Directed by: Larry and Andy Wachowski
Starring: Emile Hirsch, Christina Ricci, John Goodman, Susan Sarandon
Rated: PG for sequences of action, some violence and language.
Parental Notes: This is a movie aimed squarely at kids. The racing scenes may be a bit intense for very young kids, but kids old enough to watch Saturday morning cartoons should be fine.
Directed by: David Dobkin
Starring: Paul Giamatti, Vince Vaughn, Kevin Spacey, Rachel Weisz
Rated: PG for mild language and some rude humor.
Parental Notes: This is a fair PG film. If you're overly concerned about vulgar humor, you might want to keep your youngsters away, but that's about it.
Directed by: David L. Cunningham
Starring: Alexander Ludwig, Frances Conroy, Ian McShane
Rated: PG for fantasy action and some scary images.
Parental Notes: This film is safe for just about all kids, though those who are passionate fans of the books may want to skip it.
Directed by: Tom Shadyac
Starring: Steve Carell, Lauren Graham, John Goodman, Morgan Freeman
Rated: PG for mild rude humor and some peril.
Parental Notes: Like the ratings note says, this is PG for a little rude humor (bird poop jokes, for example) and some peril (like frightened folks getting taken for a watery ride in the ark), but it's probably fine for all but the littlest ones.
Directed by: Kevin Munroe
Starring: James Arnold Taylor, Mitchell Winfield, Mikey Kelley, Nolan North, Mako, Sarah Michelle Gellar
Rated: PG for animated action violence, some scary cartoon images and mild language.
Parental Notes: This is a solid kids movie. Some very young children may find the martial arts action a bit too much, but there is no gore and the "language" in the rating notes is very mild.
Directed by: Alejandro Agresti
Starring: Sandra Bullock, Keanu Reeves, Christopher Plummer
Rated: PG for some language and a disturbing image.
Parental Notes: This is a fairly innocuous film for preteens and older kids. Young children might be a bit spooked by a sequence early in the film when a man is hit by a bus.
Directed by: Andrew Adamson
Starring: William Moseley, Anna Popplewell, Skandar Keynes, Georgie Henley, Liam Neeson (voice), Tilda Swinton.
Rated: PG for battle sequences and frightening moments.
Parental Notes: Although the violence in the film is not graphic, there are many frightening moments (the bombing of London, battles between armies, the children are chased by wolves, etc.) and the battle sequences are sweeping and intense. This film will likely enchant older children, but preschoolers and Kindergarteners may find it too scary.
Directed by: Tim Burton
Starring: Johnny Depp, Freddie Highmore, David Kelly, Missi Pyle, Deep Roy, Annasophia Robb, Julia Winter, Jordan Fry, Philip Wiegratz
Rated: PG for quirky situations, action and mild language.
Parental Notes: Although some of the events may unsettle very young children, this is overall a great kids' movie. It's a morality tale, where the good are rewarded and the bad are punished, and it's quirky enough to keep that predictability from making it dull. Even better, there's plenty here to make it worth seeing for parents too.
Directed by: Ken Kwapis
Starring: Amber Tamblyn, Alexis Bledel, America Ferrera, Blake Lively, Jenna Boyd, Bradley Whitford, Mike Vogel, Michael Rady
Rated: PG for thematic elements, some sensuality and language
Parental Notes: This is a film aimed squarely at teen and pre-teen girls, and although it has moments to make adults roll their eyes, the girls will almost certainly enjoy it. Fans of the book may be irked by some of the changes but it is largely a spot-on adaptation of the novel.
Directed by: Marilyn Agrelo
Starring: The kids and teachers of P.S. 150, P.S. 115, and P.S. 112 in New York.
Rated: PG for some thematic elements.
Parental Notes: This is a good kids film, provided the kids in question are interested in dancing, New York, or some other element of the film. There’s no action or suspense and nothing objectionable. Indeed, watching how these kids take to ballroom dancing might be an inspiration for kids in the audience to try it.
Directed by: Danny Boyle
Starring: Alex Etel, Lewis McGibbon, James Nesbitt, Daisy Donovan
Rated: PG for thematic elements, language, some peril and mild sensuality
Parental Notes: This is a sweet film for all ages. Youngsters may be a trifle distressed by the villain, who is a menacing fellow, but there's almost no actual violence and the "mild sensuality" of the rating involves the sexual tension between the boys' father and his new girlfriend. We see the two of them wake up in bed together, but nothing explicit.
Directed by: Brad Silberling
Starring: Emily Browning, Liam Aiken, Jim Carrey, Timothy Spall, Meryl Streep, Billy Connolly
Rated: PG for thematic elements, scary situations and brief language.
Parental Notes: Although not all kids will like the film, there’s little here to frighten those over the age of seven or eight.
Directed by: Jon Turtletaub
Starring: Nicholas Cage, Harvey Keitel, Sean Bean, Diane Kruger, Jon Voight, Justin Bartha
Rated: PG for action violence and some scary images.
Parental Notes: This film is fairly innocuous for preteens, with little innuendo and fairly bloodless violence.
originally written for The Milpitas Post
Directed by: Brad Bird
Starring the voices of: Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter, Sarah Vowell, Spencer Fox, Jason Lee, Samuel L. Jackson
Rated: PG for action violence.
Parental Notes: This movie has plenty of things to entertain adults but nothing to make it inappropriate for all but the youngest kids. Some of the action scenes may be a bit too intense for little children, but kids eight and up will almost certainly love it.
Originally written for The Milpitas Post
Directed by: Jean-Jaques Annaud
Starring: Guy Pearce, Jean-Claude Dreyfus, Freddie Highmore, Oanh Nguyen, Vincent Scarito
Rated: PG for mild violence.
Parental Notes: Although young children (and animal lovers) may find some scenes too heart wrenching to watch, this is a good film for anyone who enjoys tigers and doesn't mind putting up with a badly-constructed plot.
Originally written for The Milpitas Post
Directed by: Alfonso Cuaron
Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Gary Oldman, Alan Rickman, David Thewlis
Rated: PG for frightening moments, creature violence and mild language.
Parental Notes: although particularly young children will find some of the sequences far too intense, older children and preteens will doubtless enjoy the film. Be sure to warn your kids that this film is very different from the book, though, or they might be disappointed by the changes from page to screen.
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.
Directed by: Mark S. Waters
Starring: Jamie Lee Curtis, Lindsay Lohan, Mark Harmon, Harold Gould, Chad Murray
Rated: PG for mild thematic elements and some language.
Running Time: 93 min.
Parental Notes: This is a great film for all ages, especially for those who live with a teenager. The film's message - that life isn't easy, no matter what your age, and that your family really does love you, no matter how lame they can be at times - is a good one, and the acting is a delight.
Directed by: Robert Rodriguez
Starring: Alexa Vega, Daryl Sabara, Ricardo Montalban, Robert Vito, Ryan Pinkston, Bobby Edner, Courtney Jines
Rated: PG for action sequences and peril.
Running Time: 89 min.
Parental Notes: Although some sequences may frighten very young children or kids afraid of heights, this film is harmless for kids under 10. Teens and adults, however, may find the cliches, lack of plot, and general incoherence tiresome.
Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Kenneth Brannagh, Alan Rickman, Richard Harris
Directed by: Chris Columbus
Rated: PG for scary moments, some creature violence and mild language.
Parental Notes: There are several scenes which may be too intense for young children, including one which involves hundreds of giant spiders. However, children who are fans of the books will no doubt be thrilled.
Directed by: George Lucas
Stars: Hayden Christensen, Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, Christopher Lee
Rated: PG for action/violence
Notes for Parents: Like the other Star Wars films, this is a kid-friendly action flick. Although younger children might find the aliens too frightening and the action sequences too intense, older kids and teens will probably like it.
Rated: PG
Director: Carlos Saldanha and Chris Wedge
Starring: Raymond Romano, Denis Leary, John Leguizamo, Jack Black
Parental Notes: This film contains Roadrunner-and-Coyote style violence in small doses, and several intense sequences which might upset younger children.