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(2007, Rated PG-13, Thriller, Starring Jessica Biel, Nicolas Cage, Julianne Moore)
  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 15, age appropriate for kids over 99; suggested age 15.
  • Is it any good?

    2.0
  • Common Sense says

    Predictable Cage sci-fi tale may entertain teens.

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 15–18

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    The superhero's creed "with great power comes great responsibility" is in effect. All of the terrorists speak in French or with foreign accents.
  • Violence:

    A woman is kidnapped and publicly blown up; two people's throats are slit (not gory). All the terrorists and FBI agents shoot guns, and several are killed. The unarmed hero fights off his enemies.
  • Sex:

    Cris and Liz kiss and in the next scene are bare shouldered in bed together (no nudity is visible, but they've obviously just had sex). One scene features a post-shower Liz wrapped in a short towel.
  • Language:

    The usual suspects: "bulls--t," "s--t," "a--hole," "bitch," and the like.
  • Consumerism:

    Minor: FBI-issued Suburbans and other SUVs, Geneva watches.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Various characters smoke cigarettes. Terrorists take pills to prevent radiation poisoning.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Next

Parents need to know that, like most action thrillers, this movie has several violent scenes: An international terror syndicate is responsible for blowing up a victim, launching a nuclear missile, and slitting the throat of anyone in their way. Nicolas Cage's character gets involved in several fights, and the FBI and the terrorists display enough ammo to fill the national armory. While there's no real gore (or blood, for that matter), the images are still disturbing. There's only one love scene, but there's a lengthy scene preceding it with Jessica Biel wrapped in a towel. Thanks to Biel's popularity and Cage's action cred, expect teens to want to see it, even though it's not being marketed as a teen film.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about other time-bending movies and TV shows. Are movies that play with time cool or frustrating? If you could look into the future, would you use the information to make money or stop crime? Families can also discuss why so many thrillers feature nuclear terrorist threats. Is that the ultimate danger to today's society? What other hazards can you think of? And why are terrorists almost always portrayed as foreign agents?

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Our Members Say

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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Teen Reviewer Age 17
    Lives in Maryland
    I rate this title on for age 13 and give it 4.0

    A fun Flick

    A good movie. Not a waste of time, enjoable, and very twisting ending which gave it the push from 3 stars to 4 stars!

  2. Teen Reviewer Age 17
    Lives in Maryland
    I rate this title on for age 13 and give it 4.0

    A fun Flick

    A good movie. Not a waste of time, enjoable, and very twisting ending which gave it the push from 3 stars to 4 stars!

  3. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Texas
    I rate this title on for age 13 and give it 4.0

    Great Film.

    This was a great film. 13+.

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

    Boy that Nick Cage is Very Smooth!

    By far, one of the best movies I have seen- ever! I rank this movie high on creativity, special effects-(that don't look fake), and personally I am hoping for a sequel. The acting by both Cage and Jessica B. kept me interested throughout the entire film. Cool story-line and ok to watch with older kids. No unnecessary inappropriate activity, just a great movie-!! No falling asleep on this one!:)

  5. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    Lives in Minnesota
    I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it 5.0

    GREAT ACTION FOR 13+

    i loved this movie! it has the perfect combination of explosions, shootings, suspense, and more to keep you glued to your seat. i overall loved the movie, but the ending was just dumb. all of a sudden it just ended. the swearing is mostly b---h, s--t, bulls--t, etc. one in one scene a character says motherf- and then it switched to the next scene. if you like Nicholas Cage, Jullianne Moore, the movies Chronicles of Riddick, Speed, etc. you will definately enjoy this movie.

  6. Teen Reviewer Age 15
    Lives in California
    I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it 5.0

    Cool and sweet movie....

    This was better than i expected.... really liked it.

  7. Teen Reviewer Age 17
    Lives in Minnesota
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 4.0

    Almost PG.

    This would probably be a PG movie if it weren't for one action sequence that involves a train, a car, and a bunch of falling logs (very cool scene though) and the shooting and explosions at the end. I didn't exactly like the ending, left you hanging, but it was very good overall.

  8. Teen Reviewer Age 17
    Lives in Michigan
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 3.0

    Decent Movie

    Nothing special but entertaining.

  9. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Wisconsin
    I rate this title iffy for age 13 and give it 3.0

    Alternate ending?

    Don't see this movie if you don't like tidy endings...you have to use your thinking cap and imagination a little bit. It's regular action, suspense fare, entertaining enough.

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