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Small Soldiers

(1998, Rated PG-13, Family and kids, Starring Kirsten Dunst, Denis Leary, Jay Mohr)
  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 11, age appropriate for kids over 13; suggested age 11.
  • Is it any good?

    3.0
  • Common Sense says

    A mean-spirited, technologically stunning cartoon.

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 11–13

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    Not an issue.
  • Violence:

    Living toys are chewed up in a disposal and otherwise tortured. They use power tools and explosives to attack humans.
  • Sex:

    Wild flirtation and a passionate kiss. The commandos make rude comments about the Barbies.
  • Language:

    Mild to moderately serious profanity.
  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Illegal drugs are mentioned; parents are drugged by the toys.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Small Soldiers

Parents need to know that the "soldiers" of the title are ruthless killing machines in the body of dolls, who attack, terrorize and render impotent the humans around them. Young boys, especially, may want to imitate the destructive ideas, such as making weapons out of household items and climbing a power pole to ruin a transformer.

Read our full review by Matt Berman

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about the film's violence. Do the toy characters make the violence more tolerable? Also parents may want remind their kids not to imitate the actions they see here.

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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Kid Reviewer Age 10
    Lives in New York
    I rate this title on for age 8 and give it 5.0

    Really intriuging and action-packed film that really is a great production.

    Truly this is a very entertaining movie. The plot is far-fetched but is still within the range of possibility. The actors and actresses acted the movie out so well I felt as if it was really happening. However I must admit that there is occasional violence but it is necessary for the plot. The violence is very mild and most of it is directed at dolls er... action figures but on the few times there is violence directed at humans there is no gore. Great film overall.

  2. Kid Reviewer Age 11
    Lives in New York
    I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it 4.0

    hi

    cool but violent

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