 | 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. |
Contact
- Review Date: May 18, 2003
- PG
- Genre: Science Fiction
- 1997
Common Sense Media says
Thoughtful adaptation of the Carl Sagan novel.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that there is one episode of sabotage that results in violence, in addition to the one-night-stand (Ellie and Palmer shown in bed together), and some strong language.
What's the story?
Devastated by the loss of her parents at the tender age of eight, Ellie (Jodie Foster) yearns for contact with extraterrestrials, but shies away from contact with anyone on earth. Having been hurt by feeling, she relies entirely on science, on what can be proven. After a one-night-stand with Palmer Joss (Matthew McConaughey), a charismatic divinity school drop-out, she leaves, to continue to listen for whispers from the universe, despite short-sighted bureaucrats who cut her funding. When she finally hears something, the government steps in. The message is to build a machine, apparently to be used to go to the source of the message. Joss turns up as an advisor to the President who is assigned to the panel that will select the person who will make the trip. He does not believe that Earth should be represented by an atheist. And he does not want to lose Ellie again. Ultimately, she does make the trip, and finds that she is profoundly changed by it. She finds herself asking others to believe what she says without evidence, on the basis of faith.
Is it any good?
Based on the late Carl Sagan's novel about a young scientist's efforts to make contact with intelligent life beyond our world, CONTACT is a thoughtful movie, and it provides a good opportunity to discuss how we know what we know, whether on the basis of faith or on what we can prove.
Sagan, a scientist who consulted on the space program and hosted public television programs about the universe, raised important questions about the connection (and sometimes obstacles) between science, business, politics, and notions of God. If he does a better job of asking them than answering them, that is at least consistent with the scientists creed that the only sin is to be afraid to ask the right questions -- and to be open-minded about the answers.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about whether the reactions of the people in the movie to evidence of extra-terrestrial intelligence are what they would expect. Why do some people object so strongly to communicating with creatures outside our world? What do scientists think about God and what do theologians think of science? What is the role of government? What do they think of the way the extraterrestrials shaped their communications to reassure Ellie?
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- Teens & kids
AGE
Bad SciFi
I love SciFi and this one is worth missing. 90% build up to a 10% blaa
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AGE
Not appropriate for tweens and young teens
This movie celebrates inquiry -being curious about our world,, and following one's dream/beliefs/vision in spite of strongly opposing views and opinions to them. There is a casual sex scene (flash of breast) between the "man of faith" and the "scientist", which is inconsistent with messages I'd like my tween to have about sex. Unfortunately, info is revealled during the bed scene which is important to the plot later on....so skipping it would compromise understanding. Plenty of foul language. Also, Christians are portrayed as being on the "right" or extreme, which is a biased and atypical representation of Christians.
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AGE
Excellent film
Although things seem to go wrong most of the time for the main character, it is all redeemed with the ending, which was fantastic. There really isn't any objectionable content in the movie either, except for a tame lying-in-the-same-bed-naked scene; but like I said, it's non-explicit.
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AGE
This was a good movie, but you would have to have an understanding of science and science fiction to fully get it, as many refrences are made. The main character, Ellie Arroway, is the leading scientist on a team trying to discover other civilzations in the universe. Throught the movie, I had to pause it and ask my dad "Wait, what just happened?" or "Wait, what was the signifigance of that part?" because I do not have a strong understanding of science fiction. Overall, it was a good movie!
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Kid, 10 years old
December 16, 2011
AGE
Cool sci-fi movie... Very nice!
I watched this movie with my mom after doing an astronomy unit about the possibility of other life on planets. (it was a really cool unit!) We both liked it a lot when started! There were a few scenes with some iffy things, so it wasn't a movie for my 7 yr old brother and 3 yr old sister. But overall, it was interesting, actually captivating. Such a mysterious, gripping subject, so I definitely wanted to keep watching the whole movie through. Pretty good!
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AGE
Great movie for teens and adults.
I saw this with my father when it first came out, I was six, the sexual content went right over my head and I didn't find it scary. However I wouldn't recommend letting young kids watch it since they just won't understand it. I was asking my dad "what's happening?" every five minutes. Watched it again at age 14 and it became one of my favourite movies. Don't expect a typical sci-fi film though, it's much more grounded and realistic. Great themes to talk with teens about. The movie raises a lot of questions about religion, morality, what it is to be human etc. and if it doesn't give you a sense of awe and inspiration for the universe we live in, nothing will.
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| Topics: | book characters, space and aliens |
| Studio: | Warner Bros. |
| Director: | Robert Zemeckis |
| Cast: | Jodie Foster, Matthew McConaughey, Tom Skerritt |
| Genre: | Science Fiction |
| Run time: | 150 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | July 11, 1997 |
| DVD release date: | December 30, 1997 |
| MPAA rating: | PG |
| MPAA explanation: | some intense action, mild language and a scene of sensuality |
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