 | 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. |
Glory
- Review Date: June 6, 2006
- R
- Genre: Drama
- 1989
Common Sense Media says
Excellent Civil War movie for mature teens.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that there is graphic war violence here; all the bloody killings may be too much for many tweens and some teens. Know your kid. Also, the movie deals with racism and other mature themes. Note: most of the soldiers here die in service.
What's the story?
GLORY tells the epic story of the 54th Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, the first unit of black troops that fought in the American Civil War. Progressive-minded Col. Robert Gould Shaw (Matthew Broderick) is their leader. Shaw's college friend Thomas Searles (Andre Braugher), a free-born African-American, eagerly joins the regiment, but most of the soldiers are proud but illiterate ex-slaves, some consumed with hatred toward the South. Troublemaker Trip (Denzel Washington) and the other blacks are kept in line, barely, by John Rawlins (Morgan Freeman) who understands the need for obedience if they are all to be soldiers worthy of the name. Shaw imports a trash-talking sergeant to whip the recruits into shape. Feeling they're are being treated as inferior troops, ill-equipped and destined for only boring, non-combat missions, Shaw demands the 54th be allowed to prove themselves in battle. Finally, in an assault on a well-defended Confederate fortress, the black regiment gets their moment of "glory," but at a horrific cost. Their ultimate sacrifice earned the honor that opened the doors for free black men to serve.
Is it any good?
This powerful and complex movie is best for mature teens and up; it may be too intense for younger kids. Rigorous, even pitiless codes of military behavior is something worth talking about with kids, especially in military families (the topic actually took up most of Robert Heinlein's novel "Starship Troopers," something that never made it to the big-screen version of the sci-fi tale).
In Glory, Trip straightens out and Rawlins (like Shaw, an actual historical figure) becomes America's first black officer. The noble ideals behind the 54th stand out when Shaw and the 54th meet another so-called black Union regiment in the field; it turns out to be a drunken mob encouraged by their corrupt commander to pillage and rape in already-defeated Southern territories.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the history of racism in this country. Families can also research the complex reasons why the US split into Union and Confederacy and clashed in battle, which are not covered in this film.
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AGE
If you can handle violence, you can watch this movie.
A movie all Americans must see. I was in 7th grade when I first saw this movie in class. I was mature enough to handle it, and mature enough to love it. It is very violent. Not for the easily offended.
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AGE
The message is greater than the military violence. 15 and over should view this!!
This is one of the most powerful movies I have ever seen. It is not so much a movie about racism as it is about overcoming obstacles, living courageously, and demonstrating wisdom. Not only do the African-Americans have to deal with their struggle, the main character Robert Gould Shaw (played by Broderick) must overcome pressures from the well-to-do circles he runs in and those that question his motives.
There are powerful images of courage and as one scene describes, "there is more to life than rest. There is character and strength of heart." THESE are messages that we must share with our teenagers who all to often do not respect or understand what it takes to sacrifice to a purpose greater than self. The movie is violent, but in a military, reality sense. I believe it should be required viewing for history classes.
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AGE
Great movie bad language
I'm a huge civil war buff and i saw this when i was ten i disagree with the rating it was boreder line R There is blood seen in a bowl( its a medic tent) and you see te siloet a an amputation and lastly the all die and one man at the begining has his head blown off by a cannon. Sexual stuff not that bad. The language is pretty bad i think thats why it got its rating of R because they use the N word alot. Over all if you're one of the more mature people that can handle tear jerkers and blood than it is amazing.
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AGE
Good!
A good movie. I saw this in class when studying the civil war, and we always made jokes about the guy who's head exploded.
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AGE
It's pretty good, though it inevitably comes short of the impossible standards it sets for itself.
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AGE
great movie
I thought it was a violent but touching story about the civil war
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AGE
Great War Movie!!!!
This movie is a fantastic war movie, but it does have some violence and some swearing. In the beginning of the movie, a man gets shot with a rifle in the head and his head explodes in high detail and a lot of blood is shown... After that part, the violence isn't a big deal; but keep in mind this is a civil war movie, so there's a lot of shooting!! And for the swearing; the f-word is used once and the n-word is used a lot against black soildiers. Thats pretty much everything bad that goes on in this movie. I'd agree with CommonSense, i think 15 is about a good age for this movie... And MAYBE 13-14.
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AGE
glory is epic but intense
glory is the first r rated movie iv seen. it has some gross parts but not a lot there is a scene where someones head is shot off and blood sprays onto the main characters face, and there is a scene where they are cutting someones leg but theres a curtain covering him while you hear him scream "dont cut it", the movie is very sad and touching, this is good for 15 and up.
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| Studio: | Columbia Tristar |
| Director: | Edward Zwick |
| Cast: | Denzel Washington, Matthew Broderick, Morgan Freeman |
| Genre: | Drama |
| Run time: | 122 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | December 15, 1989 |
| DVD release date: | January 20, 1998 |
| MPAA rating: | R |
| MPAA explanation: | war violence, racism and mature themes. |
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