OK for kids 16+
Intense war thriller offers food for thought.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that this political drama/thriller is too intense for tweens and younger teens. A frank (and somewhat didactic) examination of the cost of war both at home and on the battlefield, its arguments are both complicated and hard to digest. Plus, there's a fair amount of war violence -- including some realistic battle scenes and a nasty wound shown up close -- and some strong violence. But it's not gratuitously bloody, and most of the content is age-appropriate for older high schoolers, who might find plenty to think about based on the discussions between the professor and his student.
- Families can talk about the statement the movie is making about war. What messages does it send about the toll that war exacts on both soldiers and those at home? Do politicians consider the personal cost of war? What is the role of diplomacy? And what is society's responsibility in regards to the country's political and social problems? Families can also discuss why war is a theme in so many movies. What about it both fascinates and horrifies us? Can movies (and other media) help make sense of war? Why or why not?
The good stuff
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Messages: To a certain extent, everyone in the film displays curiosity and intellectual rigor, which drives them to seek out answers. A professor makes an impassioned plea for youth to be more interested and involved in society. Two men give up their lives for their country, while back home a jaded journalist redevelops a sense of justice.
What to watch for
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Violence: A fair amount of realistic war violence. There are battles, and gunshots are fired; during a skirmish, a soldier incurs a nasty compound fracture, which is shown in close-up. Lots of verbal sparring.
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Sex: Not an issue
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Language: Language includes "bulls--t" and "damn."
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Consumerism: Not too many brands, though many mentions of Republicans and Democrats and newspapers and TV channels.
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Drinking, drugs and smoking: Not an issue
Fan Reviews provided by
1
If you have ever wondered just how bad a movie could be... by Jaycee5
I am sure that this movie will be nominated (if not win) an Academy Award. It is preachy, condemning, bashes America and lacks any substance. Exactly the type of movie that Hollywood adores. The simple minded will use buzz phrases like ?thought provoking? and ?must see?. This movie is neither. It is simply bad. Very, very bad. It seemed that intended purpose of the story was to push a political agenda, not to make a good movie. I am old enough to remember when movies were entertainment. What happened?
1
Movie Has Nothing to Say by reviewer84
Caught a preview tonight and thought the movie was absolutely AWFUL. Most of the movie is devoted to conversational dialogue that I guess was attempting to show insight into the workings of politics, government and media. It failed. Nothing could have been more contrived and more inaccurate. There was no sense of depth and thought. There are only three minor characters that you care about in the movie at all and their story (which is the only story that is shown rather than told) is cut short and bogged down by the cliches and dialogue of everyone else, which includes the leading stars of this movie.
In short, not entertaining, not smart or thought-provoking and an unsatisfying experience. A complete waste of time and money.
1
Don't bother with this Anti-American movie by cannonballs
I wouldn't even bother to go see this movie....just another one of the latest string of movies bashing America and the soldiers who are fighting and dying for us. The Liberal Media Establishment just doesn't get it....that REAL Americans are sick of paying good money to see trash movies with liberal, politically correct drivel messages.
Redford tries to pass this movie off as balanced....don't be fooled...it's the same simplistic liberal-sided mind-mush...
5
I love being LIBERAL by SSsusie
I just love a movie where I can wallow in my own liberalness...I am sooo left-leaning, I can see Joseph Stalin's butthole. I like Robert Redford in this movie because even though we know he is a shallow, superficial movie star...he acts like he is Gandhi. When I wake up every morning and look in the mirror I touch myself; thinking that one day I might make a movie as deliberately anti American as the one here in question. I long for the day when I might find a long rusty knife against my aorta, and the voice of a dark swarthy fellow behind me yelling............... ALLAH AKBAR !!!
5
this wasn't a liberal polemic by hawksmoor
Those who didn't understand the end, or thought this a lousy movie, obviously missed it's point entirely, so perhaps it's not a great movie for leaving so many in the dark. It wasn't reassurance for liberals as some reviewers suggest. It did attempt to challenge you to question your own position with much finesse. It's not anti government, anti media or anti military. If anything it's anti-apathy.
For a movie dependent on talking heads it was totally engaging, with fine performances from all. Streep gives wonderful performances so effortlessly we almost take them for granted, but once again she dazzles.
A memorable film, do see it. Sad so many hated it, as I fear it was those same people the film was most trying most hard to reach.
1
lions for lambs by thommy
This movie was really hyped up but went no where. The point of everyone taking a stand is noteworthy however the movie failed to evolve. Big star billing to draw you in but a big waste of time and moneyin the end.
1
Redford's Sheep Dip by Andrew Salomon
Robert Redford came down out of the mountains to direct this? Are you kdding me? This, of course, is "Lions for Lambs," Redford's seventh directorial effort and first since "The Legend of Bagger Vance" in 2000. The Academy Award-winning director ("Ordinary People") is known for his taste and for inspiring filmmakers to resist convention with his Sundance Institute. "Lambs," however, is a dull triptych that preaches the decay of thought and bankruptcy of values in post-9/11 America and proves its point in being a an empty-headed film that doesn't tell us anything we couldn't infer ourselves from watching an episode of "Anderson Cooper 360" and then immediately switching to "The Daily Show" (in a non-strike setting). Here's what Redford thinks we don't know: Republicans will spin a failed war to retain power; the mainstream media are guilt ridden, profit-driven, and/or feckless; college students are slackers; soldiers are brave. How can a respectable guy insult his audience so badly?
1
Lions for Lambs by gina1221
This is NOT a movie. This is a dialogue about Robert Redford's view of war. When I want to hear people discuss the war, I definitely don't need to spend $9 to do it.
1
Goebells is back by stuntman72
The modern incarnation of the Goebells doctrine, " tell a lie that is big enough, and repeat it often enough and the whole world will believe it" comes to full fruition in this film. I was too insulted to be bored during this yawn-fest. The few action sequences that where actually placed in the movie, were overshadowed by the propaganda surrounding the script, and the less that stellar performances from some usually great actors. People wonder how the entire German nation was brainwashed into doing what they did in WWII- well a steady diet of films like this would be a pretty good indication of how that feat can be accomplished. Americans need to turn their backs on Hollywood, because it is pretty obvious that they have turned their backs on us....