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Fahrenheit 9/11

(2004, Rated R, Documentary, Starring Ben Affleck, Michael Moore, Stevie Wonder)
  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 15, age appropriate for kids over 16; suggested age 15.
  • Is it any good?

    4.0
  • Common Sense says

    Controversial documentary best for older teens.

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 15–16

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    Portrayal of a very loving and devoted inter-racial family.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence:

    War violence, including very explicit footage of wounded soldiers and civilians, including a mutilated baby.
  • Sex:

    Not an issue.
  • Language:

    Some very strong language.
  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Not an issue.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Fahrenheit 9/11

Parents need to know that this is a movie that we recommend you watch with your teens. Some viewers will be offended by Moore's anti-Bush message. Others will love it. Moore has a very definite point of view and has created an emotionally powerful movie. Either way, discussing this with your kids is very important if you let them go. War violence is shown, there's strong language, and you see extremely upsetting images such as a mutilated baby and a beheading in the distance, so we do not recommend it for young teens. This film is designed to provoke strong feelings, so whether or not you agree with Moore's point of view, know that you might want to discuss with your family how he selects material and builds his argument. This film is a strong jumping off point for families to discuss Iraq, the presidential election, and to listen to your kids as they develop their political beliefs.

Read our full review by Nell Minow

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about Iraq, the presedential election, and how Moore uses cinematic techniques like music and the juxtaposition of film footage to underscore his points.

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Our Members Say

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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Teen Reviewer Age 17
    Lives in Colorado
    I rate this title on for age 14 and give it 1.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate language
    • Negative message

    Very innacurate propoganda.

    I'm the last person you're going to find defending the Bush administration, but just because I don't like Bush very much doesn't mean that I agree that someone should make a movie that is so inaccurate just to make him look bad. A lot of people took this movie seriously, despite the factual errors contained therein. In any case, the movie is not really that inappropriate, so it should be fine for most teens. Even though I strongly disagree with this movie, it should still be watched just to encourage independent thought.

  2. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    Lives in New Jersey
    I rate this title on for age 13 and give it 4.0

    Didn't Deserve an R

    Very good movie, but with some factual errrors. The MPAA is screwed up to give this an R

  3. Parent Reviewer
    Lives in Ohio
    I rate this title off for age 17 and give it 1.0

  4. Parent Reviewer
    Lives in Iowa
    I rate this title iffy for age 16 and give it 2.0

  5. Kid Reviewer Age 12
    Lives in Pennsylvania
    I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it 3.0

    George W. Bush is an idiot!

    The movie is inspirational and George W. Bush (not much of a surprise) really is an idiot. Michael Moore is excellent and hilarious! If more folks listened to him, they wouldn't vote for such a dummy.It's R for bad language in a scene where Mike goes to war!End of story&? It's alot of fun!

  6. Adult Reviewer
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 5.0

    The only reason this is rated R is because bush wants it to be R

    It is pathetic how people think this is a bad movie. To be honest everything in that movie was indeed true. Bush just doesn't want you to watch this is all thats why he controls the ratings. There is no sex or violence so I find it hard to believe this would indeed be considered R rated for same .

  7. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Virginia
    I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it 3.0

    Real war violence!

    This movie is not suitable for children under 16 for violence.

  8. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in California
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 5.0

    Deservedly controversial and sucessful

    Possibly, there is no one in the documentary world quite as infamous as Michael Moore...and this is the sort of controversial film that you will either love or hate. If you're the dogmatic type of person who believes that a step out of line with the President is "un-patriotic", don't go see it - if you're open-minded, do. It's not a "true" documentary in the sense that it's obviously biased, but it does present quite a few undeniable facts about the current state of the union, and is at any rate a brilliant piece of filmmaking. The violence may be a little much to stomach for some, but the movie should not be missed. No matter where you sit on the political spectrum, it will leave you with some interesting questions.

  9. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Washington
    I rate this title off for age 17 and give it 0.0

    Michael Moron

    What a pile this movie is. Not worth the plastic its burned to.

  10. Kid Reviewer Age 11
    Lives in California
    I rate this title off for age 2 and give it 0.0

    Learning lesson starts before movie

    It was well known that Michael Moore did not like that Bush was elected president over Gore. So how objective is he? There are huge lessons for parent and child even before the movie starts.

  11. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Missouri
    I rate this title off for age 2 and give it 2.0

    I lost six brain cells watching this!

    Okay, the point of this movie as a hint to question our media's coverage of world events is fantastic. We need to do that. But the point of whether or not the Bush administration is good and using this film as a means of determing that, is BAD. Yeah, you can use this film to look at the general liberal point of view, I suppose, but to say that this is an absolutely must-see movie to judge the current administration is single-minded and ignorant to the fact that nowhere in this movie does Moore use a central point of view in considering things. He's too bent on making the Bush administration look like a bunch of idiots. This film has some truth in it, but it's biased truth and it's important that all viewers keep that in mind. Moore intentionally picked bits and pieces of footage to twist things and make everything the Bush administration has done look like devillish work. Yes, it's truth, but truth only goes so far when other truths have been removed.

    Thus, I recommend this film to people my age only if they keep in mind that Moore is an extreme leftist and has created an extreme leftist film. This film should NOT decide your political stance.

  12. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in California
    I rate this title on for age 13 and give it 5.0

    Parents Should Take Older Kids

    This is a powerful, must see movie. I think that in light of everything that has happened of late in our political world, and most of all because of the failure of the mainstream media to properly cover the key issues of the day, parents should take kids 13 and older to this movie. It has some amazing footage that none of us have ever seen before, including great scenes about the stolen votes in Florida and some extremely revealing scenes about Bush, Wolfowitz et al. Sure, it's a political documentary that sometimes goes over the top, but older kids need to see what's been happening in this world of ours and have the chance to talk with their parents about it.

    As my daughter would say: "It's the Bomb!" Go see for yourself...and then go vote.

  13. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in New Mexico
    I rate this title on for age 13 and give it 5.0

  14. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Missouri
    I rate this title off for age 17 and give it 0.0

    No Credibility

    Now that the 911 Report is out, I don't think Moore's suppositions can proven to be true. This movie is one-sided propaganda made to show everyone, except a few politicians, to look like idiots. How sad that people will make voting and making decisions based on this movie. I guess our country will get what we deserve.

  15. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in California
    I rate this title on for age 13 and give it 5.0

    Must-see for anyone considering military enlistment

    This film is a must-see for anyone considering military enlistement, because it clearly points out that military personnel have become the paid thugs that make the world safe for the big corporations, especially oil, and not the protectors of democratic freedoms.

    Michael Moore has done us a service by showing the real truth behind the lies that the administration and the media have been pushing for 2 and a half years. If the media were doing its job, this movie would have been seen by relatively few people. Since it has not, people are flocking to it to try to figure out what is really going on.

    I think Mr. Moore has done a pretty good job of outlining it all.

  16. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Alabama
    I rate this title off for age 17 and give it 0.0

    Wacky Liberalism Exposed

    Yes, go see it and see what liberals think of our nation. WE are the cause of Everything bad in the world. OUR actions cause people to hate us. The only reason we went to war was a pipeline to get rich in Afghanistan. Punch line: Bush does not get rich on a pipeline but Moore does lying about him. Give me a break.

  17. Adult Reviewer
    I rate this title on for age 13 and give it 4.0

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