Iffy for 13+
Heavy-themed remake not as edgy as original.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that this Wall Street drama is not R-rated like the original, probably so that star Shia LaBeouf's considerable teen appeal can have maximum impact. The themes, however, are still just as heavy: money, the global economy, politics, family dysfunction. The language is strong (including "f--k"), and there's plenty of consumerism, but the sexuality is tamer than in the first. Ultimately the message is that although money makes the world go round, you need your family more than a seven-figure bank account.
- Families can talk about the movie's messages about greed and materialism. What does Gordon mean when he says "greed is legal" now? Why is Breton's number "more"? In the end, do Jake and Winnie care more about money or their family?
- What kinds of consumer products were featured in this movie? How does the movie's anti-consumer message merge with the product placements and celebration of wealth seen in the film?
- How does Gordon change in this story? Is he still as greedy and manipulative by the end of the film as he is at the beginning?
The good stuff
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Messages: The movie's messages are timeless -- that money can make you temporarily happy, but in the end it's your family that is most important. If you have money and power, but no one to love -- no one who even cares enough about you to pick you up from prison -- then your priorities aren't in order.
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Role models: Gordon Gekko seems like a reformed man who can predict the economic crisis but isn't powerful enough to do anything about it. He's still a compelling character, because even as a "has been" he can still see the game for what it is. Despite being a successful Wall Street money maker, Jake is quite loyal to his mentor and idealistic about the green company he champions throughout the film. Winnie is a strong role model because she sticks to her values the entire story. She doesn't use her father's money, and she doesn't "sell out" when given the chance.
What to watch for
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Violence: An elderly man jumps in front of a subway train to commit suicide.
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Sex: A couple lives together and is shown kissing in bed (he's shirtless, she wears a nightdress). The couple kisses and embraces several times but is never shown having sex. Several scantily clad women are shown in a couple of nightclub scenes.
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Language: Language includes a couple of uses of "f--k," as well as "s--t," "ass," "bitch," "a--hole," "damn," "hell," "crap," "goddamn," "oh my God," and the like.
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Consumerism: Brands include Apple, Ducati, Bulgari, and quick shots of various high-end luxury stores and items.
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Drinking, drugs and smoking: Lots of drinking and cigar smoking among the Wall Street brokers and executives. References to a drug overdose.
Fan Reviews provided by
1
Money Might Not Sleep But I Sure Did by gegan
What a heavy-handed piece of garbage. Over-actor Shia LaDouche shines again and keeps using up his 15-minutes of fame over-and-over-and-over. When will producers realize that Shia is more of a distractive over-actor than a method actor.
Predictable story outcomes and shoved-down-your-throat social messaging play along side of ethnic stereotyping of Chinese and Jews.
Do something more constructive with your time rather than watching this movie like cleaning out the lint from your belly-button or perhaps bleaching your socks to a high-white color.
4
Five Word Review by dsteimle
It is worth the effort
4
I'd love to say Must Go,but..... by lovestalentmoviefan
...that's if you are a fan of the first one,or just trust Michael to successfully reprise his Gekko role,with more layers,and do it well. I did and was not let down in the least. Other than that,I say just regular GO. This is because the movie isn't quite as intense as I was expecting. Very good,as well as informative,but not top knotch. And there are 2 scenes that really spoiled things for me by being just elementary in dialogue and style. A scene with Charlie Sheen was one of them. Awkward and cliche at best. The other was a dad/daughter touch feely deal that was totally beneath Stone caliber. Brolin was genius with his character's moods and realizations,Langella squeezed my heartstrings and Wallach was himself. All good work. The miscast was Mulligan. Yes,she was just right in An Education,but not the brilliant new it girl that some seem to think she is. Just my opinion. Do see this....almost a must. :)
5
Great Movie! by Aerospace747
Great movie, never seen the first one back in 1987, so I rented it to watch it. But this second part was really great, you just have to pay close attention to whats going on and why. The outcome was really great! Worth watching, because it shows how greed can affect a persons marital and relationship status in life!
5
awesome by skander
the movie was really good as for the actors
3
Wall Street 2 by frederickbtt
This movie could have been so much better. If you like the buildup and the climax in the original movie, you won't find it in this movie. There were too many subplots and the ending was a let down. Charlie Sheen cameo was lame and it made you wished that there was more between him and Michael Douglas. Gordon Gekko can say that he is back but in the end most people in the audience could care less.
3
A Big Disappointment by Big_Cat
Went to this movie eager with anticiaption. Left extremely disappointed. My biggest issue was all the holes in the script. And easy oversights. Example - everytime the movie would cut to CNBC for a market update, the market was always down the same 241 points, regardless of day or circumstance. Fast paced action and wild gyrations - all yielding the same result - scene after scene. Another example? Gekko runs into his old friend Bud Fox at a charity event. Now keep in mind, Gordo spent 8 years in the can. He admits he watched a lot of financial news TV while cooling his heels over that time. Yet when he runs into Bud, he had no knowledge of the ultimate fate of Blue Star Airline. Isn't that kind of improbable?? There were many other mistakes and inconsistancies throughout the film. You would think someone would be assigned to watch for such things.
2
Money Never Sleeps but you might! by RobieCole
Boy meets girl. Boy meets girl's dad. Girl is estranged from dad. Dad wants to be re-united with girl. Boy helps girl's dad to get back with girl. Dad betrays both boy and girl, and girl blames boy. Dad makes a billion dollars in a year and shares some of it. Boy and girl have a baby and make up.
Oh, yes. Boy and dad work on Wall Street in New York.
Oh, yes, it takes about 2 hours, most of it spent wondering why the same director and main actor could come up with something so trite and irrelevant to the audience.