ShareThisMonday, October 30, 2006
A guide to movies from a family perspective:
"Marie Antoinette"
_ Rated: PG-13.
_ Suitable for: Teens and above.
_ What you should know: Sofia Coppola wrote and directed this sympathetic, music-soaked take on the teen royal (Kirsten Dunst).
_ Language: Nothing notable.
_ Sexual situations and nudity: Naked body shown from behind, a flash of breast, talk of an unconsummated marriage, passionate embraces and kisses. Childbirth, a mistress and a lover also factor into the story.
_ Violence/scary situations: A child's death is conveyed through a series of portraits. Angry crowds advance on the castle.
_ Drug and alcohol use: Lots of champagne and wine are consumed.
"Flicka"
_ Rated: PG.
_ Suitable for: Preteens and older.
_ What you should know: A rebellious teen disobeys her rancher father by befriending a wild horse. Her disobedience results in physical harm coming to her and the mustang, but it all leads to an intense bonding with the horse and a warm and fuzzy ending.
_ Language: A few mild cuss words.
_ Sexual situations and nudity: None.
_ Violence/scary situations: Scenes of intense peril and violent animal attacks.
_ Drug and alcohol use: None.
"Man of the Year"
_ Rated: PG-13.
_ Suitable for: Teens and above.
_ What you should know: The TV commercials for this Robin Williams movie, about a comedian running for president, are somewhat misleading. It's a comedy, but it also deals with a sinister attempt to silence a whistleblower about the results of the presidential election.
_ Language: One use of the f-word, with other milder curses. Williams makes wisecracks or double entendres dealing with sex, body parts (real and fake) and the like.
_ Sexual situations and nudity: None.
_ Violence/scary situations: Someone becomes short of breath and is hospitalized. A person is attacked and knocked out with an injection. Someone has a drug-induced breakdown. A man's face is banged against a car window, leaving his nose bloody. A frightening car accident lands a character in the hospital.
_ Drug and alcohol use: A joke about smoking marijuana is made, and adults consume wine, champagne and other alcoholic drinks. A cocktail of illegal drugs, including cocaine, is purposely injected into someone.
"Employee of the Month"
_ Rated: PG-13.
_ Suitable for: Teens and above.
_ What you should know: Dane Cook and Dax Shepard play competitive Super Club (think Costco) workers who vie for the attention of a new cashier (Jessica Simpson) who has a reputation of only dating "Employee of the Month" winners.
_ Language: One use of the f-word and other vulgar language sprinkled throughout.
_ Sexual situations and nudity: Couples kiss and crude references are made to sex.
_ Violence/scary situations: The violence is cartoonish, with people being hit with tennis balls or a baseball bat, running into each other, tumbling from a shelf and the like.
_ Drug and alcohol use: Adults drink wine or beer.
"The U.S. vs. John Lennon"
_ Rated: PG-13.
_ Suitable for: Teens and above.
_ What you should know: This excellent documentary provides an objective account of the government's attempt to deport Beatle John Lennon in 1971, on the grounds of his conviction for a minor drug offense in England _ but really for his increasingly threatening opposition to the Vietnam War.
_ Language: Scattered profanity, including several f-words.
_ Sexual situations and nudity: Sexually suggestive situations, but no nudity.
_ Violence/scary situations: There are film clips of the violent demonstration at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in 1968.
_ Drug and alcohol use: Marijuana is used, and there is much discussion of drug use.
