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.
Directed by: Katja von Garnier Starring: Agnes Bruckner, Hugh Dancy, Olivier Martinez Rated: PG-13 for violence/terror, some sexuality and substance abuse. Parental Notes: This is a fair PG-13 movie. The substance abuse consists of drinking absinthe. The violence is not overly graphic (you can tell what is happening, but it’s not gratuitous).
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.
Directed by: Martin Campbell Starring: Daniel Craig, Eva Green, Mads Mikkelsen, Judi Dench Rated: PG-13 for intense sequences of violent action, a scene of torture, sexual content and nudity. Parental Notes: That this movie is rated PG-13 highlights the idiocy of the MPAA. The torture scene involves a man’s genitals being beaten with a large rope while he screams in agony. This is not appropriate for youngsters.
Directed by: Mark Forster Starring: Will Ferrell, Emma Thompson, Queen Latifah, Dustin Hoffman Rated: PG-13 for some disturbing images, sexuality, brief language and nudity. Parental Notes: This is an interesting, thought-provoking film which teens and preteens may well find fascinating. It is a solid PG-13, which makes it unsuitable for youngsters.
Directed by: Christopher Nolan Starring: Hugh Jackman, Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Scarlett Johansson, Rebecca Hall, David Bowie Rated: PG-13 for violence and disturbing images. Parental Notes: This is not a film for youngsters — they will likely be both confused and frightened. Teens with an interest in magic and in films that have plenty of plot twists will probably enjoy it.
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.
Directed by: Todd Phillips Starring: Billy Bob Thornton, Jon Heder, Jacinda Barrett, Matt Walsh, Horatio Sanz, Todd Louiso Rated: PG-13 for language, crude and sexual content, and some violence. Parental Notes: This is a safe movie for teens and mature preteens, though offhand mentions of rape may make it inappropriate for some.
Written and Directed by: Neil Burger Starring: Edward Norton, Jessica Biel, Paul Giamatti, Rufus Sewel Rated: PG-13 for some sexuality and violence. Parental Notes: Fine for teens and most preteens; neither the violence nor the sexuality is very graphic.