Family fare: Movie reviews for parents
BY NELL MINOW June 13, 2012 10:08PM
"Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted"
Updated: July 16, 2012 6:14AM
‘Rock of Ages’
Rated PG-13 for sexual content, suggestive dancing, some heavy drinking and language.
Translation: Gay and straight sexual situations, including groupies and strippers, drinking and drunkenness, some strong language.
Recommendation: High-school ages to adults.
Family discussion: What has changed the most in popular music since these songs were hits? Which of today’s songs will still be popular 30 years from now?
If you like this, try: “Across the Universe” and concert films from some of the groups whose songs are featured in this movie.
‘Your Sister’s Sister’
Rated R for language and some sexual content.
Translation: Very strong and explicit language. Explicit sexual references and a non-explicit situation. Drinking and drunkenness.
Recommendation: Mature teens to adults.
Family discussion: Why was it so hard for Iris and Jack to be honest with each other about their feelings?
If you like this, try: “Humpday” and “The Puffy Chair.”
‘Lola Versus’
Rated R for language, sexuality and drug use.
Translation: Very explicit sexual references and situations. Very strong, crude and explicit language. Drinking and drug use.
Recommendation: Adults.
Family discussion: Why does everyone in this movie have such a hard time understanding what they want? How do Lola’s studies relate to her story?
If you like this, try: “Damsels in Distress.”
‘Prometheus’
Rated R for sci-fi violence, including some intense images and brief language.
Translation: Extended graphic and disturbing sci-fi peril and violence, with many characters injured and killed. Brief strong language, sexual references and a non-explicit situation.
Recommendation: Mature teens to adults.
Family discussion: Were the cave paintings “an invitation”? What were the crew’s biggest misjudgments?
If you like this, try: The “Alien” films.
‘Snow White and the Huntsman’
Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action and brief sensuality.
Translation: Fantasy
and battle violence, with many characters injured
and killed. Graphic and disturbing images, including bloody wounds, bugs and snakes.
Recommendation: High school ages to adults.
Family discussion: How did Ravenna’s costumes reflect her character? How did the three drops of blood show their connection?
If you like this, try: Some of the more than 100 other movie versions of this story, including the recent “Mirror Mirror” and the Disney animated classic.
‘Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted’
Rated PG for some mild action and rude humor.
Translation: Cartoon-style peril, action and violence; an animal tracker uses tranquilizer darts and other weapons. Brief potty humor.
Recommendation: Ages 7 years old to adults.
Family discussion: What changed the animals’ minds about going home? Who should be the leader? What did Alex and the circus animals teach one another?
If you like this, try: The other “Madagascar” films.
‘Men in Black 3’
Rated PG-13 for sci-fi action violence and brief suggestive content.
Translation: Extended sci-fi action violence with chases, explosions and aliens. Some disturbing images. Some strong language and brief suggestive alien sexual references.
Recommendation: Middle-school ages to adults.
Family discussion: How did what J learned about his own past change him? How will K be different and why?
If you like this, try: The first “Men in Black” (check out the DVD commentary) and “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.”
Nell Minow is the film critic for the site beliefnet.com.
