Sunset Blvd. : At what age is it okay to watch this?

At what age is it okay to watch this?

I have a younger sister who'll turn 14 soon. I make a point of watching old movies with her, just to give her a taste and appreciation for them. Do you think this movie would be appropriate for her? Not just appropriate, but enjoyable? I want her to like it, not just watch it. Please try to avoid spoilers. Thanks!

Re: At what age is it okay to watch this?

U can watch it at 14............Its an amazing film and the story and the performances are superb..........The ending will drive u nuts!!! ;D

Re: At what age is it okay to watch this?

Yes she can watch it. Whether or not she'll appreciate it is another story. I first watched this at 15 and I hated it! But I watched it again about a month later and strangely enough, I loved it the second time. This is one of my favorite movies.

Sticks And Stone, Love.

Re: At what age is it okay to watch this?

I'd say no. I really can't imagine a teenager enjoying this movie. Teenagers suck. Unless your sister is one of those very special teens who are actually into art and stuff.

Re: At what age is it okay to watch this?

I'm 16, and I enjoyed the hell out of this film! Not all teens suck, just some.

Re: At what age is it okay to watch this?

I'm "one of those very special teens who are actually into art and stuff".

So are most of my friends.

Your generalisation is painful. We don't "suck" (a word I have never actually used, thank goodness), and what you just said is actually quite insulting. It's people like you that add to perceived lack of appreciation for art amongst teenagers, not the other way around.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"A man who does not spend time with his family can never be a real man."

Re: At what age is it okay to watch this?

Listen kid, I've known a lot of teenagers since I was a teenager myself. My generalisation is perfectly valid. Teenagers suck. You and your friends may be an exception to the rule, but it is a rule nonetheless. If you think most teenagers appreciate art, then you are delusional. Most teenagers I've known in my life (and I know A LOT) are the kind of teens who think films from the 90s are "too old" for them; who think they know everything about life, even though they are ignorant about the subject matters they are addressing; who think that telling their elders to shut up is justified when they are saying something "ignorant". I've known very few teens who are worth talking to about anything. If you feel offended, then I'm sorry but I don't really care. In my vast experience, most teenagers just love arguing about things they don't know anything about.

Re: At what age is it okay to watch this?

Wow. I suspect you've just had bad experiences, frankly. But respect goes both ways; if you act half as presumptiously as that towards any teenager, frankly you deserve any lip you get. Respect works both ways, sir, and perhaps you'd better learn some. I'm not saying ALL teenagers appreciate art. But some do. And you were saying that none of them do- the point I was refuting. So go cram your presumptions somewhere unpleasant because quite frankly it's people like you that bring out the worst in us. Unless you're a teacher, in which case I pity your pupils and am horrified you can talk so unkindly about a group you're meant to be looking after.

Re: At what age is it okay to watch this?

you are thus speaking of your own generation of teenagers,back when you were a teen? I was a teen as recently as 4 years ago and lots of the teens I knew/know of my generation love art and have an appreciation for classic cinema. So dont generalize,you clearly are generalizing,out of the 1 billion teens in the world currently,how many have you actually spoken to or met,or those who were teens a few years ago ?

''a lot'' that youve known is miniscule in comparison. The condescending ''listen kid'' does you know favors either. I could just as well go ''listen geezer''. I've known lots of teens and even pre-teens who are light years more mature and intelligent than lots of senior citizens or middle-aged people who seem to have never grown up maturity wise and are childish and immature.

And I refuse to believe the teens nowadays are more mature than teens of your generation were.Just because you did not meet many of such doesn't mean there aren't plenty who are mature and appreciate the arts.

Your generalization is invalid,and bitter as well. Have you heard of ''absence of evidence is not evidence of absence'' `? That applies to your statement here. It is most certainly no ''rule'' as you ignorantly claim,but just your own unfortunate experience with teens(of your generation? ).

This is not to say all teens nowadays are mature,plenty are not,but plenty are. Just like there are plenty of immature adults and plenty of mature adults. I have met enough ignorant adults in my short 23 years to know how in many cases many teens are wiser and have a more expanded awareness,in general,not just appreciation for the arts,to state that no,it is no ''rule''.

If personal experience is basis for a ''rule'',then I could say that adults suck,perfectly invalid statement,much like yours.

In my own vast experience of having talked to so many adults(being 23 myself now),but having spoken to many adults during school years,in different organization,my parents colleagues,friends,their friends etc,as well as my jobs I have had in different places and even observing adults in public transportation talking to each other on different topics...yeah,lots of adults are very ignorant,easily rivaling the ignorance of lots of teens.

I am not glorifying teens,but my experience,and I am not the only one by far,there are just as many ignorant adults who make many teens look like wise geniuses.

Re: At what age is it okay to watch this?

A noble effort, if a little redundant, to defend teenagers. As you are just 23, also quite understandable. But the poster to whom you're responding acknowledges there are exceptions and, clearly, he's speaking from his own experiences. We're allowed. aren't we? The "generalities" you cite are perfectly acceptable in discussions such as these when they are identified as generalities or offered as hyperbole, both of which the poster does. In short, the teenagers of all generations, including his and mine, don't have much to offer though they think they do. We tend to encourage that for various reasons (only a few valid, imo). And, they often do it quite loudly (another generality, but one based on my own experiences). In the final analysis, it's a part of life's progression and every society's expectation: Hey, the metal ain't been in the furnace long enough, ya see? And why most teachers are older than most students (yet another generality but, I suspect, statistically correct). . . What was it Oscar Wilde, I think, said -- No, I don't know everything -- I'm not young enough yet.

Re: At what age is it okay to watch this?

he said it himself that it is a ''rule'' that teens suck. And that is no rule,because there are too many ''exceptions'' that even I have witnessed. If it was so rare I would not know as many mature and intelligent teens who do not ''suck''.

It is his insistence on claiming it as ''a rule'' with exceptions,while it is no rule. As a young adult now I have by now accumulated much experience with different adults and am just as disappointed in many older adults as I was disappointed with some teens. Same thing, YET I dont claim adults to suck being a ''rule'' with some exceptions,meaning only a few mature adults.

Polarizing and generalizing is never objective. His experience makes him obnoxious enough to insist on calling it a ''rule'' and fact that almost all teens suck. That is laughable.


I mean,I admit,there are just as many obnoxious teens who have no clue,but pretend like they do,I have witnessed such as well,but let us not pretend like there aren't plenty of adults like that as well,not just in their 20s either,but all age ranges. I have met some very ignorant 40 and 50year olds. I am sometimes surprised(for several reason) how they even lived so long to be 40 or 50 etc

So let us no overglorify adults nor understate the maturity of many teens. There are plenty of mature teens,who only speak out when they know what they are talking about and are overall mature and there are plenty of adults who have no clue and speak of things they have no clue about. I am not saying it is exactly 50/50 share in both cases,there is no way to know this,but if out of the hundreds of teens that I have spoken to and met over half at least have been mature and intelligent,and I always speak on provocative topics(considered provocative by many adults who sometimes ''lose it'' and start foaming at the mouth),so I can see how the teen will respond and act. And many foam or react immaturely (saying I dont care or having a blank stare etc),but many were mature,just as many adults are,no less coherent and no less wise about their replies,very enlgihtened actually,which was a positive realization for me,as a teen and now early 20s guy myself.

All I am saying is that generalizing has often proved to be redundant,even incorrect often,perpetrated by those who find the generalization useful,and adults find it useful,for some want to feel superior due to their big egos,and some teens of course,many teens even,are indeed immature and also help create that impression no doubt,for that generalization.

But any mature adult knows theres plenty of immature adults around as well. ;)

And that Oscar Wilde quote,I can still appreciate it,because indeed many teens are like that,think they know it all,but many are not.

Re: At what age is it okay to watch this?

You're pretty much repeating your first post. That's okay. You feel warmly in the matter -- but a couple of points:

When he says "rule" he means "most" -- based on his experience. Yours and his experiences are, obviously, different. Nothing you can do about that. That's okay too, but remember neither are "objective" in the sense you mean. Both are "subjective" in that your conclusions/opinions about teens in general are based on different experiences.

(Btw, there are "exceptions" to rules.)

In using "rule" he is employing hyperbole. He does so in the same way you use the phrase "some adults foam at the mouth". You didn't mean they literally foam at the mouth, did you? You meant they get really, really upset. I get it. I know what you mean. You're putting it in a dramatic way, just as he was doing.

Neither he nor I would suggest some adults are not as (or more) immature than some teens (You'll find many examples of this, especially, in politics.) Maybe we can agree there is no scarcity of teens and no scarcity of adults who "suck", and that therein lies the bulk of our problems today, as has been the case in years past.

Best -- and keep the flags flyin'!

Re: At what age is it okay to watch this?

so you mean to say by ''rule'' he means ''his rule'' ? I mean,based on his experience,it certainly seems to be a rule for him yes,no argument there,I can believe that,it is unfortunate he has met so many immature teens,but it is still believable and plausible. Perhaps I have been extremely fortunate with many teems,and I live in Europe,not that I claim to know that teens here are more mature than in USA,I don't know,it would be a stereotype and I do not want to go into those.

And sure,we both are subjective,I agree.But I dont think it is a coincidence that I've met so many mature teens,both Russian and Estonian nationalities,2 different cultures and temperaments to them.

If he is truly using it as a hyperbole,then it makes it more sensible.It might simply be my experience with people in the past who usually always claim it as a ''rule'' literally,not as a hyperbole. So that might've made me biased,as a hyperbole,it is more sensible.

I certainly see that you do realize that there are many mature teens,as well as many immature ones obviously,and based on experience it is all subjective anyway yeah. I was just standing up for teens who are mature,just as I would stand up for someone saying how most adults are ignorant and mean-spirited and bittered by the time they are 40 etc. There are some of those,but also many warm-hearted,kind and mature ones,so if it was reversed,I'd stand up for adults just the same.

The hope is of course that with age comes experience and that only makes one even MORE mature and unless one is an old soul,so to speak,teens,while really mature,have the potential to become even more mature with years to come.

A well balanced post from you,thank you so much. You seem to be a great example of a mature adult,so kudos.

Re: At what age is it okay to watch this?

Thanks . . . and you seem to be an example of a mature "younger adult".

Re: At what age is it okay to watch this?

Everything you've just described goes with the territory of being a teenager. I'm sure u were exactly the same when u were 16. It's a generational thing.

Re: At what age is it okay to watch this?

That sounds like you are describing the typical American, not just teenagers...

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Re: At what age is it okay to watch this?

That should be a fine age. Strange that I am the same age as Norma Desmond now. This movie was released exactly 12 years before I was born.

If you're going to let your sister watch this, may I recommend watching Whatever Happened to Baby Jane and make it a double feature.

Re: At what age is it okay to watch this?

I saw the title of the thread and I thought "13" before I read the OP's post. So yeah, almost 14 is right on the nose.

Re: At what age is it okay to watch this?

I first saw it when I was 14 and loved it. Norma and Max reminded me of an elderly couple that I worked for at the time. (Naturally, I identified with Joe.)

Re: At what age is it okay to watch this?


It depends if your sister in a moron. If she is into "Twilight" then she will zero attention span and really have no appreciation for this film

Re: At what age is it okay to watch this?

Well, it's rated PG. You can watch it at any age as long as you appreciate classic black and white films.

Re: At what age is it okay to watch this?

Kids today........who knows?

Short Cut, Draw Blood

Re: At what age ?

The more things change, the more they don't.

With every generation, some kids are too self-absorbed to care that anything existed before they were born (or even before last Friday) and some kids have no such perspective issues.

Same for adults, really.

Those that will get it will get it.

--
People are not flawed and imperfect --- flawed and imperfect you can work with...


Re: At what age ?

I think I was 18 when I first saw it. I became a fan of older movies when I was younger. I think your sister would like it. I hope you inform us if she did or not.



"There will be blood. Oh, yes, there WILL be blood."-Jigsaw; "Saw II"

Re: At what age is it okay to watch this?

It is ok to watch this movie at any age. Though not all 14 year olds may understand the themes presented.

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Applied Science? All science is applied. Eventually.

Re: At what age is it okay to watch this?

My 8 year sister really enjoyed this film and in fact she said to me that this is the best black & white film she saw.
I remember she laugh the whole time when norma came out. its a rare thing to get kids watch this stuff because u know what im saying..

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