Family fare: Movie reviews for parents

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Updated: February 28, 2012 8:08AM

Assessments from a parent’s perspective of new and recently released movies:

‘The Grey’

Rated R for violence and disturbing content including bloody images, and for pervasive language.

Translation: Very violent and graphic content including wolf attacks. Characters injured and killed by animals, accidents, and exposure, plane crash and attempted suicide. Constant strong and crude language. Alcohol and drinking to deal with stress.

Recommendation: Mature teens to adults.

If you like this, try: The 1982 version of “The Thing.”

‘Man on a Ledge’

Rated PG-13 for violence and brief language.

Translation: Violence, fist fights, shooting and peril, with characters injured and killed. Brief strong language (the f-word). Sexual references (some crude). Cigar smoking.

Recommendation: High schoolers to adults.

If you like this, try:
“The Negotiator” with Kevin Spacey and Samuel L. Jackson.

‘Extremely Loud
& Incredibly Close’

Rated PG-13 for emotional thematic material, disturbing images and some language.

Translation: Plot concerns a boy whose father was kill­­ed on 9/11 and the impact of the loss on the boy and his mother. References to other tragedies. Some disturbing images of terrorist attacks. Some strong language.

Recommendation: High schoolers to adults.

If you like this, try: The film “Everything Is Illuminated,” based on a book by the same author.

‘Haywire’

Rated R for some violence.

Translation: Constant hand-to-hand fighting and gunplay. Characters injured and killed. Some graphic images. Some strong language. Drinking and smoking. Non-explicit sexual situation.

Recommendation: Mature high schoolers to adults.

If you like this, try: “La Femme Nikita,” “Domino” and “Kill Bill.”

‘Red Tails’

Rated PG-13 for some sequences of war violence.

Translation: WWII movie with extensive combat violence, with many characters are injured and killed. Portrayals of bigotry. Drinking and alcohol abuse. Some strong language (s-word, racial insults). Non-explicit sexual situation.

Recommendation: Middle school ages to adults.

If you like this, try: “The Tuskegee Airmen,” “Flyboys” and “Glory.”

Nell Minow is the film critic for the website beliefnet.com.