 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
- Review Date: April 11, 2005
- G
- Genre: Action/Adventure
- 1954
Common Sense Media says
A classic action-adventure for older kids.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that some old stereotypes come through in scenes where island natives are portrayed as primitive and brutal. There are no female characters with speaking roles in this film, either. Lots of punching among sailors, and some perilous scenes with a giant squid might frighten younger viewers.
What's the story?
Professor Aronnax boards an American frigate intending to put to rest rumors that an enormous sea creature is destroying ships throughout the South Seas. His efforts are dashed when the vessel is attacked and only he, his apprentice Conseil (Peter Lorre), and hot-tempered harpooner Ned Land (Kirk Douglas) survive. The three find themselves not in the belly of the beast, but onboard the Nautilus, an impressive submarine created by Captain Nemo (James Mason) solely to sink ships bearing weapons of destruction. Blind to the hypocrisy of his acts, Nemo takes Aronnax and company with him on his murderous crusade, but leaves his guests no choice but to escape the Nautilus before its captain takes them all to a watery grave.
Is it any good?
The visionary Jules Verne wrote about submarines and diving suits -- not to mention space travel -- back in the 19th century when it was all just science fiction. Walt Disney, a twentieth-century visionary, had his studio turn Verne's ambitious deep sea tale into the studio's first live-action feature, and the result is one heck of a family adventure movie.
Captain Nemo's pet seal, the run-in with cannibals, and the stormy tussle with a giant squid will have every 10-year-old captivated. Best of all is Nemo's creation, the Nautilus, a beautifully designed submarine with all of the gothic trimmings, including an imposing pipe organ that plays Bach's "Toccata and Fugue in D minor." The sleek metal tub steals the show from human stars James Mason and Kirk Douglas. This 1954 release won Academy Awards for Art Direction and Special Effects.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about how Captain Nemo could have better directed his genius. How does each family member channel his or her intellectual and creative energy?
Talk about some of the old-fashioned stereotypes in this movie. What kinds of stereotypes in today's movies will one day seem old-fashioned?
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AGE
Nice adventure film!
Pretty clean Disney romp!
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AGE
A Magnificent Family Journey...
20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA by Jules Verne is a crowning achievement of imagination. It is a magnificent novel, and a chore to adapt into any movie. However, this 1954 Disney film nails it in every way. This movie is a journey of wonder and amazement, filled with beauties and dangers the silver screen had never seen and will likely never see again. The film is rated G, but that was in the 70s. Know that, if it were rated now, it would be rated PG for violence and thematic elements. Not to say that the film is particularly violent or graphic, but there are several scenes (battle with a giant squid) that are very frightening. A man is shot in the back, and characters are in peril most of the movie. There are tense discussions of revenge and violent acts, and one man speaks of how his wife and children were tortured to death. However, most of this stuff (except for the squid, maybe) will fly over young kids' heads. They will be more interested in the imaginative creatures and spectacular visuals. 20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA is nothing short of a masterpeice, a true whale of a tale, and a journey to take over and over again.
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AGE
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
A Grade-A classic for the whole family.
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AGE
Likeable
It didn't turn out perfectly, of course. (Why'd they make Kirk Douglass sing?) It's relatively fun, though.
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AGE
the freaky narwhale
its amazing movie ithink its realy story
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| Topics: | adventures, book characters, ocean creatures |
| Studio: | Walt Disney Pictures |
| Director: | Richard Fleischer |
| Cast: | James Mason, Kirk Douglas, Paul Lukas |
| Genre: | Action/Adventure |
| Run time: | 127 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | December 23, 1954 |
| DVD release date: | December 15, 2010 |
| MPAA rating: | G |
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