Iffy for 14+
Violent but quirky movie aimed at teen comic book fans.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that this often funny action movie -- based on a comic book series from 2003-06 -- is filled with comic book-style violence, with lots of guns, knives, slo-mo fight scenes, and explosions. The movie centers on a group of ex-soldiers who are betrayed and left for dead; part of their motivation is problem-solving and part is revenge. The movie features strong, but infrequent language (one use of "f--k" and several uses of "s--t"), and a non-explicit, though highly stylized sexual scene. Without any huge teen-appeal stars (aside from Avatar's Zoe Saldana), the movie will mostly appeal to die-hard comic book fans and action junkies.
- Families can talk about the violence in this movie. Was it disturbing or thrilling? What factors contribute to making violent scenes more or less intense? Were there any scenes that upset you? Why or why not?
- The movie contains some stereotypical images of women as "arm candy," or playthings for male characters. Why do you think the filmmakers included this element? Do you think male and female viewers will react differently to these scenes?
- How important is teamwork to the group's success? What are the challenges and rewards of teamwork in your own life?
The good stuff
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Messages: Though there are some examples of triumphing over the odds and teamwork, the violence of the movie is constant and lighthearted -- sending some unrealistic and potentially confusing messages about weapons and violence.
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Role models: Though some of the team members keep dangerous secrets from one another and occasionally hurt one another physically, for the most part the team's trust for one another is commendable. Clay, the leader, acts partly out of revenge, but he very clearly has a humanitarian side too. He races into intense danger to rescue some children, and puts the welfare of his men before his own mission.
What to watch for
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Violence: The movie is filled with extreme comic book violence, including fistfights, kung fu fights, shootouts, knife fights, bullet wounds, blood spurts, dead bodies, and giant explosions. (One explosion is more like an implosion that wipes an entire island off the earth.) The villain is an unscrupulous arms dealer who is looking for the latest destructive technology -- "snukes" -- to sell to the highest bidder. Most notably, the bad guy blows up a helicopter filled with kids (only seen from the outside). There are also brief images of a cockfight (a gory gambling event in which two roosters are placed in a ring and made to fight one another to the death).
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Sex: Two main characters have sex; the scene shows them kissing and removing clothes in a glossy, slow-motion scene, and then lying together under the covers afterward, but no nudity and nothing explicit. Zoe Saldana wears a series of very sexy outfits. Several women in bikinis appear as "window dressing" and/or playthings for certain characters. One character wears a suggestive t-shirt depicting a woman eating a hot dog. Chris Evans changes clothes in an elevator and is caught by four women, who gaze at him approvingly. We also see a shadow puppet play of two godzillas having sex.
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Language: "F--k" is heard once, and "s--t" is used several times, though language in general is fairly infrequent. Other words include: "hell," "Oh my God," "anal," "balls," "dick," "ass," "son of a bitch," and "Goddamn it."
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Consumerism: A helicopter crashes into a huge Dunkin' Donuts sign.
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Drinking, drugs and smoking: Clay and Aisha drink in a bar, including downing a shot of tequila in one gulp. Aisha brings a bottle of liquor to Clay's room, but they don't drink it. Later, characters open a bottle of champagne and drink.
Fan Reviews provided by
2
Nothing by LTMF 2
No.Don't go. Everything is copycat,ill timed or dependent on the girl,who is NOT Aisha, wearing skimpy clothes. See Kick *** or see Kick *** again! IDRIS,CHRIS WERE GREAT.Actually all the guys' acting was pretty good,just cheesy script and direction made it unsatisfactory...like"ok,audience,here's the funny,we are bad part.."
2
Too much COOLNESS by keatsgirl
They say-if you're really cool,you don't have to say you're cool. Losers should have put this philosophy into their movie. 95% of the lines,walks and looks were all about the "cool"...to a nauseating degree. Pooch was the only one who got me to relate. The plot was way difficult to make out, what happened with Roque was like an off the cuff idea thrown in,without suitable ....well,anything...to explain or something...extremely dissatisfying. I have to admit that I got turned off close to the beginning with that inane and implausible fight scene with Clay and Aisha. What was her character about,anyway? Not the character from the comic at all,and too sleazy and badly dressed to convince us there was any acting or story. Real wannabe film and I hope,I hope there is no more.
3
Saw once more with my son..... by lovestalentmoviefan
.....and changed from NO to SOSO. Because it was fun. But I still maintain this is not it's own movie.To my surprise,my 27 yr old sees right through making Aisha some kind of sexpot for ratings and hates that garbage. Underwear and skimpy clothes for combat? That thought was mine. Zoe is pretty good at her craft and does not need to distract with her physical appeal. This movie could have been the perfect vehicle to prove that! Actors were pretty awesome,but director just didn't have the timing right;that makes would be comedic moments too forced.Really could think of others to play Max,but J.Patric tried hard.
5
Very entertaining by troopertroy
I don't know why people keep whining about a story line. Were you entertained? That is the whole point of a movie. I personally do not need a great story line if it has as much action and humor as The Losers. Great character development and very fun to watch.
It probably won't win any big awards, but will have a pretty good DVD sale.
3
Man,I hate to do this to some decent actors! by birac
This movie was just plain second rate. Almost everything is borrowed from other flicks, 'jokes' were practically spoon fed. I felt like I was watching my kid brothers favorite show on Disney when it came to catching on. The fight in the hotel? WTH? No reason,unbelievable and they came out without even a smudge on them. Zoe looks good,but someone gave her the wrong idea of who her character was and the wrong look. We're really not that stupid. Good actors,especially Idris Alba and Columbus Short. Need better scripts.Maybe rent for some obvious laughs. Do appreciate no nudity or too much sex.Language wasn't bad either.That's why I don't give this movie a NO
4
Cliche fun! by Ajlina
Seriously? I don't know who looked at the previews to this and said; "Wow - this is going to be an amazing movie". Come on! - you can tell it will be a popcorn-cliche-kinda-fun movie. And it was. And it was done well. I think it will lose it's in-your-face-big-screen effect on DVD - so throw down the 10 bucks, buy lots of food and enjoy! (Not for the kiddies.)
4
Action Movie about a Special Forces Team on a Black-ops mission get betrayed & is out for revenge by critcallyme
A special forces team that is on a black-ops mission is betrayed by a rogue CIA agent with his own agenda for world power. Presumed dead they try to figure out how to get their lives back. While they are in limbo a stranger with her own agenda approaches the leader with an offer to assist them to get back into the states and to get revenge on Max, the guy that betrayed them. As the story unfolds there is a lot of action scenes, laughes and surprises.
4
Five Word Review by TheH0st
Underrated. Very entertaining and fun
1
Five Word Review by nclifford
This movie sucks don't watch!