Review

The Illusionist

  • Review Date: January 8, 2007
  • PG-13
  • Genre: Drama
  • 2006

Common Sense Media says

Magic tricks and a murder mystery. Teens and up.
Age
13
Quality
 
  • Positive messages0
    Cruel prince abuses his power; rumors circulate that magician has sold is soul to the devil; ambitious detective eventually does the right thing.
  • Violence3
    Prince shoots at birds, keeps animal heads (from hunting) on his walls, brutalizes his fiancée, and covets a family sword used in a magic trick; duchess appears to be stabbed (bloodied neck) and dead (her pale body on display, then her ghost appears on stage); an angry mob demands that the magician be released from police custody.
  • Sex3
    Couple who are deeply in love kiss passionately and have sex, in filtered light and tight close-ups (not explicit).
  • Language3
    One f-word; prince calls his fiancée a "whore." Magician's Chinese assistants called "Orientals."
  • Consumerism0
    Not applicable.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking3
    Detective smokes a pipe; wealthy characters drink wine and smoke cigarettes.
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What parents need to know

Parents need to know that the film includes some mysterious behaviors and effects, so the magic tricks and ghostly apparitions look convincing (via digital help). The prince abuses his fiancée verbally and physically. She appears to be stabbed, her neck and torso bloodied; her body is discovered floating in a river. She later appears as a ghost (among other ghosts) for a magician's show, frightening and awing the audience. Characters wield swords and the men threaten one another with violence, leading to a fight at film's end. One sex scene emphasizes the passion of the moment, without explicit nakedness. One character uses the f-word.

This review of The Illusionist was written by
Age
13

Most useful reviews by all members

Adult
April 9, 2008
0
Pause for kids & under
 
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Adult
April 9, 2008
0
OK for kids & up
 
Bravo
Wonderful film. I highly recommend this period piece for an excellent story and wonderful acting. I took my almost 10 year old and she loved it. There is some violence and a tasteful love scene. It's for mature kids 10 and up.
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Adult
April 9, 2008
0
OK for kids & up
 
An excellent family film for parents and older children
We were worried about watching this, after having read the Common Sense Media review. After having read some parent reviews, we decided to watch it. We absolutely loved this movie! We watched it with our almost 13-year old son and our (mature) 10-year old daughter, who bothed loved it. Excellent intrigue, suspense and great ending! The sex and the violence were such a small part of the entire movie, and tastefully done, that they were almost a non-issue. There seemed less of that in this movie than in some PG movies we see. Great film!
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Kid, 10 years old
April 9, 2008
0
OK for kids & up
 
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Kid, 11 years old
May 27, 2009
13
OK for kids & up
 
5 star moovie
Im am not 13, but I saw it w/ my dad. I think the moovie is a 5 star moovie because it ceeps u on ur feet and u never know how the illusionist does his majic tricks. The moovie is about how childhood-lovers that were forbiden 2 be together meet meany yers later, one is royalty and the other an illusionist who is being charged on sevral acounts. Thanks 2 their childhood love she is able 2 help save him from bing band or arested. She has been almost forst 2 marry the diabloicle prince she teems up w/ her true love and finds a way 2 escape the prince and...
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Teen, 14 years old
April 9, 2008
0
OK for kids & up
 
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Helped me decide (30) | Had useful details (18) | Read my mind (17)
Kid, 11 years old
April 9, 2008
0
Pause for kids & under
 
cool but a littile boring
this is ok
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Teen, 14 years old
April 9, 2008
0
Pause for kids & under
 
Loved it!
This is an Awesome film! Loved Eisenheim and Sophie! I think this film should be for 12 and over.
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Adult
April 9, 2008
0
Pause for kids & under
 
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Helped me decide (16) | Had useful details (17) | Read my mind (30)
Teen, 13 years old
December 18, 2009
12
OK for kids & up
 
great for tweens and up
Great suspense movie. Might be too scary for kids under 12. Kids probably shouldn't see it in theaters.
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