Directed by: Sam Raimi Starring: Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, Alfred Molina Rated: PG-13 for stylized action violence. Parental Notes: Although youngsters may find much of the film too intense, preteens and teens will doubtless have a good time if they’re Spider-Man fans.
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: Frank Oz Starring: Nicole Kidman, Matthew Broderick, Bette Midler, Glenn Close, Christopher Walken, Roger Bart, Jon Lovitz. Rated: PG-13 for sexual content, thematic material and language. Parental Notes: Much of the humor here will be over the heads of youngsters, but teens with an ear for social satire will doubtless love it.
Originally written for The Milpitas Post Directed and written by: David Twohy Starring: Vin Diesel, Colm Feore, Thandie Newton, Judi Dench, Karl Urban, Alexa Davalos, Linus Roache Rated: PG-13 for intense sequences of violent action and some language. Parental Notes: Although some sequences, such as a man burning to death in superheated air, will definitely be too intense for youngsters, mature preteens and teens should be fine. The violence is fairly bloodless and without gruesome sound effects and there’s virtually no sensuality.
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.
Originally written for The Milpitas Post Directed by: Roland Emmerich Starring: Dennis Quaid, Jake Gyllenhaal, Sela Ward, Emmy Rossum, Dash Mihok, Ian Holm Rated: PG-13 for intense situations of peril. Parental Notes: Although some of the perilous situations may be a bit much for youngsters, this isn’t a particularly gruesome movie. There are shots of people frozen to death and other deaths, but they’re fairly bloodless.
Originally written for The Milpitas Post Directed by: Wolfgang Petersen Starring: Brad Pitt, Eric Bana, Orlando Bloom, Brian Cox, Brendan Gleeson, Peter O’Toole Rated: R for graphic violence and some sexuality/nudity. Parental Notes: This is not a movie for little kids – in spite of the comparative lack of disgusting gore, there are still impalings, decapitations, and other sword-injuries galore. Teens with a taste for swordfights and epic battles will enjoy it, and may even be motivated to check out the source material.
Originally written for The Milpitas Post Directed by: Steven Sommers Starring: Hugh Jackman, Kate Beckinsale, Richard Roxburgh, David Wenham, Shuler Hensley, Kevin J. O’Connor Rated: Rated PG-13 for nonstop creature action violence and frightening images, and for sensuality. Parental Notes: Although the monster action is indeed nonstop, this is an innocuous movie for teens and preteens. It’s not overly gross and although there’s sensuality, it’s not excessive.
Originally written for The Milpitas Post Directed by: Barry Levinson Starring: Ben Stiller, Jack Black, Rachel Weisz, Amy Poehler, Christopher Walken Rated: PG-13 for language and sexual/crude humor. Parental Notes: Teens will probably find this somewhat over-the-top tale of the infamous emotion and its effects amusing. It’s a bit raunchy for younger kids, but not terribly so.
Originally Published In: The Milpitas Post Directed by: Peter Howitt Starring: Julianne Moore, Pierce Brosnan, Parker Posey, Michael Sheen Rated: PG-13 for sexual content and language. Parental Notes: This light romantic comedy is fine for teens but will probably bore youngsters.