This is a truly great movie starring James Franco and Benjamin Bratt. There is plenty of violence, although not too severe. There is one execution scene, though, where 10 POWs are lined-up and shot in the back of the neck. There is some blood shown with each execution, but overall, it is not as graphic as some war movies. The language is actually not much of a problem. There are about two f-words, although hard to hear because of the battle sounds, etc. There are also some other colorful phrases throughout the film, but not much for a R-rated movie in this day and age. There is no sex whatsoever, although there are a few minor references. Overall a great movie, which most people probably will enjoy. (14+)
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The Great Raid
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Is it age appropriate?
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Not age appropriate for kids under 16, age appropriate for kids over 17; suggested age 16. -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
A by-the-numbers WWII movie; mature teens and up.
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 16–17
What to watch out for
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Violence:
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What Parents Need to Know
About The Great Raid
Parents need to know that this movie includes violent, dark images of war and prisoner abuses. Characters curse briefly, look ravaged, suffer abuse at the hands of captors and from malaria, and participate in prolonged, rough-looking battles.
Read our full review by Cynthia Fuchs
Families Can Talk About
- Families can talk about the possible reasons for this film's historical basis -- a raid in which U.S. military rescued 511 prisoners from a Japanese prison camp -- having remained largely untaught in U.S. classrooms and unheralded in popular culture. This fictionalized version adds a romance (between a soldier and a nurse) and tense relationships among U.S. soldiers, both rescuers and prisoners: what dramatic purposes do these storylines serve? How does the nurse's devotion to the major help connect action in two locations? How does the movie represent the Japanese and Filipino soldiers, in their very different relations to the U.S. troops?
Our Members Say
Most Recent Reviews
- I rate this title iffy for age 13 and give it
Great true story of the greatest rescue in American history!
- I rate this title on for age 13 and give it
This should have got the academy award!
This was a great movie, and a true story. It is cinematically a true work of art. Because it was patriotic and not full of obscenties, the critics panned it. It is excellent. This should have got movie of the year. Go figure!
- I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
Not nearly as good as "Saving Private Ryan" or "Platoon", but still good
Then again, I think it's impossible to make a better war movie than the two listed above (same goes with the general genre, but also including "Schindler's List"). I would suggest that you read the book first to familiarize yourself with the movie's premise, since some people thought it was a little confusing (personally, I didn't). Continuing the inevitable movie comparisons, "Raid" wan't nearly as violent/gorey as "Ryan" and wasn't as realistic as "Schindler's" 'actuality violence'. There was some cussing here and there, and two brief "f*cks" (one was kind of hard to hear though). So if overall, the movie was good, though I have a feeling that I appreciated it more since that period of conflict greatly interests me.
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