Iffy for 16+
Gripping combat thriller with anti-war edge for older teens.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that this suspenseful war thriller is brimming with tense scenes and battle sequences, all of which include gunfire. Characters are almost always armed, mostly with automatic firearms though sometimes with knives, and skirmishes exact brutal, bloody casualties (bombs detonate; soldiers hemorrhage after being shot). Language is often coarse, including multiple uses of "f--k" and "s--t."
- Families can talk about the premise of the movie: How is it possible that a decision as important as whether a country should go to war hinges on false information? What happens afterward when the truth eventually is revealed? How does it affect the citizens of that country?
- What is the film saying about war? About the men and women who are sent to war zones? Is it believable that someone like Miller would go rogue? How did all the violence affect you?
- Does this movie make you reflect on real-life events that inspired it? Your thoughts?
The good stuff
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Messages: Most people aren’t trustworthy, even the highest levels of government, the film posits. But a questioning few are willing to put themselves on the line to uncover the deception. The decisions that went into going to war in Iraq are firmly questioned.
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Role models: Very few exhibit the courage that Miller does, which, though admirable in its reach for the truth, is woefully unrealistic and arrogant as a premise.
What to watch for
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Violence: Plenty of carnage from battles involving knives, machine guns, and explosions. We see corpses sitting in pools of blood. Soldiers manhandle prisoners.
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Sex: Not an issue
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Language: Everything from “s--t” to “sonofabitch” to “f--k.” Also, several uses of "Jesus," "Goddamn," and "Christ" as exclamations.
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Consumerism: Media outlets like CNN and the Wall Street Journal are name-checked.
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Drinking, drugs and smoking: Not an issue
Fan Reviews provided by
1
It's just not entertaining by Jaycee5
Unfortunately this movie was made to promote a political agenda and not to entertain. The action is predictable, the acting was not up to par and the story line is weak. How many bad movies about how much Hollywood hates the Bush administration is Hollywood going to make? I'm sure that the individuals for which this movie was targeted will write reviews that use buzz phrases like "thought provoking", "a wake up call" and will be very demeaning to those who didn't like this flic. Well flame away because this is just one bad movie. Anyone who says different is just part of the choir to which this weak picture preaches.
2
Brown Zone by redfueldelux
I had high hopes for this movie and hoped for an action packed thrill ride. What I got was a 2 hour lecture on how evil the Bush administration was and how they lied about WMD's. I should have known this would be yet another Matt Damon political smear campaign filled with Anti-American, Anti-Military propaganda. (Get over it already Matt, we all know you hate Bush...we really do) The biggest problem with these films is that they are based on pure speculation, but other countries view them as fact. Again, America is the bad guy. When will Hollywood learn that we don't want to pay our hard earned money to see politics? We get enough of that day to day, and let's face it, ticket prices aren't getting any cheaper. Other than the sad message, the movie still suffers. Action is few and far between. And what there is of it, the camera is so shaky, it's almost nauseating. Hopefully this will get a short run and Hollywood will get the message. Not likely though. 4 out of 10
2
Five Word Review by warriorlax26
Hollywood Liberals Hating American Soldiers
2
horrible by brianmignano
get ready to be sick. the camera moves like john travolta on the dance floor. if you think you might enjoy jason bourne finally getting his *** kicked then your in luck. crappy script, old story poorly told. wait for redbox. every now and then the critics get it right.
1
Did the Producer and Director give their kids their cameras? by LuvinMyDog
Yet another movie that could have used a "shaky camera syndrome" warning. Spent most of the movie with my eyes closed hoping I would get what is going on because of shaky camera.
WHY do cinematographers feel this is an awesome way to convey their movie to the public?!?
I rated it "OhNO". I only went to see it because of Matt Damon and Greg Kinnear.
4
It's not Bourne again, and that makes it worth the watch. by thejeffersonlee
Green Zone was not what I was expecting, which was a stand-alone Bourne flick set in Iraq. The movie throws up a hypothetical situation regarding the now seriously debunked "intelligence" suggesting Saddam Hussein was hoarding stockpiles of WMDs, which subsequently was used as justification for the invasion of Iraq. Damon is strong in his portrayal of CWO Roy Miller, in charge of a platoon who investigate supposed WMD sites given up by a uber-top secret source known as Magellan. Damon brings a realistic, well-nuanced Miller to life as he becomes a concerned citizen (officer) and tries to gather his own vigilante intelligence. Brendan Gleeson is suitably charming, gruff, and sympathetic as Martin Brown, an upper head in the intel circle, and he plays well off his counterpart played by Greg Kinnear, who comes off as stiff and clean-cut. The fly-on-the-wall camera kept me guessing at what is/isn't be significant to the story, and enhances the sense of disorganization during the operation.
1
Five Word Review by wildthing21
Predicatable and Boring Too Politcal
5
If only you realized the reality of this movie by ejredding
For thoes who have bad to say about this movie you should serve this country as my wife and I have. In our 13yrs of service we have seen many things. The movie depicts many truths that people don't want to believe. If you noticed it wasn't the regular Army trying to do bad, it was groups we have like Blackwater. When we went in a lot of my service members didn't believe that their were WMDs but it is out duty to fallow orders. It is not saying that the government as a whole was bad just that some had their own agenda. This movie was great
4
AS ENTERTAINMENT GOES........ by lovestalentmoviefan
...This is an excellent film. The shaky camera is there,warning to those who have trouble handling it.It doesn't physically affect me,but it does make it hard to see what's happening. ALTHOUGH MOSTLY FICTION it was well written and acted. I personally disagree with the politics,but don't let that cloud my judgment over whether a movie was good. I wish more people sought out the real truth by sources other than Hollywood fare and mainstream media.You'd be surprised. Anyhoo,I am going to see this at least one more time for Damon's acting,and a great fictional script.
1
Nonsense by hiltd
Hated the movie. Instead of a good movie I get preached to once more. Waste of time and my money. If I want to get lectured about the evils of the army I'll read the Huffington Post.