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Firewall (PG-13, 2006)

common sense media says

Harrison Ford as action hero again. Teens and up.

parents & educators say
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What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this film considers fears of surveillance, with characters showing both anxiety and ingenuity trying to avoid it. It includes multiple tense scenes, as well as violent scenes, both abrupt (as when the villains burst into the family's home and again when the chief villain whomps Jack across the face) and sustained (a prolonged, bruising, bloody fight scene at the end). References are made to online gambling and identity theft. The family's escape attempt appears in fast cuts and jarring images; a child who is allergic to nuts suffers an alarming, nearly fatal reaction. Villains brandish guns, and three men are shot on screen, upsetting other characters who observe. Characters use mild language and a villain's dumping of the family dog leads to the mom's and kids' tears.

Positive messages: Villains are greedy and aggressive; hero must use deadly violence to save his family.
Violence: Guns wielded, sudden shootings, bloody fisticuffs, smashed cars, bodies thrown through windows; a child suffers a severe allgeric reaction.
Sex: Villains threaten family, including wife and 14-year-old girl, forcing wife to pretend to have an affair with her husband's friend.
Language: Mild language, including "screw you," the s-word, "hell."
Consumerism: Equifax (online service), Flintstones on television.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Not applicable.
Our ratings and reviews are informed by child development guidelines. Learn more.

More on Firewall

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
Families can talk about the insecurity of online exchanges, of information, money, and identities. What does Jack's change from compliant victim to agitated hero suggest about the consequences of pushing "nice guys" to the edge? How must Jack give up some of his authority (at least until the film's climax), to prevail over his more predictable enemies?

What's the story?

What's the story?
In FIREWALL, computer genius and bank security expert Jack (Harrison Ford) works for a Seattle bank, lives with his family in a gorgeous house designed by his architect wife Beth (Virginia Madsen), and worries a bit about new guy Gary's (Robert Patrick) idea that the bank shouldn't assume costs of fraud and hacking -- he wants to pass on costs to customers. Jack's own info is hacked by a crew of crooks, led by Bill Cox (Paul Bettany), who use it to break into his home, take his wife and kids hostage, and force him to transfer millions to their account. Bill has installed surveillance devices in Jack's home, car, and office. Though Jack tries initially to outsmart Bill, but when the bad guy harms his son, the concerned father moves the funds. Eventually Jack must retaliate, committing his own deceptions and acts of deadly violence. Though he doesn't get much help from boss (Alan Arkin) or his law enforcement veteran buddy Harry (Robert Forster), Jack does get support from his assistant Janet (Mary Lynn Rajskub).

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 
Though Firewall takes up the topical focus of fears of surveillance, it offers precious few new ideas. Once again, Harrison Ford must save his family from violent outlaws, grimacing and flailing as he discovers that "going along" only inspires the bad guys to do more damage. Lesson to be learned: You gotta fight back!

The surveillance cams all yield distressingly grainy fisheye-lens images designed to generate viewer tension. Mary Lynn Rajskub plays a variant of Chloe, her much beloved character on 24, splendidly. Her character's relationship with Jack -- slightly offbeat, based in Ford's signature vulnerability, as well as a trust born of necessity -- brings welcome freshness to an otherwise predictable plot.

Movie themes & details

Movie Details
Studio: Warner Bros.
Director: Richard Loncraine
Cast: Harrison Ford, Mary Lynn Rajskub, Paul Bettany
Genre: Thriller
Run time: 104 minutes
Theatrical release: February 10, 2006
DVD release: June 6, 2006
MPAA Rating: PG-13
MPAA explanation: some intense sequences of violence.
This review was written by Cynthia Fuchs
 
 

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What parents & educators say

13

Most useful reviews by all members

purplecatroo
adult
 
It gets an A
great movie. A little violent but I say good for kids 11 and up
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bethlthomson
adult
 
thiller movie
This movie was great but its not for small childern.
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GamePlayer12
adult
15
 
This was a really good thriller. This and FlightPlan was very good thrillers. This is a movie to check out. I love these kinda thrillers... man very good. its pretty bloody like one character gets bashed by a blender and gets kicked. and many beatings,stabbing,punching,kickings. and good bit of langauge.
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DVS Cable Polenin
adult
 
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Cohen322
teen, 17 years old
 
Great
This movie is awesome!! It's not for kids under 12 though, scenes get violent and a little scary at times and there is some profanity throughout the movie including the F-word. However this movie has a great plot and is very intresting, I enjoyed it a lot and recomend it for kids of the right age.
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lianabrown92
adult
 
Got me on the edge of my seat!!
I suggest this movie to ages 13+
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garfield2711
adult
12
 
Harrison Ford Returns, and is out to save his family.
This movie is an excellant treat for teens and up. The "F" word is used once, and GD is used 5 times. Several men are shot, 1 dies in an explosion, another is blungeoned by a blender, and another is impaled by a pick axe. Family is shown in a positive light and is shown as extremely important. The action and fast pacing, makes this 2 hour film seem to go by super fast. Watch out for the double surprise twist ending.
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WayTooDramatic
adult
 
Fun Action Movie
This is a fun, yet average action movie. The lauguage isn't too bad, but the violence is definately an issue. Some people may be disturbed by the fact that a young boy and a teenage girl are in danger, and a boy suffers an allergic reaction. There is no sex or drinking, but people still may want to think twice about if their kids are eaisly phased by nonstop violence.
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copperzinc
adult
12
 
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enise111@aol.com
 
Great action
Firewall is just a great movie.It made me so anxious to find out what happens at the end.However this movie is not good for children under 12 years of age.
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TaraBrown
adult
 
Suspense!
I thought the movie was great, although the bad guy does say the F-word one time, and it was not stated in the review... in case people out there are wondering whether it is appropriate for little ones... other than that, good flick!
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Tsion
parent of 15 year old
13
 
Taut and Thrilling...Ford's Best Since THE FUGITIVE
This movie is a perfect thriller. It will have you on the edge of your seat the entire time, and you won't be able to take your eyes from it. It is action-packed, smart, and completely riveting. The bad news: it isn't appropriate for young kids. While the actual violence seen onscreen isn't that bad (no worse than, say, Indiana Jones), the film has a constant feel of peril and imminent danger, as Ford's family is held hostage. The main villain's cool, collected manner is frightening. He kills without remorse, and the thought of what he might do to Ford's family will be too overpowering for kids. In addition, a few people are shot (some blood seen), and one man has a nasty bout with a pickaxe, resulting in his impalement. Another man is beaten to death with a blender. There is also some mild, but pervasive language ("s**t", "d**n", "a*s", "screw you") in addition to one "f**k".
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will_turner
teen, 14 years old
7
 
ok movie
this film made me jump when there was a dead guy in the car but still a cool movie.
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tluap2
adult
 
Allright
the ending was horrible and the last 15 minuets of it was the only stuff with the action. not what i thought it was going to be
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juliebeth2
adult
 
Exciting movie with a few violent parts that were a little extreme for my 13 year old. Also, there is an F word that's not mentioned in the chart under profanity.
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jdawg55
teen, 14 years old
11
 
Great Harrison Ford Movie
This is the kind of movie that should keep being made. It leaves out all of the unneed nudity and has just enough violence, instead of most other movies where it includes too much violence and overly exaggerates the blood. Harrison Ford is a great role model, because he goes to amazing lengths to protect his family which is a trait that i think all good fathers should have. It also doesn't have too much language which is something that my parents care about, when they choose to let me watch a movie or not. they think that i care about language, but i hear it every day so language doesnt bother me like it does to most other kids that are around my age. i think that this is a great movie for teens and tweens to watch to learn how much that their father cares for them, even though sometimes he doesn't show it.
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