Death Warnings for films

[fannishliss]

Kind of a poll:  Do y'all wish there were death warnings for films?

Would you consider a death warning to be a spoiler??

I realize that some fanfic writers consider death warnings to be spoilers.... I pretty much just skip if I feel like there's going to be a major character death. 

Because this is my Doctor Who summer, I've been looking into the films of Chris Eccleston, and he dies a lot.  I really would prefer to know in advance about films where major characters die.  I watched Brokeback in naive hope and was destroyed for weeks -- really. 

I'm curious to know if anyone agrees or if I am just in the tiny minority. 

In a related note, my offspring is very reluctant to read Newbery medalists because of too many traumatic death stories. Totally can't blame him!!!

Comments

[roguebitch.livejournal.com]

In a related note, my offspring is very reluctant to read Newbery medalists because of too many traumatic death stories. Totally can't blame him!!!

Oh, I am with him on that...I still don't know why everyone thinks "The Giver" is so wonderful. I got to the end and I was absolutely shattered.

I don't think character death warnings on movies are necessary if you read the reviews or IMDB. I'm sort of the same about character death warnings on fic. If I like the author or story idea, I might read it anyway.

[fannishliss.livejournal.com]

I want my boy to read important, well-written books, but must they always involve traumatic deaths? I haven't read the Giver -- it looked way too ominous. o_O

Reviews don't help me because they won't give away the ending. A lot of movies I can steer clear of because of the subject matter.... I won't go to see any war movies, period, and stay away from most dramas. Something about the way that Brokeback was reviewed convinced me they would both live, and I was really crushed. D:

There are certainly sites for movies so that parents can vett them for their children.... they are so white glove that it makes me feel icky. I know, I am just so full of complaints.

But yeah, a death warning site would be perfect. I want that!

[10docandr.livejournal.com]

I like warnings for fanfiction, but I get that some people wouldn't want them for movies. Maybe if producers made a website where you could look up who dies in a movie. That would avoid spoiling it for everyone, but it would allow those of us that want to know the ability to find out.

[fannishliss.livejournal.com]

The Ginger Envy icon is so cute. Ten really wanted that hair. So do I!!! :)

This post was prompted by Anhedonia's review of the Eccleston movie. I REALLY don't want to ever see Jude, which is a crying shame, because the first half where they run away together and have tons of hot sex, sounds fantastic.

I think that Eleven should come and mediate between Rude Taunting Collegiate David, and Sad Angry Intellectual Chris, so that they shake hands and make up (possibly with teary manhugs), and then he should take Chris and Kate away in the Tardis so that she never has her horrible religious revival that kills them all. Eleven is really a great mediator when he's not provoking Daleks with pipewrenches.

I've also been traumatized by graphic rape scenes in movies several times. One time (the Handmaid's Tale) I should've known better, and one time I had no clue it was coming. D:

I'd love to see the Second Coming..... I guess if he's Jesus, he's gonna die. I just don't want anyone to like, Nail him to something? D:

[zagzagael.livejournal.com]

Interesting....I don't want death notices but absolutely positively if there is an unanticipated brutal rape...I'm done. No thank you. I want to appreciate a film-maker or author's art and be fully immersed in the story so that if it does involve a death...I can get the full emotional impact. But year, sexual violence - no.

[fannishliss.livejournal.com]

The other one was Rob Roy. Absolutely stellar performances, but the rape scene was too much. And this is exactly the kind of thing that's left out of reviews.

For me, narrative is like a big cloud of connections -- I get excited by all the details, but I'm not really in it for catharsis or impact.

Also I love characters. So the story can be really ruined for me if they die. I read a really long unlabeled death story about a month ago that is still haunting me. I refuse to accept the character's death, so the story won't let go of my imagination.

[10docandr.livejournal.com]

I LOVE Amy's hair. I LOVE Ten's hair too, but in a different way. I don't really like sad movies either. Is DT and CE are both in this movie?????? That may make it worth the sadness. LOL

[fannishliss.livejournal.com]

My son read a great book by Terry Pratchett (about Tiffany Aching?), so I went out and got him the one about Maurice and the educated rodents, and inside teaser page reduced him to a crying wreck. (We have rodents for pets, so that was a factor).

Sigh. At least no one died in A Wrinkle in Time.

[runedgirl.livejournal.com]

I can see both sides - without a spoiler, the story unfolds organically and has the powerful impact it was intended to produce. On the other hand, our whole family is what we call media sensitive, so we can all be *destroyed* by something tragic in print or on film. Both my kids can be undone by unanticipated death in books or movies, both human or non-human. So mostly I appreciate warnings and abide them, though I realize that sometimes precludes a fabulous read or film.

[fannishliss.livejournal.com]

I'm very fluid about spoilers.... I tend to avoid them for shows like Supernatural because I don't want to anticipate things for months on end, and then find out that we've all been speculating about a moot point. (Rachel who?)

But on the other, if I have suspicions about a movie, I try to get as much detail as possible before going in. It actually helps me enjoy the movie more.

There are many classics that I'll just allow others to appreciate. :)

[datenshiblue.livejournal.com]

I'm cautious about some films, and rarely see them in the theatre if I think it's going to be an angst-fest. My philosophy is I can see it on cable. ;P

If you wait a short time after a film is out and look it up on wikipedia, there's usually enough of a story synopsis to give clues or say outright something like major character death.

I used to read (books) voraciously but I was never above flipping to the back for a preview if I started to get than uneasy feeling. I'd rather have time to brace for it. :P

<3

[fannishliss.livejournal.com]

People will recommend a film and I just say, "that sounds like a drama" and I avoid it. In movies I seek out comedy, action, and adventure. :)

It's hardest when I'm trying to follow a particular actor. Eccleston, despite his comic talent, doesn't get given comic roles. It's so sad, because the role of the Doctor was so perfect for him. :P

[ciaan]

I think that if you don't know who dies, then it's not really a spoiler. Just a general tone/mood idea, which you expect audiences to want.

[fannishliss.livejournal.com]

a "major character death" warning would suffice!