Ever since it’s opening on July 18, ‘The Dark Knight’ has been breaking all kinds of records. Record for midnight sales, first day sales and weekend sales are all firmly in the bag. But it has also broken a few parents notions of what is appropriate for their children. Many have complained that the movie is too dark and should have an R rating instead of the PG-13 rating that is has. Parents have complained that there is too much violence and that the disappearing pencil trick was too graphic.

I have one thing to say to these people: shut up. There is worse violence in most video games then there is in this movie. There is even worse violence on prime time television in the US than there is in ‘The Dark Knight.’ The film has no blood, no cussing, no nudity, and most of the violence is psychological, with scenes of torture taking place off screen. Yes, cars and buildings blow up. But it’s an action movie. In action movies, things blow up.

‘The Dark Knight’ was never targeted at children either, so I’m not sure why any parent would take their child to it. It is a Batman movie, but that doesn’t make it a kid’s movie. Batman is a vigilante who, in the original comics, kills people. He’s never been a character for children, no matter how many cartoons are made about him. And the Joker has always been a psychotic villain, no matter what the 1960’s television show portrayed.

Also, the film is rated PG-13. That means it is not appropriate for children under 13 years old. Parents should take that into consideration before complaining about how scared their 7-year-old was of the movie.

Parents, do some research and think before you start pointing fingers. Who took your children to the movie? Hollywood or you?