Iffy for 15+
Violent action movie is all about killing and revenge.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that although this action movie from producer/writer Luc Besson (The Transporter, Taken) is rated PG-13, it's very violent and intense, revolving around the brutal murder of a 9-year-old girl's family and her subsequent dedication to revenge. There are lots of killings, and the main character kills without any punishment (except for the fact that she has lost all of her loved ones). There's no nudity, but the main character (played by popular Avatar actress Zoe Saldana) wears an array of tight/revealing outfits -- including a see-through tank top -- and there's lots of sexual suggestion. Language is infrequent but includes "f--k" and more than one use of "s--t." Bad guys drink cognac and smoke cigars from time to time.
- Families can talk about the movie's violence. How is the violence portrayed in the scenes with the 9-year-old girl, as opposed to the scenes with the grown-up character?
- What message does the movie send about revenge? Does it make you feel better to "get back" at someone who has wronged you? Is violent vengeance ever justified?
- Is the main character a heroine? What makes her interesting?
The good stuff
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Messages: The movie's overall message is one of revenge, and the main character destroys everything in her life to carry it out.
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Role models: The main character's life has been shaped by violence and revenge. She kills in cold blood and rarely pays any consequences for those actions. All of her relationships suffer, and she loses almost everything important in her life. She sometimes weeps at these losses, but it's hard to imagine that she would have changed anything.
What to watch for
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Violence: For the film's first half hour, there's incredible violence as experienced by a 9-year-old girl. Her parents are murdered in front of her. She stabs a man in the hand and leads several other men on a high-action chase. She climbs and jumps from high heights. The men shoot at her, but she escapes. As an adult, the main character devotes her life to revenge and killing. She shoots and kills several men. Viewers see dead bodies and blood. There are hand-to-hand fights, stabbings, and explosions. Men are devoured by both sharks and dogs (mostly off screen).
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Sex: The main character and her boyfriend have sex, though nothing is shown. A bad guy goes to bed with four voluptuous, bikini-clad women, though there's no nudity. The main character appears in an array of sexy outfits, including a slightly see-through tank top in one scene, and underwear in another. She also takes a shower (nothing sensitive shown). Brief innuendo.
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Language: Language is strong but fairly infrequent. Words include one use of "f--k," plus "s--t," "bastard," "son of a bitch," "ass," and "oh my God."
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Consumerism: A character has an iPhone that's prominently on display.
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Drinking, drugs and smoking: Adults -- mainly the bad guys -- drink cognac and champagne and smoke cigars in a background kind of way.
Fan Reviews provided by
3
Colombiana: B- by MattH306
The script leaves something to be desired, but Colombiana was entertaining.
1
TErribly disappointed by sdragus78
I love Luc Besson, I was expecting much better direction, the script was bad, sometimes almost silly. bad acting, I can't believe I paid for this movie.
3
Colombiana Review in 5 Points by Sosa829
1) Acting is uneven- some good, some horrible
2) Colombian accents??
3) Way too rushed - felt the same way about Taken; perhaps Luc Besson is starting to lose his touch
4) Cinematography kinda sucked. Action sequences were good but could have been better/ more exciting with much better cinematography - maybe if it were shot like Miami Vice (the movie) or Wanted
5) Would make a much better television show than a movie... (Alias....)
::sad face::
Oh
6) should've been called Cataleya not Colombiana. Poor choice of title.
5
Colombinan by Jerig
Great Adult Movie; filled with lots of action! Could see it again.
3
It's well-done but predictable by MarliandMechick
I really liked this movie, it's intense, action-oriented, well-done, and interesting. But it was also very predictable, unrealistic, and hypocritical in a lot of ways. I liked it tho, go see it at the dollar theatre on a rainy day :)
2
Disappointing by SalPal1955
I was so disappointed in this movie. I was a little apprehensive at the "C" acting at the beginning of the movie, but, the little girl was fun to watch in the chase. So unbelievable but the sequence worked.
Zoe Saldana was good. Se was believable.
It was the story that fell apart. Slow at times and no connection from one point to the next.
1
Colombiana review by MovieMandingo33
Que buena MIERDA!!!!!!!
3
I liked Colombiana by mimi8817
I liked the movie...but I wouldn't recommend it to anyone. I would say go if you want with no expectations or wait for DVD.
4
Columbiana by jayman2710
Zoe Saldana is awesome