 | 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. |
A Man Apart
- Review Date: April 26, 2004
- R
- Genre: Action/Adventure
- 2003
Common Sense Media says
Pretentious, incompetent, dumb explosion movie.
Parents say
Kids say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this movie is very, very violent, with a lot of firepower and many characters killed, including a woman and child. Policemen violate the civil rights of suspects, including beating them. Characters drink, smoke, and deal in drugs. They use very strong language, and a child's use of a swear word is supposed to be humorous. When a character tries to insult Sean by suggesting he is gay for turning down a lap dance, Sean gets infuriated. Black and white characters are deeply loyal to each other. Most of the drug dealers and criminals are black or Latino.
What's the story?
When DEA agents Sean Vetter (Vin Diesel) and Demetrius Hicks (Larenz Tate) bust a major drug lord, 'Memo' Lucero (Geno Silva), a more dangerous kingpin comes to power -- Diablo (Timothy Olyphant). On the orders of Diablo, Vetter is attacked, and his wife is killed. Vettner is desperate for revenge and will do anything – even teaming up with Lucero.
Is it any good?
A MAN APART is a dumb-guy-with-nothing-to-lose explosion movie, which is forgiveable, but it is a pretentious, manipulative, incompetent, and dumb explosion movie, which is not. The usual conventions are in place -- the strip club scene, the "you need some time off, give me your badge" scene, the humorous interlude with the small-time drug dealer, the partner who first says he won't go along on a boneheadly rogue mission but then shows up at the crucial moment, and of course the many, many, many moments of hitting, shooting, and blowing things up. But none of the scenes have any life, originality, or conviction. And there is this irritating effort at making it all seem more meaningful, with voiceovers that just sound silly, even with Diesel's gravelly voice.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the dilemma posed to Demetrius. He must do what he thinks is right or what Sean wants him to do. Sean says at one point that "that's not my fault if somebody gets out of line." Families can discuss his failure to accept responsibility for his actions (and the police department's casual attitude toward his many violations of law and procedure).
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AGE
Very intense action movie
Graphic shootouts. Strong language and drug material. Sexuality not higher than pg-13. Very intense and dramatic, Not for young kids or immature teens
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| Studio: | New Line |
| Director: | F. Gary Gray |
| Cast: | Larenz Tate, Timothy Olyphant, Vin Diesel |
| Genre: | Action/Adventure |
| Run time: | 109 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | April 4, 2003 |
| DVD release date: | September 2, 2003 |
| MPAA rating: | R |
| MPAA explanation: | strong graphic violence, language, drug content and sexuality |
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