Iffy for 16+
Smart, exciting sci-fi tale has violence, sex, and drugs.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Looper is a sci-fi/time travel/action movie with adult material that's handled in an intelligent and sensitive enough way that older teens should be OK. The violence is mostly of the sci-fi/fantasy variety, with many guns and most characters getting shot at some point (some blood). Potential spoiler alert: A child is shot and killed off screen. The main character has suggested sex with two women; one is shown topless, and there's also kissing and groping. Language is strong but infrequent and includes uses of "f--k" and "s--t." Drugs are an issue; the main character is shown to be addicted to fictitious drugs, but his habit grows worse, and he's shown going through painful withdrawals. Characters learn to be less selfish, and there's a strong female lead.
- Families can talk about the movie's gun violence. Why are characters obsessed with guns in this movie? Do all the guns and shooting help advance the story?
- If you met your future self, what would you want to ask?
- At what point does Joe learn to be less selfish? What made him change his mind?
The good stuff
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Messages: The main character -- at two different ages -- begins the story by thinking entirely about himself. But by the end, he's learned to put others first. In a secondary theme, the movie asserts that a child will avoid growing up into an angry criminal if he can be raised by a loving parent.
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Role models: Though the main character eventually does something heroic, he's actually fairly selfish throughout most of the film. Sara, however, is a strong female role model, trying to make up for past mistakes and devoting herself to motherhood.
What to watch for
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Violence: Plenty of sci-fi/fantasy violence. Just about everyone has a gun, and most characters are shot at some point (in the face, head, heart); many die. Noticeable amounts of blood. In the most shocking sequence (potential spoiler alert!), the older Joe kills a child (off screen), hoping to prevent future disasters. He breaks down and cries afterward. There's a mild suggestion that two other children are in danger. A child throws frightening, supernatural temper tantrums that cause serious harm (in some cases, gorily so). A man's hand is smashed with a hammer. A man is punished via time travel, as parts of his body suddenly disappear (fingers, nose, legs, etc.).
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Sex: The main character has suggested offscreen sex with a showgirl who seems to double as a call girl or prostitute. Viewers see them after the fact, and she's seen topless for a few moments. In a later scene, the main character has sex with the female lead. She seduces him and kisses him, and he reciprocates. The sex occurs off screen, and the movie cuts to them in bed afterward.
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Language: Strong but not constant language includes several uses of "f--k," "a--hole," "ass," "s--t," "hell," "damn," and "p---y." Also, "goddamn," "Jesus Christ," and "oh my God" as exclamations.
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Consumerism: Not an issue
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Drinking, drugs and smoking: The main character habitually uses a fictitious eye-drop drug. He's shown waking up after a night of partying and needing more drugs. He goes through painful withdrawals in one scene. In a "flashback" to an alternate timeline, he becomes an addict and is shown graduating to harder drugs, something in a needle. One character smokes a cigarette after sex.
Fan Reviews provided by
4
Its a Looper Dooper movie by Darkola
The idea for this movie was a great idea, in the future, the way to kill someone off and get rid of all evidence was to teleport them back through time 30 years earlier, and upon arrival back, there would be a person called a Looper who would be there waiting at that exact time to kill the person and dispose of their body .... In the case of the movie, the character comes upon his future self, and in shock did not complete his mission, and the story begins. There was plenty of action in the movie, and the acting itself was really good. There were a few little faults with the movie, to me it got confusing in a few scenes, they tried to make a little bit of comedy out of one villian, which didnt fit the movie, and was poor acting on that villian. I would like to add, there is a kid in this movie, who did a tremendous job of acting, he is one of them kids that can leave you with chills from his actions/acting in the movie. I'd give this movie 3 out of 4 stars myself, enjoy :)
5
Inversed Terminator by syk1004
This exceeded my expectations & JGL, Willis & Blunt were amazing while Jeff Daniels provided some comic relief. Brilliantly written with every detail in place! I absolutely love Rian Johnson & loved Brick...both are so detailed that viewing more than once is essential. Go watch this film for mind blowing entertainment! This reminded me of Terminator-as I loved that movie as well, but this had a little less panic, anxiety & more story development which I enjoyed altho extremely violent.
4
Looper by brooklineboys
Thoughtful, provocative and well-done sci-fi with multiple twists. Looper is much more than a shoot 'em up vehicle for the stars. It gets under your skin, nags at your expectations, and leaves you after the theater wanting to talk it through, think it through. It's adult sci-fi.
4
Good sci-fi with good twists by michelekf
One a scale from 1-10, me & hubby give it a strong 8+. Good acting, including the young Rainmaker. I love the froggy `early warning system'!! :)
4
good by ramay
The movie was quite entertaining and met my expectations. It contains an adequate amount of action with a storyline that triggers curiosity and emotion for its audiences. In addition, the actors and actresses portrayed their roles well.
4
LOOPER by thedoctor777
I reviewed this film as a go; but it was close to a so/so. I loved the concept and storyline. However, the writing was a little weak as far as character development and letting the film move along smoothly. I don't mind flashbacks or dream sequences; but they need to be explained much better in this film. The acting is fine and so is the plot. I did see two major flaws in this one; but I will leave that up to you to see or not. It's still entertaining and worth the price of admission, but don't expect a masterpiece.
3
Complex and yet stupid. by MKalvin
Technically speaking, this movie is science fiction in that it has a science-fiction premise (time-travel) which makes some of the plot (for 'plot' read bang-bang) happen.
Sadly for anyone who isn't one of the mouth-breathers for which the movie was intended, writing time-travel and making it work requires a brilliant premise written by a writer clever enough to close all the conceptual holes.
This just didn't happen in Looper. Looper is nicely shot with a lot of good-looking cinematography and some nice acting but the main ideas? Whoa!
5
Exciting.....we loved it!!! But sci fi is our favorite. by movie going granny
Bruce Willis is always fine, but the movie was great even if he wasn't a lead. It was exciting and kept me guessing .... sometimes totally lost, but I loved it anyway.
The child was amazing!!!! Memories of an oldie but goodie of Stephen King "Firestarter" with Drew Barrymore as a child who had powers to start fires. This young boy should go far. I am sure we will see him again soon.
5
Something different.. and intriguing by jewlia023
I was extremely excited to see this movie. It isn't a re-make, it has a great plot, with little twists creating a very entertaining film. I was disappointed that my local theater only had one screen and four showings of Looper on the opening day, I think the film, director, and audience should have more access to such a great movie. Many people probably thought the twists ruined the movie, but I think it makes the movie unique to other movies being produced today. It was a great ride and I will be seeing it again soon.
4
It's not Inception, but that's a good thing by chrismessina
Inception was heady and complex ? and made you work to follow along. Looper, on the other hand, is easier to consume on its face, but manages to weave in its own subtle complex character that keep you wondering what'll happen next throughout.
The film is fairly atmospheric, vibrating back and forth between calm scenes in a warm Chinese home to scenes in a Gotham-esque urban environment to an isolated country farmhouse surrounded by cane fields. This diversity of environments is refreshing, and helps to maintain context.
The characters are well developed; the dialogue solid. It's hard to get enough of Emily Blunt.
The biggest complaint would probably be weighed against young Joe's make-up. I couldn't help noticing it in every scene. I mean, I get the idea was to make him look "more like" the elder Joe (Bruce Willis) but it kind of got in the way of an otherwise well done cyberdrama.