Parents need to reconsider taking kids to watch "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story." While the action and visual effects are great, there are some elements of the movie that may not sit well with the young ones. Hence, it was given a PG-13 rating.
Entertainment Weekly's Andrew Breznican writes, "It's just a bit too intense, a bit too tragic, and bit too complex for (my four-year-old)." Breznican has a 7-year-old whom he'll bring to see the film, but he notes that "(t)here are some relentlessly terrifying moments in this PG-13-rated movie, and its final act is a true soldier's story - which (as the MPAA notes) means significantly more sci-fi violence than past films in the series."
Cinema Blend's Sean O'Connell echoes this and emphasizes that this movie seems to have been created with the fans of the first three released films in mind -- meaning, those who were young in 1975. While kids may still be able to relate to it, many Easter eggs can be found by those who know the franchise very well.
There have been deaths in the Star Wars franchise -- from the most significant characters like Anakin Skywalker's mother to the lesser significant ones like that lone Ewok. The film series has not been bereft of the cycle of life, especially in times of war. In "Rogue One," however, the deaths appear to have deeper effects since these were noble people who knew they had to risk their lives for the greater good.
Breznican had previously described "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" as the darkest of the film franchise due to the intensity of its "themes of abandonment, brutality, and death" but he has reassigned the title to "Rogue One" calling it the "'grown-up' movie that longtime Star Wars fans have been wanting".
O'Connell calls it "a contender for highest body count in a Star Wars movie" if the planetary destructions in "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" are not counted. Rogue One easily increases the body count with the numerous battle scenes.
The battles all have great effects and lots of action but happens so much that it can get tiring. In this movie, good people will die. Kids would learn of the death of beloved characters in the movie. Parents, make sure they're ready for it. Tell them being a hero doesn't mean fame or fortune, it's sacrifice, just like what they did in this movie.
In the midst of all the struggles, some heroes can do the wrong things too. This time, Star Wars shows the gray area between good and evil, that good guys can be bad sometimes too. When some rebels take on each other, remember to tell kids that doing the right things don't always come easy, that a good person can do something bad because he thinks it's for something good.
Jyn Erso's character was developed into an inspiring hero, but the way she loses her family is not for kids. Other losses of families in the franchise were implied (remember Luke in Tatooine and Rey in Jakku?). This tragedy is presented in this live action movie. Adults, please the kids that this kind of thing is an extreme situation that does not happen all the time, and these things can only happen if there is a power-hungry imperialist dictator. Turn the discussion instead on how Jyn turned things around for her by helping those who could not help themselves.
Remember, Darth Vader is truly on the dark side. Though he has always been intimidating, other Star Wars movies have not shown him in his sociopathic glory. Rogue One shows him as a killer unmoved by morality. It also shows Lord Vader in his grotesque glory, emphasizing how he lives with daily agony in his damaged body. So parents, watch out for two specific scenes that depict these. Some adults find them unsettling too. Do the adult thing and spare your kids of the scenes by blocking their view and then talking to them afterward about bad people in the world who love to hurt others.
So parents, remember that even if people have been raving about this movie, there is a good reason why "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" is rated PG-13. Children truly need adult support in viewing this movie.
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