My all time favortite, if there is a more aspiring movie outthere i have yet to see it. If yor kids are interested in seeing it and are 11 or up say yes the ending will make you cry but then bring a smile to your face. I had no idea wat these guys did untill seeing this how much they go through for us. There is some language including a F**k, violence is there but not much, but there peril and tense rescueing scenes, All arounda great, inspiring and stunning movie.
The Guardian
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Is it age appropriate?
About our ratings -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
Waterlogged rescue flick is nothing new.
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 13–15
What to watch out for
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Violence:
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Sex:
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Language:
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Consumerism:
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Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
This review of The Guardian was written by Cynthia Fuchs
Parents need to know that this action drama includes several harrowing scenes of storms and sinking boats at sea. Rescue swimmers valiantly try to save victims, but some deaths occur on screen (not bloody, but sad and -- in one case -- quite disturbing). Kids with fears about water should probably see something else. Sailors and swimmers argue and draw blood in fistfights. A couple falls in love and is shown kissing and in bed (no explicit sex, but tumbling under blankets and some underwear shots). Protagonists drink, take painkillers, and use occasional profanity.
Families Can Talk About
Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
- Families can talk about ways to deal with trauma. How does the movie make the case that focusing on the future (in the form of students to be taught and lives to be saved) helps Ben overcome his guilt, anger, and frustration? What are other ways -- both successful and unsuccessful -- that people deal with traumatic events? How do Ben and Jake's similarities (ambition, competitiveness, tragic pasts) make them ideal partners? What other movies have used a similar structure (tough veteran mentors young hot shot)? Families can also discuss the work of the Coast Guard, including the unit's heroic rescues on the Gulf Coast following Hurricane Katrina.
Have you seen it? Review It!
More on The Guardian
What’s the Story?
Kevin Costner stars as Ben Randall, a veteran Coast Guard rescue swimmer who turns to teaching after a traumatic event leaves him unable to carry on as usual. Ben needs to recover his nerve, while cocky student Jake (Ashton Kutcher) learn to play nicely with others, including his girlfriend, Emily (Melissa Sagemiller). Both teacher and student have suffered; the revelations of that suffering lead each to his own sort of manly re-commitment. At the rescue-swimming training facility, Ben's red-lit nightmares are compounded by the fact that his long-suffering wife, Helen (Sela Ward), has left him. He self-medicates and grumps at the recruits, and for 18 weeks, drills his trainees hard. Ben's methods occasionally alarm and annoy his fellow instructors, including resentful second-in-command Jack (Neal McDonough) and skeptical presiding officer Larson (John Heard). During his down time, Ben calls Helen to beg forgiveness and helps Jake avenge a beating he received from disdainful Navy sailors. Though the trainees' ranks do include a woman, the focus here is on boys learning to be men. Ben and Jake see themselves in each other, pretty much to the exclusion of anyone else. When Emily suggests to Jake that Ben may be "trying to push you to be better," Jake sets her straight: "He knows I'm better than he is!"
Is It Any Good?
With a retread plot, plenty of boy-bonding action, and a shirtless Ashton Kutche, Andrew Davis' THE GUARDIAN is a by-the-numbers crowd pleaser that's about as dull as a heroic redemption story could be.
Per formula, parallel redemption stories grant "emotional" moments to both Ben and Kutcher's Jake. By the time Jake has his big breakdown scene (he cries, though he doesn't actually say, "I got nowhere else to go!"), it's clear that, for all their earnest, actorly efforts, neither man has a chance against Ron L. Brinkerhoff's hackneyed script.
Movie Details
Studio: Buena Vista Pictures, Director: Andrew Davis
Run time: 136 minutes
Theatrical release: 09/28/2006, DVD release: 01/23/2007
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for for intense sequences of action/peril, brief strong language and some sensuality.
Run time: 136 minutes
Theatrical release: 09/28/2006, DVD release: 01/23/2007
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for for intense sequences of action/peril, brief strong language and some sensuality.
Our Members Say
See all 27 member reviews
Most Recent Reviews
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I rate this title on for age 11 and give it
Yikes!!! 2 stars CSM??? C'mon! 5 all the way!
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I rate this title on for age 11 and give it
Yikes!!! 2 stars CSM??? C'mon! 5 all the way!
My all time favortite, if there is a more aspiring movie outthere i have yet to see it. If yor kids are interested in seeing it and are 11 or up say yes the ending will make you cry but then bring a smile to your face. I had no idea wat these guys did untill seeing this how much they go through for us. There is some language including a F**k, violence is there but not much, but there peril and tense rescueing scenes, All arounda great, inspiring and stunning movie.
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I rate this title on for age 14 and give it
another great movie
This movie is just great. It has a nice message and ending and is just an instant fav or a movie at the top of your list. Its a movie that makes u appreciate what rescue swimmers do (or make me aware of them in the first place with me, lol) and is just a good movie <3
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
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I rate this title pause for age 0 and give it
Great movie
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
THIS IS THE BEST MOVIE EVER
ilove the action
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
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I rate this title pause for age 0 and give it
A fun film
This movie is full of action and is lots of fun to watch. Why Common Sense Media gave it only two stars i cannot figure out! I thought that it was very entertaining and lots of fun to watch.
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
great movie.
most of the time these "professional critics" say a movie is bad that tells you it's a must see.
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
I liked it.
This movie was Okay But CS shouldnt have gavin it a 13+. But you might enjoy it. But there was way to much traing!
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
A Little Long, But Overall, Very Good
This movie was a little long (Over two and a half hours), but other than that, was pretty good. The acting was good, and so was the plot and the special affects. My dad, brother and I enjoyed seeing it in theatres.
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I rate this title pause for age 0 and give it
Good movie to watch w/o kids
They movie would have been great w/o the "casual sex" philosophy and the extra focus on alcohol consumption. Kevin Costner and Ashton Kutcher were great.
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
Touching and real
With a family member in The Coast Guard and active in search and rescue it was amazing to see the things he has told me about come to life. This film was well researched and Costner & Kutcher gave impressive performances.
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
I was impressed
I got past the poor me, my wife left me story. I also figured out in no time that the young character had a tragic past....go figure. I need to save the world because I let my friends die??? What did not get past me was that this really does happen, in the real world. It may not happen in this particular situation, but it does happen. We call it "Life". It can suck, and it can be harsh. Very, Very Harsh!! The difficulty of this movie "is" the fact that these situations "do" arise? and these men and women "do" risk their lives to save said victim's.....without hesitation!!! Was this movie "Hochie?" NO, not to me. Maybe a bit far fetched for I am sure the USCG is much tougher on its recruits then the movie depicted, but it was, in fact " a movie". Try to put things into prespective here. How many of "us" would put our lives on the line. No where near a situation that was depicted in this movie? Not a one I fear. I have nothing but respect for the men and women that risk their lives for us. To make a movie, one has to have a story line.....that was easy...saving ppople from immenent death...OH, and if my opinion counts for anything......if we can show our children that there are more important things in the world then whether or not our MP3 player is loaded, then we are not doing such a bad job in raising them. i could care less if anyone agrees with me. Forcing people to face their fears without quitting is not a bad idea in my book. I think anyone 13 and over could find this movie has quality...even thought the "star" appears to be human......oop[s
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
This movie rocks! Go Kucther!
Great movie! I want to buy it!
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I rate this title pause for age 0 and give it
Well it was good...
I liked it, though it was way to long, and the one guy didn't need to die at the end. I left after that. The sex was nothing, I mean it's probably good for 12 and up. I was mature enough to handle it, so it's not that big of a deal.
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
I LOVE THIS MOVIEE.
THIS MOVIE WAS THE BEST ONE I HAVE EVER SEEN. I CRIED FOREVER AFTER THE MOVIE, THAT IS WHAT MADE IT GOOD..
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