"In Bruges" (2008)
Playwright Martin McDonagh is writer and director of this film about a mobster (Ralph Fiennes) who, after a heinous murder, orders his two Irish hit men (Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson) to go into hiding in the medieval Belgian city -- an experience that proves transformative for both of them. Though the finely acted tragicomedy has several extremely violent sequences and myriad other sordid elements, necessitating the film's highly restrictive classification, McDonagh's theme of the futility of cyclical violence is powerfully conveyed, while the intermittent conversations between the two criminals about the meaning of life and other spiritual matters provide further texture. Pervasive rough language and some profanity, violence with bloodshed, murder and suicide, killing of a priest, drug use, prostitution, frank sexual talk, a nongraphic sexual encounter, ethnic slurs. Spanish titles option. The Catholic News Service classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian. (Universal Studios Home Video; also available on Blu-ray.)

"Insomnia" (2002)
Grim tale of a sleep-deprived LA police detective (Al Pacino) on assignment in Alaska who is conflicted by his desire to nail a vicious killer (Robin Williams) while covering up his own shameful secrets. Pacino's performance as the morally flawed lawman carries director Christopher Nolan's atmospheric thriller with a strong assist from Hilary Swank as a rookie cop. Some violence, fleeting corpse nudity, much rough language and brief profanity. Spanish language and titles options. The Catholic News Service classification is A-III --adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian. (Warner Home Video; also available on Blu-ray.)

"Kangaroo Jack" (2003)
Passable comedy in which two Brooklyn buddies (Jerry O'Connell and Anthony Anderson) end up being pursued in the Australian Outback after a kangaroo hops off with the envelope of mob money they were supposed to deliver. The scenic setting, animal antics and the leads' easygoing rapport make director David McNally's goofy crime caper relatively innocuous entertainment. Mild sexual innuendo, occasional toilet humor and some menace with comic violence. Spanish language and titles options. The Catholic News Service classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG - parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children. (Warner Home Video)

"The Losers" (2010)
This slick action comedy about a unit of ex-special forces soldiers (Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Chris Evans, Idris Elba, Columbus Short and Oscar Jaenada) who are betrayed by a fiendish spymaster (Jason Patric) holds itself in much higher regard than its deprecatory title and flippant tone would suggest -- or than the disposable project as a whole deserves. Director Sylvain White applies a music-video sensibility to the comic-book source material, and the stylized violence, though considerable, is never explicit, while the jocularity is more juvenile than offensive. A moderately explicit nonmarital sexual encounter, some profanity, at least two instances of rough language, a steady stream of crude and crass verbiage, frequent bloodless violence and some sexual innuendo and banter. Spanish language and titles options. The Catholic News Service classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13. (Warner Home Video)

"Our Family Wedding" (2010)
Scattershot comedy, prone to physical gags, about the culture clash between two families when a Latina (America Ferrera) marries an African-American (Lance Gross). Director Rick Famuyiwa, who co-wrote along with Wayne Conley and Malcolm Spellman, leaves no stereotype untouched in this wildly uneven combination of "Father of the Bride" and "Abie's Irish Rose," but mostly manages to stay within tasteful boundaries. A fleeting instance of crass language and the implication of a premarital relationship. Probably acceptable for mature teens. Spanish language and titles options. The Catholic News Service classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13. (20th Century Fox Home Entertainment; also available on Blu-ray.)

"The Red Shoes" (1948)
Life imitates art in the romantic tragedy of a dedicated ballerina (Moira Shearer) in a company whose manipulative impresario (Anton Walbrook) forces her to choose between her love for a talented composer (Marius Goring) and her dedication to dancing. Written, produced and directed by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger, the convincing portrayal of the ballet world, on-stage and off, proves of more interest than the star-crossed romance and its relation to the title ballet which is the movie's thematic center. Suicide in the plot resolution. The Catholic News Service classification is A-III --adults. Not rated by the Motion Picture Association of America. (Criterion Collection; also available on Blu-ray.)

"Scooby-Doo" (2002)
Intermittently amusing comedy that reunites the Mystery Inc. gang of Fred (Freddie Prinze Jr.), Daphne (Sarah Michelle Gellar), Shaggy (Matthew Lillard), Velma (Linda Cardellini) and Great Dane Scooby (voiced by Neil Fanning) to solve what's behind the strange incidents happening at Spooky Island that turn happy college coeds into straight-laced, uptight students. Director Raja Gosnell seamlessly blends live action with the animation as actors convincingly interact with the computer-generated Scooby character in a skimpy story that closely follows the formulaic boundaries from the Hanna-Barbera animated TV episodes. However, some parents may be dismayed at the film's cleavage-revealing outfits and occasional supernatural references. Some scary action sequences and puerile humor, and a few crass expressions and innuendos. Spanish language and titles options. The Catholic News Service classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG - parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children. (Warner Home Video; also available on Blu-ray.)

"TMNT" (2007)
Computer-animated feature revives the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle franchise, as four brothers set out to defeat a villain poised to unleash 13 monsters on New York. Writer-director Kevin Munroe navigates a rather overly complicated plot with aplomb, successfully balancing action and humor while enforcing the values of solidarity and atonement. Cartoon-level combat and swordplay, a subtle acceptance of a premarital living situation, two instances of belching and some disrespectful banter, and a mild instance of profanity. Spanish language and titles options. The Catholic News Service classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG - parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children. (Warner Home Video; also available on Blu-ray.)