Directed by: Jim Sonzero Starring: Kristen Bell, Ian Somerhalder, Christina Milian, Rick Gonzalez, Jonathan Tucker, Rated: PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi terror, disturbing images, language, sensuality and thematic material. Parental Notes: This is probably too spooky a film for youngsters, but teens and mature preteens will likely get a kick out of it if they like scary movies.
Directed by: David Frankel Starring: Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, Stanley Tucci Rated: PG-13 for some sensuality. Parental Notes: This is a good movie for teens, especially those who have jobs. Preteens may enjoy it as well. There is very little in the way of language or sex, and then sensuality mentioned in the rating is very minor. The only questionable content is the incredibly thin actresses splattered all over the screen.
Directed by: Gore Verbinski Starring: Johnny Depp, Keira Knightley, Orlando Bloom, Jonathan Pryce, Bill Nighy, Rated: PG-13 for intense sequences of adventure violence, including frightening images. Parental Notes: As with the first film, this is not a movie for youngsters. The bad guys are scary monsters, and there’s plenty of icky stuff on screen — crows going after corpses, people falling to their deaths as a ship is pulled in half by a giant monster, and so on. Preteens and teens will likely be fine, but the pre-school crowd is best left at home and you should probably think twice before taking elementary students.
Directed by: Bryan Singer Starring: Brandon Routh, Kate Bosworth, James Marsden, Kevin Spacey Rated: PG-13 for some intense action violence. Parental Notes: For the most part, this is a very comic-book film, with cartoonish violence that should be fine for most kids. However, there is a sequence near the end in which Luthor gets the best of Superman and nearly kills him, which is quite unpleasant and which may be too intense for some youngsters.
Directed by: Justin Lin Starring: Lucas Black, Sung Kang, Brian Tee, Nathalie Kelley Rated: PG-13 for reckless and illegal behavior involving teens, violence, language and sexual content. Parental Notes: This is a fairly innocuous film aside from the over-the-top racing. Provided you trust your preteen or teen not to be overly influenced to take up street racing, this should be a fine film for them.
Directed by: Brett Ratner Starring: Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart, Sir Ian McKellan, Halle Berry, Famke Janssen, Anna Paquin, James Marsden Rated: PG-13 for intense sequences of action violence, some sexual content and language. Parental Notes: This film is in the same vein as the other two; there’s a lot of thrilling comic-book violence, minor sexual content and language, and a good bit of melodrama. There’s very little gore or graphic content.
Directed by: Paul Weitz Starring: Hugh Grant, Mandy Moore, Sam Golzari, Dennis Quaid Willem Dafoe. Rated: PG-13 for brief strong language and some sexual references. Parental Notes: This is a fairly safe movie for preteens and teens. The sexual references are fairly tame and the strong language is sparingly used.
Directed by: Liz Friedlander Starring: Antonio Banderas, Rob Brown, Alfre Woodard, Yaya DaCosta Rated: PG-13 for thematic material, language and some violence. Parental notes: This is an accurately rated film. It’s not aimed at the Kindergarten-and-younger set, and they probably wouldn’t enjoy it. Teens and preteens are likely to have a good time, though, especially if they’re interested in dancing.
Written and Directed by: Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer Starring: Alyson Hannigan, Adam Campbell, Sophie Monk, Eddie Griffin, Tony Cox, Fred Willard, Jennifer Coolidge Rated: PG-13 for continuous crude and sexual humor, including language. Parental Notes: This is a very crude film, and while it’s rated PG-13 some parents may not be comforatble with their children seeing it.
Directed by: Richard Loncraine Starring: Harrison Ford, Virginia Madsen, Paul Bettany, Jimmy Bennett, Carly Schroeder Rated: PG-13 for some intense sequences of violence. Parental Notes: The violence in the film is sporadic but sufficiently graphic to be too intense for most youngsters. The children-in-peril situation and the home invasion scenes may also be too intense for young children. Mature preteens and teenagers will probably be fine.