Iffy for 14+
Violent urban crime flick is too intense for tweens.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that although Armored is a violent crime film with lots of blood and a fair amount of strong language (including "s--t" and "f--k"), it's almost old-fashioned in its clearly defined take on "good guys" and "bad guys" and ultimately sends the message that crime isn't an easy way out. The main character reluctantly participates in the central heist scheme out of desperation, but when the "simple" job turns into a bloodbath, he decides to do the right thing. Sure, there are plenty of logic loopholes, and it's not exactly a life-changing cinematic experience, but older teens and adults might find it entertaining.
- Families can talk about Ty's initial decision to go along with the robbery plan. Why does he do it? What other options did he have? What would you have done?
- Do you think Ty would have gone through with the robbery if everything had stayed according to plan? What messages do his decisions send to viewers?
- What's the impact of the movie's violence? Is it increased by the fact that it wasn't supposed to happen? How does Ty's reaction to what goes wrong with the plan affect how you react to the bloody consequences?
The good stuff
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Messages: Although the movie makes it pretty clear that crime isn't the easy way out when a "simple" job with "no victims" quickly turns into a disastrous bloodbath, the strong violence and and generally gritty feel take away from the message.
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Role models: Main character Ty, a decorated war veteran, tries hard to support his younger brother Jimmy, and his behavior before the "job" -- andafter he changes his mind about participating (when murder enters the picture) -- is admirable. That said, other characters are far less upstanding and more willing to compromise their morals to succeed.
What to watch for
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Violence: Very violent, and lots of people get hurt. A homeless man is shot in the back, then again in the head when he tries to get away. A cop is shot in the belly, complete with several quarts of blood. A man is stabbed to death off screen. Another man commits suicide by jumping off a roof, and yet another gets too close to an exploding bomb (viewers see his burning corpse at a medium distance). Finally, a man is killed in a spectacular vehicle crash. Characters brandish guns often, almost to the point of showing off. Perhaps even more painfully, characters often injure their hands while trying to bang the door hinges off of an armored truck.
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Sex: A few shots of shirtless men, plus some mildly suggestive jokes.
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Language: One use of "f--k" and several uses of "s--t" (including "bulls--t"), as well as "damn," "goddamn," and "hell."
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Consumerism: One mention of Coke.
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Drinking, drugs and smoking: A character smokes once, in one scene. The six main characters go out for beers following Ty's initiation. Another character quickly pops some pills in the locker room, but it's not clear what they are (aspirin?).
Fan Reviews provided by
3
ARMORED - thin shell. GRADE: C-average. (Based on advance VIP press preview - Thurs. Dec. 3rd.) by MOVIES REVIEWER
This 1hr 28min heist/crime thriller stars Matt Dillon, Jean Reno, Laurence Fishburne, Amaury Nolasco, Milo Ventimiglia, Columbus Short, Skeet Ulrich, and Fred Ward.
Scripted by James V. Simpson and competently directed by Nimród Antal(award-winning director of 2004 CANNES Film Festival's' 'Kontroll'), ARMORED explored various themes - conflict, morality, crime, justice, and action-consequence/karma. But, the thin plot basically cramped the movie despite strong performances by the talented cast.
There were a few chair-gripping scenes plus some thrilling action sequences - but a feeling of disconnectedness persisted throughout the movie. Instead of drawing me in and holding me rapt - I was disappointed by the lack of character development and I was apathetic with regard toward the characters.
The anti-climactic ending did not improve the overall 'feel' of this 'heavy' movie.
VERDICT:
Recommended for fans of the cast.
5
"Armored" is one of the best movies of the year by Jim F
Less a heist film than a psychological study of the anger and tension created when each member of an armored car team go different ways in the course of stealing $42 million from their own vehicle . Hungarian director Nimrod Antal restricts himself, as in his previous two films, to a very limited set (mostly just an abandoned warehouse) and has the story flow from the tension between the characters as they each try to find security and reward amidst a collapsing plan. While most heist films play on ironies that cause so-called perfect ideas to fail, "Amored" finds more drama and tension in the erosion of friendship and trust -and the heroism of taking a stand-in the face of greed, self-centeredness and group pressure. By the end of this film I was silently cheering the actions of the one character who refuses to cross certain moral lines, no matter what the profit. The director and his first-rate cast have made a film that harks back to the great B movies of the 1940's and 1950's
5
Just fantastic by prw43
Just got back from seeing this. It's one GREAT movie. Besides a thrill a second, it's got a real story AND real characters you actually care about played by incredible actors. A MUST see!!!
1
Made for Direct to DVD by Fahrenheit_451
Bloody horrid in all aspects beginning with the predictable plot to the sub-par acting (except Laurence Fishburne). An absolute utter waste of money where the ridiculously priced theater popcorn is of more value than this movie. Someone obviously knows someone else in the right places to even get this movie to the screen. Expect to see this movie run on an endless loop on cable in the near future.
5
KEEPS YOU ON THE EDGE OF YOU SEAT........ by VRP
Overall this movie is great, it is somewhat predictable but when you think you know what is coming it takes another direction. My heart was beating faster in some parts of the movie and I couldn't take my eyes off the screen because of it, to me it is a well made movie with an GREAT cast and you can see the emotion put into it making this movie. Very enjoyable movie with excellent acting!
However, because most people want to expect an action movie like Transformers this movie will probably get so-so reviews +- people just make to much of a comparison to other and that is not the way a movie should be rated. There is just no comparison specially this year, lets just say that who can beat Twilight this year, right?
Thx for reading.
3
decent action movie by tucsongirl
nothing memorable, but a decent action movie. laurence fishborne plays a bad guy for once so thats kind of interesting. great guy movie; lots of shooting and cussing.
4
To a good movie and to dear Pammy grow up by canyonguy420
I saw the movie and was very pleased Im a big action fan and it was very entertaining wished it had a bigger budget but what can you do. Oh and about the pammy thing I was reading some other reviews and saw this ladies review about how it had no women. Come on lady its a movie not another chance to go bra burning. So if your a feminist hell bent on changing the world this isnt the movie for you.
4
Five Word Review by urbanelli
exhilerating intense actionpacked great outcome
2
Try To Steal $42 Million Without A Plan by Madmoviewatcher
No one is going to decided to ripoff their employer for $42 million dollars on a whim wtihout planning it out. Maybe a getaway plane? Nope. Maybe a getaway van to sneak accross the Mexican border? Nuh uh. Maybe a speedboat to an island? Nada. How would they ever succeed pulling off this heist without a plan. It was over before it began.