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Film

Family Movie Guide

By STEVE PERSALL
Published October 13, 2005

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.

SUITABLE FOR FAMILIES

(PG) - Nothing objectionable and plenty inspirational about the fact-based story of Frances Ouimet (Shia LaBeouf), a surprising 20-year-old contender in the 1913 U.S. Open golf tournament. Brief profanity.

(G) - The long-awaited feature length adventure about a meek inventor and his intrepid dog is wonderful for all ages. The animation is clever, the jokes are silly in a smart way, and a few mildly suggestive sight gags won't offend.

SUITABLE, WITH RESERVATIONS

(PG) - Many children loved Tim Burton's macabre sense of humor in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. This stop-motion animation effort includes scarier images of decomposed bodies and icky action, so viewers younger than 10 may require parental reassurance before bedtime.

(PG-13) - Jodie Foster plays a mother whose daughter disappears on an airliner, if the girl was alive upon departure in the first place. That perilous theme could upset children, and the violence and tension level is definitely geared for grownups.

(PG) - A provocative recording artist rediscovers his religious faith when his father, a clergyman, falls ill. The temptations causing his backslide are handled tastefully, but there are still suggestive material and profanity.

(PG-13) - Reese Witherspoon's popularity with young moviegoers after the Legally Blonde movies is set. But this isn't a comedy about love after death, like Ghost. It's a situation echoing the Terri Schiavo case, playing it for cheap laughs and tasteless romance. Sensitive viewers are forewarned. Brief profanity, sexual references.

(PG-13) - Roman Polanski's version of Charles Dickens' novel tones down the child abuse and exploitation angle, making Fagin (Ben Kingsley) and Bill Sykes (Jamie Foreman) nicer chaps than they should be. It's still too dry for young viewers, but a decent "crib sheet" to interest students in the book.

(PG-13) - Young viewers will be attracted by the youthful cast, including pop singer Bow Wow, and the roller-skating angle. But the nostalgic 1970s setting, including songs from the era, may be too quaint for their tastes. The film includes crude language, sexual suggestiveness and brief drug references.

(PG-13) - The big-screen adaptation of the failed TV series Firefly contains intense sci-fi action violence and a few sexual references.

NOT SUITABLE

(PG-13) - The rating for this teen slasher flick is the result of "violence, terror, disturbing images, language, sexuality and a brief drug reference." Makes you wonder what the ratings board won't allow children to view.

(PG-13) - Youth market favorites Orlando Bloom and Kirsten Dunst co-star in a coming home comedy-drama of love and death. Those mature themes are explored by writer-director Cameron Crowe with cockeyed optimism. Moderate profanity, some sexual references.

(PG-13) - The supernatural frights are in The Exorcist's league, practically guaranteeing nightmares for sensitive children. The film's equal concentration on courtroom theatrics won't interest many young viewers. Moderate profanity and mature theological themes.

(PG-13) - Remake of John Carpenter's 1980 ghost story, slightly less gory. The film still contains violence, disturbing images and brief sexuality.

(PG-13) - A party girl (Cameron Diaz) and her uptight sister (Toni Collette) deal with sexual issues, substance abuse and an estranged grandmother (Shirley MacLaine). Sensuality and frank dialogue about mature themes plus strong profanity equals nothing for children.

(PG-13) - Paul Walker and Jessica Alba's MTV credibility makes this appealing to young viewers. However, the MPAA rating is the result of intense action violence, drug material, sexual content and profanity, not to mention all that skimpy swimwear.

(PG-13) - Nothing here to interest children. Peter Falk and Paul Reiser play father and son on a road trip of self-discovery. Moderate profanity including the f-word, several conversations about sexual matters, brief violence and a medical crisis that could be upsetting.

(PG-13) - Intense violence, occasional sexual content, partial nudity and moderate profanity make this action flick unsuitable for children.

[Last modified October 12, 2005, 10:18:06]