 | 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. |
Knowing
- Review Date: March 18, 2009
- PG-13
- Genre: Science Fiction
- 2009
Common Sense Media says
Grim sci-fi thriller is too intense for young kids.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this grim sci-fi thriller is about global catastrophe and disaster, which could be very upsetting for kids. There are scary presences, spooky music, dead parents, and children in danger throughout the movie, and it really stretches the PG-13 rating in terms of depicting horrifying disasters (a monumental plane crash injures and kills scores of people, an out-of-control subway train smashes into a crowded station, etc.). Animals are seen burning as they flee from a massive fire. A main character also drinks to excess on a number of occasions, and there's some language ("s--t," "damn," etc.).
What's the story?
When a time capsule buried by an elementary school class in 1959 is dug up in 2009, one little girl's strange, unsettling entry -- a paper filled with hundreds of random numbers -- finds its way into the hands of single dad/astrophysicist John Koestler (Nicolas Cage) and his son, Caleb (Chandler Canterbury). John soon determines that the numbers aren't random at all: They actually reveal a prophetic listing of all the major catastrophies on earth since 1959 -- and, even more frightening, disasters in the immediate future. Is it coincidence or part of a grand plan? Fear and panic escalate as John, working with the daughter (Rose Byrne) of the now-dead little girl who foresaw it all, tries to stop the inevitable.
Is it any good?
KNOWING wants to be a lot of things, but logical isn't one of them. From early in the movie when John lectures his M.I.T. students about randomism vs. determinism (unsubtly setting the stage for what's to come and also sounding like he's talking to a seventh grade class) to the final moments when Earth's very survival is at stake, style and action take precedence over coherence.
The characters never behave in a rational way, instead serving only to move the story from one harrowing event to another. In its desire to cover such major issues as humankind's frailty in the face of nature, religion, parenting, and even a glimmer of hope for the future, the film loses its way amid showy special effects, thinly drawn characters, and lack of plausibility. Dark City, an early Alex Proyas movie, was far more successful at giving life to the science-fiction genre.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about how the movie creates suspense. Would it be as spooky or scary without the music, close-up shots, or shadows?
Parents, if the movie's end-of-the-world subject matter upsets your kids, be sure to address their fears.
And on a lighter note, you can also discuss what you'd put in a time capsule to represent your life.
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AGE
Cheesy But Interesting
"Knowing" is ridiculous, flawed, and laughable, but it is also compelling and scary. You might love or hate the ending, but the special effects are incredible. The surreal disaster scenes will be disturbing for even adults. Nikky Cage may have a drinking problem (mild), but he is also a loving father that gives this movie an emotional punch.
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AGE
OK movie but EXTREMELY VIOLENT! So this movie really pushes the PG-13 limits because of a subway that mows down a ton of people and a plane that crashes through a freeway and people run around on fire and some people explode. Also, if u bring ur kids, u might want to take them out of the theater at the commercials, u do not want to risk them watching a preview for a new horror flick called "Sorority Row". NOT A GOOD FLICK FOR KIDS! See Monsters vs. Aliens instead with kids much better and more appropriate.
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AGE
My 10 and 13 year old children have seen a lot of PG13 movies, but this one is definitely one I wish we would have skipped. Violent images - people burning in a plane crash, getting run over by a runaway subway train, a mother killed in a car wreck - were disturbing even for me. These in addition to Nicholas Cage drinking bottles of booze throughout the movie, weird sci-fi alien people that stalk the children, and the planet being destroyed in the end, killing everyone on it.....I wish I wouldn't have taken my kids.
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AGE
Kid's will have bad dreams
Scary! Slightly upsetting.
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AGE
Beware of the Ending
I'm sorry, but I absolutely hated....... the ending. (I'll get to that later on in this review)
Okay, so what I look for in a good movie is:
-dialogue
-actor choice
-plot
-ending
So, audience is drawn in by all the numbers and predictions. Then, closing in at the end, Caleb is chosen. Okay, I'm a bit disappointed, maybe the dad will still survive. Then, he drives to his dad's house and huddles with them. It goes to a shot of the earth supposedly being destroyed. I was like, "Keep on going...." It goes to a scene where Caleb and that girl are on the world where they are now living. then the credits came, and I was like, "WHAT!??!!?! how could that be the end?"
The good things were that it kept me in the whole movie, the cast, and the plot.
The bad = the end.
The end is a lot to me, so I'll have to give it 2 stars.....
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AGE
My husband and I took our daughter this weekend, who is 11, and it was a pretty intense movie for kids. We thought the movie was pretty strong for even adults. It may be better suited for children 14 and up.
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AGE
Definitely not for younger teenagers
This movie is way above the mark for 13 and even for those 14-16. There is starking images that are seen within climatic events. There is that hint of horror, and the unknown which for most teens is hard to make them push past the idea that it is 'just a movie'. Definitely think twice before allowing your teens to see this movie.
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AGE
What a BOMB!
As we watched the beginning of the movie, my daughter and I felt slightly disturbed but convinced ourselves that the movie would get better. We have never been more wrong! We just sat on the couch and watched it spiral downward into the big finale that creeped us out and left us thinking about the new definition of "child catcher!" We would NOT recommend wasting your money OR TIME on this flop!
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AGE
We saw this without reviewing first and it was absolutely TERRIBLE! We had to leave the theatre befor the end. my daughter was shaking with the spooky alien guys and catastrophe. There was not let up! This is a complete miss!
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AGE
My 13 year old was disturbed
My 13 year old saw this with a friend. She came home horrified. We read the reviews together beforehand and watched previews, but that did not prepare her, or us. She told me the violence was graphic, with lots of blood and suffering. The animal scenes bothered her. Her main complaint were the scenes of possession. She decribed the eyes of the possessed girl, then recounted the girl enscribing with her fingernails and blood. The most disturbing aspect I believe for my daughter was the end - spoiler alert - when the world was destroyed. This is her first movie without a happy ending. Sometimes there are no happy endings, but that is a pretty heavy knowledge for a young kid to bear. I've gotten a little trusting of my daughter and movies she sees lately, but I'm going to rethink things after this.
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| Studio: | Summit Entertainment |
| Director: | Alex Proyas |
| Cast: | Chandler Canterbury, Nicolas Cage, Rose Byrne |
| Genre: | Science Fiction |
| Run time: | 122 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | March 20, 2009 |
| DVD release date: | July 7, 2009 |
| MPAA rating: | PG-13 |
| MPAA explanation: | disaster sequences, disturbing images, and brief strong language |
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