10,000 BC parents guide

10,000 BC Parent Guide

Overall C+

After the woman of his dreams (Camilla Belle) is kidnapped by a ruthless warlord, a young hunter (Steven Strait) sets out to get her back. But as he tracks his foe across the per-historic landscape he also uncovers some mysterious civilizations.

Release date March 6, 2008

Violence C
Sexual Content B
Profanity A
Substance Use A

Why is 10,000 BC rated PG-13? The MPAA rated 10,000 BC PG-13 for sequences of intense action and violence.

Run Time: 109 minutes

Parent Movie Review

Apparently, the rejected child scenario harkens back to 10,000 B.C.—as attested to in this movie that unashamedly mixes millennia of time. According to the helpful voice over narrative (by Omar Sharif), D’Leh has lived his entire childhood under the shame of having his father abandon his family. Fortunately, young Evolet, who was separated from her tribe by the “four legged demons,” took him under her wing and became his friend. Now, enough years have passed that D’Leh (Steven Strait) has developed a muscular body, while Evolet (Camilla Belle) has grown into a well-groomed beauty—no small feat considering she lives in a tent encampment 12 thousand years prior to hot water.

However, D’Leh’s fate suddenly changes during a food-foraging expedition when this least-likely-to-succeed young man single-handedly kills a mammoth. Even Old Mother (Mona Hammond), the Yagahl tribe’s prophetess, suspects the “son of a coward” may be the great hunter she has predicted will rise from their ranks, take Evolet as his companion and lead their people. Unfortunately, this happy change in D’Leh’s status occurs just in time for the return of the “four legged demons.” These marauders, who have learned the more-sophisticated art of riding on horseback, rampage through their camp and kidnap anyone they can get their ropes around—including Evolet.

After the dust settles, it is determined the newest Yagahl hunter will become the tribe’s first warrior. Given the coveted white spear, D’Leh sets off with wise Tic’Tic (Cliff Curtis) and young Nakudu (Joel Virgel) to try and find where Evolet and the rest of their people have been taken. Their journey will lead over great mountains and into lands and civilizations the trio never knew existed. Most notable amongst their beyond-imagination discoveries is a gang they meet in the midst of the desert who look like they just finished wrapping up a National Geographic documentary. Fortunately, both factions speak English and an alliance is born.

This road trip / rescue mission combo requires you to forget anything you have ever heard about prehistoric man and the supposed absence of extensive dental work available during the caveman era. Instead the experience is best described by comparing the movie to popular video games that allow you to form warring factions from diverse eras and enjoy the anachronisms.

Artistic failings aside, the greatest reason parents would want to prohibit their developing homo sapiens from seeing this film is the frequent violence. Thankfully, firearms haven’t made their way into this world, but death by beating, stoning, spearing and arrows (notice the developing technologies) are seen, along with some nasty depictions of impaling (some include blood). As well, some scenes depicting slavery show those in bondage being whipped and mistreated.

Older teens may find 10,000 B.C. entertaining, especially if viewed with a cynical eye. And one could argue the random period settings truly make this a timeless film—but in no way a classic.

Starring Steven Strait, Camilla Belle,. Running time: 109 minutes. Theatrical release March 6, 2008. Updated

10,000 BC
Rating & Content Info

Why is 10,000 BC rated PG-13? 10,000 BC is rated PG-13 by the MPAA for sequences of intense action and violence.

10,000 B.C. is best approached with an attitude of not expecting anything factual. The story of a man who treks a great distance to rescue a girl offers many moments of peril and battle. While the violence usually isn’t graphic (and sometimes is obviously digitally simulated), there are frequent scenes of people being beaten and stoned, as well as impaled with arrows, knives and spears. Some blood effects are included. Other characters are seen in one-on-one combat, with necks being broken, characters pushed off high ledges and receiving other injuries. Scenes depicting many stampeding mammoths would presumably also result in serious injury, but these details are mostly viewed in grand vistas. Sexual content is limited to men fighting over who will get “the” woman, and she is seen in a cleavage-revealing dress.Male characters are shown in chest-bearing costumes.

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10,000 BC Parents' Guide

10,000 B.C. is best approached with an attitude of not expecting anything factual. The story of a man who treks a great distance to rescue a girl offers many moments of peril and battle. While the violence usually isn’t graphic (and sometimes is obviously digitally simulated), there are frequent scenes of people being beaten and stoned, as well as impaled with arrows, knives and spears. Some blood effects are included. Other characters are seen in one-on-one combat, with necks being broken, characters pushed off high ledges and receiving other injuries. Scenes depicting many stampeding mammoths would presumably also result in serious injury, but these details are mostly viewed in grand vistas. Sexual content is limited to men fighting over who will get “the” woman, and she is seen in a cleavage-revealing dress.Male characters are shown in chest-bearing costumes.

Home Video

The most recent home video release of 10,000 BC movie is June 25, 2008. Here are some details…

10,000 B.C. meets 2008 A.D. with these DVD releases. The single disc version delivers both full frame and widescreen presentations of the movie, as well as an extended ending and deleted scenes.

10,000 B.C. is also available in Blu-Ray Disc. In addition to the above-mentioned items, this edition includes A Wild and Wooly Ride (a behind-the scenes look at the process of re-constructing the per-historic setting, the animals and the pyramids), and Inspiring an Epic (how real history influenced story elements and the film’s design).

Canadian fans of the film will be offered an Exclusive 2-Disc Limited Edition DVD, boasting collectible "Steelbook" packaging with Sabertooth Tiger artwork. Along with the movie, this version provides a bonus disc featuring Prehistoric Predators, a 50 minute National Geographic special.

Related home video titles:

Stone-aged man also put in an appearance in the movies Ice Age and 2001: A Space Odyssey. Another man is forced to take on a heroic journey when a band of marauders attacks his town and kidnaps his wife In the Name of the King - A Dungeon Siege Tale.