Current films are reviewed each week to provide parents a guide to decide what may be appropriate to younger viewers.
FRANKENWEENIE
Rating: PG for thematic elements, scary images and action
What it's about: A science- minded boy named Frankenstein brings his beloved dead dog back to life.The kid-attractor factor: Stop- motion animation from the adorably twisted mind of Tim Burton.
Good lessons/bad lessons: The ignorant fear science because they don't understand it, and if you love something or someone, it never dies. It lives on in your heart.
Violence: A dog dies.
Language: Disney clean
Sex: Not a hint
Drugs: None
Parents' advisory: A bit dark and spooky – with cheap frights that could scare off the very young. OK for 8-and-up.
WON'T BACK DOWN
Rating: PG for thematic elements and language
What it's about: A parent and a teacher team up to take over their failing school from the school district that is letting it fail.
The kid-attractor factor: It's about school, what kids endure there and what a good school is supposed to be.
Good lessons/bad lessons: Study hard and make your school succeed, unless you want your parents taking it over and setting the agenda there.
Violence: Suggestions of bullying
Language: Mild profanity
Sex: Flirtation between consenting adults
Drugs: Alcohol is consumed in a bar.
Parents' advisory: A hard sell for kids, but this one is family-friendly and could provoke discussions afterward – OK for 8-and-up.
HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA
Rating: PG for some rude humor, action and scary images
What it's about: An over- protective Dracula tries to keep his vampire daughter out of the clutches of a cute human boy who visits their monster hotel.
The kid-attractor factor: It's animated, it's got vampires and toilet jokes and teens flirting – and it's in 3D.
Good lessons/bad lessons: If they're old enough to make their own choices, you need to let them make their own choices.
Violence: Corpses, cadavers and zombies – oh my!
Language: The occasional toilet/tush or gas-passing gag.
Sex: None
Drugs: None at all
Parents' advisory: It's the cleanest Adam Sandler movie in history. Suitable for all ages.
HOUSE AT THE END OF THE ROAD
Rating: PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and terror, thematic elements, language, some teen partying and brief drug material
What it's about: A teen in a new house is attracted to the only survivor of a massacre that happened right next door.
The kid-attractor factor: Jennifer Lawrence, young love, teen partying and bursts of bad parenting.
Good lessons/bad lessons: Never fall for a guy or girl you see as a "project."
Violence: Stabbings, shootings, neck-snappings, hammer-hitting
Language: Some profanity
Sex: Joked about and flirted with
Drugs: Yes, and teen partying
Parents' advisory: Too complex and intense for the very young, OK for 12-and-up.
TROUBLE WITH THE CURVE
Rating: PG-13 for language, sexual references, some thematic material and smoking
What it's about: An aged baseball scout's reluctant daughter comes to help him through one last draft.
The kid-attractor factor: Clint Eastwood, plus Amy Adams and Justin Timberlake as the love interest.
Good lessons/bad lessons: "Don't be afraid to walk away" and "It's just a game."
Violence: Punches are thrown
Language: Curses are thrown
Sex: Justin is thrown – at Amy.
Drugs: Alcohol and cigars
Parents' advisory: A genial baseball comedy that meanders, rather like the game itself. Suitable for 10-and-up.
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