Romancing the Stone (PG, 1984)
common sense media says
Well-written romance/adventure is tons of fun.
parents & educators say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that kids will see violence, profanity, sexual situations, and stereotypical depictions of and references to Latinos in this otherwise well-written adventure movie. The baddest of the bad guys has his hand bitten off by a crocodile, which is then completely devoured (off-screen) by a pit full of crocodiles. There's also a fair bit of swearing, a couple of stabbings, and gun fights. Breasts are visible through a wet cotton top, and there's plenty of sexual innuendo. The two leads end up together in bed, though there's no nudity. Latinos are the swarthy, nasty bad guys. The term "Spico" is used by one character to describe Latin Americans.
Positive role models:
The lead characters are definitely flawed -- Jack is a scoundrel with a shady past, and Joan is idealistic and overly cautious -- but they eventually bring out the best in each other.
Violence:
A couple of stabbings and plenty of gun fights. The baddest of the bad guys has his hand bitten off by a crocodile, which is then completely devoured (off-screen) by a pit full of crocodiles. Frequent danger and peril.
Sex:
Breasts are visible through a wet cotton top. A good deal of sexual innuendo -- like a man's face landing in a woman's lap. The two leads end up together in bed with implied nudity, though sensitive parts are strategically covered.
Language:
Plentiful use of words like "god," "bastards," and "bitch." The term "Spico" is used by one character to describe Latin Americans.
Consumerism:
Not applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
Burning marijuana to keep warm, jokes about smoking pot back in college. Some drinking.
More on Romancing the Stone
Review It
Most useful reviews by all members
M2
parent of 13 year old
parent of 13 year old
Some younger children--especially if they have trouble sleeping at night anyway--may be bothered by the stabbing scenes.
My kids, 11 and 8, liked it, but the younger one was bothered by the scenes of stabbing. They loved it when the two main characters were caught in a mudslide.
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movie dude
kid, 12 years old
kid, 12 years old
...........really........
Blah. Stupid. Should have been pg-13. They say the f bomb. Dumb movie dont bother watchin it.
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moviemonkey
kid, 12 years old
kid, 12 years old
KNOW YOUR KIDS!
This is another movie where you just have to know your child. I watched this movie when I was 7 or 8. I think some parents would be fine with it, but some parents might not let their kids watch it until they're teenagers. There is a lot of violence including guns and knives. A mans hand gets bitten off by an alligator, and you see the bloody stub. There is frequent swearing, things like bit** or bastar*, etc. A man and a woman have sex and are completely naked, though none of their parts are shown. Two main characters find pot and get really drunk. The movie definitely has scary moments. It IS inappropriate, so again, just know your kids.
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ananda51
parent of 18 and 27 year old
parent of 18 and 27 year old
Enjoyable but with caveats
The movie is a fun action-romance with comic elements. The pacing might seem slow at times for 2008. My wife and I saw it again with our daughter (age 16), and I enjoyed it, but not as much as the first time (24 years ago).
ISSUES
For the violence, swearing, drinking, pot smoke inhaling, and nudity, I'd give this one a PG-13.
First, there IS nudity, contrary to the main review--not frontal (or from the rear), but the leads lie in bed for quite a while, talking, man on top of woman and they are quite naked.
Second, in one long scene, there is drinking (lots of whiskey) and smoking marijuana (after a fashion), as the leads stay warm by burning bricks of cannabis. They are clearly affected.
Third, as others have noted, the chief bad guy's hand gets chomped off by the crocodile and you see the bloody stump for a while. He's clearly in pain. Later he falls into a pit full of crocodiles (his fate is implied).
A snake gets decapitated (graphic) and a croc is turned into boots (you don't see the process).
In terms of stereotypes, the chief bad guy (competent and cruel) is Latino, but other (more bumbling) bad guys are Anglo, and one very helpful and likable character is Latino. There is a fair amount of Third World local color that can be seen as demeaning (people fight in airports, carry pigs on buses, etc.) and other local color that is neutral or positive, including a colorful festival & dance, The most fleshed out characters are the Anglo leads, and they are attractive but humanized and flawed.
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haddad fan
kid, 12 years old
kid, 12 years old
mature material is rated R. not PG
good but should be R (the 17+ rating). i say it's for 0 and over.
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Karabrodman
parent of 13 and 13 year old
parent of 13 and 13 year old
exciting adventure movie
My two 11 year olds and I watched this movie,.....we loved it! I only fast forwarded thru the one scene after they get to the pay phone and "celebrate" together.
We loved the adventure of Jack and Joan as they go thru the rain forest in search of the treasure.
You should rent this movie for both boys or girls of this age group and older.
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rushi
teen, 14 years old
teen, 14 years old
loved it!
this is a really great movie. I loved the "little pepi" .its just like Indiana Jones, just a little more romantic. theres some swearing, but no REALLY bad words.........so good for 9+ -except maybe the lying in bed part- but you can always skip that right?
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Beatle_jojhn
educator and parent
educator and parent
Shocking amount of 'Lord's Name In Vain' references.
I was shocked of all the 'Lord's name in Vain' language that was used. The term "G*dd*mn" must have been used 50 times by the midpoint of the movie.
Now I am not spouting religion here but it was way too crass and vulgar for us to finish.
Again... a reference here and there, a "f-word" or other, I find ok and can be used as a talking point later if you wish... but when I say 50 times... I am not exaggerating
Go for Indiana Jones instead.
On a technical point......the terrible "tinny" sounding mono audio. It all sounds canned and clearing they did not do sound effects any justice.
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Nebi2000
kid, 11 years old
kid, 11 years old
Best movie of its time!
This is absolutly one of my favorite movies! But, there's violence and sex. In the end, a man gets his hand bitten off by a crocodile, (and you see the bloody stub with the bloody bone sticking out. After they find the phone, my mom fast forwarded through the sex. Plenty of talk of raping and rapists. Plenty of good humor and unforgettable funny lines, so I reccomend this movie to anyone willing to watch it.
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ski123
adult
adult
not very good for kids. Adults may like it.
I watched this movie with my parents because they remember liking it after watching it a while ago. I thought it was kind of pointless and boring. The movie could probably be rated pg-13 because of the language and violence. One man's hand is quite graphically bitten off by a crocodile. Adults may understand the humor, but kids stay away. Spend your money on a different movie at Blockbuster.
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bobbeta30
teen, 16 years old
teen, 16 years old
No way.
I was freaked out when I saw this movie with my at the time 8-year-old brother and my grandparents. I was like OMG what the heck, and I walked over and turned off the TV. When you say there was no nudity, that's a stretch.
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DisneyFan
adult
adult
Fun Action Film--not for young kids
A great, funny, action filled movie--but not for younger kids. In fact, the two main characters do end up in bed together--and you see their naked bodies laying on top of each other "after". I suggest covering eyes during that one part, but aside from that, it is the same kind of action/peril as you get with an Indiana Jones film
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craftygirl202
teen, 17 years old
teen, 17 years old
Iffy, but Alright
My sister was nine when we watched this on Netflix. There were swearing such as s--t, b--ch, and h-ll. Some violence, as gun fights. A man's hand gets bitten by an alligator. My mom told my sister to leave on the inappropriate parts or skipped over them (such as the nudity). Some drinking, but occasional. An eleven year old could watch this if they were mature, and skipped over the nudity.
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homealonefan123
teen, 15 years old
teen, 15 years old
awesome written. but some language
this movie is good but some violence and language. including a scene where jack (Michael Douglas) burns marijuana to warm them up. and a scene of sexual content
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