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Lions for Lambs

(2007, Rated R, Thriller, Starring Tom Cruise, Robert Redford, Meryl Streep)
  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 14, age appropriate for kids over 16; suggested age 16.
  • Is it any good?

    3.0
  • Common Sense says

    Intense war thriller offers food for thought.

Why We Rated This on for Ages 16 and Up

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    To a certain extent, everyone in the film displays curiosity and intellectual rigor, which drives them to seek out answers. A professor makes an impassioned plea for youth to be more interested and involved in society. Two men give up their lives for their country, while back home a jaded journalist redevelops a sense of justice.
  • Violence:

    A fair amount of realistic war violence. There are battles, and gunshots are fired; during a skirmish, a soldier incurs a nasty compound fracture, which is shown in close-up. Lots of verbal sparring.
  • Sex:

    Not an issue.
  • Language:

    Language includes "bulls--t" and "damn."
  • Consumerism:

    Not too many brands, though many mentions of Republicans and Democrats and newspapers and TV channels.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Not an issue.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Lions for Lambs

Parents need to know that this political drama/thriller is too intense for tweens and younger teens. A frank (and somewhat didactic) examination of the cost of war both at home and on the battlefield, its arguments are both complicated and hard to digest. Plus, there's a fair amount of war violence -- including some realistic battle scenes and a nasty wound shown up close -- and some strong violence. But it's not gratuitously bloody, and most of the content is age-appropriate for older high schoolers, who might find plenty to think about based on the discussions between the professor and his student.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about the statement the movie is making about war. What messages does it send about the toll that war exacts on both soldiers and those at home? Do politicians consider the personal cost of war? What is the role of diplomacy? And what is society's responsibility in regards to the country's political and social problems? Families can also discuss why war is a theme in so many movies. What about it both fascinates and horrifies us? Can movies (and other media) help make sense of war? Why or why not?

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Our Members Say

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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Teen Reviewer Age 15
    Lives in Indiana
    I rate this title on for age 15 and give it 3.0

    Appropiate for 13+, but they probably would find it boring anyway

    It wasn't much of anything. There were a few short sequences showing soldiers, and only one firefight which is realistic, but not graphic. The rest of the movie consists mostly of a college student talking to his professor about political issues, mainly the war. Also, a reporter interviews a congressman. These scenes of dialogue are where most of the language occurs.

  2. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Michigan
    I rate this title on for age 17 and give it 4.0

    Thoughtful - Worth seeing

    I thought that this movie did a good job of portraying the conviction, motivations, and dilemmas of the characters. The admonition of Redford's character to the apathetic student that "Rome is burning" and "Do SOMEthing!" I think are timely for many young (& not so young)people who are disenchanted with government, and simply want to live "the good life." It is a call to political & social action, in whatever form and for whatever cause one believes in. I think that the violence is no worse than many PG-13 movies, and that intellectually mature teens of 15 & up could see it. They are certainly being recruited by that age; they should know some of the issues.

  3. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in New York
    I rate this title on for age 17 and give it 3.0

  4. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Kentucky
    I rate this title on for age 13 and give it 5.0

    I cried at the end and the movie was very thought provoking

  5. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Ohio
    I rate this title off for age 17 and give it 1.0

    We are the enemy

    This is just a remake of Three Days of the Condor. It is made by the people who think America is the enemy. If you like putting down your country you will love this film.

  6. Adult Reviewer
    I rate this title iffy for age 17 and give it 3.0

    its bad

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