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Family Movie Guide
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.
By Times staff
© St. Petersburg Times
published April 18, 2002
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 Scorpion King
(PG-13) -- Parents who don't mind their children watching pro wrestling on TV probably won't be bothered by the bash-about action and scantily clad women of this prequel to The Mummy. WWF superstar The Rock stars as a warrior destined for royalty, but not before some vicious brawls and swordfights. Not much blood, but loads of fantasy violence. No profanity or nudity, just some brief sensuality.
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
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.
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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