King Solomon's Mines (1985)
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King Solomon's Mines (1985)
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this movie.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that King Solomon's Mines is one of five remakes of the 1885 novel about exploring as-of-yet-unknown parts of Africa. It clearly spoofs the Indiana Jones franchise that was popular at the time, and as such, it's a nonstop send-up of tribal warfare, colonialism, Nazis, cannibalism, archaeology, and explosions. Though most of the violence leans more toward the cartoonish than the explicit, it's still a relentless gauntlet of guns and knives and occasional bloodshed that's unlikely to appeal to young audiences.
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What's the Story?
When Jesse (Sharon Stone) hires Allen Quatermain (Richard Chamberlain) to help rescue her kidnapped father, the task seems straightforward enough. But first they'll have to conquer cannibals, Nazis, tribespeople, and competing explorers looking to locate the mysterious King Solomon mines and its long-rumored fortune.
Is It Any Good?
All the elements are here for a big, over-the-top action/adventure with a historical angle, but somehow this feature falls flat. The relentless violence and the second-rate imitation of the popular Indiana Jones movies means it has all the action but none of the charm or wit. It takes a certain knowledge of these actors and the works they draw from to appreciate the jokes here, and in between there's just too much of a hodgepodge of the genre to feel it's distinguishing itself in any way. Parents of a certain age may appreciate seeing Sharon Stone in an early, pre-fame role or Richard Chamberlain on the way out, and for those inclined, there is certainly some interesting potential discussion here of colonialism and racism in the "lost world" literary genre in which the original novel trafficed, but there's not much to hook young audiences.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the film's portrayal of natives in the film. Have you seen other films that portray natives this way? What do you think it says about the protagonist's view of other cultures? Does the film seem to respect the culture it portrays? Why, or why not?
How does the film's sustained violence compare to violence in films today?
Can you imagine a film like this being made today? Why, or why not?
Movie Details
- In theaters: September 9, 1985
- On DVD or streaming: February 3, 2004
- Cast: Sharon Stone, Richard Chamberlain
- Director: J. Lee Thompson
- Studio: MGM/UA
- Genre: Action/Adventure
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy, Adventures, Book Characters
- Run time: 100 minutes
- MPAA rating: PG-13
- Last updated: May 7, 2022
Our Editors Recommend
-
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
More gore, gross-outs than the other Indy blockbusters.
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Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark
Indy's first raucous adventure has peril, stereotypes.
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The Mummy (1999)
Above-average action-adventure with lots of violence.
For kids who love adventure
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