The Sea Beast
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The Sea Beast
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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 The Sea Beast is a thrilling adventure about a young orphan who stows away on a sea-monster-hunting ship and embarks on a journey that could change history. It includes animated action violence and potentially scary images of enormous sea monsters attacking ships and causing destruction. Monster hunters attack and kill the giant creatures with a variety of weapons (spears, cannons, etc.). Chaos and fighting lead to a child getting seriously injured, and a little blood is briefly shown. There are swashbuckling sword fights and close calls with drowning, an adult points a gun at a child, and a child wields a knife. Adult characters drink, and language includes "bloody hell" and "ass." The story shows the power of young people's standing up for others and making a big difference, as well as teamwork, integrity, and looking past the surface of a situation. And the film boasts a diverse cast, including a young, strong female character who's kind, optimistic, and brave.
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What's the Story?
In THE SEA BEAST, sea monsters have been nearly eradicated from the shores of the kingdom of Three Bridges, thanks to the help of the brave monster hunters. But there's one beast that continues to evade them: the Red Bluster. Captain Crow (voiced by Jared Harris) of the Inevitable is consumed by vengeance and wants to kill the beast that took his eye. He strikes a deal with the king and queen, who've built their own ship and threaten to fire the hunters if they aren't able to bring in the Red Bluster after one last try. When the hunters head back out to sea, they realize they have a stowaway: a young orphan named Maisie (Zaris-Angel Hator), whose parents died on a monster-hunting ship. She, too, wants to be a hunter and learn from the best aboard the Inevitable. But along the way, she begins to discover that what she thought she always knew may not be as it seems. She befriends Jacob (Karl Urban), the future captain of the Inevitable, who's brave and quick on his feet. As the exciting story unfolds, the pair learn that there's sometimes more to things than meets the eye.
Is It Any Good?
Anyone who loves a good swashbuckling adventure will delight in this beautifully animated tale. The Sea Beast takes a familiar story about chasing down monsters and gives it a real punch, with messages about heroes not always meeting expectations, the complicated nature of war and peace, the subjectivity of history, and other seemingly heavy themes. All are seamlessly woven into an inspiring, gripping adventure. It has a little something for everyone: Ship lovers will appreciate the nautical entertainment (including teams hanging from the sides of ships with ropes and tons of cannons firing), but there's also some humor and a particularly cute character thrown in for those who need an alternative to the larger, sometimes scary beasts.
It's also refreshing to see a diverse cast throughout the film, both aboard the ship and in town, rather than just in the background. If you pay attention, you'll notice that crew members wear attire from various cultural backgrounds, and there are many degrees of skin tones and hair texture, which all comes through clearly thanks to the movie's outstanding animation. Though the plot does feel a bit trite at times, the setting gives it fresh life, along with the somewhat haunting message about the dangers of blindly trusting history told by those in charge. It gives audiences a lot to think about and a lot to discuss after it's over.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how books, movies, and other media influence our history. How do you think the stories we consume today can shape the future?
Maisie and Jacob say that you can be a hero and still be wrong. What do you think that means? How might some heroes in our own history have been wrong in some ways?
Which characters in the movie do you consider role models? Why? How do the female characters in The Sea Beast compare to girls and women in other kids' movies?
How do the characters in The Sea Beast demonstrate integrity and perseverance? What about courage and teamwork? Why are these important character strengths?
What similarities do you see between the hunters in The Sea Beast and real-world whale hunters? What do you think the movie might be saying about animal conservation?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming: July 8, 2022
- Cast: Karl Urban, Zaris-Angel Hator, Jared Harris, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Dan Stevens
- Director: Chris Williams
- Studio: Netflix
- Genre: Family and Kids
- Topics: Adventures, Friendship, Great Girl Role Models, Monsters, Ghosts, and Vampires, Ocean Creatures
- Character Strengths: Courage, Integrity, Perseverance, Teamwork
- Run time: 115 minutes
- MPAA rating: PG
- MPAA explanation: action, violence and some language
- Award: Common Sense Selection
- Last updated: June 29, 2022
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