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Film

Family Movie Guide

By STEVE PERSALL
Published October 12, 2006

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

Facing the Giants B

(PG) - High school football coach turns losers into winners through Christian faith. Mature themes include religious discussions.

Open Season B

(PG) - Cuddly grizzly bear (voice of Martin Lawrence) and ditzy deer (Ashton Kutcher) aren't prepared for wilderness life. A few crude jokes won't trouble many parents.

SUITABLE, WITH RESERVATIONS

Gridiron Gang B+

(PG-13) - Fact-based tales of juvenile delinquents behind bars learning lessons from football. The story contains gang violence, profanity and mature themes, but teenagers can draw inspiration from the way lives are changed through discipline.

The Guardian B-

(PG-13) - U.S. Coast Guard veteran (Kevin Costner) trains a troubled recruit (Ashton Kutcher), then must rescue him. Profanity and perilous situations may be too intense for small children. Teenagers may find romanticized inspiration to duty, as an earlier generation did with Top Gun.

Fearless

(PG-13) - Martial arts violence comes with inspirational messages in this biography of a Chinese fighting legend (Jet Li). English subtitles can turn off some children, though. Recommended for ages 13 and older.

NOT SUITABLE

The Covenant

(PG-13) - More teenage horror, this time with photogenic descendants of witches who use their supernatural powers to fight evil forces. The MPAA rating is the result of "intense sequences of violence and action, some disturbing images, sexual content, partial nudity and language." Doesn't that sound more like an R?

Employee of the Month C

(PG-13) - Pop music star Jessica Simpson is a teen favorite but not always a good role model. Co-star Dane Cook is a raunchy stand-up comedian by trade. Put them together in a movie that contains crude and sexual humor plus profanity and parents should be concerned.

Flyboys B

(PG-13) - American hunks join French fighter squadrons during World War I. The MPAA rating results from war violence and some sexual content.

The Grudge 2

(PG-13) - More horror aimed at young viewers. This time Amber Tamblyn (Joan of Arcadia) faces a curse spreading murderous rage like the plague. The MPAA rating is based on disturbing images, terror and violence, mature themes of child endangerment and sensuality.

The Illusionist

(PG-13) - Children may enjoy the occasional magic tricks, and teenagers love Jessica Biel. But a romance with murderous undertones set in 1900 Vienna isn't likely to hold their attention. The MPAA rating results from sexual situations and brief violence.

Man of the Year D+

(PG-13) - Robin Williams stars as a political satirist running for president. The MPAA rating reflects profanity, crude sexual references, drug-related material and brief violence.

The Marine

(PG-13) - World Wrestling Entertainment champion John Cena makes his movie debut with more graphically fake violence than he performs in the ring. The movie also contains profanity and sensuality.

School for Scoundrels C-

(PG-13) - Billy Bob Thornton tones down his misanthropic Bad Santa behavior. There are still enough sexual innuendoes, raunchy insults and profanities (including an f-word) to make parents wary.

[Last modified October 11, 2006, 12:09:52]