 | 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. |
The Doors
- Review Date: October 25, 2005
- R
- Genre: Drama
- 1991
Common Sense Media says
Intense biopic full of drugs, sex and rock'n'roll.
Parents say
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this movie features a lot of sex, drugs, and profanity. There are consequences to bad behavior, namely Jim Morrison's premature demise. Nevertheless, Morrison's life of excess and poetic death are romanticized if not glamorized. There are a few scuffles, some verbal domestic abuse, and sex scenes where the line between sex and abuse is blurry.
What's the story?
THE DOORS chronicles the rise and fall of the popular 1960's rock act. Legendary lead singer Jim Morrison (Val Kilmer) blows into Los Angeles in the mid 60's, shy at first with a head full of poetry. While attending UCLA film school, he meets keyboardist Ray Manzarek (Kyle MacLachlan), and, together with Robbie Krieger (Frank Whaley) and John Densmore (Kevin Dillon), form a band. They are not short on ambition, fancying themselves the mythmakers for the Age of Aquarius. As the band achieves success, Morrison indulges in excess, spiraling out of control, alienating lovers and band-members before meeting his inevitable end.
Is it any good?
This story of a tragic artist who lives fast and dies young could have come off as clichéd in less able hands. Oliver Stone had a string of hits in the early 1990's, and here his distinct style meshes seamlessly with the content. Though they may not add up to anything special in terms of plot, the scenes function well on their own, with longtime Stone collaborator Robert Richardson bringing 60's SoCal culture to life and, of course, the Doors providing the soundtrack. There is a lyrical quality to the film, non-linear and highly subjective.
Val Kilmer's performance is utterly convincing. Stone and Morrison seem to be cut from the same cloth, and it's hard to imagine anyone else telling (or living) so vivid a story.
Explore, discuss, enjoy
Families can talk about the distinction one of the characters makes between using drugs to expand one's mind and using them to escape from responsibilities. Why do people use drugs? How has our knowledge of the long-term effects of these drugs changed since the 1960's?
- Show:
- All members
- Parents
- Teens & kids
Teen, 14 years old
April 9, 2008
AGE
Its my favorite!!
I LOVE THIS MOVIE!! Jim Morrison is like, my hero. This movie is excellent, and the casting of Val Kilmer as Jim Morrison is just amazing, he did a wonderful job. The only complaint i have is that, the movie is called The Doors, and it is all about Jim Morrison, if you people make a movie about Jim, call it Jim Morrison, they should have added more content with THE DOORS (although people will argue that The Doors=Jim Morrison, but seriously, get a life. The band at first didn't even have Jim Morrison IN IT. [i do love Jim with all my heart, don't get me wrong, i do])
Was this review useful?
|
|
Adult
December 4, 2009
AGE
great movie for anyone
this movie just made me love my idol James Morrison even more than i did before. Long Live The Lizard King
Was this review useful?
|
|
Teen, 14 years old
May 31, 2009
AGE
entertaining not very factual
i am against withholding information to people i however gave it the age that i did because someone should be roughly this age in maturity before seeing it (not necessarily this age) they should have knowledge of sex of drugs and of life they should be able to pick out the positive pieces of which there are few admittedly and this film is not good for anyone who has no knowledge of the true jim morrison as this depicts him as a drug addled lunatic also morrison27 jim existed in the doors from their creation it was him and manzarek who came up with the doors because of a chance encounter on a beach in fact i could even go so far as to say that jim was first even before manzarek as he already had the name and the lyrics and some of the melodies so nothing concerned me however this is not for someone with a naive worldview
Was this review useful?
|
|
Kid, 10 years old
April 19, 2009
AGE
worst movie iv'e ever seen i meen wow
What other families should know:
Was this review useful?
|
|
| Studio: | Artisan Entertainment |
| Director: | Oliver Stone |
| Cast: | Kathleen Quinlan, Meg Ryan, Val Kilmer |
| Genre: | Drama |
| Run time: | 138 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | February 23, 1991 |
| DVD release date: | August 19, 1997 |
| MPAA rating: | R |
| MPAA explanation: | heavy drug content, strong sexuality and language |
Review It
Great alternatives handpicked by our editors
More from Common Sense Media
Top advice and articles
