Directed by Jon Favreau
Starring Daniel Craig, Harrison Ford, Olivia Wilde…
Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of western and sci-fi action and violence, some partial nudity and a brief crude reference.
Probably just what you expect from a film with this title.
At least no one can say, “We’ve seen this before!” This movie, if anything, was original in premise. Aliens come to earth in the time of gunfighters and dusty old saloons. Cowboys, Indians, and everyone in-between must unite to try to save the humans from these… dare I call them space invaders.
First, I like the director John Favreau, the man behind both Ironman films. I’ll be the first to admit he’s not batting 1,000. He’s got winners like Elf, and then mediocre films like Zathura. Regardless, his recent films seem to bring a good mix of action and humor.
And that’s just it. Do you like alien battle action? If you don’t… this film might not be for you. If you didn’t like Independence Day, but loved Hope Floats, skip this.
Performances were really strong. Daniel Craig was excellent. Add Harrison Ford to the list… you can stop right there if you want to. Those two alone make the film. But you’ll find a handful of other recognizable faces that really add to the mix (Keith Carradine, Clancy Brown, Sam Rockwell, and the hilarious Walton Goggins…).
The story was creative, but a little predictable at times. I kept leaning over to my wife and calling out, “that guy’s gonna die” and “that kid will use that knife” throughout the film (probably drove her nuts). And that’s probably why I’ll just score this film as a RENTAL. It was entertaining, never had me bored… but come on. It’s called Cowboys & Aliens!
SHOULD KIDS SEE IT?
I wouldn’t hesitate to let my teenagers see it. The PG-13 rating is mostly sci-fi action and violence, in other words, aliens and humans shooting and stabbing each other. Probably a little too intense for young kids. But it steers clear of the crude humor and sexuality that movies like the Transformers films are so happy to include. Parents might get nervous once when a girl with no clothes innocently stands up in the middle of a group of people. The camera just shows her back from the waist up and one of the men runs and covers her with a blanket tastefully (hence the “partial nudity” rating ). Again, I wouldn’t hesitate to let my teenagers see it.
Conversation Starter
Three Simple Questions (with Answers You May Be Looking for):
Q: What’s the message/theme of this movie?
A: Cowboys & Aliens brings humans together, good and bad to fight for a common cause, the preservation of the human race. Not a lot of films offer a story where lawmen, outlaws and Indians all have to unite for a cause like this.
Q: How do you suppose we—as serious Christ-followers—should react to this movie?
A: There’s a noteworthy moment in the film where a clergyman tells Jake (Daniel Craig) something like, “It doesn’t matter who you were in the past, only who you are now.”
Jake was a man with a past. His reputation was that of a criminal and a thief. But the clergyman saw something different out of Jake. He saw potential. He saw something good inside. While everyone else focused on Jake’s past, the clergyman focused on Jake’s future.
Jesus looked at a man like this in the Bible in Luke, Chapter 19. As Jesus went to Jericho he saw a short man named Zach. Zach was a tax collector who had lived his life ripping people off. Even as Jesus looked at this man, people were shaking their heads thinking, “Why would Jesus even talk to this guy? Doesn’t he know what a bad past this guy has?”
Jesus didn’t care about his past, he cared about his future. Read Luke 19: 1-10 and see what happens.
Q: How can we move from healthy, Bible-based opinions about this movie to actually living out those opinions?
A: This film brought up a lot of issues about loving others. People who were once enemies joined together for a common cause. People who had a negative past were forgiven and given a clean slate.
When we put our faith in Jesus, he gives us a clean slate and a new beginning. (I Corinthians 5:17)
- How does it make you feel to have a fresh new start?
- What are some of the old things in our lives that need to be “gone”?
- What are some of the new characteristics that Christ brings to our lives?
- What is one thing you can do this week to let Christ continue to transform you into something new?
Jonathan McKee
Jonathan McKee is the author of over twenty books including the brand new The Guy's Guide to FOUR BATTLES Every Young Man Must Face; The Teen’s Guide to Social Media & Mobile Devices; If I Had a Parenting Do Over; and the Amazon Best Seller - The Guy's Guide to God, Girls and the Phone in Your Pocket. He speaks to parents and leaders worldwide, all while providing free resources for youth workers on TheSource4YM.com. Jonathan, his wife Lori, and their three kids live in California.