CAST AS ROLE MODELS:

CHRIS O'DONNELL plays a confidant young man who continues to pursue Agnes despite her (halfhearted) disapproval of a romance between them.

SANDRA BULLOCK plays a devoted nurse who falls for Ernest but then breaks his heart and that of an older doctor who also falls in love with her.

HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE

OUR TAKE: 7 out of 10

This is a sweet and often moving account of Hemingway’s early days both during and immediately after stint time in WWI. In this production, one can certainly see the genesis of his later tough man attitude and behavior and can't help being constantly reminded of his later work, "A Farewell to Arms." While certainly not as tragic as that novel, this movie has its own tragedy in that Hemingway’s boyish qualities were extinguished with a large and heavy bucket of reality. O’Donnell is fun to watch, but early on I had difficulty imagining the old, grizzled man coming from this bundle of self-assured energy. Of course by the end, one discovers and sees the transformation taking place and thus that problem is resolved. Part of the enjoyment of the movie comes from watching O’Donnell and Bullock working together. While both are charismatic actors, his confidant flirtations playing against her blushing reactions make the movie both fun and sweet. Other fronts are well served, from the cinematography that captures the feel of early 20th century Europe, to director Richard Attenborough’s pacing and feel for a wartime romantic story. While not the best account of romance during war captured on film, it’s certainly an enjoyable and at times moving production. We give it a 7 out of 10.

OUR WORD TO PARENTS:

If your kids are mature and old enough to handle some rather bloody scenes and one tame sex scene, this might not be a bad film for them to see. The wounded and dead are quite bloody, however, as are several operating sessions. The sex scene shows a before and after encounter with only a brief glimpse of O’Donnell’s bare butt (afterwards), but there is the sound of people having sex next door to them in a brothel. There’s some drinking and a hint of the beginnings of Hemingway's alcoholism and a mild amount of smoking. Profanity is surprisingly tame (with many war and wounded scenes), but this is mostly a romance film so it’s nice not to have too much. Beyond that, we suggest that you check out the category listings to determine if this film is appropriate for you and your family.

ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE

Ernest drinks from a flask in an Italian trench and then passes it to the soldiers who also drink from it.

Agnes gives Ernest a martini made from "gin and castor oil."

Ernest gets a cleaning lady to buy them liquor and later the men are seen drinking wine and appear to be somewhat drunk.

Wine is consumed at a Caracciolo reception.

Agnes and Henry drink Chianti in a restaurant.

Ernest pours Agnes and himself a drink and he quickly downs his and refills it. It’s somewhat implied that he’s become (or is becoming) an alcoholic.

BLOOD/GORE

Several scenes show war victims who are bloody and have wounds to various parts of their bodies. Some are just bloody, while others show graphic wounds to the body.

Ernest's leg is blood soaked and a medic's needle is inserted into it. Later, his propped up, bloody leg is seen in surgery.

A victim of a phosphorous shell has a burned, scarred face and wounds that ooze through his bandages.

A nurse finds a large pool of blood on the floor next to a badly wounded patient (he's just killed himself -- but we don't see the act).

An operating session has lots of bloody wounded and equal amounts of blood on the doctor’s and nurse’s aprons.

Bodies are seen being buried in mass trench graves.

DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE

Ernest and Henry compete for Agnes’ affections and at times it turns a bit ugly. At one point Ernest says that it must be tough for Henry since the others were wounded while he only "turned yellow" (from jaundice). Ernest then lies about having carnal knowledge of Agnes to upset Henry.

Agnes ends up emotionally hurting both Ernest and Domenico.

FRIGHTENING SCENES

Some of the operating room scenes may be upsetting to younger kids as might the screams from a man who was burned by a phosphorous shell.

GUNS/WEAPONS

Guns, Bayonets, Bombs: Used during war scenes. See "Violence" for details.

IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR

Phrases: "Bastards," "Lucky bastards," "Shut up," "Ball" (testicle) and "Chronic diarrhea of the mouth."

JUMP SCENES

None.

MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE)

None.

MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE)

None.

PROFANITY

5 damns, 2 "ass" words, 1 hell, and 3 uses of "Jesus," 2 of "For God's sakes," and 1 each of "Jesus Christ" and "My God" as exclamations.

SEX/NUDITY

It's said that a young Italian soldier has never "been with a woman" and when asked, Ernest states that he's been with many.

The men briefly (and somewhat drunkenly) talk about the nurses bathing their (the patients') "private parts."

To goad Henry (who’s competing for Agnes’ affections), Ernest lies that Agnes’ company and favors were "granted to me the other night in her bed."

Ernest tells Agnes that there’s a hotel near the train station that he’s leaving from the next day. She tells him that it’s really a brothel but meets him there later that night. Sounds of people having sex are heard through the walls and the two begin to passionately kiss. They quickly remove pieces of clothing and she’s seen climbing on top of him with her bra partly coming off. It’s implied that they have sex. Later they’re seen slow dancing in the nude (in the room’s shadows) and for a brief moment his bare butt comes into the light and can be seen.

SMOKING

People in the background of several scenes smoke (cigarettes and pipes).

Ernest hands out cigarettes to Italian soldiers in a trench and several of them smoke.

Henry smokes several times.

Agnes rolls and smokes her own cigarette.

TENSE FAMILY SCENES

None.

TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT

The historical accuracy of this film and the real life influence this story had on Hemingway’s novel, "A Farewell to Arms."

Ernest gets gangrene in his leg wound and there's talk that they may amputate his leg.

Henry has jaundice and his yellow skin may need explaining to children.

VIOLENCE

A WWI battle scene has bombs exploding, machine guns firing and men fighting in hand to hand combat. Bayonets are used to kill people as well, and many bloody, wounded and dead men are seen.

A bomb explodes in a trench, killing all but Ernest and a severely wounded Italian soldier.

Ernest is shot in the leg with a machine gun.

We see war victims throughout the movie (though most of the violence isn’t seen).

Agnes slaps Ernest after he lies about sleeping with her to Henry.

In a fit of anger, Ernest smashes a chair and then a baseball bat into his bedroom walls and furniture.