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: Steven Soderbergh Starring: Casey Affleck, Ellen Barkin, Scott Caan, Vincent Cassel, Don Cheadle, George Clooney, Matt Damon, Andy Garcia, Elliott Gould, Eddie Izzard, Eddie Jemison, Bernie Mac, Al Pacino, David Paymer, Brad Pitt, Shaobo Qin, Carl Reiner, Julian Sands Rated: PG-13 for brief sensuality. Parental Notes: This is a fairly straightforward caper film — all talk and scheming, little-to-no violence or sex. There’s some heavy breathing and innuendo in a few scenes, but that’s about it. It will likely go over the heads of youngsters, and it’s innocuous for older kids.
Directed by: Gore Verbinski Starring: Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, Kiera Knightley, Bill Nighy, Geoffrey Rush, Jack Davenport, Naomie Harris Rated: PG-13 for intense sequences of action/adventure violence and some frightening images. Parental Notes: This is definitely PG-13 — there are plenty of scary parts, including one fellow who gets suffocated by tentacles wrapped around his face and shoved into his mouth and nose. However, the combat violence isn’t terribly graphic and it’s more chaotic than anything. Most teens and preteens should be fine, it’s the youngsters you will want to think about before taking.