World Trade Center (PG-13, 2006)

common sense media says

Inspiring 9/11 account too much for younger kids.


parents & educators say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this film isn't appropriate for younger kids and may be too much for sensitive teens. It includes explicit images of the World Trade Center Towers collapsing, mostly from inside the buildings (with crashing/exploding sound effects). It also features potentially upsetting television footage and recreations of Ground Zero, the air filled with smoke and dust, with fires burning. Early on, you see a body falling from a tower (and cops' horrified reactions); later, several men are crushed by the falling building; one dies on screen, gurgling blood from his mouth as another observes (again, horrified). At the hospital the victims' injuries are visible (broken limbs, bloody faces). Family members waiting for news are tense and sad, and some argue; a woman cries about her lost son; a pregnant woman vomits; some characters smoke cigarettes and use occasional harsh language.

Positive messages: Characters cope with traumatic circumstances with resolve, courage, and compassion.
Violence: A shot of the hole left by one of the planes shows flames; a tiny figure appears from a long distance, jumping/falling from one of the towers; scenes of the collapsing towers are disturbing (loud noises, chaotic editing, cuts to black screens); people emerge from towers bloody and dazed; TV image of United Flight 93 crash site in Pennsylvania; men lying beneath rubble are plainly injured (they have trouble breathing, lose consciousness, describe their crushed knees and other damage; a trapped man fires a gun into the air, then dies.
Sex: A couple appears in bed together during a white-lit, happy flashback (some kissing, much laughing).
Language: One "f--k;" other profanity used by injured men.
Consumerism: Mention of Target, CVS aisles show glimpses of products.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Characters smoke cigarettes.

More on World Trade Center

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
Families can talk about the relationship that develops between the two survivors, John and Will: How do they keep each other alive by sharing personal stories? How does the community get through the waiting and grieving? How do the kids react to their fathers' unknown status? How do their mothers answer their questions in ways that are honest and also comforting?

Families can also talk about their own recollections of the day and answer any questions kids may have about the tragic events.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 
September 11th remains a difficult day to remember, even as it's increasingly mythologized and recast in media images. While it may not be time for all viewers to see the images of devastation in
Oliver Stone's World Trade Center, others will appreciate the uplifting point as it focuses on a small group of people to recount a vast tragedy.

Will and John's story is more effective than the heavy-handed representation of Marine Dave Karnes. A kind of military guardian angel, he looks at Ground Zero and proclaims, "It's like God made a curtain with the smoke, shielding us from what were not ready to see." It's an outsized, quintessentially Stoneian moment (think: Willem Dafoe dying with arms outstretched in Platoon), resolutely apolitical and burdened with mythic meaning).

Movie themes & details

Movie Details
Studio: Paramount Pictures
Director: Oliver Stone
Cast: Maria Bello, Michael Pena, Nicolas Cage
Genre: Drama
Run time: 125 minutes
Theatrical release: August 9, 2006
DVD release: December 12, 2006
MPAA Rating: PG-13
MPAA explanation: intense and emotional content, some disturbing images and language

This review was written by Cynthia Fuchs
 
 

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What parents & educators say

12

Most useful reviews by all members

Lt8810
parent
 
NOT AT ALL FOR KIDS OR TWEENS
Very, very disturbing and violent. Extremely depressing and traumatic. There are so many deaths and the profanity isn't the worst. Not recommended for 13+ and under.

Mi3
adult
 
good acount of 9/11

 
*yawns*
even though i'm american, 9/11 never affected me, and still doesn't. this movie was interesting, but dragged on and on... so boring. i know the movie wasn't supposed to point fingers at anyone, but people take these things so personally in my opinion.

 
Another important movie.
This is pretty intense, and probably would not be good for teens under 17, but older ones would benefit from this personal experience of two firefighters trapped in the World Trade Center on 9-11. I was brought to tears a number of times.

 
I sobbed half-way through.
This was a truly heart-wenching movie. It made me realize what it was like during the tragedy for the families and the victims. Although, no one will ever really feel how they did. Not something for kids under 13.

 
Good morals, but boring

 
Intense
Intense but great for teens who need a reality check. It made me realize how selfish America can act

 
Predictable, Patriarchal 'Patriotic' Film
Making money off of this tragedy is greatly offensive. It was full of 'American' values, centering the entire plot around the male heroes. When the pregnant wife of the main character shows any sign of being emotional, her father suggests sedating her. Would that father have even considered medication if it had been his son? The only people of color who weren't in a heroic role were either behind a desk, or got very little character development.

Joey123
teen, 18 years old
 
A movie that causes you to remember...
A great account of 9/11 survivors.In attempts to make it as realistic as possible, they also made the language pretty realistic also. (1.5 f--k,a lot of s--t, b--ch, a--,d--n,h-ll, etc.) There is no sexual content and the violence may bother kids under 13.

 
A must see movie for ages 12 and up
A graphic intense movie, showing what happened on 9/11. This movie is worth watching. It has a good moral and can show first hand what happended on 9/11

ganstaboy30
parent of 15 year old
 
Its very sad there's some bad language and there some violent

Marya
teen, 17 years old
 
It was AMAZING
Personally, I think this was a BRILLIANT movie, it was VERY disturbing, well I am pretty sensitive but anyway it encourages you to look further into what happened and learn more and those two men where SO brave, again, this is an AMAZING movie!

rylan93625
teen, 17 years old
 
I don't think kids should miss this show just cuz there to young

bookfriend1993
teen, 18 years old
 
Moving
I entirely disagree with purplecatroo's review, and if that means that this won't get on the site it doesn't make a smidge of a difference to me. AMERICA,selfish? For heaven's sake, we were ATTACKED! You're right, it is a reality check, for people like you, who need a touching reminder that America is the land of the free and the home of the brave.

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ON: Content is 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