 | 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. |
Mighty Joe Young (1998)
- Review Date: September 30, 2005
- PG
- Genre: Drama
- 1998
Common Sense Media says
Successful remake is thrilling family fun.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that a poacher kills Joe's mom (a gorilla) and Jill's mom (a primate specialist) in the traumatic opening scene. Joe crushes a bystander's leg and kills his attacker by throwing him against some power lines. In the climactic sequence, a child is barely rescued from a burning Ferris wheel. The movie addresses the subjects of endangered animals and poaching.
What's the story?
Jill Young (Charlize Theron) makes a promise to her dying mom: she will protect Joe, an infant gorilla. This turns out to be a tricky promise to keep when Joe grows to astounding proportions, making him the target of wildlife poachers everywhere. When zoologist Gregg O'Hara (Bill Paxton) offers Joe sanctuary at a Los Angeles preserve, Jill packs up her 2000 pound gorilla and heads for Hollywood. Just as she and Joe are warming up to life in California, trouble hits. The poacher who orphaned them both 12 years earlier comes back to finish the job. Joe escapes through downtown Los Angeles and faces off with the evil Strasser at an amusement park.
Is it any good?
Animal lovers will be charmed by Joe, a giant but gentle gorilla. In an attempt to show how endangered some species really are, MIGHTY JOE YOUNG includes a couple of hard-hitting sequences, but it remains thrilling family fun. There are times when you just have to shake your head at Hollywood's desire to remake a classic. This is not one of those times. The 1949 RKO version of Mighty Joe Young is a tired monster film of the ape-runs-amuck variety that tried (unsuccessfully) to cash in on the popularity of King Kong. In contrast, this Disney version has plenty to offer a young audience. With a nod to the more adult Gorillas in the Mist, the movie centers on the daughter of a Dian Fossey-like primatologist. As Jill follows in her mom's footsteps, this environmentally-friendly story provides serious food for thought. It also provides plenty of comic relief.
Joe is more Curious George than King Kong. His favorite pastime is hide and seek, yet he doesn't seem to realize that at 15 feet tall, he is a bit too big to hide behind a bush. Joe is a feat of technical wizardry; he's so life-like that it's hard to believe he's a composite of animatronic and digital effects. Children will warm to him, especially since Joe is particularly sweet to kids. They will also enjoy Theron's and Paxton's engaging performances, and applaud (as an 8 year-old viewer did) when this couple inevitably gets together. If the climactic sequence is too intense for small children, it certainly ends happily. Mighty Joe Young turns out to be a heart-warming experience with an environmental message.
Explore, discuss, enjoy
Families can talk about whether this film, which is a remake of a 1949 monster movie, is also a monster flick. Is Joe a monster? Or is he simply ill-treated and misunderstood? Are there other so-called movie monsters that might fall into that category? What about Frankenstein? What message, if any, do you think the movie makers were trying to get across? Do monster movies often have messages?
- Show:
- All members
- Parents
- Teens & kids
Teen, 13 years old
April 9, 2008
AGE
this movie has many different emotions
Was this review useful?
|
|
Parent of 12 year old
April 9, 2008
AGE
Inventive and Thrilling Family Film Garunteed to Please!
MIGHTY JOE YOUNG tells the story of the title character, an abnormally large gorilla who is studied by Dr. Ruth Young and her young daughter Jill in the African wilderness. But one night, poachers invade and kill Ruth, who they can't make out in the darkness. But instead of helping her, they run, but not after Joe (the gorilla) bites off the leader's pointer finger (off-screen). Jill grows up protecting Joe. She moves him to the city, for safety reasons, with conservatist Gregg O'Hara. Jill becomes infatuated with Gregg as the poachers who killed Ruth draw near.
Violence is the biggest issue in this family film. Poachers kill illegally, and tenseness is everywhere. Language is mild, with one or two "d**ns" and one "burn in hell". There is no sex.
This is fun film garunteed to enjoy. Everyone will love it, but it might be too tense and scary for youngsters.
Highly recommended.
Was this review useful?
|
|
Teen, 14 years old
September 22, 2010
AGE
Don't see it if you're a sensitive little kid like I was.
I saw this movie when I was 8 and it gave me nightmares that my dad turned into a gorilla and killed my grandma.
What other families should know:
Was this review useful?
|
|
Teen, 17 years old
July 10, 2009
AGE
For every won over 9 or 8.
I think 9 is a good age because the gorilla might seem scary to people. There is a good message which in for a gorilla saves a child.
What other families should know:
Was this review useful?
|
|
Parent of 17 year old
October 18, 2009
AGE
to vilont.... but good
the movie is good. it has good messages but way to much vilonce shown on screen such as: people and animals being shot and killed, and people being trampled by a huge gorilla. i say on for nine but off for anyone under the age of nine.
What other families should know:
Was this review useful?
|
|
Teen, 16 years old
January 9, 2013
AGE
Way better portrayal of gorillas than King Kong!
If you haven't seen this movie, you should. It is awesome for Disney to do this. Even though it is a good flick, it is not for very young kids. Jill and Greg obviously share a romantic relationship, but there is no kissing. I actually like its anti-poaching and endangered animal protecting message.
What other families should know:
Was this review useful?
|
|
Kid, 10 years old
January 12, 2013
AGE
4 stars
The end made me tear up.
What other families should know:
Was this review useful?
|
|
| Topics: | wild animals |
| Studio: | Walt Disney Pictures |
| Director: | Ron Underwood |
| Cast: | Bill Paxton, Charlize Theron, Regina King |
| Genre: | Drama |
| Run time: | 116 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | December 25, 1998 |
| DVD release date: | March 23, 1999 |
| MPAA rating: | PG |
| MPAA explanation: | some menacing action violence and mild language |
Review It
Great alternatives handpicked by our editors
More from Common Sense Media
Top advice and articles
