This is a quality film which is both exciting and thought-provoking. Teens may have heard it's "cool" and be interested, but it is not appropriate for youth - certainly not without adult accompaniment. It is very realisticly violent, and the themes need a mature understanding.
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The Hurt Locker
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Is it age appropriate?
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Not age appropriate for kids under 15, age appropriate for kids over 17; suggested age 16. -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
Violent, complex Iraq war drama is rough, tough, thrilling.
Themes in this movie include: loss, revenge
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 16–17
The good stuff
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What to watch out for
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What Parents Need to Know
About The Hurt Locker
Parents need to know that although this war drama/thriller is full of very realistic, graphic violence and danger -- shootings, death by explosion, images of dead bodies -- the consequences of these acts are never taken lightly, and they're never depicted as mere "action." Ultimately, it's an intellectually and philosophically stimulating movie that offers parents and older teens the chance to talk about everything from current events to the overall human condition. That said, you can also expect lots of strong language (including many uses of "f--k"), some smoking and drinking, and some crude jokes/sex references.
Read our full review by InternLogin
Families Can Talk About
- Families can talk about the movie's violence. How does what's shown here compare to the explosions and shoot-'em-up scenes of more mainstream Hollywood blockbusters? Which has more impact?
- How does the movie portray the United States' invasion of Iraq? Is it different from the way it's been presented in other movies and TV shows? How so?
- Is Sgt. James a hero or a fool? Does he take unnecessary risks or necessary ones? Does his attachment to a local Iraqi boy improve either of their lives?
Our Members Say
Most Recent Reviews
- I rate this title iffy for age 16 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate language
- Drinking, smoking, or drug use
- Negative role models
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
Will blow adults away; hurtful for the less mature...
- I rate this title iffy for age 13 and give it
The Hurt Locker
The Hurt Locker is one of the best films i've seen this year. Stating at the first that war is a drug is not such as a quote but a fact anad throughout the movie and especially at the end it shows that. Jeremy Renner's best performance so far as the lead as well is Anthony Mackie, Ralph Fiennes and Guy Pearce.
- I rate this title on for age 14 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate language
- Drinking, smoking, or drug use
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
Best war drama since Saving Private Ryan
OK, where to start? This film is by no means for anyone under the age of 14 (due to occasionally graphic war violence, raw language, and near-constant smoking by one of the leads), but anyone 14 and over should by all means see this gripping, intense film that will certainly be an Oscar contender. The basic plot: a professional bomb squad has to survive in an Iraqi town where explosives can be anywhere. But it's much more complex than that. The film opens with a statement by Chris Hedges, a famed American journalist: "The rush of battle is a potent and lethal addiction, for war is a drug." After you watch this gripping, potent film, you'll definitely agree. In terms of content, this is tamer than most war films; however, it has a much higher emotional pull than even Saving Private Ryan, so the violence, while infrequent, is still occasionally graphic and very frightening. There's one very gory scene that has the main character finding a bomb in a preteen's body. Also, a sniper vs. sniper battle has some bloody headshots. There are other moments of less graphic violence and some intense bomb defusing situations (which is obvious, considering the film's theme). Language is very frequent (this IS a war movie, after all); about 60 f-bombs are uttered, as well as other minor profanity (such as sh*t, b*tch, d*mn, and hell). One of the main characters smokes in almost every scene, and there's a bit of drinking and crude sexual references. Overall, see The Hurt Locker if you're over 14. This is definite Academy Award material here.
- I rate this title iffy for age 15 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate language
Great movie for seventeen and up.
I thought the movie was very well done. My husband loved it. It is very complex and realistic so younger kids would be negatively impacted and probably would not understand its significance. This is really a movie for 17 and up.
- I rate this title iffy for age 15 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
EXCELENT EXTRODINARY GRIPPING DRAMA
THE BEST FILM I'VE SEEN IN 2009 IS THIS ONE NO FILM THIS YEAR OTHER THAN HARRY POTTER ANF I LOVE YOU MAN THIS DRAME DESERVES OSCARS HANDS DOWN. THE TICK TICK OF THIS MOVIE WILL GET TO YOU WAY BEFORE THE BOOM FACTOR OF THE MOVIE THE GRIPPING SHEER REALISTIC ATMOSPHERE AND SHEER RAW POWER. IF YOU CAN FIND ONE OF THE 4 THEATERS THAT IT'S PLAYING IN GO SEE WHAT IS THE BEST MOVIE OF 2009 PERIOD
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Ratings at a Glance
| 100% | of parents say it's too violent |
| 100% | of parents say it has language their kids can't use |
| 50% | of parents say it gives kids positive messages |
| 50% | of parents say there are good role models |
| 50% | of parents don't think the messages are positive |
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