Will you boycott Batman?

Question

Recently "The Dark Knight" was released in US theaters, and it didn't take long for PETA to condemn the movie because Batman defended himself against attack dogs.

http://blog.peta.org/archives/2008/07/batman_beats_do.php

Now, seeing as how vegetarians (and for your reference, I am one) are likely to have strong opinions about animal welfare, are you going to support this movie by going to see it?

Now, I saw the film on opening day, and I can tell you that it is amazing. In my opinion (and many others') it is the best Batman movie ever made, as well as the late Heath Ledger's greatest performance.

Obviously many of the people in the US have already seen it without knowing that there would be a scene where Batman hits a dog (in self defense), but for those that haven't seen it yet, and for those in other countries where it hasn't released yet... will you go see this movie?

In case you were wondering, I didn't have a problem with the scene and I would recommend the movie to others.

Answer 1

There is no "Batman" and no dogs were actually hurt.  I'ts A MOVIE.  Why on earth would I boycott a film for something that didn't really happen?

If I were going to boycott it for any reason, it would be for its glamorization of violence.

Answer 2

i have mixed feelings about peta.. and the new batman was aaaaaaaaamazing.

Answer 3

I COMPLETELY aggree with FabulousInIndy.

for goodness sakes everyone know that  no animals where harmed in the making of a movie. and i don't think the movie glamorizes "hitting dogs".

if anything it teaches to always defend yourself. batman is not a kids movie due to it's dark and sadistic theme!

Answer 4

Sorry, but if dogs were attacking me I'd defend myself too.  (Although it certainly wouldn't be as effective as when Batman does it.)  I suppose PETA now thinks that if we're being attacked we should just sit back and let them gnaw our shins off?  Sorry, but I have every right to survive.

I've seen the movie once already....I'm seeing it again tonight....I will be buying the dvd immediately when it is released.

GREATEST. SUPERHERO. MOVIE. EVER.

(BTW, I'm more concerned with Christian Bale's recent arrest for suspected assault against his mother and sister.  I think it's more important to not support domestic violence than it is to not support defending oneself when under attack.  If he is convicted on charges of domestic violence I will probably sacrifice my DVD purchase despite the movie's undeniable awesome-ness.)

Answer 5

Please! The AHA monitors all animal action in films, it's not as if the dog was harmed.

PETA will complain about anything.  They are just trying to ride the coattails of the success of the film to get people to give them money.

Answer 6

It's all hollywood!! It's just acting!! It's not even real! For all we know, it could have been a computerized image!!

That's like saying children shouldn't watch bambi because a hunter kills his mother...

I do not care for PETA at all and I think they are just a huge money hungry group.....

Answer 7

What we should be boycotting is the film industry in general.  Really, when was the last time they came up with something original that was actually well done and not over the top with CGI and ridiculous characters.

I guess I'll be supporting PETA in a de facto manner since I doubt I'll see the movie, but they shouldn't be expecting my membership pledge anytime soon.  I just find that every time I go to the movies, I wish I had spent my $20 on something else; anything else.

Answer 8

Nope though I have not seen it yet. Judging from the ticket sales and all those box office records the movie is breaking, I don't think too many people are listening to PETA...as usual

Answer 9

if the animals were not harmed in the making i don't see a problem.

i saw  the movie and didn't think twice about it (i am also vego!tarian)

children that are silly enough to look up to batman probably wouldn't even remember that scene because they would have probably been too focused on that guys burnt off face.

Anyways if a child was attacked by a dog and hits it in self defense i think that is alright especially if the dog runs away and cannot be found to be put down. personally i think a punched dog (by a little kid) is alot better than a murdered dog which is generally the sad fate the attacking dogs face.

the scene wasn't a huge part of the movie and batman wasn't congratulated for hitting the dog in any way so i don't see what all the fuss is about.

I would be more worried about the cat kicking in the Zohan movie.

Answer 10

I've been a vegetarian for 15 years,vegan for four. I am certainly concerned about animal welfare, but if ANYTHING attacks me, I'm kicking its teeth down its throat.

Answer 11

First of all I do not think it was real, so therefore in the movie no actual dogs were hurt. Second if he defended himself like in Resident Evil against animals that were trying to or trained to kill or attack him then it is fine. I mean really if some animals or humans try to attack Ingrid for whatever reason is so just going to stand there and so 'go ahead, I am vegan I will not defend myself, even if that means death'.

If real dogs were injured then that is different since some movies tend to use and torture and kill real animals in it (i.e Cannibal Holocaust).

I am also more concerned with the rating, PG-13 for so much violence that even involved children and animals? No that sounds R to me...unless the world has changed so much that this is now the norm for 13 year olds.

PETA is getting on my nerves.

I rather 'boycott' and stop real animal and human cruelty that happens everyday

Answer 12

Heaven's above!  I'm more than sure no dogs were harmed in the making of the movie...if Batman defends himself from being attacked by dogs, then so be it....it's make believe!

It's just a film - why do people have to get up in arms!!

By the way - I have very strong opinions on animal welfare, and am not a vegitarian.

Answer 13

The movie is more "pro-self defense against attacking dogs" in the dog scenes then anything else.

Where does Batman ever go out looking to beat up dogs?

Heck, in one scene he asks how his new armor will hold up to dog attacks, and he DOESN'T ask for an anti-dog weapon, IIRC. It is very clear that he wants defense against dogs, not to try and hurt them.

Answer 14

peta REALLY goes too far, doesn't it? I mean, if a dog is attacking me, i'm sure as h**l going to fight it off. It's not like he just picked the thing up and punched it in the head.

I saw it, and see no problem with it. There's a difference between animal abuse and self-defense, and he definitely wasn't advocating abuse. I think it would be bad to enforce the opposite in children. "if a dog attacks you, it's probably just hungry so let it have its fill, little ones."

Answer 15

Seriously right now I could careless about that. It was a movie.... People who boycott movies are? Crazy! And I don't see the point in that.

Answer 16

no i will not boycott Batman. We all know that animal people were on the set of that movie , an Made sure that no animals were hurt. Usually at the end of all the credits , a lil thing will show up saying "No Animals Were Hurt in the making of this Film".

Peta is just being a Butthead .. that simple.

Answer 17

I think most people are sensible enough not to repeat things they see in films, so i dont see it as a big deal.

I'm seeing Batman on friday :)

Answer 18

I think that they are exploiting animals by pretending to be a bat.

Answer 19

i'd rather boycott PETA.

i like their work but this kind of publicity-whoring really undermines their message,

besides, we all know that animals aren't harmed in the making of films these days, or the lion king would have tanked.