Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens Parent Guide

Star Wars: Episode VII—The Force Awakens is set on course to break box office records. But does it really deserve the buzz it’s receiving? Before I respond to that question, take a look the crew piloting this film. There’s J.J. Abrams, a man that may very well be the most bankable director the film industry has ever seen. He’s resurrected Mission Impossible and Star Trek to great acclaim, and now he’s been handed the next episode of one of the most recognizable brands in Hollywood. Abrams, who not only directs this film but also has a producer credit, has placed legacy Star Wars writer Lawrence Kasdan on his right hand and Toy Story 3 screenwriter Michael Arndt on his left. (If I dare say, George Lucas might benefited from having this trio by his side during Star Wars Episodes I, II and III). It’s a great deal of power and shows a lot of of trust from the franchise’s new owner, Disney.

The director wastes no time setting the scene. Over the past decades the First Order has replaced the fallen Galactic Empire. While the name has changed, the song remains the same. Legions of Nazi-like Storm Troopers wait in formation for commands from their leader Kylo Ren (Adam Driver). Wearing a mask indicative of having trained at the Darth Vader School of Galactic Troublemakers, Ren takes his orders from Supreme Leader Snoke (Andy Serkis)—a deity that only appears as an enlarged hologram. The mission these warlords are pursuing is to find the last remaining Jedi, and yes, their most-wanted man is none other than Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill).

The winding plot introduces us to resistance fighter Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac), Storm Trooper defector Finn (John Boyega) and Rey (Daisy Ridley), a young woman who makes a living scavenging space junk on the desert planet Jakku. We also meet BB-8, a rolling droid that will be destined to become this generation’s R2-D2. Yet the main enjoyment of this film are the many surprises that are unveiled along its path, and keeping these under wraps necessitates a brief plot summary.

Parents should expect violent confrontations, with brief blood effects, similar to what was presented in Star Wars Episode III—Revenge of the Sith. Characters are sliced and diced with light sabers, countless others are shot with fantastical guns, and one individual is impaled with a light beam and sent to a harrowing death. Viewers should also be prepared to feel some emotional distress… and I’ll leave it at that. Bottom line: This is a movie that’s best suited for adults and teens.

Walking in the door after my screening, my kids and their friends had one question. “Is it good?” Yes, it’s very good. Being the first installment of the next trio (Episode VIII and Episode IX are scheduled for 2017 and 2019 respectively), this movie is as much about introductions as it is about story. However, Abrams is careful not to let his own artistic priorities get in the way of delivering those somewhat sentimental moments fans want to experience. Like long lost relatives showing up one-by-one at a family reunion, the director gives us a chance to have a warm embrace with each character prior to them getting back in the game. And if you were a teenager back in 1977 when A New Hope first came to movie screens, be warned! You’ll be feeling your age by the time you leave this new adventure.

About author

Rod Gustafson

Rod Gustafson has worked in various media industries since 1977. He founded Parent Previews in 1993, and today continues to write and broadcast the reviews in newspapers, on radio and (of course) on the Internet. His efforts also include writing and researching media in all its forms and observing how it effects society and culture. He and his wife Donna have four children.