Is the Film Gravity Safe for Kids to See?

The Oscar contender Gravity was released this weekend to critical acclaim. As of now the movie has a 98% on Rotten Tomatoes. While many of you may be anxious to go see the new space thriller, you may be wondering if it would be OK to take your children with you.

We here at K12 wanted to give you a heads up on what you would need to know to bring a child with you.

Basic Info:

Director: Alfonso Cuarón 

Stars: Sandra Bullock and George Clooney

Rating: PG-13

Run Time: 91 minutes/ 1 hour 31 minutes

Is Gravity violent?

The movie is not violent in that at no point is one person trying to do another harm. The movie is man versus nature, not man versus man. The only blood that’s shed in the entire movie is from someone hitting their head and being temporally knocked unconscious. However, there are a few deaths in the movie which can be very unsettling.

Is Gravity educational?

Gravity is educational in that it strives to be realistic. Watching the movie in 3D will make you feel like you are in space. The processes that the characters go through while on their ‘space walks’ is similar to what astronauts experience. There is also a life lesson in the movie of facing your fears and not giving up when the odds are against you.

Is there foul language?

Yes. The ‘F’ word is used once in the movie, and there are several times where the ‘S’ word is used.

Your child should see this movie if:

They love space. The pure awe of this movie is amazing and makes you feel like you really are traveling amongst the stars.

They love movies. As a movie there is ground-breaking cinematography and the director is renowned for his extremely long shots. The sound is extremely well done, and the sound effects team understood that sound cannot travel in space, therefor everything you hear is what the astronauts would be hearing. Finally, the acting could not have been better and you should expect nominations in the future.

Your child should NOT see this movie if:

They are uncomfortable with death. While 98% of the movie is thrilling but clean there are two scenes that involve death, which could be traumatizing for a child who is sensitive to the topic.

They have epilepsy/get vertigo. The movie was shot in a very realistic way, sometimes taking on a first person view of the characters. This can be dizzying to some and could make them feel ill.

We will continue to add to the list of films we review for parents. If you have any films that you would like to know more about, please let us know in the comments.

Check out our post on another recent movies:  ’12 Years a Slave’

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