 | 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. |
Killer Elite
- Review Date: September 23, 2011
- R
- Genre: Action/Adventure
- 2011
Common Sense Media says
Violence prevails in exciting but uneven action movie.
Parents say
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this book-based action/thriller/drama about an assassin who tries to quit the business but is drawn back in has lots of strong violence, including blood, dead bodies, guns and shootings, stabbings, and explosions. There's also a shot of a topless woman, as well as some sexual innuendo, kissing, and flirting. Language is strong and includes both "f--k" and "s--t," and minor characters drink and smoke in a background way.
What's the story?
Danny (Jason Statham) and Hunter (Robert De Niro) are professional assassins. While working on a new mission, Danny is stunned when a kid turns up in the line of fire and decides to quit the business for good. But then he receives word that Hunter has been kidnapped, and he must accept a job -- killing three British SAS agents who murdered the sons of an exiled oil sheik -- in exchange for the older man's release. Danny reluctantly takes the assignment, but unfortunately, an ex-SAS man, Spike (Clive Owen) -- who's part of a secret organization called the "Feather Men" -- is hot on Danny's trail. Worse, Danny's new girlfriend, Anne (Yvonne Strahovski), is now in danger, too. Can Danny get out of this fix alive?
Is it any good?
Directed by Gary McKendry, KILLER ELITE has enough good scenes to satisfy action fans, as well as those looking for a bit more depth -- but as a cohesive whole, it's rather mixed. The action stuff is pitched to the lowest common denominator, using reckless, ramshackle shaky-cam to document the painstaking choreography. Meanwhile, the drama sometimes doesn't make sense; both Hunter and Spike's characters seem haphazardly thrown in, and it sometimes feels like extra scenes were written and added in at the last second to accommodate their star power.
Part of the time, it seems as if the movie (which is based on a book by the adventurer Ranulph Fiennes) is interested in getting audiences to think about the world's pathological dependence on oil and the extreme measures nations will take to get their hands on it. But at other times, the movie asks audiences not to think at all and just enjoy the ride. It's an uneven mix, though it still delivers in fits and starts.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the movie's violence. What impact does killing for a living have on the main character? Are his decisions believable?
How does the movie present revenge? Is it a valid reason to pursue violence? Do the ends ever justify the means?
The story is presented as being based on actual events, though there's some speculation about whether that's the case. Why might filmmakers want audiences to think it was based on a true story? Why might some facts be changed?
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AGE
Pretty good movie!
Full of action packed violence. Kind of sad, but very entertaining. Lots of violence, but only bad guys get killed! Older kidas, and preteens should be fine!
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AGE
16 and up.
Killer Elite is an average action movie stars with jason statham clive owen and robert de niro and this movie is only for your older teens but parents you need to know that killer elite has plenty of non-stop violence and in one scene a character is shown having sex with a women but nothing explicit shown there is strong language used and some drinking and smoking used.
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AGE
Just another disapointing action movie
"C"
There's nothing particularly bad about Killer Elite, the problem is that there isn't anything especially good about it either. Whether its truly based on a true story or not, it seems like a boring, recycled, formula plot with cliches and bland precooked dialogue around every corner. Danny: " I'm done with killing." Agent: " Maybe killing isn't done with you." It's this king of exchange that makes the film seem like it's just a bunch of pieces of other, better films smashed together into one big movie designed only to make a profit at the box office. Yet, despite it's flaws, Killer Elite Isn't a horrible film. It's actors bring some freshness to the somewhat stale movie and the chemistry between De Niro and Statham is undeniable. General impression: Killer Elite is a so so movie that has some enjoyable characters and good potential, but set it's aims to low.
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AGE
It's okay, not bad for teense
Not very mature in content, but may get lost on pre-teens. Sexual content is mild, some nudity.
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| Studio: | Open Road Films |
| Director: | Gary McKendry |
| Cast: | Clive Owen, Jason Statham, Robert De Niro |
| Genre: | Action/Adventure |
| Run time: | 105 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | September 23, 2011 |
| DVD release date: | January 10, 2012 |
| MPAA rating: | R |
| MPAA explanation: | strong violence, language and some sexuality/nudity |
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