Familyfare
BY NELL MINOW June 20, 2012 7:08PM
ROA-001371r (L-r) ALEC BALDWIN as Dennis Dupree and RUSSELL BRAND as Lonny in New Line Cinema’s rock musical “ROCK OF AGES,” a Warner Bros. Pictures release.
Updated: August 23, 2012 9:54AM
‘Brave’
Rated PG for some scary action and rude humor.
Translation: Scary animals with big teeth. Characters in peril. Witch transformation. Some potty humor.
Recommendation: Ages 8 years old to adults.
Family discussion: What did Merida and her mother learn about each other from their adventure? How do you decide which traditions to keep and which to change?
If you like this, try: “Mulan” and “The Incredibles.”
‘Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter’
Rated R for violence throughout and brief sexuality.
Translation: Extremely intense and graphic bloody violence involving vampires with guns, axes, fire, stampedes, beheading and impaling. Sad deaths of a parent and a child. Slavery. Brief explicit sexual situations with some nudity and a prostitute. Alcohol use.
Recommendation: Mature teens to adults.
Family discussion: How did the historical facts and characters provide a framework for the story?
If you like this, try: The director’s other films, “Daywatch,” “Nightwatch” and “Wanted.”
‘Seeking a Friend for the End of the World’
Rated R for language including sexual references, some drug use and brief violence.
Translation: Disturbing end-of-the-world themes. Very strong language. Explicit sexual references. Alcohol and drug use. Brief violence.
Recommendation: Mature teens to adults.
Family discussion: What would you do if you were in Dodge’s position? What took them so long to understand what they needed to do?
If you like this, try: “Nick and Nora’s Infinite Playlist,” by the same screenwriter, and other end-of-world stories like “On the Beach.”
‘Rock of Ages’
Rated PG-13 for sexual content, suggestive dancing, 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: “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 have such a hard time understanding what they want?
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 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.”
‘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?
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.
