Starring: Sandra Bullock, Ryan Reynolds, Mary Steenburgen, Craig T. Nelson, Betty White Directed by: Anne Fletcher Rated: PG-13 for sexual content, nudity and language. Parental Notes: This is a pretty standard PG-13 romantic comedy. The nudity is comedic and the sexual content is minimal.
Directed by: Tony Scott Starring: Denzel Washington, John Travolta, John Turturro, Luis Guzman, James Gandolfini Rated: R for violence and pervasive language. Parental Notes: There’s lots of swearing here, and a fair bit of violence. Not suitable for youngsters, but fine for teens and mature preteens, provided the language isn’t a problem for you.
Directed by: Tod Phillips Starring: Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zack Galifianakis, Justin Bartha, Heather Graham Rated: R for pervasive language, sexual content including nudity, and some drug material. Parental Note: This is not a film for kids. It’s gleefully vulgar and packed with adults behaving badly.
Directed by: Sam Raimi Starring: Alison Lohman, Justin Long, Lorna Raver, Dileep Rao, David Paymer Rated: PG-13 for sequences of horror violence, terror, disturbing images and language. Parental Notes: This is not for kids who can’t handle scary movies. There’s plenty of disgusting and startling stuff here, monsters and demons and all of that. Teens may enjoy it, but youngsters prone to nightmares should be kept home.
Directed by: Ron Howard Starring: Tom Hanks, Ayelet Zurer, Ewan McGregor, Stellan Skarsgard, Armin Mueller-Stahl Rated: PG-13 for sequences of violence, disturbing images, and thematic material. Parental Notes: The violence in this film makes it unsuitable for most youngsters. There’s some fairly antiseptic gunplay, but the film also includes people being burned alive and old men branded across the chest.
Directed by: J. J. Abrams Starring Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Karl Urban, Eric Bana Rated: PG-13 for sci-fi action and violence, and brief sexual content. Parental Notes: This is the first Star Trek film to be rated PG-13, and it’s a deserved rating. Parts of this film will likely be too intense for sensitive youngsters, but the violence isn’t particularly graphic.
Directed by: Gavin Hood Starring: Hugh Jackman, Liev Schreiber, Danny Huston, Lynn Collins, Ryan Reynolds Rated: PG-13 for intense sequences of action and violence, and some partial nudity. Parental Notes: This is a fairly average PG-13. The violence is mostly cartoonish rather than graphically bloody.
Directed by: Joe Wright Starring: Jamie Foxx, Robert Downey Jr., Catherine Keener Rated: PG-13 for thematic elements, some drug use and language. Parental Notes: This is a thoughtful film, and occasionally disturbing. It’s aimed at mature viewers, so while it doesn’t contain much in the way of disturbing content, youngsters will likely find it boring.
Written and Directed by: Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor Starring: Jason Statham, Amy Smart, Dwight Yoakam, Efren Ramirez, Art Hsu Rated: R for frenetic strong bloody violence throughout, crude and graphic sexual content, nudity and pervasive language. Parental Notes: To say this film is not appropriate for children is an understatement. Teens will likely enjoy the frenetic action, but parents may find the content problematic.
Directed by: Justin Lin Starring: Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Jordana Brewster, Michelle Rodriguez, John Ortiz, Laz Alonso, Gal Gadot Rated: PG-13 for for intense sequences of violence and action, some sexual content, language and drug references. Parental Notes: The trailers give a good sense of the film. The violence isn’t particularly bloody or graphic, the sexual content is largely restricted to kissing, groping, and dancing, and the drug references are mild.