To tell DH 5yrs old *is* too young for Star Wars (even though I've never seen it)

[lechatnoir]

DH has started to let DS1 watch Star Wars (the old ones) which I'm not happy about it as I assumed they are quite dark &/or violent. DH reckons the early ones are 'harmless' and I'm being OTT and unfair stopping him seeing then when most of the boys in is class have seen bits if not all of them.

So AIBU to DH/DS1 or are the Star Wars series totally inappropriate viewing for a 5yr old?

LCN

[captainbarnacle]

YABU - My 4 yr old and 2 yr old ADORE star wars. They aren't scared. They will both happily sit and watch one of the films. THey don't watch TV, just DVDs occasionally and star wars is their favourite :)

[LoopyLiz88]

DSS7 has been watching the movies since he was 3 and is still obsessed with it.

[Vev]

Star Wars is on cartoon network for Kids. Good against evil, good wins. YABU

[earthpixie]

Isn't there a scene where Luke finds the smoking corpses of his aunt and uncle? And don't the little critters in cloaks at the start get smoked as well? Is that OK for little uns?

I'm asking out of genuine curiosity - i have a 4yo DS and I can feel the approach of Star Wars..

[GooGooMuck]

My DS is 4. He's seen them all. I don't usually allow him to watch PG things but I had to let him watch part III. He understands everything about the plotlines, who is whose daddy etc etc. How could I not let him watch Anakin being turned into Darth Vader?

I wouldn't put the prequels on for other peoples children to see, but I made an assessment of my child and his understanding / fear and I'm happy with that choice.

Also in terms of the playground I think it can help them if they are able to have the same cultural references as other children. There are ways to water it down, eg Spiderman cartoons rather than films. TBH I always check out each episode of something eg doctor who before hwe's allowed to see it, as I know what triggers him to be scared (Doctor who locked in the Pandorica much scarier than an ood, for example)

[Bogeyface]

Earthpixie,

There is the bit with the corpses but tbh you have to know what they are to know what they are iykwim.

[Stropzilla]

I don't know tbh! I've been resisting letting DD (3) watch because of the smoking bodies and arm chopping off bits. DH wants me to let her, and I do think she'd be OK but just because it won't give her screaming nightmares doesn't mean I want her to see violence. I'm still undecided. To be fair, she does love Labyrinth and even asked to go live with David Bowie in his castle. Also very upset when we went to a real maze, and there were no goblins. I was similarly distressed there was no Jareth .

After reading this thread am a little more inclined to let her watch Star Wars, but not much! She can already quote the film (ta very much, DH).

[Vegeeta]

@ Stropzilla, well my DW, as you can see, everyone thinks its an awesome idea and to paraphrase SexyDomesicatedDab "YABVU denying her the opportunity to learn the ways of the force"!

[mitochondria]

I agree with bogeyface about the smoking corpses - it was only when I watched it as an adult that I noticed those.

[Deux]

My DS first watched them when he was coming up to 5 (now 7) and he loves them. A lot of it goes over his head. He wasn't upset when Yoda died whereas I was quite tearful!

Dr Who, OTOH, has him running for the door. I think it's far more scary too.

[SardineQueen]

Not read whole thread (prob a mistake) but I would not let smaller children watch them for various reasons. The main reason in Episode 4 being that Luke returns to find his aunt/uncle (parents to him) have been killed, and their house wrecked, and their charred smoking skeletons are there.

I know that for children the idea of losing parents is about teh worst idea there is, and so because of that I will avoid it until they are older.

The spaceship fights / lightsaber battles / punch ups I wouldn't have much of a worry about TBH as it's cartoony. But the idea of finding your family murdered is too much.

[pinkhebe]

I've never noticed the smoking bodies

[pinkhebe]

It was only when I watched it as a parent I realised that the aunt and uncle died!

[SardineQueen]

There are also scenes of torture of course. In the empire strikes back. And I would not be keen on the subtext of leia being held as some kind of chained up sex-slave, for a little one.

On balance I say no. And I am someone who is very excited at the prospect of sitting down to watch star wars with my children for the first time. 5 is too young.

[Bogeyface]

There are not scenes of torture in ESB! it is implied but not seen, and while your average bloke loves PL in her "Jabbas prisoner" outfit she still kicks ass in it so I think the subtext is "dont assume a bird in a bikini cant throttle you with your own chain" :o

[SardineQueen]

Well each to their own interpretation obviously but I think that torture contraption thingy han is strapped to and then the sound of him screaming is a bit strong for a small child.

Leia has been chained to Jabba for god only knows how long and that's not great. If she really "kicked ass" she wouldn't have been kept that way for so long. Again it's just not something I would be keen on exposing the DDs to when they are young.

Just my opinion thought obviously we all have different thresholds and ways of looking at things. I really love these films though and can't wait to watch them with the DC, although having actually thought about it, I think it'll be a while yet!