Current films are reviewed each week to provide parents a guide to decide what may be appropriate to younger viewers.
STEP UP: REVOLUTION
Rating: PG-13 for some suggestive dancing and language
What it's about: Miami dancers stage flash-mob dance events to win attention.
The kid-attractor factor: A fresh, young cast of very attractive dancers, cool "viral" production numbers, young love.
Good lessons/bad lessons: "Sometimes, it's good to break the rules."
Violence: One unfortunately timed stunt involving smoke bombs and gas masks.
Language: Very clean for a PG-13
Sex: A little bump, a lot of grind, a lot of skin to occupy your mind.
Drugs: A beer, here and there.
Parents' advisory: Overall, a pretty sunny and kid-friendly dance contest picture, OK for 10-and-up.
THE WATCH
Rating: R for some strong sexual content including references, pervasive language and violent images.
What it's about: Four suburban guys take on the job of running a neighborhood watch, only to confront a possible alien invasion. The kid-attractor factor: Ben Stiller, Vince Vaughn, Jonah Hill and that guy from "The IT Crowd."
Good lessons/bad lessons: Well, if you can't laugh at beer-swilling, trigger-happy Neighborhood Watchers …
Violence: Pretty graphic, considering this is a comedy.
Language: Raunchy
Sex: There's an orgy and there's Rosemarie DeWitt.
Drugs: Beer, pot, pills, played for laughs.
Parents' advisory: A big, broad R-rated comedy in the modern mold, entirely too violent and off-color for anybody under 13.
THE DARK KNIGHT RISES
Rating: PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, some sensuality and language.
What it's about: The Dark Knight has to come out of retirement to save Gotham.
The kid-attractor factor: It's Batman, right?
Good lessons/bad lessons: "Never steal anything from someone you can't outrun."
Violence: Lots and lots, with a high body count but almost no blood.
Language: A few very mild profanities.
Sex: Anne Hathaway and Marion Cotillard keep Bruce Wayne up at night.
Drugs: An aperitif, here and there.
Parents' advisory:Gloomier and more apocalyptic than, say, "The Avengers," and too long for tykes – OK for 12-and-up.
MADAGASCAR 3: EUROPE'S MOST WANTED
Rating: PG for some mild action and rude humor
What it's about: The madcap critters from "Madagascar" make their way to Monte Carlo and join a circus
The kid-attractor factor: Madcap "Madagascar" critters, a circus, chases and cute 'n' cuddly penguin high jinks.
Good lessons/bad lessons: It's a cartoon, "The rules of physics don't apply to us."
Violence: Slapstick, mostly involving French-accented animal control officers.
Language: Disney clean
Sex: King Julien flirts with a trained bear.
Drugs: Don't be silly.
Parents' advisory: Suitable for all ages, especially the very young, this is Dreamworks' most kid-friendly film franchise.
ROCK OF AGES
Rating: PG-13 for sexual content, suggestive dancing, some heavy drinking and language
What it's about: In 1987, young folks flock to Los Angeles to live the hair metal/MTV rock-god dream.
The kid-attractor factor: Julianne Hough and a bunch of older actors and singers wearing the leather and singing, many for the first time.
Good lessons/bad lessons: Stardom changes you, but compromising your ideals will destroy you.
Violence: None
Language: Profanity, though not a lot of it
Sex: Pole-dancing, etc.; more graphic than you'd expect from a PG-13 picture.
Drugs: Alcohol is abused, incessantly.
Parents' advisory: In terms of sexuality, this is one of the raunchier PG-13s, but the lack of violence and harder drugs make it OK for 13 and up.
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