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"10,000 B.C." (2008) (Steven Strait, Camilla Belle) (PG-13) Alcohol/ Drugs Blood/Gore Disrespectful/ Bad Attitude Frightening/ Tense Scenes Guns/ Weapons None Moderate Extreme *Heavy Extreme Imitative Behavior Jump Scenes Music (Scary/Tense) Music (Inappropriate) Profanity Moderate Minor Extreme None None Sex/ Nudity Smoking Tense Family Scenes Topics To Talk About Violence Mild None Heavy Moderate Extreme QUICK TAKE: Action/Adventure: When outsiders kidnap his love, a prehistoric hunter assembles a growing army of warriors to find and rescue her and others, all while dealing with various perils along the way. PLOT: It's 10,000 B.C. and D'Leh (STEVEN STRAIT) is a hunter in a small tribe that relies on their annual mammoth hunt to survive. Their spiritual leader Old Mother (MONA HAMMOND), however, has long predicted that things will change for the worse, all stemming from the arrival years ago of a young girl, the lone survivor of an attack by "four-legged demons." She's now grown up into the strikingly blue-eyed Evolet (CAMILLA BELLE), and D'Leh has had his sights set on her ever since they were childhood friends. Yet, D'Leh must live with the fact that his father -- once their hunter leader -- long ago abandoned him and their tribe, thus bringing derision from D'Leh's main rival, Ka'Ren (MO ZINAL). Even so, and through accident and luck, D'Leh manages to slay a mammoth by himself, a feat never accomplished before. His celebration is short-lived, however, as outsiders led by the Warlord (AFFIF BEN BADRA) and his right-hand man, One-Eye (MARCO KHAN), storm into the village on horseback, killing some villagers and abducting others, including Evolet. Putting their differences aside, D'Leh and Ka'Ren join forces with veteran hunter Tic'Tic (CLIFF CURTIS) and set out on a rescue mission, joined by young hunter Baku (NATHANIEL BARING) who witnessed the intruders kill his mother. As they journey across the lands and follow the slave traders, the small group encounters various obstacles and perils, including a saber-toothed tiger and dangerous and fleet-footed dodo bird type creatures, while also encountering another tribe led by Nakudu (JOEL VIRGEL) whose wife was killed and son, Tudu (JUNIOR OLIPHANT), abducted by the marauders. From that point on, and as their trek takes them to an advanced civilization with a god-king who's using the slaves to build an immense pyramid for himself, D'Leh and the others must overcome the odds to free their people. WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT? If they're into action films featuring prehistoric creatures, they might, but it's hard to gauge the kid interest in this pic considering the characters are also prehistoric rather than contemporary. WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: PG-13 For sequences of intense action and violence. CAST AS ROLE MODELS: STEVEN STRAIT plays a prehistoric hunter who goes on a rescue mission to free his love from slave traders. He shows bravery, smarts, and leadership qualities as he builds a growing army to battle the bad guys (and he kills many of the latter). CAMILLA BELLE plays the blue-eyed beauty who's entranced him since childhood. She must contend with being abducted, and then several men seemingly desiring to rape her. CLIFF CURTIS plays the veteran hunter in D'Leh's tribe who accompanies him on his rescue mission. He tells D'Leh the long-mysterious truth about his father, and kills many of the bad guys. JOEL VIRGEL plays a tribal leader who knew D'Leh's father and thus joins the son on his quest. He must contend with the slave traders having previously killed his wife and abducted their boy. AFFIF BEN BADRA plays the leader of the slave traders who seems to have a soft spot for Evolet, but that's mainly because he wants to buy and then have her sexually. MO ZINAL plays D'Leh's now grown-up childhood rival who accompanies him and Tic'Tic on their rescue quest. NATHANIEL BARING plays a young hunter in D'Leh's tribe who joins him and the others on the mission, especially after seeing the slave traders murder his mother. MONA HAMMOND plays the old and wise spiritual leader of the tribe who uses her supernatural powers to predict what will happen and to see through time and space, and bring someone back from the dead. JUNIOR OLIPHANT plays Nakudu's son who's abducted but befriends Baku while both are enslaved. CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFO HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE Curious if this title is entertaining, any good, and/or has any artistic merit? Then read OUR TAKE of this film. (Note: The "Our Take" review of this title examines the film's artistic merits and does not take into account any of the possibly objectionable material listed below). OUR WORD TO PARENTS: The following is a brief summary of the content found in this action-adventure pic that's been rated PG-13. No profanity is present. Sexual content consists of two men separately seemingly preparing to rape a woman, but neither attack occurs, and the only nudity consists of various views of bare-chested, prehistoric men. Most of the violence consists of various scenes of fighting and attacks, on both small and epic-type, large scale, with all sorts of weapons used to wound or kill others, while people are adducted to be used as slaves. Other scenes feature large and fleet-footed, dodo type birds that attack and kill many people, while others are trampled and otherwise knocked around or killed by mammoths. Those scenes and other moments of potential peril (including some close calls with a huge, saber-toothed tiger) might be unsettling or suspenseful for younger viewers and/or those with low tolerance levels for such mayhem, but despite the quantity and severity of the violence, there isn't a great deal of blood. Those who do the kidnapping, enslaving and killing of others obviously have bad attitudes, while some of the fighting, other action and stunts might be enticing for some kids to imitate. Tense family material is present, including a boy who witnesses his mother be murdered (but the grief is extremely short-lived). If you're still concerned about the film and its appropriateness for yourself or anyone else in your home who may be interested in seeing it, we suggest that you take a closer look at our detailed listings for more specific information regarding the film's content. For those concerned with bright flashes of light on the screen, some of that occurs during a thunderstorm at night. For those prone to visually induced motion sickness, there are various fluid, fly-over camera shots in the film. ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE None. BLOOD/GORE We see raw strips of meat following a mammoth hunt, but no related blood or gore. We briefly see blood on a large blade that was used to kill Baku's mother. Warlord likes Evolet's spirit, but must break it, and thus he repeatedly flogs her bound hands (after she was dropping visual signals for D'Leh to follow), bloodying the tops of them. D'Leh has blood on his hand after he touches a barely seen (and bloody) wound on Tic'Tic's leg. He then uses fire to cauterize that wound (we don't see the impact, but do see Tic'Tic react in pain). We see a dead, fly-covered deer impaled on several upward pointing spears in a hunting pit, followed by brief views of vultures feeding on that carcass. We see human skulls, skeletal pieces, and mammoth skeletons in the desert (presumably that of former human and animal slaves). We see reddish and dried blood scars on Evolet's hand (from where she was earlier flogged). We see a miscellaneous man with various bloody slash marks on his back. The palace leader is a little bloody after being killed. Old Mother has a little bit of a bloody nose, followed by a bit more (as she experiences a battle from far away). DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE Warlord, One-Eye, their minions, and those they work for obviously have bad attitudes for abducting, enslaving, physically abusing, and killing others. Those opposed to supernatural powers should note that Old Mother has the ability to see through time and space, and bring someone back from the dead. Young Ka'Ren taunts young D'Leh that he's the son of a coward. Thus, D'Leh tries to attack Ka'Ren (throwing a wild punch), but misses, with some struggling between them before Ka'Ren pins D'Leh to the ground. D'Leh takes credit for being the only one to chase after and kill a mammoth during a great hunt (so that he can possess his father's spear, as well as Evolet), but then admits that he did nothing heroic (and thus gives up both the spear and Evolet). FRIGHTENING SCENES Scenes listed here and under "Violence" may be unsettling, suspenseful and/or scary to younger viewers and/or those with low tolerance levels for such material. The hunters crawl through the plains toward a herd of mammoths, with D'Leh getting right up among them. He then stirs up the alpha male, thus causing a stampede where he's nearly trampled. The hunters then channel the beasts through a ravine where they catch the alpha male in a net, but they can't bring him down. He then breaks free and runs off, with various hunters trying to hold on, but being bounced off (and some slam into rocks -- seen from a distance). D'Leh's hand gets stuck and he's taken for a solo ride. When the Mammoth sees him, it charges, and there are various close calls, with D'Leh then throwing a spear into the huge animal. That doesn't stop it and it continues to come at him, with D'Leh then positioning a large stick at it, with the mammoth rearing up and then coming down on it. It then stumbles forward, with D'Leh trying to get out of the way, but it collapses onto him. The other hunters then rush up and pull him out from beneath the beast. The small rescue mission travels a long way, through treacherous conditions including snowy mountains. As the outsiders march the slaves through very tall grasses, several huge, dodo bird type creatures zip through and grab some of the people, killing him (we only see fleeting glimpses of them, but hear distant screams of the killing). One-Eye appears prepared to rape Evolet, but D'Leh hits him over the head, knocking him out. He then attempts to free her and the other captives, but guards are alerted. One guard is then speared and another knocked down, while One-Eye rides after those fleeing, throwing something that knocks one down, while pinning another to the ground with a long implement designed for doing just that. The large dodo bird type creatures then attack again, taking out various people (we see brief violence and even briefer feeding on humans). One then awkwardly ascends a tree after Baku, who tries to climb higher, but slips and lands crotch-first on a branch. Meanwhile, D'Leh hits one such creature on the head as it tries to snap at him and Evolet. D'Leh then rushes off to distract those after Baku, and climbs up onto a huge rock from where he throws a smaller rock that hits one such creature on the head. Another comes after him, however, chasing him into a bamboo field where D'Leh thinks he's okay due to the increasingly thickening array of bamboo that allows him passage, but not the bird. It, however, uses its huge beak to snap through the bamboo to get closer to him, with D'Leh then taking one broken piece and jamming it into the animal's mouth, killing it. While chasing after prey, D'Leh ends up falling into a pit filled with sharp, upward-pointing spears. He barely avoids being impaled (unlike a deer that's seen on some, with flies all over it), but is knocked unconscious. Thunderstorms then arrive, with the rain causing a flashflood that quickly begins filling the pit. D'Leh comes to and sees huge vultures feeding on the dead deer, as well as a huge saber-toothed tiger trapped in the pit, nearly drowning in the rising water. D'Leh goes to spear it, but can't, and thus frees the huge cat that then comes directly into his face, growls, and then jumps over him to escape from the pit. D'Leh and Tic'Tic arrive in a seemingly abandoned and/or devastated village, find some food there, and begin to eat. Various tribesmen then surround them, spears drawn, but the saber-toothed tiger D'Leh earlier saved then arrives. It growls as it approaches D'Leh, but then leaps over him and does the same to the tribesmen (as if telling them to back off). It then leaves, the tribesmen realize D'Leh and Tic'Tic are not the attacking outsiders, and all is well. As predicted, D'Leh and his growing tribal army get lost in the vast desert, with some collapsing and all looking parched. Warlord pays his leader for Evolet, takes her into a room by themselves, and then tells her that he set her free and "Now I will make you mine" (she doesn't understand his language). He then has close contact with her (clothed and standing), and she slowly pulls his knife and raises it to kill him, but others storm in and nothing else happens. Palace priests bring Evolet out and tie her hands to horses on either side of her, threatening to yank her apart if D'Leh doesn't stop his attack. They then stab a man in the back to show that they mean business, but after a lull, D'Leh doesn't back down and hurls his spear a long distance, impaling the main leader who then tumbles down the steps. Another large scale battle breaks out, where many people are stabbed, speared, sliced, clubbed and more. GUNS/WEAPONS Spears/Clubs/Arrows/Swords/Knives/Whips: Carried and/or used to threaten, wound, or kill others and animals. See "Violence" for details. IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR Phrases: "White rain" (snow) and "Do not eat me when I set you free" (what D'Leh tells a saber-toothed tiger). Some of the fighting and other stunts and violence might be enticing for some kids to imitate. The hunters wear mud and war-type paint on their faces. D'Leh uses fire to cauterize a wound (we don't see the impact, but do see Tic'Tic react in pain). Warlord spits on One-Eye. Various tribesmen have various piercings (prehistoric style). JUMP SCENES The sudden close-up view of Old Mother's eyes opening (accompanied by sudden music on the soundtrack) might startle some viewers. MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE) An extreme amount of ominous, suspenseful, heavily dramatic, and action-oriented music plays in the film. MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE) None. PROFANITY None. SEX/NUDITY We see a young woman's bare shoulders while sleeping. One-Eye appears prepared to rape Evolet (both are clothed), but D'Leh hits him over the head, knocking him out. D'Leh eventually ends up shirtless, while various tribesmen are also seen that way in various scenes. Warlord pays his leader for Evolet, takes her into a room by themselves, and then tells her that he set her free and "Now I will make you mine" (she doesn't understand his language). He then has close contact with her (clothed and standing), and she slowly pulls his knife and raises it to kill him, but others storm in and nothing else happens. Evolet shows a little cleavage. SMOKING None. TENSE FAMILY SCENES We hear that D'Leh's father did not believe Old Mother's prophesy and thus left the tribe, never to be seen again. This traumatized young D'Leh due to the abandonment, but D'Leh later learns as an adult from Tic'Tic that his father was only looking out for the tribe as he went out looking for help (and was captured by the invaders long ago). We hear that Evolet's parents were killed by the four-legged demons (men on horseback) when she was just a child. Baku sees an outsider murder his mother (but his grief his extremely short-lived). There's brief talk that D'Leh's mother died giving birth to him. Nakudu states that the intruders recently killed his wife and abducted their son, Tudu. D'Leh learns that his father has been dead (told to him by another man). TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT The historical accuracy (or lack thereof) of the peoples and animals presented in this time frame. What life must have been like in prehistoric times. Those opposed to supernatural powers should note that Old Mother has the ability to see through time and space, and bring someone back from the dead. VIOLENCE We see either a flashback to or vision of some quickly edited violence, and some of that causes Old Mother -- via supernatural means -- to be thrust backward. Young Ka'Ren taunts young D'Leh that he's the son of a coward. Thus, D'Leh tries to attack Ka'Ren (throwing a wild punch), but misses, with some struggling between them before Ka'Ren pins D'Leh to the ground. The hunters crawl through the plains toward a herd of mammoths, with D'Leh getting right up among them. He then stirs up the alpha male, thus causing a stampede where he's nearly trampled. The hunters then channel the beasts through a ravine where they catch the alpha male in a net, but they can't bring him down. He then breaks free and runs off, with various hunters trying to hold on, but being bounced off (and some slam into rocks -- seen from a distance). D'Leh's hand gets stuck and he's taken for a solo ride. When the Mammoth sees him, it charges, and there are various close calls, with D'Leh then throwing a spear into the huge animal. That doesn't stop it and it continues to come at him, with D'Leh then positioning a large stick at it, with the mammoth rearing up and then coming down on it. It then stumbles forward, with D'Leh trying to get out of the way, but it collapses onto him. The other hunters then rush up and pull him out from beneath the beast. The outsiders invade the remote village, clubbing, killing and abducting various villagers, while also setting fire to part of the village's primitive structures. Baku's mother tells him to hide in their teepee, only to have an invader stab and kill her, with the boy seeing that (as well as blood on the large blade). After the outsiders ride off, we see various bodies on the ground, but no blood. Warlord likes Evolet's spirit, but must break it, and thus he repeatedly flogs her bound hands (after she was dropping visual signals for D'Leh to follow), bloodying the tops of them. Guards whip various slaves as they're marched back toward the outsiders' settlement. As the outsiders march the slaves through very tall grasses, several huge, dodo bird type creatures zip through and grab some of the people, killing him (we only see fleeting glimpses of them, but hear distant screams of the killing). One-Eye appears prepared to rape Evolet, but D'Leh hits him over the head, knocking him out. He then attempts to free her and the other captives, but guards are alerted. One guard is then speared and another knocked down, while One-Eye rides after those fleeing, throwing something that knocks one down, while pinning another to the ground with a long implement designed for doing just that. The large dodo bird type creatures then attack again, taking out various people (we see brief violence and even briefer feeding on humans). One then awkwardly ascends a tree after Baku, who tries to climb higher, but slips and lands crotch-first on a branch. Meanwhile, D'Leh hits one such creature on the head as it tries to snap at him and Evolet. D'Leh then rushes off to distract those after Baku, and climbs up onto a huge rock from where he throws a smaller rock that hits one such creature on the head. Another comes after him, however, chasing him into a bamboo field where D'Leh thinks he's okay due to the increasingly thickening array of bamboo that allows him passage, but not the bird. It, however, uses its huge beak to snap through the bamboo to get closer to him, with D'Leh then taking one broken piece and jamming it into the animal's mouth, killing it. Finding One-Eye on the ground (after Evolet knocked him out), Warlord kicks him on the head to make him get up. Outsiders throw a net over Evolet and Baku, capturing both of them. Warlord backhands Baku. While chasing after prey, D'Leh ends up falling into a pit filled with sharp, upward-pointing spears. He barely avoids being impaled (unlike a deer that's seen on some, with flies all over it), but is knocked unconscious. Rather than drink the water One-Eye offers, Baku throws sand in the slave master's face. That prompts the latter to attack the boy, nearly strangling him on the ground, while another boy jumps on One-Eye's back, with that hulking man only stopping when Warlord flogs him a few times. A guard whips Baku. A slave (a man from D'Leh's tribe) is sacrificed by being thrown off the edge of a pyramid. We don't see the impact, but then do see his crumpled body below (no blood). Other slaves are then whipped. A guard is stabbed in the neck and killed (no blood). Tic'Tic fights three men, spearing one, hitting a second with a spear, and then throwing his spear a long distance to kill a third who's running away. The second then stabs Tic'Tic in the back and he then spins around and spears that man, killing him (no blood for any). Spoiler Alert: Tic'Tic's wounds are mortal, and he dies. There's a big fight between D'Leh's tribal army and the palace guards, where spears, swords, clubs and more are used to fight, wound and kill others (and a slave grabs one guard by the neck -- after being repeatedly whipped -- and throws him off the pyramid). One of D'Leh's group then races down a pyramid construction ramp and kills many approaching guards, but they eventually kill him. D'Leh's group then frees the mammoths that were being used for labor, spears the alpha male to get him riled up, and the resultant stampede races down the tall ramp, trampling many guards when not knocking others off it. The gold top-cap on the pyramid is also pushed off and it smashes down through the scaffolding below. Palace priests bring Evolet out and tie her hands to horses on either side of her, threatening to yank her apart if D'Leh doesn't stop his attack. They then stab a man in the back to show that they mean business, but after a lull, D'Leh doesn't back down and hurls his spear a long distance, impaling the main leader who then tumbles down the steps. Another large scale battle breaks out, where many people are stabbed, speared, sliced, clubbed and more. During a big battle, Warlord abducts Evolet and rides off with her. She, however, grabs one of his arrows and jabs it in his side, resulting in both falling from his horse. Baku throws his spear at One-Eye but misses, with the hulking man then grabbing Tudu. A spear is then thrown a long distance and impales One-Eye, killing him. Spoiler Alert: Warlord fires an arrow that hits Evolet in the back, delivering a mortal wound. D'Leh then goes up and repeatedly strikes Warlord on the face before delivering a fatal spear jab (we don't see the impact). Evolet then dies in D'Leh's arms, but back in the original village, Old Mother uses her last supernatural power to transfer her life force to Evolet, thus bringing her back to life (while Old Mother dies). Reviewed March 7, 2008 / Posted March 7, 2008

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