not for kids
Extreme gore, sex, teen drinking in fishy remake.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Piranha 3D is a graphically gory remake of the 1978 cult favorite. The new version is very, very heavy on gore, with a stomach-turning sequence of post-piranha carnage -- complete with skeletal remains; hanging, wobbling flesh; and gallons of blood. There's also plenty of sex on display, including a long sequence in which two fully naked women swim and kiss underwater, not to mention dozens of other teens wearing (and sometimes not wearing) skimpy bikinis. Teens drink openly, with very little consequence. Language is strong and constant, with many uses of both "f--k" and "s--t." The 3-D factor makes the effects and violent scenes even more intense and relentlessly bloody.
- Families can talk about the movie's extreme violence and gore. How did it affect you? Which parts were funny -- and which were squirm inducing? Why?
- Was the movie scary? What makes the fish effective horror movie monsters?
- How is teen drinking portrayed in the movie? What would the real-life consequences be for this kind of behavior?
The good stuff
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Messages: The movie is basically one long, unapologetic celebration of sex and gory violence. There's a minor message about how the teen partiers mess up the lake with their trash, but it's drowned in blood. There's some attempt at teamwork and problem-solving toward the end, but it's perfunctory and rushed.
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Role models: Teen hero Jake eventually steps up to rescue his friend -- and finally gets to express how he really feels about her -- but before that, he lies to his mother and abandons his younger brother and sister in order to work on a boat with porn stars, booze, and a drug-snorting director. Both bad and good characters die, in the most horrific ways imaginable.
What to watch for
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Violence: Tons of grisly gore, with the expected blood-in-the-water and bubbling as the piranhas go to work just below the surface. There's also a gruesome, post-carnage sequence of torn and shredded Spring Break bodies, tattered, hanging flesh, and gallons of blood. Bloody skeletons, and the fish munch on flesh, eyes, and one penis. A cowardly teen tries to escape in a motorboat and runs over several other teens in the process (a girl's hair is tangled in the motor). In one very squirm-inducing moment, a small girl steps on a broken bit of glass in the water. Two children are in peril during the course of the film.
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Sex: Real-life porn star Riley Steele plays an actress shooting a sexy video. She's seen completely naked, swimming around underwater with another naked woman. One character's penis is ripped off by the fish; it's seen floating in the water. Dozens of girls in bikinis at the Spring Break festivities; some remove their tops (one girl parasails while topless), and there's also girl-on-girl kissing and a wet T-shirt contest. A teen looks at a porn website. Lots of additional sexual innuendo.
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Language: Very frequent use of "f--k" and "s--t." Other words used often include "son of a bitch," "goddamn," "piss," "ass," "boobs," "t-ts," "tatas," "chocha," "Jesus Christ" (as an exclamation) and "penis."
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Consumerism: A Mountain Dew banner is seen during the wet T-shirt contest.
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Drinking, drugs and smoking: An old man drinks beer in the opening scene. Teens are seen drinking heavily during the Spring Break festivities. The "porn" director snorts cocaine and drinks champagne and tequila. He shares champagne and tequila with the teens on his boat; one teen girl drinks some and throws up afterward.
Fan Reviews provided by
1
Porno NOT for kids/families by Nevrsaydie1988
It's just sick. This movie is pretty much a porno. It's a shame cause it could have really been a good horror movie. Instead, it's just a trashy cheap flick that I walked out of.
4
Campy movies can be great. by asojax
First off if you enjoy a truly campy movie go see piranha 3D, just got done watching it, it's one of those movies that is so bad you have to laugh at it.
This movie is not scary in anyway, the movie knows it's terrible from the begining to the end and it revels in it's total stupidity, there are a couple of moments where i have to wonder why this movie was "R" rated and not flat out NC-17, Jerry O'connel has the best line in the entire movie but if you wanna know what it is you have to see the movie.
I do wonder when he read for the movie if he was like this guy has the worst lines i wanna play him and do it with a straight face hahaha, What ever the case maybe if you do like a truly campy experience where the movie is terrible, knows it's terrible and expects you to laugh at every stupid moment go see this film, otherwise stay away.
2
*WARNING* Strong Sexual Content by TimRLF
***Parents be warned some content in this movie may not be appropriate for children***
I work for a theatre so naturally i see a lot of films. To start off in my honest opinion this movie should have been rated NC-17. I would rate it that way mainly because of all the graphic nudity involved...to prove my point there is a 5 minute scene where all you're looking at is two fully nude women swimming and making out underwater. While I understand that kind of stuff does happen at massive spring break parties, it simply was not necessary to have in the movie. The story line itself was dry and lacked any appealing aspects. The death scenes where spectacularly done, however it would be good to note that myself and the other manager screening where physically ill after seeing some of the gore.
If you enjoy gore and just want to see naked women then this is the movie for you.
1
Predictable, boring, annoying! by TruthB3Told
There are Piranha's that kill in a lake, okaaaay... Basically there is nothing else to this movie if you're looking to watch something with substance. This moving is drawing in a crowd of immature boys who moaned and made inappropriate comments when they saw the girls in the movie showing off their bare boobs, shaking their @$$, and young men pop champagne bottles at the girls from their groin. Could pass as soft porn if you ask me. It was a waste of my time and money.
4
Five Word Review by SOUTHERNBELNLA
Bloody gore nudity horror must!
1
dont go by kb30cc
the only movie I've ever walked out of what a wast of time and money
1
Why? by birac
Porn and crude actions and blood. What a wonderful thing for the young men of America to occupy their time with,and compare their girlfriends,wives to. Shame on the industry,and us.
1
A Bloody Mess by Justright1947
Don't waste your time on this poor excuse for a horror movie. It is just nothing but Girls Gone Wild with Piranha. Jerry O'Connel is the worst excuse of an actor. It should have stayed a fat boy. Even the 3d was substandard fare. I was totally embarassed to be seen walking out of this movie with a woman.
5
Piranha-3D is worth of every bite! by Critique888
As an 80's baby, I proclaim Piranha 3-D to be a winner! It truly pays homage to the horror movies of past decades like "Jaws" and "Piranha." Director Alexandre Aja didn't miss a beat with an easy-to-follow storyline, recognizable characters, lots of action, and a bevy of scantily clad young adults just ripe for the picking. The 3-D imagery is superior and it is a fun way to end the summer!
I would caution against taking younger kids (under the age of 14) to view this film because it is extremely bloody and there is a lot of nudity not to mention a most memorable scene involving a floating private part, so be forewarned.
Horror-movie fans, take this opportunity for a last-minute-summer-movie escape and enjoy one hour and thirty minutes of pure uncomplicated entertainment!
5
Five Word Review by Ravingbull
great gore laughs and boobies