Not recommended under 10; parental guidance recommended 10-13(Adult themes; some scenes disturbing for young children)
This topic contains:
Children under 10 | Not recommended due to themes and disturbing scenes |
Children aged 10 to 13 | Parental guidance recommended due to themes |
Children aged 13 and over | OK for this age group |
This section contains details about the movie, including its classification by the Australian Government Classification Board and the associated consumer advice lines. Other classification advice (OC) is provided where the Australian film classification is not available.
Name of movie: | Magic in the Moonlight |
Classification: | PG |
Consumer advice lines: | Mild themes |
Length: | 97 minutes |
This review of the movie contains the following information:
Magic in the Moonlight is a romantic comedy directed by Woody Allen, set in the 1920s on the French Riviera. The film follows an arrogant and cynical Englishman named Stanley (Colin Firth), a master illusionist who has little faith in the power and existence of the supernatural. After a performance one night, Stanley is approached by his colleague Howard (Simon McBurney) who asks him to travel to the Catledge family mansion in an effort to unmask a clairvoyant who has apparently manipulated her way into the family using her false powers. Brice (Hamish Linklater), the son of the family, is close to proposing to the clairvoyant Sophie (Emma Stone), thus making it crucial that Stanley investigate her authenticity immediately.
After spending some time with Sophie, Stanley is astounded by her ability to go into a trance state and draw out personal details from his life without being prompted in any way. Stanley even takes Sophie to meet his aunt Vanessa (Eileen Atkins), where she again proves her authenticity by revealing details of a previous love affair in Vanessa’s life.
After this, Stanley starts to view the world with entirely new eyes, becoming less accepting of his previous rationality and cynicism, going so far as to breaking off his engagement with his equally sceptical fiancée.
Stanley then holds a press conference to inform the public that it is his belief that Sophie is indeed authentic in her powers. However, he is soon to find out that all is not as it seems.
Children and adolescents may react adversely at different ages to themes of crime, suicide, drug and alcohol dependence, death, serious illness, family breakdown, death or separation from a parent, animal distress or cruelty to animals, children as victims, natural disasters and racism. Occasionally reviews may also signal themes that some parents may simply wish to know about.
Romance; trust and betrayal; the supernatural; belief versus rationality
Research shows that children are at risk of learning that violence is an acceptable means of conflict resolution when violence is glamourised, performed by an attractive hero, successful, has few real life consequences, is set in a comic context and / or is mostly perpetrated by male characters with female victims, or by one race against another.
Repeated exposure to violent content can reinforce the message that violence is an acceptable means of conflict resolution. Repeated exposure also increases the risks that children will become desensitised to the use of violence in real life or develop an exaggerated view about the prevalence and likelihood of violence in their own world.
There is limited violence in the film, including:
Children under five are most likely to be frightened by scary visual images, such as monsters, physical transformations.
In addition to the above-mentioned violent scenes, there are some scenes in this movie that could scare or disturb children under the age of five, including the following:
Children aged five to eight will also be frightened by scary visual images and will also be disturbed by depictions of the death of a parent, a child abandoned or separated from parents, children or animals being hurt or threatened and / or natural disasters.
In addition to the above-mentioned violent scenes and scary visual images, there are some scenes in this movie that could scare or disturb children aged five to eight, including the following:
Children aged eight to thirteen are most likely to be frightened by realistic threats and dangers, violence or threat of violence and / or stories in which children are hurt or threatened.
Some children in this age group may also be disturbed by some of the above-mentioned scenes.
Children over the age of thirteen are most likely to be frightened by realistic physical harm or threats, molestation or sexual assault and / or threats from aliens or the occult.
Nothing of concern
None of concern
The film contains mild sexual references, including:
The film contains mild sexual activity, including:
The film contains significant amount of substance use, including:
The film contains mild language, including:
Magic in the Moonlight is a romantic story about love, betrayal and identity. Over the course of the film, Sophie changes Stanley so significantly that he begins to re-evaluate the way he views the world in general. Despite her betraying his trust, his feelings for her remain and he is willing to forgive her for her previous discretions. In this sense, the film shows the power of love and the complex reality of relationships, as well as the need for compromise, forgiveness and compassion towards others
The film has some scenes that are likely to disturb children under 10 while the themes suit it more to children 13 and over.
Values in this movie that parents may wish to reinforce with their children include:
Tip: Leave out the first A, An or The
Selecting an age will provide a list of movies with content suitable for this age group. Children may also enjoy movies selected via a lower age.
Content is age appropriate for children this age
Some content may not be appropriate for children this age. Parental guidance recommended
Content is not age appropriate for children this age
Children and Media Australia (CMA) is a registered business name of the Australian Council on Children and the Media (ACCM).
CMA provides reviews, research and advocacy to help children thrive in a digital world.
ACCM is national, not-for-profit and reliant on community support. You can help.
ABN: 16 005 214 531