Originally written for The Milpitas Post Directed by: Tim Burton Starring: Ewan McGregor, Albert Finney, Billy Crudup, Jessica Lange, Helena Bonham Carter, Marion Cotillard Rated: PG-13 for a fight scene, some images of nudity and a suggestive reference. Parental Notes: This is a good film for almost any age, although young children may find parts of it too intense.
Directed by: John Hamburg Starring: Ben Stiller, Jennifer Aniston, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Debra Messing Rated: PG-13 for sexual content, language, crude humor and some drug references. Parental Notes: There’s plenty of toilet humor here, but not much else objectionable for the preteen or teen set.
Originally written for The Milpitas Post Directed by: John Woo Starring: Ben Affleck, Uma Thurman, Aaron Eckhart, Paul Giamatti Rated: PG-13 for intense action violence and brief language Parental Notes: This is a solid sci-fi thriller, and may be too intense for youngsters. There are plenty of action sequences, and while not bloody they are certainly intense.
Directed by: Tim Burton Starring: Ewan McGregor, Albert Finney, Billy Crudup, Jessica Lange, Helena Bonham Carter, Marion Cotillard Rated: PG-13 for a fight scene, some images of nudity and a suggestive reference. Parental Notes: This is a good film for almost any age, although young children may find parts of it too intense.
Written and Directed by: Nancy Meyers Starring: Diane Keaton, Jack Nicholson, Amanda Peet, Keanu Reeves, Frances McDormand Rated: PG-13 for sexual content, brief nudity and strong language Parental Notes: youngsters probably won’t get this movie, but it might be educational for teens to see that older people really do have feelings and can fall in love. Mature teens with a good sense of humor will probably enjoy it, even if they can’t identify with most of the characters.
Directed by: Peter Jackson Starring: Elijah Wood, Sean Astin, Ian McKellan, Viggo Mortensen, Dominic Monaghan, Billy Boyd, Andy Serkis, and a cast of thousands. Rated: Rated PG-13 for intense epic battle sequences and frightening images. Parental Notes: Teens and preteens who enjoyed the previous films will definitely want to see this final installment. Many children may find the battle sequences too intense, for while they aren’t particularly gory they are visually and audibly overwhelming at times.
Directed by: Edward Zwick Starring: Ken Watanabe, Tom Cruise, Billy Connolly, Tony Goldwyn, Koyuki, Shin Koyamada, Scichinosuke Nakamura, Hiroyuki Sanada Rated: R for strong violence and battle sequences. Parental Notes: This is an intensely violent film at times, although not as gory as some slasher flicks. Both its intensity and its main themes make it unsuitable for youngsters, although teens with an interest in military or samurai films may enjoy it.
Directed by: Rob Minkoff Starring: Eddie Murphy, Marsha Thomason, Nathaniel Parker, Terrence Stamp Rated: PG for frightening images, thematic elements and language. Parental Notes: This is a fun spooky movie for kids. Very young children will likely find the spiders, animated skeletons, ghosts, and tastefully filmed suicides too frightening, but kids who love the Disney ride will enjoy this film.
Starring: Russell Crowe, Paul Bettany Directed by: Peter Weir Rated: PG-13 for intense battle sequences, related images, and brief language. Parental Notes: Youngsters may find the battle sequences and medical procedures shown in the film too intense; there is plenty of attention to realism here. Teens looking for some brains with their brawn will likely enjoy it.
Directed by: Larry and Andy Wachowski Starring: Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, Hugo Weaving, Lawrence Fishbourne, Collin Chou, Nona Gaye, Nathaniel Lees Rated: R for sci-fi violence and brief sexual content Parental Notes: Like the other films in the trilogy, this includes a great deal of violence, both unrealistic and visceral. Youngsters will find it too intense, but those teens who enjoyed the other films in the trilogy will probably like it.