This was honestly a truely a violent and miserable film. I clearly cannot recall seeing anything remotely as dark and sad for an animated movie. Mind you that I grew up at a time when movies were not subject to the same form of political correctness known today. While I now understand the obvious allusions to facism, this not something I would ever show to a child. Hell I know even a few adults who cannot sit through this movie. Anyone else agree?
I was really young when I saw this, and I was fine. I understood it, but it was shown with heart, and I would say this such a classic well written storyline, I would recomend showing it to a child.
No, Watership Down is NOT miserable. A miserable film is one that is depressing throughout with no happy emotional payoff. Like Where the Wild Things Are. That was a miserable film. It killed my childhood. And also, there is a film called Felidae. Compared to those, Watership Down isn't that bad.
Yes, it's dark, but it's not to the point where it is just unwatchable. It's about as bad as when Bambi's mother died, or any other Disney films, except the Disney films didn't show blood. But take that fact away, it's not that bad. And honestly, I think a little dark material is okay for children, as long as boundaries aren't pushed to the limit (never show A Clockwork Orange to a 5 year old. Just kidding I didn't do that.)
I'm 1 in 1000000, so there are 6500 other people who are just like me.
This movie was too much for me as a kid. Rabbits slaughtering each other like that, hell it still haunts me.
This is coming from a guy who watched plenty of mature animation like Animal Farm and Fantastic Planet and grew up on slasher flicks from the 70s and 80s like Halloween and Friday the 13th. Heck, one of the first movies I saw on video was My Bloody Valentine when I was 5, so I am no prude when it comes to films. Watership Down is just too much for a kid younger than 10 in my opinion and even that is pushing it considering how watered down kids movies are these days in this P.C. culture. 12 would be more appropriate for today, but by then kids are already pole dancing like their favorite pop stars so this movie is just lost on today's audiences.
I absolutely loved this movie as a child (and I'm talking young child 6 or 7). I watched this movie over and over again and because of the movie asked for the book when I was 12 and it is one of my favorite books. I love the realism in it and the fact that it wasn't watered down. I LOVE the folklore and wish more of it had made it to the movie from the book. I can definitely see why this movie wouldn't be a good fit for every child, though.
You say you had no problem with more fantastical horror movies as a kid. Could it have been because you knew that stuff wasn't real whereas Watership Down took a more real view of a rabbit's life?
"Does it matter? **** enough women and some of them will give you presents." --Littlefinger--
Hmm... so what you're saying is because films are watered down these days, we should water them down some more as to be absolutely sure never to scare a child for a couple of minutes?
I'm sorry for responding to a three year old comment, but it strikes me that every time I go look up some comment about any children's movie, or animated movie, the first thing I find is a bunch of concerned parents who want it to be banned for being rude, graphic, depressing, violent, traumatizing, cynical, dark, and whatever other adjective we can find.
It's just deeply depressing to me that an entire generation of children is growing up now being shielded from anything resembling real life, out of fear to "traumatize".
Go read the comments over at the "Bambi" message boards. It's Bambi for *beep* sake. Not Bloodsucking Freaks. But there's all these people crying about their lost childhood, about the deep trauma of watching that Disney horror movie, that should be banned for anyone under the age of 35.
Cry me a bleeding river of rabbit's blood, and I'll still love every memory I have of watching this movie as a child, and feeling completely immersed in the world of rabbits. And I'll look forward to showing it to my own kid when he's old enough. And with old enough I mean old enough to understand the language and action on the screen, not old enough to join a therapy group for middle-aged people who can't handle an animation movie about bunnies.
Honestly I think the main reason why people enjoy this movie is because it is dark and has blood. I feel like that is half of the reason why this movie is good because it doesn't hide violence whatsoever.
It is a very sad movie and some scenes are very disturbing. I remember as a child the opening animation gave me nightmares.
But the most depressing animated film ever? No, this title still belongs to "Grave of the Fireflies" and it probably always will.
Next in line would be "When the Wind blows", "The Plague Dogs", "The Rose of Versailles", "Persepolis", "Ideon: The Final Chapter" and "Windaria". Just in case you need material to cry your eyes out over or traumatize your kids with. ;)
this is a sad movie i agree, however there are two animated films i know of that will just ruin you if you watch them. "The Plague Dogs" and "When the Wind Blows"
"Yeah, well, you know, that's just, like, your opinion, man."
This movie certainly doesn't skimp on brutal things happening to helpless characters. Richard Adams meant to show what the world would be like for small, helpless creatures with many predators after them. ("All the world will be your enemy, Prince with the Thousand Enemies, and whenever they catch you, they will kill you...")
But I wouldn't call it a depressing movie at all. That's why I like this movie and book so much...it shows the importance of the positive aspects of life even amid the world's dangers. The importance of hope. Of community. Of taking strength from loved ones. Of remembering those who've gone before and taking inspiration from their stories. Of a culture and a mythology. Of having faith, whether it's in some sort of Higher Power or simply in a dream of the future.
Yes, this story has more than its share of brutality. But so much beauty, as well, and the beauty wouldn't exist without the brutality.
It is a dark, miserable film. I saw it as a child and I was near-traumatized by it, I'm now 29 so I didn't grow up in that sheltered nineties era of sterile children's films. I still liked the film but it definitely made more of a horrific impact me than one of hope or warmth, there are gratuitous scenes of rabbits getting their ears torn off for god's sake.
I wouldn't show this to a small child, maybe a child of 11 or 12. In fact I can honestly say that this is the most disturbing film I've ever seen in my life, and I'm a huge fan David Lynch, Jodorowsky, Felini, and many horror films.
I was about 5-8 when I saw this movie at school. So maybe it depends on the individual. Didn't traumatize me at all, and I fail to see why it would anyone, but each to their own.
I was seven years old seeing that movie in the cinema in 1979. It scared the heck out of me and I had nightmares several days (maybe weeks) afterwards. But that experience also had a great influence to my whole further life and I never forgot the feelings I had during the movie, watching the adventures fiver, hazel and the others had gone through. I bought Richard Adams' Book when I was about sixteen, bought the LaserDisc as soon as it came out and switched to DVD when that medium came along.
I haven't seen it in a while (Tonight I came from "The Gratuate", "Simon & Garfunkel", "Art Garfunkel" and "Bright Eyes" to this Board :D) but I will look for the DVD in my shelf tomorrow evening after work and watch it again.
What I try to say is, that this story can be frightening for children, but that doesn't nessessary mean, that they shouldn't be allowed to watch it. Life in all its aspects can be painful sometimes and even children need to learn this one time. Wachting "Watership Down" is not the worst way to enter a world of death, fear and pain. At least it is more honest than showing dying people in an action movie where death comes easy and swift like turning off a light bulb.
Watching a movie like this at school whit a classroom full of peer support and a teacher ready to put things into context is one thing, watching it alone at your house is an ENTIRELY DIFFERENT thing, trust those are completely different experiences, with friends i could watch the most horrid movies and dont have a second tought about it, hell they where even fun whit all the blood and whatnot, but alone, hell the damn things would give me nightmares for days even the bad ones, (exorcist 2 comes to mind, i was about 8 when i saw it alone, BIG mistake)
How exactly is it miserable? There is a very happy ending and it's about bravery, working together, and fighting against all odds. Just because it's animated doesn't mean they ought to sugar coat the trials these rabbits went through. It might be a bit dark, but that doesn't make it miserable.
You're wondering; what's a place like me doing in a girl like this.
Boom you nailed it. Same with Lord of the Rings (written by Tolkien a huge inspiration for Richard Adams) being a dark story that proves that the light can still triumph despite all the bad. Common theme in a lot of great storytelling. It is actually things like Tellytubbies or Barney that paint a false image of the world by rejecting any and all darkness and only showing a flawless idealistic society without evil or darkness that is more dangerous for children to be exposed to. Watership Down is not dangerous for kids... it should sooner be mandatory since the subject material is stuff they may very well be forced to confront in real life some day; tyranny, violence, death, depression, danger, fear... This movie and book ultimately provide a great outlook on all of it by saying that as long as you be "cunning and full of tricks" that even if you suffer you can never truly be destroyed :) Cheers
It's worth saying that the BBFC gets complaints every year about this film being a U, but they haven't re-assessed it at any point. If they did, I suspect they'd make it a PG.
If I have to tell you again, we're gonna take it outside and I'm gonna show you what it's like!
I bought this DVD a few weeks ago because i love the story so much since I saw it first aged 8 and just think its an amazing film (plus it was on sale for only €2.99 in HMV :P ) and i just want to mention in Ireland this film is rated 12s, which kind of surprised me as I don't think that there's anything too disturbing or scary in it for kids :O
i just want to mention in Ireland this film is rated 12s, which kind of surprised me as I don't think that there's anything too disturbing or scary in it for kids :O
It's in the eye of the beholder, I guess. I was nine when the movie came out, and missed it, and read the book instead. It's stayed with me ever since, in a good way (I still read it every few years or so). But the film definitely proves that not all animation, including that which features fuzzy bunny rabbits, is not necessarily for kids.
Others have mentioned Plague Dogs (based on a book by Richard Adams, who also wrote Watership), which I'd agree is a far more depressing experience, both on the page and the screen.
If you're looking to top this one for sheer impact, I'd also recommend Waltz with Bashir.
"My brain rebelled, and insisted on applying logic where it was not welcome."
I would disagree with it being the most depressing animated film ever, I'm not saying your opinion is wrong after all it is an opinion and everyone is entitled to one :) I watched it when I was a kid all the time and read the book, to me it is possibly the most beautiful animation ever made. I don't see a problem in showing it to kids (not really young kids) but I first watched it when I was 5 or 6 and it never did me any harm. It has a happy ending, lovable characters and it shows you that life isn't perfect and can be a struggle. It teaches good morals and also has some beautiful drawings and music.
Team: You've Got A Very Important Date "You won't remember me...Fairfarren, Alice." </3
Grave of the Fireflies would be the most depressing animated film ever. Best antiwar film ever, packs more punch than Saving Private Ryan or Schindler's List, IMHO.
I agree that this movie is exceedingly depressing. I watched it a few years back, when I was 10 years of age or something & I just felt awful if anything.
Same with the fox & the hound really. I don't see what's the point in making depressing kids films? lol..