Firewall Movie Review

Prepare for a wild ride in this recent action thriller release from Harrison Ford. Fans of his films will revel in the extent of Ford's profound acting, along with a well chosen supporting cast. He has come a long way since his big break with the original Star Wars trilogy, and it definately shows. Good actors truly can get better with age!



The opening scenes throw you into the mood of this film, and quickly envelop your senses. Although the intro is an effective attention-getter, it runs the risk of being too good and spins your head with all of the added animation of the film. Once the movie gets underway, however, filmwork is seamless and crisp. The audio also follows the film and dialogue well. Sound effects are not misused, nor do they seek to overpower the action onscreen.



This film's theme is not new to cinematics, but it is fresh and bold, throwing plenty of twists and curves to maintain your interest throughout the entire movie. Scripting was excellent, as the dialogue flows smoothly and stays on track. There is a refreshing lack of high-tech special effects overall, which sets this movie apart from others as being able to stand on its own without any props.



As an avid fan of Harrison Ford's works, perhaps I am slightly biased, but consider his humble beginnings and take a look at this movie. It shines with honesty and reality, and brings the big picture home about the true terror of terrorists. I will say that this film is not going to snap you out of your seat, but it is smart and keen on the kidnapper theme.



The rating (PG-13 for some intense sequences of violence) is fair and proper considering its storyline. Also noteworthy are some short moments of acute language and harsh dialogue. The violence is slightly bloody but not extreme, and there is no nudity, sexuality, or sensuous material to mention. I would recommend older teens and adults only for this film, as its thematic material is moderately intense.

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Firewall

View Firewall Website
Watch Trailer
Review to come

MPAA Ratings

Curious about the MPAA ratings and what they mean?
I found this chart online. Take a look at it:

NR "Not Rated"

This film has not yet been rated by the MPAA.

G "General Audiences"

This is a film which contains nothing in theme, language, nudity and sex, violence, etc. which would, in the view of the Rating Board, be offensive to parents whose younger children view the film. The G rating is not a "certificate of approval," nor does it signify a children's film. Some snippets of language may go beyond polite conversation but they are common everyday expressions. No stronger words are present in G-rated films. The violence is at a minimum. Nudity and sex scenes are not present; nor is there any drug use content.

PG "Parental Guidance Suggested"

This is a film which clearly needs to be examined or inquired into by parents before they let their children attend. The label PG plainly states that parents may consider some material unsuitable for their children, but the parent must make the decision. Parents are warned against sending their children, unseen and without inquiry, to PG-rated movies. The theme of a PG-rated film may itself call for parental guidance. There may be some profanity in these films. There may be some violence or brief nudity. But these elements are not deemed so intense as to require that parents be strongly cautioned beyond the suggestion of parental guidance. There is no drug use content in a PG-rated film. The PG rating, suggesting parental guidance, is thus an alert for examination of a film by parents before deciding on its viewing by their children. Obviously such a line is difficult to draw. In our pluralistic society it is not easy to make judgments without incurring some disagreement. So long as parents know they must exercise parental responsibility, the rating serves as a meaningful guide and as a warning.

PG-13 "Parents Strongly Cautioned"

PG-13 is thus a sterner warning to parents to determine for themselves the attendance in particular of their younger children as they might consider some material not suited for them. Parents, by the rating, are alerted to be very careful about the attendance of their under-teenage children. A PG-13 film is one which, in the view of the Rating Board, leaps beyond the boundaries of the PG rating in theme, violence, nudity, sensuality, language, or other contents, but does not quite fit within the restricted R category. Any drug use content will initially require at least a PG-13 rating. In effect, the PG-13 cautions parents with more stringency than usual to give special attention to this film before they allow their 12-year olds and younger to attend. If nudity is sexually oriented, the film will generally not be found in the PG-13 category. If violence is too rough or persistent, the film goes into the R (restricted) rating. A film's single use of one of the harsher sexually-derived words, though only as an expletive, shall initially require the Rating Board to issue that film at least a PG-13 rating. More than one such expletive must lead the Rating Board to issue a film an R rating, as must even one of these words used in a sexual context. These films can be rated less severely, however, if by a special vote, the Rating Board feels that a lesser rating would more responsibly reflect the opinion of American parents. PG-13 places larger responsibilities on parents for their children's moviegoing. The voluntary rating system is not a surrogate parent, nor should it be. It cannot, and should not, insert itself in family decisions that only parents can, and should, make. Its purpose is to give prescreening advance informational warnings, so that parents can form their own judgments. PG-13 is designed to make these parental decisions easier for films between PG and R.

R "Restricted"

In the opinion of the Rating Board, this film definitely contains some adult material. Parents are strongly urged to find out more about this film before they allow their children to accompany them. An R-rated film may include hard language, or tough violence, or nudity within sensual scenes, or drug abuse or other elements, or a combination of some of the above, so that parents are counseled, in advance, to take this advisory rating very seriously. Parents must find out more about an R-rated movie before they allow their teenagers to view it.

NC-17 "No One 17 And Under Admitted"

This rating declares that the Rating Board believes that this is a film that most parents will consider patently too adult for their youngsters under 17. No children will be admitted. NC-17 does not necessarily mean "obscene or pornographic" in the oft-accepted or legal meaning of those words. The Board does not and cannot mark films with those words. These are legal terms and for courts to decide. The reasons for the application of an NC-17 rating can be violence or sex or aberrational behavior or drug abuse or any other elements which, when present, most parents would consider too strong and therefore off-limits for viewing by their children.

What This Is All About:

I am a semi-avid movie buff. I enjoy films of many types, and I like to critique them. I have decided to post reviews of new films, as well as various movies which are available on DVD or VHS for purchase or rental. I am somewhat picky about what movies I see, so you will not find all new releases on this site, only the ones I choose to watch. Any comments are welcome, as well as suggestions as to other movies you may want reviewed (subject to my discretion). Please take these reviews as my own personal opinion and keep in mind that, considering the recent moral dumbing down of the MPAA rating system, I will describe how the movie fits its rating and suggest whether or not it deserves a rating change. These reviews should not be taken as an open door for family film night--I highly recommend that any movie which interests you be previewed for your own personal judgment. Give my regards to Brodway, the show must go on!