Henry V
Acceptable with guidance. Age: 13+. A Catholic review of this movie for parents.
Our review
A young king leads a small, tired army into a big battle in France. He gives a brave speech and they win. After the battle, they sing a hymn that gives the glory to God. Branagh makes Shakespeare clear, muddy and moving. Henry grows into a king who carries his men's lives on his conscience and gives the victory to God. Parents should note that two bishops push him to war for selfish reasons, which needs a word of context. The one age is 13, where Lumen and the MPA's PG-13 (for a bloody battle) agree. No Catholic classification or Common Sense age was found. Expect gory sword deaths, bloody bodies including boys, and a hanging. No sex or nudity.
For parents
Best for teens and up. The one age is 13, where Lumen and the MPA's PG-13 agree. No Catholic or Common Sense rating was found. The opening shows two bishops steering the king to war to protect Church lands. Explain that churchmen can sin, and that the Church judges war by strict just-war rules, not by greed. The hanging of Bardolph for looting a church shows Henry choosing justice over old friendship. The battle is muddy and bloody. Ask: is Henry's war just? What does Non nobis, Domine mean, and why do they sing it after winning? What does Henry learn walking among his soldiers at night?