Directed by: Zack Snyder Starring: Gerard Butler, Lena Headey, David Wenham, Rodrigo Santoro Rated: R for graphic battle sequences throughout, some sexuality and nudity. Parental Notes: This is a hugely over-the-top film with oodles of graphic violence and one fairly intense sex scene. It’s all very cartoonish, though, so it may be just fine for some teens.
Directed by: Liam Lynch Starring: Jack Black, Kyle Gass, Jason Reed Rated: R for pervasive language, sexual content and drug use. Parental Notes: This is an over-the-top film full of foul language and heavy metal insanity. A head explodes on screen, a main character uses his erection as a tool, and there is plenty of sexually-themed profanity and pot smoking.
Adapted/Directed by: Ryan Murphy Starring: Annette Benning, Brian Cox, Joseph Cross, Joseph Fiennes, Alec Baldwin, Gwyneth Paltrow, Evan Rachel Wood, Jill Clayburgh Rated: R for strong language and elements of sexuality, violence and substance abuse. Parental Notes: This isn’t a terribly strong R, but it does deserve the rating. It’s not graphic but the emotional violence makes it unsuitable for youngsters.
Directed by:Martin Scorsese Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Jack Nicholson, Matt Damon, Alec Baldwin Rated: R for strong brutal violence, pervasive language, some strong sexual content and drug material. Parental Notes: There’s violence and language aplenty here, as well as drug content and some sex. The violence is frequently cruel and brutal, as well as graphic. This is not a movie for youngsters at all.
Written and Directed by: Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor Starring: Jason Statham, Amy Smart, Efren Ramirez, Jose Pablo Cantillo, Dwight Yoakam Rated: R for strong violence, pervasive language, sexuality, nudity and drug use. Parental Notes: Teenagers will likely enjoy this madhouse of action, but parents may be concerned about the irreverence and casual public sex and drug use in the film.
Directed by: David R. Ellis Starring: Samuel L. Jackson, Julianna Margulies, Nathan Phillips Rated: R for language, a scene of sexuality and drug use, and intense sequences of terror and violence. Parental Notes: This is a fine movie for teens and mature preteens, provided they can handle aggressive snakes and people dying somewhat gruesomely from snakebite. It’s not a good movie for youngsters.
Written and Directed by: Kevin Smith Starring: Brian O’Halloran, Jeff Anderson, Rosario Dawson, Jason Mewes, Kevin Smith, Trevor Fehrman, Jennifer Schwalbach Smith Rated: Rated R for pervasive sexual and crude content including aberrant sexuality, strong language and some drug material. Parental Notes: This is not a kids movie. Sure, Kevin Smith is a funny guy, but this takes the vulgarity of the original “Clerks” and pushes it to the next level. There’s discussion of various outrageous sex acts and a scene including bestiality. Mature teens can probably handle it, but this is a movie for grownups.
Directed by: Pierre Morel Starring: David Belle, Cyril Rafaelli, Larbi Naceri, Dani Verissimo Rated: R for strong violence, some drug content and language. Parental Notes: This is an action movie with minimal gore, but there is plenty of fighting, gunplay, and some blood. It’s a soft R but more intense than a PG-13.
Directed by: James Gunn Starring: Nathan Fillion, Michael Rooker, Elizabeth Banks Rated: R for strong horror violence and gore, and language. Parental Notes: This is definitely an R-rated horror movie; while it does have quite a bit of humor, it also has people exploding, heads being destroyed, and other unpleasantness. This is not a kid flick.
Directed by: Spike Lee Starring: Denzel Washington, Clive Owen, Jodie Foster, Willem Dafoe Rated: R for language and some violent images. Parental Notes: This is not a movie for kids. There is plenty of violence and language, not to mention the frightening aspects of the hostage storyline. Moreover, it’s not a movie aimed at youngsters. Teens may enjoy it, particularly if they have a fondness for heist films or are politically savvy.