Directed by: Richard Curtis Starring: Bill Nighy, Colin Firth, Liam Neeson, Emma Thompson, Keira Knightley, Hugh Grant, Martine McCutcheon, Laura Linney, Thomas Sangster, Alan Rickman Rated: R for sexuality, nudity and language. Parental Notes: This is a sweet and charming film, but not one free of sorrow. Teens and mature preteens with a taste for romance will like it, but other young folk will likely find it dull. If you and your children enjoyed Curtis’ other films, this one is a good bet.
Directed by: Quentin Tarantino Starring: Uma Thurman, Lucy Liu, David Carradine, Vivica A. Fox, Daryl Hannah, Sonny Chiba Rated: R for strong bloody violence, language and some sexual content. Parental notes: Hyper-violent, full of distressing images, and barrels of gore, this is not a movie for the weak-stomached and definitely too intense for younger teens. It’s probably too intense for some adults, too.
Directed by: Don Coscarelli Starring: Bruce Campbell, Ossie Davis, Bob Ivy Rated: R for language, some sexual content and brief violent images. Parental Notes: This is a strange film. Teens who love Campbell’s work will doubtless enjoy it, but those without an odd sense of humor and a strong appreciation of adult themes will find it disappointing.
Directed by: Brian Helgeland Starring: Heath Ledger, Shannyn Sossamon, Benno F
Directed by: Robert Rodriguez Starring: Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek, Willem Dafoe, Mickey Rourke, Enrique Iglesias Rated: Rated R for strong violence, and for language. Parental Notes: Teens who loved “Desperado” may find “Once Upon a Time in Mexico” a bit of a disappointment but it’s a fine film for teens and above. Numerous blood-spattering gunfights and some disturbing special effects make it too intense for younger children.
Directed by: Len Wiseman Starring: Kate Beckinsale, Scott Speedman, Shane Brolly, Michael Sheen, Bill Nighy Rated: R for strong violence/gore and some language. Parental Notes: Although “Underworld” is neither as violent nor as gory as it could be, it is still likely too intense for preteens. Teenagers who like vampire and werewolf stories will probably love it.
Directed by: the Wachowski Brothers Starring: Keanu Reeves, Lawrence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss, Hugo Weaving Rated: R for sci-fi violence and some sexuality. Parental Notes: Although most of the violence here is comparatively bloodless, this film deserves its R rating and may be too intense for youngsters. Teens who liked the first “Matrix” film will doubtless enjoy it.
Directed by: Spike Jonze Starring: Nicholas Cage, Meryl Streep, Chris Cooper Rated: Rated R for language, sexuality, some drug use and violent images. Parental Notes: This is a strange and at times violent film which younger teens will have difficulty understanding and young children will likely find too intense when they’re not utterly confused.
Directed by: Martin Scorsese Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Daniel Day-Lewis, Cameron Diaz, Jim Broadbent Rated: R Parental Notes: Suitable for mature teens only due to violent content and mature themes.
Starring: Barry Pepper, Vin Diesel, Seth Green, Andrew Davoli, John Malkovich, Dennis Hopper, Tom Noonan Directed by: Brian Koppelman and David Levien Rated: R for violence, language and some drug use. Parental Notes: “Knockaround Guys” may look like a comedy from the trailers but it has a number of intense sequences inappropriate for younger teens.