 | 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. |
Law Abiding Citizen
- Review Date: October 14, 2009
- R
- Genre: Thriller
- 2009
Common Sense Media says
Violent vengeance thriller has lots of bloody brutality.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that Law Abiding Citizen contains several scenes of extremely bloody violence -- in addition to the home invasion/robbery/attempted rape/murder sequence that it begins with, there's a brutal stabbing and a horrifying torture scene in which a chemically paralyzed man is strapped to a gurney and has his limbs and organs sliced off. Viewers don't see the actual slicing, but they do see the man's limbless, mutilated corpse, and some of the crueler acts are discussed at length. The matter-of-fact nature of the brutal scenes is particularly disquieting. There's also plenty of strong language, some sexual content (including partial nudity), drinking, and drug use.
What's the story?
In Philadelphia, thugs invade the home of engineer Clyde Shelton (Gerard Butler), killing his wife and daughter. Ambitious prosecutor Nick Rice (Jamie Foxx), worried about his conviction record -- and the possibility of the killers walking -- cuts a deal that earns one criminal the death penalty and another a light three-year sentence. Ten years later, starting with the lethal injection of the sentenced criminal, Clyde is waiting with a plan to punish the guilty -- and the lawyers and judges who let the deal happen. Can Nick unravel Clyde's deadly plan before his own life is forfeit in the name of justice?
Is it any good?
Ludicrous and over pumped, LAW ABIDING CITIZEN is an overdone thriller that also has some real shocks and a couple of nasty surprises. Director F. Gary Gray (The Italian Job, The Negotiator) has the flash and enthusiasm to make this kind of film and the other diversions that have made up his career, but watching him flail for deeper meaning and social commentary is a bit of a strain. Foxx is decent and tortured; Butler is an appropriately regretful sociopath until the film's third act, when he has to kick the homicide up a notch to drive the film toward its climax.
As a new-millennium spin on films like Death Wish or Taxi Driver, Law Abiding Citizen works well when it keeps to the simple kinetic energy of the action; Clyde's machinations are just one step removed from the four-color outlandishness of a comic book evil genius. Gray assembles the bits and pieces of Kurt Wimmer's script with competent mechanics, but he falters when he tries to connect the action set pieces with a plot that makes sense or doesn't kick against the limits of plausibility. Law Abiding Citizen has its moments, but those moments don't have a movie.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the movie's violence. How does the impact of the violence here compare to that of "torture porn" horror movies like Saw? Which is more upsetting, and why?
Where's the line between vigilante justice and cold-blooded murder? Are we supposed to admire Clyde when he kills criminals, but not when he kills people at the district attorney's office?
What's the difference between "justice" and "law"? Do plea
bargains and other deals keep the mechanism of justice tunning smoothly
or divert it from its true intent?
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- Teens & kids
AGE
I personally enjoyed it, although i looked away in the beginning out of spite. The story is good if like psychological thrillers and Gerard Butler. There is some nudity and cussing, but nothing very OMG-ish. Yes, there is a lot of violence so younger kids really should stay away. But it's a good movie and Gerard Butler did a great job.
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AGE
Violent but good
A lot of violence to begin the movie
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AGE
Common sense says...
This movie is what it is said to be in the trailer, "A RATED 'R' VENGEANCE MOVIE WITH LOTS OF EXPLOSIONS AND KILLING". Why does everyone STILL feel the need to write about how it's not appropriate for children? It's rated 'R'! Take it for what it is.
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AGE
good movie
good action movie worth buying not kids too much violence 17 and over strong language too i loved the movie
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AGE
good movie for adults
It was a good movie for adults not for children. I thought it had an interesting plot. If you like action this would be a good one to see. There was a lot of violence, language, and one scene had a women laying in bed wearing a thong. The message was kind of good kind of bad it could go anyway depending on how you look at it.
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AGE
the lessons of death wish have been learned
the film is good suprise peolpe are destroying this film. why because they see a sloppy vengeance film i see a decent violent and interesting thriller whose main flaw is it drags on the last about half-hour. gerqard butler does not act very well but he suites this roll very well and jamie foxx as aslways is fantastic.the plot makes fo an interesting film. but the reason the film works is because it follws the 5 rules rule 1 the main character must have nothing tol lose. rule 2 the must be some awesome action sequence. rule 3 you must have agood leading man rule 4 there must be a moral. anyone who likes vengeance film will enjoy the film grade B
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AGE
Great For Families and Young Children Of All Ages
I Love this movie and have shown it to both by 5 year old daughters to teach them about corruption and tyranny. Great learning movie!
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AGE
not for kids.
law abiding citizen is a thriller movie only for adults and parents you need to know that law abiding citizen is in extremely violent and bloody movie Clyde Shelton sends Nick Rice a tape for his daughter to watch and it shows how Clyde tortures his killer by cutting his arms, legs, head, torso, and organs which can be very disturbing to watch they also show Clyde daughter being raped by his killer also there is partial nudity and a fat girl showing her thong characters used a lot of strong language throughout the movie and characters drink beer, wine, and liquor and smoke Cocaine.
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AGE
Butler Wins
Gerard Butler is professor tough guy! He did a fabulous job in this film. Jamie Foxx was a little off, but he did fine. The idea to this film was great, but they screwed up the end. Won't give away anything but they screwed up. I reccommend this movie to any action movie lover.
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| Studio: | Overture Films |
| Director: | F. Gary Gray |
| Cast: | Colm Meaney, Gerard Butler, Jamie Foxx |
| Genre: | Thriller |
| Run time: | 102 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | October 16, 2009 |
| DVD release date: | February 16, 2010 |
| MPAA rating: | R |
| MPAA explanation: | strong bloody brutal violence and torture, a scene of rape, and pervasive language |
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