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All the Pretty Horses

(2000, Rated PG-13, Drama, Starring Penélope Cruz, Matt Damon, Sam Shepard)

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 13, age appropriate for kids over 15; suggested age 13.

  • Is it any good?

    3.0

  • Common Sense says

    Adequate but disappointing book adaptation.

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 13–15

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    After Alejandra sleeps with Cole, she loses her family's love.

  • Violence:

    Cole must fight in order to stay alive in prison. Both he and Rawlins get beat up, and Cole ends up stabbing a man to death. A main character dragged away and executed (offscreen). Some gunfighting. Some prison brawling.

  • Sex:

    Cole and Alejandra kiss and swim naked (we only see shoulders). Later, we see them in bed together.

  • Language:

    Frequent course language used in conversation, but no extreme expletives.

  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Not an issue.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About All the Pretty Horses

Parents need to know that a main character is dragged away and shot while his friends wait and listen. There is some prison brawling. After Alejandra sleeps with Cole, she loses her family's love. Frequent coarse language is used in conversation, but no extreme expletives. Cole lies to Rocha about riding into Mexico with Blevins and pursues a secret affair with his daughter. Cole and Alejandra kiss and swim naked (viewers only see shoulders). Later, we see them in bed together. Cole must fight in order to stay alive in prison. Both he and Rawlins get beat up, and Cole ends up stabbing a man to death. There is some gunfighting.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about the violence in the prison. Do you think it was realistic? What do you think the aunt meant when she said that all a woman has is her reputation?
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