 | 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. |
Small Soldiers
- Review Date: August 15, 2005
- PG-13
- Genre: Family and Kids
- 1998
Common Sense Media says
A mean-spirited, technologically stunning cartoon.
Parents say
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that the "soldiers" of the title are ruthless killing machines in the body of dolls, who attack, terrorize and render impotent the humans around them. Young boys, especially, may want to imitate the destructive ideas, such as making weapons out of household items and climbing a power pole to ruin a transformer.
What's the story?
In this action-packed film, toy soldiers, enhanced with top-secret military computer chips, go to war in a suburban neighborhood, threatening human children and adults in the process. A ruthless corporate CEO (Dennis Leary) takes over a toy and produces two lines of action figures based on military technology. The Gorgonites are peaceful if depressed aliens programmed to lose, and the Commando Elite is programmed to destroy them. The toys use smart weapons chips, which enable them to learn. Alan, the son of a failing toyshop owner, befriends the Gorgonites, which puts him, Christy (the cute girl next door), and their families in harm's way. The Commandos fashion effective weapons and machines out of tools and appliances they find in Alan's garage. In the ensuing all-out war, the Commandos drug Christy's parents, tie up her brother, kidnap Christy, and destroy Alan's house before they are wiped out by an electromagnetic pulse generated when Alan climbs a power pole and short-circuits the transformers.
Is it any good?
SMALL SOLDIERS is suspenseful and exciting, after a surprisingly long and unevenly paced introduction. But this movie contains a level of violence that would earn it an R rating if most of the victims weren't toys. The lengthy climactic battle will have boys in the target age group cheering, while the topical humor (the send up of Barbies is wicked) and allusions to other movies will keep older teens and adults interested. The special effects are amazing and integrated seamlessly with the live actors and sets. Best of all, the vocal casting is inspired; the commandos are voiced by Tommy Lee Jones and members of the original cast of The Dirty Dozen, while the Gorgonites are given life by Frank Langella and members of Spinal Tap.
But director Joe Dante's trademark dark comedy is overwhelmed by special effects and mean-spiritedness. More troublesome than the violence is the inhumanity and sheer hatefulness of the commandos. It's scary to think that children might identify with these muscle-bound, conscience-free murderers whose slogan is "No Mercy." Worse, they may imitate the soldiers by fashioning weapons out of ordinary household items.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the film's violence. Do the toy characters make the violence more tolerable? Also parents may want remind their kids not to imitate the actions they see here.
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AGE
Really intriuging and action-packed film that really is a great production.
Truly this is a very entertaining movie. The plot is far-fetched but is still within the range of possibility. The actors and actresses acted the movie out so well I felt as if it was really happening. However I must admit that there is occasional violence but it is necessary for the plot. The violence is very mild and most of it is directed at dolls er... action figures but on the few times there is violence directed at humans there is no gore. Great film overall.
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AGE
GREAT ACTION MOVIE!!!!!
LOVE IT HAVE BEEN WATCHING THIS MOVIE SINCE I WAS 3!!!!!
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AGE
awesome movie. 10 and up
this movie is wonderful, there is some violence in it though. but there is good messages too. about responsibility and courage
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| Studio: | DreamWorks |
| Director: | Joe Dante |
| Cast: | Denis Leary, Jay Mohr, Kirsten Dunst |
| Genre: | Family and Kids |
| Run time: | 110 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | January 1, 1998 |
| DVD release date: | August 28, 2001 |
| MPAA rating: | PG-13 |
| MPAA explanation: | violence and thematic intensity |
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