Green Zone (R, 2010)

common sense media says

Gripping combat thriller with anti-war edge for older teens.


parents & educators say
  • 67% say language is an issue
  • 50% say there are positive role models

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this suspenseful war thriller is brimming with tense scenes and battle sequences, all of which include gunfire. Characters are almost always armed, mostly with automatic firearms though sometimes with knives, and skirmishes exact brutal, bloody casualties (bombs detonate; soldiers hemorrhage after being shot). Language is often coarse, including multiple uses of "f--k" and "s--t."

Positive messages: Most people aren’t trustworthy, even the highest levels of government, the film posits. But a questioning few are willing to put themselves on the line to uncover the deception. The decisions that went into going to war in Iraq are firmly questioned.
Positive role models: Very few exhibit the courage that Miller does, which, though admirable in its reach for the truth, is woefully unrealistic and arrogant as a premise.
Violence: Plenty of carnage from battles involving knives, machine guns, and explosions. We see corpses sitting in pools of blood. Soldiers manhandle prisoners.
Sex: Not applicable.
Language: Everything from “s--t” to “sonofabitch” to “f--k.” Also, several uses of "Jesus," "Goddamn," and "Christ" as exclamations.
Consumerism: Media outlets like CNN and the Wall Street Journal are name-checked.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Not applicable.

More on Green Zone

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
  • Families can talk about the premise of the movie: How is it possible that a decision as important as whether a country should go to war hinges on false information? What happens afterward when the truth eventually is revealed? How does it affect the citizens of that country?
  • What is the film saying about war? About the men and women who are sent to war zones? Is it believable that someone like Miller would go rogue? How did all the violence affect you?
  • Does this movie make you reflect on real-life events that inspired it? Your thoughts?

What's the story?

What's the story?
Roy Miller (Matt Damon), a U.S. Army chief warrant officer, is in charge of a unit scouring Iraq for weapons of mass destruction. The United States of America is about to go to war primarily on the strength of this damning intelligence, which has been reported in the press by a journalist (Amy Ryan) who’s now wondering if she’s been had. After failing to find any WMDs at various sites he’s been told to investigate, Miller realizes the information is bunk, especially after a local (Khalid Abdalla) tips him off to a clandestine meeting of powerful Iraqis. A CIA agent (Brendan Gleeson) encourages Miller to dig for a truth that might be buried in the highest levels of government, but a hawkish politico (Greg Kinnear) is on his trail.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 

GREEN ZONE -- which was inspired by the bestselling nonfiction account by Rajiv Chandrasekaran, Imperial Life in the Emerald City: Inside Iraq's Green Zone -- is terrifically entertaining, a tension-filled ride that brings viewers right to the heart of the action. The listlessness, the confusion in those early days of the conflict in Iraq feels genuine, enhanced by director Paul Greengrass’ kinetic, shaky-camera tableau.

Still, disbelief has to be firmly suspended, if only because it’s hard to buy into the idea that one person -- a small group would’ve been more credible -- could manipulate an entire nation’s decision to go to war and yet another lone wolf is the only one to figure it out. (Again, one man designated to save the country from war?) Greengrass might have helped make Damon the thinking man’s action star with the Bourne movies, but placing a militarized Bourne facsimile into the middle of a geo-political situation of already monumental proportions, one that recalls real-life controversies like the media’s WMD reporting (or misreporting, as it were), seems not only redundant but distracting.

Movie themes & details

Movie Details
Studio: Universal Pictures
Director: Paul Greengrass
Cast: Amy Ryan, Brendan Gleeson, Greg Kinnear, Khalid Abdalla, Matt Damon
Genre: Drama
Run time: 115 minutes
Theatrical release: March 12, 2010
DVD release: June 22, 2010
MPAA Rating: R
MPAA explanation: violence and language
Watch our review

This review was written by S. Jhoanna Robledo
 
 

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What parents & educators say

15
Based on 6 parent & educator reviews:
  • 67% say language is an issue
  • 50% say there are positive role models
  • 33% say violence is an issue
  • 33% say there are positive messages

Most useful reviews by all members

M H
adult
 
Green Zone is another example of why the MPAA system needs a workable rating for teenagers between the R and PG-13 that gives teens more freedom. This is a movie that only has an R rating for the language, not the violence which is kept to a very PG-13 rated level. The language though is not over the top or gratuitous, but very reflective of how real army guys speak. I don't get either how anyone would see this movie as having a negative message when the core theme about this movie is standing up for what you believe is right and trying to get to get the truth known. Yes the government is corrupt in this movie, but the movie does not say that all governments are like that. This movie is great action thriller that is bound to entertain the older teenagers. And really with crap like Transformers Revenge of the Fallen out there you could do much worse then let them see this is.

 
Bored, bored... and still bored.
This isn't an interesting movie. It's just a watered-down version of either The Hurt Locker or The Kingdom (your choice). Parents: There is a decent amount of intense violence and language in the movie. Bottom Line: Try the Bourne series; it'll satisfy both your want to see Matt Damon in action and an interesting movie. Thanks for reading! - Movie Man

rspar
parent of 15 and 18 year old
 
Another weak war movie
Basically just an excuse to bash the war and The Wall Street Journal. Kind of Bourne light. But I gave Hurt Locker 3 starts at best.

The True Review
teen, 15 years old
 
Good movie, not really that bad. SPOILER ALERT!!!
I recently went to see this, last Saturday, in fact, with my Dad ,and my cousin. I have to say this movie wasn't at all that bad. I felt it could have been PG-13, but they did swear over the limits of a PG-13 movie. This movie is about finding weapons of mass destruction, (George Bush is gonna wanna see this) and they keep getting wrong intel and everythings a mess. It sorta turns out the americans are the bad guys. Ok, so they're going to try and get this General Al-Rawi guy to come and turn himself in, but like evey other Iraq commander terrorist people, he gets all stubborn and doesn't want to, so our amazing Sarge goes to get him along with FREDDY! (He's a civilian that helps them me and my cousin were making jokes about him and his car) I didn't find this movie bad, so I give it a go for 12+, if they're mature.

vampiregirl23
teen, 16 years old
 
DO NOT LET UR LITTEL KIDS SEE IT !!
it was super bad , the plot sucked , please don't let ur 2-7 year old watch it cuz it really isn't a movie 4 littel kids.actullaly u shouldn't see it at all , a total wast of 6$ if u ask me

 
A very thrilling action military political conspiracy thriller.
3.5/5 Green Zone: Discovering covert and faulty intelligence causes a U.S. Army officer to go rogue as he hunts for Weapons of Mass Destruction in an unstable region. An action military war thriller by Director Of Bourne Movies Paul Greengrass. Matt Damon stars in it. it was a political conspiracy movie, at first i thought i won't watch it but now i kind of wanted to give it a try. i was thinking that its gonna be a very complicated boring thriller but it turned out far better from what i was thinking about it. sure it is forgettable movie but very effective when you see it, a one time watch but you will have a very good time. it was enjoyable and entertaining, weird right, maybe that is the reason why Critics gave bad reviews to it, sure few flaws in screenplay, but not much. these Critics. but there decision i can't say much. Matt Damon did a fine job in this movie, looked good. other supporting actors were ok too. Direction was good but could have been better. the movie is thrilling and entertaining as i said but it has nothing much to it when you think after you watch it. i mean the story and everything put in this movie felt kind of not enough,though it is thrilling but the characters and situations i felt there weren't much or felt that affected. screenplay had some minor flaws but i think this problem was maybe because of the story. plot was good. Editing could have been slight better. some scenes in this movie were very good. the war or shooting scene towards the end, the shaky camera technique was very good and thrilling felt like we are in the middle of the war. the shooting scenes been done very well, the explosions too. i won't say written wise its better than The Hurt Locker but is far more entertaining than it. lol. a very effective and realistic take on Iraq War. this movie could have been slight better but it is almost good the way it is. not much of a preacher or complicated conspiracy drama but an almost honest and lighter take on this Genre. very thrilling somewhat edge of the seat military thriller that you will like for sure.

Jasonr
teen, 15 years old
 
Good and political
This is a good movie but there is a lot of cursing such as f--k, s--t, and milder words. This movie has gun fights but you'll have to look hard for blood because there isn't much of it except for when you see a few bodies in puddles of blood.

Brandon4News
teen, 15 years old
 
Provacative War Drama
I loved this film, I saw it opening weekend. I love Matt Damon as and actor and I think Paul Greengrass is a terrific director, so I was anxious to see the movie. The film is good, and it isn't all that violent. I mean, it's intense, but there isn't all too much blood splatter, so don't be worried about that. The language is fairly consistent clocking in at the end with around 60 f-words, but it's all within battle and virtually undetectable.

Little movie freak
teen, 15 years old
 
War movie is at times,slow,boring,and a little too long! Okay acting, sometimes exciting action,but mostly just mediocre.
Green Zone is just an okay movie that could be better.This is a very violent movie that is just that is mostly just a mediocre war movie. It's sometimes entertaining,and its action is exciting, but it's just sometimes a slow,boring, and sometimes too long. Matt Damon is just okay in this movie. Green Zone is an okay movie that is more of an adult film than a film for young teens to see.Although it is appropriate for older teens 17+. I give this film a C+ and an on for older teens 17+

 
perfect for middle teens 14-17
i thought this movie was really good.

espngy15
teen, 14 years old
 
Great,compelling movie for teens
this movie was great compelling violent gripping great plot and never boring. the plot might confuse younger kids but most teens should like and handle this thriller/drama

Mmi203
parent of 5 year old
 
Its good.

Domination777
teen, 15 years old
 
Bad Language
Too much bad language. But great story.

MEGAFLASH500
kid, 13 years old
 
lots of war action, in the opening bombings. uses of the F-word are common throughout. chases and shootings.

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