 | 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 Fighter
- Review Date: December 7, 2010
- R
- Genre: Drama
- 2010
Common Sense Media says
Boxing biopic mixes inspiring story, mature content.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this biopic about boxer Mickey Ward (Mark Wahlberg) grapples with some very tough themes -- including weighing the importance of family versus the importance of a career and exerting your own true self. While the characters and messages are ultimately positive, the movie is filled with boxing violence, some of it bloody, and strong language, including "f--k" and "s--t." There's no nudity, but characters are shown flirting, kissing, and sleeping together. And in addition to plenty of drinking and smoking, one major character is portrayed as a crack addict. Taken altogether, the movie is too rough for younger teens but inspirational for older, more mature viewers.
What's the story?
Dicky Eklund (Christian Bale) is a hero of Lowell, Mass., having fought Sugar Ray Leonard and knocked him down. While Dicky -- who's now a crack junkie and can't really handle any serious affairs -- prepares for his "comeback," his younger brother, Mickey Ward (Mark Wahlberg), is on the rise. With the help of his new girlfriend, Charlene Fleming (Amy Adams), Mickey must eventually decide to leave his family behind to seriously concentrate on his career. Can he make it on his own, or does he really need the help of his unreliable older brother?
Is it any good?
In his career, director David O. Russell (Three Kings, I Heart Huckabees) has established himself as an outsider/maverick, but THE FIGHTER is a fairly conventional boxing biopic with very few surprises. Russell starts off using an interesting idea -- having an HBO documentary crew following Dicky around -- but halfway through The Fighter, the documentary is finished and the gimmick is no longer needed. After that, the movie becomes fairly standard.
But even though Russell can't find much of anything new to say here, he still makes The Fighter an emotionally complex drama that's filled with rich characters and tough decisions (as well as uniformly excellent performances). Not everything is clear or easy in this movie, and it's a good deal deeper and thornier than The Hurricane, Ali, or Cinderella Man, even if it's less masterful than Raging Bull.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the film's violence. How did the boxing scenes affect you? How does this kind of violence compare to what you see in big-budget action movies? Which has greater impact?
Did Mickey make the right choice by leaving his family behind to further his career? Should he have had to make that choice at all?
Was Dicky Eklund an inspirational character? Do you believe he actually knocked Sugar Ray down? Why would he live a life of drugs after such glory?
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AGE
Movie of the Year
I can say this is one of the best films of the year, great performances from the cast, good messages, just a great movie. It is iffy for some, the fight scenes are very intense, some sexual content nothing extreme, the language is what you expect from a film based in Boston (A LOT), they do a bit of commercialism with HBO and some beer brands.
Things that are great of this movie, you feel better coming out of this than The Blind Sides, same messages but more effect. If you want to take your teenagers out for a good movie, take them to this. Won't be dissapointed
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AGE
Incredible story about the real life micky ward! Should def. get Bale and oscar for best supporting character
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AGE
outstanding movie with amazing performances.
4.5/5
A look at the early years of boxer Micky Ward and his brother, who helped train him before going pro in the mid '80s.
a gritty sports / boxing drama, loved this movie. it deserves all the applaud it is getting and all the nominations and wins. an excellently made movie. i was so waiting for it, the buzz that was created made one of the most anticipated movie of the year for me and also the reason was Christian Bale in it. i love him. i am not actually interested in sports dramas but this one was amazing. not a masterpiece or extremely excellent but just excellent movie. could have been slight better but it is awsome even know.
Cristian Bale is just unbelievably excellent in this movie, an outstanding fabulous and a complete transformation performances that deserves multiple awards. he was just so good in his supporting character, playing the brother of Mark. he is excellent. its actually Mark Wahlberg's movie but Bale steals the show completely. Mark Wahlberg even is good but not excellent, he could have performed little bit more good than what he did now. but he did a good job. Melissa Leo who plays the role of their mother is just out of this world, amazing. one of the very best performance of the year. Amy Adams was very good too. so this movie belonged to the actors, movie of the actors, a movie with best ensemble and best performances. amazing.
talking about direction which was superb, i am surprised by the potential talent of Mr David O. Russel, he was terrific. Screenplay was good but could have been slightly better. editing was good not excellent. a good movie which took me by surprise as i liked it. Go see it.
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AGE
I agree with most of the official review. Great movie for older teens! Review failed to mention that there was a prostitution sceen where it is implied that the woman is performing oral sex on a man in the front seat of a car.
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AGE
Good Film with language and violence
I like it but it has lotsa of language and violence so keep in mind but overall it is good
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AGE
Mature Teens.
Heavy on the profanity. The sexual content is at a PG-13 level. There are a few mild bloody images, and there are several fist fights (inside and outside of the ring). Some smoking, and images of the physical effects of crack addiction.
Mature Teens will be able to handle this movie. The only major concern is the bad language.
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AGE
For older teens
The complex relationships along with the violent fight scenes make this a movie that I don't think many kids could wrap their heads around. It's great to be shown the toll that drug abuse can take on a person and to see how blind loyalty, even to family, can really damage a person's chances but still a bit heavy for a kid.
In the end this movie, like all great boxing movies, is about redemption and that can be one of the most powerful storytelling techniques in film.
I wouldn't take my oldest to see it, but I think in a year or two she would be able to appreciate it.
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AGE
great movie with great messages, drugs are scary
Teaches you to never give up. Micky is a great role model throughout, and in the end Dicky becomes one too by becoming clean. The only thing iffy in the movie is all the drugs. Its very disturbing but also good because it teaches how they can ruin your life.. AN AMAZING AND INSPIRING MOVIE. DO NOT miss it!
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| Studio: | Paramount Pictures |
| Director: | David O. Russell |
| Cast: | Amy Adams, Christian Bale, Mark Wahlberg |
| Genre: | Drama |
| Run time: | 115 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | December 10, 2010 |
| DVD release date: | March 15, 2011 |
| MPAA rating: | R |
| MPAA explanation: | language throughout, drug content, some violence and sexuality |
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