Parents need to know that this ancient Rome-set action movie includes lots of bloody fighting and several instances in which a child (the film's 12-year-old hero) is threatened. Battle scenes are loud and chaotic, with stabbing, kicking, pushing, and spearing (the boy sees his parents speared and axed). The rough melees use lots of handheld and close-up camerawork to convey turmoil. Other fights include martial arts-style fighting, with kicking, chopping, and apparent bone-breaking. There are a few brief allusions to sexual attraction and desire: Mira and Aurelius gaze at each other's bodies (hers is partly revealed when she rises from a lake in a wet tunic), and they lie in bed together. No real language (one "damn," one "hell") or drinking.
Positive messages:Officials betray their loyal servants; underclass heroes do the "right" thing, though that means protecting the boy who is a symbol of the empire that oppresses them.
Violence:Lots of fighting with swords, axes, knives, catapults, flaming arrows, and spears, as well as some martial arts-style fighting (especially by Mira, who frequently spins, kicks, stabs, and flips opponents). Characters fall, catch on fire, and die on screen. The one-on-one fight scenes feature athletic skills and some loud grunting and thudding; battle scenes show blood, especially on faces and mouths. A 12-year-old boy is repeatedly threatened (chained, held over a cliff, thrown hard onto floors); he later stabs an opponent to death. One figure falls off a cliff. Ambrosinus pulls a mask off of a bloody-faced adversary, then vengefully sets him on fire.
Sex:Some cleavage, especially on warrior maiden Mira; her introduction consists of rising from a lake in a wet tunic, catching the eye of her male traveling partner. Mira and Aurelius are thrown into a sort of embrace, and they both catch their breath. Mira slips into Aurelius' tent and bed at night: They look into each other's eyes, and the scene cuts to the next morning, implying that they had sex.
Language:One "damn," one "hell" (Kingsley tells his longtime enemy to burn there as he sets him on fire).
I wasn't sure I would like this movie, after reading lukewarm reviews... but it was much better than expected! After cringing through the overt sexuality and adult themes (with my 12 year old beside me) and never ending crashes of Transformers, I was delighted at this movie. The story was interesting. The characters were engaging, the acting believeable, and the female warrior Mira was a great role model! On-screen deaths were edited just shy of gory,(i.e.you never SAW the knife strike, as opposed to many other (LOTR) movies, which I loved, but were too violent for my kids) blood was cosmetic, not gushing. The pacing was fast, but not overwhelming.. and the ending was a good (if not unexpected) one. Kids 10 and up would be fine if they were used to movies like "Willow" or "Narnia". I'd like to see it again!
this movie doesnt really have blood like how csm said they are wrong they dont know anything no real violence only one part when a guy gets his finger cut off but the movie is awesome even though sword fighting arrows and stuff there is no blood spurting out only red scrathes or holes they are like that so there is nothing to worry about just watch out for teh finger scene