Review

December Boys

  • Review Date: June 26, 2008
  • PG-13
  • Genre: Drama
  • 2007

Common Sense Media says

1960s coming-of-age tale with Harry Potter star.
Age
12
Quality
 
  • Positive messages3
    Conflict comes from mildly immature and insensitive behavior of four orphaned boys visiting a small village populated by principled, well-meaning adults. There are no villains here. Even a mentally unbalanced member of the community is treated humanely and with respect. As the boys begin to trust and depend upon the adults in the town, as well as each other, positive lessons are learned.
  • Violence3
    Boy hits adult male once in face with fist; boys briefly wrestle angrily with no resulting injuries; younger boy hits older friend with a stick several times, bruising his face.
  • Sex3
    Young boys look at brassiere ads, spy on adult females undressing in shadows and silhouetted in shower. Adolescent girl seduces innocent hero, kissing him and showing him how to touch her. He unbuttons his pants and off-screen sexual intercourse is implied. No nudity or other overt sexuality in this scene.
  • Language0
    Infrequent mild swearing: "hell," "for Christ's sake," "s--t."
  • Consumerism0
    Not applicable.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking3
    Boys hide cigarettes and smoke in numerous scenes; boys sneak beer and drink it; teen boy and girl share wine from bottle.
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What parents need to know

Parents need to know that underage boys secretly smoke, drink beer and wine, and try to catch glimpses of women in states of undress. Their attempts are amateurish and relatively innocent. One scene dramatizes an adolescent boy's introduction to kissing and sexuality by a precocious girl slightly older, but experienced. No nudity involved, but there is kissing, suggestive touching, and a clear implication that sexual intercourse takes place when the scene ends. The fact that Maps, the boy involved, is played by Daniel Radcliffe, best known as Harry Potter, adds to the provocative nature of the scene.

This review of December Boys was written by

Most useful reviews by all members

Kid, 9 years old
July 6, 2009
11
Pause for kids & under
 
one of the most beloved stories of all time... but the story will break your heart.
this was a very good movie! I think its iffy for 11 because i can handle it but some of my friends think its to sad,gross or inapropreat. (yes they are 11). And daniel radcliff....best actor ever and beleive me he was acted the best in this movie! But as well as being funny and entertaining there are a few scenes that made me feel very sad.
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Helped me decide (9) | Had useful details (9) | Read my mind (11)
Parent of 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 16 year old
June 26, 2009
11
Pause for kids & under
 
Harry Potter Star Does Well!
Daniel radcliffe was excellent in this movie! The only problem was where the girl seduces him and makes him go up his skirt with his hand. Mature 11 year olds would be fine. There's also a book if you enjoy the movie!
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Helped me decide (9) | Had useful details (9) | Read my mind (10)
Kid, 12 years old
October 14, 2009
11
OK for kids & up
 
daniel rocks!!!!!!
i saw this movie when i was 11 1/2 and it was awsome! daniel radcliffe rocks!!!!!!!! but there was some language, vilonce, and sexual content plus underage drinking and smoking.
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Helped me decide (8) | Had useful details (9) | Read my mind (10)
Parent of 17 year old
September 24, 2009
11
Pause for kids & under
 
yeah dan!
this movie was awsome and FYI Daniel Radcliffe ROCKS! And LUCY SOOOOOOO DOSENT!!!! (WATCH IT IT"S A GREAT MOVIE! EXSEPT FOR LUCY!)
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Helped me decide (7) | Had useful details (9) | Read my mind (10)
Kid, 12 years old
November 9, 2009
12
Pause for kids & under
 
i watched this movie about 1 year ago and i have to say the stroy was really good and really sad. And there was some questionable content like.... VILONCE: 15 year old boy hit a man in the face with his face then shouts "your s--t!" and younger beats his older friend with a stick resulting in minor injury. Also one of the younger boys falls onto the ocean and almost drowns. SEX: 12 year old boys and 1 15 year old boy look at women undressing and look at magizines with naked women in them. And underage 15 year old boy and girl have sex (off screen but have some iffy content before that) LANGUAGE: some swearing DRINKING AND SMOKING: 12 year old boys and 15 year old teenagers drink alchohol and smoke ciggarets. Before you take your kids to see this movie bare in mind that it has this content in it. And one more thing the ending has a very sudden and sad death of a main character. But still great movie i recomend to all OLDER Harry Potter fans.
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Kid, 12 years old
December 15, 2009
12
Pause for kids & under
 
great
the movie is great!!!!!
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Helped me decide (8) | Had useful details (8) | Read my mind (8)
Teen, 13 years old
January 2, 2010
13
OK for kids & up
 
great movie
i agree with all the other reviews this is a great movie it really entertained me. But there are several scenes with underage drinking and smoking also 1 scene with teenage sexuality and a few scene with language and brief vilonce and peril.
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