Directed by: Terry Gilliam Starring: Heath Ledger, Matt Damon, Jonathan Pryce, Peter Stormare, Lena Headey, Monica Bellucci Rated: PG-13 for violence, frightening sequences and brief suggestive material. Parental Notes: This is a strong PG-13 — Terry Gilliam is known for including disturbing elements in his films and this is no exception. Viewers will encounter a pulverized kitten, a living corpse, a horse which swallows children, and plenty of grim fairy tale elements.
Directed by: Wes Craven Starring: Cillian Murphy, Rachel McAdams, Brian Cox Rated: PG-13 for some intense sequences of violence, and language. Parental Notes: This is a solid PG-13 thriller with action, suspense, and good-looking leads. There’s some violence, and while it’s not especially graphic, it is rather creepy in spots. “Red Eye” is probably fine for teens and mature preteens.
Directed by: Paul Provenza Starring: over 100 comedians, including George Carlin, Robin Williams, Chris Rock, Billy Connoly, Whoopi Goldberg, Eric Idle, Carrot Top, and the editorial staff of The Onion. Rated: No rating, but clearly intended for adults. Parental Notes: Parents, take the rating note to heart. This is not a film for kids. Indeed, it’s not a film for teenagers either, unless they are incredibly mature. Setting aside the likelihood of any child who sees this movie to tell their own filthy version of the joke at the most inopportune time, most kids won’t really understand the point of the film, and so it will bore them. This is a grownups movie.
Directed by: Jay Chandrasekhar Starring: Sean Williams Scott, Johnny Knoxville, Willie Nelson, Jessica Simpson, Burt Reynolds Rated: PG-13 for sexual content, crude and drug-related humor, language and comic action violence. Parental Notes: Some parents may have concerns with the racial and sexual humor of the film, but overall it’s a fairly average PG-13 rating. Not too scary for preteens, but maybe too intense (or too racy) for kids under 10.
Directed by: Gary David Goldberg Starring: John Cusack, Diane Lane, Christopher Plummer, Stockard Channing Rated: PG-13 for sexual content. Parental Notes: This is a fairly standard romantic comedy. There’s some bawdy material but nothing graphic. Really, the most damage it might do to your children is give them unrealistic expectations in life.