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
Around the World in 80 Days
(PG) - Jackie Chan stars in a remake of the 1956 Oscar winner for best picture. Action violence is a given with Chan's martial arts background. The film also contains mild profanity and crude humor. Like Ella Enchanted, the movie stinks, but at least it's relatively safe for children.
Garfield: The Movie
(PG) - Briefly rude language nudges this movie beyond the G-rated level. Otherwise, it's what parents and children expect from a live-action version of a cartoon favorite.
Shrek 2
(PG) - The sequel is funnier and livelier than the 2001 original. Much of the humor is multigenerational, with a few flatulence jokes, a brief drug reference and mild cartoon violence, but nothing for parents to fret about.
Two Brothers
(PG) - From the director of The Bear comes another wildlife drama, this time involving tiger cubs separated in captivity then pitted against each other by a hunter (Guy Pearce) for sport. Mild jungle violence but not too scary.
RECOMMENDED WITH RESERVATIONS
The Day After Tomorrow
(PG-13) - The end of the world is near in Roland Emmerich's latest disaster flick. That prospect might upset young moviegoers. Catastrophes that include a tidal wave swamping Manhattan, polar shifts and gang tornadoes create a lot of destruction without much time focused on casualties. Possible nightmare potential for impressionable viewers.
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
(PG) - As the bespectacled wizard matures, so do movie adaptations of J.K. Rowling's novels. The third film depicts a more rebellious Harry, with family issues that young viewers may not entirely understand. The film also contains a stronger child-in-peril factor than before, with an escaped murderer (Gary Oldman) stalking Harry. Beasts include an unusual breed of werewolf, a demon dog and the ghostly Dementors, which could inspire nightmares. Recommended for 10 and older.
Fahrenheit 9/11
(R) - Michael Moore questions the Bush administration's responses to the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, including the path to war in Iraq, allegedly opportunistic deals and terror alerts. The film includes strong profanity and grisly battlefield images, but as Moore argued when appealing the film's MPAA rating, teenagers who may be called to duty - along with all registered voters - have a right to be informed of what they're getting into. A rare R-rated film that parents should consider for ages 13 and older.
Super Size Me
(Not rated, probably PG-13) - Director Morgan Spurlock's stunt of eating McDonald's meals exclusively for a month is getting attention for his warnings about America's fast-food culture and lack of exercise. A segment dealing with nutrition in school lunches should be seen by teenagers. Some profanity (including two f-words) and brief discussion of Spurlock's sexual inadequacy on his regimen. Gross-out images of gastric surgery and a rectal exam.
The Terminal
(PG-13) - A foreign visitor (Tom Hanks) is trapped in JFK airport by border security red tape. The result is a sweet-natured romantic comedy with a few profanities and brief drug references, but nothing that should alarm parents.
NOT RECOMMENDED
The Chronicles of Riddick
(PG-13) - Vin Diesel's science fiction adventure was previously rated R and was trimmed to a more profitable PG-13 standard. There's still enough loud, intense violence and profanity to make parents wary.
Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story
(PG-13) - Jocks and nerds compete in a Las Vegas dodgeball tournament. The silly concept is augmented by rude and sexual humor plus moderate profanity.
Mean Girls
(PG-13) - High school campus comedy starring Lindsay Lohan (Freaky Friday) as an outcast student. The MPAA singled out "teen partying" as a reason for the rating, along with sexual content and profanity.
The Notebook
(PG-13) - Young viewers won't have much patience with a Hallmark card-style romantic drama such as this. Rising stars Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams may attract interest, but James Garner and Gena Rowlands playing their characters in old age won't. The MPAA rating is due to relatively discreet sexuality among lovers during World War II.
Raising Helen
(PG-13) - Winning chemistry between Kate Hudson and John Corbett saves Garry Marshall's movie. Mature themes include the sudden deaths of both parents and lessons learned by the partying aunt (Hudson) chosen to raise the orphans. Brief subtexts of teen sexuality. Mild profanity and religion-themed comedy.
The Stepford Wives
(PG-13) - Children can't fully appreciate a dark satire of male oppression and absurdly feminine makeovers. Parents won't appreciate their children hearing so much discussion of sexual issues that need explaining. Moderate profanity and mild frights are included.
White Chicks
(PG-13) - Marlon and Shawn Wayans play African-American FBI agents posing as Caucasian socialites to trap kidnappers. The MPAA rating results from the Wayans brothers' (Scary Movie) usual comedy staples: crude humor, sexual situations, moderate profanity and drug references.
