Common Sense Note
Parents should know that this film deals with mature topics such as nuclear war and nuclear holocaust, but also has as its main character a computer hacker who breaks the law without remorse.
Families who watch this film may use it to discuss Cold War history. Also, while the movie is dated, it might be provide a way to talk about the current war, and to ask your kids about their own fears.
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Randy White
America comes to the brink of World War III when a teenager accidentally hacks into a military computer. Although dated in appearance, this clever and suspenseful movie questions both an over-reliance on technology and the Reagan-era defense policy. Nuclear war is exposed as a game with no winners.
This movie makes a strong case against nuclear war, portraying it as a game of brinksmanship with no winners. It also warns against leaving the responsibility of starting a nuclear war to artificial intelligence technology. The final sequence dramatizes these dangers with simulated explosions on wall-sized screens.
Nevertheless, the movie manages to have fun with a very serious topic. The overall atmosphere of the movie is playful, as kids ride their bikes from house to house while the fate of the world rests in their hands. Broderick plays a sweet geek who'd rather be playing computer games.
The Pacman-era technology may seem hokey by today's standards, but the military command center, with its multiple screens, is still impressive. Ironically, much of the "computer" simulation was accomplished with good old-fashioned animation. The movie anticipates various technological advances, most notably the explosion of the Internet. Teens interested in computers and game theory will find much to enjoy.
WarGames stays within safe adolescent territory in contrast with film-maker Stanley Kubrick's edgier, more satirical work on similar topics: In Dr. Strangelove, an American military plane erroneously receives a command to drop a nuclear warhead on the Soviet Union and members of government try to figure out how to rescind the order. The more futuristic 2001: A Space Odyssey explores the mortal danger of artificial intelligence gone awry.
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Sexual ContentNecking. |
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LanguageThe curses are mostly mild, including "bull---." |
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Social BehaviorThe main character is a computer hacker who uses his skills for illicit purposes. For example, he infiltrates the school computer and changes his grades, with no remorse or punishment. |
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Drug/Alcohol/TobaccoA reference to smoking marijuana. |
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