Brick Mansions (9/9/2014)

Rated PG-13 for frenetic gunplay, violence and action throughout, language, sexual menace and drug material.

Starring Paul Walker, RZA and David Belle

Directed by Camille Delamarre

Brick Mansions is the Escape from New York for this generation.

In a dystopian Detroit, abandoned brick mansions left from better times now house only the most dangerous criminals. Unable to control the crime, the police constructed a colossal containment wall around this area to protect the rest of the city. For undercover cop Damien Collier (Paul Walker) every day is a battle against corruption. For Lino (David Belle), every day is a fight to live an honest life. Their paths never should have crossed, but when drug kingpin, Tremaine (RZA) kidnaps Lino’s girlfriend, Damien reluctantly accepts the help of the fearless ex-convict, and together they must stop a sinister plot to devastate the entire city. With stylized action featuring thrilling Parkour stunts (David Belle is the co-founder of the physical training discipline), Brick Mansions puts an entertaining twist on the action genre.

Step 1: Check your brain at the door.

Step 2: Enjoy the action.

If you skip step 1, you will miss step 2. And honestly, this movie is all about the action. So expect a lot of fistfights, shootouts, explosions and car chases…they even manage to squeeze in some dialogue from time to time. But what makes this film so entertaining is all the Parkour and slow motion camera work.

In one scene David Belle says, Don’t think, just jump.” Good advice when watching this one. For example, when Walker and Belle (in a van) are out driving the police (in brand new Dodge Chargers), you may be skeptical, but when they crash into several other cars going over 80 MPH and walk away without a scratch…well that’s a little harder to overlook.

So if you’re looking for a quality action film with in-depth characters and intriguing storylines…”Skip” this one. But if you want an adrenaline-fueled action flick that will keep you entertained – “Rent” Brick Mansions.

SHOULD KIDS SEE IT?
The only sexual scene is when Lola is captured and another lady runs a knife along her shirt, legs, and lips suggestively. There is no sex or nudity; there is non-stop shooting and martial arts, although with little blood.

There are 1 or 2 F-words, 30 S-words, and around two dozen other profanities.

CONVERSATION STARTER:

1. Damien’s grandfather says, “Revenge and justice are not the same thing.” What do you think is the difference?


2. Read Micah 6:8
   
   He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
   
   And Romans 12:19
   
   Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.
   
   
3. Why is vengeance wrong?


4. When was the last time you saw an injustice? What did you do?


5. How can you “do justice” this week?