And here’s what you could talk about afterward… She refuses to believe hes the bad guy.
That made me want to reach for the wince emoji.
Its just a bit too intense, a bit too tragic, and bit too complex for him.
Credit: Jonathan Olley/2016 Lucasfilm Ltd.
But that doesnt mean every young kid should stay away.
Im still going to take her, but Im glad I sawRogue Oneon my own first.
Its a bloodless movie, for the most part.
(Were dealing with blasters, not bullets.)
But death is death.
But after seeingRogue One, that title of darkestStar Warsmovie has been usurped.
Still, every kid is different, as is every parent.
One size doesnt fit all.
DARK VADER
And hey, how bout Darth Vader in that black and evil mask!
Did he scare you as much as he scared meeeeee?
That was Bill Murrays Nick the Lounge Singer, crooning about Star Wars onSaturday Night Live.
But lets be honest: Vader has always been more ominously cool than straight-up frightening.
This time, hes a killer.
His day-to-day existence is anguish.
Its a short scene, but it makes a mark.
Picture Michael Myers with a lightsaber.
(But, again, no blood.)
Im really not exaggerating here.
This moment is deeply unsettling.
Little ones who know Vader fromadorable storybooksare going to grow up fast when they seeRogue One.
How to deal:Simple fix a hand in front of the eyes.
Youll know these two scenes when they show up.
I dont want my 7-year-old to absorb the full impact of the sequences in question.
Whats awesome to me, may freak her out.
Vader is like that.
But bad people can repent, and thats what we see in the original movie.
They usually need good people to show them the way.
Boys will also see a strong, compassionate hero to admire and emulate.
Thats worth talking about with them.
We see exactly how her abandonment takes place when she is about 7 or 8 years old.
This kind of thing isnt unusual to childrens storytelling.
But its definitely another hand-over-the-eyes, hold-them-close moment.
But then I began thinking about what little ears may have picked up from radio and TV news.
Its not right to hunt people down and tear apart families.
Its not right to punish scientists.
Its not right to use fear and intimidation to control people.
This is what makes the Imperials the bad guys (even if they have cool costumes).
She dedicated herself to fighting for those who cant fight for themselves.
She didnt let fear consume her.
She was still willing to run into danger to save others who were helpless, as she once was.
Hopefully, kids will find that reassuring.
Nothing dispels fear like bravery.
Rogue Onegoes beyond Han Solo blasting Greedo.
What makes a rebel and what makes an insurgent?
This is a deeper question thatRogue Onemakes us ask.
Thats why its important to listen to that voice warning you if something feels wrong.
Kids make bad choices, too.
That hasnt been a spoiler since the opening crawl of the original 1977 movie.
But that victory comes with a high price and its not just anonymous background characters who pay it.
Even tougher kids will probably find themselves reacting emotionally.
But thats not a bad thing.
How to deal:Im actually looking forward to talking about this with my daughter after the movie.
The concept of sacrifice is a hard one to teach a kid.Rogue Onemight do us a favor there.
Often they gave their lives, and even more often they have gone unknown.
Being a hero isnt about being famous.
Its not about being happy or even safe.
Its also not about winning.
Its about knowing what you did was right and that it helped make someoneelsehappier or safer.
For moreStar Warsnews, follow@Breznican.
