 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
127 Hours
- Review Date: October 27, 2010
- R
- Genre: Drama
- 2010
Common Sense Media says
True story of trapped hiker is intense, powerful, gruesome.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this intense drama from the director of Slumdog Millionaire is based on a true story about a hiker trapped in the bottom of a canyon for more than five days, his arm pinned between a boulder and the canyon wall. Although there's some very gruesome self-inflicted violence as the main character (who's played by James Franco) attempts to free himself -- some audience members reportedly passed out at preview screenings -- ultimately 127 Hours is a positive, life-affirming story about overcoming incredible odds. Those who have the stomach for the bloody parts can also expect some heavy language (not all that surprising, considering the movie's circumstances), and flashback scenes with drinking and sexual situations. There are also notable beverage product placements (Gatorade, Coke, Perrier, etc.) as the main character gets thirsty and dreams of something to drink.
What's the story?
One weekend, Aron Ralston (James Franco) decides to go hiking and climbing by himself. He haphazardly packs his backpack with water and supplies and heads out. He spends some time with two girls (Amber Tamblyn and Kate Mara), who are lost and shows them an underground lake. They part ways, and a little later, Aron slips and falls into a canyon. A boulder lands on top of his arm, pinning and trapping him. For five days, Aron tries to escape, rations his food and water, tries to keep warm, and passes the time by remembering and imagining his friends and family. He eventually decides that, to escape, he needs to make a painful sacrifice.
Is it any good?
Franco gives a powerhouse performance in the one-man centerpiece role, humanizing the movie and providing its emotional core. Directed by Danny Boyle (127 HOURS is his first movie afte the Oscar-winning Slumdog Millionaire) the movie is very slick and stylish, including shots from inside a water bottle and X-ray shots of Aron's arm, as well as a large collection of fantasy sequences and flashbacks and clever, effective cinematography and editing.
You could argue that this high style is gratuitous, but on the other hand, it may be necessary to help the very intense material go down a little smoother; it gives viewers occasional rest breaks and moments of hope. It's interesting to compare 127 Hours to another one-man "trapped" movie, the almost totally stripped-down Buried. Both movies are powerful in their own ways. But 127 Hours will no doubt resonate more with audiences, given its ultimately hopeful message and themes of bravery and heroism.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the movie's gory parts. Were they absolutely necessary to tell the story? How did seeing those scenes make you feel? Could you feel the pain the character was going through? How was this accomplished?
Did Aron do everything possible to free himself? What could he have done differently? What would you have done differently?
Are movies based on real lives/true stories more interesting than those that are pure fiction?
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AGE
Not as disturbing as most say. Great movie!
The first thing most need to know is that there is a difference in seeing someone chop their own arm off to escape from a canyon, then to see someone chop someone else's arm off in pitched battle. I wanted to see the movie ever since I read the book. I was not disappointed. The acting was amazing. You never think a single thing isn't real. I can understand why someone would faint in this film, but it's not that bad. Considering it happens once in the entire film and that's it, I think most should be able to see it. Worst case scenario you just look away.
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AGE
One of the Best Movies I've Ever Seen
This movie was incredible and is definitely worth watching. Phenomenal acting and directing help adapt this powerful story into a deeply moving and inspirational film. I had to turn my face away a couple times during the amputation scene (though it is a vital part of the movie, it can be easily avoided without taking away from the overall film) Even if viewers don't feel up to sitting through the graphic (though short) amputation scene, I would definitely recommend this film to anyone. 127 Hours is an experience that leaves a lasting impression on its viewers.
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AGE
Best of the Year
One of the best movies of the year. SPOILER: The only bad parts are when he swears and when he cuts his arm off which was a very minoir scene.
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AGE
Great Movie If You're Up For It
To be quite honest, the age level completely depends on the level of exposure for a kid. If you've been watching gruesome movies since you were a young kid, then you could probably handle this. But if you were the kind of kid whose parents only let you watch PG movies, be cautioned - the amputation scene is something that you may want to cover your eyes for. Of course, seeing as though that part was probably the main highlight, and if you're in a theater watching it, there's no viable way of avoiding the scene without leaving the theater momentarily (there are shrieks and screams in the background, so even if you cover your ears and eyes, you'll "experience" some of that pain).
At any rate, Danny Boyle is awesome, so this movie's imagery was breathtaking, despite the gore. James Franco is a superb actor (and come on, I mean, look at him; how could you refuse to watch a movie with him in it?). All in all, it's an amazing movie worth watching if you're ready for it. Yeah, spend the money on the DVD or rental. However, it's not the kind of movie you want to watch right before going to sleep.
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AGE
Inspiring.
This was a beautiful film. Wonderfully shot and acted, and made one great movie out of a simple story.
15+ for a scene of grisly images, strong language, some sensuality and drinking.
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AGE
Excellent message to outdoor enthusiasts
This was a very intense movie that shows the victim overcome all odds to survive. There is 1 period that is very gory, but I thought it was necessary to display how extreme the task was. My kids and I enjoy many outdoor activities, and this is a movie a certainly want them to see. However, I believe they need to wait until they are a bit older due to some scenes with sexual overtones in addition to the gore.
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AGE
127 Hours is superb, but graphic.
127 Hours is an excellent movie with a groundbreaking performance from James Franco, excellent cinematography and editing, and a strong sense of triumph and liberation at the end. However, this is not an easy movie to sit through. There are scenes that will make almost anybody cringe at during the amputation scene. It is very bloody, disturbing, and it made the whole audience cringe. I highly recommend this movie, but just be cautious of the amputation scene when going into it.
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AGE
LOVE IT!!
Well since I am a kid my father told me that I had to hide my eyes just once. The blood is gross but I could stand it. Some sexy stuff but more than likely a good movie for parents and a great movie for early teens!!I LOVED IT!! (=
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Kid, 12 years old
April 7, 2011
AGE
A little gory.
It's a really intresting movie. There are swears and one too violent scene. Although, the rest is great. The movie has a great message and great acting by Franco.
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AGE
Powerful story, amputation scene not too bad
Wow...after waiting to see this movie since it came out in theaters (it's finally on Netflix!), it was even better than I expected. James Franco did an awesome and very believable job as Ralston, the filming was innovative and the story moved quickly from the start. The movie itself is barely 1 1/2 hours. Of course everyone anticipates the amputation scene near the end--actually, it was much shorter than I expected it to be and while not easy to watch, it shouldn't be a problem for older teen viewers who know the story. The flashbacks make the story even more interesting and throw in some variety--some of them are sexual but nothing explicit (PG-13), and yes there is product placement mostly of sodas, but that wasn't a problem for me. Language includes a bunch of f-words, etc., standard for an R movie. Great movie, not appropriate for preteens and some young teens, but fine for older teens and adults. In my opinion Common Sense's rating of "iffy for 17+" could go a bit lower.
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| Studio: | Fox Searchlight |
| Director: | Danny Boyle |
| Cast: | Amber Tamblyn, James Franco, Kate Mara |
| Genre: | Drama |
| Run time: | 94 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | November 5, 2010 |
| DVD release date: | March 1, 2011 |
| MPAA rating: | R |
| MPAA explanation: | language and some disturbing violent content/bloody images |
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