In response to the scene you mentioned weirdojace, I think it was totally appropriate considering the genre. Should the film have gotten a PG? Of course - then people would have expected a bit of actual peril and suspense. I do not think it went to far - I don’t consider the film directly a ‘kid’s movie’ either, although I think 8+ could handle it.
Save for films like Winnie The Pooh, which is way shorter and a totally different film, a lot of kids are in theatres too young. For Cars 2, a kid has to sit in the theatre for 2 hours - that’s a long time anyway for a kid, content aside. I heard complaints against Tangled, Up, How To Train Your Dragon, etc., saying that certain parts are not quite ‘kid friendly.’ No, they’re not - but they are fine for the older kids who are more suited for the theatre experience anyway. Think of even both Kung Fu Panda movies - in the recent one, I heard a kid in the theatre asking their parents when it was going to be over… 10 minutes in. What about The Incredibles? WALL•E? You could name tons of animated, and therefor apparently ‘kiddie’ films, that get parents complaining.
But back to the scene in particular - here are my thoughts: [spoiler]I think it was a necessary scene for several reasons. A., it showed what the villains were capable of, B., it showed the weapon’s power, C., it is the classic scene of the agent that will not reveal anything no matter what the costs. With the amount of time he is in the film, Rod Torque is more like a ‘redcoat’ in Star Trek - he serves his purpose, but unfortunately will not see the end of the film. Plus, don’t forget that the bathroom scene that led up to it, we could already tell where they were heading with him.
I think the scene was actually done very tastefully. We don’t see the actual explosion, except in the reflection. It was very well shot from a filmmaking perspective. Also, because of the setting we see them set the weapon at, adults definitely know that he is ‘dead,’ although some kids may not perceive this, seeing how the other cars that are overheated, are not. Kids who are scared though, are likely too young for the film. I’ve heard from parents of slightly older kids, (in the 7-9 range), who enjoyed it. I think it all depends on the age, and more importantly, the individual child. Some kids like action films, some don’t.[/spoiler]
To conclude, one of the reasons I really liked Cars 2, is because it didn’t hold back from being a true spy/action film. There was a good mix of suspense and humour - just like the classic Bond films. Sometimes, darker scenes are there for a reason, and if they benefit the story, kudos to the filmmakers for including them.
…Now if only the MPAA would rate things accordingly…
- E
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