Hereafter

I agree with Terra100 and Codered785. This movie was slow and boring. I kept waiting for everything to come together, but even the ending was a let down. Don't spend your time on this one.

The good stuff * Messages: Though the movie's themes are heavy, it has a somewhat hopeful message about life after death. Nobody is vilified in the film for either believing or not believing in the idea of the hereafter. There’s also a longing for connection that rings true. * Role models: Marie is fearless; when faced with incredulity about what she thinks comes after death, she sets out to make her case rather than giving in to avoid confrontation. George is somewhat closed off, but his attempts at being social are notable. The bond between Marcus and his brother is admirable and moving. These three don’t stop searching, which makes them fascinating to watch. What to watch out for * Violence: The movie opens with a frighteningly realistic portrayal of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami that claimed thousands of lives. Viewers see the water sweeping into the coast and engulfing homes and people, including a woman who gets hit by a vehicle. Another scene shows a boy being run over by a car as he tries to escape the clutches of a bullying mob. Frank discussion of death and how some people die; one character brings up a secret about sexual abuse. * Sex: Couples flirt, embrace, and kiss. * Language: Limited use of "s--t" and "f--k," plus "crap," "oh my God," and more. * Consumerism: Product names/labels shown include Nikon, Coca-Cola, Vicks, Virgin, and BlackBerry. * Drinking, drugs, & smoking: One woman is an addict; her arms are shown with syringe marks. Some social drinking.

I thought this movie was slow and boring. Sorry Clint. There is a lot of subtitles in this movie, which wasn't a problem for me, but the issue was that the overall movie went too slow. The story just doesn't move along. And, there are a lot of corny parts. I'm a big believer in the after life, but I got the sense that Clint and the writer got too sentimental with this film.

My rating: PG-13 for mature themes, a few scenes involving brief violence, and for some drinking. Positive Messages & Role Models: 1/5 - Not negative (except for a drunk woman), but not really positive, either. Violence: 2.5 - Very little and very brief. In the beginning, there is a tsunami. In one scene, a boy is hit by a bus. No blood is shown, but there are a few bruises shown. In another scene, a boy is about to board a subway, but the door close just in time. When the train is almost completely through its first tunnel, we hear an explosion, but all we really see is sparks flying out the back of the train. Sex: 1.5/5 - A few kisses, but they are just pecks on the cheek. In one scene, we see a woman dressed in only her bra and panties. This lasts for about five seconds. Language: 1/5 - Some, but barely noticeable. Consumerism: 0/5 - Nothing to worry over. Drinking & Drugs: 3/5 - Twins witness their mother coming home drunk and giggling from New Year's, holding a bottle of alcohol. Wine is seen in a handful of scenes. Matt Damon's character mentions taking pills, but nothing is seen, and the reference is likely to go over kids' heads.