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Cutthroat Island

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 11, age appropriate for kids over 13; suggested age 11.

  • Is it any good?

    2.0

  • Common Sense says

    Geena Davis brings girl power to the pirate ship.

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 11–13

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    While it's great to see a strong, assertive female in the sort of testosterone-fueled action-hero role, the idea gets lost amidst the pillaging, plundering, and thieving. The bad guys (in addition to a pirate who's a worse outlaw and thief) are generally law-enforcers. One of them enthusiastically joins the pirates. Despite the Jamaican scenery, white people make up most of the cast.

  • Violence:

    Lots of sword fights/stabbings, fiery explosions, gun, and cannon fire. The heroine gets shot in the hip, and bullet is extracted without anesthesia.

  • Sex:

    Heroine gets dressed after sex in opening scene. She spends parts of the film dressed in tight-fitting and/or wet bodices, at one point masquerading as a prostitute. Much spoken sexual innuendo, crotch- and breast-groping, and references to body parts.

  • Language:

    Mostly "hells," and "whore" used to indicate a prostitute.

  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Much drinking, especially by the heroine, and even by her monkey, and she snaps out of it with no ill effect.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Cutthroat Island

Parents need to know that the heroine here behaves every bit the way a roguish male action-hero would (think of James Bond especially). That means she's not only strong and assertive, resourceful and unyielding in hand-to-hand combat against villains, but also sexually active, non-monogamous, and able to drink any man under the table. She also gets bloodied quite a bit in fights (but recovers pretty quickly). At one point she disguises herself as a cleavage-baring prostitute.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about the gender-switch in the character of Morgan. Do you think this swaggering pirate woman makes an effective heroine or not? If much the movie had been done with a male lead instead (picture a favorite like Jackie Chan or Tom Cruise) how would that have changed the storyline? Would audiences have accepted the movie more? You could discuss sexual equality (and double standards) in real-life situations, such as jobs and sports, and even the few historical records of actual lady pirates.
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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Adult Reviewer
    Voiceofthekids
    Lives in Arizona
    I rate this title iffy for age 11 and give it 3.0

    I agree with Mr.reviewbelowme

    I think that this movie was a total suck up to pirates of the caribian, quite a few changes though, enough so nothing copyright was an issue. lots of se><..type things and kissing, not recomended. but just becasue the movie sucks.

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate
  2. Adult Reviewer
    jasonfl86
    Lives in Florida
    I rate this title on for age 17 and give it 5.0

    cutthroat island for red necks

    All i can really say about this movie is that jeff foxworthy must have had his friends ron white and larry the cable guy write, edit act in and produce this movie

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate

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