dark knight

Tonight Adam and I went to see the new Batman movie.

I'm not a huge Batman fan, but I was thoroughly enjoying this one. The action was fantastic and I easily dealt with the "dark" parts by hiding my eyes at the perfect just-about-to-be-bad time. Heath Ledger was amazing as the Joker. I was totally engrossed in the flick until about halfway through. It was a particularly violent part and although I was hiding my eyes, I was distracted by the people sitting a row in front of me to the far side. It was a little boy, maybe four years old, crying. Needless to say my movie experience was completely ruined.

The next half of the movie I couldn't help but view through the eyes of a little guy. Probably the part that was the hardest was when a mom in the movie had a gun to her head while holding her 2 little boys. Normally this wouldn't bother me. I know it's not real. Does a four year old? And even if the answer is "yes" those images leave lasting impressions.

I was so mad. Mad at stupid people. Mad at the people that sell the tickets and make it okay for stupid people to bring their little kids to movies they shouldn't see.

After the movie I said my peace to the manager. Why was I the only one upset about this? At least 50 people heard that little boy crying. I was the only one that said anything.

When I left the theatre I saw the parents and the little boy walking out. I left the car and walked up to them. I had no words. Adam took my hand and we walked back to the car. As luck would have it, they walked right by us. Again, I had no words. Not because I was chicken or Adam was telling me no; he's discovered that it's best to give me room when my tender-hearted fury surfaces. I had already made a scene in the theatre with the manager so having words in a parking lot would be no big deal. But as I stared at those parents I realized there was nothing I could say. No smart ass comment, no parental bashing, nothing would matter. What can you say to stupid?

I know there's ignorant people out there and since there's no law about ignorant people procreating then I realize that ignorant people will be parents. I guess I unconsciously try to avoid that part of our society. I know it's there, but since there's nothing I can do about it, I'd rather just live in my happy place. I don't want to see child abuse no matter how mild it might be. That's what I saw tonight. A little boy being told to sit down and be quiet when he so obviously wanted to leave to escape the visions of people being cut across the face.

I'm sad for that little boy.

It was a really violent, visually disturbing movie. It's rated PG-13 (as if that makes any difference), but was violent enough for an R rating - at least that's what this mommy thinks.

From now on I think I'll stick to rentals... viewed in my happy place.

edited: After doing some web searching I've found I'm not alone in my thinking. It's obvious that this movie was rated incorrectly, but common sense would tell any good parent to get up and leave with their pre-school aged child. Common sense. Where has it gone? http://www.parentdish.com/2008/08/06/dark-knight-too-scary-for-pg-13-rating/