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Donkey X (PG)

common sense media says

Those unfamiliar with Don Quixote might get lost.

parents & educators say
  • 100% say sexual content is an issue
  • 67% say language is an issue
See all 3 reviews | Review it

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that viewers who are unfamiliar with the Don Quixote story may find themselves lost or baffled by the plot at first. Though Don Quixote makes a noble, if loony, effort to be a valiant knight, many characters he meets are sinister and scheming. Moreover, most of the females are portrayed as buxom hags who nag. Lots of swords clashing and teeth gnashing, but nothing scary or gory.

Educational value: Based on Miguel de Cervantes's book, Don Quixote, DONKEY X is meant to be the next adventures of the errant knight through the eyes of a donkey. Viewers may be inspired to read the book if they have not already been introduced to it.
Positive messages: The noble quest of a knight is to save ladies in distress, conquer evil, right wrongs, etc. Don Quixote, however, is insane, so he does not always make the best choices. Conversely, women are not portrayed as being noble. They are generally presented as harpies and nags. There are some crude bodily sounds and an image of a horse peeing in the grass.
Positive role models: Brave, courageous, insane -- Don Quixote is all of these things. He's also lucky, which allows him to achieve his quest, even though he lacks intelligence.
Violence & scariness: Swordplay is this movie's mainstay -- after all, what else should a knight errant be doing? But no gore, no death. Some horse-on-horse violence, with poor Rucio hung by his hooves in a stall and left to burn. He escapes and is fine, though.
Sexy stuff: Considering the target audience, the amount of cleavage shown is over the top, especially when a character grasps her ample bosom and screams, "This is a real woman!" A steed claims to be a mare, feigning a fay accent and dressing in drag until he is found out by Rucio.
Language: Two instances of the word "damn." Some direct language, like "cut the crap," "beat them, whip them, drag them."
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: A page pours wine for the Duke and Duchess.
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More on Donkey X

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
  • Families can talk about the book on which this movie is based. Who was Don Quixote supposed to be a caricature of? Have we lost touch with the knightly precepts in this day and age? What does the word honor mean to you?
  • The women in this movie are portrayed as nagging or demanding. Why do you think that is?
  • Families may be inspired to read the book together after viewing the movie.

What's the story?

What's the story?
In the town of La Mancha lives a crazy loon named Don Quixote (voiced by Steve Salazar). He is at odds with his friend Sancho (James Phillips) after having had many adventures together. Sancho's donkey, Rucio (Joe Lewis), wants to get the adventures going again so that he can prove that he is no mere beast of burden. With the urging of a jealous bad guy, the two old friends decide to get back on their horses (or donkey, in the case of Sancho's beast Rucio) and chase the dream of finding Don Quixote's true love, Dulcinea. With the help of Rucio, Don Quixote finds himself fighting for the lady's honor. But whether or not he finds her is for the viewer to discover.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 

This is a noble effort to revive the legendary story of Don Quixote. However, the target viewers may find this tale too complicated to follow. The movie follows the format of the book, with chapter titles announcing parts of the journey. Yet the concepts of courtly love, justice versus law, and showing the world "how to live an exceptional life" are topics rather above the heads of most kids under ten.

However, this is an excellent example of CGI animation, with sensuous night skies and fine facial expressions illustrating the character's emotions. Fans of Cervantes can enjoy following the antics of the misfit Quixote and his loyal pal, Sancho. Moreover, the animal's-eye-view of the misadventure allows for some cartoonish fun. Plus, there's a happy ending that feels right, even if it is a tiny bit lost in translation. Rucio's final statement about living with Don Quixote: "I don't get paid much, but he does understand me."  

Movie themes & details

Movie Details
Studio: Peace Arch Films
Director: Jose Pozo
Cast: James Phillips, Joe Lewis, Steve Salazar
Genre: Action/Adventure
Run time: 127 minutes
DVD release: August 11, 2009
MPAA Rating: PG
This review was written by Joly Herman
 
 

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What parents & educators say

9
Based on 3 parent & educator reviews:
  • 100% say sexual content is an issue
  • 67% say language is an issue
  • 33% say there's too much drinking, drugs, or smoking
Read the reviews

Most useful reviews by all members

Jadesfable
adult
8
 
Fair movie
I know another reviewer said the horses head was shaped like a penis, but i didn't notice at all. I did notice a couple damns. some of the cleavage was way heavy, but very breif. before you say this is a evil movie, it might help if you knew this is a english movie, it doesnt make it any better, but this was a good movie. and is bieng bashed a lil much.
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hex2010
parent of 8 and 10 year old
10
 
Do do children need to see massive cleavage and even a woman grab and squeeze her own jiggling breasts?!? Must the horses head be shaped like a penis. Think that's unintentional? Wrong! Don't let you little ones watch this garbage. Fyi, I'm a dad.
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subtle
adult
8
 
inapropreate
i rented this for my daughter. while watching it with her, i had a really hard time enjoying it as much as the little one was. between the crappy animation and plot layout, it was just boring and really horribly made. but i decided to sit through it with my 6 year old. and about half way through, there was a clip that lasted all but 3 seconds or so that had me baffled as to if it was truly a kids movie! a male character glanced over to the woman showing half her breast, then the camera zoomed to a close up of her chest! and that's not all.. the camera then went to the man's face and he was smirking while lifting an eyebrow at the camera.. "as to say look at those" "yow-za!" in my (male 27 years old) opinion, this is totally inappropriate for a child.. even an 8 year old, in which this "film" (i use that term lightly) was intended.. i believe that this is what is wrong with America today.. we desensitize our children, by saying "oh, its just a cartoon" or "how much harm can it really cause?" then we wonder why kids are getting pregnant at 14 years old, or why all little girls "to be cool" have to ware short shorts/skirts and or makeup! call me old fashioned.. PLEASE DO! old fashioned people have morals and values that today's majority does not.. if you have something to say,
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