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The Eagle | 2011 | PG-13 | - 2.8.4
A failed invasion of Northern Britain in 120 AD left 5,000 Roman soldiers missing and assumed dead. Also lost was a gilded eagle, a symbol of Rome's dominance, and the loss for many Romans was interpreted as the beginning of the end of Rome. The son (Channing Tatum) of the commander of the ill-fated incursion becomes determined to find the eagle, bring it back and clear his family's name. Also with Jamie Bell, Mark Strong, Tahar Rahim and Donald Sutherland. Directed by Kevin MacDonald. [1:54]
SEX/NUDITY 2 - A man's bare buttocks are seen when he gets out of bed wearing strap-type underwear. A man's bare chest and back are visible while he sleeps. A bare-chested boy is shown riding a horse. When a gladiator squats down we see his loincloth between his legs when his kilt separates. Bare buttocks are visible on men wearing loincloths and their bodies are tattooed and painted.
► Two women appear to be talking about a man, they giggle and he smiles at them.
VIOLENCE/GORE 8 - A young boy with a knife attacks a man, the man pins him and holds a knife over him, then lets him go, the boy runs away and is stabbed in the back by a thrown knife (we see blood and he falls to the ground); a man stands over him and slits his throat (we see the men's movements and understand what has happened but we do not see anything else). A man slashes a young boy's throat while others watch (we see the motion and the boy is then laid on the ground motionless; no blood is visible).
► Many warriors with spears lead a patrol: one soldier is struck in the stomach, forced to his knees and beheaded by a man with a large sword (we see the man swing the sword down and hear a crunch and a cheer; no blood is shown and we do not see the head separate).
► A man jumps a wall and attacks a soldier in a garrison, many other men follow and a fight ensues with both sides using spears and swords (we hear grunting, slashing and squishing but no blood is shown): we see men fall after being run through with swords and spears, several men climbing the exterior wall are set ablaze when a pit filled with tar is set on fire (we see forms of men's bodies burning and hear screaming) and we see many blood-splattered bodies on the ground after the battle is over.
► Several men fight with many warriors, we hear loud crashes of blades and slicing, many men fall dead and we see blades being driven into bodies while blood splatters and sprays and we see several bloody bodies after the battle is through. Many warriors surround and attack two men, and they fight with swords, axes, spears and arrows (we see several men struck and slashed and one man is shot in the chest with an arrow while another takes a blade to the side; blood is not evident). Many soldiers march in formation toward many warriors, the warriors charge the soldiers, whose shields protect them from spear strikes, several men are stabbed and slashed (there's no blood), a man's severed head is seen on the ground and we see blood on the blades of weapons.
► Several chariots with long blades on the wheels speed toward several soldiers, the soldiers run, one is struck in the legs and falls to the ground (we do not see the injuries); a soldier throws a spear and the driver of one of the chariot's is struck through the chest causing the chariot to flip and throw the riders and it lands on the soldier (we see his injuries later).
► A man has several nightmares about another man in a battle with others and we see people slashing with swords and spears (no blood is shown). A man remembers being attacked and calls an area a "killing ground," while we see many soldiers fighting with warriors and then we see human skulls, rib cages and shields and helmets on the ground.
► Two men fight and one is held under water until he is still (we see him twitching and struggling). Two men are attacked by other men with swords, they fight, one is stabbed in the stomach and the two men run and are chased by other men with attack dogs. A man is forced to his knees, his head is held back by another man as he tells another man "If it pleases you, you kill him." A man knocks another man off his horse, they struggle on the ground and one holds a knife to the other's throat. A man is held by several other men, tied by the hands to the back of a horse and pulled along; when he falls he is dragged on his belly and later he is kicked in the face by another man. A man punches another man in the face (we see a bloody bruise on his face). A man is struck in the head, he falls to the ground and we see blood on his mouth.
► Many people are shown gathered in a coliseum where there is a "fight to the death" between a gladiator and a slave; the gladiator punches and kicks the slave numerous times after the slave drops his sword and shield, the slave ends up lying on his back (he has a bloody nose and face) and the gladiator holds his sword over his chest preparing to kill him.
► A dead man is placed on a pyre and a flame is lit (we see the body engulfed in flames). Two men are shown hanging from their ankles in a tall tree with gaping slash wounds on their chests and decapitated.
► A man is strapped to a table and another man holds his chest down as a surgeon prepares to operate on his badly wounded knee (we see a blade approach the wound that looks badly infected but we do not see a cut); the patient moans. We see a man's badly scarred knee and it appears infected (there's discolored skin around the wound). A man is shown with bloody cuts on his head and nose and a blood-soaked bandage on his knee. A man is shown with a bloody bandage on his leg.
► A man opens a cooked rat and eats it (we see the shape of the skinned body as he bites the belly). A man on horseback spears a wild boar (we hear it squeal) and another man guts it (we see the man's arms covered with blood and we hear a squish when he throws the organs aside). We see the carcass of a dead bird hanging on fence wire (no blood is visible). We see many animal skins hanging to dry. A man guts a fish and we see goo and blood on his hands. A horse complains and collapses while climbing a hill (it is implied that the horse died, but it is not clear if the rider killed it).
► A man vomits (we see him bend over, we hear splatter and hear the man gag). A man spits on the ground (we see goo leave his mouth). A man quakes and perspires, presumably from a fever and pain from an injury.
► Two men are chased through thick woods; one falls into a river and another man pulls him ashore. A man slips and slides down a hill (he's unharmed).
► Many soldiers in a garrison prepare the perimeter with defenses (large spikes covered with tar, deep pits around the walls, etc.). An armed patrol leaves a garrison and marches toward a thick forest.
► A man describes how an enemy force would "Cut the feet off the dead" and that they killed the officers and "Ripped their hearts out while they were still alive." A man talks about his father killing his mother before he was killed, in order to protect her from what their attackers would do to her. A man says to another man, "He will slit your throat." A soldier tells a man "See you in the afterlife." A man says, "You have defiled our daughters." A man talks about "Living down mistakes of the past." A surgeon prepares to operate on a man's leg and says, "There's still metal in there." A man says, "If they find out you're a Roman, they'll kill you and me." A man says they "were butchered like dogs." A man makes reference to a medicine smelling like another man's flatulence.
► A ceremony is performed where young men are blindfolded and other men dance around them and blow some kind of dust in their faces.
LANGUAGE 4 - 3 scatological terms, 1 anatomical term, 1 mild obscenity, name-calling (tainted, absent-minded, savages, bad omen, deserter, seed of evil, coward, fools, painted people).
SUBSTANCE USE - Several men drink an alcoholic beverage and appear intoxicated, and men eat and drink what appears to be an alcoholic beverage. A ceremony is performed where young men are blindfolded and other men dance around them and blow some kind of dust in their faces, and a man drinks a liquid medicine and reacts to the taste.
DISCUSSION TOPICS - The Roman Empire, ancient Britain, Hadrian's Wall, dishonor, responsibility, invading forces, right and wrong, slavery, honorable discharge, death of a parent, desertion, debt of honor, shame, politics, failure, humiliation, pride, courage, fate, faithfulness, symbols, trust, fear, satisfaction, freedom.
MESSAGE - The truth is worth struggling to uncover.
CAVEATS
Be aware that while we do our best to avoid spoilers it is impossible to disguise all details and some may reveal crucial plot elements.
We've gone through several editorial changes since we started covering films in 1992 and older reviews are not as complete & accurate as recent ones; we plan to revisit and correct older reviews as resources and time permits.
Our ratings and reviews are based on the theatrically-released versions of films; on video there are often Unrated, Special, Director's Cut or Extended versions, (usually accurately labelled but sometimes mislabeled) released that contain additional content, which we did not review.
Memoir of a Snail - 6.6.4
The Apprentice - 8.5.9
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Hitpig - 1.3.2
Venom: The Last Dance - 2.6.5
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We welcome suggestions & criticisms -- and we will accept compliments too. While we read all emails & try to reply we do not always manage to do so; be assured that we will not share your e-mail address.