The Majestic parents guide

The Majestic Parent Guide

Forgetting the past provides a chance for a new future.

Overall A-

Jim Carrey offers a refreshing performance as a blacklisted, B-movie screenwriter who learns to stand up for himself after a freak car accident leaves him with amnesia and a new shot at life in a small coastal California town, where the residents believe he is one of their own lost sons returning from war.

Release date December 21, 2001

Violence B
Sexual Content A-
Profanity C
Substance Use C+

Why is The Majestic rated PG? The MPAA rated The Majestic PG for language and mild thematic elements

Run Time: 152 minutes

Parent Movie Review

I spent the first 45 minutes of this film waiting for Jim Carrey to….well….act like Jim Carrey. But even during a drunken despair, there’s only a glimmer of the “wild and crazy” actor who bombards his way through movies like The Cable Guy, Liar Liar and How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Instead, Carrey puts in a solid performance as a 1950’s screenwriter who is blacklisted when the US Senate tries to root Communists out of Hollywood.

After losing his girl, his movie script, and his filming privileges, Peter Appleton (Carrey) drowns his grievances in a bar and then heads out for a drive. A freak accident leaves both his car and identity washing downstream. When he awakens on the riverbank near Lawson, CA., he has no idea who he is or how he got there. His appearance in the sleepy little coastal town soon sets tongues a waggin’. Convinced that this is his missing son, Luke, an elderly Harry Trimble (Martin Landau) attacks life with a new vigor and makes plans to reopen the family’s dilapidated old movie theater, The Majestic.

Although most of the residents are elated by the local war hero’s homecoming, not everyone readily gives in to the fanfare. Both the doctor (David Ogden Stiers) and his daughter, Adele (Laurie Holden) opt to reserve judgment on the real identity of the new arrival. Meanwhile, an often-bewildered Appleton struggles to find a single thread that will unravel the mystery of his past.

Language content in the film is a concern, but parents and teens may still profit from a glimpse at the Cold War hysteria that swept the U.S. following WWII. Also showcased is the contribution on the battlefront of one tiny town and the ensuing pain caused by the heavy casualty list. On a more personal level, The Majestic reveals one individual’s struggle to stand up for himself before men with their own agendas.

While best known for his goofball gags and comedic hijinks, Carrey proves here there is more to his acting than raw humor and wacky face contortions.

Directed by Frank Darabont. Starring Jim Carrey, Martin Landau, Bob Balaban. Running time: 152 minutes. Theatrical release December 21, 2001. Updated

The Majestic
Rating & Content Info

Why is The Majestic rated PG? The Majestic is rated PG by the MPAA for language and mild thematic elements

Violence: B
Character unjustly accused of illegal activity. Drunken character involved in car accident. Car plunges into river with driver. Man hits head on steel buttress. Character shown with bloody gash on forehead. Characters frequently discuss their sons killed in the war. Man punched in face, shown with minimal blood on lip. Character spits at another man. In an old movie: gunfire heard, sword fight shown, character stabbed and dies onscreen.

Sexual Content: A-
Couple kiss on screen in old movie. Unmarried couple kiss. Girls in background of scene wear dance costumes that expose legs. Derogatory comment made about man cross-dressing. Unmarried adult couple discusses their first kiss as teenagers and kiss on at least three other occasions.

Language: C
Includes at least: 4 moderate and 19 mild profanities, 2 crude sexual terms, and 20 terms of Deity used as expletives.

Alcohol / Drug Use: C+
After losing job and girlfriend, character consumes alcohol until drunk and then drives. One character shown with pipe throughout movie. Some background characters smoke.

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The Majestic Parents' Guide

Although the town of Lawson received recognition for those who fought and died, they were reluctant to display the war memorial presented by the U.S. president. Why do you think they kept it in the basement of city hall? What changed when “Luke” came home? Do you think that war memorials are an important reminder to us of those who died?

Following World War II, the United States Senate held hearings performed by the House on Un-American Activities Committee.

Home Video

The most recent home video release of The Majestic movie is February 24, 2015. Here are some details…

Home Video Notes: The Majestic
Release Date: 24 February 2015
The Majestic releases to home video (Blu-ray) with the following extras:
- Movie Within the Movie: Sand Pirates of the Sierra
- Deleted Scenes
- Trailer

Related home video titles:

Jim Carrey also plays a more serious character in the film, The Truman Story. Another film that touches on the communism hysteria of the cold war is Hearts In Atlantis.

Related news about The Majestic

Home Video Releases for February 24

Home Video Releases for February 24

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