Safe
age 17+
Tween's presence makes violent action movie more upsetting.
- Rated: R
- Genre: Action/Adventure
- Release Year: 2012
- Running Time: 94 minutes
What parents need to know
Positive role models
Violence
Sex
Language
Consumerism
Drinking, drugs, & smoking
Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Safe would be a pretty standard Jason Statham action movie if not for the fact that a 12-year-old girl is present for the movie's dozens of brutal beatings, shootings, and killings -- none of which result in any real consequences for the "good guys." Language isn't constant but does include strong words like "f--k" and "s--t," as well as some racial slurs and cultural stereotyping. The main character seems to have a drinking problem during the first half of the movie, but he's easily able to give it up as the action increases.
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Parents say
Kids say
What's the story?
Luke Wright (Jason Statham) used to work as a special agent for the NYPD, but now he's a lowly cage fighter who angers the Russian mob by not taking a fall. Ruined and desperate, Luke starts to think about suicide when he spots 12-year-old Mei (Catherine Chan) on the run from Russian thugs. A mathematical genius who's being held prisoner by the Chinese mafia to keep their books, Mei has escaped with a special numerical code that's desperately wanted by the Chinese, the Russians, and a band of dirty New York cops. It's up to Luke to protect the girl, play the bad guys against one another, and solve the secret of the code.
Is it any good?
QUALITY
Filmmaker Boaz Yakin's screenplay is taut and clever and might have been turned into a decent movie. He's created a new riff on the old Red Harvest/Yojimbo story of a lone stranger playing two warring families against one another, upping the stakes by adding a third group and the little girl character. But behind the camera, Yakin puts a great deal less thought into his story. He constantly makes the basest and most vulgar choices, starting with the horrible, shaky, nausea-inducing camerawork, which ruins the fight scenes.
Then there's a general queasy feeling you get watching poor little Catherine Chan involved in all these violent sequences, when, in real life, she wouldn't -- and shouldn't -- be allowed to see the finished film. Finally, Statham has chosen to cover up his usual English accent with a fake New York one, which serves to erase some of the charm that's usually associated with his characters. Overall, SAFE is terribly glum and resolutely average.
Families can talk about...
Families can talk about Safe's violence. Is it harder to take given the presence of 12-year-old Mei? Does it have more impact than superhero-style action violence? Why or why not?
Did you notice any stereotypes in the movie? Why do filmmakers fall back on that kind of storytelling/characterization?
Can Luke be considered a role model in this movie? How does this role compare to Statham's usual image as an action star?
Movie details
| Theatrical release date: | April 27, 2012 |
| DVD/Streaming release date: | September 4, 2012 |
| Cast: | Catherine Chan, Chris Sarandon, Jason Statham |
| Director: | Boaz Yakin |
| Studio: | Lionsgate |
| Genre: | Action/Adventure |
| Run time: | 94 minutes |
| MPAA rating: | R |
| MPAA explanation: | strong violence throughout, and for language |
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are conducted by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
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loved it :)
i'd describe this as transporter 4 considering what the premise is, but the fight scenes and shootouts and the car chase are cranked up to 13 in this badboy and much more exciting
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Not for kids
It's ok kindve intense
What other families should know
Too much violence
Too much swearing
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I saw this movie when I was 9 years old and I don't remember seeing a lot of blood.
This movie has lots of violence and profanity. To give an honest review, this movie is fine for ages 13 and up. I'd think it was only R for too much language. There is some drinking. There is no sexual content. So if you know your kid well and he is a action-movie fan. Let him or her see this movie. I can't believe Common Sense Media said it's an iffy choice for 17-year-olds! I saw this movie at half that age! If you're going to say Riddick is an iffy choice for 17-year-olds which it is, don't say that about this movie.
What other families should know
Too much violence
Too much swearing
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