See more movie reviews

Eagle Eye (PG-13, 2008)

common sense media says

Explosion-filled thriller that's best for older teens.

parents & educators say
  • 29% say language is an issue
See all 53 reviews | Review it

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this action thriller from the producers of Transformers -- which stars Shia LaBeouf and promises plenty of "blow 'em up" scenes -- is likely to appeal to teenagers, especially boys. But while the movie is plenty violent, it's not especially graphic: It's obvious that people are dying in all of the explosions, but there's little blood. The language is stronger than most PG-13 films, featuring a couple of "f--k"s and the frequently used "a--hole," "s--t," and "bitch." Aside from a couple of early, tame conversations about dating and sex, there's only one little kiss in the movie. Product placements aren't overwhelming, but one extended sequence highlights a Porsche Cayenne SUV.

Positive messages: The movie's major themes are the moral ambiguity of the president's (and government's) decisions, the ethical dilemma of doing something illegal to save either your life or the lives of loved ones, and the idea that "we the people" have a duty to revolt against corrupt leaders. Other themes include a single mother's selflessness and a man's wish to honor his dead brother and make his father proud.
Violence: Lots of car explosions and bombs that kill police officers, special agents, and civilians, but there isn't that much actual blood. The violence begins with a guided missile attack on a village in the Middle East where a terrorist is supposedly living; there's collateral damage from the attack. A couple of individual characters are killed. During a funeral service, a deceased man's body is shown in a coffin. A heavily burned man's corpse is visible in one scene.
Sex: Jerry and his co-workers discuss someone's chances of sleeping with his girlfriend; Rachel asks her friends who's "getting any" a couple shares a chaste kiss.
Language: Stronger and more frequent than many PG-13 films; words include "a--hole," "hell," "goddamn," "s--t," "dick," "bitch," "oh my God," and two uses of "f--k."
Consumerism: Porsche Cayenne, Dell, Amtrak.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Rachel drinks in a bar with friends (all characters are over 21).
Our ratings and reviews are informed by child development guidelines. Learn more.

More on Eagle Eye

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
Families can talk about the film's Orwellian message. Is the idea of Big Brother even more frightening now that people share so much of their personal information online? How does the film depict technology and government surveillance? Kids: Does what happens to Jerry and Rachel make you at all cautious about social networking sites, blog, and other online activities?

What's the story?

What's the story?
Copy-store clerk Jerry Shaw (Shia LaBeouf) and single mother Rachel Holloman (Michelle Monaghan) are mysteriously "activated" into a secret, illegal mission by a cell phone call. Neither wants to comply with the female voice giving them dangerous directives via phones and digital signs, but "she" has framed Jerry -- who's now a suspected terrorist -- and threatens to kill Rachel's son, who's on a school trip to D.C.. While Jerry and Rachel go around Chicago committing felony after felony as instructed, an FBI agent (Billy Bob Thornton) and Air Force investigator (Rosario Dawson) try to figure out why this seemingly normal duo have turned into super criminals.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 
In an episode of The Simpsons, Homer says "I'm going for the Shia LaBeouf thing. Not quite a nerd not quite a hunk. Shia LaBeouf!" That's the perfect way to explain the curly haired leading man's "ordinary guy" charm. In EAGLE EYE, LaBeouf again does his thing as the wise-cracking Jerry. He and Monaghan don't create sparks a la Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves in Speed, but they're likable enough as strangers literally thrown together who can't figure out what in the world is happening to them. Meanwhile, the impressive supporting cast doesn't have much to do except look surprised and angry. In addition to Thornton and Dawson, Michael Chiklis adds gravitas as the Secretary of Defense, and Anthony Mackie handsomely fills an Army uniform for the last third of the action. All are notable actors, but their characters are two-dimensional stereotypes at best.

Director D.J. Caruso channels his inner Michael Bay to fill this thriller with as many huge explosions as possible. The problem is that, unlike Bay's so-easy-a-caveman-could-follow-it scripts, Eagle Eye was written by four screenwriters. That's rarely a good thing, and in this case, the many twists turn one too many times, ending up in the realm of the completely ludicrous. Let's just say the terrorist mastermind is akin to a 21st-century HAL with a constitutional-law obsession. Confused? That's OK, because it's a muddled plot. But, look -- something else is blowing up!

Movie themes & details

Movie Details
Studio: DreamWorks
Director: D.J. Caruso
Cast: Billy Bob Thornton, Michelle Monaghan, Shia LaBeouf
Genre: Action/Adventure
Run time: 118 minutes
Theatrical release: September 24, 2008
DVD release: December 27, 2008
MPAA Rating: PG-13
MPAA explanation: intense sequences of action and violence, and for language.
This review was written by Sandie Angulo Chen
 
 

Review It

 

Review Eagle Eye

Hang on! You need to be a member to post your review.
A safe community is important to us. Please observe our guidelines.
 

What parents & educators say

13
Based on 17 parent & educator reviews:
  • 29% say language is an issue
Read the reviews

Most useful reviews by all members

masterchief117
kid, 12 years old
10
 
a great action movie
a cool action movie. the language was infrequent one f-word and some s-words (one is hard to hear). i think the violent violence was infrequent but there is quit a bit of action violence. if you look carefully you can see a bit of blood on a man chest but glass mostly covers it up. its just the advrage PG-13 movie.
Flag as inappropriate 
was this review useful?
helped me decide (4) | had useful details (5) | read my mind (4)
seven333
teen, 15 years old
12
 
AWESOME MOVIE
It was an awesome movie with a great plot. Don't understand why crtics hated it so much. I lvoe it
Flag as inappropriate 
was this review useful?
helped me decide (5) | had useful details (3) | read my mind (4)
cheese-process
teen, 15 years old
11
 
Explosions and stuff.
Some of the scenes were awesome, but some parts were a little tricky to know what's going on, but it wasn't too bad. I liked the story and the characters, but so many ideas in this movie were stolen from other movies, so it's nothing new.
Flag as inappropriate 
was this review useful?
helped me decide (4) | had useful details (3) | read my mind (5)
hunter98
kid, 13 years old
11
 
really a good movie
this movie was real good actiony but the language isnt wanted or needed language is quite a bit for pg-13 but the movie is really good so i would recommend it
Flag as inappropriate 
was this review useful?
helped me decide (3) | had useful details (4) | read my mind (4)
beccster49
kid, 13 years old
10
 
GREAT MOVIE!
i LOVED this movie! although there was some bad language, it's nothing a 10 year old hasn't heard before from either TV or his/her parents. I really didn't think it was scary, but some might.
Flag as inappropriate 
was this review useful?
helped me decide (4) | had useful details (4) | read my mind (3)
OldBob13
teen, 16 years old
13
 
Fun, exciting, and well-acted, but not for anyone under 13
There are a lot of action movies that try to entertain rather than tell a decent (or complex) story. Eagle Eye may finally break the barrier, and it's really fun on top of it. It tells the story of different individuals who are told to do unspeakable things by a mysterious phone-caller. Like I said, the story is fresh and entertaining, but some aspects are not so great. First of all, the characters are not potrayed well. While Shia LeBouf and Michelle Monaghan do a superb job with there roles, the characters are nonetheless very paper-thin. Not only that, but they send a bad impression to viewers. For instance, Rachel (Michelle Monaghan) seems like she is a good mother, but when her son goes off on a trip we see her true side: A carefree, laid-back and somewhat lazy individual who doesn't care about what other people think of her. She is a hard-drinker, has a wandering eye (although she is seperated), and is definetly not a good role model. Still, Eagle Eye is a top-notch actionier that will rouse many viewers. Content issues: There is a discussion about sexual contact, lots of explosions, and frequent coarse language. Best reserved for teens and up.
Flag as inappropriate 
was this review useful?
helped me decide (3) | had useful details (3) | read my mind (4)
theshadowcom
kid, 12 years old
10
 
Awsome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Flag as inappropriate 
was this review useful?
helped me decide (3) | had useful details (4) | read my mind (3)
Starside 3
kid, 11 years old
13
 
Only one part
only one part in this movie is bad and that's when they discuss what a man does with his girlfriend.
Flag as inappropriate 
was this review useful?
helped me decide (3) | had useful details (4) | read my mind (3)
nekosan
teen, 15 years old
11
 
Good movie reminds me of IRobot quite a bit though. I don't understand how some people see i as confusing though...
Flag as inappropriate 
was this review useful?
helped me decide (2) | had useful details (3) | read my mind (4)
Txmovieviewer
kid, 12 years old
12
 
Eagle eye is a very violent action movie. It contains allot of language for a PG-13. In my opinion there are very good messages. If you like trying to figure out the story threw the whole movie this is a great movie for you!
Flag as inappropriate 
was this review useful?
helped me decide (3) | had useful details (3) | read my mind (3)
lilmissfrankie
kid, 12 years old
11
 
(drums rat a tat )
it was lame srry ya sure it had alot of violence that doesnt mean it was that cool
Flag as inappropriate 
was this review useful?
helped me decide (3) | had useful details (3) | read my mind (3)
joshandy
teen, 17 years old
13
 
just fine for teens
Violence is about a PG13 movie, but some sexual themes are there. Language like s**t, and as***le are through out the entire film.
Flag as inappropriate 
was this review useful?
helped me decide (4) | had useful details (2) | read my mind (3)
Tsion
parent of 15 year old
13
 
An Immensely Enjoyable Thriller...
What we have here is a great, enjoyable action movie that satisfies in every way an action movie could. However, it is not the most well-made film: almost all of the characters lack depth, the dialogue consists of nothing but "run!"s and "Hey! There's a wacky man with a gun behind you!"s, and, let's face it, we've seen this plot a billion times before. However, if you want a mile-a-minute chase movie with all the thrills and chills to fulfill any Friday movie night expectations, look no further. Violence is the main inapropriate thing about the film. Countless people are injured, as well as shot, exploded, etc. Some is bloody. There is one "f" word, and some variant of "s**t" is mixed in with almost every sentence. There isn't any sexual content to speak of. The film could be too intense and frightening for kids under 13.
Flag as inappropriate 
was this review useful?
helped me decide (3) | had useful details (3) | read my mind (3)
rocker1701
teen, 16 years old
12
 
Don't remember anything too bad about it
This movie isn't really bad at all. No gore, only one sex joke, and the language is my only concern... but it's not like your kids have never heard foul language. The movie was kind of boring.
Flag as inappropriate 
was this review useful?
helped me decide (3) | had useful details (3) | read my mind (3)
wonder dove
adult
13
 
Makes my head spin
What a joy ride! This was extremely action packed all the way through. Although some think the story was totally unreal, I believe something like this could totally happen. I do believe that cell phones are tracked anyway, especially the top notch ones like the iphone and blackberry. This thriller was intense and sometimes hard to keep up with, but I think Shia LaBeouf's acting is superb. He's terrific & any of his fans will enjoy it. Not for the light-hearted...you might faint or feel nauseous.
Flag as inappropriate 
was this review useful?
helped me decide (3) | had useful details (2) | read my mind (3)
missylynn
teen, 17 years old
12
 
okay movie for teens but not for kids
Flag as inappropriate 
was this review useful?
helped me decide (3) | had useful details (2) | read my mind (3)
MikaylaaMadisonn
teen, 16 years old
10
 
This movie is AMAZING!! I love it!!
Flag as inappropriate 
was this review useful?
helped me decide (3) | had useful details (2) | read my mind (3)
skaterdude498
teen, 13 years old
11
 
This is a great movie kids can handel the violence and swears. And they only have one sex refferance.
Flag as inappropriate 
was this review useful?
helped me decide (3) | had useful details (3) | read my mind (2)
actiongirl95
teen, 16 years old
10
 
LOVED IT!!!!!!!
I ABSOLUTLEY loved this movie!! It was kind of along the lines of irobot but like 10 times better!! It had lots of lauguage but an awesome story!!!!
Flag as inappropriate 
was this review useful?
helped me decide (2) | had useful details (1) | read my mind (2)
doctormom50
parent of 12 and 15 year old
12
 
Family Favorite!
My family loves this movie! It is really exciting and has a good story line. GREAT MOVIE. :)
Flag as inappropriate 
was this review useful?
helped me decide (1) | had useful details (1) | read my mind (2)

More reviews ...

An independent voice for families
Age-appropriate reviews
Advice on the big issues
 

vote now

Will you see Eagle Eye?

Won't miss it
On the fence
No way

Already seen it? What do you think?

I recommend it
It's a pass
 

Great alternatives handpicked by our editors

Browse more movies
About our rating system
ON: Content is 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
Our child development rating guidelines