A guide to movies from a family perspective:"City of Ember"-- Rated: PG.-- Suitable for: 9- or 10-year-olds and up.-- What you should know: This is based on the popular young-adult book about the post-apocalyptic underground City of Ember, which was given a 200-year life span and has run out of time. It's up to two teens to try to save their world -- or discover the old one up above.-- Language: Nothing objectionable.-- Sexual situations and nudity: None.-- Violence/scary situations: A very frightening giant mole pursues and terrifies the kids as they go about their rescue mission. Also potentially scary are periodic blackouts and the unknown horrors thereof.-- Drug or alcohol use: None."The Express"-- Rated: PG.-- Suitable for: School-age children and up.-- What you should know: This is based on the real-life story of Ernie Davis, the first African-American to win the Heisman Trophy. He's played by Rob Brown, with Dennis Quaid as his football coach at Syracuse University.-- Language: In addition to racist language, at least a dozen mild expletives or profanities.-- Sexual situations and nudity: Brief canoodling and kissing.-- Violence/scary situations: Lots, much of it racially charged, on and off the field. The scariest turn is Davis' diagnosis of leukemia and his death.-- Drug or alcohol use: Some drinking by adults."The Duchess"-- Rated: PG-13.-- Suitable for: Teens and older moviegoers.-- What you should know: Keira Knightley, Dominic Cooper (from "Mamma Mia!") and Ralph Fiennes star in this real-life story about the Duchess of Devonshire, an ancestor of Princess Di who was just a teen when she married. She was a fashion icon and political force in addition to the subject of much gossip.-- Language: A harsher form of "darn" here and there.-- Sexual situations and nudity: There is some brief nudity, a man sexually forces himself on a woman and lovemaking -- passionate and passionless -- is dramatized. Also, a man installs his mistress at the home he shares with his wife and children.-- Violence/scary situations: In addition to the sexual assault and emotionally wrenching scenes, a woman's wig catches on fire.-- Drug or alcohol use: Adults drink and sometimes get drunk after drinking much wine or other alcohol."Beverly Hills Chihuahua"-- Rated: PG.-- Suitable for: Preschoolers and school-age children who can sit attentively through a 90-minute movie.-- What you should know: Drew Barrymore speaks for the title character, a pampered dog who is dognapped in Mexico and must try to find her way home to Beverly Hills.-- Language: Nothing objectionable.-- Sexual situations and nudity: None.-- Violence/scary situations: Lots, although generally mild. It starts with Chloe being kidnapped and forced into a dog-fighting pit with a menacing Doberman and continues as Chloe goes on the road.-- Drug or alcohol use: Brief scene of adults drinking wine in a restaurant."Flash of Genius"-- Rated: PG-13.-- Suitable for: Middle-schoolers and above.-- What you should know: Greg Kinnear stars in this real-life story about the Detroit inventor of intermittent windshield wipers, whose idea was stolen.-- Language: One f-word and a smattering of other vulgarities, and some uses of "Christ."-- Sexual situations and nudity: Some affection between a husband and wife, but nothing notable.-- Violence/scary situations: Kinnear's character is hospitalized after a mental breakdown.-- Drug or alcohol use: Champagne or other alcoholic drinks served to adults."Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist"-- Rated: PG-13.-- Suitable for: Teens and older moviegoers.-- What you should know: Michael Cera ("Juno") and Kat Dennings play high-school seniors who, with assorted others, roam around New York one crazy night.-- Language: Titillating and with some common four-letter words, but generally mild.-- Sexual situations and nudity: A couple start to undress each other in a scene that ends in off-camera sex. Kisses are exchanged, a few minutes of a gay revue is shown and there is brief talk about orgasms.-- Violence/scary situations: A drunken girl gets lost and two young men butt heads.-- Drug or alcohol use: Teens drink and one girl gets incredibly drunk in scenes played for laughs.(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, www.shns.com.)
Post new comment