Children of Men (R, 2006)

common sense media says

Gripping, violent look at the future. Adults only.


parents & educators say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this dystopian drama includes such intense violence and other mature elements that you'll probably want to keep kids away (that is, if they're even interested). The film depicts a near-future world in the midst of anarchy, where terrorism is a constant threat. Characters drink, smoke, and use drugs frequently; a pot-dealing character is one of the most endearing in the film. Scenes include scary surprise attacks, drawn-out gunfire and shelling episodes, bloody amputated bodies, burning dead animals, and gory one-on-one combat. Some scenes are filmed in a way that makes viewers feel viscerally connected to the action, including the sense of intense threat and exhilaration. A very realistic and graphic childbirth scene occurs.

Positive messages: Set amid extreme violence and social unrest, the film is about hope for the future. The main characters are good, if complex and flawed, people. One main character is a loveable pot-dealer and smoker. Lots of different races and ethnicities involved, some in powerful positions. People viewers think are good sometimes turn out bad.
Violence: Absolutely over-the-top realistic graphic violence, including gunfire and shelling, bloody amputated bodies, burning dead animals, and gory one-on-one combat.
Sex: Mention of promiscuity. Kee is the anti-virgin birthing the messiah in this twist on a Christmas story. Some brief and minor nudity. Graphic childbirth scene.
Language: Constant "f--k," "s--t," and everything else you can imagine.
Consumerism: Not applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: The main character is an alcoholic who drinks and smokes cigarettes constantly. Another main character grows, smokes, and sells marijuana. Cigarettes and alcohol are often in background scenes. Imaginary euthanasia drug called "Quietus" is advertised and probably employed by a major character.

More on Children of Men

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
Families can talk about the movie's vision of the future -- and your own thoughts about what it might be like. Why do so many movies have a bleak vision of the future? Are you optimistic about it? Why or why not? What do you think is the biggest threat to the world's future? How do you balance daily life with thoughts or fears about greater social problems like war or environmental pollution? What do you think happens in the movie's imaginary world after the credits roll? How realistic do you think a scenario like this is?

What's the story?

What's the story?
Set in Great Britain in 2027, CHILDREN OF MEN is an intensely violent, dystopian vision of a future in which women are infertile and the world is in the midst of complete social collapse. When one of the last children born on Earth is murdered, his death sets off massive protests and violent conflicts between sectarian groups. Bureaucrat Theo (Clive Owen) is reluctantly drawn in to the fray when his ex-wife, Julian (Julianne Moore) -- head of an underground opposition group -- asks him for help transporting a special passenger out of London. In a chaotic Big-Brother atmosphere, Theo joins the group to help transport a pregnant West African woman named Kee (Claire-Hope Ashitey) to The Human Project, an organization operating from a ship offshore. After marauders attack Theo's caravan, the team regroups in a remote farmhouse. Theo soon has to escape again, this time with Kee and a midwife in tow. They relocate to the house of Theo's good friend, Jasper (Michael Caine), who offers them shelter and encouragement in making it to their destination.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 
Working from a screenplay he co-wrote (based on P.D. James' novel), director Alfonso Cuarón paints a gritty, paranoid, and occasionally hopeful picture, drawing on modern anxieties about war, terrorism, immigration, race, class, pollution, and technology. The group's struggle to reach the Human Project includes some of the most graphic, gripping, and engrossing filmmaking in recent memory. Cuarón's documentary-style camera work brings the viewer right into the violent action.

Caine's character is a bright spot -- though caring for his catatonic wife in isolation, he remains cheerful and passionate, enjoying food, music, and occasional company with heartfelt glee (helped along, perhaps, by the large quantities of marijuana that he smokes). The movie's abrupt ending, while disorienting at first, offers relief from the film's intensity. Dark, intense and violent, Children of Men is most certainly not for kids -- and even most teens. Pregnant women and new parents also might want to avoid it, due to the focus on threats to children and the intense birth scene.

Movie themes & details

Movie Details
Studio: Universal Pictures
Director: Alfonso Cuaron
Cast: Clive Owen, Julianne Moore, Michael Caine
Genre: Thriller
Run time: 109 minutes
Theatrical release: December 25, 2006
DVD release: March 27, 2007
MPAA Rating: R
MPAA explanation: strong violence, language, some drug use and brief nudity.

This review was written by Sierra Filucci
 
 

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What parents & educators say

15

Most useful reviews by all members

MOVIE13
teen, 14 years old
 
i didnt see the whole movie i only saw parts of it. But the parts i did see where full of: Tenstion, peril, blood, shottings, killings, death and much more. Based n just what i saw i would say so far that this movie is ok for teens 15 and up.

 
fast paced and interesting
This movie was great from beginning to end. It kept my interest and it was fast moving.

9001
teen, 15 years old
 
Great but dark movie. Iffy for ages 16-18.
At first, I didn't understand how this movie received the descriptor strong violence. To me, it wasn't so much as the violence that was bad, but the themes. However, after I thought about it a little bit, the violence and themes are pretty much combined, so the strong violence descriptor is definitely suitable. I rate this movie iffy for ages 16-18. In-depth info below. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Violence (5/5): The entire movie is a dark look at the future, with references to violent acts, mutilated bodies, and violence. There are upsetting deaths of characters. There is a graphic child-birth scene. The entire movie in general may disturb not only younger viewers but sensitive viewers in general. The violence is mainly towards the end. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sex (3/5): In one scene, there is a male roman(?) statue with full frontal nudity, and you can see his genitals for several seconds. In another scene, you briefly see a womans nude breasts. However, it is not a sexual situation, but one character at first thinks it is. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Language (5/5): Constant use of the F word, several uses of the S word, and infrequent use of milder words. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Drinking, Drugs, & Smoking (5/5): The main character is an alcoholic who smokes a lot. Another main character grows, smokes, and sells marijuana, but I didn't really get that in the movie, I thought they were just smoking. Apparently, "Quietus" was an imaginary euthanasia drug, but when I saw the movie I thought it was an anti-depressant. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Overall, the movie is dark, violent, and disturbing, but is definitely worth watching. However, be warned, you may find the movie very upsetting. I rate this movie iffy for ages 16-18.

bubbo
adult
 
Wow!
Children of Men is an intense, powerful, and mind-blowing film...it was amazing! Everyone should see it, it's a masterpiece, no doubt about it. As far as content goes, parents should definitely watch it before their kids do, but it's not nearly as bad as CSM makes it seem. The violence is intense, but realistic, and none of the violent parts are just tacked on there for the sake of it, they actually add to the story.

AgentBartowski
teen, 16 years old
 
Dark, Violent Look at the Future
Warning: a main character dies violently towards the beginning of the film. Anyone seeing the movie because of the main stars will be disappointed. Otherwise, it is a great, though ostensibly bleak look at the future.

 
Very interesting and action-filled Sci-Fi movie. Awesome!
If you have ever played Half Life 2, this movie's style will look very similar to you. The graffiti-lined crumbling walls, the controlled, dictated cities, and the desperate rebels all give a tense, cold atmosphere to the movie as the human race is closing in on extinction. It's very bloody and violent, most of it being gun violence. Brief nudity, nothing too bad in that department other than the childbirth scene as stated. Something you might wanna see if you're a fan of Si-Fi action!

 
Good!
For me it wasn't scary at all, but it may be too scary for children.

 
A definite must for teenagers....
I think that this movie is great for older teenagers because it will make them think about what is important nowadays and how they want their future to be.

Plague
parent
 
Children of Men
Fabulous movie. This movie will be favored amung all thriller type film lovers.

 
An Incredibly, Almost Uncomfortably Realistic Sci-Fi Masterpiece.
This is a great film. It is one of the best, most realistic sci-fi films ever made. And there within lies the problem: it's TOO realisitc. I felt so uncomfortable watching this film because it was SO realistic. I almost couldn't bare it. I'm a tough guy, and I adore suspense and intensity, but I think I finally met my match. This was overwhelmingly intense and frenetic! It was exhausting trying to get through this film. But that's probably the most surprising part: I really liked this movie. It was bold, brutal (and parents, I mean BRUTAL; please don't let your kids watch), and highly realisitc vision of a dying world in the near future. This was a true masterpiece in sci-fi film making. But it's hard to say that I loved it when it was so hard to watch. Though afterwards, despite the gratuitous suspense and overwhleming sense of dread, there is a glimmer of hope. A glimmer that both makes you cry and puts a smile on your face. Bravo.

NickD531
teen, 16 years old
 
Excellent
An excellent film, very violent but that makes the film better as it makes the future seem more realistic. There is a lot of swearing and the violence is gory, the strongest scene being a man being scene with his legs bleeding. I advise only to show to 12+.

bbwolf1942
teen, 17 years old
 
i didnt like it very much
to me it really didnt make alot of really good sense a little

 
Happy Ending!!
This is a great story!! I especially love the ending!! I thought that i wouldn't end up liking the movie because of all the violence but i ended up loving it!!

Mr. Boxbox
parent of 16 year old
 
This is REAL SCI-FI
This film is what sci fi was meant to be. This is a brilliant post-apocalyptic scifi film. A very dark view of the future where women cannot give birth anymore and the entire human race is corrupting. Violence: Extreme. Characters are shot and killed and blood present. The whole film has a very dark and upsetting tone to it. Language: Some infrequent swearing Sexual content: None Drug Content: A character smokes pot

boocoo
adult
 
nini
i have to read to my daughter and son

 
A rare movie that actually make you think
My parents and I just saw this and it was one of the best films in recent years. I think if parents take their children to see it, it will lead to a discussion of the parallels between this and the bible, what events could've caused this, and could it really happen. I think the only think that may make you hesitate is that they use the f-word a lot, and the violence. There is a lot of explosions, dead bodies, people being shot and violence against people at a camp for illegal immigrants. But all in all, very good and I predict it will win some oscars.

jpbIV
adult
 
Great Movie
This movie really makes you think what allowing the machine to grow could do. To me this movie will stand out in the ranks among films like Donnie Darko, The Island, and thinking thillers of the like. I would hope that people take some feeling of skepticism away with them and use it as a filter when they watch the evening news. Ah the power of propaganda. But even in the end of this movie, there is a possibility of a brighter although uncertain tomorrow. I would definatley suggest this film.

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