Written and Directed by: Tony Gilroy Starring: Clive Owen, Julia Roberts, Tom Wilkinson, Paul Giamatti, Denis O’Hare Rated: PG-13 for language and some sexual content. Parental Notes: This is a fairly tame film with mild sexual content and nudity. Young children may find the intricate plot dull, but teens will probably enjoy it.
Directed by: Wayne Kramer Starring: Harrison Ford, Ashley Judd, Ray Liota, Cliff Curtis, Summer Bishil, Alice Braga Rated: R for pervasive language, some strong violence and sexuality/nudity. Parental Notes: This is not a film for children — the violence is sparse but graphic, and the underlying themes are aimed at adults.
Directed by: Zack Snyder Starring: Malin Akerman, Billy Crudup, Matthew Goode, Jackie Earle Haley, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Patrick Wilson, Carla Gugino Rated: R for strong graphic violence, sexuality, nudity and language. Parental Notes: This is not a suitable movie for youngsters. This is a strong R rating and the plot is a very grim one.
Written for the screen and directed by: Henry Selick Starring: Dakota Fanning, Teri Hatcher, Keith David, John Hodgman, Jennifer Saunders, Dawn French, Robert Bailey Jr., Ian McShane Rated: PG for thematic elements, scary images, some language and suggestive humor. Parental Notes: This is essentially a horror movie for kids. Know your child’s limitations, there are some seriously creepy themes and images in the film that may be too intense for younger children.
Directed by: Patrick Tatopoulos Starring: Michael Sheen, Rhona Mitra, Bill Nighy, Steven Mackintosh, Kevin Grevioux Rated: R for bloody violence and some sexuality. Parental Notes: This is not a kids movie. There’s plenty of violence and gore, including graphic scenes of people being beaten with a metal-tipped whip and being cut open with swords.
Directed by: Iain Softley Starring: Brendan Fraser, Eliza Hope Bennett, Paul Bettany, Helen Mirren, Andy Serkis, Rafi Gavron Rated: PG for fantasy adventure action, some scary moments, and brief language Parental Notes: Very young children may find the end sequence, which features a giant monster made of ash clouds and fire, too frightening, but kids who can enjoy the first few Harry Potter movies will be right at home.
Directed By: Edward Zwick Starring: Daniel Craig, Liev Schreiber, Jamie Bell, Alexa Davalos, Jodhi May Rated: R for violence and language. Parental Notes: The violence here is not romanticized or glorified, it is simply there, and given that this is a film about World War II, there is plenty of it. There’s also a shot of a mass grave filled with the dead. This is not a movie for youngsters or the faint of heart, but it would serve as a wonderful jumping-off point for discussions with mature teenagers.
Directed by: Clint Eastwood Starring: Clint Eastwood, Christopher Carley, Bee Vang, Ahney Her Rated: R for language throughout, and some violence. Parental Notes: This is not a film aimed at children. Mature teens may enjoy it, but youngsters should stay home. The violence is not glorified and excessive, but it’s not comfortably cartoonish either.
Written and Directed by: John Patrick Shanley Starring: Philip Seymour Hoffman, Meryl Streep, Amy Adams Rated: PG-13 for thematic material. Parental Notes: Although there’s nothing on screen that might be problematic for young viewers, the subject matter (doubts about whether a priest is assaulting schoolboys) and the overall style of the film are inappropriate for youngsters.
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.