Déjà Vu (PG-13)

Violent terrorism thriller has sci-fi twists.

(Flash is loading. If this text does not disappear you need to install the latest flash version)

Common Sense rates it
3
Seen the movie? Review it
5841_orig.jpg
Movie details
  • Studio: Touchstone Pictures, Touchstone Pictures
  • Directed By: Tony Scott
  • Cast: Val Kilmer, Denzel Washington, Paula Patton
  • Running Time: 125 minutes
  • Release Date: 11/21/2006
  • Video/DVD Release Date: 04/24/2007
  • Genre: Thriller
  • MPAA Rating: PG-13
  • MPAA Explanation: intense sequences of violence and terror, disturbing images and some sensuality.

Parents need to know

Parents need to know that this violent thriller has been targeted more at adults than kids, but some teens will be interested. With the movie's terrorism storyline, it's not surprising that there are explosions, car crashes, fights, and shootings -- which result in burned, bloody, beaten, and drowned bodies. Weapons include knives, guns, bombs, and vehicles. In one scene, scientists and authorities watch voyeuristically as a woman undresses and showers in her apartment. Characters argue loudly and discuss motivations for terrorism alongside religious faith, and in one sad scene, a father grieves his daughter's murder. The language is very tame for a PG-13 film.

Families can talk about the concept of déjà vu: How does it provide a dramatic hook for a movie? What are the characters' different motivations (revenge, self-sacrifice, desire, revulsion, science, faith, etc.)? How do different motivations lead to different results? Families can also discuss the possibilities of time travel. What would you change about your own behavior if you could go back in time? Did you know this movie was about time travel before you saw it? Do you think marketers and producers consciously chose to downplay that angle? Why?

Message

Social Behavior:

Authorities lie to Doug to solicit his help; a plainly disturbed terrorist believes his cause (mass murder) is justified to prove that he's fit for military service. On the plus side, the hero is utterly noble.

Consumerism:

Drugs/Alcohol/Tobacco:

Cigarette smoking (by coroner in morgue and by villain during interrogation); quick joke about "smoking hash."

Violence

The film opens with a harrowing scene of a terrorist attack on a ferry (explosion, flames, bloody bodies on fire and floating in water), which is later repeated; weapons include guns, bombs, knives, and plier-cutters; Claire's dead body is seen at the morgue (burned, fingers cut off, bloody); bloody rags in sink; ATF agent shot/burned by villain; lengthy car chase (cars crash and flip); hero shot through windshield; kidnap victim with a bag on head is doused in gasoline (about to be burned); villain shoots guard on ferry; time-travel machine results in violent permutations of traveler's face/figure.

Sex

Images of Claire in some states of undress as she's watched by the investigators.

Language

Minor language ("rat's ass").

Common Sense says

What's the story?

Reviewed by Cynthia Fuchs

A thriller with a science-fiction twist, DÉJÀ VU begins with a terrorist attack -- a bomb explodes aboard a ferry carrying Navy sailors on leave. Among the authorities trying to sort out the crime scene is ATF agent Doug Carlin (Denzel Washington), who's particularly good at reading details. His acute interpretations of bomb residues, bodies, and video surveillance tapes draw the attention of FBI special agent Pryzwarra (Val Kilmer), who recruits Doug for a special anti-terrorism team. Complications arise when Doug learns that one woman's body (Claire) shows signs of the explosion -- even though she died minutes before the bomb went off. The FBI trots out surveillance technology that enables them to observe her last few days, hoping that she'll lead them to the terrorist. Doug quickly figures out that this set-up isn't what it appears to be – the FBI has the ability to "warp the very fabric of space."

Is it any good?

3

Washington's focused performance holds the movie's various generic and thematic strands together. Doug is certainly an intrepid and even romantic hero, devoting himself to Claire's case. But he's also a believably skeptical detective, and his questions about motives and technologies tend to mirror the audience's. This third collaboration between Washington and director Tony Scott (the others being 2004's Man on Fire and 1995's Crimson Tide) combines elaborate stunts and psychological ambiguities in order to challenge audience expectations.

The effectiveness of this combination is manifest in the movie's characterization of suspect Carroll Oerstadt (Jim Caviezel). His desire for revenge against the U.S. military is at once personal and political, with oblique connections to current recruitment concerns as well as definitions of "patriotism." Such details make Déjà Vu, although uneven, more intriguing than the usual action thriller.

Related Video

Support Common Sense Media
Common Sense Media is a non-profit and will receive a portion of your purchase from Pricegrabber. Learn more.

Parents and kids say

All Reviews

There are 12 reviews.

3


Posted on 02/29/08 by savvyanna13 Kid contributor, age 13

Intense

Good movie and confusing at times, you have to have your brain turned on in order for it to make sense. It was a little graphic at times but is a good movie for anyone 13+
0


Posted on 08/04/07 by Curbspaget Kid contributor, age 16

BORING

This movie didn't make sense, there are way too many plot holes with time travel, and they did nothing to try and cover any of them. It's also very boring, as nothing is happening most of the movie, other than watching the past.
1


Posted on 07/25/07 by directerdude123 Kid contributor, age 13

I did NOT like this!

I did not get what was going on through out the entire move! It would have been good movie if they didn't make it so confusing! If you can listen to EVERY last detail in this to get it then its for you. There was some violants but not bad. But the truth is it was creepy at some parts but overall BORD ME! For kids 12+ Don't waist your time!
5


Posted on 07/22/07 by daddy long legs Kid contributor, age 11

A MUST SEE MOVIE

this was a great movie parents let your kid go see it every kid 8 9 10 11 cause Im 11 go see it it all depends on how your kid takes movies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
5


Posted on 06/25/07 by dklink94 Kid contributor, age 13

LOVED THIS MOVIE!!!

this movie was insanely awesome! it had awesome twists, and amazing acting. very good. i recomend for 12+ who love thrillers.
5


Posted on 04/27/07 by Zz_Scene Kid contributor, age 13
3


Posted on 04/26/07 by grahamandheather Adult contributor

Made me dizzy

This was a good movie and I saw it twice in the theatre, but it is quite violent and disturbing for kids.
4


Posted on 12/12/06 by Heart_d Kid contributor, age 14

This is a good movie. I thought it was a little bit strange but it was good. Really I don't think it is anything to worry about although there are some parts were the girl is undressed but nothing really shows so not to big of a deal.
4

Posted on 12/09/06 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 14

Great movie...

Very exciting. Some disturbing images and blood within the pg-13 limit. Don't bring anyone scared of action or violence. Very suspenseful and exciting. Great movie.
5


Posted on 12/06/06 by lcaulder Adult contributor

See all 12 reviews >

Adult Reviews

There are 2 reviews.

3


Posted on 04/26/07 by grahamandheather Adult contributor

Made me dizzy

This was a good movie and I saw it twice in the theatre, but it is quite violent and disturbing for kids.
5


Posted on 12/06/06 by lcaulder Adult contributor

Kids Reviews

There are 10 reviews.

3


Posted on 02/29/08 by savvyanna13 Kid contributor, age 13

Intense

Good movie and confusing at times, you have to have your brain turned on in order for it to make sense. It was a little graphic at times but is a good movie for anyone 13+
0


Posted on 08/04/07 by Curbspaget Kid contributor, age 16

BORING

This movie didn't make sense, there are way too many plot holes with time travel, and they did nothing to try and cover any of them. It's also very boring, as nothing is happening most of the movie, other than watching the past.
1


Posted on 07/25/07 by directerdude123 Kid contributor, age 13

I did NOT like this!

I did not get what was going on through out the entire move! It would have been good movie if they didn't make it so confusing! If you can listen to EVERY last detail in this to get it then its for you. There was some violants but not bad. But the truth is it was creepy at some parts but overall BORD ME! For kids 12+ Don't waist your time!
5


Posted on 07/22/07 by daddy long legs Kid contributor, age 11

A MUST SEE MOVIE

this was a great movie parents let your kid go see it every kid 8 9 10 11 cause Im 11 go see it it all depends on how your kid takes movies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
5


Posted on 06/25/07 by dklink94 Kid contributor, age 13

LOVED THIS MOVIE!!!

this movie was insanely awesome! it had awesome twists, and amazing acting. very good. i recomend for 12+ who love thrillers.
5


Posted on 04/27/07 by Zz_Scene Kid contributor, age 13
4


Posted on 12/12/06 by Heart_d Kid contributor, age 14

This is a good movie. I thought it was a little bit strange but it was good. Really I don't think it is anything to worry about although there are some parts were the girl is undressed but nothing really shows so not to big of a deal.
4

Posted on 12/09/06 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 14

Great movie...

Very exciting. Some disturbing images and blood within the pg-13 limit. Don't bring anyone scared of action or violence. Very suspenseful and exciting. Great movie.
5


Posted on 12/02/06 by Math-U Kid contributor, age 15

Great Teen movie!!!!

Great. Clean. And AWSOME!!!!! Kids over 13.
3


Posted on 12/01/06 by moviemogul 2.0; also fomerly moviemogul Kid contributor, age 15

Just a straight up good movie, nothing special. Different than I expected.

This was one of your just plain movies that is neither really good nor bad-- just plain good. The way the movie moved around plot/time-wise was different from what I expected, and I was also disappointed that the movie never really addressed deja vu either. It had an interesting enough premise on its own though, so the movie was still fine. There's really not that much to say about it since there isn't anything so superb to point out, and it's hard to talk about the movie without ruining it. Content-wise, the movie wasn't as violent as Common Sense Media made it sound, and that seemed to be the biggest concern. Language never escalates beyond about two "s--t" and a few other mild profanities. Sensuality was mild too, with no actual physical contact between people, just some suggestive views of a woman in the shower.
See all 10 kids reviews >
Review It

Great Fantasy Books for Harry Potter Fans

Great Fantasy Books for Harry Potter Fans
Which fantasy book creature has the best name?
Fluffy (3-headed dog, Harry Potter)
50%
Mister Grin (giant crocodile, Peter and the Starcatchers)
0%
Vermicious Knid (shapeshifting monster, Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator)
0%
The Incredibly Deadly Viper (harmless snake, Series of Unfortunate Events)
0%
Bunnicula (vampire bunny, Bunnicula series)
50%
2 votes