What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that violence here includes men killed by swords and arrows, a (briefly shown) crucifixion, and horses fallen in combat. A fiance plots murder against her husband-to-be, and there's a brief hint of royal incest. There's a conflict between Christianity and Islam (with a stalwart Christian-Catholic warrior as the hero), but a message that many Muslims are good guys, and Christians aren't necessarily honorable or correct.
- Families can talk about the conflicts faced by Rodrigo and the wisdom and spirituality behind his choices. Why does he have to support a king unworthy of him? What makes him decide when to take a life or when to show mercy? El Cid is a hero figure in Spain with some of the oldest literature and legends written about him. What hero characters does he resemble in old English and American lore? Also, what other modern-day epic movies can you compare this to? How is it different?