You selected an amazing movie because it is exactly the story of the Exploration Age. You totally had me thinking a history based film.
When I watched the movie with my son I described the similarities with the "New World". My kids are half Native American so it was a modern way to show them what happened.
RE: That's Edutainment! Using a Hollywood Movie to Teach The Age of Exploration/Discovery/Expansion to Students with Learning Disabilities Part II