Hercules (2014) MPAA Rating: PG-13 Entertainment: +3 Content: -2

Dwayne Johnson, John Hurt, Ian McShane, Ingrid Bolso Berdal. Action/adventure. Directed by Brett Ratner.

FILM SYNOPSIS: Having endured his legendary twelve labors, Hercules, the Greek demigod, has his life as a sword-for-hire tested when the King of Thrace and his daughter seek his aid in defeating a tyrannical warlord. Now Hercules travels with a hardy band, including a pretty Amazon warrior.

PREVIEW REVIEW: The Rock (hey, I don’t know why he doesn’t still call himself that – the guy is as rock-like as you can get) does a credible job with both the action and the dialogue (though many of the humorous remarks are that way due to the anachronistic jargon, I guess on purpose), the battle scenes are done on a grandiose scale, and director Brett Ratner does infuse some moral (we can all be heroes), but there’s a but…a couple of buts…

Just as movie studios can’t entertain a young demographic without their old standby, the superhero, neither can they get through an entire movie without uttering the f-word. Really, the f-word? Did the sons of Zeus really use the f-word? No they didn’t. But evidently no one in Hollywood can complete a simple declarative sentence without it. I’m beginning to wonder if it’s in their contracts.

And let’s not forget all those battle scenes. Though Mr. Ratner knows how to edit his carnage within the MPAA’s PG-13 rating dimensions, he goes right up to the edge. Of course, I realize most of my colleagues in criticism are no longer discussing the excesses of poor language or gore galore in movies, but I still feel it my duty to let you know Hercules has both. Who knows, maybe someone still does care.

I have to admit, the 14-year-old in me liked much of the action, the 16-year-old in me liked the Amazon warrior babe, and the old fogey liked the 98-minute length.

Rated PG-13 for epic battle sequences, violence, suggestive comments, brief strong language and brief nudity as we see a woman from behind exiting a bedchamber.

Preview Reviewer: Phil Boatwright
Distributor: Paramount