 | 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. |
Flags of Our Fathers
- Review Date: February 4, 2007
- R
- Genre: Drama
- 2006
Common Sense Media says
Harrowing World War II drama isn't for kids.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this harrowing World War II drama isn't for kids. The battlefield violence is graphic, with weapons ranging from tanks and grenades (explosions, flying bodies) to bayonets and knives (close-up assaults, with bloody, ravaged effects visible). The film opens with a battlefield-set nightmare, then cuts frequently between the present and flashbacks to the brutal fighting and the tour, so it's not always clear when the violence will be cropping up. Characters use frequent profanity (mostly "f--k"), smoke cigarettes in nearly every scene (except in the heat of battle), and drink plenty of alcohol, with one man in particular becoming drunk as he grieves his dead comrades and feels guilty for surviving. There's a brief reference to masturbation.
What's the story?
Structured as a series of flashbacks and interviews, FLAGS OF OUR FATHERS focuses on the pain, fear, and calamity of combat, and the difficulties faced by the three surviving flag-raisers captured in Joe Rosenthal's Pulitzer Prize-winning World War II photo, whom the government sent on tour across the United States to encourage people to support the war effort. The men include Navy corpsman "Doc" Bradley (Ryan Phillippe), Rene Gagnon (Jesse Bradford) and Ira Hayes (Adam Beach). Along with the lasting, horrific affects of war felt by the men, the film reveals the irony behind the photo itself, and how the flag-raisers feel exploited by the fundraising process. We also see the hardships of Ira, a Native American who's dogged by racism by fellow Marines and civilians. Ira turns to alcohol to numb his pain and eventually, after retiring from the military, he's found dead at age 33, a victim of "exposure," according to the coroner's report.
Is it any good?
A large, roiling reassessment of the relationships between war, commerce, and mythology, Clint Eastwood's film is at once magnificent and disquieting.
Complex and earnest, Flags of Our Fathers emphasizes that the flag-rasiers most admire their fallen friends, who didn't "think of themselves as heroes." In doing so, the film indicts the war-makers -- then and now -- who have "never been to war" but still send young men to fight, and honors those warriors who saw and committed acts, both horrific and heroic, that they can never forget.
Explore, discuss, enjoy
Families can talk about the legacy of World War II, often thought of as the "good war." What gets left out of the equation (pain, violence, other devastating experiences) when people look back and focus on the heroism of war? Is there such a thing as the "true" version of history? Also, how do the men who go on the fund-raising tour realize that they're being treated as commercial products? How do they suffer as a consequence? How does the movie question the notion of "heroism" as it's used to promote war?
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Kid, 11 years old
April 9, 2008
AGE
Good.
It was a great look at a WWII battle but very depresing. The violence in this movie was not to bad but there was a scene of some human insides. This movie certainly deserves 5 stars.
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Teen, 17 years old
June 3, 2011
AGE
Disappointing.
I really wanted to like Flags of our Fathers but I just couldn't. The story was dull and a little hard to follow because of all the jumping around from the battlefield to home. There is strong language throughout the movie around 20 f-words and other minor profanities, there was one crude joke and some violence, but actually less than one might expect from a WWII movie. Overall I was really disappointed.
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Adult
April 9, 2008
AGE
stinks
stinks a newborn could see this movie i hate it
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Adult
April 9, 2008
AGE
good
great history lesson but 30+ f words is bullcrap I counted 12 or 11. More of a documenory not much violence.
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Parent
January 7, 2010
AGE
Flags of Our Fathers
A great war movie for all patriots. Moving and explosive, and a grand Clint Eastwood film.
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Kid, 11 years old
March 16, 2010
AGE
Good movie...until the end. It was very gruesome violence at the end. It actually was on the verge of being unrealistic violence. There was so much gore i had to turn it off. This is one of those movies you do not want to see or you will have nightmares. It was a good movie again but it was full of language(f-bomb atleast 40 times). Now that you have read this i would reccomend you stick to the reviews by the people on the website it was way to bloody for kids and teens under 14.
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Teen, 13 years old
July 24, 2009
AGE
For some 13 and up
I LOVED this movie. I LOVE the USMC. This movie was really good. This movie rocks. It is pretty gory... some flipped stomachs and opened chests. One part a Marine gets his head blown off and hits a comrade. Their is about 15-20 F words... along with godd***,a**, b****. This movie is awesome... I highly recommend this.
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Teen, 14 years old
April 9, 2008
AGE
Very well done, but not perfect
I would like to start by saying that it think this movie is yellow for 12 and up. The reason I gave this 4 stars and not 5 is because it dragged at the end. However, it is very touching and has a good message about what a "hero" really is.
P.S.If you really want an awesome World War II movie watch Saving Private Ryan.
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Teen, 13 years old
March 15, 2010
AGE
perfect for teens
great movie
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| Studio: | DreamWorks |
| Director: | Clint Eastwood |
| Cast: | Adam Beach, Jesse Bradford, Ryan Phillippe |
| Genre: | Drama |
| Run time: | 132 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | October 19, 2006 |
| DVD release date: | February 6, 2007 |
| MPAA rating: | R |
| MPAA explanation: | for sequences of graphic war violence and carnage, and for language. |
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