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Film

Family Movie Guide

A guide to help parents choose movies for children under the age of 13.

By Steve Persall
Published March 22, 2007

Suitable for families

Bridge to Terabithia B+

(PG) - The popular children's book about adolescent friends creating a fantasy world should please young viewers. The story includes episodes of schoolyard bullying and fantasy peril, plus briefly rude language and mature themes of mortality.

The Last Mimzy B-

(PG) - This science fiction yarn contains mild endangerment of children and brief profanity that won't bother parents. However, the convoluted plot could strain young viewers' attention spans.

Suitable, with reservations

The Astronaut Farmer B-

(PG) - Billy Bob Thornton stars as a retired NASA employee building a rocket ship in his barn. Includes mild peril and profanity, but heartland values and feel-good moments make this suitable for adolescents and older.

Music and Lyrics D+

A washed-up pop singer (Hugh Grant) teams with a younger woman (Drew Barrymore) to compose songs, and falls in love. Mild sexual references and profanity.

Pride C+

(PG) - An inspirational story of inner city youths trading gang life for swimming medals, based on a true story. However, the violence, profanity and racial epithets may be too harsh for preteen viewers.

Not suitable

Breach C

(PG-13) - Children won't have much interest in a fact-based drama about government security leaks. The PG-13 rating results from violence, sexual content and profanity.

Daddy's Little Girls

(PG-13) - A successful lawyer (Gabrielle Union) falls in love with a single father (Idris Elba) of three children whose ex-wife interferes. Heartwarming moments are tinged with profanity, drug and sexual content, domestic violence and mature themes of parental discord that could upset children.

Ghost Rider D

(PG-13) - Nicolas Cage stars as a stunt motorcyclist who sells his soul and becomes a fiery vigilante against Satan's forces. Horror violence, disturbing images and occult themes may be too intense for children.

Norbit D

(PG-13) - Eddie Murphy's new comedy was originally rated R, then slightly trimmed for a tamer rating. There's still enough crude and sexual humor, racial and physical stereotyping, profanity and brief nudity to make some parents cautious.

Premonition D

(PG-13) - Sandra Bullock stars as a woman whose husband may be dead, or may not be yet. Violent content, disturbing images, profanity and mature themes of mortality could worry parents.

Wild Hogs D

(PG-13) - Lame attempts at comedy, including repeated gay-bashing jokes and crude sexual innuendoes, make this unsuitable for children, not to mention the moderate profanity and brief violence.

[Last modified March 21, 2007, 12:08:14]