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Parents' Guide to

Warrior

By Sandie Angulo Chen, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Fantastic family drama features intense martial-arts fights.

Movie PG-13 2011 139 minutes
Warrior Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

age 13+

Based on 6 parent reviews

age 17+

Redemptive

The family structure is dysfunctional and broken, which resonates with a lot of American families. The break down resulted from the father abusing alcohol and also abusing the family as a result. So, bitterness has truly built up in the hearts of his sons. Each son, Tommy and Brendan, sought to break free from the abusive family. One son started his own family, while the other served as a Marine. Their paths separated for a significant time, until they were reunited by an underlying passion for MMA. The plot of Warrior allows viewers to watch the lives of Tommy and Brendan merge once again. They are brothers by birth, but not by true relationship and friendship. Both have been hurt by their father, and so there is not figure there to look to for guidance in mending their relationship. As their lives merge, Tommy jars against the idea of having a brother. He felt that Brendan had already forsaken him. Even before they got into the ring they already began dueling. Brendan represents hope and light in the movie. He is the underdog and at the end the unsung hero. For the sake of his family he sought to win the SPARTA competition, and he ended up redeeming more than just money so he and his family could live. He redeem his relationship with his brother. Brendan was hopeful for Tommy from the beginning, and in the end he was their to carry his broken body. Brendan incarnates Christ's role of reconciliation and redemption. No matter how hard Tommy fought Brendan still cared about the well being of his brother, despite his rejection. The overarching theme is redemption. Think about the last image was left in the mind of the viewers. Brothers at odds carrying one another's broken bodies from the fighting ring. They went to abusing one another for their own sake to solely focusing on the needs of one another, specifically Brendan to Tommy.
age 13+

You Must See This Movie

I did not want to see this movie...gee another fighting movie! Oh my goodness.......this movie was fantastic. I loved it. It had very little cursing. It was not profane at all. The two actors, who play the role of the brothers should be nominated for Oscars.....they were great. Best fighting movie I have ever seen. This will be on my list of favorite movies.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (6 ):
Kids say (16 ):

Director Gavin O'Connor has created a perfect vehicle for two of Hollywood's most compelling imported actors: English scene-stealer Hardy and Aussie leading man Edgerton. Both are positively amazing in this film, but they personify completely opposing cinematic types. Hardy's Tommy is the aloof champion with a tortured soul, and Edgerton's Brendan is the scrappy underdog who will stop at nothing to keep his family intact. The brothers are like two suns, with the other characters orbiting around one or the other and the audience left figuring out whom is more deserving of their loyalty.

Both men are flawed, but the director tips the balance in Brendan's favor by showing his circle of supporters: an inspiring coach (Frank Grillo) who uses Beethoven's music to keep his fighters calm in the cage; a beautiful, loving wife (House alum Jennifer Morrison); and a classroom of awed high-school students who can't help but cheer for their science teacher. Nolte is also a revelation, his croaky voice underscoring Paddy's tremendous sadness at having alienated both of his sons. Despite all of the movie's thrilling MMA sequences, this is ultimately a poignant family drama where it's brotherly love, not millions of dollars, that's at stake.

Movie Details

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