 | 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. |
Four Brothers
- Review Date: December 18, 2005
- R
- Genre: Action/Adventure
- 2005
Common Sense Media says
A rowdy, brutal revenge movie -- not for kids.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that the movie features relentless violence and harsh, action-hero language (repeated uses of "f--k" in jest and malice). The mother's murder is made visible on a convenience store video tape, with cuts to the brothers' horror and grief. Characters smoke cigarettes and marijuana, drink beer and liquor, play rough pickup hockey, and chase down culprits who wear ski masks or otherwise look menacing. The shootouts involve large, automatic weapons (lots of shots fired). One character falls out a window and breaks his leg (the injury is shown in close-up), others are shot to pieces, with very visible blood and mangling.
What's the story?
When their adopted mother (Fionnula Flanagan) is killed, an accidental victim of apparent gang-related activity, her sons grow suspicious. Troublemaker Bobby (Mark Wahlberg); "pretty boy" Angel (Tyrese Gibson); family man Jeremiah (André Benjamin); and sensitive, pot-smoking wannabe rocker Jack (Garrett Hedlund) become intent on finding out the truth.
Is it any good?
FOUR BROTHERS is upfront about what it is: a rowdy, brutal revenge movie. The brothers' mission -- justice? revenge? havoc? -- leads to all kinds of mayhem, which a sympathetic Lt. Green (super smooth Terrence Howard) condones as "self-defense." Four Brothers practices the sort of chilling logic whereby the good guys' outrageousness looks "decent" compared to cruelty committed by the Head Villain, here Victor Sweet (Chiwetel Ejiofor), the most depraved gangster this side of Jeffrey Wright's psycho killer in Shaft. This is how mean he is: when a fearful councilman (Barry Shabaka Henley) stops by Victor's home to report bad news, the host sends him to sit at the kids' table in the corner.
The shoot-outs are gargantuan, the car chases demented, and the snow storms actually rather arty. One car chase is especially ingenious, in its way, as it's not about the spectacular driving, but about blindness amid swirling snow. The brothers drive on, unable to stop. It's a useful metaphor for the film.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the film's mixed messages about violence: it's bad when "gangs" or thugs use it against citizens, but fine and even celebrated when deployed by the vengeful heroes. How do corrupt law and municipal officials, in league with the central villain, create a sense of pervasive dishonesty? How do women characters appear as stereotypical sexual or maternal figures? How does the film promote the brothers' bonding, at the expense of civil order or even hope for any justice aside from murdering the villains?
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AGE
I liked it it wasnt really that violent. A good movie about family bonds.
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AGE
The soundtrack is good but the movie...
My older children took me to see this movie based on the movie trailers...they thought I would like it. This is a movie that is based on violence and uses violence for revenge. It glorifies illegal behavior. What is even more amazing is that amoral people have their own code of conduct and values and attempt to get us to believe that what they did was right. If they are right then I guess that makes George Bush a saint.
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AGE
Not proud of seeing it.
While it had more then 50 F words in it,and breif sexuality it was still a decent movie. Plot wise that is, i still wouldn't let anyone under the age of 17 see it.
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AGE
i loved it
its not a boring movie.its interesting the way the brothers look for a witness and killer of their adopted mom.
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AGE
good plot, bad movie
it had a good story line , but it was a horrible movie. It was filled with bad language, sex, and way too much violence. A bunch of killing and shooting people.
Only for adults if you dont mind watching all that stuff.
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AGE
I konw I shouldn't have seen it!
But, it's was sweet movie about brotherly love. Though i must say that they say things unnessacary. Bullets fly everywhere. And i had to close my eye's on some parts. But, it's a thriller and keeps you guessing. A must see!
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| Studio: | Paramount Pictures |
| Director: | John Singleton |
| Cast: | Mark Wahlberg, Terrence Howard, Tyrese Gibson |
| Genre: | Action/Adventure |
| Run time: | 110 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | August 12, 2005 |
| DVD release date: | December 20, 2005 |
| MPAA rating: | R |
| MPAA explanation: | strong violence, pervasive language and some sexual content |
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