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Reviews
WHAT'S PLAYING AT THE MOVIES
THIS WEEK?
Information is provided by
the Catholic News Service
How to read the
classifications
 SCENE
FROM MOVIE 'THE FALL'
Lee Pace and Catinca Untaru star in a scene from the movie "The
Fall." The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is
A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is
R -- restricted. Under 17 requires acc ompanying parent or adult
guardian. (CNS photo/Roadside Attractions) (April 25, 2008) |
"The Fall" (Roadside)
Rated "R"
Exceedingly strange but fitfully affecting tale set in a Los
Angeles hospital circa 1915 about the unlikely relationship
between two patients: a spunky 5-year-old girl (adorable Catinca
Untaru with, alas, an often impenetrable accent), and an
embittered movie stuntman (Lee Pace) who keeps her enthralled
with a story of bandits mirroring his devastating real-life
breakup with his girlfriend. Director Tarsem's film --
imaginative in many ways -- goes on far too long and its
elaborate fantasy sequences (alternately sophomoric and serious)
are more wearying than illuminating, while the redemptive ending
fails to compensate for a pervasively heavy and lachrymose tone.
Action violence with bloodshed, a suicide attempt, and a
couple of instances of profanity. The USCCB Office for Film &
Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion
Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under
17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
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"A Previous Engagement"
(Buccaneer)
Rated "O"
A Seattle librarian (Juliet Stevenson), on holiday in Malta with
her dull, inattentive husband (Daniel Stern), plans to
rendezvous with her suave French lover (Tcheky Karyo) from 25
years earlier. Even allowing for its often farcical structure,
writer-director Joan Carr-Wiggin's story, which strives for a
light, whimsical tone, never seems remotely grounded in reality
as the best comedies should be, the generally capable cast is
undermined by dialogue that rarely rings true, and the narrative
is marred by a shallow moral tone. Adultery, rough language,
crude expressions, the acceptability of premarital sex and
divorce, and brief drug use. The USCCB Office for Film &
Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. Not rated
by the Motion Picture Association of America. |
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 SCENE
FROM MOVIE 'SPEED RACER'
Emile Hirsch stars in a scene from the movie 'Speed Racer.' The
USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II --
adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America
rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested. Some material ma y not
be suitable for children. (CNS photo/Warner Bros.) (May 6, 2008) |
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"Speed Racer" (Warner Bros.)
Rated "PG"
Overly long and only so-so live-action adventure yarn -- based
on the 1960s Japanese animated TV series -- about a young race
car driver (Emile Hirsch) who, with the loving support of his
parents (John Goodman and Susan Sarandon) and girlfriend
(Christina Ricci), stands up to the corrupt race sponsor (Roger
Allam) and other baddies to compete in the race that killed his
big brother. The Wachowski brothers, co-writers and directors,
employ colorful animated backgrounds, and the positive family
values and nice performances are added pluses, but the
alternately chaotic and sentimental plotline will be of most
interest to diehard fans of the cartoon, while some of the
violence and language are a tad strong for those youngest
viewers who might appreciate it most. Imax and conventional.
Some intense, but not graphic, action violence, some crass
language and expressions, and mild profanity. The USCCB Office
for Film & Broadcasting 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. |
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 SCENE
FROM MOVIE 'WHAT HAPPENS IN VEGAS'
Cameron Diaz and Ashton Kutcher star in a scene from the movie "What
Happens in Vegas." The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting
classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture
Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents strongly cauti
oned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13. (CNS
photo/20th Century Fox) (May 7, 2008) |
"What Happens in Vegas" (Fox)
Rated "PG-13"
An inebriated couple -- a commodities trader (Cameron Diaz),
dumped by her longtime boyfriend, and a womanizing slacker
(Ashton Kutcher), fired from his closet-building job -- get
married in Las Vegas, much to their later regret, and must live
with the consequences when they return to New York and a judge
orders them to try to make the marriage work for six months, if
they are to decide who keeps the $3 million jackpot they won at
the slots. Director Tom Vaughan's romantic comedy is lame,
tasteless and unfunny, despite a premise that could work in
better hands, while the warm-if-predictable ending fails to
erase the sophomoric ineptitude of what has come before it.
Pervasive vulgar humor, implied premarital cohabitation,
scatological elements, some skimpy costuming, much crude
language and brief profanity. The USCCB Office for Film &
Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The
Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents
strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for
children under 13. |
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HOW TO
READ THE CLASSIFICATIONS
The first symbol after each title is the USCCB Office for Film &
Broadcasting classification. The second symbol is the rating of the Motion
Picture Association of America.
USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classifications:
A-I -- general patronage
A-II -- adults and adolescents
A-III -- adults
A-IV -- adults, with reservations (this indicates films that, while not
morally offensive in themselves, are not for casual viewing because they require
some analysis and explanation in order to avoid false impressions and
interpretations)
L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults
would find troubling (succeeded the A-IV classification as of Nov. 1, 2003)
O -- morally offensive
MPAA ratings:
G -- general audiences, all ages admitted;
PG -- parental guidance suggested, some material may not be suitable for
children; PG-13 -- parents are strongly cautioned. Some material may be
inappropriate for children under 13;
R -- restricted, under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian;
NC-17 -- no one 17 or under admitted.
NR - Not rated |
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