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Family movie guide
By Times staff
© St. Petersburg Times
published April 11, 2002
The Family Movie Guide should be used along with the Motion Picture Association of America rating system for selecting movies suitable for children. Only films rated G, PG or PG-13 are included in this weekly listing, along with occasional R-rated films that may have entertainment or educational value for older children with parental guidance. Compiled by St. Petersburg Times film critic Steve Persall.
RECOMMENDED
E.T. the Extra-terrestrial
(PG) -- Steven Spielberg's movie was great family entertainment even before he cleaned up some of the material for a 20th anniversary re-release. Spielberg erased the guns held by the bad guys chasing E.T. and replaced them with walkie-talkies. Some tense moments, but most viewers know the happy ending by now.
Ice Age
(PG) -- Fox Animation Studios does a decent Disney impersonation with an animated tale about prehistoric creatures returning a lost human child to her family. No profanity, nudity or sexual content. Some brief, crude toilet humor and moments of mild tension to make young viewers squirm.
The Rookie
(G) -- Fact-based tale of a middle-age baseball coach making it to the major leagues (or at least the Rays). Nothing objectionable, making this one of the most mature G-rated films since My Dog Skip. Good lessons about reaching for dreams for impressionable children, especially sports fans.
RECOMMENDED WITH RESERVATIONS
The Time Machine
(PG-13) -- H.G. Wells' science fiction tale of a time-traveling inventor gets a state-of-the-art makeover. No profanity, nudity or sex, but the violent, ghoulish Morlocks may induce a few nightmares. The violence isn't graphic, but it's alarming at times.
NOT RECOMMENDED
A Beautiful Mind
(PG-13) -- Russell Crowe (Gladiator) shines in a biography of John Forbes Nash, a mathematician who could figure out anything except his schizophrenic psyche. Director Ron Howard's film deals with mature themes of mental illness and government intrigue that won't interest many small children. Moderate profanity, flashes of violence and brief sensuality also make this one for adults only.
Big Trouble
(PG-13) -- Dave Barry's comic novel of gunrunners and gangsters in Miami gets the big-screen treatment. Tim Allen, Rene Russo and Janeane Garofalo co-star. Moderate profanity and crude humor, much of it relating to sexual matters. The film's original release date was postponed after the events of Sept. 11 because of a subplot involving an airline hijacking.
High Crimes
(PG-13) -- Kiss the Girls co-stars Morgan Freeman and Ashley Judd are reunited in this military mystery. She's the wife of an officer accused of murder, and he's the investigator trying to prove the defendant's innocence. Moderate profanity, occasional bursts of violence and a bit of sexual heat, plus the mature plot, make this a dubious choice for children.
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
(PG-13) -- The boundaries of PG-13 violence are shattered by Peter Jackson's elaborate adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's literary adventure. The battle for control of Middle-earth features bloody battles, decapitations, impalings and bone-bashings. It doesn't make a difference that they usually happen to fantasy creatures rather than people. Mild sensuality, mature themes and a three-hour running time that may numb small children.
The Other Side of Heaven
(PG) -- A Mormon missionary (Christopher Gorham) travels to the South Seas island of Tonga, where he cares for sick children, battles the elements and overcomes the natives' mistrust. Smaller children, except those interested in Mormon theology, probably won't be interested. Mature themes, some disturbing medical images and a scene of the missionary being gnawed by rats.
Showtime
(PG-13) -- Any film starring Robert De Niro and Eddie Murphy as tough cops can be expected to include profanity and action violence. This comedy about a reality-television police show also includes drug abuse.
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