Heavenly Sword – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Heavenly Sword

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie2014

28%

WISE Score

A forgettable 2014 video game adaptation with wooden animation and a 28% audience score—this sword-and-sorcery tale is a swing and a miss.

Heavenly Sword

movie

NR, 2014

28%

WISE Score

A forgettable 2014 video game adaptation with wooden animation and a 28% audience score—this sword-and-sorcery tale is a swing and a miss.

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Screenwise Verdict

Let's be real: this is a bad movie. With a 28% Rotten Tomatoes audience score and a dismal 2.7/5 on Letterboxd, Heavenly Sword joins the long, tragic list of terrible video game adaptations from the 2010s.

The CGI animation hasn't aged well, the storytelling is reportedly wooden, and even fans of the original game were left cold. Yes, it has a female warrior protagonist and fantasy world-building, but those positives are completely undermined by poor execution.

The violence level means it's not appropriate for younger kids anyway, and older teens would be bored to tears. Unless you're doing a deep dive into the history of failed game-to-film adaptations, skip this one entirely. There are dozens of better fantasy films that will actually hold your family's attention.

Age Fit

Common Sense Media pegs this at 15+ due to fantasy violence, but honestly, most 15-year-olds would rather watch literally anything else. This is really only for die-hard fans of the original PlayStation 3 game, and even they'll probably be disappointed.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Based on a video game with heavy combat themes. The plot centers on sword fighting and warfare against King Bohan's forces. While it may have themes of duty and protection, the overall tone is action-heavy and combat-focused rather than emotionally healthy or modeling cooperation. The low audience scores suggest poor execution that likely undermines any positive messaging.

Imaginative

Features a fantasy world with ancient tribes, magical swords, and deity reincarnation mythology. The premise has some imaginative elements drawn from the game's lore. However, as a direct video game adaptation from 2014, it likely follows predictable action-fantasy beats without much original creative expression. The very low ratings (28% RT audience, 2.7/5 Letterboxd) suggest uninspired execution.

Safe

Common Sense Media rates it for age 15, indicating significant violent content. The plot revolves around sword combat and warfare. As a PG-13 style action film (likely), it probably contains sustained fantasy violence, battle sequences, and potentially some intense moments. For younger viewers, this could include unexpected intensity. The game it's based on was known for brutal combat, though the film may tone this down.

Enriching

With a 28% RT audience score, 5.3/10 IMDb, and 2.7/5 Letterboxd rating, this is a poorly-received film that offers minimal enrichment. Video game adaptations from this era are notoriously low-quality. While it may touch on themes of destiny and sacrifice, the poor execution means viewers are unlikely to gain meaningful insights or skills. It's entertainment value is questionable at best.

Parent Info

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Why It Might Be Great

Features a female warrior protagonist in a fantasy setting, which could appeal to kids interested in action heroines
The mythology of ancient tribes and magical weapons might engage fans of fantasy world-building
Available free on multiple streaming platforms, so at least you won't waste money on it

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What to Watch For

Significant fantasy violence and sword combat throughout—Common Sense Media recommends age 15+
CGI animation from 2014 that likely looks dated and stiff by modern standards
Very poor reviews across the board suggest this is genuinely hard to sit through, even for fans of the original game
Runs the risk of being boring rather than engaging, despite the action-heavy premise

Conversation Starters

"What makes a hero worthy of wielding a legendary weapon? Is it destiny or choice?"
"Nariko has to use a sword she was only supposed to guard—have you ever had to step up and do something you weren't planning to do?"
"Why do you think video game movies are so hard to make well?"

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