Rated R for language, some drug content and brief nudity.
Directed by Grant Heslov (First Feature Film)
Starring Ewan McGregor, George Clooney, Kevin Spacey and Jeff Bridges
Reporter Bob Wilton is in search of his next big story when he encounters Lyn Cassady, a shadowy figure who claims to be part of an experimental U.S. military unit. According to Cassady, the New Earth Army is changing the way wars are fought. A legion of “Jedi Soldiers” with unparalleled psychic powers can read the enemy's thoughts, pass through solid walls, and even kill a goat simply by staring at it.
Now, the program's founder, Bill Django, has gone missing and Cassady's mission is to find him. Intrigued by his new acquaintance's far-fetched stories, Bob impulsively decides to tag along. When the pair tracks Django to a clandestine training camp run by renegade psychic Larry Hooper, the reporter is trapped in the middle of a grudge match between the forces of Django's New Earth Army and Hooper's personal militia of super soldiers. In order to survive this wild adventure, Bob will have to outwit an enemy he never thought possible.
So I'm at blockbuster and all the copies of the new release that I had my heart set on are checked out. So I scan the top twenty rentals to see if there was any we at The Source missed. And there it was staring at me…Men Who Stare at Goats. So reluctantly I picked it up and made my way to the checkout counter. I handed the friendly employee the movie and before she scanned it she paused … as if trying to choose her words with purpose and clarity, she said, “I just need you to know this movie is awful…and I mean awful.”
With that level of negativity, I was actually intrigued. I mean seriously, how bad could it be? Let me just say…it’s bad. Sure there are a few laughs, but I saw all of those scenes in the trailer…that certainly did not surprise me.
The powerhouse cast has so little to work with that the only time my curiosity was peaked was wondering at what point they all realized this movie was going to be this horrible.
Staring at goats might actually be more entertaining than this movie…it’s a Coaster.
SHOULD KIDS SEE IT?
The language is R-worthy and there is some nudity (in hot tubs) but honestly the fact that it is such a bad film should keep most teenagers away.
Side Note:
We don’t recommend your kids see this film. But on the occasion that they actually have already seen it, you may want to dialogue about the film with them. These questions below may be a help to you.
Conversation Starter
Three Simple Questions (with Answers You May Be Looking for):
- What are some of the messages or themes you observed in this movie?
- How do you suppose we—as serious Christ-followers—should react to this movie?
- How can we move from healthy, Bible-based opinions about this movie to actually living out those opinions?
