 | 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. |
The Guardian
- Review Date: January 21, 2007
- PG-13
- Genre: Action/Adventure
- 2006
Common Sense Media says
Waterlogged rescue flick is too intense for kids.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this action drama includes several harrowing scenes of storms and sinking boats at sea. Rescue swimmers valiantly try to save victims, but some deaths occur on screen (not bloody, but sad and -- in one case -- quite disturbing). Kids with fears about water should probably see something else. Sailors and swimmers argue and draw blood in fistfights. A couple falls in love and is shown kissing and in bed (no explicit sex, but tumbling under blankets and some underwear shots). Protagonists drink, take painkillers, and use occasional profanity.
What's the story?
Kevin Costner stars as Ben Randall, a veteran Coast Guard rescue swimmer who turns to teaching after a traumatic event leaves him unable to carry on as usual. Ben needs to recover his nerve, while cocky student Jake (Ashton Kutcher) learn to play nicely with others, including his girlfriend, Emily (Melissa Sagemiller). Both teacher and student have suffered; the revelations of that suffering lead each to his own sort of manly re-commitment. At the rescue-swimming training facility, Ben's red-lit nightmares are compounded by the fact that his long-suffering wife, Helen (Sela Ward), has left him. He self-medicates and grumps at the recruits, and for 18 weeks, drills his trainees hard. Ben's methods occasionally alarm and annoy his fellow instructors, including resentful second-in-command Jack (Neal McDonough) and skeptical presiding officer Larson (John Heard). During his down time, Ben calls Helen to beg forgiveness and helps Jake avenge a beating he received from disdainful Navy sailors. Though the trainees' ranks do include a woman, the focus here is on boys learning to be men. Ben and Jake see themselves in each other, pretty much to the exclusion of anyone else. When Emily suggests to Jake that Ben may be "trying to push you to be better," Jake sets her straight: "He knows I'm better than he is!"
Is it any good?
With a retread plot, plenty of boy-bonding action, and a shirtless Ashton Kutche, Andrew Davis' THE GUARDIAN is a by-the-numbers crowd pleaser that's about as dull as a heroic redemption story could be.
Per formula, parallel redemption stories grant "emotional" moments to both Ben and Kutcher's Jake. By the time Jake has his big breakdown scene (he cries, though he doesn't actually say, "I got nowhere else to go!"), it's clear that, for all their earnest, actorly efforts, neither man has a chance against Ron L. Brinkerhoff's hackneyed script.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about ways to deal with trauma. How does the movie make the case that focusing on the future (in the form of students to be taught and lives to be saved) helps Ben overcome his guilt, anger, and frustration? What are other ways -- both successful and unsuccessful -- that people deal with traumatic events? How do Ben and Jake's similarities (ambition, competitiveness, tragic pasts) make them ideal partners? What other movies have used a similar structure (tough veteran mentors young hot shot)? Families can also discuss the work of the Coast Guard, including the unit's heroic rescues on the Gulf Coast following Hurricane Katrina.
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- Teens & kids
AGE
A fun film
This movie is full of action and is lots of fun to watch. Why Common Sense Media gave it only two stars i cannot figure out! I thought that it was very entertaining and lots of fun to watch.
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AGE
Touching and real
With a family member in The Coast Guard and active in search and rescue it was amazing to see the things he has told me about come to life. This film was well researched and Costner & Kutcher gave impressive performances.
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AGE
I was impressed
I got past the poor me, my wife left me story. I also figured out in no time that the young character had a tragic past....go figure. I need to save the world because I let my friends die??? What did not get past me was that this really does happen, in the real world. It may not happen in this particular situation, but it does happen. We call it "Life". It can suck, and it can be harsh. Very, Very Harsh!!
The difficulty of this movie "is" the fact that these situations "do" arise? and these men and women "do" risk their lives to save said victim's.....without hesitation!!!
Was this movie "Hochie?" NO, not to me. Maybe a bit far fetched for I am sure the USCG is much tougher on its recruits then the movie depicted, but it was, in fact " a movie". Try to put things into prespective here. How many of "us" would put our lives on the line. No where near a situation that was depicted in this movie? Not a one I fear.
I have nothing but respect for the men and women that risk their lives for us.
To make a movie, one has to have a story line.....that was easy...saving ppople from immenent death...OH, and if my opinion counts for anything......if we can show our children that there are more important things in the world then whether or not our MP3 player is loaded, then we are not doing such a bad job in raising them.
i could care less if anyone agrees with me. Forcing people to face their fears without quitting is not a bad idea in my book.
I think anyone 13 and over could find this movie has quality...even thought the "star" appears to be human......oop[s
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AGE
I liked it.
This movie was Okay But CS shouldnt have gavin it a 13+. But you might enjoy it. But there was way to much traing!
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AGE
really intense movie should be: Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of action, some violence, language, and some disturbing content
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AGE
great movie.
most of the time these "professional critics" say a movie is bad that tells you it's a must see.
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| Studio: | Buena Vista |
| Director: | Andrew Davis |
| Cast: | Ashton Kutcher, Kevin Costner, Melissa Sagemiller |
| Genre: | Action/Adventure |
| Run time: | 136 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | September 28, 2006 |
| DVD release date: | January 23, 2007 |
| MPAA rating: | PG-13 |
| MPAA explanation: | for intense sequences of action/peril, brief strong language and some sensuality. |
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