New films from a family perspective, including 'Quantum of Solace'

A guide to movies from a family perspective:

"Quantum of Solace"

-- Rated: PG-13.

-- Suitable for: Mature teens and older.

-- What you should know: This is the second James Bond movie with Daniel Craig, and it's a gritty, action-packed movie with dark themes about betrayal and vengeance. It's grimmer than many of the previous 21 Bond films.

-- Language: One use of "Christ" and stronger versions of "darn" and "heck."

-- Sexual situations and nudity: A woman clutches a sheet to her chest as a man kisses her back, in preparation for an intimate encounter. A woman, nude and face down, is shown, but she's covered in a substance that somewhat obscures her form.

-- Violence/scary situations: A steady stream of both, with chase scenes, car accidents, shootings, falls, a near-rape and fatal fires, along with shots of dead bodies.

-- Drug or alcohol use: Adults consume a variety of drinks, sometimes to excess.

"Max Payne"

Rated: PG-13.

Suitable for: Teens and up.

What you should know: Mark Wahlberg stars in this movie based on a video game. He's Max Payne, a cop still trying to solve the murders of his wife and child and caught up in a bizarre series of puzzling new deaths.

Language: One f-word, a couple of uses of "Jesus Christ," and a smattering of profanity and vulgarity.

Sexual situations and nudity: A woman is shown partially naked from behind and poses seductively on a bed.

Violence/scary situations: Lots, including flashbacks to Payne discovering his wife's corpse, much exchange of gunfire, fatal falls, murders, dismemberment, near-drowning and winged demon figures.

Drug or alcohol use: Adults drink in a bar or at a party and take drugs with unexpected side effects.

"The Secret Life of Bees"

Rated: PG-13.

Suitable for: 12-year-olds and up (according to the director).

What you should know: The Sue Monk Kidd novel has been turned into a movie with Dakota Fanning, Jennifer Hudson, Queen Latifah and others. It's set in 1964 when a motherless girl and her housekeeper take refuge with a family of kind beekeepers.

Language: In addition to a handful of curses, some with "God" attached, and some mild vulgarity, use of the N-word.

Sexual situations and nudity: A few kisses.

Violence/scary situations: You hear the sound of a gun going off, which delivers a fatal shot, and witness a father's cruel treatment of his daughter, encounters that turn nasty or violent, and see the lifeless body of a suicide victim and subsequent funeral.

Drug or alcohol use: Nothing out of the ordinary.

(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, www.scrippsnews.com.)