The Majestic  PG QUICK TAKE Drama: A blacklisted screenwriter washes up on the shores of a small town with amnesia and buoys the residents' spirits, as they believe him to be one of their own sons, lost for nearly a decade after WWII. PLOT: It's 1951 and Pete Appleton (JIM CARREY) is a Hollywood screenwriter whose script for "Sand Pirates of the Sahara" has just been turned into a movie starring his girlfriend, Sandra Sinclair (AMANDA DETMER). Pete's joy, however, quickly evaporates when he's accused of being a communist due to a club he belonged to years ago while in college. Before he has a chance to defend himself, Sandra dumps him, his second feature is pulled from production, and he finds himself somewhat drunkenly driving up the coast in reaction to the turn of events. Things get worse when he drives off a bridge, lands in a river and is knocked unconscious. Pete ends up washing up on the shores just outside the small town of Lawson, California where he's discovered by Stan Keller (JAMES WHITMORE), an elderly resident who takes him to see Doc Stanton (DAVID OGDEN STIERS) who diagnoses the young man as having amnesia. After various people state that he looks quite familiar, it's Harry Trimble (MARTIN LANDAU), the owner of the now dark Majestic movie theater, who thinks he's identified the mystery man as his long lost son Luke who was listed missing in action during WWII nearly a decade ago. In his confused condition, Pete can neither confirm nor deny that claim, but most everyone in town accepts that he's Luke. That is, except for Bob Leffert (KARL BURY), a WWII vet who went off to war with Luke and is suspicious of Pete, and Adele Stanton (LAURIE HOLDEN), the doc's aspiring lawyer daughter who was previously romantically involved with Luke. Nevertheless, Pete's presence as Luke soon buoys the small town's spirits due to them losing so many boys in the war. Accordingly, Harry decides to reopen The Majestic. With Pete's help, as well as that of head usher Emmett Smith (GERRY BLACK) and Irene Terwilliger (SUSAN WILLIS), the candy counter lady, the theater starts showing movies again, much to the delight of Mayor Ernie Cole (JEFFERY DeMUNN) and Sheriff Cecil Coleman (BRENT BRISCOE). Yet, as everyone tries to get Pete to remember his past, including Adele who starts to have feelings for him again, a menace looms in the distant background. Suspicious of Pete's sudden disappearance, Congressman Doyle (HAL HOLBROOK) and Majority Counsel Elvin Clyde (BOB BALABAN) want him found so that can testify before the House Un-American Activities Committee about his past involvement with communism. From that point on, Pete tries to remember who he really is and what he stands for as the congressional pressure soon threatens the idyllic life in which he's now suddenly found himself living.   OUR WORD TO PARENTS  Here's a quick look at the content found in this drama that's been rated PG. Profanity consists of at least 2 "s" words, while various other expletives and some colorful phrases are also uttered, as is a brief, sexually related bit of dialogue. McCarthy-like hearings about communism show Congressman and others with bad attitudes for attempting to frame and/or implicate innocent people with little or no evidence, while a few other bad attitudes are also present. A car accident involving a car hanging from a bridge and then falling into a river, resulting in the driver being knocked out, as well as an unrelated heart attack, might be a tad suspenseful or unsettling for some viewers. Some movie within movie violence includes an old style sword fight with a death by non-graphic impalement, another movie within a movie that involves a soldier shooting a robotic figure with his handgun (also with no blood/gore), while a person punches another person in the main story. Meanwhile, one man smokes a pipe several times, while the protagonist drinks shots of liquor and then drives off, somewhat intoxicated.   ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE  Pete has a few shots of liquor (that we see) and the bartender tells him he's probably had enough. He then drives after drinking (even after the bartender questions him doing so in his condition).   BLOOD/GORE  We see some dried blood and a cut on Pete's head.  Bob punches Pete in the face, knocking him to the ground and slightly bloodying his lip.   DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE  A person refers to a woman (who's not there) as a "skirt," while another calls a woman a "gal." Those involved in the McCarthy-like hearings obviously have both for accusing people of being Communists and/or trying to get them to implicate others, innocent or not. Bob has a bad attitude toward Pete/Luke, even going to the point of saying he hasn't had to kill anyone since the war (said as a threat).   GUNS/WEAPONS  Swords: Used in a swordfight (and by one character to kill another by impaling him) in a movie within the movie. Rifles/Handguns: Seen in a clip from "The Day the Earth Stood Still" and used (the handgun) to shoot a robotic figure.   IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR  Phrases: "Oh, sh*t," "Horny," "Holy crap," "How the hell should I know?" "Skirt" and "Gal" (woman), "What in the hell happened to you?" "Schmuck," "Where the hell have you been?" "Little turd," "Shut the hell up" and "I just told those guys to go screw themselves."   PROFANITY  "  At least 2 "s" words, 9 damns, 9 hells, 2 craps, 7 uses of "God," 6 of "Oh my God," 3 of "G-damn," 2 of "Jesus" and 1 use each of "Christ," "For God's sakes" and "My God" as exclamations.   SEX/NUDITY  When asked why he attended communist meetings in college, Pete says it was because he was interested in a girl who went to them and that he was "a horny young man."   SMOKING  Stan smokes his pipe several times, while a flashback and some archival footage show some people smoking cigarettes.   VIOLENCE  In a movie within the movie, some characters briefly fight with swords (in a very old style way). Pete's car falls off a bridge, but after he frees himself as it sinks under water, the river slams him into a bridge abutment, knocking him out and cutting his head. Bob punches Pete in the face, knocking him to the ground and slightly bloodying his lip. In a scene from "The Day the Earth Stood Still" (that shows at the theater), a solider shoots a robotic figure (in a 1950s style fashion) with a handgun (with no blood/gore). In another clip from the earlier movie within a movie, there's more sword fighting that follows a character striking another over the head with a small stone figure. The hero eventually stabs the villain in the gut with a sword, resulting in a mortal wound (but no blood/gore).   Theme: Jesus sacrificed himself so we might live. Scripture: Romans 5:6-11 Set up: Harry tells Luke about the different soldiers in the cemetery. He points out one who kept returning for his platoon's injured soldiers until every one was safe. The soldier later went MIA. Harry places the medal of honor around Luke's neck and proclaims "That was my son. That's who you are." (Warning! This clip contains an objectionable word-the kind that might be heard on prime-time TV.) God point: This is a moving illustration of Jesus' sacrifice. He saved each one of us from separation from God at his own expense. Like the real Luke Trimble, Jesus' body was never found. He now stands before his Father in heaven who proudly hands his Son the "honor" he richly deserves for his act of sacrificial love. Discussion Questions:  What's the most heroic deed you've ever seen someone perform? Do people normally think of Jesus as heroic? Why or why not?  Read aloud Romans 5:6-11. What factors make Jesus' sacrifice so unique? Why would Jesus die for people he knew might reject him?  How does Jesus try to "go back" for every person today?  How can you show Jesus your appreciation for his sacrifice this week?   Theme: We should offer songs to God with joy. Scripture: Psalm 33:1-3 Synopsis: Luke joins Irene at the piano. He struggles horribly to play a classical piece along with her, but busts out in a blistering ragtime jazz piece that gets the crowd dancing joyously. God point: Whether through the classics (hymns) or the newest rage (praise choruses), music plays an important role in the worship experience. Explain exactly why Christians sing, and help your young people explore ways to forge more joyful connections with God through this spiritual experience. Discussion Questions:  What are some of your favorite praise songs and hymns? What makes them your favorites? How do you feel when singing to God?  Does musical style affect how a person praises God? Why or why not? Read Aloud: Psalm 33:1-3. Why does God like to hear us sing his praises with joy? ASK: What's the difference between singing in general and singing to God? What makes you want to sing praises to God with all of your heart and soul?