We saw the movie in 3D, which I highly reccommend if you are going to see it. The effects were great! I flinched more than a few times as things came flying "off the screen" at me.
The characters are real and loveable and I found myself connecting to them well before the end of the movie.
This is definitely NOT a young children's movie. I enjoyed it as an adult, but I think a young child would be scared by some of the intense war scenes and violence and loudness. There's no real sexuality or profanity, so from that standpoint it was child-appropriate.
I highly recommend this movie- best one I've seen in a long time!! Definitely see it in 3d!!