 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
The Last Unicorn
- Review Date: July 20, 2005
- G
- Genre: Family and Kids
- 1982
Common Sense Media says
Dated cartoon may prove difficult to sit through.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this movie is best suited for mature kids approaching double digits in age. There's a proliferation of borderline profanity (including several utterances of 'hell', 'damn' and non-religious references to God), a frequent amount of mortal threats ("I'll kill you!" and the like) and two fairly graphic death scenes, which may make quite an impact on the younger children.
What's the story?
The last of the mythological unicorns is prompted by a wise butterfly to seek the rest of her species. She is taken captive by an evil witch, but soon she bands together with a magician and his gypsy wife who see her through her quest.
Is it any good?
Nearly 25 years after its initial public release, THE LAST UNICORN struggles to keep up with its contemporaries in the world of animated-motion pictures. The seamless blending of movement, scenery, and sound typified by today's animated production is still decades away from this one. There are very few special effects, and even the music and songs sound like throwbacks to the 70's -- which isn't surprising considering the film's 1982 release. Worse, the movie's plot isn't strong enough to surmount its audio/visual deficiencies. What UNICORN gives up in terms of its look and feel, it barely makes up for with a circuitous storyline that naps in the wrong places. The basic structure is cute enough. Unfortunately, the abundance of untimely singing numbers and unexplained non-sequiturs quickly lose whatever pace the story has, as it takes a windy, round-about route (that's not necessarily fun) to rescue the unicorns.
Comic relief is provided in the form of Schnemndrick, whose amateur spells switch our unicorn (who remains nameless for the movie's duration) into a lady of nobility to help her elude the fearsome Red Bull, who's also otherwise unnamed. Throw in your typical lovelorn prince, an evil king, and a number of cameos from talking cats to skeletons, and you've got all the makings of a formulaic fairy tale. But with a ready supply of violence (including one fairly graphic scene of a harpy literally eating a witch) and a surprising cache of B-list "bad" words, THE LAST UNICORN may be better off left in the 80s.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about how the threatened and actual violence depicted in the film is fantasy and shouldn't be confused with everyday existence. Also, it may be pertinent to explain why the Unicorn leaves her newfound love at the movie's conclusion, despite the latter's proclamation of his undying faith.
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AGE
Beautiful animation
A bit scary for young ones but a great fantasy story...Lots to talk about: mythical creatures, not judging by appearances, believing in yourself...
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AGE
Not a movie for kids at all!
This is one of the worst movies I have ever seen. My children also thought so. There is a scene were a magician turns a tree into a woman's form and her giant boobs are smothering him-- my 5 year old son and 9 year old daughter thought it was really weird as did I. Then a harpy-- a vicious hawk-like bird with two sets of dangling human-looking boobs is seen killing and presumably eating an old witch. A prince falls in love with a woman (a unicorn) and for the life of us we cannot figure out why except that she is beautiful-- she is sad and mopey and complains the whole time. I have read other sites and this movie has a cult following and is admitted by these people that it is not a film for kids and should not be marketed as such. There is also a very scary giant menacing bull that gave my kids nightmares. We watched it because a trusted friend with kids the same age said her kids loved it, but then she admitted that she had never watched it with them. I found nothing redeeming about this movie at all.
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AGE
Cute movie...
Another movie I used to love as a kid, it made me cry, but I still loved it! I would watch it over & over again, always singing along to the songs :)
It is a bit violent, & sure there are a couple 'scarry' looking creatures...But the only age group that should scare, is under 4years old...If it scares any older kids-than they're babied...Please don't take that the wrong way parents...
There is NO bad language at all, mild violence, & a little bit of magic, but it's a cartoon! You never see anyone actually die, that old witch, the harpy decends upon her, but you never see her die {sure it's implied & that's what happens, but still}
Overall i think it's a decent movie for all ages :) When I was little, I got scarred easily, this did not scare me at all! ^_^
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AGE
Watch this one with your kids--I love it!
I first watched this movie with my own kids, back in the 80s. One of my children--the youngest--did have some issues with it. He always was very sensitive to visual stimulus. There are several truly good messages embedded in it: helping others, believing in others and yourself, fighting for what's right. I also love the animation. It is not Walt Disney. It is beautiful in my opinion, even if it seems dated to some. I introduced my grandson to it last winter just after his 3rd birthday but I stayed with him and watched his reaction, prepared to turn it off if need be. He was quite taken with it and at the end, he shouted "She's fighting back" joyfully as the unicorn turns to face the red bull. He asked to see it again and again for about a month. This movie is not a simple story and takes aim at some pretty deep issues: death, love, regret, identity, facing fear. I think it will be revisited from time to time--I own the DVD, so we can do that, but only if he asks for it. I recommend this film so long as you stay in the room while the child is watching and pay attention to their reactions, be ready to talk about it if the child needs or wants to.
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AGE
OH MY GOD i loved this movie. I know this movie is for children but i am 43 years old and I STILL love this movie. The epic struggle between the unicorn and his enemies is entertaining and inspiring. It teaches everyone how to never give up and that those pure in heart will succeed over evil. This movie is perfect for everyone no matter what age!
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AGE
my kids like it!
my kids love this movie - they are very young, and some parents might night want their young kids to see it because the movie can be a little scary.
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AGE
Beautiful film that kids of today can still love
I don't know why CSM labels this "dated." Probably because of the animation style. I loved it as a child, and the children who have watched my copy of it since I became an adult have absolutely loved it as well, particularly the girls. It does have some very scary scenes, and adult language at times; the author of the book, which is geared toward young adults, wrote the screenplay. 7 or 8 minimum age depending on your child's sensitivity to scary scenes.
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AGE
Along with Yo Gabba Gabba, this is one of the most ridiculous children's entertainment I have ever seen. Waste of your time.
OH MY GOD. This is such a weird stupid pointless movie. And rated G? Noooo. That's just ridiculous. There is a tree that has breasts and is flirting with the main guy and getting him REEALLY close to her (if you know what I mean)! what the...?! There are many uses of "hell" and "d*mn". The unicorn character doesn't even have a NAME. I would say this is only fun to laugh at with friends at age 12 because of it's ridiculous stupidity. I mean honestly, who would actually LIKE this?! Really, people... with the fantastic Disney and Pixar movies out there, who needs this garbage.
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AGE
Okay, CS, do you even PAY ATTENTION half the time?
Dude, the prince in this movie states the very message this film is getting across near the end. Honestly, you people just don't realize how well-written this movie is, but I guess that's alright. Nor do the vast majority of critics out there. Yes, it gets confusing at times, and perhaps it's a little overwritten, but it's still a beautiful film and one of my personal favorite fantasy movies.
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| Topics: | magic and fantasy, adventures |
| Studio: | Lionsgate |
| Directors: | Arthur Rankin Jr., Jules Bass |
| Cast: | Alan Arkin, Jeff Bridges, Mia Farrow |
| Genre: | Family and Kids |
| Run time: | 93 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | July 20, 1982 |
| DVD release date: | March 16, 2004 |
| MPAA rating: | G |
| MPAA explanation: | all audiences |
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