The smart kids in movies

[TrippingBalls]

I hate how every movie with kids feature them as highly intelligent and mature.

Home Alone, Man on Fire, War of the Worlds, basically any movie with Dakota Fanning in it.

In real life kids are stupid and they all deserve a spanking. Plus they smell bad too.

[Backstabba]

This is the most useful thread I have ever seen with the greatest examples of any rant ever in the history of rants ever.....
......
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I kinda agree with you, but not all kids are dumbasses....and we saw how stupid some kids can be in "Cheaper by the dozen"...those little retards.

[Lazy Boy]

When people get flustered over kids showing the teensiest bit of adult-level knowledge, I find that condescending. They don't have to be talked down to, I don't think.

Unless you're talking about smart-ASS kids in movies, the kind that talk back to adults in a supercillious, snotty manner, well, then, I agree with you. :)

[Deckard]

So your not a fan of Natalie Portman in LEON: The Professional?

or

Christian Bale in EMPIRE OF THE SUN?

or

Jodie Foster in TAXI DRIVER?


anyway point being some little kids in films annoy the shit out of me because what is perceived in the screenplay as smart and intelligent comes out as arrogant and annoying.

There are plenty of child charecters in films i would love to beat with a stick(most all of them in the last 10 years) but there are a lot of exceptions to the rule.

[The Postmaster General]

You want to see a movie with a stupid kid, watch PET SEMETARY!



"PAGE! NO!"

[BadCoverVersion]

Yup, I'm with ya...nothing worse than a precocious nipper, all glazzy-eyed and knowing. I'd strangle it.

Try William Eadie in Ratcatcher, David Bradley in Kes and the youngsters from George Washington...clumsy, dynamic, poignant performances from very capable children who'd look more at home playing tiggy-it than swanning up a red carpet a la Ms. Fanning.

Shortarse little diva she is.

[The Postmaster General]

When reading of this thread, I think of WES ANDERSON's Max Fischer, and how he sort of played off that cliche in a very original coming-of-age way.

Other examples, to go along with BCV's list - would include Harold from HAROLD AND MAUDE, and Tracy Flick from ELECTION.

All of those mentioned are films where the characters try and act smart and mature, but ultimately it's realized they are just kids.

[jason statham]

I FUCKIN` HATE DAKOTA FANNING. She`s irritating, she looks weird and she thinks that she`s a fucking legend already.

[War Movie Mania]

Originally posted by jason statham
I FUCKIN` HATE DAKOTA FANNING. She`s irritating, she looks weird and she thinks that she`s a fucking legend already.

I couldn't agree more. Not to mention shes not even that good of a child actor. She always talks with the same monotone voice.

Her character almost ruined War of the Worlds for me. And Dreamer....? I'm staying 100 feet away from that movie because of her.

As for the original subject, a writer may or may not have any clue as to how children act. A single male with no wife/kids is probably going to butcher how a 9 year old acts in his script.

[< a c e >]

Originally posted by War Movie Mania
I couldn't agree more. Not to mention shes not even that good of a child actor. She always talks with the same monotone voice.

Her character almost ruined War of the Worlds for me. And Dreamer....? I'm staying 100 feet away from that movie because of her.

As for the original subject, a writer may or may not have any clue as to how children act. A single male with no wife/kids is probably going to butcher how a 9 year old acts in his script.

guys take it easy!!!!!

she's probably half your age.

okok i said probably!!

anywayz...look at drew barrymore man!
kids grow up! so chill-out!

you needn't show'em love but don' show'em da hate!

but yeah smart kids are annoying.
especially the one in JP3.i love the series but this movie was very very mildly ruined by that kid.

[RustyRazor]

When movies began, it was bad luck to be in a movie with animals and kids. (Remember that saying?) They'll upstage your performance with their cutesy wutesiness or "hammed" up performances.

Nowadays, they give these "wunderkind" scripts that Brando would have difficulty performing. Hollywood is about done with a kid that just plays video games, rides a bike, and says "totally tubular, dude". Now, they read USA Today, take stock quotes at age eight, and can drive an automatic coming out of the womb.

They're trying to show kids who are watching these films that they can be JUST LIKE THEM! You too can do your parents taxes in the second grade! You too can hack the FBI's mainframe from your crib.

High ideals and a cheap way to draw in the youth.
Tsk tsk.

[TrippingBalls]

Here's some smart-kid cliches-

-12-year olds who hack into the FBI by randomly jamming on a keyboard.

-Kids in Spielberg movies.

-Smart ass brats who set booby traps and outwit dimwitted bad guys. (Home Alone, Baby Geniuses)

[< a c e >]

Originally posted by TrippingBalls
Here's some smart-kid cliches-

-12-year olds who hack into the FBI by randomly jamming on a keyboard.

-Kids in Spielberg movies.

-Smart ass brats who set booby traps and outwit dimwitted bad guys. (Home Alone, Baby Geniuses)

you forgot 'the gifted ones'.you know? the ones with a vision.

" i see dead people."

by the way, i loved 'the sixth sense'.

[HeavyFknMetal]

Let us not forget about little Jake Lloyd, or was I the only one annoyed by him in Episode 1. I've seen him in other movies before Star Wars and he wasn't half bad, I just dont think he and should be allowed to read a George Lucas script ever, they don't seem to team up well.

[Lazy Boy]

http://thelonelyisle.net/JonathanLipnicki%20copy.jpg

This little fucker is a good target for this rant...

[jaw2929]

Originally posted by Lazy Boy
Unless you're talking about smart-ASS kids in movies, the kind that talk back to adults in a supercillious, snotty manner, well, then, I agree with you. :)

Yea, like that fuckin snotty puke in the new Amittyville Horror flick... Son'bitch needed a good fucking beating! :D

[Sagittarius]

Originally posted by TrippingBalls
I hate how every movie with kids feature them as highly intelligent and mature.

Home Alone, Man on Fire, War of the Worlds, basically any movie with Dakota Fanning in it.

In real life kids are stupid and they all deserve a spanking. Plus they smell bad too.

The reason why they do it is because they are trying to sell a product. Kids can be fickle & by playing the Mature card they try to draw in the Adult audience. That way the movie will be taken more seriously.

Case in Point the Potter films. The books are for kids & hence the movie is for kids. The 1st movie did very well at the box office( not critic wise) but, the movie did good. But it no real respect from the industry. Just another kid movie. Now with POA & GOF they are playng the More Mature card:rolleyes:

Don't get me started on Dakota Faninning. She annoys me to no end. Yes, she is a nice little girl & is level headed. But, she isn't really beyond her years in acting or maturity. She is a Kid. & Frankly, all of her roles are starting to look the same. Little Blond Blue Eye girl changes the mean old man wiht no heart.:rolleyes: But, then again that is all she can do now.

They are just trying to sell a product.

[Sagittarius]

Originally posted by Deckard
So your not a fan of Natalie Portman in LEON: The Professional?

or

Christian Bale in EMPIRE OF THE SUN?

or

Jodie Foster in TAXI DRIVER?


anyway point being some little kids in films annoy the shit out of me because what is perceived in the screenplay as smart and intelligent comes out as arrogant and annoying.

There are plenty of child charecters in films i would love to beat with a stick(most all of them in the last 10 years) but there are a lot of exceptions to the rule.

I agree with that excpetions to the rules like the ones you mentioned above.

But, then again there aren't alot of parents brave enough to let their kids take on a REAL MATURE ROLE like Jodi in Taxi Driver, or Little Girld Down the Lane or,even Brook Sheilds in Pretty Babies.

FUCKIN` HATE DAKOTA FANNING. She`s irritating, she looks weird and she thinks that she`s a fucking legend already. I sure hope not. Because she will get he bubble burst real quick. She has yet to transfer into the adult or even teenage roles yet. Alot of child actors have a hard time going to the next level.