 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
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 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
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- Review Date: September 24, 2007
- PG-13
- Genre: Thriller
- 2007
Common Sense Media says
Predictable Cage sci-fi tale may entertain teens.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
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.
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?
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.
What families can talk about
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?
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AGE
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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AGE
Decent Movie
Nothing special but entertaining.
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AGE
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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AGE
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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AGE
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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AGE
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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AGE
Cool and sweet movie....
This was better than i expected.... really liked it.
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AGE
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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AGE
GOOD AND ENTERTAINING FILM
NICOLAS CAGE IS SUCH A GREAT ACTOR
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| Studio: | Paramount Pictures |
| Director: | Lee Tamahori |
| Cast: | Jessica Biel, Julianne Moore, Nicolas Cage |
| Genre: | Thriller |
| Run time: | 96 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | April 26, 2007 |
| DVD release date: | September 25, 2007 |
| MPAA rating: | PG-13 |
| MPAA explanation: | intense sequences of violent action, and some language. |
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