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The Librarian: Return to King Solomon's Mines (NR, 2006)

common sense media says

Adventures of nerdy hero find a fun, if rough, groove.

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What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this enjoyable addition to the Librarian series does contain a decent amount of gun violence. A torture scene where family members are made to watch the abuse is disturbing. Nevertheless, the humorous characters and their escapades will keep audiences engaged.

Positive messages: Flynn's adventures bring him in touch with people of many cultures, but the ethnic identities are sometimes stereotyped. People of Arab decent are portrayed as bad guys in this film. Religious stories surrounding the King Solomon tale are displayed as truth, rather than myth.
Violence: Bad guys carry guns and shoot them profusely. Torture scenes include a man being beaten and his family brought in to view his suffering. Lots of punching, bashing over the head with objects, bloody noses. Bad guys get thrown into boiling lava. Flynn uses sword and staff to fight. Some scary visuals of ghosts.
Sex: Emily is shown in seductive clothing, in seductive poses. She and Flynn kiss and then sleep together, though the latter is implied because Flynn wakes up half-naked in her bed, where she lies half-covered in sheets.
Language: Language pertaining to violence and torture can be intense for sensitive viewers.
Consumerism: Judson mentions that he bought an arrowhead on Ebay.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Flynn and Uncle Jerry drink hard alcohol during Flynn's birthday party. They drink spirits again on a train in Africa. This time Emily joins them and gets so drunk that she has to leave. Then she sleeps with Flynn.
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More on The Librarian: Return to King Solomon's Mines

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
Families can talk about how we view people of other races and cultures. Are there negative associations that you hold against people of a certain background? Who or what taught you to think this way? Which characters in this movie are good guys? What makes them good? Who are the bad guys? Why are they bad?

What's the story?

What's the story?
Flynn Carson (Noah Wylie) is back in part two of the flashy Librarian series. This time he is a little more accustomed to his role as guardian and seeker of secrets for the Museum. When he is asked by his boss, Judson (Bob Newhart), to seek out the map to King Solomon's Mines, he unravels a personal mystery that involves his own father, while engaging in an epic adventure. He meets an intellectual equal named Emily (Gabrielle Anwar), who holds more degrees and knows just as much about ancient artifacts and languages as Flynn does. Their repartee leads them to a deeper respect for each other that brings them into the beginning of a relationship. As they travel through Africa, they make unexpected friends and discover hidden enemies while they attempt to uncover the secret of King Solomon's Mines.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 

More fluid and entertaining than the first Librarian effort, Quest for the Spear, THE LIBRARIAN: RETURN TO KING SOLOMON'S MINES features more developed characters and more believable location shots. Though the violence is a tad excessive considering the target age, there is more intrigue in this film than the last.

Moreover, Flynn's female foil, Emily, is as intelligent, bright, and witty as he is. Their banter is amusing in the tradition of Hans Solo and Princess Leia -- they irritate each other as they vie for dominance in the relationship. This is important to the series, as Flynn is the ultimate know-it-all, who has finally met his match. Jonathon Frakes (of Star Trek: The Next Generation fame) directs the film with a light touch. It doesn't try so hard to be another Raiders of the Lost Ark, though some scenes in the bowels of the mines will no doubt ring some bells. Finally, Flynn has found his groove, and the humble caretakers of the written word are once more exalted.

Movie themes & details

Movie Details
Studio: Turner Entertainment
Director: Jonathan Frakes
Cast: Bob Newhart, Gabrielle Anwar, Noah Wyle
Genre: Action/Adventure
Run time: 93 minutes
Theatrical release: December 6, 2006
DVD release: December 19, 2006
MPAA Rating: NR
This review was written by Joly Herman
 
 

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