December 31, 2008
The Spirit
Directed by:Frank Miller
Starring: Gabriel Macht, Samuel L. Jackson, Scarlett Johanson, Eva Mendes,
Rated: PG-13 for intense sequences of stylized violence and action, some sexual content, and brief nudity.
Parental Notes: This film is so highly stylized that the violence (and nudity/sexual content) is mostly cartoonish and unreal. There are, however, a few gruesome (if bloodless) shots, so sensitive or young kids should probably be left at home.
December 21, 2008
Yes Man
Directed by: Peyton Reed
Starring: Jim Carrey, Zooey Deschanel
Rated: PG-13 for crude sexual humor, language and brief nudity.
Parental Notes: This is a pretty standard PG-13, though a sequence in which our hero must say "yes" to an oversexed senior citizen may have some parents squirming.
December 15, 2008
Frost/Nixon
Directed by: Ron Howard
Starring: Frank Langella, Michael Sheen, Matthew McFayden, Oliver Platt, Sam Rockwell, Kevin Bacon
Rated: R for some language
Parental Notes: Most youngsters will probably be bored by this talk-heavy film, though there's little objectionable here -- very little violence (some footage of American involvement in Vietnam and Cambodia) and even less sexual content. Teens with interest in politics should definitely check it out, though -- ideally with their parents. This film would make a great starting point for a discussion of the ramifications of Watergate.
December 01, 2008
Transporter 3
Directed by: Olivier Megaton
Starring: Jason Statham, Natalya Rudakova, François Berléand, Robert Knepper
Rated: PG-13 for sequences of intense action and violence, and some sexual content and drug material.
Parental Notes: This is a pretty standard PG-13 film. The violence is cartoonish and not particularly bloody, the sexual content is mild, and the drug material consists of a couple unnamed pills and some vodka.
November 23, 2008
Twilight
Directed by: Catherine Hardwicke
Starring: Robert Pattison, Kristen Stewart, Billy Burke
Rated: PG-13 for some violence and a scene of sensuality.
Parental Notes: The scene of sensuality is pretty mild, it's a makeout session cut off by Edward's fear he is about to lose control and bite Bella. The violence is brief and not graphic or particularly realistic.
Posted November 23, 2008 | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
November 17, 2008
Quantum of Solace
Directed by: Marc Forster
Starring: Daniel Craig, Olga Kurylenko, Mathieu Almaric, Judi Dench
Rated: PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, and some sexual content.
Parental Notes: This is a solid PG-13. The sexual content is not graphic and the violence, while pervasive, is not gory or gratuitous.
November 10, 2008
Zack and Miri Make A Porno
Written and Directed by: Kevin Smith
Starring: Seth Rogan, Elizabeth Banks, Traci Lords, Jason Mewes, Craig Robinson
Rated: R on appeal for strong crude sexual content including dialogue, graphic nudity and pervasive language.
Parental Notes: This is a film about a group of people making a pornographic movie. It contains frank discussions of sex, lots of graphic nudity, and some very, very dirty humor. It was re-edited to receive an R rating instead of the original NC-17.
Changeling
Directed by: Clint Eastwood
Starring: Angelina Jolie, John Malkovich, Jeffrey Donovan, Colm Feore
Rated: R for some violent and disturbing content, and language.
Parental Notes: This is a film aimed squarely at adults. There is some nastiness involving missing and murdered children which, while not graphic, renders the film unsuitable for youngsters -- but children of that age would probably find the movie boring anyway.
Pride and Glory
Directed by: Gavin O'Connor
Starring: Edward Norton, Colin Farrell, Jon Voight, Noah Emmerich
Rated: R for strong violence, pervasive language and brief drug content.
Parental Notes: This film deserves its rating. The violence is nasty and dark, and while it's not always graphic on screen, we're given enough to have vivid images in our minds.
Posted November 10, 2008 | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
October 20, 2008
Appaloosa
Directed by: Ed Harris
Starring: Ed Harris, Viggo Mortensen, Renée Zellweger
Rated: R for some violence and language.
Parental Notes: This is a very mild R, and I suspect it got that rating because of a sequence in which two naked people are seen from a distance, from behind, rather than because of a few instances of swearing and a couple of brief gunfights. Should be fine for mature preteens and teenagers.