The Scorpion King (PG-13)

On the silly popcorn scale, it works pretty well.

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Common Sense rates it
3
Seen the movie? Review it
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Movie details
  • Studio: Universal Pictures
  • Directed By: Chuck Russell
  • Cast: Michael Clarke Duncan, Dwayne `The Rock` Johnson
  • Running Time: 92 minutes
  • Release Date: 04/19/2002
  • Video/DVD Release Date: 10/01/2002
  • Genre: Action/adventure
  • MPAA Rating: PG-13
  • MPAA Explanation: violence and sexual situations

Parents need to know

Parents need to know that this movie has a lot of action violence, meaning that it is not too graphic or gory. There are some vivid images, including attacking cobras, an impaled body, and a dead child. And there are very vivid sound effects making on- and off-screen violence more explicit with spurting and squishing sounds. There are sexual references and non-explicit sexual situations, including two women in a man's bed. There are no four-letter words, but there are some strong epithets.

Families can talk about Memnon's claim that order was better than freedom. They may also want to talk about how the sorceress protected herself from Memnon.

Message

Social Behavior:

Strong black character

Consumerism:

Drugs/Alcohol/Tobacco:

None

Violence

Action violence, impaled bodies, child in peril, snakes, fire, swords

Sex

Non-explicit sexual situations, including two women in bed with a man

Language

No profanity but strong language

Common Sense says

What's the story?

Reviewed by Nell Minow

Some very scary looking guys are about to kill a guy who would be even scarier-looking if he wasn't tied up. But then everyone steps back in awe of a guy who steps in looking scariest of all and as they hesitate, he cocks an eyebrow and says simply, "Boo." That is the Rock (WWF star Dwayne Johnson) and he plays Mathayus, the title role, in this prequel to the Mummy movies, giving us the background of the character who appeared briefly but memorably in the second one as half-man, half very large bug. In THE SCORPION KING, Mathayus and two others are hired by local tribes to kill the evil tyrant Memnon (Steven Brand).

Is it any good?

3
The Scorpion King doesn’t pretend to having anything like the wit and charm of the Mummy movies, which were a loving tribute to Saturday morning serials. But it works pretty well, largely due to its star. The Rock has genuine screen presence. He even manages most of the material better than Michael Clarke Duncan who is just too much of an actor to deliver the cheesy dialogue with the right mix of sincerity and irony, and Peter Facinelli, whose thin-voiced delivery doesn't convey the necessary petulant malevolence.

There is one innovation worth mentioning. In action movies, the hero is almost always stoic, even when he gets hurt. Think of Rambo sewing up his own wounds. But the Rock, carrying over the conventions of professional wrestling, grimaces in pain when he gets hurt. It doesn't rise to the level of acting, but in a funny way I think that it adds some heart to the story.

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Parents and kids say

All Reviews

There are 3 reviews.

5


Posted on 11/03/07 by trojan51 Adult contributor
5


Posted on 07/01/07 by the phantom Kid contributor, age 12
2

Posted on 06/09/03 by Anonymous Adult contributor

Good Fantasy Adventure

Good teen movie.

Adult Reviews

There are 2 reviews.

5


Posted on 11/03/07 by trojan51 Adult contributor
2

Posted on 06/09/03 by Anonymous Adult contributor

Good Fantasy Adventure

Good teen movie.

Kids Reviews

There are 1 reviews.

5


Posted on 07/01/07 by the phantom Kid contributor, age 12
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