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KidScore Rating System
KidScore Movie Ratings
Around the World in 80 Days

Rated PG

The Basics
Title: Around the World in 80 Days
Rating: PG

Overall rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Best for Ages: 8
+

Ages 3 - 7: Red
Ages 8 - 12: Green
Ages 13 - 17: Green
Violence Amount: Green
Violence Portrayal: Green
Fear: Green
Illegal / Harmful: Green
Language: Green
Nudity: Green
Sex: Green

Review:
Jackie Chan has made a wonderful, family friendly version of the Jules Verne classic "Around the World in 80 Days". This film follows the travels of Phileas Fogg (Steve Coogan) who takes a bet to circle the globe in 80 days or stop inventing. Fogg is a scientist of low standing among his colleagues in London. He invents things like roller blades and jet packs and he dreams that man will one day fly. In an effort to get rid of him forever, his colleagues wager that he must stop inventing if he cannot circle the world in 80 days. His new valet, Passepartout (Jackie Chan), goes along for the ride, but he has ulterior motives. He has stolen a jade Buddha from the Bank of England and wants to return it to his village in China as the Buddha guarantees the safety of the village. The two men begin their journey and it is anything but uneventful.They run into trouble everywhere they go and they even pick up an extra passenger. We see many beautiful countries in their travels and diverse cultures. There are the usual action fights that Chan is known for but no one is hurt. There is comedy throughout as Fogg is oblivious to the fact that Passepartout is constantly saving his life from the men who are after the Buddha. The comic violence is not very scary. There is some mild language and crude humor. Adults do drink and smoke and polygamy is mentioned. Several stars make cameo appearances in strange places. For instance, the governor of California is a sultan in the Middle East. This is a fun movie for the whole family. Discuss your family vacations in comparison. Where would you like to visit after seeing this movie?

Linda ThomasLinda Thomas is a native Minnesotan. She graduated from the University of Minnesota with a double major in sociology and psychology. Married with a family, she has remained in the Minneapolis area.

Linda has been a lover of movies since she was a small child. This love of film eventually brought her to the point in life where she is now, a film critic. She was featured on WCCO radio for three years on the “Dark in the Morning” show with Dark Star.

In December of 2001, Linda became the film critic for the syndicated “Ruth Koscielak Show”.

Linda sees over 150 movies a year and has had the opportunity to interview a number of directors and actors when they are in town. She has also appeared on a public access show called the "Cinema Judge" and has ventured into writing for "Cinestar" magazine in September 2002. The Twin Cities movie magazine is available, for free, at most local Blockbuster's and local movie cheaters.

Her website is: www.lindathomasmovies.com

As one of the few female reviewers in the Twin Cities area, she brings a unique point of view to her reviews. Linda has raised two children, a boy and a girl, and knows what they like in movies and what is appropriate. Hopefully, her reviews will help your family in choosing where to next spend your movie-going dollar.

©2006 National Institute on Media and the Family.