 | 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. |
Shoot 'Em Up
- Review Date: January 2, 2008
- R
- Genre: Action/Adventure
- 2007
Common Sense Media says
Over-the-top action with guns, guns, and ... guns.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this over-the-top, gun-focused action movie brims with wild violence and its effects. Much of it is presented in a comic, cartoonishly excessive way, but characters are still left torn, bloodied, bruised, and broken. Violent acts are mostly shooting-related (one particularly extreme sequence features characters shooting at each other during a fall from an airplane), but there are explosions and car crashes too -- all with painful-looking results. Sexual content includes references to the heroine's work as a prostitute (she's introduced in brothel), plus shots of naked breasts and cleavage, and a prolonged sex act during a violent assault. Language is quite salty (primarily variations on "f--k") but probably not as plentiful as you'd expect -- mostly because so much of the screen time is spent shooting instead of talking.
What's the story?
Mr. Smith (Clive Owen) delivers a baby during a shootout and ends up the infant's guardian when the mother (Ramona Pringle) is killed. Super-skilled (he was trained by the U.S. military in his secret past), intensely focused, Smith is determined to save the baby, though he knows nothing about how to feed or clothe it (he uses newspapers for diapers and a dirty sock for little Oliver's head). He enlists the only lactating woman he knows, a prostitute named Donna Quintano, or DQ (Monica Bellucci). More worldly wise than her valiant ex-client, DQ goes along for the ride, falling in love with Smith and little Oliver on the way.
Is it any good?
Outrageous and antic, Shoot 'Em Up simultaneously spoofs and pays homage to everything from Bugs Bunny to Indiana Jones and James Bond. Smith is so fast and furious during his always-triumphant encounters with bad guys that he's deemed a "wascally wabbit" by the malevolent Mr. Hertz (Paul Giamatti). The pair's antagonism escalates exponentially, accompanied by all manner of gunplay and wild stunts. As Hertz puts it, the back and forth turns into "tit for tat," with each shoot-out, car chase, and torture scene a means for one side or the other to get even.
Of course, no such balance is possible. Every violent act leads to more violence. While the acceleration is demented fun here, the broader context is dire -- as indicated by what turns out to be the villains' awkward motivation: their work for a cadaverous-looking gun manufacturer (Stephen McHattie) and a corrupt U.S. senator/presidential candidate (Daniel Pilon). Both are involved in an imminent decision concerning gun control, but really, they're just distractions from the film's main business, which is shooting and more shooting.
Explore, discuss, enjoy
Families can talk about the movie's cartoonish approach to violence. How does seeing the kind of extreme violence typical of Looney Toons shorts translated to live-action affect your opinion of both approaches? Is animated violence easier to stomach than its real-life counterpart? Why or why not? Why do we as filmgoers like to see things go bang and blow up? What are the consequences of violence in real life? What messages is the movie sending about guns and "gun control"?
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- Teens & kids
Teen, 13 years old
November 20, 2009
AGE
Shoot Em Up!
The Title says it all, this movie is non-stop shoot em up throughout! It was an interesting experience to say the least. The plot was almost nonexistant, but the action made up for it. People are killed in so many crazy yet awesome ways. There is some pretty bad language, and a brief nudity scene while they walk through a nightclub. However, It was very entertaining to watch, and will provide nonstop laughter the whole way through!
What other families should know:
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Kid, 11 years old
March 8, 2009
AGE
SHOOT CLIVE SHOOT
CLIVE OWEN IS AWESOME IN ONE OF THE MOST VIOLENT MOVIES EVER. LOTS OF SEX AND SWEARING BUT THIS FILM IS FUNNY YET VIOLENT AT THE SAME TIME IT'S A SPOOF OF ACTION FILMS ASWELL.
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Teen, 17 years old
April 9, 2008
AGE
LAME!
Just a WASTE OF TIME!!!
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Adult
April 9, 2008
AGE
I got a Headache
This movie was pure and simple senseless violence..it had no plot and no redeeming value whatsoever.
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Adult
March 5, 2011
AGE
Silly as F**K but very good in that way
One of the best action movies of 2007.
It's quiet violent tough
What other families should know:
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Teen, 13 years old
June 10, 2009
AGE
Good, funny, violent action spoof!
A funny little, what I would call "action spoof" sure there's mild nudity and a ton of violence, but after all, porn is just two clicks away, and there's plenty of violence in the news!
What other families should know:
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Parent of 7 year old
March 13, 2009
AGE
Silly but enjoyable.
It was an interesting movie, despite having a lacking plot and way over the top action and sex. Still, it was a good date movie and we both laughed most of the way through it. My boyfriend and I will never be able to look at carrots the same way again.
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Teen, 14 years old
April 9, 2008
AGE
Decent..
Decent, but very awkward to watch depending on who you're watching it with. The storyline is nearly nonexistant, and the character development is awful, with over-exaggerated violence and some disturbing sex scenes.
Overall, the movie was good for a laugh, but make sure you're not watching it with anyone you'd be embarrassed with.
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| Studio: | New Line |
| Director: | Michael Davis |
| Cast: | Clive Owen, Monica Bellucci, Paul Giamatti |
| Genre: | Action/Adventure |
| Run time: | 87 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | September 6, 2007 |
| DVD release date: | January 1, 2008 |
| MPAA rating: | R |
| MPAA explanation: | pervasive strong bloody violence, sexuality and some language. |
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