Star Wars Return of the Sith, WHY is it a 15 and should I try to sneak a 7yo in to see it anyway?

[WideWebWitch]

Ds is a Star Wars fan and has been for ages. He has millions of Star Wars figures, all the films, light sabers (thanks Janh for some of them!) queued in Virgin to get a dvd set signed by Darth Vader etc. And he is absolutely heartbroken that the new Star Wars film is a 15. Does anyone know why? And, I think I know the answer, but would anyone attempt to sneak him in anyway? He's tall but, obviously, not 15. However, the people manning the ticket booths and taking tickets at the local cinemas are spotty youths who probably don't know the difference between a 7yo and a 15yo. Or would they? Does everyone? I am torn. I bought 2 tickets before I knew it was a 15 for the first day it's on. Happy for dp to see it first to check why it's a 15 but also would like to know what you think - if dp thinks it's Ok for ds to watch should we try to get him in?

Just a quickie - was going to bed 10 minutes ago!!

DS1 age 6 went to see it tonight and though it was fantastic, he has all the others and is very used to seeing films of this nature LOTR etc..

My DH thought it should have been a 12 or 15 though as it was very dark - he also thought the film was fab and tied it all up nicely.

I saw it on Tuesday at a charity preview. Personally I'd be reticent about a 7yo going to see it.

SLIGHT SPOILER ALERT

There are several scenes with bits of people getting chopped off (like in the last two, but more of it), one scene with someone catching fire and getting badly burned, and a scene where all the little cute junior Padawan get killed (not actually on screen, but it's clear what's about to happen and then it's referred to afterwards). Since they are all in the under-10 age bracket that might be upsetting? Lots of other people die too, of course -- it's a fairly dark film.

But, obviously, it all depends on the 7yo in question.

my ds1 saw episode one twice in the cinema at the age of two!
ive lost count how many timew we have seen one and two at home.
cabt wait to see episode 111

saw it on thurs and thought it was v disappointing

Saw it last night and agree with Lou that it's not very good, but I'm sure kids won't be so discriminating. I didn't think the last two were as good as the original three either.

Didn't think it was particularly gory (no worse than the others) but maybe the stuff about Padame dying in childbirth might be a bit upsetting for a child whose mother was pregnant?

Well, the update here is that ds was so completely, horrendously, comprehensively vile on Thursday night that we took away his right to see it. He had warnings but then I had to follow through. He is gutted but hey, so was I at his behaviour. So dp is off on his own this pm. We have told ds if he's good he might be allowed to go on Thursday. Step sister's dh saw it last night and said he'd take his girls (9 & 11) so I don't think I mind ds seeing it and dp will have seen it first too. But hey, going on ds's current form he won't behave well enough anyway!

Pabla! - that's a SPOILER!

am taking my 6yr old this afternoon, will let you know.

according to dh its is really quite scarey apparently and graphic. So he wouldnt recommend it.

Twoifbysea - both my boys saw the original 3 films from age 2! They are both utterly dedicated Star Wars fans.

I am an utter softie and felt so sorry for him sitting watching the old Star Wars films and playing with his toy jedis (while dp got ready to go!) that I've let him go. So he and dp have just left. He's promised no repeat of Thursdays debacle though.

Do let us know what he and dh think. I'm 90% certain ds1 won't be seeing it at the cinema, but he does keep asking.

in ref to Pabla's point below that is a real inconsistency with what Leia says in Jedi.
Sorry - I didn't realise I was such a geek

I went last night (and loved it), but I wouldnt' take a 7 year old... a lot of fighting, and where they all look human (unlike LOTR or spiderman etc), its probably not good.

xxx

dp has just gone with ds to see it tonight I am staying home alone Am off to get a bottle of wine and a chinese takeaway and plan to watch the eurovision with my feet up BLISS

Well, ds wasn't scared. Dp said it IS quite dark but he didn't think ds was remotely scared because he really does get that it isn't real, it's all acted. It ends on quite a low note and so dp said it was a bit of a downer and the good guys don't win, so not yer usual all right in the end stuff. Dp doesn't think it was that much worse than Episode 2 - but he thought it potentially had more negative emotional impact than inappropriate violence. He said yes, there's violence, "It's Star Wars fgs!" but that he didn't think ds was affected or scared in the least. I doubt it too, having seen the boy sit totally deadpan through Jurassic Park, which scares the life out of me. I didn't see it though but I trust dp's judgement AND step sister's dh agrees and would happily take his children if they wanted to go (they don't). But there is a bit where Anakin is burned and dp said that was gruesome and sad, since Anakin was the one ds identified with. No more.

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It's fascinating what scares kids and what doesn't, isn't it? I have vivid memories of seeing Jurassic Park at the cinema when it was new. The kids in the cinema all just laughed at the T-Rex; didn't seem remotely bothered by it. But they were screaming and terrified by the bit with the electric fence ...? [puzzled expression]

As far as I understand (enjoy the films, but never been a "fan") - the sith are kind of the opposite of the Jedi - they use raw emotions for their power (anger etc) whereas the Jedi must be all pure and selfless.

The Jedi think they're right, Sith, obviously think they've got the right idea (although theirs has more killing )

If you are sith and on the dark side, then you are "Darth" summat - Maul, Sidius, Vader etc... Kind of like the pope getting his popey name...

They are revengin cos they think they should be in charge of the republic (or "Empire" - hence it strikin back later).

All clear as mud?

I'm amazed by DD... she's 2, and is fascinated by Buffy and LOTR - yet the sharks chasing Nemo's dad is scarey!!!

Message withdrawn

Lol - I learnt all that from the new one!!

I couldn't remember any of the one before, and then got all excited because they do the whole "previously on" type thing scrolling up the screen

I was glared at by my (slightly louder than planned) comment of "No woman would ever try to sleep with her hair up like that, and with those stupid bead things for sleeve"