Not suitable under 15 due to disturbing themes and scenes
This topic contains:
Children under 15 | Not suitable due to disturbing themes and scenes. |
This section contains details about the movie, including its classification by the Australian Government Classification Board and the associated consumer advice lines. Other classification advice (OC) is provided where the Australian film classification is not available.
Name of movie: | Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1, The |
Classification: | M |
Consumer advice lines: | Supernatural themes and medical procedures |
Length: | 117 minutes |
This review of the movie contains the following information:
The film begins with Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) and Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson) making the final preparations for their upcoming wedding. Apart from Bella’s other romantic interest, Jacob Black (Taylor Lautner) causing a minor scene at the reception, the wedding goes as planned and Edwards whisks his new bride off for a romantic honeymoon on a secluded island. Bella and Edward spend several blissful days together, but soon Bella realises that she is pregnant and that the pregnancy is progressing at an unnaturally fast rate.
Horrified at the implications of this, Edward makes plans to return home with the intention of having Carlisle Cullen (Peter Facinelli) abort the pregnancy, while Bella is intent on going through with the pregnancy regardless of the consequences. Bella’s return home is kept a secret, but when Jacob and the rest of the wolf pack learn of Bella’s pregnancy, the leader of the pack Sam (Chaske Spencer) informs Jacob that Bella and her unborn “abomination” must be killed to protect their people. Jacob rebels against Sam’s authority and leaves the pack with Jacob returning to the Cullen’s home to stand guard over Bella.
The baby grows to full term in a matter of weeks with its rapid growth weakening Bella to the point of death before she goes into violent labour.
Children and adolescents may react adversely at different ages to themes of crime, suicide, drug and alcohol dependence, death, serious illness, family breakdown, death or separation from a parent, animal distress or cruelty to animals, children as victims, natural disasters and racism. Occasionally reviews may also signal themes that some parents may simply wish to know about.
Vampires; the supernatural; self sacrifice
Research shows that children are at risk of learning that violence is an acceptable means of conflict resolution when violence is glamourised, performed by an attractive hero, successful, has few real life consequences, is set in a comic context and / or is mostly perpetrated by male characters with female victims, or by one race against another.
Repeated exposure to violent content can reinforce the message that violence is an acceptable means of conflict resolution. Repeated exposure also increases the risks that children will become desensitised to the use of violence in real life or develop an exaggerated view about the prevalence and likelihood of violence in their own world.
While this film contains less action violence than previous Twilight films, it contains a number of disturbing scenes depicting bloody and gory images as well as reference to acts of violence. Examples include:
Children under five are most likely to be frightened by scary visual images, such as monsters, physical transformations.
N/A
Children aged five to eight will also be frightened by scary visual images and will also be disturbed by depictions of the death of a parent, a child abandoned or separated from parents, children or animals being hurt or threatened and / or natural disasters.
In addition to the above-mentioned violent scenes, there are some scenes in this movie that could scare or disturb children under the age of eight, including the following:
Children aged eight to thirteen are most likely to be frightened by realistic threats and dangers, violence or threat of violence and / or stories in which children are hurt or threatened.
Children in this age group are also likely to be disturbed by the above mentioned images
Children over the age of thirteen are most likely to be frightened by realistic physical harm or threats, molestation or sexual assault and / or threats from aliens or the occult.
Younger children in this age group are also likely to be disturbed by the above mentioned images
The following products are displayed or used in this movie:
The film contains sexual references and innuendo. Examples include:
The film contains some partial nudity and sexual activity. Examples include:
The film contains some occasional low-level substance use. Examples include:
The film contains some occasional low-level coarse language. Examples include:
The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1, the latest film based on Stephanie Meyer’s best selling novel series is an intense fantasy romance that targets adolescent girls. It is by far the most disturbing of the Twilight films so far and not suitable for tweens and younger teenagers. Parents should be warned that it was originally classified MA15+ by the Australian Classification Board and reclassified without alteration by the Classification Review Board.
The main message from this movie is that true love is worth tremendous self sacrifice
Parents may wish to discuss Bella’s sacrifice of herself for Edward and for her baby and the implications for real-life relationships.
Tip: Leave out the first A, An or The
Selecting an age will provide a list of movies with content suitable for this age group. Children may also enjoy movies selected via a lower age.
Content is age appropriate for children this age
Some content may not be appropriate for children this age. Parental guidance recommended
Content is not age appropriate for children this age
Children and Media Australia (CMA) is a registered business name of the Australian Council on Children and the Media (ACCM).
CMA provides reviews, research and advocacy to help children thrive in a digital world.
ACCM is national, not-for-profit and reliant on community support. You can help.
ABN: 16 005 214 531