Steve Reviews: Watership Down

A review of everyone's childhood favourite film; Watership Down!
Title Music from www.bensound.com/
Intro Music: The William Tell Overture
End Music: Bright Eyes by Simon And Garfunkel

[@RosalineDaisy]

*rabbit friend gets snatched up by bird* ... "welp, better keep going"

[@8393Robertrex]

I mean. What else is there to do

[@seciagutierrez2891]

@glitzy beanieboo beanieboo watership down is not a rated pg it's rated R. Because rated R means because it's restricted

[@ruyekahatori3073]

"That was our only female" "...welp we're dead"

[@PikminandOatchi]

As opposed to what?

[@LeonardoHamato]

A French bird

[@jsdotigboigamer]

“And nothing unsuitable for children” *PRESS X TO DOUBT*

[@frenchsoldier8485]

Y

[@agoat1499]

X to the sideways eeeiight power

[@connieseal3227]

X X X X X

[@unknowncupcake]

X. * shows bunny gore *

[@jamace5958]

X

[@shrekisthicc6926]

The part were they get buried alive terrifies me because that's one of my deepest fears.

[@technogen8451]

same for me but with drowning but I'm also terrified of being buried alive

[@hatguy8225]

There's a remake pf it now It's on netflix

[@annalieff-saxby568]

You should try the "Escape from the Erldelving" scene from Alan Garner's The Moon of Gomrath. If you're claustrophobic, you'll never recover.

[@SpiralAnimationssssss]

They also get gassed to death at the same time

[@Its_Me_Romano]

But then you realize bunnies are literally made to dig tunnels so it didn't do shit

[@andreicrisan5526]

4:38 Easy - no-one on the ratings board actually sat down and watched this thing. They just saw that it was a cartoon with some pretty grass and cute bunny rabbits on the cover and they just slapped a U rating on it. Because, you know, cartoons can only be for kids.

[@OccyDaBoss]

felidae has entered the chat

[@andreicrisan5526]

@@OccyDaBoss Wait, was that rated U as well? Sweet mother of God. *stare*

[@OccyDaBoss]

@@andreicrisan5526 i think it was but then it was rerated to 15 later but i'm not sure

[@virikan3518]

@@OccyDaBoss *plague dogs has entered the chat*

[@robertthompson737]

@@virikan3518 rated PG

[@Sigart]

Can confirm rabbits bite to kill. I work in a vet clinic and in the last 3-4 years no one has had to go to the hospital because cats or dogs biting. One girl had to go, though, because a rabbit literally bit through her finger. Biting is part of the normal language between cats and dogs; it's a way for them to tell you to piss the fuck off. Rabbits only really bite when they're in mortal danger. Hence you get the warning bites from cats and dogs before you get the serious ones. You don't get those nice warnings from rabbits.

[@user-in9xm5fb6t]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHHAHAHHAHAHA

[@HarmonyHope7534]

My rabbit murdered her sister it traumatized me as a kid

[@slugkat8445]

Harmony Hope4357 my bunny TRIED to murder my bunny, thank god we got to stop them

[@ProfessionalNamielleLewder69]

What is this, Monty fucking Python?

[@onegiantradish323]

I once had 2 hamsters, they were both female and reached maturity... then they competed over a nonexistent male and one at the other one and had temporary coronary heart failure and obesity 😄 I have a good life...

[@thatonedude5253]

According to my old kindergarten teacher that I saw in the supermarket, I DID see this movie... the whole thing... I was 4... the teacher walked in at the last violent scene in the movie and then realized that she has just messed up the next generation

[@starvoltnexus3139]

Liza Awesome I wonder how many parents she had to apologize to

[@shaynabarnhard2274]

And that is why you should the watch the movie before you show it to children.

[@starvoltnexus3139]

Shayna Barnhard Yeah well the issue is that rather than the government or sensors neuter everything because they’re too lazy to check out the movie for their selves They have ratings for a reason

[@shaynabarnhard2274]

@@starvoltnexus3139 Fair enough.

[@contriti_on]

Press Y to shame

[@Lillian2167]

The more of your videos I watch, the more traumatised your avatar looks. :''D

[@mihael64]

Yup

[@pricing_white675]

Lol

[@Candy-dc5cr]

The more videos I watch the more traumatized I get :,D

[@mihael64]

@@Candy-dc5cr the more i watch the more bored i get because i think im normal

[@Candy-dc5cr]

@*Mihael64 SSS* lmao 🤣 Same too though

[@kristiathehalfling5358]

I remember my mom sat me down when i was little to watch this. She left me in my room to watch this "cute bunny movie" while she went about her day. I was 5.

[@kristiathehalfling5358]

To this day it is one of my favorite movies

[@RB01.10]

@@kristiathehalfling5358 OMG, I feel sorry how traumatized you must have been.

[@birdyboi7309]

My mom did this, but also with Ren and Stimpy, the "Cute Dog Cartoon."

[@Grimkahn1901]

Anyone else laughed at hearing the sea gull say "Piss off!"?

[@joeydehaeck419]

always sounded more like back off to me

[@57yearoldjamesbond]

He says a quite clear "P" and "S", let alone the fact the BBFC acknowledges the swear.

[@MadTurnip]

An American seagull: "Fuck off, furry fucker!"

[@laurenswholesale]

Mutra The Mutration Keharr (Tell me if I spelled it wrong) is my favorite character.

[@robertofulton]

I got a detention at school when I was in like year 1/2 for doing a keeha impression lol

[@theswampus670]

I think films like this and "The Plague Dogs" were never really made for children, I think animation was used because they had no other way to tell the story in a video setting. I hope that at some point the general public will realize that animation is not something only children can enjoy.

[@starandfox601]

Watership down is meant for childern and really anyone. Plague dogs is not. I think dark films are only meant for adults is just has bad has animation only being for childern.cuase it's ok to show kids dark stuff every now and then with proper guidance so they can better understand the world we live and become well rounded.

[@theswampus670]

Fair Point.

[@hgfgh7149]

And what about Felidea? I literally watched 3 seconds of the review from the same person and I bet theres no other film even in the whole history of the world so sick. I thought Watership Down and most of all the Plague Dogs can ruin your childhood and can mess with your mind and bring you sleepless nights, but Felidea bring it to the absolute top. God, those man who animated it and most of all the person who ever could THINK of this?!?!!!! Those guys belong in a fucking psychiatric and have some serious issues, I swear! Fucking cats who are cut open and stitched back and god nows what more and than that fucking psychopath! What the hell is wrong with those guys what we're they thinking!? Most of all, a sick and sadistic movie that can give anyone sleepless nights and can totally fuck up your mind. Great.

[@battykat7086]

And I hope one day people who make these comments will realize what the term "family programming / film" means, that children's media having more serious themes is nothing new, and back in the good ol' days films that were made as family films did indeed have blood, dark themes, serious tones, and/or the use of swears, and that these things were there as a way to subtly introduce these things to children while also entertaining the adults watching with them, as they were films aimed at FAMILIES. I hope that at some point the general public will realize that children are capable of understanding serious themes and that these aren't adult-only things.

[@suckd0g]

《Raftid 》 Only Felidae isn't a kids film, it was never intended to be one. Chill out, violence is always in live action films yet nobody bats an eye to that.

[@videogameobsession]

“All the world will be your enemy, Prince with a Thousand Enemies, and whenever they catch you, they will kill you. But first they must catch you"

[@Strongbad700]

FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY!

[@trogg3rdmmxplaya467]

Legendary quote

[@videogameobsession]

Indeed. I have a movie poster for it, with that quote across the middle, and I love it. It instantly takes me back to when I first watched Watership Down. Awesome stuff.

[@durjoyroy2176]

The blood and gore never disturbed me, but the scene where the rabbits were buried alive traumatized me.

[@RB01.10]

That would be one of the worst ways to die. Knowing you’re gonna die soon and are helpless to stop. Drowning is another bad way as well.

[@LIAM_XD220]

Same.

[@NobodysHere_Imalreadyinside]

Absolutely same!!! I watched this movie because of the controversy to see what the big deal was (at 15) and I love gore bc I'm a horror fan. I had nightmares about the suffocation scene alone!

[@MrE_]

So funny story, when I was 8, my dad went to the library and rented a VHS movie about fluffy bunnies for me and my 2-year old brother to watch. Needless to say, I was scarred for life after watching Watership Down.

[@mongocom1735]

Have you watched the black cauldron? This destroyed so many sleep nights

[@elibl4ke6]

same

[@elibl4ke6]

Max The Bunny but like it dont explain the violence in it.

[@AbsoluteRatBastard]

Mr.E O O F !

[@mma6055]

@a B I hope you dont have kids

[@pickledegg1989]

I heard far worse language on the playground at primary school. Kids aren't as innocent as you seem to think.

[@ashessakura7518]

pickledegg1989 Yeah, Kids do just love throwing around swears on the playground and I remember doing so myself but I think it's purely due to this film being a U rating that he's surprised 'piss off' got passed the censors. I'm surprised his film got his rating at all, a PG at least

[@TheAkwarium]

my mom works with kids, and there are many of them who straight out tell the grown ups and teachers to "piss off" or "fuck off" or call them "fuckface" and other much worse things and they do very well know what these words mean and that they're offensive, it's really not uncommon for kids to be assholes at all

[@jewelmine442]

Exactly, People under estimate the words kids know.

[@123Nightcloud]

Just because kids know the words doesn't mean it's appropriate for them. As a young kid, I knew what sex was but that doesn't mean it would be appropriate for a sex scene to appear on a film rated U

[@pickledegg1989]

@@123Nightcloud But we're not talking about sex. You are. We're talking about a very mild swear word referring to wee. Hardly something to dedicate a ten minute video to.

[@merrickmixson362]

Both heartbreaking and heart warming, while being rather strongly true to life. The song, Bright Eyes, still makes me mourn and cry like a child.

[@carenxatu5962]

The song that does that for me would be the one at the very end of the first Land Before Time. “If We Hold On Together”

[@danstrath2525]

The moment that scarred me watching this as a child was the scene where Bright Eyes plays and the rabbit silhouettes dance then contort and die.I was deathly scared the Black Rabbit was coming to get me!

[@warriorkit2061]

I was in the movie store with my dad,(I was about five) I saw this movie with cute little bunnies. I asked my dad about it, he said he saw the movie when he was a kid. He said it was too sad so I kept looking. Good call dad.good Parenting. now I see what he meant..

[@lydiabaeza6568]

The one on Netflix is more kid friendly

[@gavinbunting7354]

And better in my opinion

[@gavinbunting7354]

Says a cgi hatter

[@klondike3112]

@@gavinbunting7354 Yeah, CGI is shit. There's no love or effort put in to it like there was with hand-drawn animations. Edit: Also, mate, it's "hater," not "hatter" you actual fucking moron.

[@futrious]

@@klondike3112 so you wanna claim that Marvel movies had no soul put into them?

[@hallmonitorking]

The suffocation scene made me cry because it was so unsettling. I also laughed a lot when the bird said piss off for some reason

[@eadlynjune]

Lps GoreWolf666 I know, suffocation is one of the worst ways to go in my opinion. At least in water you have something to inhale. Not sure that’s better since I fear both, but I don’t like how long it takes.

[@kittypawsparks4172]

@@eadlynjune i heard when you drown it feels like your lungs are burning but on the other hand to me the easiest to watch out of burning alive, buried alive, and drowning it would drowning and i'm talking animation wise because all it has to be is a little struggle then sinking down with air bubbles leaving the mouth.

[@supernoodles908]

It said back off

[@bluedragon8762]

@@eadlynjune dont forget they were gassed

[@kittypawsparks4172]

Kitala Laris yea I didn’t think about freezing and here is a fun fact for everyone in the movie felidae (a movie about cat murder) it has a blind cat named felicity while my name is felicity but she gets decapitated

[@jordannewthomas3293]

Watership down alternately titled childhood trauma: a motion picture

[@Itried20takennames]

0:10...”It didn’t do as well in the US”. I can guarantee it traumatized plenty of American kids as well.

[@thomsboys77]

He meant it didn’t do very well at the US box-office when it was in theatres

[@kayleijade633]

Mom: watership down is on it's about bunny's 9 year old me: Yay bunnies!! *Sees bunny kill another bunny and blood* 9 year old me:...†jesus†

[@Hessed3712]

neko tord 🤣

[@embarrassmentunsubscribepl1322]

When I saw this when I was nine, I was a edgy kid and loved the blood and deaths, now I just realized I was very weird.

[@user-xq1fl3gn1i]

Me when I Saw the trailer...😖😱😫

[@dante.2639]

@@embarrassmentunsubscribepl1322 and then theres me, a piece of shit who loves V I O L E N C E

[@thatguy8836]

@@embarrassmentunsubscribepl1322 yes u are,and edgy kids are cringe

[@Vaehlo]

Other movies; -The Last Unicorn -Plague Dogs -Animal Farm -The Secret of Nym

[@KumaPaws376]

Tim Drake these are -pretty good- really great!

[@yourfellowqueenie5717]

What happens in the last unicorn?

[@JackOfen]

@Your Fellow Queenie All unicorns are killed by a red bull (not the drink, an actual red bull) except one. A wizard and a thief girl want to help the Unicorn and in order to hide it the wizard turns the Unicorn into a woman. Along the way they meet an evil witch, a three titted harpy, bandits and an evil king. They try to find a way to beat the red bull and in the meantime the transformed unicorn and the son of the evil king (who is not evil) fall in love. I won't spoil the ending here. But aside from the bull, the witch and the harpy the movie isn't really that scary

[@dragoon650]

Most of my favourite childhood movies lol

[@The_Str4nger]

@@JackOfen The unicorns wasn't killed. the where just in captivity by king Haggard, because he love to see unicorns

[@kinasakuraba]

My dad loved this movie. I remember finding it among our video collection when I was young and asking to watch it- both parents immediately told me I'd have to wait until I was older. I asked why and they explained it was too violent. I had trouble wrapping my head around that because the cover was so cute and I just wanted to see it more! Felt like a right of passage when they finally deemed me old enough.

[@Mr_Linear]

US:Mass shootings and nukes UK:Pathetic

[@ClareClark]

Hahaha

[@movedaccounts8572]

@OPjuanKenobi you dont get it dont you?

[@butyoucancallmezyn]

UK: Mass stabbing that result in the same amount of deaths as the US mass shootings.

[@moonstonemadness9154]

Hahahaha

[@PhoeniX199777]

@@butyoucancallmezyn The US has 6.6x as many knife deaths as the uk and thousands of gun deaths a year, your country is a crime ridden shit hole

[@drakep.5857]

That cave in scene is probably the most horrifying thing I've ever seen.

[@romanski5811]

You should look up what happened in Nanking in 1937.

[@hannatolander7910]

Personal experience: My mother was a movie critic, and thus I was invited (or rather, she was, but she was allowed to bring me) to a viewing of Watership Down before it premiered in Sweden. I was so shook up by Fiver's vision that the movie company got worried, and they later sent me a "goodie box" full of Watership Down stuff and a "we really hope you're fine now" card. Very kind of them. This also caused Sweden to start using new age limits (those being: Suitable for any age, 7, 7 with an adult as company, and 11) and to take animated movies seriously instead of just thinking that they're always okay for small children. I think WD was deemed "7 with an adult, 11 if alone". On a side note, the reason I got so upset was that I used to have visions much like Fivers. That made that scene unbearably scary to me.

[@Amrithril]

Whoa what visions did you happen to have, if you don't mind sharing?

[@carenxatu5962]

I’m sorry if this comes across as insensitive but I think that’s really kwl. You were a huge reason for a serious change happening in your country. A change that still hasn’t properly happened in a lot of other countries.

[@CorvidayWolfy]

Yo I’m also from Sweden and I didn’t even know we had those special age ratings, that’s pretty interesting. I know this comment is very old, but I hope you have a great day!

[@chickeneggs6352]

So killing cute animals and them dying in a bloody way is a U rating and people these days get demonetized by running in the streets😑

[@Kill-It-Skin-It-Wear-It]

Star Shadows Not to mention how many ticks they carry, and they are ridiculously stupid.

[@technogen8451]

@@Kill-It-Skin-It-Wear-It I had a rabbit named E.B and we had to.....take him out so to say and this just hit to hard for me cause he was a pretty clever snowball but I get what u r saying so don't get offended :D

[@technogen8451]

@Star Shadows they are cute in their own unique way to rabbit owners and rabbit lovers like myself but I get wat u r saying so please I'm not trying to offend :D

[@technogen8451]

@Star Shadows oh yeh the wild ones maybe but I guess it could just be cause domestic rabbits are bred to be cute where wild are not XD

[@technogen8451]

@Star Shadows yeh I just don't understand beauty breeding or whatever they call it but at least it's not breeding like a puglike rabbit or something XD hopefully not

[@LonelyHermit08]

In all honesty, I’d rather watch this from than Disney.

[@johnpooky84]

Modern Disney, yeah, but classic Disney has good stuff. Have you ever seen "The Brave Little Toaster" (1984)? That's like the best kids movie ever!

[@LonelyHermit08]

Cmdr_Johnpooky84 I agree with ya there. Classic Disney over modern any day. Also no, I’ve seen reviews on The Brave Little Toaster, but never have watched it.

[@johnpooky84]

@@LonelyHermit08 oh, that was my go-to movie as a kid. I think I watched it at least once a week. More, if I was sick. I highly recommend it (though avoid the sequels [Brave Little Toaster To The Rescue, and Brave Little Toaster Goes To Mars] like the Plague, because they're AWFUL).

[@moonstonemadness9154]

I watch the newer version

[@MultiSuperguy101]

It's rated PG in the US. Still should've been re rated PG-13.

[@Chrisfragger1]

Why not just burn them?

[@erikpierre8914]

No rated R

[@MultiSuperguy101]

Erik Pierre That works too.

[@sspacetheimmortaltheuniver9655]

No it shouldn't have even ben released

[@Chrisfragger1]

You wanna burn the books too?

[@Rome274]

Beautifully made movie , but brutal too because its true to life . It shows what rabbits actually have to go through . They live on the edge of survival most of the time .

[@toddsmith3874]

Rabbits have a rough life

[@crystallizationofthesoul7095]

Yeah but I don't feel bad about Bugs Bunny, he's living the good live in hollywood! xD

[@darthplagueis13]

Well... They don't actually maul each other to that degree. Violent conflict is rare, mostly related to looking for a mate and even then, rabbits usually don't use their teeth for that but rather have a fight reminiscent of a boxing or wredtling match, jumping on their back legs and using their paws (not claws) for attacking. In that regard the movie is very much over the top.

[@user-le5xl3vf2f]

@@darthplagueis13 maybe the rabbit on rabbit violence is over the top. Would you prefer there to be more death by foxes and cats instead like in real life?

[@lemurlover7975]

yeah like me when I read this book cause my mom was trafficking me during my childhood while I attended Junior High. I called her General Woundwort to her face and thought of our apartment where she brought the pedophiles to rape me as a type of Nazi prison camp for me because I realized Gen. Woundwort was meant to represent Hitler. We were studying WW2 in school. I called myself Hazel-rah or Fiver and I dreamed of a day when I would find a place of safety :) and now I found it woohooo! :) Thank you Richard Adams for writing such a wonderful book. :)

[@birbseesall1529]

To be fair, Wings of Fire and Warrior Cats are kids books, despite the extreme gore.

[@porchcollapse8612]

Sarah Petrus Those books are probably some of my favourite books (along with Watership Down) but isn’t WoF a ya series?

[@sutirthoceratopshorridus5508]

I love those! Also Redwall.

[@iclynnx]

Warrior Cats doesn't have extreme gore, just blood and wounds and battles, along with cat birth, but it isn't grossly over-described. It mostly mentions the blood, and claws raking through skin and stuff. Nothing too bad. Not really for every kid out there, but people overreact when they say Warriors is extremely violent and gorey and stuff. That doesn't mean it's only for kids however, adults are fully allowed to enjoy it. I can't speak for Wings of Fire however, as I am only on book one. And Watership Down, the book, so far is quite alright too. I am on part 3 - Efrafa. Nothing too violent yet. Maybe it's just me that's not so easily disturbed but, Bigwig in the snare and captain Holly's escape just didn't really bother me too much? Sure, it's sad and must be awful to go through, but I didn't feel fear.

[@biancabianca2617]

Icy Fleckz have you read the books.tigerstars death is.. unfortunate

[@iclynnx]

@@biancabianca2617 Of course, I've read the series up to Omen of the Stars' sixth book, and also the "Rise of Scourge" manga. I'm not sure if I wanna get more books, at least not the main series, since I can basically follow the recent story by watching videos about it and I don't like Dovewing nor Tigerheart anyway. I would want some of the super editions though, like Bluestar's Prophecy. I can read those at the same time as I read Wings of Fire (I usually read two books at a time, if they aren't related).

[@LilywingsStrauss]

"And nothing unsuitable for children" MEaNwHiLe: Rabbits are being buried alive

[@LilywingsStrauss]

@Ron Maimon Because that's what he said??????? Yeah, I get it. He might have said it wrong but that's just what he said so we all took it as that. You didn't have to get annoyed. You could have just said so.

[@LilywingsStrauss]

@Ron Maimon You good. Totally understand.

[@mothpawbs027]

I'm about halfway through the book and it didn't seem too dark just yet, so I'm gonna watch this and see just what makes people associate nightmares with this Edit: oh. Another edit: holy shit the suffocation scene is much worse than I imagined

[@BigBeerus]

BTW the book is a war allegory. Bet that changes your perspective a bit

[@christiemarie8748]

@@BigBeerus sweet Lord

[@christiemarie8748]

@Ron Maimon sweet Judas

[@reiayanami6290]

@@BigBeerus This was my theory. I really want to read the book.

[@averybird8332]

@@BigBeerus Richard Adams actually wrote at the beginning of the book that "...Watership Down was never intended to be some sort of allegory or parable. It is simply the story about rabbits made up and told in the car."

[@shiro_6675]

*P I S S O F F* -Bird- Watership Down

[@plutolunaplays]

Kehaw

[@seagullblackthorn4340]

Kehaar :)

[@ravenwalker2080]

Wtf?

[@ginger-ham4800]

It's actually peck off

[@Mawshire]

I always thought Keehar (Bird) said back off, but listening to it carefully, yeah.

[@magicfordummiez3382]

The book is really good. It definitely helped to improve my essay writing. This movie though...

[@MICKEYISLOWD]

The Book is a masterpiece. Richard Adams made up stories to tell his children when he was walking them to school. These stories became the book eventually.

[@KyuuDesperation]

4:40 well... Now this is how y'all make soul sand in the overworld... Minecraft

[@technogen8451]

aaayyyyyeeeee another Minecrafter

[@coreydotterweich5480]

This might be a more realistic, older happy tree friends with characters that talk

[@um2508]

Corey Dotterweich I hate happy tree friends

[@jaimeg309]

@@um2508 why? lol

[@jennifermcadam1026]

Shulk is trash in smash bros ultimate lol It’s needlessly gory. It’s a real-life Itchy and Scratchy.

[@Acadian.FrenchFry]

Great review! I was about 8 yrs old when this movie came out and as much as it kind of messed with my head it became my favorite animated movie and book (besides The Hobbit). Although I really see this movie geared more for young adults than little children. The book however, is a classic and so well written, I think it would benefit any child to read it.

[@aliciaalaniz9136]

UzeHerName 0

[@battacheikh6926]

Me too is my Favorite Movie!^_^

[@user-dp4qx2uz6g]

UzeHerName no

[@homelesshannah50]

I'm sooooooooo glad I didn't see this when it came out! I was 8 too and it would have really upset me.

[@Heatingspeed]

WTF,YEAH ITS GREAT BUT ITS ALSO GORY,AND HORROR AS HELL.(sorry i watched IT when i was 6

[@sad-qy7jz]

I love the vibe and wouldn’t have this movie any other way. I feel like it does what Bambi does but in a darker way. It captures the fleetingness of life a rabbit would feel and just feels very raw and hauntingly beautiful. The book wasn’t some allegory or personified symbol for anything. It was a story about rabbits and nature

[@theeldenringenjoyer1872]

6:27 Seagull : NO MAIDEN ?

[@bellbala8311]

Let me just say that there is a recreation of this on Netflix. *_What. The. Actual. Hell._*

[@user-xq1fl3gn1i]

At least the remake was better than the original which was Gorey, bloody, scary and just straight up scary all together

[@iclynnx]

The Netflix adaption is actually really good. While the animation could have been a little better, everything else is perfect. Some intense scenes, but not an unnecessary amount of gore and violence. And the two songs! They're beautiful.

[@iclynnx]

I actually prefer the Netflix adaptation because I think the old movie... Wait for it... Appears too childish. Yes, I mean it. Among the gore and blood and slightly unsettling suffocation scene (the one with the Sandleford rabbits underground), there are just some odd scenes that I dunno, feel like they really were intended for kids. It feels weird to have this mix of mature and kid-friendly themes. At least Netflix knew which side Watership Down was on. 13+, it says. Bigwig in the snare for example, felt more sad and impactful in the mini series.

[@fallenflame1940]

Oh god no

[@sallytheuselessbird]

Ugh, it's a horrible adaption. I love the original way better

[@mafxarr8776]

an old classic.watched it as a kid, didn't get traumatized,but definitely not the disney variety. have you seen The Last Unicorn?

[@raspberrycruse3795]

M Afxarr I seen that movie it was good

[@mirjanamilosavljevic3970]

me too

[@mirjanamilosavljevic3970]

I also watched the plague dogs

[@laurenweller9087]

I have watched both and water ship down and the last unicorn are my favourite movies of all time

[@ElSelcho77]

What a creepy childhood we shared ...

[@reganstormtail3614]

This was one of my favourite films when I was little. Then I read the book in middle school, then rewatched the film. It scared the heck out of 6th grade me.

[@mydaydreamer4712]

“Featuring cute fluffy rabbits and- oh.”

[@PoeticProse7]

I agree. The film is fine for appropriate audiences, but the rating system needed to catch the disturbing imagery. Here in the USA it was PG. This is a solid PG-13 at least.

[@artofthepossible7329]

It was written for kids.

[@laragallahue7127]

Isaac Matthews No it wasn’t the director has it was not intended to be a children’s movie and is horrified to see people showing it to kids

[@starandfox601]

It's intended for anyone mature enough to handle it. Which can include kids cuase it's not about age.

[@rustys7017]

No should be rated R

[@bearofthewoods123-8]

@Grim reaper You have to understand before around 1983 PG meant PG13.

[@rjhale9261]

traumatized as a child at the part where Holly is describing the horror of what happened back at the old burrow - still can't stop watching it because of just how horrifying it was - this whole movie is a visual masterpiece? and the part where Fiver goes to find his injured brother and follows the Black Rabbit to do so? MMM-! thats the tea

[@onyxstewart9587]

This was my favourite film as a kid. I watched a lot of nature programs so death and stuff didn't bother me and I preferred more realistic films like this over Disney. I also loved AOFW for the same reason

[@RB01.10]

AOFW ?

[@rodrigofranco6334]

@@RB01.10 He refers to the Animals Of Farthing Wood, which is another very dark animated series based around nature and wildlife. Both Watership Down and AOFW are as tragic as you could imagine.

[@paipai479]

@@rodrigofranco6334 Sadly for some reason they decided to tone down drastically the violence in the latest seasons for no reason at all,really decreasing the entire point of watching the serie imo.

[@rodrigofranco6334]

@@paipai479 True.

[@lilajean8146]

My Mom read Watership Down to me and my siblings when we were little and she knew Bigwig wouldn't die so when she read his fake out death scene she went all in....and I mean ALL in. Some how she held back laughter as she dramatically described how blood flew everywhere, how he foamed at the mouth, how his eye bulged about to burst and me and my siblings screamed in horror or sat jaw dropped, unable to speak. Yeahhhhhh.....she totally traumatized us. This is one of her favorite books, and I wonder if her fun tormenting us give her her high love of Watership Down. All I know, is I can't wait to have kids one day and share the tradition with them!😄

[@lunalememe2474]

So not to long ago I watched this with my grandma who though this was a kids movie- After watching it she never trusted the movie studio again-

[@user-xq1fl3gn1i]

Lol I wouldn't either 😂😂💀

[@kaliaveryangeldogs5380]

Me too

[@RB01.10]

To be fair though, it’s only rated PG because it was released before PG-13 existed.

[@ok-kv2pm]

Honestly, watching this film as a young child was horrible. I'm kind of sad I didn't get to enjoy it (can't really get past that childhood trauma lol) as I can see now that it's much more than the violence and could be a good watch. However, being a rabbit owner and having two that I love very much, I'd rather not watch a ton of rabbits die.

[@Rose78Bud]

It is abd was and always will be the most poor tasted kids movie ever made

[@romanski5811]

Do you oppose unnecessary violence toward animals or do you buy meat?

[@judsongaiden9878]

@@Rose78Bud It's not a kids' movie.

[@ShamanderOnline]

One of my favourite childhood films ❤️ When it released on blu ray I had to buy it! And now I’m an adult I still love it and appreciate it more.

[@Alexander-uk7wt]

One of my favourite films of all times. I loved it as a kid and I love it now. Although I still to this day cannot listen to Bright Eyes without getting teary eyed.

[@JP-dl8uy]

Mate this should be a PG-16, it contains blood, violence, swearing and *nightmare fuel* Edit-Just watching this creeps me out honestly and I'm 16

[@hjames78]

Because this generation is punks! I was born the year this cama out and saw it at a very young age and it was cool to me!

[@sweetdragntoons]

I watched at 6 years old in the 80's us in the 80 are made of tough stuff. Did I cry yes? Did I cry when bambi got shot when I watched it at 4? Yes. Did it scar me for life? Traumatize me? No. People today are such fucking pussies.

[@sweetdragntoons]

@@hjames78 Exactly :) I was born in 82 and watched it in 88 ;)

[@hjames78]

@@sweetdragntoons yes!

[@Luna-zn4sl]

@@sweetdragntoons Not everyone's like you :)

[@mccrorygarrett7967]

Hello? I need to schedule an appointment with my therapist. 4 P.m? Yes, that will be fine. Thank you. Oh, I saw a review of Water Ship Down, that's why I need an appointment.

[@BLUEEXOR15]

My parents used to put me to sleep with this as a child. I could never watch more than 5 min without falling asleep from the slow pacing

[@404_d3]

I loved this movie but this comment so true XD

[@nextworldaction8828]

i LOVED this movie as a child... and at the same time that buried alive theme may have made me claustrophobic, and gave me general nightmares of much of the types of imagery throughout the movie. This movie haunts my childhood and I had to rewatch it as an adult. definitely a bit slow but it fits the melancholy. such a bizarre but beautiful movie.

[@RB01.10]

I’ve had sleep paralysis like that. It feels like you’re trapped somewhere and can’t move (well, from my experience at least).

[@NoN-ji5wd]

0:04 kinda thought the rabbit was talking...

[@princereyes2094]

Same bruh.

[@lvbboi9]

Uked Flip it

[@satoshi1435]

Deku-chan😍😍😍

[@lvbboi9]

@@satoshi1435 stop

[@oldaccount3591]

I read the book. It was... I can’t really describe it.

[@Rajang6]

This and the Doom 1 ending have 1 common thing: R A B B I T S D Y I N G .

[@wowee_3117]

remember when steve looked like that?

[@OrochiJr97]

Piss off isn't a curse word.

[@jennifersaar1611]

It is in the U.S. - or at least it was. 'Piss' was one of the seven dirty words that couldn't be said on tv. Don't know if that still applies for the big networks during late night.

[@snake4322]

@@jennifersaar1611 still is

[@amadmadmadhatter276]

Maybe not in the U.S. but maybe to the UK

[@vanessaliulaumea6459]

PepsimanEnemyofCrime98 4ever Its not considered a curse word. Piss off in general is a very rude word to tell that person to mind their own business in a aggressive tone

[@chaossmith3864]

When I was an older child I was told that piss was a bad word, but not technically a curse word. Before that I was told absolutely that it was a curse word. Like I remember when damn and hell were considered actual curse words and it seems like no one really counts them as ones anymore.

[@jazzwell]

I remember I loved this film as a kid. I could never get through all of it, at some point I always got scared and shut off the TV. To this day, I have never finished this movie. But despite that, I always found it so incredibly fascinating because it was so different from any other animated movie I'd seen.

[@finnsnow2495]

I was scared by this as a kid. It was up to shock factor because I was like 8 and thought it was a normal fun bunny movie. And that scene with the rabbits crammed in the tunnel was one of the scenes that stuck with me. I wasn't even a sensitive kid I watched tons of unsuitable crap but because I wasn't expecting it and it was animals this stuck with me.

[@-calicocat-9692]

I wached it as a small kid. Multiple times. I got nightmares every time. (Especially the scene with the bunnies getting trapped).. but there was something about the movie that made me want to watch it again.

[@BigNes445]

Fucked me up as a kid

[@chrishart8742]

Nesvy Viveros Ayer same

[@xsleepyxhollowx8124]

for gods sake, I watched it when I was 3-5 and onwards and it never messed me up. If anything it made me more aware. never had nightmares.

[@erikpierre8914]

I watched this 20 years ago still scared 😱

[@deanangell3839]

Cursedwarrior 13 this film induced me to have siezure when I first watched it

[@Deemons]

Cursedwarrior 13 same

[@FR1G1D]

Being disturbed by this movie is one of my fondest childhood memories.

[@kylejeboss1469]

So true lol. As a kid I had literal nightmares about this movie. Now as an adult it sticks in the back of my mind from sheer raw emotion it conjured in me as a kid. And on top of that, rewatching it I can say it’s actually a really good movie

[@diva6247]

Fun story regarding this movie. I was no more than like 7 or 8 years old when I was at Walmart with my mom, and this happened to be in the sale section for DVDs. Having absolutely know idea the actual plot, I begged my mom to buy it because I loved rabbits, and at this time my family actually owned two pet bunnies. Evidently my mother didn’t know the plot either, cause she got it for me. Went home and watched is that same evening, so excited to see a movie about cute animated bun buns. I’m now 23 years old and that night still haunts me, I was beyond traumatized and lost nearly all of my innocence lol

[@johnpooky84]

I'd heard of this movie, but had never seen it until this morning. I was bawling my eyes out at the end (I'm 36, by the way). Addon: I may have been crying at the end, but I'm definitely going to watch it again. It's a great movie.

[@Inlelendri]

What I really love is that the story was originally car-journey stories told by Adams to his daughters, who then helped him shape it into a more coherent tale and was quite adamant about some points in the story. So when people say it's not for kids...well...yes and no. That said, reading it is probably easier than watching it. Probably.

[@Inlelendri]

@Oggatha Christie I think you're the first one to ever ask about the name. Thank you. :) Given that it's a nick I've had for...oh, 13 years at this point, I had to go back to the book to make sure what I remembered was right, and actually, Fu Inlé means 'after moonrise' (first line in chapter four), so it'd be Moonrise Badger, actually. Corny, yes, but at the time, it worked. :)

[@christophertallent5742]

I used Watership Down as a way to describe to my kids to brutality of warfare (because games like Fortnite made the eldest think that shooting was cool) and chatted about it afterwards. Out of an 8, 5, 4 and 3 year old it was the 5 and 4 year olds who simply 'got it' by saying "They fight to have a new home". It was the same when I showed them and talked about an animated video for the song "Mariners Revenge" by the Decemberists. IMO it all depends on how we approve Watership Down to children how it can actually be beneficial to them. Plus it's backing lore is fantastic!

[@eemelijaaskelainen4437]

Props for this movie having the balls puting graphic violence in animated movie

[@MultiSuperguy101]

Mew 2 you It was made back in 1978. Lol

[@eemelijaaskelainen4437]

MultiSuperguy101 So? I was made in 1998, so your point is..?

[@MultiSuperguy101]

Mew 2 you Standards were different back then. Today a PG rated animated movie would never have such bloody violence in it like Watership Down which was rated PG but was made in 1978.

[@eemelijaaskelainen4437]

MultiSuperguy101 Right, right. Animated movies used to be much inappriote in the past for younger audience Luckily I saw Watership Down when I was thirteen 😥 So it didn't have much of effect on myself despite some shocking scenes what could scar for life 😨 But anyway, thank you pointing out your news 😁

[@eadlynjune]

This was actually out there for an animated movie. Most movies that were animated were seen as kids movies at the time. The reason it probably got such a low rating was because, I imagined, they assumed it was for children and didn’t watch it.

[@default_god6554]

Teacher: solve the problem its not that complicated The problem: *hint of strong language*

[@KibaSnowpaw]

i love this cartoon i watched it as kid in the start 90's i own it on DVD and is one of my fave cartoon.

[@michaelwinchester5003]

I absolutely adore this movie, not just because it's beautifully animated and acted but because of its very clear messages and potential lessions.

[@Kit269]

And lots of "lovely" sences

[@cherrycat2886]

Very child friendly 10/10 would recommend my cup of tea

[@MusicalsLoverJodie]

On a slightly unrelated topic, thank you for reminding me I have a cup of tea beside me. :D

[@andrewabate2570]

3>

[@andrewabate2570]

Wait how do i flip the three

[@kitalalaris]

@@andrewabate2570 You use the other arrow bracket, like so: < It's the one over the top of your comma: this , = this < when you hold shift, then you type 3 as normal.

[@buddy2261]

Ahh

[@GUITARKING-px4ww]

I saw this movie when I was like 4 and loved and and still love it to this day, the atmosphere of the book is captured perfectly imo

[@RB01.10]

LOL How were you able to see it at that age ? The intense bloody violence didn’t scar you ?

[@inactive_ina]

The part at 5:02 is fucking terrifying. I don't know the context, but the idea of suffocating next to others who are trying to get out sounds terrifying and awful.

[@danton8302]

*yes thank you for throwing in bright eyes in there...*

[@Roadent1241]

Anti-Normal Disestablishment Its in the film anyway, it was written for it XP

[@RedVWolf]

I came from the netflix version of watership down.

[@mollythemoth]

You too huh?

[@lunar-_-moon]

Disgusting

[@kevincannon624]

Sorry for you

[@susiiakasasha9298]

Me to I never knew that there was movie

[@christiemarie8748]

Weak

[@camillaeshepherd517]

I first saw the Watership Down TV series on CITV & has been one of my earliest memories. I didn’t see the film til I was 12 on Channel 4. I got used to the violence, understanding that nature is cruel. I watched the BBC/Netflix miniseries at Christmas & I absolutely loved it!

[@FiveOClockTea]

Still get flashbacks, whenever I hear bright eyes...

[@MsYukizomesorangejuice]

**Warning, Strong violent scenes with a hint of strong language** *watches part of video, and sees the "Censorship, protecting you from reality" board on the screen and hears a few bleeps* YOU FUCKING LIED TO ME!!!!!!!!!!!!! I thought you were gonna show it all!!

[@IrisflowersMusic]

"Nothing unsuitable for children." Never seen the 12 year old I am

[@83gemm]

Adams struggled to find a publisher at first because they felt it focused on rabbits, which older children would find too babyish, but was written in an adult tone so younger kids wouldn’t like it. So Adams sent it to a small publisher that had revised an old nature book or something of the kind and they printed 25,000 copies. Which sold old immediately. The movie isn’t perfect. I don’t know why they felt it necessary to kill off poor Blackavar, but it’s still pretty impressive. The book is my very favorite. Strangely enough, it’s my happy place. Adams actually started it as a story he made up to entertain his kids on a car ride and there’s something in the book that maintains that feeling of being told a story as a kid.

[@brodielarson9096]

Honestly my favorite line in the whole movie is when the bird said, "YOU STUPID BUNNIES!" It's even funnier with no context.

[@fishbonezzz]

lmao yess

[@brodielarson9096]

lol

[@brodielarson9096]

also, is nobody going to touch on the fact that the rabbits call cars Harudadus?

[@brodielarson9096]

another thing, I like the original version of the movie. It has a more interesting story and explains more things in ways that I can somehow understand better.

[@fillername7974]

"And...Oh."

[@phoenixascending6501]

I'm 22 now, and I still remember seeing Watership Down for the first time when I was in second grade. I still remember the song "Bright Eyes" and the end fight between the rabbits. I also remember seeing Spirited Away and Princess Mononoke by Hayao Miyazaki at around the same time. How I got to certain movies at that age, I still have no idea.

[@Walrussnor]

I saw Watership Down for the first time yesterday. It's soo good. I have never been so invested in the life of animated bunnies

[@holocaustfilmtrailers2393]

I love the Watership Down movie! The film is filled with beautifully animated realism to depict what the real life in nature is really like and just how brutally cruel it can be. The film also has excellent voice acting, a spectacularly well made story, and I also love how it stayed truthful and didn't drive away from it's source material although the novel being slightly different in some areas. The only thing I disagree is of course the classification, I would of rated it a 12 or 12A if ever re-released in cinemas but I don't focus on it too much, I focus more on the exceeding creativity that the film offered and how this film has inspired me of true animation and filmmaking and how creative someone can adapt something!

[@kerry359]

Was taken as a 4 year old in 1978 to see this. I was traumatised I kept having to be taken outside to calm down, I was in consolable when Violet was taken, hearing "Violets gone" even now makes me well up. The ending where Hazel dies and the death rabbit leads him off with the bright eyes theme tune set the water works off again. Looking forward to seeing the remake on TV at weekend.

[@vcauce2488]

I would have been scared as shit if I saw this as a kid

[@Deemons]

Riley Devoss I was I saw it as a kid now I'm gonna watch it

[@dovee1]

I saw it as a kid, it was okay, I didn't get scarred

[@rhey81]

The violence is so glorified in this film but its barely 1/10 of the film. It has some adult theme's and I think it toughens up your kids and, if they can handle it, will end up asking legit questions about things compared to Disney films which do everything for you..

[@GIRGHGH]

I saw this as a kid in the US even though we have a completely different rating scale. Something seems much more afoot.

[@Fetjdg]

Also saw this by accident when I was very little. I remember the sharp colors and the insanity and the unsettling mood of it. It traumatized me, especially the scene where they didn't get air.

[@SmegEgg]

Back when you looked like Gordon Ramsay with black hair

[@raspberrycruse3795]

4:18 *HOW* just *how* this movie gave me nightmares for weeks 0_0

[@Deemons]

Raspberry Cruse it gave me them for years I'm still scared now...

[@MrEvelyn04]

Watched this when I was a kid, thinking it was a kid movie. I had nightmares and cried so much afterwards.

[@HolyManta]

I saw this movie just once, when I was 4 y/o. 23 years later, I still remember the suffocating rabbits scene vividly, I had night terrors about it for months

[@stevenhernandez8966]

Watership Down is a very HUMAN film. I loved it, even as a kid of 8-9. I cared about the characters. I remember we got a cat, a very big cat prone to eating a lot, and I wanted to name it "The General" because of it's size. My sisters voted it be called Mikey, and I was outnumbered. I'm reading through the book now, and the book is just great writing! This movie could be suitable for kids IF they are supervised by a caring adult who cares to explain the hard facts of life to their children. In an age of snowflakes and political correctness, I am appreciating this film more and more, and the book by Mr. Adams. By the way, in the intro to the book, Adams claims the story began as a way to entertain his own children during long trips. Children DO need exposure to the hard facts of life, and seeing those things happen to bunnies, not humans, might be a way to distance them enough, and lessen the trauma.

[@smawzyv9281]

Dude, even if caring parents are there to explain the hard facts of life, the movie still can have a negative effect on some kids. It has a lot of traumatizing imaginary. The parents can give there kids talks on heavy subject matters like death, without the need to traumatize them. Also "Snowflakes" refers to people who can't handle other peoples' opinion, or who overact when someone insults them. But someone who might be sensitive to violence doesn't mean they're a snowflake.

[@RealAfricanPatriot]

If youre sensitive to violence or sensitive to anything at all youre weak. From weakness comes frustration and not a long way down that road comes grevious self expression. This translates itself to the "being a snowflake" term in the full pejorative meaning of it. Dont be weak. Dont traumatize your kids with gore withouth giving them contex though.

[@smawzyv9281]

Reading all these comments I see a fair amount saying that this movie is fine for kids because it teaches them about things like death. I think that's pretty ridiculous. A good talk to kids about these heavy topics is all that's needed. Movies like these are most likely going to leave a child traumatized. It depends on the child, yes. But in general, I'd say it would have an overall negative effect on them.

[@ironox8480]

I remember watching this as a kid. Dad brought it home to watch. I was skeptical as hell, I mean a film about rabbits? Yea this is going to be boring as hell. Started watching and was actually amazed at not only just the artwork but how weird as shit as it was.

[@TheCommonGentry]

had to come down to watch the early ones.. your voice sounds so uplifting. the wear of watching all these toons over the past 7 years truly has done to you lol #HereToRideOrDie with you, mate.