The kids I'm taking are 12, 14 and 6. The older two are foster kids and the younger one is a coworker's grandson. She had planned to go with us, but she's been having a real bad week and isn't getting around too good. I'm sure that scene is the reason for the PG-13 rating. I look at it kinda like I looked at the crucifixion in the Jesus movie that I took Dawn to when she wasn't yet 3. There are some things that you want to make an indelible impression. In this case, 3 might be a bit young, but at 6 it can be an opportunity to explain the significance of the event, and the emotional impact of it is likely to stick with them.
I think you're very right about that......just thought I'd give you a heads up about the scene for any little ones. If you liked the Chronicles, I think you'll really like the movie. No movie is perfectly like a book its based on, but I give this one a 10 for putting in the important essence of the book that CS Lewis gave us.