Approved for 12+

Swallows and Amazons

Four children dream of escaping the tedium of a summer holiday with their mother. When finally given permission to camp on their own on an island in the middle of a vast lake, they are overjoyed. But when they get there, they discover they may not be alone... The battle for ownership of a lonely island teaches them the skills of survival, the value of friendship and the importance of holding your nerve. Set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Lake District, Swallows and Amazons is a heartwarming adventure for all the family.
9
Negative Rating
12345
SexLanguageViolenceDrugsNudityOther
0
Positive Rating
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FaithIntegrity

Dove Review

“Swallows and Amazons” is all about kids having fun and helping stop a crime to boot! Have you ever dreamed about being the hero of a great story, which had you rescuing an innocent man from bad guys? Maybe not, but probably many people remember what it’s like to be a kid and to imagine a world of pirates walking the plank and living out on an island. The Walker kids, the “Swallows,” wind up fighting against two girl “pirates” the “Amazons,” but in the end they join forces to help stop a crime.

Despite their mother’s unease (Dad is away as captain on a ship), the eldest boy John and sister Susan talk Mom into letting them take a small boat a short distance away to an island, accompanied by younger brother Roger and younger sister Tatty. They lose their food on the way there but manage to make it safely. Soon, they are on an adventure! John learns how to start a fire without matches (with the help of some others on the island), and they have a meeting on the water with two pirate sisters. Soon they are planning a contest to see who will become the rightful “owner” of the island. In the meantime, two spies are pursuing a man the kids saw on a train, and piece by piece they learn the man, Mr. Turner (Rafe Spall), is not a pirate or bad guy but a good guy who ends up needing their help.

It may not be an adventure on the high seas, but for these kids, it is an adventure just as exciting—and for the audience too! The acting by everyone is spot-on, and the high-energy story will keep the audience involved. We are pleased to award our Dove Family-Approved Seal to the movie for ages 12-plus. Yo ho!

Dove Rating Details

0
Faith

None

0
Integrity

Man purposely bumps woman on train; a man comes uninvited into a cabin and the eldest son threatens him with a pocket knife; gun held on man outside the train as he hangs on to the moving train; he eventually lets go and survives after hitting the ground; guns held on characters a few times, as well as knife; the pole of a sail on a small boat whacks girl in mouth, but she is okay; a few characters are knocked out.

0
Sex

None.

2
Language

Da*n it-1; stupid-2; liar-2; donkey-2; shut up-4; bloody-1; idiot-1; useless-1; duffer-3; you dummy-1; blackheart-2; scurvy dog-1; son of a sea snake-1.

2
Violence

Man purposely bumps woman on train; a man comes uninvited into a cabin and the eldest son threatens him with a pocket knife; gun held on man outside the train as he hangs on to the moving train; he eventually lets go and survives after hitting the ground; guns held on characters a few times, as well as knife; the pole of a sail on a small boat whacks girl in mouth, but she is okay; a few characters are knocked out.

2
Drugs

Woman smokes cigarettes; pipe smoking; man drinks liquor from a flask.

1
Nudity

A painting of a nude woman is seen just behind a shorter painting—both are on a stand—and the woman's upper breasts are seen.

2
Other

Tension between characters; Russian spies pursue man; big brother becomes upset with younger brother and calls him names but later he is proud of his younger brother; skulls seen on island; snake scares girl but she is all right; spies steal a telegram; boy falls overboard from boat but is rescued.

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