The Bank Job

Directed by: Roger Donaldson Starring: Jason Statham, Saffron Burrows, Richard Lintern Rated: R Parental Notes: This is not a kids movie (plenty of nudity/sensuality and a bit of violence and kinkiness for good measure) though teens may enjoy it.

Untraceable

Directed by: Gregory Hoblit Starring: Diane Lane, Billy Burke, Colin Hanks, Joseph Cross Rated: R for grisly violence and torture, and some language. Parental Notes: The R rating is well-deserved. The deaths in this film are protracted and gruesome, making the film not for impressionable youngsters.

The Bucket List

Directed by: Rob Reiner Starring: Jack Nicholson, Morgan Freeman, Sean Hayes, Beverly Todd, Rob Morrow Rated: PG-13 for language, including a sexual reference. Parental Notes: In terms of violence and sexuality, this is a very low-key film. It does have some gentle deaths in it and the whole terminal-illness thing, plus some language, but that’s about it.

The Seeker: The Dark Is Rising

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.

Balls of Fury

Directed by: Ben Garant Starring: Dan Fogler, George Lopez, Christopher Walken, Maggie Q, James Hong Rated: PG-13 for crude and sex-related humor, and for language. Parental Notes: This is a fairly standard PG-13 comedy full of crude humor. Nothing unusually awful by Hollywood standards, but certainly not intellectual fare.

War

Directed by: Philip G. Atwell Starring: Jason Statham, Jet Li, Devon Aoki Rated: R for sequences of strong bloody violence, sexuality/nudity and language. Parental Notes: This mediocre film is very violent, with nudity and sexuality sprinkled throughout. Not one for the kiddies.

Arthur and the Invisibles

Directed by: Luc Besson Starring: Freddie Highmore, Madonna, Jimmy Fallon, Mia Farrow Rated: PG Parental Notes: This is a fairly innocuous kids movie. It has some flaws and very little character development, but should be entertaining for kids who just want to see a new fantasy Adults may want to skip it.

Eragon

Directed by: Stefan Fangmeier Starring: Edward Speleers, Jeremy Irons, John Malkovich, Sienna Guilory, Robert Carlyle Rated: PG for fantasy violence, intense battle sequences and some frightening images. Parental Notes: This is a fairly standard PG movie — the violence is not very graphic and there is no language or nudity. The battle sequences may be a bit intense for the very young.

Man of the Year

Written and Directed by: Barry Levinson Starring: Robin Williams, Christopher Walken, Laura Linney, Lewis Black, Jeff Goldblum Rated: PG-13 for language including some crude sexual references, drug related material, and brief violence. Parental Notes: This is a fairly innocuous film for teens and mature preteens, but youngsters may be frightened by the thriller plot line.

Pulse

Directed by: Jim Sonzero Starring: Kristen Bell, Ian Somerhalder, Christina Milian, Rick Gonzalez, Jonathan Tucker, Rated: PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi terror, disturbing images, language, sensuality and thematic material. Parental Notes: This is probably too spooky a film for youngsters, but teens and mature preteens will likely get a kick out of it if they like scary movies.