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Next (PG-13, 2007)

common sense media says

Predictable Cage sci-fi tale may entertain teens.

parents & educators say
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What parents need to know

Parents need to know that, like most action thrillers, this movie has several violent scenes: An international terror syndicate is responsible for blowing up a victim, launching a nuclear missile, and slitting the throat of anyone in their way. Nicolas Cage's character gets involved in several fights, and the FBI and the terrorists display enough ammo to fill the national armory. While there's no real gore (or blood, for that matter), the images are still disturbing. There's only one love scene, but there's a lengthy scene preceding it with Jessica Biel wrapped in a towel. Thanks to Biel's popularity and Cage's action cred, expect teens to want to see it, even though it's not being marketed as a teen film.

Positive messages: The superhero's creed "with great power comes great responsibility" is in effect. All of the terrorists speak in French or with foreign accents.
Violence: A woman is kidnapped and publicly blown up; two people's throats are slit (not gory). All the terrorists and FBI agents shoot guns, and several are killed. The unarmed hero fights off his enemies.
Sex: Cris and Liz kiss and in the next scene are bare shouldered in bed together (no nudity is visible, but they've obviously just had sex). One scene features a post-shower Liz wrapped in a short towel.
Language: The usual suspects: "bulls--t," "s--t," "a--hole," "bitch," and the like.
Consumerism: Minor: FBI-issued Suburbans and other SUVs, Geneva watches.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Various characters smoke cigarettes. Terrorists take pills to prevent radiation poisoning.
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More on Next

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
Families can talk about other time-bending movies and TV shows. Are movies that play with time cool or frustrating? If you could look into the future, would you use the information to make money or stop crime? Families can also discuss why so many thrillers feature nuclear terrorist threats. Is that the ultimate danger to today's society? What other hazards can you think of? And why are terrorists almost always portrayed as foreign agents?

What's the story?

What's the story?

Nicolas Cage plays Cris Johnson, aka "Frank Cadillac," a small-time Vegas magician who can see exactly two minutes into the future. Cris uses his unusual skill to wow his fans and win big at Black Jack, and piques the interest of ambitious FBI agent Callie Ferris (Julianne Moore), who needs immediate help stopping a group of foreign "bad guys" from detonating a nuclear device on American soil. When the French-accented terrorists kidnap his new girl (Jessica Biel), he has no choice but to help.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 

Even with its twist ending (don't worry -- no spoilers here!), veteran action director Lee Tamahori's adaptation of Philip K. Dick's short story "The Golden Man" is just another predictable sci-fi thriller headlined by marquee actors.

Some of the movie's fast-forward sequences are funny and impressive, but a few are plain ridiculous. (At a public screening, the occasional applause and cheers were tempered by loud cries of "Whaaat?" toward the end.) And while the "big twist" finale is entertaining, it's not all that shocking -- nor particularly satisfying, which pretty much sums up NEXT.

Movie themes & details

Movie Details
Studio: Paramount Pictures
Director: Lee Tamahori
Cast: Jessica Biel, Julianne Moore, Nicolas Cage
Genre: Thriller
Run time: 96 minutes
Theatrical release: April 26, 2007
DVD release: September 25, 2007
MPAA Rating: PG-13
MPAA explanation: intense sequences of violent action, and some language.
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This review was written by Sandie Angulo Chen
 
 

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What parents & educators say

13

Most useful reviews by all members

Totally500
teen, 15 years old
15
 
Great action film with a twist
Movie was very good but it had a strange ending that made you want to pissed off. Overall this was agreat film.
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Kakarot
parent of 19 year old
12
 
GOOD AND ENTERTAINING FILM
NICOLAS CAGE IS SUCH A GREAT ACTOR
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ourblackego
adult
13
 
A fun Flick
A good movie. Not a waste of time, enjoable, and very twisting ending which gave it the push from 3 stars to 4 stars!
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ski123
adult
 
Decent Movie
Nothing special but entertaining.
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manimani
adult
 
Boy that Nick Cage is Very Smooth!
By far, one of the best movies I have seen- ever! I rank this movie high on creativity, special effects-(that don't look fake), and personally I am hoping for a sequel. The acting by both Cage and Jessica B. kept me interested throughout the entire film. Cool story-line and ok to watch with older kids. No unnecessary inappropriate activity, just a great movie-!! No falling asleep on this one!:)
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dancingwithmyself
teen, 18 years old
 
Cool and sweet movie....
This was better than i expected.... really liked it.
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Curbspaget
adult
 
Almost PG.
This would probably be a PG movie if it weren't for one action sequence that involves a train, a car, and a bunch of falling logs (very cool scene though) and the shooting and explosions at the end. I didn't exactly like the ending, left you hanging, but it was very good overall.
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grahamandheather
adult
 
Alternate ending?
Don't see this movie if you don't like tidy endings...you have to use your thinking cap and imagination a little bit. It's regular action, suspense fare, entertaining enough.
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dklink
teen, 17 years old
 
GREAT ACTION FOR 13+
i loved this movie! it has the perfect combination of explosions, shootings, suspense, and more to keep you glued to your seat. i overall loved the movie, but the ending was just dumb. all of a sudden it just ended. the swearing is mostly b---h, s--t, bulls--t, etc. one in one scene a character says motherf- and then it switched to the next scene. if you like Nicholas Cage, Jullianne Moore, the movies Chronicles of Riddick, Speed, etc. you will definately enjoy this movie.
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garfield2711
adult
 
Great Film.
This was a great film. 13+.
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