither can TV networks. And as far as
The Animals of Farthing Wood which was a Children's TV series, you must be aware of how intense that could be. I suspect it's why you mention it as it did feature some horrific deaths. With that in mind I'd wonder why now a film like
Watership Down wouldn't be fine to air at at the slightly later time of 5:10 PM but
Farthing Wood would be at the time it did after 4PM. on BBC1. Anyway, I don't think all parents who complain do so for the sake of it but there are some people who I think like nothing more than to find something to bitch about. It must be maddening for TV executives because try as they might, no matter what they do they can't please some people. Because what might be inappropriate for their kids for one person may not be for the next. In short parents just need to do their homework and personal accountability and stop using inane excuses like they were channel surfing. If you want to do that then do it at night when your kids are cosily tucked up in their beds or just don't complaining when you so and they suffer for your mistake.
Btw Just throwing it out there in terms of my feelings on
Watership Down as a movie I'm most certainly not a fan of it. Actually, I find it to be highly over-rated by those who rave about it. Whatever the book it's based upon is like, I don't know as I've never had and never will have any intention of reading it but I'll just assume that the film is just a poor attempt at adapting to the screen.
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