SCREEN IT! PARENTAL REVIEW: TITAN A.E.

"TITAN A.E."
(2000) (voices of Matt Damon, Drew Barrymore) (PG)

Alcohol/ Drugs	Blood/Gore	Disrespectful/ Bad Attitude	Frightening/ Tense Scenes	Guns/ Weapons
Minor	Mild	Extreme	*Moderate	Extreme

Imitative Behavior	Jump Scenes	Music (Scary/Tense)	Music (Inappropriate)	Profanity
Minor	None	Extreme	None	*Minor

Sex/ Nudity	Smoking	Tense Family Scenes	Topics To Talk About	Violence
Mild	None	Mild	Mild	Extreme

QUICK TAKE:: Sci-fi: After Earth is destroyed in the future, several human survivors and their friendly alien counterparts try to avoid hostile alien forces while attempting to find a top-secret project that could be humankind's last chance at survival.

PLOT:

It's the year 3028 and Professor Sam Tucker (voice of RON PERLMAN) and others have developed the Titan project, a testament to the human spirit and something an alien race, the Drej, fears and wishes to destroy. As such, they arrive at Earth and destroy the planet, but not before Tucker sends his five-year-old son, Cale, on an escape craft with his associate Tek (voice of TONE-LOC), while he successfully manages to leave on the Titan.

Fifteen years later and with Earth gone, the abandoned Earthlings are scattered about the universe, nothing more than an endangered species. Cale (voice of MATT DAMON) is now a young and disillusioned man working on a salvage vessel, having to cope with alien hostilities and a less than hopeful future.

That all changes when he's approached by Korso (voice of BILL PULLMAN), the charismatic captain of the Valkyrie, who informs Cale that he's been searching for the young man for some time to tell him of his mission in life. It seems that Cale has a genetically encoded map on his hand that, once activated, points to the hidden location of the Titan, a spaceship containing a device that's humankind's last chance of survival.

Accompanied by Akima (voice of DREW BARRYMORE), the no-nonsense human pilot of the Valkyrie who grew up on a drifter colony, along with Preed (voice of NATHAN LANE) Korso's sly alien first mate; Gune (voice of JOHN LEGUIZAMO), the ship's squirrelly alien navigator who must decipher the map, and Stith (voice of JANEANE GAROFALO) the cranky alien gunner, Cale and Korso set out to locate the Titan. Along the way, however, the crew must contend with repeated attacks by the Drej as well as traitors within their own ranks as they try to go about saving humankind.

WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT?: Teenage boys seem to be the film's most likely target audience, while the cartoon aspect may have younger kids curious about it.

WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: PG: For action violence, mild sensuality and brief language.

CAST AS ROLE MODELS:: Although it's debatable whether kids view animated characters (particularly those that aren't human) as role models, here's a quick look at the film's major characters.
CALE is a disillusioned, smart aleck of a young man who isn't happy with his life or future. Once he realizes his predetermined goal in life, he's initially the reluctant hero, but he eventually proves his worth.
AKIMA is the ship's pilot, a strong female character who assists Cale in his mission.
KORSO is the ship's captain, a man who recruits and convinces Cale about his mission in life, but then turns out not to be who or what he previously said.
PREED is Korso's first mate, a testy and sarcastic alien who likewise turns out to be something other than what's initially assumed.
GUNE is the alien navigator who must decipher the map on Cale's hand.
STITH is the cranky gunner with a penchant for shooting first and asking questions later.; CALE is a disillusioned, smart aleck of a young man who isn't happy with his life or future. Once he realizes his predetermined goal in life, he's initially the reluctant hero, but he eventually proves his worth.
AKIMA is the ship's pilot, a strong female character who assists Cale in his mission.
KORSO is the ship's captain, a man who recruits and convinces Cale about his mission in life, but then turns out not to be who or what he previously said.
PREED is Korso's first mate, a testy and sarcastic alien who likewise turns out to be something other than what's initially assumed.
GUNE is the alien navigator who must decipher the map on Cale's hand.
STITH is the cranky gunner with a penchant for shooting first and asking questions later.; AKIMA is the ship's pilot, a strong female character who assists Cale in his mission.
KORSO is the ship's captain, a man who recruits and convinces Cale about his mission in life, but then turns out not to be who or what he previously said.
PREED is Korso's first mate, a testy and sarcastic alien who likewise turns out to be something other than what's initially assumed.
GUNE is the alien navigator who must decipher the map on Cale's hand.
STITH is the cranky gunner with a penchant for shooting first and asking questions later.; KORSO is the ship's captain, a man who recruits and convinces Cale about his mission in life, but then turns out not to be who or what he previously said.
PREED is Korso's first mate, a testy and sarcastic alien who likewise turns out to be something other than what's initially assumed.
GUNE is the alien navigator who must decipher the map on Cale's hand.
STITH is the cranky gunner with a penchant for shooting first and asking questions later.; PREED is Korso's first mate, a testy and sarcastic alien who likewise turns out to be something other than what's initially assumed.
GUNE is the alien navigator who must decipher the map on Cale's hand.
STITH is the cranky gunner with a penchant for shooting first and asking questions later.; GUNE is the alien navigator who must decipher the map on Cale's hand.
STITH is the cranky gunner with a penchant for shooting first and asking questions later.; STITH is the cranky gunner with a penchant for shooting first and asking questions later.

CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFO

HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE

Curious if this title is entertaining, any good, and/or has any artistic merit?
Then read OUR TAKE of this film.

(Note: The "Our Take" review of this title examines the film's artistic merits and does not take into account any of the possibly objectionable material listed below).

OUR WORD TO PARENTS:

Here's a quick look at the content found in this PG-rated, animated action/adventure flick. Violence, while not particularly graphic (although there is some cartoon blood), is rated as extreme due to various scenes of fighting and sci-fi action where ships and an entire planet are destroyed and various alien creatures are killed.

Such scenes and other action/adventure ones may be unsettling, suspenseful or even scary to some young viewers (thanks, in part, to the addition of a great deal of suspenseful music), all depending on their age, level of maturity and tolerance for such material. Directly related, various characters have bad attitudes for wanting to kill the humans and/or becoming traitors.

Some brief profanity is present, but couldn't be completely understood, while a few colorful phrases are also present. Some brief cartoon nudity occurs (a man's bare butt) and a man walks in on a female character wrapped only in a towel. In addition, an early scene features a young boy being separated forever from his father.

Should you still be concerned about the film's content and its appropriateness for anyone in your home who wishes to see the film, you may want to take a closer look at our detailed content listings for more specific examples of what occurs in the film.

ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE: Korso and Cale drink something that the former pours for both of them, but we never know whether it's alcoholic or not.
A woman orders for someone to bring some cold liquor for Cale, but we never see it.

BLOOD/GORE: We see some cartoon blood on Cale's arm, and later his leg, where he's shot by a laser blast.
Later, Akima sticks a medical probe of some sort into the wound in his leg (seen from a distance).
A little bit of blood squirts out when a laser blast nicks Akima's arm.
We see some blood coming out of Korso's arm.

DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE: Obviously, the Drej have both toward the Earthlings, as they want to eradicate them from the Universe.
Other aliens have bad attitudes toward Cale and the few remaining Earthlings.
Some of Cale's fellow crewmembers turn out to be working for the enemy and thus try to kill him and others while attempting to locate and destroy Titan.

FRIGHTENING SCENES: Scenes listed under "Violence" may also be unsettling or tense to some viewers, all dependent on their age, level of maturity and tolerance for such material.
The opening sequence where the Earthlings are fleeing as the Drej ships are attacking and then ultimately destroy Earth could be tense or unsettling to some kids.
Younger kids could be frightened by the sight of two menacing looking, dog-like creatures that Cale briefly sees.
A several minute sequence where Cale and Korso try to avoid some attacking Drej that repeatedly fire weapons at them might be suspenseful - in an action-oriented way - to some kids. This includes a bit where the two find themselves in an escape pod in outer space where the front window panel is cracking and about to implode.
The Drej show up and open fire on the humans and an alien race of bird-like creatures that try to fly them to safety. Along the way, the Drej shoot many of these birdlike aliens, occasionally causing the humans to fall toward their death before being snatched up by other birdlike creatures. In addition, various balls of hydrogen float up and hit the Drej fighters, causing both to explode, while other Drej fighters repeatedly fire at Cale and the others in the sky and on the water below.
Akima is pulled back into a wall by some sort of energy force while Cale is lifted into the air by another energy beam and seems to be uncomfortably zapped by little jolts of electricity/energy.
Cale has a brief nightmare where several Drej appear at the door of his quarters and shoot him in the chest with a laser blast.
Cale tries attacking Korso who then punches him several times while Preed holds a laser gun on Akima (who bites him on the hand and elbows him). Cale then hits Korso over the head with something that shatters. Preed then fires at them as they escape, with one shot grazing Akima's arm.
One spaceship chases another through an outer space ice field, with one barely making it through an opening that's closing as they approach.
During the several minute long conclusive sequence (that's filled with various moments of violence and peril), Cale and Korso hang from something resembling some broken scaffolding and Cale tries to save Korso from falling, but can't (Korso, however, manages to grab ahold of a cable and thus save his own life).

GUNS/WEAPONS: Drej fighters/mother ship & Valkyrie: Used by the former to attack Earthlings, their ships and destroy Earth and later used when attacking Cale and his friends/crew, while the former fires upon/destroys some Drej fighters.
Laser-type guns: Used by the humans and Drej to shoot at one another.
Club of sorts: Used by Akima to hit a man.
Explosive: Used in an attempt to kill two characters.

IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR: Phrases: "Losers," "Morons," "Nuts" (crazy), "Scumball," "Professor screw loose" and "Shut up."

JUMP SCENES: None.

MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE): An extreme amount of action-oriented suspense music plays during the film.

MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE): None.

PROFANITY: 1 possible "s" word, and 3 damns (with one possibly being "G-damn") are used as exclamations.

SEX/NUDITY: Preed jokes, "I must have you" to Akima after noting her medical/nursing demeanor toward Cale.
As Akima then uses a medical device to levitate Cale (to work on his wounds), he comments that he's nude, and we briefly see (on two occasions) his bare butt. Akima then jokes that if he doesn't hold still, he'll lose something important (referring to his privates).
Cale walks in on Akima just as she's putting a towel around her nude body (we only see some cleavage). As he stands at the open door, she asks if he's "in or out," and he enthusiastically responds "in."

SMOKING: None.

TENSE FAMILY SCENES: Cale's father tells the boy (at age 5) that he must go on a separate ship from him (due to the dangerous mission) as everyone flees Earth (thus parent/child separation). Many years later, Cale learns that his father is dead (we don't know about his mother).

TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT: The prejudice the Drej and other aliens have toward the humans.
Why the Drej wanted to exterminate all of the humans and destroy Earth.

VIOLENCE: The Drej fighters attack some of escaping Earth vehicles, destroying many of them (and killing everyone inside - all the deaths aren't seen).
The Drej mother ship fires upon Earth with a huge beam, sending a shockwave around the planet, eventually causing it to explode (with the explosion catching and then destroying some fleeing spacecraft as well as destroying much of the moon).
One of Cale's fellow salvage coworkers purposefully allows the large material he's carrying to bump Cale on the head (he's in outer space wearing a space suit and helmet).
An alien grabs Cale and starts to squeeze him in a bear hug while another alien hits him in the gut. Korso then arrives and essentially lassos the two aliens. As he and Cale then talk, Cale occasionally kicks the bound aliens (once in the head).
Korso and some Drej shoot at each other with laser-type guns (since the Drej are pure energy beings, such shots only knock them backwards). This continues for several minutes with such shots damaging nearby objects, and one of the Drej shoots and vaporizes a small, alien cook. Korso then kicks a barrel of flammable liquid toward two Drej and then shoots it, causing it and them to explode. More shots are fired, and the craft Korso and Cale escape in is torn apart and then crashes through the end of a spacecraft corridor, causing an explosion.
Preed does some "sport shooting" at a smaller alien creature on a planet.
The Drej show up and open fire on the humans and an alien race of bird-like creatures that try to fly them to safety. Along the way, the Drej shoot many of these birdlike aliens, occasionally causing the humans to fall toward their death before being snatched up by other birdlike creatures. In addition, various balls of hydrogen float up and hit the Drej fighters, causing both to explode, while other Drej fighters repeatedly fire at Cale and the others in the sky and on the water below.
Akima is pulled back into a wall by some sort of energy force while Cale is lifted into the air by another energy beam and seems to be uncomfortably zapped by little jolts of electricity/energy.
Acting like a master and his slave respectively to fool a guard, Preed pushes and kicks Korso. When that doesn't work, Stith kicks and hits the guard, knocking him silly and Preed then zaps him with some sort of electrical jolt.
Cale gets a jolt from an "electrified" door.
It appears that Akima has hit several men around her, and then does strike one with a club of sorts as he starts to regain consciousness.
Cale has a brief nightmare where several Drej appear at the door of his quarters and shoot him in the chest with a laser blast.
An alien holds a gun on Cale.
Cale tries attacking Korso who then punches him several times while Preed holds a laser gun on Akima (who bites him on the hand and elbows him). Cale then hits Korso over the head with something that shatters. Preed then fires at them as they escape, with one shot grazing Akima's arm.
Korso hits Gune on the back of the head, knocking him from his seat.
Two characters are injured in an explosion, with one of them apparently dying from sustained injuries (although he claims - before he falls unconscious and/or dies -- that he's only sleepy/tired).
Korso and Preed fire several shots at Cale and Akima, knocking a weapon from the latter's hand.
Preed holds his weapon on Korso and then gets into a fight with Cale, eventually slamming him into a wall, seemingly knocking him unconscious.
Korso breaks Preed's neck and then throws his body down a flight of stairs.
Korso kicks a weapon from Cale's hand and then kicks and punches him. In turn, Cale kicks and punches him.
The Drej fighters fire upon the humans who fire back, destroying many of their ships.
A man is jolted by energy passing through/over his body, but we don't know his fate.

Reviewed June 10, 2000 / Posted June 16, 2000

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