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 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
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Limitless
- Review Date: March 10, 2011
- PG-13
- Genre: Thriller
- 2011
Common Sense Media says
Story centered on drug abuse sends very iffy messages.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this sci-fi thriller based on a novel by Alan Glynn stars The Hangover's Bradley Cooper as a man who becomes addicted to a (fictional) drug that enhances users' mental powers, using it to further his own power and wealth. He becomes involved with gangsters and loan sharks, which leads to plenty of violence, including shooting, stabbing, and blood. He also sleeps with many women, and there's language (including one "f--k" and a few "s--t"s) and frequent drinking. Although the movie is rated PG-13, the message -- that drugs can help you overcome problems related to confidence and motivation -- and the lack of consequences for most of the main character's drug-fueled decisions and actions make Limitless a very iffy choice for teens.
What's the story?
Eddie Morra (Bradley Cooper) is a slovenly writer who's supposedly working on a sci-fi novel, but he can't quite motivate himself to write a single word. His girlfriend, Lindy (Abbie Cornish), gets tired of it and breaks up with him. Then an old acquaintance gives him a pill called NZT that suddenly makes everything clear, boosting his concentration and knowledge to extraordinary levels. He gets hold of an entire supply of NZT and sets out to satisfy his desire for more money and power. Unfortunately, loan sharks are after him -- as are as thugs involved with the drug's illegal manufacture. Worst of all, Eddie gets mixed up with a financial wizard (Robert De Niro) who may be more dangerous than any of the others. Can Eddie ever get his life back? Does he want to?
Is it any good?
With LIMITLESS, director Neil Burger (The Lucky Ones) delivers a sci-fi thriller much like his earlier The Illusionist, but cleverer and more playful. In a way, the movie is as involving and addictive as the fictitious drug it conjures up. Burger cooks up many tricks, including a lighting scheme that visually illustrates the effects of the drug, as well as a memorable sequence depicting an 18-hour blackout that the hero experiences while on the drug.
Yes, the movie basically celebrates consequence-free behavior, but it also succeeds in tapping into a general human dissatisfaction and offering a vicarious escape (which, in a way, makes the iffiness of its messages even more questionable for teens!). Meanwhile, Burger guides Cooper through an appealing performance, and he's matched by De Niro in a snaky supporting role, as well as many other terrific turns in smaller parts. Ultimately, Limitless is a strong combination of the all-too-rare pairing of sci-fi ideas and human emotions, but it's best suited for adults.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about how the movie portrays drug use. What are the consequences? Does that seem realistic? If a drug like NZT was real, what do you think would happen to people who took it?
How can people find confidence and motivation without the use of illegal substances?
Is the movie's violence scary or threatening? How is the violence affected by the idea that the main character is in control of everything that happens?
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AGE
Worst movie I've seen in a long time
Unlikable main character with poor message. Hard to find anything redeeming about this film.
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AGE
I wish I did not go and see Limitless! The violence is excessive and PG-13 doesn't mean very much anymore! The movie rating system in the United States is an absolute joke and it should be abolished and just have a sex/violence activity rating like we do here on Common Sense Media! At least that would be much more honest. When stabbing out a man eye and making him blind is PG13 then what's next?
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AGE
very original movie. i loved this thriller.
Aspiring author Eddie Morra (Cooper) is suffering from chronic writer's block, but his life changes instantly when an old friend introduces him to NZT, a revolutionary new pharmaceutical that allows him to tap his full potential. With every synapse crackling, Eddie can recall everything he has ever read, seen or heard, learn any language in a day, comprehend complex equations and beguile anyone he meets97as long as he keeps taking the untested drug. Soon Eddie takes Wall Street by storm, parlaying a small stake into millions. His accomplishments catch the eye of mega-mogul Carl Van Loon (De Niro),who invites him to help broker the largest merger in corporate history. But they also bring Eddie to the attention of people willing to do anything to get their hands on his stash of NZT. With his life in jeopardy and the drug's brutal side effects grinding him down, Eddie dodges mysterious stalkers, a vicious gangster and an intense police investigation as he attempts to hang on to his dwindling supply long enough to outwit his enemies.
well this movie just shocked me so much of how good it was and as it ended i was like so mad about how good it was, just completely satisfied me. awsome. you normally don't expect a good movie from Mr Bradely Cooper (not talking about The Hangover) but here it is an all in all entertainer and likeable thriller. first of all the thing is that it is one of the best movies of this year and will be. second thing is that the plot, main idea and story is extremely original and fresh which makes it far more appealing. its based on the idea of a pill that makes your brain utillize more of its actuall normal workable power. this guy accidentaly get it, his life being a complete mess makes it only thing for him to do. as he uses it he experience this feeling of powerfulness and that he can do anything. he sees things beyond an ordinary mind can and makes his life a desirable one. he can practically do anything he want's. but as it says with great power comes great responsibality or that everything has a limit. so is the human body, the way or for what exact work it has been made it just work in that limit if you cross it you will suffer. not much research have been done on tis pill so he slowly experience the downfall. he becomes sick and other things follows.
this movie is a suspence thriller drama with a sci fi touch. very well written movie, two thumbs up for the writer of the story and the plot. screenplay is very well written. plot is superb, edge of the seat thriller with a suitable pace, this movie is not too fast or not very slow. this movie never gets boring or tiring. it is filled perfectly without a blank or dull moment in it. a perfect new age thriller which makes you think about yourself and human beings in general. direction is good. it is appealing visually too, good cinematography, nice background score and perfect editing.
Bradely Cooper's best movie off the romance or comedy side. he did well if not great and was perfectly cast, this guy needed this movie, other actors were ok too. well i liked this movie very much, based on a very unique, fresh and out of no where new idea. just a lovable movie. i liked it so much and so will you. do watch it.
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AGE
Well, there isn't a terrible lot of violence but there is a fair bit of blood. There is one scene whe Bradley Cooper drinks another dudes blood. I looked away. It was gross. Pretty bloody for PG-13.
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AGE
Glorifies drugs & immorality
While this film was suspenseful and compelling, I am sorry I watched it. It at first seems to warn against the use of mind-enhancing drugs. But then it goes on to glorify not only drug abuse, but selfish ambition, greed, sexual immorality, deception and murder. The message is, “As long as you do it right and don’t get caught, drugs and illegal activity are okay—good even.” That’s a terrible message to send to anyone, but especially to young people, who’ll no doubt be attracted to this fast-paced and appealing film.
It should never have been rated PG-13, but should have received an R-rating, due to the thematic element of drug abuse and violence. I would not recommend this movie to anyone. Instead, I think concerned Americans should boycott the film and urge others to stay away.
I certainly hope it doesn’t win any awards. And I am disappointed that Robert De Niro and Bradley Cooper would be involved with a project that so blatantly advocates something so wrong.
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AGE
Excellent - and Maybe Motivating - Movie
I don't know about you guys, but this film was quite motivating for me. It demonstrated what people can do in the world and what huge amounts of intelligence can do. The film is based off of a man with writers'; block who meets a drug dealer who is marketing a drug called "NZT-48". The drug connects neural bridges in the cerebral cortex of the brain, allowing 100% of one"s mental power to be put forth. Every scrap of information is remembered and organized. However, the protagonist has to fight off a loan shark, a corporate mercenary, and his own severely detrimental addiction. Contentwise, there are some combative scenes and I believe three implied sexual themes, but they're not that bad. Some may not like the part where the character is forced to drink blood in order to survive, but in the whole I thought this movie was great. If you have a dark sense of humor, you'll love the humor. (ie, slashed by ice skate, flicked off by a disembodied hand, or "Flay. Such a nice word. I had such a poor vocabulary...") I would recommend this movie to anyone who enjoys movies about the brain and psychology.
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AGE
Older teens but definately not younger kids
It was a good movie. I really enjoyed it. I really honestly can say that this probably should've been rated R. If you're a parent, i think you should know that the whole movie is about a guy taking a drug. He will do almost anything in order to get it. Their are bad role models throughout and numerous love scenes (they never show anything...but still). Plus the guy is really down on his luck in the beginning and there's a lot of drinking that goes on. I was also surprised at how violent it was. A guy gets stabbed, another is stabbed in the eye with a needle, lots of people get shot/punched etc. In other words, don't take your kids to this one. I think its ok for older teens if they can handle it. It was still a really good movie.
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AGE
Amazing!
Really good movie!! One part it shows a very disguting seen when he is drinking blood. That i recomend you look away!
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Kid, 12 years old
May 14, 2011
AGE
mature kids and teens
This movie was okay. definetely no kids younger than me or mature. a whole lot of sexual content whick has people in bed, kissing naked u almost see her breasts. language was bad, 5 sh*t, 1 f*ck, and other ones. violence was very bad. eddie mora gets a package of severed hands, a girl picks up a little girl with skates and flings her feet at the bad guy, only leaving a cut that needs stitches mabe. eddie stads a guy, almost passing out in his blood, but drinking it to make him stronger. he spits a hyprodermic needle in a guys eye, and then pushing a piano into him sending him out the window. a guy shoots another guy and u see little blood spurts on his body. overall an interesting movie, but still very iffy.
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| Studios: | Relativity Media, Rogue Pictures |
| Director: | Neil Burger |
| Cast: | Abbie Cornish, Bradley Cooper, Robert De Niro |
| Genre: | Thriller |
| Run time: | 105 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | March 18, 2011 |
| DVD release date: | July 19, 2011 |
| MPAA rating: | PG-13 |
| MPAA explanation: | thematic material involving a drug, violence including disturbing images, sexuality and language |
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