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I finally saw Star Wars Episode III this weekend. It’s really good. It’s like the previous two were just ways for George Lucas to limber up and remember how to write and direct movies. I hope he makes a lot more now.
Little kids are very impressionable, and I have no doubt that lots of kids will try to find life lessons in this. We can consider what it is they may be learning.
...SPOILER SPACE… MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD…
The Bad
Always Avoid Absolute Statements
Anakin: “If you’re not with me, then you’re my enemy!” Obi-Wan: “Only a Sith deals in absolutes!”
This is the most dangerous one, I think, since many kids will start thinking, “Absolute statements are all bad.” Many won’t realize that “Only a Sith deals in absolutes!” is of course an absolute statement, and is therefore absurd.
Some Heros Aren’t Supposed to Have Kids.
In Episode II it was established that Jedi aren’t supposed to have kids. That’s so uncool. What does that teach a kid? Of course, it’s absurd again, since the Jedi ability to use The Force is inherited. (LYT pointed that out to me).
The Good
If You Betray Your Friends You Hurt Yourself
Anakin’s fear that his wife Padme would die came true only because he betrayed his friends. At the end of the movie the doctor says that Padme’s in perfect health and they can’t explain why she’s dying. It appears that she’s dying of a broken heart over Anakin’s having done evil. If he’d been honest, Padme would have lived, and the thing he feared would never have happened. This one is really good, and may be one reason why the movie feels uplifting, even though the good guys lose almost everything.
If You Betray Your Friends You Hurt Everyone Around You
Anakin’s betrayal of the Jedi costs him all of his friends, costs him his wife, drives him into the employ of a villain, and does a great deal of damage to the lovable, beautiful Star Wars universe. Again, this is really good for kids to learn.
Find the High Ground
Surely one of the moments kids will think over the most is the conclusion of the fight between Anakin and Obi-Wan.
Obi-Wan: “It’s over Anakin, I have the high ground.” Anakin: “You underestimate my power!” Obi-Wan: “Don’t try it…” Anakin jumps and his legs are cut out from under him. I’m sure some kids will notice that “having your legs cut out from under you” is a common expression, as is, “not having a leg to stand on,” meaning, you don’t have a good basis for your beliefs. “High ground” is also a phrase used with reference to discussion, meaning the position that helps all the people involved. I think some kids may learn some generosity, forgiveness and nobility from Obi-Wan’s effort to try to keep Anakin from being hurt. And they may also learn that not having the high ground leaves you in an indefensible position. I’d hesitate to show this scene to kids, since some could find it horrifying. But if it’s not too much so for a kid, I guess he or she could learn some good things from it. Of course, they may also learn, “you may have to yell at your family members sometimes,” which in my personal view is silly. But family members being mad at each other is common in drama.
So there’s a lot of good stuff there. Hopefully, for many kids who might be susceptible to the first two items I noted, the absurdity of those items will make them self-cancelling.
