 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
American History X
- Review Date: February 23, 2005
- R
- Genre: Drama
- 1998
Common Sense Media says
This dark drama is not for kids.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this flawed but live-wire drama of two brothers caught up in a violence-ridden SoCal skinhead lifestyle raises some important points, but the mixture of very R-rated realism (strong language, hideous violence, and frank sex) makes this a very guarded choice for anyone but older teens and up.
What's the story?
Los Angeles high-schooler named Danny Vineyard (Edward Furlong) offends his teachers and classmates by openly proclaiming his Aryan-supremacist views and praising Hitler. The black principal (Avery Brooks) tries a creative solution, making Danny write a paper examining his older brother and mentor Derek (Edward Norton), an avowed skinhead who served time for murdering a black youth in a streetfight. Just getting out of prison, Derek, thoroughly repentant about his racist past and horrified to see his brother going down the same road, cooperates with the principal trying to set Danny straight.
Is it any good?
AMERICAN HISTORY X is certainly "artier" than most movies dealing with social ills; it's a live-wire drama, not the dry, TV movie-of-the-week approach that usually arrives complete with a teacher's study guide and lab coats. Some of the cut-and-dried reasons behind racist youth gangs (lack of economic opportunity, weak adult supervision) can be fleetingly discerned here. Mostly the vibe is emotional, not intellectual, making white-power lifestyles and repugnant politics feel as attractive as rock music to angry young people, then giving the viewer a tragic fadeout to ponder over the consequences. There are times when this movie scores trying to be a strong take on a topic that leaves no audiences feeling neutral. And there are other times when you can feel the filmmakers shaking their mighty fingers at the audience, naughty, naughty. Welcome to the After-School Special of your worst nightmares.
Norton was Oscar-nominated for his role, which he carries off with frightening physicality and conviction. You believe him thoroughly as a swastika-tattooed, head-shaved fanatic, and as a humbled, wiser ex-con trying to do good instead. But the key character of Danny seems badly underwritten, as are the simplistic motivations ascribed to the pathology in the Vineyard home. A late scene laying a lot of blame on the late Mr. Vineyard in the first place seems too convenient. First-time director Tony Kaye clashed with both the film studio and actor Norton over how to handle the story and tried to take his name off the completed film.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about how there are actually such things as skinhead-punk gangs who are avowedly anti-racist, and if that's any better a solution to the cycle of violence and reprisal here.
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AGE
OH NO YOU DIDN'T!!!!
Did you just give one of the most powerful movies ever made a 2/5?!?!?!?!?!? I think you did. I can't believe it. This is considered one of the greatest movies!!! 2/5!!!! It is cringingly violent, has PERVASIVE language and sex, but it's still a GREAT film. I hope you watch it again and realize that, or not. heheh.
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AGE
Must see film for teens
This movie is excellent it should be shown in schools to promote anti-racial messages and such. But, the violence and language is pretty bad byt they make the movie brutally honest in order to convey the message of needing to spread peace. Norton gives a career making performance in this film
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AGE
American History X
This is a violent movie at any means, but the best movie concerning racial hatred and its consequences ever made. Language is bad with lots of f*cks and there is a rape scene and a sex scene (not fully visible) between the hero and a woman.
However, it's a fantastic movie that I reccomend.
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AGE
Please Read
there is definatley a positive message despite the brutalness of the movie to discard hate and racism but many young teens dont get the point so i suggest anywhere from a mature 13 yr old to 14 or 15
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AGE
White Boy views?
From a white boy from Columbus, Ohio who grew up in Suburbia America where the only black kid on the street was the rich "white/black" boy. Growing up in a secular school where the white kids wanna be gangster and live in the "ghetto." not knowing there was even such a thing as skin heads or gangs. I recommend this movie immensely. I rarely watch movies like this unedited but I say watch it. Not with your kids though. It gets the message across. Leaves you sitting asking questions. Wondering whats the point. Is there a point? Great movie, you get use to the F word. Changed my views on racism and different lifestyles, did better for me to watch this movie then to sit in a class and hear about slavery and society today, I'm sure its worse now then when this movie was filmed.
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AGE
#2 all time for me
This is one of the best movies ever made. Out of the hundreds of films I have seen, this seems to stand above the rest. The dramatic tension, the incredible story, the acting is incredible, and it has one of the saddest endings to any film I have ever seen. Now, there are a few concerns that I have for parents, like strong language, there is a short sex scene, there is also a scene that shows Norton's character get raped in a prison, and the few violent scenes it has are graphic (especially the end).
This story is one of the best in film. It shows how a family can be torn apart by one person's choice that had been influenced by his past. For example, you find out that the reason why Norton became a racist is because of the fact his dad was killed by someone that wasn't his skin color. So immediately, Norton assumes that this was a hate crime against his dad because of the fact he was white. This story takes itself seriously, but not too seriously, it is at that perfect balance which most films cannot find.
The acting in this film is top-notch. Norton delivers, and the supporting cast is incredible. There isn't a single scene that is overacted, or underacted. Norton shines in this film, because at times you hate his guts for what he had done, and other times he appears to be a saint. Norton's younger brother starts off the movie as a racist jerk, who doesn't care who or what he hurts, and you end the film with him trying to change the stuff he had done.
The ending to this film, without giving too much away, is incredible. When I first saw this I was thinking, by the end of this film, “Okay movie, you were good, but what can you throw at me to make you incredible?” Well the ending turned a good movie into my second favorite movie of all time. I won't tell you what happens, but it is incredibly powerful.
On a whole, this film should only be viewed by audiences that could get the meaning behind the story, and who can handle a film that earned every bit of its “R” rating. This is my second favorite movie of all time for a good reason. 5 out of 5
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AGE
Perfect for anyone 12 and up
This dark drama is full of violence and has sexual references.There are references to drugs but they are always displayed in a bad light. All this is counteracted by the extremely positive anti racial messages and should be shown to every 12+ kid.
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AGE
Should be required for all high schoolers
This movie does not pretend; it is *brutally* honest. It tells you, accurately and violently, what happens when one allows hate to rule his or her life. If your kid is mature enough to handle it, it can serve as a great warning.
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AGE
Great Movie, NOT for Kids.
American History X is, without a doubt, brutally violent and in NO WAY suited for anyone under the age of 18. Mature teens are no exception. This film has deeply disturbing violence (including vicious rapes), and complex themes that can be dangerously misinterpreted by those who do not have enough life experience to understand them. American History X is an excellent story though. It covers one of the most sensitive areas of racial violence -skinheads/neo nazis/white supremacists. It is vital to see that hatred is learned -that it is the product of a racist and angry society. The ramifications of latent racism are truly horrifying, as evidenced by the film. A movie only ADULTS should see.
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| Studio: | New Line |
| Director: | Tony Kaye |
| Cast: | Beverly D'Angelo, Edward Furlong, Edward Norton |
| Genre: | Drama |
| Run time: | 118 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | February 24, 1998 |
| DVD release date: | January 1, 2003 |
| MPAA rating: | R |
| MPAA explanation: | graphic violence, racism, extensive profanity, nudity, sexual situations, mature themes |
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