Mornin' folkses... [sip]
United 93 is a really important film, and it is done just right. There's not much guessing about facts not in evidence, though there is some it is all very reasonable supposition that doesn't change the basic story.
I don't think I'd take children under 10 or 12, but it would depend on their level of sophistication, and I think Corin hits it quite right. It's not that there's any excessive violence or language. It's more about "getting it" as a true event with a huge emotional part in our recent history.
I don't recall whether there's any rough language. There is violence and blood of course. It's pretty soft by movie standards but it is intense and emotionally charged. The intensity comes from the reality of it all. It doesn't seem like a movie. It seems like you are just a fly on the wall finally seeing the inside workings of a very important day.
There's an interesting angle... if it was "just a movie" --- a fiction story that had been released without 9/11 ever happening... It wouldn't likely be a very good movie at all. It's choppy, confused, and singularly unsatisfying from a "good guys win" point of view. It made me righteously angry and proud them all over again. Those passengers fought the first battle of 9/11 and summoned inexpressible courage. But everybody still dies.
One risk is that kids might not be all that impressed at the "movieness" of the action. The last thing you'd want is for kids to be any kind of distruption. They're going to have questions-- good questions-- during the progress of the event. I think I'd show it to them on DVD when they're able to "get it" as a true story. It's a tough call.
My .02 without much coffee yet. :-)
Good advice.
I think they could handle it, already knowing so much about it and seriousness of the event. But sitting at home watching it in the privacy of our living room sounds like the best idea. That way we could pause and discuss as needed.
I feel the same way about the Passion...I think Matthew is old enough to see the toned-down version. But again, in our living room, with us both sitting nearby. He's a Christian, and almost 11 years old.
I imagine we'll address the Holocaust the same way...although he's already studied it in History.