Cutthroat Island MPAA Rating: PG-13 Entertainment: +1 Content: -3

Geena Davis stars as Morgan Adams, a rough, tough lady pirate, in this film set in 1668 Jamaica. Her father dead, Morgan takes command of his ship. Along with her man-slave, Shaw (Matthew Modine), she sails off in search of the buried treasure on Cutthroat Island. Morgan has only one piece of the map, and must kill the holders of the two missing pieces. The remainder of the film is a chase of sorts as two ships race for the island where the treasure is buried. Just when you think movies can't get any worse, one like CUTTHROAT ISLAND comes along. The insipid plot and dreadful acting should keep multitudes of viewers away from this film even though it cost $70 million.

Excessive, graphic violence proves to be the film's worst feature. Scene after scene of sword fights, fist fights and knife throwing capture the screen. Morgan even blows one of the villains to bits with a cannonball. A bloody scene of a bullet being removed from a gaping wound, people threatened with being thrown in with giant eels and a drowning man are also disturbing. Foul language is rather limited, but includes a few crudities and exclamatory profanities. While there is no on-screen sex, at the film's end it is strongly implied as Morgan and Shaw retreat into her cabin. Some suggestive remarks refer to male genitals and a man runs his hands over a woman's breasts. What a role model this lady pirate provides for a targeted audience of young people. Morgan Adams turns out to be the antithesis of femininity.

Preview Reviewer: Bonnie C. Harvey, Ph.D.
Distributor: MGM/UA, 2500 Broadway St., Santa Monica, CA 90404