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Futureweapons

(Rated TV-PG, Educational, Starring Richard Machowicz, Where to watch: Discovery Channel, DVD)
  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 13, age appropriate for kids over 99; suggested age 14.
  • Is it any good?

    2.0
  • Common Sense says

    Guns, bombs, and tanks loaded with rhetoric.

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 14–18

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    Weaponry is fetishized to an extent; called "toys" on occasion. The show is assertively pro-military, specific to the U.S. military and some of its allies -- so the "us against them" idea is present.
  • Violence:

    The entire show focuses on weapons, warfare, and violence. Computer graphics and real footage of weaponry in action. Occasional real-life warfare is shown, though no death.
  • Sex:

    Not an issue.
  • Language:

    Occasional "hell" -- used not as a curse, but as a location.
  • Consumerism:

    Weapons are very expensive to produce, and mention of their price is sometimes used to emphasize how impressive they are.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Rare smoking seen in background.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Futureweapons

Parents need to know that this documentary-style show demonstrates weapons that are new or forthcoming. Viewers see guns, tanks, bombs, and other war-related technology being tested and occasionally used in real life (footage of bombs being dropped in Iraq, for example). Some test footage repeats multiple times during a single episode, reinforcing the particular weapon's destructiveness. Though most segments only allude to the destruction of human life, some show examples of a weapon's power, such as one in which a test dummy's body disintegrates in the face of an explosion. In one episode, viewers briefly see real human skin that's been affected by the anthrax virus. Content is potentially scary to viewers of all ages, especially in a time when war and violence are a steady feature on the news.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about war and weaponry. What are family members' feelings about war in general? What about current global conflicts? What are the benefits of creating new war technologies? How do you think weapon designers deal with the fact that their work is designed to kill? What political issues are absent from the show's discussion of weaponry? What is the effect of language and rhetoric (like that used by the host) in warfare?

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Our Members Say

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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Kid Reviewer Age 10
    Lives in Connecticut
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 5.0

    rpgs bombs and machine guns what next?

    I like when they use real scenes with mac with a weapon on a mission.

  2. Teen Reviewer Age 13
    Lives in Mississippi
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 5.0

    sweet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

    the violence isnt bad cause they just show weapons and give demonstrations, not on real people. this is one of the best shows ive evr watched. i watch every episode. if you like military techno watch this show. It will give you great insite on military weapons, history, and technology.

  3. Kid Reviewer Age 12
    Lives in Georgia
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 5.0

    its awsome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    this show is awsome ive seen just about all the episodes all good!!!!!!!!!!

  4. Teen Reviewer Age 15
    Lives in Georgia
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 5.0

    Explosions =)

    Unless your kid is realy scared of things like explosions this is a pretty good show.Most of the weapons are american so no point being scared of them.

  5. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Alabama
    I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it 5.0

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