Battle for TerraMovie Reviews

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So-so
Avg. Critic Score: 54 out of 100 Mixed or average reviews Metascore® based on all critic reviews
Information for Parents:
8 OK for kids 8+
Read Common Sense Media review

Critic scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating more favorable reviews.

  • 100
    San Francisco Chronicle |

    The plot is an obvious parable for modern dilemmas, yet in the hands of the film's creators, and with their graceful use of 3-D, viewers feel as if they're watching how the future might actually unfold, glimpsing a conflict that's destined to take place 300 years from now. Read full review

  • 75
    Chicago Sun-Times | Roger Ebert

    The animation is nicely stylized and the color palette well-chosen, although the humans are so square-jawed, they make Dick Tracy look like Andy Gump. The voice performances are persuasive. The obvious drawback is that the film is in 3-D. If you can find a theater showing it in 2-D, seek it out. Read full review

  • 70
    The Hollywood Reporter | Kirk Honeycutt

    The animation is splendid on what must have been, since this is not a studio film, a modest budget. Read full review

  • 70
    Variety |

    As original and convincing a feature as the better Japanese animes of recent years --"Tekkonkinkreet" comes to mind, along with the slightly older "Metropolis." Read full review

  • 70
    Los Angeles Times |

    Director/co-writer Aristomenis Tsirbas, expanding his own short film, unveils a classically devised invasion yarn la H.G. Wells, but with the twist that humans are the aggressors. Read full review

  • 67
    Entertainment Weekly | Lisa Schwarzbaum

    Tentle, dreamy animated sci-fi tale. Read full review

  • 63
    USA Today | Claudia Puig

    It's an unconventional premise: that aliens live in harmony and humans are the warmonger invaders. But it's not that simple. Read full review

  • 50
    Washington Post |

    It doesn't do much for the film's pacifist message that, as spacecraft zip across the screen and fire lasers into your popcorn, you may find yourself wishing that Tsirbas had replaced the movie's poorly written dialogue and implausible plot with more battle scenes. War! What is it good for? Awesome animation! Read full review

  • 50
    The New York Times | Neil Genzlinger

    The movie's messages are delivered with a heavy hand, but some of the scenes are eye-popping, especially -- sorry, peace-loving Terrians -- the battle sequences. Read full review

  • 38
    Boston Globe |

    Please, moviegoers, time is running out for us. Our civilization (and bottom line) depend on fast-food kiddie meals stuffed with toys. In this way, we conquer the solar system. Read full review

View more reviews for Battle for Terra on Metacritic

Information for Parents
Common Sense Media says OK for kids 8+ Animated space adventure tackles war, complex themes.
What Parents Need to Know Parents need to know that even though it's animated and targeted at kids, this sci-fi adventure deals with some very mature themes, including extinction, colonization, unprovoked war, and even a suicide bombing of sorts (the incident involves a main character and is presented as a noble sacrifice). The violence is more prominent than in most animated films and is similar to what you'd see in a movie like The Clone Wars -- animated, yes, but still disturbing. On the other hand, there are many positive lessons about environmental preservation, cross-cultural awareness, and peaceful negotiation, and there's no sex, language, or drinking to worry about. (Note: Some theaters are showing this movie in 3D, which adds an extra level of intensity.)
  • Families can talk about the character who decides to sacrifice their life. Why did that character make their decision? Kids: How did it make you feel? Does it have more or less impact than the rest of the movie's violence? Why? Families can also discuss the movie's environmental message. What could Earthlings have done to prevent the eventual battle? Do you think this is meant to be a cautionary tale for us?
The good stuff
  • message true3 Positive messages: Good-guy characters model positive traits like courage, bravery, and sacrifice. Other messages include the importance of environmental preservation, cross-cultural awareness, and peaceful negotiation. The Terrians believe in being peaceful and close to nature, but they'll also defend themselves when attacked.
What to watch for
  • violence false3 Violence and scariness: An Earth Force general wants to wipe out the Terrians so that humans can have their planet. His actions lead to many, many casualties on both sides. Opposing forces shoot at each other from battleships, and there are several explosions that result in deaths, as well as deaths from poison in the air. One main character's death is presented as an act of "noble suicide" -- but it also kills many people.
  • sex false1 Sexy stuff: Best friends flirt and embrace.
  • language false1 Language: Very infrequent; one use of "damn" and one "God."
  • consumerism false0 Consumerism: Not an issue
  • drugsalcoholtobacco false0 Drinking, drugs and smoking: Not an issue
An independent nonprofit dedicated to providing families the information they need to help kids thrive in a world of media and technology. © Common Sense Media Inc. 2010. All rights reserved.

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Dave White

2.0

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Kiddie movie about death. Read full review See Dave White's on MOVIENAME on Movies.com

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