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Film

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.

By STEVE PERSALL
Published July 22, 2004

RECOMMENDED

(G) - A nine-year-old Mississippi girl (Skylar Day) in 1898 leaves her struggling mother and father (Mare Winningham, Keith Carradine) to live with a wealthy aunt in North Carolina. Nothing objectionable in the way of language and action, but that's the greatest virtue of this film, first released in 2002.

(G) - Nothing offensive in Disney's pro-USA documentary but neither is anything exciting. The film is a parade of personalities across the nation, lovingly photographed yet emotionally shallow. Children may find some degree of civic inspiration if they remain awake long enough.

(PG) - Hilary Duff's popularity makes this an appealing film for young girls, who won't be bothered by a few bad words and innuendoes while their idol finds Prince Charming in high school.

(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.

(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.

(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

(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.

(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.

(PG) - This low-budget comedy may strike a chord with social outcasts like its hero (Jon Heder), a painfully awkward high school student. The jokes are mostly at his expense, the profanity is mild compared to many films, and a few jokes concerning his brother's door-to-door sales job are risque. Recommended for ages 12 and older.

(PG) - Teenagers lie to parents about spending the night at friends' house, then participate in risky scavenger hunt games to overcome peer pressure. Yes, this is supposed to be cool, in the movie's view. Mild sensuality and profanity. Recommended for 12 and older.

(PG-13) - Just try to keep children away from this movie. The good thing for parents is that Spider-Man 2 remains as safe for kid consumption as 2002's first installment, without profanity, nudity or sexual situations. The film's sci-fi violence is hectic and occasionally scary but tame compared to some action flicks available to preteens. Recommended for 10 and older.

(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

(PG-13) - Will Ferrell plays a 1970s TV newsman whose sexist attitude clashes with a new co-anchor (Christina Applegate). The film was rated R until trims were made, yet the movie still includes numerous sexual references, profanities and comical violence, chiefly a rumble between competing television stations.

(PG-13) - Matt Damon returns as a professional assassin framed by the CIA and not happy about it. Like 2002's The Bourne Identity, this film includes intense action, loud violence of the gunshot and car chase varieties, and moderate profanity.

(PG-13) - Halle Berry's provocatively ripped, form-fitting costume is evidence of the sexual underpinnings in this comic book adaptation. Benjamin Bratt plays the detective whose leg Catwoman rubs up against. Plenty of intense action violence and brief profanity.

(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.

(PG-13) - The music of Cole Porter (Kevin Kline) doesn't interest many youths of the hip-hop era, although several radio favorites (Sheryl Crow, Elvis Costello, etc.) perform his hits in this splashy biography. Much of the film deals with Porter's concealed homosexuality, discreetly dramatized but still the reason for the MPAA rating.

(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.

(PG-13) - Will Smith's science fiction adventure includes mild profanity, futuristic action violence and brief partial nudity.

(PG-13) - When this reshaping of Arthurian legend isn't too violent for children, it's too boring for anyone. The battle scenes stop just shy of R-rating levels but still there are too many crushed bones, impalings and sword slashings for parental comfort. Oddly, the only times I saw a parent leave with a child at a screening was during a discreetly sensual love scene.

(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.

(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.

(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.

[Last modified July 21, 2004, 10:34:21]