I view quite a few kid movies... not Cody Banks but
serious films about kids such as Gus Van Sant's Elepahant
and another that comes to mind is "Thirteen". Elephant
has a Palme d'Or from Cannes. _Thirteen_ has nothing as far
as I know.

But I think Thirteen is a better film. A few more fit this
category like one on drug abuse called "Spun." Another
international film is "City Of God" about the seamier side of
Rio.

The list of these (even of current vintage) is quite a
bit longer.

But what struck me was the arrival of a new study about
childhood in America called _Huck's Raft_.

For a film that seems to take all it's cues from the
message of "Huck's Raft" which is "leave your kids alone
so they can grow" my pick for the ideal (or best, whatever)
film about growing up in America is Alan Arkush's
"Detroit Rock City". I like this film so much I requested
that my local library acquire it. And they did.

Yes, Spun was about the lives of tweakers as was
that Val Kilmer film... durn, can't think if it.

I've never participated in the Decware forum, so I'm wondering
what music reviews you have seen?

Kid shows (and I'm going out on a limb admitting this)
portray many things I've never experienced and that's my
fascination with them. The original "Kids" film and the
followup by the same director called "Bully."

Spun was directed by the same joe who directed the
Hubert Selby film which had moments equally unsettling.
I'm just remembering things as I write and do not have
references handy for some, but "Requiem For A Dream" was
by the same guy as "Spun".

And how could we forget "Less Than Zero" from the novel
by Brad Easton Ellis which may have started the whole trend (?)

Like I said the list is pretty long of films about kids
but for adults.

On the other hand, I consider Detroit Rock City about
kids and _for_ kids in a positive way.

The subject matter of Elephant won praise from the
international award audience, but I have not found much of value
in anything Gus Van Sant has ever done.

The interesting part about Brad Ellis' Less Than Zero was
that the library copy I had (I buy very little) was really well
worn. It and the movie are watched read by kids... they use the
movie as a party film. I have less idea about the current list
of kid films.

Strangely I cannot remember the most horrific scene of
Less Than Zero (the book) being duplicated in the film.
But there is a similar scene in Spun. And it got to me
the same way the book did. There is a strange use of video
game animation in 2 of these: Spun and Bully. I have asked
but never found out if these are actual video game animations
or created for the films.

One can dismiss this sort of thing saying "It's none of my business"
or maybe more to the point being told "It's none of _your_ business"
but then these images are only being absorbed by the kids themselves
at house parties and on dvd/vhs.

Before you ask, I don't believe in any sort of censorship for
those of adult age.