Straight Edge

source: Straight Edge

This is the type of mindless "exposé" that liberals just love! Simplistic message: Tough Love Camp=Bad. Solution=Government regulation. Yes folks, don't trust the parents' judgment about their children. We know that all parents are incompetent to raise their children. Only the loving, compassionate, Big Brother Government really cares about poor spoiled rich kids. Anyone who disagrees must be a Nazi who wants to murder children. Never mind that most of the stupid, worthless kids in this film were heading for an early death anyway, with a spoon up their nose or needle in their arm. But everybody knows that parents have no right to make decisions about their children without government supervision. At first it looked like the tough love camp was just what these kids needed! Until, of course, they had to add the sexual abuse issues and then portray all the camp authorities as sociopathic, religious idiots. After all, we can't have a bunch of selfish, druggie, affluent panty-wastes being treated as if how they behave has consequences, can we? No, lets just let them pollute themselves here at home until they become government liabilities, spending their lives on the ever-expanding government-funded substance abuse merry-go-round. Anything but actually teaching these self-centered, pampered, spoiled brats that life has consequences and responsibilities. OH NO! How horrible! Spending a few years on a tropical island doing chores, swimming in the ocean, playing beach volleyball, and learning something about the tough lessons of life. After all, the military has NEVER molded anyone's character for success in life, have they? Discipline NEVER works, does it? NO! All we really need is group therapy and drug rehab, funded by the government of course. The government will take care of us. When the government gets involved, I just feel so much better, because I know they care and will treat us right. After all, they've proved it time and time again. Haven't they? Yes!

If I hadn't been through a brainwashing camp myself as a teenager I wouldn't think this movie was anything more than an interesting watch. But, the reality is that I know this type of abuse (and worse) happens in boot camps, wilderness programs, therapeutic boarding schools, residential treatment centers, teen drug rehabs and many other programs in the United States and Canada. I witnessed it and experienced it myself at age 14-16. Due to the reality that this movie portrays and the lack of attention given to this problem in our society, I applaud all who were part of the making of this movie. If anyone would like to know more about this very real issue of kids being brainwashed, tortured and killed in teen programs, Google FORNITS (a forum for those who were victims of these programs), Human Earth Animal Liberation (HEAL), International Survivors Action Committee (ISAC), Teen Advocates USA. Find the Youtube video of "Martin Lee Anderson" being killed by staff in a boot camp caught on surveillance video (the staff were not convicted of the murder but were all acquitted!). The movie itself is absolutely worth watching, although some parts are a little over the top, because the premise of the movie is based on actual events that have and do happen all across this country. Plus many horrors that happen in these programs were not shown in this movie. I almost forgot to mention the bill in congress titled H.R.911 that is aimed at regulating these programs so kids are not abused and killed in them. Our Government Accountability Office has discovered a large amount of evidence showing abuse, fraud and deaths of children in these programs. Look for the Youtube of Greg Kutz or George Miller and the investigation behind bill H.R.911.

Within the first ten seconds, the movie introduction says, "There are over 200 hundred Boot Camps..." -_- Other than that, this movie was pretty amazing. I felt captivated from the first scene, and only became more intrigued as the story line progressed. There were some satisfyingly, unexpected turnouts, and I loved that. However, the ending...I didn't buy it. Overall, the plot made me think, and I could really feel for the characters. It's shocking to see that camps like this exist, but I feel that this film has definitely raised awareness. Definitely worth watching. Plus, Mila Kunis is a beautiful woman to watch =)

In the seventies boot camps were the real stuff in the US. Nobody watched what happened in those camps, and several persons really died in those camps. This is one of those stories. To promote this film the said that it was more frightening than Adrift and more horrible then Battle Royale. well, those to movies are independent and are better than Boot Camp. As always in Hollywood there has to be some romance in it and that just doesn't work for me. It is never fearful or there isn't any suspense, it isn't even bloody, the roughest thing is a blue eye. But I gave it a 5 because the effects they used in the cutting. It could have been all better if it was more in the style of Battle Royale.

..which is probably the reason enough for one time watch. I liked the movie for its different approach and the questions it raises and forces us to ponder over the issue of such camps as ASAP. If such camps exist, and actually they do, what is their purpose? if the purpose is to "help" the troubled teens, they fail miserably or at least the movie says so. coming to the movie, it was a good film with a lot of potential. maybe better actors may have been able to pull it off much better but nevertheless the movie doesn't disappoint you. my suggestion to those who have not watched this movie is to watch it before forming an opinion over it. believe me its not that bad as some comments here suggest.

I rated this movie a 6 due to the content. I truly believe this movie should have been made, and I commend the ones who did. It truly broke my heart, seeing as though it's a true story, making it all the more disturbing. I hope that people that are considering sending their child/teen to a place such as this one. I think all the actors did a pretty good job portraying the characters that the movie is about. I just can't believe that this movie is around 3 years old and I haven't heard of it. It's kind of bothersome to me because this movie truly needs recognition, it needs to be out there for more people to see. Parents and guardians really need to do their homework on these type of places before sending ANYONE they truly care about! Thanks for the movie, I really hope people heed the warning the comes from this film!

It was "Made-for-TV Movie". It's a premise that hasn't really been explored in films, but it could have been done far better, and in the end it all just falls apart, both on the screen and figuratively. Peter Stormare, a/k/a "Scary guy from Fargo" doesn't convince as the Dr. Moreau of Teen Rehab, some of the acting is stiff, and in the end I just wished they would have filmed a documentary on real-life "tough love" camps instead -- I think that would have been far more interesting and emotional (and cost a heck of a lot less than $14 million). Not recommended, unless you're a die-hard "Family Guy" addict that just has to see each and every film starring the voice of Meg Griffin.

First comments I've ever made on IMDb. Too bad they are for some worthless piece of garbage like this. But I think it important to warn potential viewers instead of just reviewing a film because a film like this is manipulative and in some ways dangerous. Dangerous if people accept it as something positive. The comments made by "Missed Opportunity" are the only ones really worth reading when it comes to this manipulative film. I know that at this point anyway I'm probably the only one who agrees with him/her and that is sad and also maybe why in part films like this are made. The "children" in this film are were in dire need of discipline. But they obviously never got it when they were younger and now they are pot heads and borderline criminals. So the parents are made to look like fools and uncaring simpletons while the writer and director look to make you sympathize with these kids when they get to the island. Oh poor, poor little deviants. Now this is supposedly based on true events. Who knows? Who knows if the brutalities are really that bad if these camps exist? We all know that Hollywood always does amp things Basically the movie makes these kids out to be victims while in reality they are spoiled little brats who need a beating to straighten them out. Not torture, but punishment and accountability for their actions. I could see it coming in the first 10 - 15 minutes of the film. The one and only reason I finished watching it was because I was also hoping for some kind of "realization" by these kids at the end of the film that even though the camp leaders were wrong in what they did, but also that they themselves needed to grow up and be accountable. However I was sorely disappointed. Neither the parents nor the kids, nor the island disciplinarians were heroes in any way shape or form. They were all losers. BEWARE!!! this is a movie made to manipulate your thinking into that "If it feels good, do it, and to hell with any kind of rules and regulations". It also tries to make authority look evil and menacing when in reality we all need rules to live by. If not then you have anarchy and chaos. It makes a mockery of parenting and of parents that do teach their children the difference between right and wrong. I know that giving a film a bad review for being controversial will only make people want to watch it more. That's a shame especially when the controversy involves a film supporting such a theme. But if you want to feel absolutely lousy about how people think things should be in this world (I'm speaking about the makers of this film and a few of the posters on this site) then by all means knock yourself out. But this movie is an atrocity.

In Denver, the rebel Sophie (Mila Kunis) misses her deceased father and hates her stepfather Karl (Serge Houde), pushing him to the edge. After a serious incident with his guests at home, she is sent to the ASAP – Advanced Serenity Achievement Program – a correctional facility in Fiji Island leaded by Norman Hail (Peter Stormare), who self-entitles doctor, to be rehabilitated in a socially acceptable pattern of behavior. She finds a concentration camp without human rights that uses abusive military training techniques to brainwash the offenders. Meanwhile her boyfriend Ben (Gregory Smith) forces a situation at home to be sent to the same boot camp and escape with Sophie. "Boot Camp" explains in the very beginning that is based on a true event; therefore it seems that it really does exist places like the Serenity Camp in the world. The story does not have the intention to discuss whether these boot camps are necessary or not, but to show a specific place directed by an unprepared man with psychological problems that uses torture techniques as if the end could justify the means. A dictatorship with absolute power associated to playing God always generates injustices and corruption and is doomed to fail. The story is entertaining, but some of the teenagers (and parents) depicted in the movie really deserve to be sent to a correctional facility or to a shrink to resolve their issues. My vote is six. Title (Brazil): "A Ilha - Uma Prisão Sem Grades" ("The Island – A Prison Without Bars")