Directed by: Mark Steven Johnson Starring: Ben Affleck, Jennifer Garner, Michael Clarke Duncan, Colin Farrell, Jon Favreau, Joe Pantoliano Rated: PG-13 for action/violence and some sensuality Parental Notes: This is a typical dark-comic-book movie, with a hefty dollop of bone-crunching sound effects and over-the-top violence. Teenagers with a taste for comics will probably adore it, but it might be too intense for preteens and younger children.
Starring: Elijah Wood, Sean Astin, Billy Boyd, Dominic Monaghan, Orlando Bloom, Viggo Mortensen, Ian McKellan, John Rhys-Davies, Miranda Otto, Karl Urban, Bernard Hill, Andy Serkis, David Wenham, Brad Dourif Directed by: Peter Jackson Rated: PG-13 Parental Notes: Although the violence in “The Two Towers” is not particularly graphic, it is too intense for young children. However, fantasy-minded preteens and teens will no doubt enjoy it.
Starring: Pierce Brosnan, Halle Berry, Toby Stephens, Rick Yune, Rosamund Pike Directed By: Lee Tamahori Rated: PG-13 for action violence and sexuality. Parental Notes: This film is probably too intense for younger teens, but will no doubt be popular with older kids.
Starring: Jason Statham, Qi Shu, Matt Schulze Directed by: Corey Yuen Rated: PG-13 for violent sequences and some sensuality. Parental Notes: Although “The Transporter” is a fairly bloodless film, it is quite violent. Younger teens may find it too intense but older ones will probably love it.
Directed by: Andrew Niccol Starring: Al Pacino, Catherine Keener, Jason Schwartzman Rated: PG-13 for some sensuality Parental Notes: “Simone” is a film that will probably go over the heads of youngsters, but older teens may appreciate its mockery of the Hollywood machine.
Directed by: M. Night Shyamalan Starring: Mel Gibson, Joaquin Phoenix, Abigail Breslin, Rory Culkin, Cherry Jones Rated: PG-13 for some frightening moments Parental Notes: “Signs” is aimed at the adult crowd, and more mature teens may enjoy it. Youngsters will likely find it alternately dull and terrifying, as some of the more suspenseful scenes are quite intense.
Directed by: Ellory Elkayem Starring: David Arquette, Kari Wuhrer, Scott Terra, Scarlett Johannson, Leon Rippy Rated: PG-13, for sci-fi violence, brief sexuality and language. Parental Notes: There’s not much here to distress parents of older preteens and teenagers. Some sequences may be frightening to small children, but the violence is mostly cartoonish rather than truly frightening.
Stars: Tommy Lee Jones, Will Smith, Lara Flynn Boyle Director: Barry Sonnenfeld Rated: PG-13 for sci-fi action violence and some provocative humor. Parental Notes: Like the first film, “Men in Black II” is primarily aimed at teens and sci-fi fans. Younger children may find some sequences too intense, but the violence is very cartoonish and completely lacking in gore.
Stars: Tom Cruise, Max von Sydow, Samantha Morton, Colin Farrell Directed by: Steven Spielberg Rated: PG-13 for violence, brief language, some sexuality and drug content. Parental Notes: This film contains some scenes that children and younger teens will likely find far too intense to watch, in particular a scene in which a character’s eyes are removed surgically (mostly off-screen).
Director: Sam Raimi Stars: Tobey McGuire, Willem Dafoe, Kirsten Dunst Rated: PG-13 (stylized violence and action) Notes for Parents: “Spider-man” is filled with mostly cartoonish violence and thrills, but there are several moments which may be too intense for youngsters. It’s chiefly appropriate for mature pre-teens and teens.