NWIC- Past Movie Reviews

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.

A
"The Abandoned" (Lionsgate/After Dark Films)
Rated "R"
Routine horror film about a Russian-born woman (Anastasia Hille) who ventures from America to her remote birthplace and finds it haunted and her life in serious jeopardy along with that of the twin brother (Karel Roden) she never knew she had. In his feature-film debut, Spanish writer-director Nacho Cerda delivers sufficient scares without any glaringly exploitative elements but also without making total sense of the confusing plot. Violent and gory images, pervasive rough and crude language, nudity and one brief sequence in which sex is heard off-camera in a porn film. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

"Abduction" (Lionsgate)
Rated "PG-13"
Humdrum romantic adventure in which a party-loving Pittsburgh teen (Taylor Lautner) and the neighbor he'd like to make his girlfriend (Lily Collins) get caught up in international intrigue after the lad discovers that the couple who raised him (Jason Isaacs and Maria Bello) are not his real parents. In what is presumably intended as a date movie for the high school set, the newfound lovebirds take time out from dodging CIA agents (led by Alfred Molina) and evading a Serbian assassin (Michael Nyqvist) to kiss, cuddle and coo. On the plus side, director John Singleton's far-fetched expedition mostly eschews gore -- though there are some bone-crunching martial arts encounters -- while the central couple successfully resists the temptation to turn their unexpected journey into a premature honeymoon. Possibly acceptable for mature adolescents. Considerable, but largely bloodless, violence; brief nongraphic sensuality; at least one use of profanity and of rough language; and about a dozen crude or crass terms. 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.

"The Adventures of Tintin" (Paramount/Columbia)
Rated "PG"
Visually sumptuous animated adaptation of Belgian cartoonist Herge's famed comic books in which the curiously coiffed young reporter of the title (voiced by Jamie Bell) finds himself drawn into a centuries-old mystery via the purchase of a model ship. His efforts to solve the puzzle are aided by a good-hearted but excessively tippling sea captain (voice of Andy Serkis) and opposed by a deliciously wicked Russian villain (voiced by Daniel Craig). Director Steven Spielberg's globetrotting quest spans vibrantly portrayed environments from Tintin's native Belgium to the deserts of North Africa. Themes congruent with Judeo-Christian values, including the vital role of companionship in overcoming one's individual weaknesses and the need for fortitude in the face of difficulty, are advanced through sympathetic main characters, a screenplay faithful to its classic source material and envelope-pushing 3-D technology. The generally family-friendly result will not only afford vigilant moms and dads a chance to relax, but the opportunity to be entertained as well. Occasional stylized violence. The Catholic News Service classification is A-I -- general patronage. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.

"Accepted" (Universal)
Rated "PG-13"
Comedy about a savvy slacker (Justin Long) who, rejected by every college to which he applied, comes up with a face-saving scheme to create a fake school out of an abandoned hospital, which snowballs out of control when a motley mob of other misfits show up on the school's doorstep with acceptance letters. Displaying only occasional wit amid a "coarse" load of mindless humor, director Steve Pink's farce stealthily wraps its subversive nonconformity message in lighthearted, if lowbrow, satire that would seem to extol benign themes of acceptance and self-expression. Recurring crude sexual language and humor, including vulgar sight gags and innuendo, drug content, skimpy bikinis, some profanity and a use of the f-word. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

"Across the Universe" (Revolution)
Rated "PG-13"
At once spectacular and schizophrenic, this musical tribute to the Beatles chronicles the adventures of a Liverpool dockworker (Jim Sturgess) as he travels to America, befriends a rebellious preppy (Joe Anderson), falls in love with the preppy's sister (Evan Rachel Wood), pals around with his Janis Joplin-like singer-landlady (Dana Fuchs), her Jimi Hendrix-like bandmate (Martin Luther McCoy), and a former cheerleader turned bohemian (T.V. Carpio). As conceived and directed by Julie Taymor, the film is a highly imaginative, visually stunning fantasia, employing the music of the Fab Four to elucidate the 1960s, though its contrived story line too often leaves both cast and audience bogged down in a mire of cliches. Partial, rear and upper female nudity, cohabitation, a sexual embrace, a disrespectful sequence with a priest, drug use, occasional rough and much crude and crass language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"The Adjustment Bureau" (Universal)
Rated "PG-13"
Curious adaptation of Philip K. Dick's 1954 short story "Adjustment Team" in which the agents of a supernatural bureaucracy (principally Anthony Mackie, John Slattery and Terence Stamp) intervene to break up the budding relationship between a New York politician (Matt Damon) and a gifted dancer (Emily Blunt) because it runs contrary to the predetermined plan of an unnamed higher power. Writer-director George Nolfi's feature debut pitting love against fate -- or perhaps against divine providence -- will intrigue some and strike others as an uneasy attempt to blend science fiction, romance and philosophical speculation. Though this is not a film for young people, the metaphysical elements of the plot can be interpreted by mature viewers in a way that squares with Judeo-Christian faith. Complex themes, brief nongraphic premarital sexual activity, a couple of uses of profanity and rough terms, and considerable crude and crass language. 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.

"Adventureland" (Miramax)
Rated "R"
Sensitive but downbeat coming-of-age tale, set in 1987 Pittsburgh, about an awkward college graduate (Jesse Eisenberg) who takes a summer job at a third-rate amusement park and falls for one of his co-workers (Kristen Stewart, not realizing she is having an adulterous affair with an older employee (Ryan Reynolds). Though generally restrained in its presentation of sexuality, director Greg Mottola's wryly nostalgic romance takes a benign view of its characters' frequent indulgence in marijuana and reaches a morally unacceptable conclusion. Nongraphic adulterous and premarital sexual activity, brief partial nudity, repeated drug use, some sexual and fleeting scatological humor, pervasive rough and crude language, and a few uses of profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"A Christmas Carol" (Disney)
Rated "PG"
Lavish, well-crafted but frequently eerie 3-D animated adaptation of Charles Dickens' classic 1843 novella in which miserly misanthrope Ebenezer Scrooge (voice of Jim Carrey) is urged to change his ways by the tortured specter of his late business partner (voice of Gary Oldman) and by the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Yet to Come (all voiced by Carrey. Though free of objectionable content, and unabashed about the Christian context of its conversion story, writer-director Robert Zemeckis' largely faithful retelling features images and special effects likely to disturb the most sensitive youngsters. Also shown in Imax. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-I -- general patronage. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.

"A Good Year" (Fox 2000)
Rated "PG-13"
Picturesque, leisurely paced comedy about a career-driven British bond trader (Russell Crowe) who inherits a dilapidated chateau and vineyard in France where as a child he had spent time with his raffish uncle (Albert Finney). He decides to sell the property, only to fall for the charms of the locale and a pretty cafe owner (Marion Cottilard), while a young American (Abbie Cornish) shows up and announces she's the uncle's illegitimate daughter. The film represents a laid-back change of pace for both Crowe and director Ridley Scott, but though old-fashioned romantic comedy is all too rare the often lame humor and workaday script, adapted from Peter Mayle's book, make for indifferent viewing. Frequent conversational expletives and some profanity, a nongraphic premarital encounter, some crass humor and innuendo. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"A Lot Like Love" (Touchstone)
Rated PG-13"
Occasionally appealing but mostly forgettable romantic comedy about a button-down Internet entrepreneur (Ashton Kutcher) and an impulsive free spirit (Amanda Peet) who, after an anonymous sexual tryst on a cross-country flight, continue to wander in and out of each other's life as they search for love, only to be drawn closer together with each meeting. Directed by Nigel Cole, the kismet-themed love story is weighed down by a predictable opposites-attract plot and bland performances and its breezy message about "taking chances" is dampened by its casual attitude toward premarital sex. Several sexual encounters, including one with shadowy nudity, drunkenness and some crude language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"A Mighty Heart" (Paramount Vantage)
Rated "R"
Tense recounting of the 2002 kidnapping of and frantic search for Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl (Dan Futterman) in Karachi, Pakistan, as seen through the eyes of his pregnant wife, Mariane (Angelina Jolie), also a journalist. Director Michael Winterbottom superbly captures the tumult, and without histrionics (except for one searing outpouring of grief), deftly embodies the courageous Mariane Pearl who, after the tragic events, refused to succumb to bitterness or vengeance. Several uses of the f-word under duress, and a few other crude or crass words, fleeting newsreel footage of bombings and some dead bodies including a grim morgue image, a discreet torture scene, a brief nongraphic bedroom scene and a verbal description of Pearl's gruesome death. 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.

"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.

"The A-Team" (Fox)
Rated "PG-13"
Explosively noisy, stunt-laden, cheesy and somehow engrossing film based on the 1980s TV series without that program's self-mocking humor. Director Joe Carnahan, who also scripted along with Brian Bloom and Skip Woods, reinvents the story line as sort of a video game, with Liam Neeson, Quinton Jackson, Bradley Cooper, and Sharlto Copley playing four Army Rangers, all specialists in covert missions, framed in Iraq for a crime they didn't commit, then escaping from prison to clear their names and seize the CIA operative who set them up. Some fleeting crass and crude language, most of it before the opening credits are over, a fleeting reference to premarital sex, and abundant explosions and gunfire. The Catholic News Service classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

The Adventures of Ociee Nash (Flying Zebra)
Rated “G”
"The Adventures of Ociee Nash” is a family-friendly drama set in 1898 which follows the modest adventures of a tomboyish 9-year-old (Skyler Day) who, leaving behind her widowed father (Keith Carradine), travels from rural Mississippi to North Carolina in order to live with an aunt (Mare Winningham) who is set on teaching her to become a "proper young lady." Along the way she rubs elbows with such historical personalities as President McKinley (Daniel Burnley) and the Wright brothers (Ty Pennington and Sean Daniels). Directed by Kristen McGary and based on Milam McGraw Propst's children's novel, "A Flower Blooms on Charlotte Street," the film scores points for its disarmingly old-time-values tone but, sadly, neither its homespun charm nor its refreshingly wholesome message can fully mask its flat writing and performances. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-I -- general patronage.

"The Adventures of Shark Boy and Lava Girl in 3-D" (Dimension)
Rated "PG"
Entertaining family fantasy about a picked-on 10-year-old (Cayden Boyd) with a fertile imagination who finds himself recruited by the superheroes he created in his daydreams -- Shark Boy (Taylor Lautner) and Lava Girl (Taylor Dooley) -- and blasts off on a mission to save a distant world from the sinister machinations of Mr. Electric (George Lopez). Directed by Robert Rodriguez from characters created by his 10-year-old son, this kid-friendly film is full of whimsical visuals but the gimmicky 3-D effects distract from what is otherwise a genial tale about the importance of imagination and fostering creativity. Some light comic book violence and mildly rude humor. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents.

"Aeon Flux" (Paramount)
Rated "PG-13"
Stylish but nonsensical sci-fi action adventure set in a distant future where the last remnant of a plague-thinned humanity lives in a walled, socially engineered "perfect" society, and centers on a female assassin (a cat-suit-clad Charlize Theron) conflicted about her assigned target: the utopia's totalitarian ruler (Marton Csokas), whom she senses holds the secret to the unexplained disappearance of citizens as well as to her own shrouded past. Directed by Karyn Kusama and based on the popular series of MTV animated shorts, the film's "Matrix"-style acrobatics and visual panache can't disguise emotional flatness and a barely coherent script littered with video-game carnage. Much stylized violence, brief gore and a sexual encounter. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

"African Cats" (Disneynature)
Rated "G"
Actor Samuel L. Jackson narrates this impressive nature documentary charting the varied fortunes of a pride of lions and a clan of cheetahs living on the savannah in Kenya's Masai Mara National Reserve. Splendid landscape footage and remarkably detailed animal close-ups provide the whole family with a top-quality cinematic safari. Directors Keith Scholey and Alastair Fothergill discreetly spare younger viewers the nitty-gritty of predatory behavior, though not the harsh Darwinian dynamic that ruthlessly eliminates the weak -- however sympathetic. The Catholic News Service classification is A-I -- general patronage. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is G -- general audiences. All ages admitted.

"After the Sunset" (New Line)
Rated "PG-13"
Lackluster caper directed by Brett Ratner about a master thief (Pierce Brosnan) who, after calling it quits and retiring to a tropical island with his sexy accomplice (Salma Hayek), is tempted to steal a priceless gem aboard a cruise ship docked in port, while being watched by an FBI agent (Woody Harrelson) gunning to nail him. Despite good cat-and-mouse chemistry between Brosnan and Harrelson, the film's warmed-over premise doesn't really contribute anything new to the heist genre and in making light of the felonies committed suggests that crime pays handsomely. A glamorized portrayal of larceny, crime without consequence, brief violence, several implied sexual encounters and some racy images, as well as an instance of rough language and intermittent crude language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

"The Air I Breathe" (THINKFilm)
Rated "R"
Energetic but seamy study of characters trapped by their own passions through four interconnected stories involving a gangster (Andy Garcia), a reckless gambler (Forest Whitaker) who's in debt to him, his vulgar nephew (Emile Hirsch), one of his enforcers (Brendan Fraser), a popular singer whose career he controls (Sarah Michelle Geller), and a doctor (Kevin Bacon) who's desperate to make contact with the pop star. Director Jieho Lee's film, though it shows marks of craftsmanship, ultimately registers as contrived, as well as excessively gory, with a nonstop stream of four-letter words. Graphic violence, including mutilation and beatings, upper female and rear nudity, themes of suicide, prostitution and abortion, pervasive rough and frequent crude and crass language, two uses of profanity, sexual references and innuendo. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Akeelah and the Bee" (Lionsgate)
Rated "PG"
Irresistible story about a South Los Angeles 11-year-old loner (Keke Palmer) who reluctantly agrees to compete in a national spelling bee -- under the tutelage of an emotionally fragile English professor (Laurence Fishburne) against the initial wishes of her hard-working mother (Angela Bassett), who worries the endeavor will interfere with the girl's flagging grades in other subjects. Writer-director Doug Atchison handles Akeelah's journey of self-discovery and growing empowerment deftly and builds suspense on the way to a satisfying if unabashedly formulaic conclusion, helped by his first-rate leads, and inspiring messages about conquering fears, winning by honest means, the strength of community, and, above all, the beauty and potency of words. A few crass expressions and a single use of a four-letter word can't detract from an overall warm endorsement for all audiences. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-I -- general patronage.

"Alexander" (Warner Bros.)
Rated "R"
Ambitious historical epic which explores the life of Alexander the Great (Colin Farrell), the fabled fourth-century B.C. Macedonian conqueror, chronicling his rise to power, stunning military victories and empire expansion, with breaks in the sword-and-sandal action for some Freudian forays into his bisexuality and estranged relationship with his conniving mother (Angelina Jolie) and roughhewn royal father (Val Kilmer). Though this "Alexander" is far from great, director Oliver Stone's visually impressive film features spectacular, though graphic, battles and lavish re-creations of antiquity which somewhat balance its epic flaws, which include campy acting and dialogue, a plodding pace and an interminable running time of three hours. Strong battlefield violence and associated gore, an attempted rape, several implied gay sexual situations, one involving shadowy rear nudity, an explicit straight bedroom scene and generalized background debauchery. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adult would find troubling.

"Alex Rider: Operation Stormbreaker" (Weinstein)
Rated "PG"
Adequately entertaining action adventure based on the first volume of the popular children's book series by Anthony Horowitz, about a London teen (Alex Pettyfer) who, after learning that his recently deceased uncle (Ewan McGregor) was a secret agent for the British government, is recruited into the spy biz to investigate a shadowy American billionaire (Mickey Rourke) who's planning to use his high-tech "stormbreaker" computer to unleash global death. Despite a lightweight script padded with chases and explosions, director Geoffrey Sax keeps the action fast-paced and the tone amusingly campy, though some of the story elements may be a bit grim for some young viewers. Some nongraphic action violence and scenes of peril. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents.

"Alfie" (Paramount)
Rated "R"
Successfully competing with fond memories of the 1966 Michael Caine English film, this new version, set in Manhattan, features a superb Jude Law as the womanizing cad whose callous ways eventually catch up with him. Charles Shyer's beautifully crafted remake -- an exceedingly moral film even as it features a most amoral antihero -- follows the titular Cockney limo driver as he makes his amorous way through his best friend's girl (Nia Long), a wealthy older society matron (Susan Sarandon), a married woman (Jane Krakowski), a free-spirited party girl (Sienna Miller) and a single mom (Marisa Tomei), before feeling the emptiness of his self-centered life. Some rough and crude language, strong sexual content, nudity and recreational drug use. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Alice in Wonderland" (Disney)
Rated "PG"
Very loosely inspired by, but not recklessly departing from, Lewis Carroll's famous books, this 3-D fantasy-adventure mixes animation and live action as it follows its plucky Victorian heroine (Mia Wasikowska) -- here a 19-year-old -- down the rabbit hole into a strange, nonsensical realm where she conspires with the Mad Hatter (Johnny Depp) and various frazzled fauna to end the despotic rule of the Red Queen (Helena Bonham Carter). Although younger viewers will be frightened by certain sequences, director Tim Burton refrains from indulging in the more macabre or avant-garde aspects of the tale; and yet, while it conveys a salubrious message with vaguely Christian echoes, the film's aesthetic impact is lessened by the lack of a coherent visual style. Sequences of fantasy action and violence, including a skewered animal eyeball, human characters striking one another; images of mild animal cruelty, some discussion of beheadings, a character smoking a water pipe and one instance of light 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.

"Aliens in the Attic" (Fox/Regency)
Rated "PG"
Mostly harmless comic adventure in which a group of young cousins (principally Carter Jenkins, Austin Butler and Ashley Tisdale) battle a quartet of aggressive extraterrestrials (voices of Josh Peck, J.K. Simmons, Thomas Haden Church and Kari Wahlgren) who've invaded their vacation home as a preliminary step to world domination. Director John Schultz's mildly diverting fantasy offers lessons about family unity and the value of education, but also includes dialogue inappropriate for younger viewers, who might otherwise enjoy it most. A few sexual references, occasional innuendo and at least one crass term. 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.

Alien vs. Predator (20th Century Fox)
Rated "PG-13 -- parents are strongly cautioned."
Horror film fans have always loved a good monster mash. Hollywood heavyweight bouts have included "Frankenstein Meets the Wolfman" (1943), "King Kong vs. Godzilla" (1962) and, of a more recent vintage, "Freddy vs. Jason" (2003). Add to the frightfest fight card "Alien vs. Predator," a cross-pollinating of two popular sci-fi franchises which had been percolating in development offices for 10 years before making its way to the big screen. Unfortunately, it wasn't worth the wait. In the film, a team of scientists and mercenaries (including Sanaa Lathan and Raoul Bova) are hired by a billionaire industrialist (Lance Henriksen, who also appeared in the 1986 "Alien" sequel "Aliens") to explore a mysterious ancient pyramid which is discovered buried far beneath the Antarctic ice cap. Once there, the expedition members find themselves live bait in a battle royal between the two eponymous space species sparring for bragging rights in the galaxy. Some scenes push the boundaries of the film's PG-13 rating, much of the carnage occurs off screen. Due to gory action violence, an instance of rough language and scattered crude expressions, the USCCB classification is A-III -- adults.

"Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem" (20th Century Fox)
Rated "R"
Limp sequel to 2004's "Alien vs. Predator," set in a remote Colorado town having the misfortune to be near where a Predator spacecraft full of the slimy, fast-breeding, insectlike aliens (seen in five previous films) crash-lands. Directing brothers Colin and Greg Strause and screenwriter Shane Salerno opt for stale, predictable chaos rather than originality, and the Predator, a rogue warrior whose powers include invisibility, is reduced to plodding through a sewer. Brief partial nudity; rough, crude and profane language, nearly all of it by fighting teenagers; a very brief attempted seduction by a teenage girl; and aliens who, as expected, pop out of a couple of rubbery human midsections; but most of the gore consists of special-effects blood splashing on windows. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"All About Steve" (Fox)
Rated "PG-13"
Tiresome romantic comedy about a motormouthed, trivia-spouting crossword-puzzle writer (Sandra Bullock) whose isolated life is transformed when she falls instantly for a TV news cameraman (Bradley Cooper) she meets on a blind date, her obsessive love prompting her first to throw herself at him in a bid for immediate intimacy, then to dog him from one news event to the next, egged on, as a practical joke, by a vain reporter (Thomas Haden Church) for his network. Director Phil Traill's feature debut is hobbled by a central character whose supposed quirkiness is grating rather than endearing and, a few digs at media excess aside, neither the humor nor the more serious moments affirming individuality and emotional sensitivity succeed. Nongraphic nonmarital sexual activity, some sexual humor and references, a half-dozen uses of profanity, frequent crude or crass language, and an obscene gesture. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"All the King's Men" (Columbia)
Rated "PG-13"
Uneven remake of Robert Penn Warren's 1946 Pulitzer-Prize winner set in the 1950s, about a rabble-rousing everyman (Sean Penn) who rises from obscurity, railing against political corruption, and is elected governor of Louisiana, only to be polluted by power once he's in office; and the idealistic journalist (Jude Law) who falls under his spell. Written and directed by Steven Zaillian, the handsomely crafted morality tale -- loosely based on the life of Depression-era Louisiana Gov. Huey P. Long -- explores the means and ends of power, but Penn's passionate and committed performance is undermined by an opaque script. A violent shooting, implied adultery, a suicide, a bedroom encounter with shadowy side nudity, a provocative nightclub performance, some mildly crude language, profanity and racial slurs. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be nappropriate for children under 13.

"Alone in the Dark" (Lions Gate)
Rated "R"
Insufferably inane sci-fi action film directed by Uwe Boll about a paranormal detective (Christian Slater), who in investigating the disappearances of several missing people uncovers a plot by a mad scientist to open a virtual portal to hell which will unleash an evil race of savage creatures on the world. Based on the popular video game, the ludicrous film is as incoherent as it is violent, and is full of bafflingly bad acting and risible dialogue. Excessive gratuitous violence and gore, a suicide, an implied sexual encounter, as well as much rough and crude language and profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive.

"Alpha and Omega" (Lionsgate)
Rated "PG"
Opposites are forced to become allies when two kidnapped wolves, disciplined and serious Kate (voice of Hayden Panettiere) and free-spirited, fun-loving Humphrey (voice of Justin Long), embark on a challenging journey to find their way home. Despite colorful animation and eye-popping 3-D effects, co-directors Anthony Bell and Ben Gluck's adventure falls back upon a tired -- but kid-approved -- formula of bathroom humor, slapstick action and wisecracking characters. The potty jokes aside, this is basically harmless fun for the entire family. The Catholic News Service classification is A-I -- general patronage. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested.

"Alpha Dog" (Universal)
Rated "R"
Extremely ugly drama, set amid the drug culture of affluent youths in Los Angeles and loosely based on true events, about a teenage dealer (Emile Hirsch) who, together with his clique (including Justin Timberlake), abducts the kid brother (Anton Yelchin) of a rival (Ben Foster) who owes him money, triggering unforeseen complications as their scheme spirals out of control. Writer-director Nick Cassavetes effectively conveys the nihilism and morally vacant lifestyles of his disaffected youths -- an indictment of irresponsible parenting as much as the corrosive influence of much of today's pop culture -- but the story is emotionally uninvolving and the overall raw tone and incessant sordidness, while perhaps accurately reflecting reality, are excessive. Pervasive rough and sexually explicit language, some strong violence, recurring drug content, delinquent behavior, several sexual situations with partial nudity, one involving minors, underage drinking and smoking, as well as scattered profanity and racial epithets. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive.

"Alvin and the Chipmunks" (Fox)
Rated "PG"
Entertaining comedy with music in which the three familiar animated warblers (voiced by Justin Long, Matthew Gray Gubler and Jesse McCartney) befriend a failing ad man and would-be composer (Jason Lee) and inspire him to write a hit Christmas song which they record, while also trying to reunite him with the ex-girlfriend (Cameron Richardson) to whom he could not commit, before then being tempted away by a greedy record producer (David Cross) who seeks to exploit them. Director Tim Hill's film is full of enjoyable chaos, yet manages to send messages about family solidarity and rule keeping that parents will appreciate. Some crude and scatological humor. 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.

"Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked" (Fox)
Rated "G"
This weak, slapstick-laden -- but not unwholesome -- third entry in the Chipmunks series has the titular rodent rap stars (voiced by Justin Long, Matthew Gray Gubler and Jesse McCartney) and their distaff counterparts the Chipettes (voices of Amy Poehler, Anna Faris and Christina Applegate) misbehaving on a cruise ship and winding up on a remote Caribbean island, where they help another castaway (Jenny Slate) and learn some lessons in maturity and responsibility. As he blends animation and live action, director Mike Mitchell piles on the pratfalls -- along with references to other similarly themed media offerings, from the TV show "Lost" to Tom Hanks' 2000 big-screen drama "Cast Away." The Catholic News Service classification is A-I -- general patronage. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is G -- general audiences. All ages admitted.

"Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel" (Fox)
Rated "PG"
Harmless but mostly routine comedy with music, mixing animation and live action, in which the familiar trio of harmonizing rodents (voices of Justin Long, Matthew Gray Gubler and Jesse McCartney) have a series of slapstick misadventures, eventually winding up in the inept care of a gadget-obsessed slacker (Zachary Levi), becoming school students, and entering a singing competition that pits them against a group of chipmunk divas (voices of Amy Poehler, Anna Faris and Christina Applegate). A bit of gently rude humor aside, director Betty Thomas' extension of the 50-year-old franchise, which includes hit recordings, a pair of TV cartoon series and this feature's 2007 predecessor, "Alvin and the Chipmunks," is unobjectionable, though its positive lessons about choosing loyalty over selfishness come wrapped in an entertainment package that feels somewhat shopworn. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-I -- general patronage. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.

"ATL" (Warner Bros.)
Rated "PG-13"
Familiar but satisfying coming-of-age-in-the-'hood drama set in Atlanta about a 17-year-old aspiring graphic artist (Tip Harris) forced to shoulder the load of raising himself and his wayward kid brother (Evan Ross) after their parents' death, a burden complicated by the younger boy's involvement with a local drug dealer and his own budding, star-crossed romance. His only release is roller skating with his friends (including Jackie Long). Despite a cliched script, director Chris Robinson's film is visually vibrant and wins over your emotions with its appealing performances and positive themes about the bonds of family and friendship, owning up to responsibilities, holding on to dreams and taking pride in your roots. Some violence and sexual situations, including an implied encounter between minors, suggestive roller-skating choreography, drug content, an instance of rough language and some crude language and humor. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"Amazing Grace" (Samuel Goldwyn/Roadside)
Rated "PG"
Compelling historical biography about William Wilberforce (a dynamic Ioan Gruffudd), the great 18th century British abolitionist, who with the help of the young British Prime Minister William Pitt (Benedict Cumberbatch), and other like-minded friends in Parliament and elsewhere (Rufus Sewell, Michael Gambon, Albert Finney, Youssou N'Dour), managed -- after tireless and courageous struggle -- to pass an anti-slave trade bill in Parliament. With its solid performances, accessible script and handsome production design, director Michael Apted's film recalls some of the best historical dramas from Hollywood's golden age, and is all the more admirable for its unabashed portrait of a passionate man of God. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents.

"An American Affair" (Screen Media)
Rated "R"
Odd coming-of-age tale, set in 1963 Washington, about a 13-year-old Catholic schoolboy (Cameron Bright) who spies on, and becomes obsessed with, a free-spirited artist (Gretchen Mol) who lives in his neighborhood, despite being warned against her by his otherwise indifferent parents (Perrey Reeves and Noah Wyle). Director William Sten Olsson's cliche-ridden feature debut, which promotes wayward values while trashing nuns and parochial education, clumsily attempts to graft Camelot-era historical events -- the painter is one of President Kennedy's mistresses and the ex-wife of a CIA agent (Mark Pellegrino) -- onto a personal narrative of adolescent sexual yearning and aspirations for independence. Brief graphic adulterous sexual activity, masturbation, voyeurism, upper female nudity, a pornographic image, some rough and crude language, and a couple of uses of profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"Amelia" (Fox Searchlight)
Rated "PG"
Hilary Swank portrays aviatrix Amelia Earhart in a handsome, mellifluous biography suitable for viewing by multiple generations yet which nevertheless fails to soar as an adventure or romance. No one could expect director Mira Nair, using two literary biographies as source material, to offer the definitive take on Earhart's personality, let alone solve the mystery of her disappearance over the Pacific in 1937, but the vague insights into her character and relationships, both with husband George Putnam (Richard Gere) and intimate friend Gene Vidal (Ewan McGregor), though ultimately affirming the bonds of marriage, prove frustrating, particularly coupled with the film's lack of sustenance for aviation buffs. Discreetly handled adulterous and premarital sexual situations, one instance of crass language, and one use of 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.

"The American" (Focus)
Rated "R"
A professional assassin (George Clooney) flees to Italy in search of healing and a better life, only to discover that it's hard to shake his past. He falls for the proverbial prostitute with a heart of gold (Violante Placido), and receives moral advice from the flawed but sympathetic local priest (Paolo Bonacelli), but must ultimately find his own way. Although the serious intent of the filmmakers is clear, director Anton Corbijn's adaptation of Martin Booth's novel "A Very Private Gentleman" makes for a dark, brooding and lethargic film that features graphic sexuality and an insubstantial treatment of Christian morality, only skirting the implications of its main character's profoundly sinful situation. Bloody violence including multiple shootings, full-frontal female and partial male nudity, and explicit scenes of nonmarital sex. 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.

"American Dreamz" (Universal)
Rated "PG-13"
Fairly amusing satire of fame and politics as a would-be terrorist (Sam Golzari) enamored of American show tunes winds up on an "American Idol"-like talent show, where his Afghan superiors expect him to kill the U.S. president (Dennis Quaid) who is appearing as a celebrity judge to boost his image, while the show's host (Hugh Grant) falls for a "white trash" contestant from Ohio (Mandy Moore). The performances, including those of Marcia Gay Harden and Willem Dafoe, are good, and director-writer Paul Weitz carefully avoids most of the pitfalls of such a premise with a surprisingly sweet-natured story with no real villains, though the salvos about the today's vapid pop culture, the public's misplaced priorities, the need for understanding of our "enemies," and the obscenity of war could sometimes be more sharply focused. Scattered instances of four-letter words, profanity, and sexual and crass expressions, an implied premarital coupling and a suicide. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"American Gangster" (Universal)
Rated "R"
Gritty, chaotically filmed 1970s New York true life story about a scrupulously honest if womanizing cop (Russell Crowe) investigating a notorious drug kingpin (Denzel Washington) who's shipping heroin from Thailand to the States in Vietnam War soldiers' body bags all the while posing as an upstanding family man. Director Ridley Scott, working from Steven Zaillian's fact-based script, captures the tumultuous era's spirit and skillfully counterbalances the prosperous criminal with the struggling hero, but the squalid milieu and strong violence will not be to everyone's taste, despite a moderately redemptive ending. Pervasive rough language and profanity, racial epithets, upper female nudity, adultery, a graphic sexual encounter without nudity, violence, murder, suicide, brief torture and drug dealing. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"American Gun" (IFC)
Rated "R"
Disjointed, intermittently forceful drama that examines America's gun culture through the lens of three unrelated, but thematically linked, stories: an Oregon single mother (Marcia Gay Harden) and her teenage son (Christopher Marquette) struggling to cope with festering emotions three years after her older boy went on a Columbine-style shooting rampage and committed suicide; a Chicago principal (Forest Whitaker) trying to keep weapons out of his high school, while ignoring troubles at home; and a soft-spoken Virginian gunsmith (Donald Sutherland) at a loss over his granddaughter's (Linda Cardellini) remoteness. Director Aric Avelino follows the multiple narrative template of films like "Traffic" and "Crash," but despite earnestly showing how gun violence can have a domino effect in communities and wreak devastation beyond the immediate victims, the stories never coalesce into a cohesive whole, despite solid performances across the board. Several instances of violence, including a graphic shooting and a suggested attempted gang rape, a brief glimpse of a dead body and a few other disturbing images, a vulgar gesture, as well as much rough and crude language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

"An American Haunting" (After Dark)
Rated "PG-13"
Spookily atmospheric, well-acted thriller based on the "true story" of the "Bell Witch" case, the only documented case in the U.S. of a spirit causing the death of a person, as the Bells, an 1818 Tennessee couple (Donald Sutherland and Sissy Spacek) battle ghostly horrors in their home and the possession of their daughter (Rachel Hurd-Ward), after a woman thought to be a witch curses the family. Writer-director Courtney Solomon builds up an atmosphere of heady suspense that never lets up, and although there's lots of generalized demonic violence, there's little bloodshed. Some intensely violent episodes including a hair-raising wolf attack, an attempted suicide, questioning of God's existence and omnipotence, and subtle sexual revelations of an adult nature. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"The Amityville Horror" (MGM)
Rated "R"
Schlocky and unnecessarily grisly remake of the 1979 horror movie based on the alleged true experiences of a Long Island couple (Ryan Reynolds and Melissa George) who, along with their three children, move into a spooky new home with a suspiciously low asking price and an evil past involving its former residents -- a family slaughtered in their beds by their demonically possessed son. Directed by Andrew Douglas, the movie has a few jolts but lacks any real suspense and ultimately unravels into a muddled stew of sensory overload and confusion. Strong gratuitous violence and gore, torture images, a sexual encounter with shadowy nudity, several scenes of child peril, brief drug content and recurring rough language and profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive.

Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid (Screen Gems)
Rated “PG-13”
"Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid) is an atrocious action thriller about a scientific expedition (including Johnny Messner and Kadee Strickland) sent to Borneo by a pharmaceutical company to search for a rare flower with fountain-of-youth medicinal qualities, but winds up lost deep in a jungle slithering with giant man-eating snakes. Made sillier by the fact that anacondas are not indigenous to Borneo, director Dwight Little's sequel manages to squeeze out a few cheap screams but, for the most part, the cheesy dialogue is scarier than the hokey computer-animated constrictors and the best acting is done by a rhesus monkey. Because of recurring action violence, some scary images, a crude gesture, an instance of rough language and scattered crass expressions and sexual innuendo, the USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"An American Affair" (Screen Media)
Rated "R"
Odd coming-of-age tale, set in 1963 Washington, about a 13-year-old Catholic schoolboy (Cameron Bright) who spies on, and becomes obsessed with, a free-spirited artist (Gretchen Mol) who lives in his neighborhood, despite being warned against her by his otherwise indifferent parents (Perrey Reeves and Noah Wyle). Director William Sten Olsson's cliche-ridden feature debut, which promotes wayward values while trashing nuns and parochial education, clumsily attempts to graft Camelot-era historical events -- the painter is one of President Kennedy's mistresses and the ex-wife of a CIA agent (Mark Pellegrino) -- onto a personal narrative of adolescent sexual yearning and aspirations for independence. Brief graphic adulterous sexual activity, masturbation, voyeurism, upper female nudity, a pornographic image, some rough and crude language, and a couple of uses of profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"An American Carol" (Vivendi/Mpower)
Rated "PG-13"
Heavy-handed conservative satire in which a left-wing, America-hating filmmaker (Kevin Farley), out to abolish the Fourth of July, is visited by the ghosts of some of the nation's past leaders (Chriss Anglin, Kelsey Grammer and Jon Voight) who urge him to repent. Director and co-writer David Zucker's slapdash reworking of Charles Dickens is too busy hectoring to score many comic points. Brief partial nudity, some sexual and brief scatological humor, some crude language, one use of profanity and vulgar gestures. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"An American Haunting" (After Dark)
Rated "PG-13"
Spookily atmospheric, well-acted thriller based on the "true story" of the "Bell Witch" case, the only documented case in the U.S. of a spirit causing the death of a person, as the Bells, an 1818 Tennessee couple (Donald Sutherland and Sissy Spacek) battle ghostly horrors in their home and the possession of their daughter (Rachel Hurd-Ward), after a woman thought to be a witch curses the family. Writer-director Courtney Solomon builds up an atmosphere of heady suspense that never lets up, and although there's lots of generalized demonic violence, there's little bloodshed. Some intensely violent episodes including a hair-raising wolf attack, an attempted suicide, questioning of God's existence and omnipotence, and subtle sexual revelations of an adult nature. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"Annapolis" (Touchstone)
Rated "PG-13"
Diverting but derivative drama about a scrappy shipyard worker (an appealing James Franco), who, after being accepted to the U.S. Naval Academy, must prove his mettle while training for the school's boxing tournament against his no-nonsense drill instructor (Tyrese Gibson). Though director Justin Lin's adrenalized climax achieves its desired rousing effect, this retread of "An Officer and a Gentleman" is hollow and formulaic. Brutal boxing sequences, an attempted suicide, some sexually crude language and humor, as well as profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (DreamWorks)
Rated " PG-13" Parents are strongly cautioned.
Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.
The old boys' club gets clubbed when a feisty blonde joins an all-male TV news team in the lackluster spoof "Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy." It's 1970s' San Diego and local ratings champ Ron (Will Ferrell) is full of himself, as are his moronic anchor-desk sidekicks, Champ (David Koechner), Brian (Paul Rudd) and Brick (Steve Carell). They act out as if they are 11, which is probably their combined IQ as well. The clueless quartet is instantly threatened when competent journalist Veronica (Christina Applegate) is hired and refuses to be relegated to covering cat fashions. In response, the guys, imagining themselves to be superstuds, make their clumsy passes and sexist wisecracks to her deaf ears and rolling eyes -- that is, until Ron shows Veronica how he plays the jazz flute. Inexplicably, she suddenly turns dumb blonde and lets him play with her. However, their little fling soon flops once Ron is late for the newscast and Veronica smartly subs for him. He's enraged, but she's promoted to co-anchor -- and the four fellows do all they can to make her stumble on-air. Veronica gets the last laugh, however, when Ron reads the outrageous news copy she altered on the teleprompter and he suffers the consequences. It would take a pit full of snarling bears to bring these two back together. A lame script and the stale chauvinist stereotypes that populate writer-director Adam McKay's comedy make for mostly dull viewing. Although Ferrell fans are likely to feel otherwise and Applegate handles her role with aplomb, this is a one-joke premise that's fine for a skit but is too much of a stretch for movie length. One can't help but remember how much better the sitcom, "The Mary Tyler Moore Show," fleshed out a similar newsroom situation with weekly wit and three-dimensional characters. Here the humor is puerile, yet too adult in its references and language to be appropriate for the 10- to 15-year-old mentality that would enjoy it. To its credit, the movie mocks the sexist attitudes that prevailed when women first sought equal status as on-air TV reporters and co-anchors. But satire succeeds when it's sharp, not insipid, and "Anchorman" is weighed down by its sheer silliness. Because of an implied affair, several sexual references and crude expressions, occasional profanity and an instance of rough language, the USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"Angels & Demons" (Sony/Columbia)
Rated "PG-13"
Highly improbable but mindlessly entertaining sequel to "The Da Vinci Code" adapted from Dan Brown's prequel written in 2000 -- in which religious symbologist Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks) and a scientist (Ayelet Zurer) join forces with a church official (Ewan McGregor) to try to prevent the destruction of the Vatican and the murder of a quartet of kidnapped cardinals by following a trail of clues left across Rome by the secretive Illuminati cult of anti-Catholic intellectuals. Though director Ron Howard has toned down some of the book's most egregious elements, the historical church is still portrayed as a relentless and at times violent foe of science, but the film ends on a positive note from a faith perspective and the final image of the church is relatively positive. Much action violence, some grisly murders, factually dodgy church history and ritual, some crass language and a profanity, and a suicide. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"The Ant Bully" (Warner Bros.)
Rated "PG"
Whimsically entertaining computer animated fable about a young boy (voiced by Zack Tyler Eisen) who, in response to havoc wreaked on an anthill in his front yard, is magically shrunk to bug size by an ant wizard (voiced by Nicolas Cage), put on trial and sentenced to remain miniaturized until he makes amends, which he does by saving the lawn's insect population from annihilation at the hands of a gung-ho exterminator (Paul Giamatti). Written and directed by John A. Davis from the John Nickle children's book, the pixilated parable wraps its might-doesn't-make-right moral and agreeable life lessons in vibrantly imaginative visuals, though the performances of the A-list voice talent (including Julia Roberts and Meryl Streep, in addition to Cage) are bland and the writing is less than sharp. A few instances of mildly crude language and humor and a menacing sequence that may be scary for very young children. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-I -- general patronage.

"Apocalypto" (Touchstone)
Rated "R"
Visually bold but extremely bloody action-adventure set in 15th-century Central America about the desperate odyssey of a jungle tribesman (Rudy Youngblood) to get back to his pregnant wife (Dalia Hernandez) and child after he and other members of his tribe are taken captive by the ruling Mayans following the massacre of his village. In what is essentially a chase movie, director Mel Gibson impressively re-creates the world of the Mayans -- the sights, sounds and savagery -- using an indigenous cast speaking entirely in Mayan dialects, but the intoxicating imagery and human drama are undermined by so much gore that, even if historically accurate, the cumulative result registers as gratuitous. Intense and graphic violence, including scenes of slaughter, human sacrifice, beheadings and a man being mauled by a jaguar, disturbing images, some sexual humor and innuendo, a suggested marital encounter, partial nudity, an instance of rough language and a few crude expressions. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

"Anonymous"
Rated "PG-13"
Director Roland Emmerich takes up the old but debunked conspiracy theory that William Shakespeare was a fraud, twisting history to suit a screenplay (by John Orloff) that is preposterous, lewd and farcical. We meet the "real" author of Shakespeare's works, Edward de Vere (Rhys Ifans), the 17th earl of Oxford, as a child prodigy, performing his "A Midsummer Night's Dream" for the young Queen Elizabeth (Joely Richardson). Time passes, Edward writes dozens of manuscripts in secret, has an adulterous affair with the queen, and enlists playwright Ben Jonson (Sebastian Armesto) to stage his works. Enter unscrupulous -- and illiterate -- actor Will Shakespeare (Rafe Spall), who blackmails Edward and usurps his place in literary history. Several incestuous and adulterous relationships, nongraphic premarital sexual activity, some bloody violence. 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.

"Apollo 18" (Dimension/Weinstein)
Rated "PG-13"
An inventive horror film presented -- in the spirit of "The Blair Witch Project" -- as a documentary, purporting to tell the story of a top-secret mission to the moon, and why we dare not return there anytime soon. Christmas 1973 finds NASA preparing the titular spacecraft and training its eager astronauts (most prominently Warren Christie and Lloyd Owen). Once on the lunar surface, Owen's character goes walkabout, stumbles upon footprints and a dead Soviet cosmonaut, and the fun, so to speak, begins. Before long things start to go bump in the night, shrieks are heard, and creepy crawlies are on the march as Spanish director Gonzalo Lopez-Gallego's Hollywood debut morphs into a monster movie. Sporadic but intense moments of terror and fleeting profane and crude language. 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.

"Appaloosa" (Warner Bros./New Line)
Rated "R"
Well-acted throwback to the westerns of yore as a city marshal (Ed Harris) and his deputy (versatile Viggo Mortensen) try to bring order to the titular fictional New Mexico town by daring to take a powerful rancher and gang leader (Jeremy Irons) into custody, while the sheriff's fickle fiancee (Renee Zellweger) brings minor triangular complications to the men's rock-solid alliance. Harris also co-wrote and directed this overlong but quality production adapted from a Robert B. Parker novel, and though it falls short of truly gripping, there's much to admire. Moderate gun violence, vigilante justice, brief long-shot rear nudity, implied nonmarital relationships, some innuendo, one use of the F-word, and some other crude words and 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.

"Apres Vous" ("After You") (Paramount Classics)
Rated "R"
Affecting and funny French comedy about a do-gooder (Daniel Auteuil) who rescues a suicidal sad sack (Jose Garcia) who's been dumped by his girlfriend (Sandrine Kiberlain), and attempts to secretly bring the couple back together, but finds himself falling in love with her instead. Director Pierre Salvadori's film, with perfectly judged performances, gets off to a leisurely start, but as the story builds so do the plot complications and the laughs, buttressed by good Samaritan messages about caring, generosity, friendship and kindness. Subtitles. Sporadic rough and crude words, mild profanity, some sexual banter, casual premarital relationships. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"Are We There Yet?" (Columbia)
Rated "PG"
Leaden road comedy about a smooth-talking skirt-chaser (Ice Cube) with no patience for kids who gets more than he bargained for when he falls for a pretty divorcee (Nia Long) and volunteers to taxi her two mischievous children (Philip Daniel Bolden and Aleisha Allen) from Portland, Ore., to Vancouver, British Columbia, where she is staying on business, so they can all be together on New Year's Eve. Directed by Brain Levant, this film runs out of gas early, leaving viewers to endure a bumpy ride of scatological sight gags and mean-spirited mishaps (making it unsuitable for younger adolescents) which, unfortunately, dampens its sincere, albeit sentimental, message about the importance of family and parenthood. Recurring crude humor and comic violence, and some mildly crass language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents.

"Armored" (Screen Gems)
Rated "PG-13"
Negligible heist flick about six guards employed by a Los Angeles armored car company who attempt to pull an inside job, during which only an Iraq War hero (Columbus Short) exhibits scruples and smarts; his greedy colleagues, led by his godfather (Matt Dillon), instead demonstrate the old adage about the paucity of honor among thieves. Working from a flimsy script, director Nimrod Antal keeps the nondescript action moving along without undue complications. Considerable, though not excessive, action violence, including gunplay and knife use, some profanity, much crude language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

Around the World in 80 Days (Disney)
Rated "PG"
An eccentric inventor and his chop-socky sidekick embark on a globetrotting adventure in order to win an outrageous wager in the lavish, family-friendly romp, "Around the World in 80 Days." Based on the classic yarn by Jules Verne and directed by Frank Coraci, the film combines action, romance and heaping dollops of madcap comedy to serve up an entertaining, continent-hopping spectacle that is both campy and clever -- and, as an added attraction -- quite fun. Opening in Victorian-era London, the film stars Steve Coogan as the visionary techno-tinkerer Phileas Fogg, an armchair adventurer who, desperate to gain the respect of his crusty critics at the stuffy Royal Academy of Science, makes an outlandish gentleman's bet to circumnavigate the globe in no more than 80 days. Action-star Jackie Chan co-stars as Passepartout (pronounced "passport to"), his lightning-limbed traveling companion whom viewers first meet fleeing a phalanx of bumbling Bobbies after robbing the Bank of London. As it turns out, Passepartout, whose real name is Lao Xing, was sent from China to recover from the bank's vault a sacred jade statue of Buddha which was stolen from his village by a female Asian assassin named General Fang (Karen Joy Morris). Also along for the riotous ride is Monique (Cecile de France), a French tart with an eye for art and a nose for adventure. Their journey by land, air and sea takes the trio on a whirlwind tour of the world's most exotic locales, including pit stops for centerpiece action sequences in Paris, Istanbul, India, China and the American West. But their path is fraught with obstacles, set by Lord Kelvin (Jim Broadbent), the stuffed-shirt head of the Royal Academy who, working in cahoots with Fang, wants to discredit Phileas. Along the way they learn gushy lessons about friendship and loyalty, encountering a host of celebrity cameos including Luke and Owen Wilson as the Wright brothers, Kathy Bates as Queen Victoria and a shock-wigged Arnold Schwarzenegger as a vain Turkish vizier. Taken for what it is -- eye-candy -- "Around the World in 80 Days" is surprisingly satisfying. Like the helium that lifts Phileas' balloon high above the Champs d'Elysee, the film's refreshingly lighthearted levity elevates it above the smash-and-crash action clones glutting summer screens. Much of this is owed to the appealing pairing of Coogan and Chan (roles played by David Niven and the inimitable Cantinflas in the Oscar-winning 1956 film version), whose onscreen chemistry makes up for many of the flick's shortcomings. And while Jules Verne probably didn't envision kung-fu fights along the Rive Gauche, Chan never ceases to amaze with his high-flying feats, and feet. Though it runs a bit too long, "Around the World in 80 Days" is that rare kind of film that can be appreciated by the entire family, though some parents may feel the action is too intense for very young children. Older kids will have a ball with Fogg's goofy gizmos and will get a kick -- literally -- out of the martial-arts choreography, including one scene where a brawl turns into an impromptu lesson in impressionistic painting. Like Phileas Fogg, you may just want to bet on this one! Due to recurring action violence, some mildly crude language and humor, and brief drunkenness, the USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents.

"Arctic Tale" (Paramount Classics)
Rated "G"
Queen Latifah delightfully narrates an absorbing story charting the parallel journeys of a polar bear cub and a walrus pup in the Arctic Circle from birth to maturity, and showing how they manage to survive a changing environment with ever-decreasing ice seriously impeding both their natural habitat and their ability to obtain food. Co-directors and cinematographers Adam Ravetch and Sarah Robertson have fashioned an impressively photographed "fable" out of the challenges facing these creatures in light of global warming, rendering the film a vivid animal counterpart to Al Gore's "An Inconvenient Truth." Though restrained in its presentation, the film includes some images of animal violence and death, perhaps precluding viewing by the very young. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-I -- general patronage. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is G -- general audiences. All ages admitted.

"Arthur" (Warner Bros.)
Rated "PG-13"
The utterly frivolous, merrily alcoholic heir (Russell Brand) to a billion-dollar corporate fortune is threatened with disinheritance unless he marries a domineering executive (Jennifer Garner) who plans to curb his wayward lifestyle. A chance encounter with a working-class New York City tour guide (Greta Gerwig), however, leaves the previously heedless playboy smitten and forced to choose between luxury and love. Though director Jason Winer's remake of Steve Gordon's popular 1981 comedy intermittently touches on the limits of materialism, it gives a pass to its main character's promiscuity and tends to trivialize his problem drinking. The fitful laughs on offer mostly derive from the tart observations of Helen Mirren as the man-boy's affectionate but not uncritical British nanny -- the distaff counterpart to John Gielgud's butler in the original. A fleeting nongraphic bedroom scene, an obscured nude image, brief irreverent humor, frequent sexual references, a couple of uses of profanity and a few crude terms. 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.

"Arthur Christmas" (Columbia)
Rated "PG"
This mostly delightful 3-D animated comedy equips Santa Claus (voice of Jim Broadbent) with a stealth ship, GPS navigation and battalions of ninja-like elves to fulfill the mission of delivering 2 billion gifts each Christmas Eve. Santa's ambitious elder son (voice of Hugh Laurie) runs the sophisticated global distribution network. Decidedly more low-tech is his younger brother (voice of James McAvoy) -- the titular character -- whose task is to answer, by hand, all the letters Santa receives from children. When disaster strikes in the form of an undelivered present, Santa's aged father (voice of Bill Nighy) joins forces with the junior sibling to come to the rescue, and the duo rockets off on one last mission. Although it has absolutely nothing to do with the true meaning of the Nativity, first-time director Sarah Smith's film does offer a good commentary on the commercialization of the holiday and the importance of family, loyalty and being faithful to one's promise. Some rude humor and cartoonish thrills. 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.

"The Artist" (Weinstein)
Rated "PG-13"
A modern-made silent film proves to be a breath of fresh air without uttering a word. A dashing star of the silent screen (Jean Dujardin) plays every role with panache: the handsome lover, the swashbuckling hero, the athletic comedian with a sidekick Jack Russell terrier. But Hollywood is changing, and the arrival of the "talkies" presages his decline. Meanwhile, an adoring fan (Berenice Bejo) gets her big break in show business and becomes destined for stardom. Their paths intersect in a film that is at turns zany and hilarious, sad and affecting, uplifting and inspiring. One obscene hand gesture, two scenes of attempted suicide. 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.

"The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford" (Warner Bros.)
Rated "R"
Unusual and compelling Western dramatizing the circumstances that lead up to the shooting of notorious outlaw Jesse James (Brad Pitt) by Robert Ford (Casey Affleck), a member of his own gang, and the publicity generated afterward. Writer-director Andrew Dominik tells the story intelligently at a leisurely but controlled pace with penetrating close-ups of the excellent cast -- Affleck is particularly outstanding -- to probe psychological motivations, while the relatively restrained violence is presented with an admirable realism devoid of glamorization. Some crude language and profanity, innuendo, a nongraphic sexual encounter, several shooting deaths with blood and scenes of physical violence, suicide and brief rear male nudity, 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.

"The Assassination of Richard Nixon" (THINKFilm)
Rated "R"
Fictionalized fact-based drama set in 1974 about a sad-sack salesman (Sean Penn), pushed over the edge by personal and professional failure, who decides to make his presence felt by attempting to do what the title says by hijacking an airplane and crashing it into the White House. Though many viewers may feel its tone and subject matter are too bleak, the film, written and directed by Niels Mueller and anchored by a bravura performance by Penn, paints a chilling portrait of despair, and through its exploration of the dark side of the American dream tries to offer a deeper understanding of what would drive a "normal" person to such extreme acts. A scene of graphic violence, sporadic rough and crude language and profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted.

"Assault on Precinct 13" (Rogue)
Rated "R"
Brutal and violent -- though reasonably gripping -- story of a desolate Detroit police precinct under siege by crooked police who are out to silence a criminal (Laurence Fishburne) incarcerated there, to cover up what he knows about corruption within their ranks, effecting an unusual alliance between the police and criminals within the station house who must unite to defend themselves. Jean-Francois Richet's remake of the 1976 film features good performances by Fishburne, Ethan Hawke and Brian Dennehy, but the bloodshed and violence seem unnecessarily explicit, and the improbable story calls for major suspension of disbelief. Graphic and bloody violence and related gore, much rough, crude and profane language, and some sexual innuendo. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling

"Assisted Living" (Economic Projections)
Rated "NR"
Poignant docudrama that follows a 27-year-old, pot-smoking slacker (Michael Bonsignore) through his final day as a janitor at a nursing home, during which he gains deeper maturity through an unlikely friendship he develops with an elderly resident (Maggie Riley) suffering from the early stages of Alzheimer's disease who mistakes him for her absent son. Incorporating footage of real residents and staff at the facility where it was shot into the fictional story, this modest film by first-time director Elliot Greenebaum manages despite its no-frills look to offer a moving meditation on loneliness and the human need for contact and compassion. Some recreational drug usage and brief crude expressions. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults. It is not rated by the Motion Picture Association of America.

"Astro Boy" (Summit)
Rated "PG"
Set in a futuristic world where an underclass of mechanical servants wait on disdainful human masters, this charming animated adventure concerns a scientist (voice of Nicolas Cage) who, after losing his son (voice of Freddie Highmore) in a lab accident, uses the lad's DNA to program the titular robot replica (also voiced by Highmore) but swiftly rejects his creation, leaving the superpowered but innocent boy 'bot vulnerable to widespread prejudice and the designs of a militaristic politician (voice of Donald Sutherland) intent on using the youth's life-giving energy source for weaponry. Director and co-writer David Bowers' adaptation of Osamu Tezuka's globally popular comic book series, begun in 1951 and previously the basis for three TV series, is by turns amusing, exciting and poignant as it chronicles its altruistic hero's struggle to discover his place in the world. Considerable stylized violence, some menace, and brief instances of vaguely irreverent and mildly scatological humor. 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.

"The Astronaut Farmer" (Warner Bros.)
Rated "PG"
Sweet if improbable film about a Texas rancher (Billy Bob Thornton) with dreams of blasting off into space in a homemade rocket ship, while contending with the admiration and derision of the townsfolk, and his generally supportive but sometimes exasperated family (including Virginia Madsen as his wife) on the verge of financial ruin, and interference from the FBI, CIA, and others who would impede his would-be mission. Director/co-writer Michael Polish trots out every clich, imaginable, and the film is stately paced, but gets points for its strong affirmation of family, more than the "follow-your-dream" philosophy which, in this case, seems fairly wacky, and the capable supporting performances from Bruce Willis, Bruce Dern and Tim Blake Nelson. A few expletives and crass expressions, brief innuendo and some domestic strife. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents.

"Asylum" (Paramount Classics)
Rated "R"
Lurid and somber tale of mental hospital doctor's wife (Natasha Richardson) having heavy-breathing affair with one of the patients (Marton Csokas) who works as a handyman, eventually leaving her priggish husband (Hugh Bonneville) and child for a bohemian life in a London tenement circa 1960. Director David MacKenzie's film has tedious stretches, with Patrick ("Closer") Marber's script a peculiar mix of "Anna Karenina" and "Lady Chatterley's Lover," but despite decent performances, including that of Ian McKellen, and overall classy trappings, the eroticism of the sexual encounters often suggests the sort of thing cable channels sometimes show after midnight. Strong sexual content, some of it graphic, partial and rear nudity, rough and crude language, adultery theme, suicide, violence. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive.

"Aquamarine" (20th Century Fox)
Rated "PG"
Sweetly told modern-day fairy tale about two 13-year-old best friends -- Claire (Emma Roberts) and Hailey (Joanna "JoJo" Levesque) -- who help a mermaid (Sara Paxton), washed ashore during a storm, experience true love in the hopes that the magic wish rewarded them will undo Hailey's impending move to Australia. With a delightful mix of fantasy, comedy and romance, director Elizabeth Allen's wholesome and warmly sentimental, if admittedly lightweight, effort scores points for admirably showing that authentic love can express itself in varied ways. Some mild sensuality and suggestiveness, a few crass expressions and innuendo. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents.

"Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie Film for Theaters" (First Look)
Rated "R"
The cult TV cartoon about pointlessness becomes a highly uneven 86-minute feature film with series regulars Frylock, Master Shake and Meatwad involved in a surreal plot about an exercise machine that threatens civilization. Some of the gags are funny, but writer-directors Matt Maiellaro and Dave Willis repeat them to death, and use far raunchier material than even the highly flexible standards of basic cable allow. A great deal of rough and crude language and profanity, pervasive sexual and scatological humor and an implied sexual encounter, cartoon violence and drug references. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive.

"Arctic Tale" (Paramount Classics)
Rated "G"
Queen Latifah delightfully narrates an absorbing story charting the parallel journeys of a polar bear cub and a walrus pup in the Arctic Circle from birth to maturity, and showing how they manage to survive a changing environment with ever-decreasing ice seriously impeding both their natural habitat and their ability to obtain food. Co-directors and cinematographers Adam Ravetch and Sarah Robertson have fashioned an impressively photographed "fable" out of the challenges facing these creatures in light of global warming, rendering the film a vivid animal counterpart to Al Gore's "An Inconvenient Truth." Though restrained in its presentation, the film includes some images of animal violence and death, perhaps precluding viewing by the very young. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-I -- general patronage. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is G -- general audiences. All ages admitted.

"Art School Confidential" (United Artists/Sony Classics) *
Rated "R"
Oddball story that can't decide if it's a touching coming-of-age story, gross-out frat movie, murder mystery or mordant black comedy, though it does make some sharply satiric points about the art world. Director Terry Zwigoff's sporadically amusing film adapted by Daniel Clowes from his comic strip concerns a sensitive art school student (Max Minghella), smitten with an attractive artist's model (Sophia Myles) and struggling to find his artistic voice amid loutish roommates, colorful teachers (John Malkovich and Angelica Huston), and an embittered and alcoholic failed artist (Jim Broadbent), against the backdrop of a mysterious strangler killing off the students. Pervasive profanity, rough language and vulgarity, full-frontal male and partial female art-model nudity, much sexual banter and innuendo, a couple of minor gay characters, and a stylized strangling. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

"Arthur" (Warner Bros.)
Rated "PG-13"
The utterly frivolous, merrily alcoholic heir (Russell Brand) to a billion-dollar corporate fortune is threatened with disinheritance unless he marries a domineering executive (Jennifer Garner) who plans to curb his wayward lifestyle. A chance encounter with a working-class New York City tour guide (Greta Gerwig), however, leaves the previously heedless playboy smitten and forced to choose between luxury and love. Though director Jason Winer's remake of Steve Gordon's popular 1981 comedy intermittently touches on the limits of materialism, it gives a pass to its main character's promiscuity and tends to trivialize his problem drinking. The fitful laughs on offer mostly derive from the tart observations of Helen Mirren as the man-boy's affectionate but not uncritical British nanny -- the distaff counterpart to John Gielgud's butler in the original. A fleeting nongraphic bedroom scene, an obscured nude image, brief irreverent humor, frequent sexual references, a couple of uses of profanity and a few crude terms. 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.

"Atonement" (Focus)
Rated "R"
Moving World War II romance of a well-to-do young Englishwoman (Keira Knightley) serving as a nurse and the working-class soldier (James McAvoy) she has loved for years, but from whom she had been separated years before when her kid sister (Saoirse Ronan) wrongly accused him of a crime, an injustice that will haunt the accuser (now played by Romola Garai) ever after. Director Joe Wright, working from Christopher Hampton's adaptation of Ian McEwan's novel, persuasively limns an unusual story of betrayal, steadfast love, forgiveness and redemption with some surprising twists, and with further pluses in the sensitive performances and period detail. A fully clothed nonmarital sexual encounter, an implied encounter between an adult and an underage girl, use of the f-word among soldiers, brief profanity, wartime dead and wounded imagery, and a crude written sexual remark. 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.

"Australia" (Fox)
Rated "PG-13"
Sprawling, generally entertaining three-hour epic set just before and after the bombing of Pearl Harbor as a starchy English widow (Nicole Kidman) takes over her late husband's cattle station down under, and falls in love with a rough-hewn drover (Hugh Jackman) whom she hires to help drive cattle to sale ahead of a rival magnate's (Bryan Brown) villainous henchman (David Wenham). Despite some fanciful plot contrivances, director Baz Luhrmann's lavish homage to classic epics and Westerns brings back old-style Hollywood romance, courtesy of its magnetic leads, and carries an admirable message about racial tolerance. Moderate action violence, a mostly implied nonmarital relationship including a very brief sexual encounter without nudity, mild innuendo, one use of the F-word and some Aboriginal mysticism; acceptable for older teens. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Aurora Borealis" (Regent)
Rated "R"
Overly long tale of unmotivated Minnesota man (an appealing Joshua Jackson) who takes on a maintenance job at an assisted living facility to be near his ailing grandfather (Donald Sutherland) and falls in love with his granddad's home health aide (Juliette Lewis), while allowing his philandering brother (Steven Pasquale) to use his apartment for extramarital trysts. James Burke's downbeat film scores points for its compassionate portrayal of the elderly and their need for care and the acting is generally good, but the result is not terribly interesting. The script goes beyond empathizing with the grandfather's fervent wish to be spared a debilitating decline into almost making a case for euthanasia, despite a morally sound ending on all fronts. Pervasive rough and crude language, euthanasia theme, adultery, acceptance of premarital sex, some heavy groping and innuendo, a couple of violent brawls and a drug reference. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Avatar" (Fox)
Rated "PG-13"
Among the most expensive and highly anticipated films ever made, director James Cameron's visually arresting science-fiction adventure sends a paraplegic soldier (Sam Worthington) to a planet called Pandora where he falls in love with a native princess (Zoe Saldana) and must choose between her ecologically enlightened culture and his own violent, rapacious species. Amid passages resembling a Vietnam War movie, a western -- pitting bellicose interlopers against spiritual natives in harmony with their natural environment -- and a Disney animated musical, Cameron marshals impressive resources to tell an entertaining story, though whether the aliens' pantheistic religion is meant to be a model for humanity or merely an indigenous cult remains unclear. Frightening action sequences with much intense, war-related violence, an implied sexual encounter, partial upper female and rear nudity, a consistently sensual undercurrent, frequent profanity, considerable crude and crass language The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas" (Warner Bros.)
Rated "R"
Consistently vulgar, intermittently loathsome comedy sequel in which reformed pothead Harold (John Cho) and unrepentant stoner Kumar (Kal Penn) go in quest of a replacement for the former's family Christmas tree which the duo accidentally burned down. In its largely vain pursuit of laughs, director Todd Strauss-Schulson's insult to the season stoops not only to sexual excess but to anti-Catholic animus and even blasphemy by portraying pornographic images of lesbian nuns, pedophile priests chasing choirboys and a playboy version of Jesus accompanied by topless angels. Sacrilegious humor, graphic nonmarital and aberrant sexual activity, full nudity, a benign view of drug use, about a half-dozen instances of profanity, pervasive rough and crude language. The Catholic News Service classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"Avenue Montaigne" ("Fauteuils D'Orchestre") (ThinkFilm)
Rated "PG-13"
Bittersweet, colorful French comedy-drama about a waitress (Cecile de France) in a popular theater bistro in Paris who proves a catalyst for several of the regular customers: a classical pianist (Albert Dupontel) facing a midlife crisis in his career and marriage; a young man (Christopher Thompson, the director's son and the film's co-writer) who learns that his mistress has moved on to his father, the latter a widower (Claude Brasseur) sadly auctioning off the art collection he had amassed with his late wife; a popular soap opera star (Valerie Lemercier) about to open in a stage comedy but longing to play a serious movie role for a big Hollywood director (Sydney Pollock); and a theater concierge (Dani) on the eve of her retirement. Director and co-writer Daniele Thompson conveys a canny empathy with her characters, all searching to fill the emptiness in their lives. Subtitles. Sporadic rough and crude language and expressions, an implication of adultery, premarital relationships, sexual banter and the acceptability of divorce. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas" (Warner Bros.)
Rated "R"
Consistently vulgar, intermittently loathsome comedy sequel in which reformed pothead Harold (John Cho) and unrepentant stoner Kumar (Kal Penn) go in quest of a replacement for the former's family Christmas tree which the duo accidentally burned down. In its largely vain pursuit of laughs, director Todd Strauss-Schulson's insult to the season stoops not only to sexual excess but to anti-Catholic animus and even blasphemy by portraying pornographic images of lesbian nuns, pedophile priests chasing choirboys and a playboy version of Jesus accompanied by topless angels. Sacrilegious humor, graphic nonmarital and aberrant sexual activity, full nudity, a benign view of drug use, about a half-dozen instances of profanity, pervasive rough and crude language. The Catholic News Service classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"The Aviator" (Miramax)
Rated "PG-13"
Absorbing and entertaining epic detailing the dramatic glory days of legendary billionaire Howard Hughes, in his myriad roles as aviation innovator and visionary, daredevil pilot, Hollywood producer and airline tycoon, while charting his well-publicized relationships with Katharine Hepburn and Ava Gardner, and ultimately his appearance before the Senate on charges of defrauding the public through wartime airplane contracts. This film is a career highpoint for both director Martin Scorsese and star Leonardo DiCaprio, who is onscreen almost every minute and gives a highly charismatic performance; and the supporting cast is mostly first-rate. A smattering of profanity and rough language, implied sexual situations, a violent plane crash and brief rear nudity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"August Rush" (Warner Bros.)
Rated "PG"
Unabashedly romantic fable in which an 11-year-old musical prodigy (Freddie Highmore) embarks on a search for the cellist mother (Keri Russell) and rock-singer father (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) from whom he was separated at birth through the machinations of his grandfather (William Sadler), encountering along the way a Fagin-like ex-musician (Robin Williams) who seeks to exploit him and a social worker (Terrence Howard) who tries to help him. Director Kristen Sheridan's warm-hearted tribute to the power of music blithely eschews all connection to reality, and will likely strike some as charmingly poetic and others as merely naive. An implied premarital sexual encounter, one use of profanity, one use of the s-word and one crass expression. 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.

"Australia" (Fox)
Rated "PG-13"
Sprawling, generally entertaining three-hour epic set just before and after the bombing of Pearl Harbor as a starchy English widow (Nicole Kidman) takes over her late husband's cattle station down under, and falls in love with a rough-hewn drover (Hugh Jackman) whom she hires to help drive cattle to sale ahead of a rival magnate's (Bryan Brown) villainous henchman (David Wenham). Despite some fanciful plot contrivances, director Baz Luhrmann's lavish homage to classic epics and Westerns brings back old-style Hollywood romance, courtesy of its magnetic leads, and carries an admirable message about racial tolerance. Moderate action violence, a mostly implied nonmarital relationship including a very brief sexual encounter without nudity, mild innuendo, one use of the F-word and some Aboriginal mysticism; acceptable for older teens. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Avenue Montaigne" ("Fauteuils D'Orchestre") (ThinkFilm)
Rated "PG-13"
Bittersweet, colorful French comedy-drama about a waitress (Cecile de France) in a popular theater bistro in Paris who proves a catalyst for several of the regular customers: a classical pianist (Albert Dupontel) facing a midlife crisis in his career and marriage; a young man (Christopher Thompson, the director's son and the film's co-writer) who learns that his mistress has moved on to his father, the latter a widower (Claude Brasseur) sadly auctioning off the art collection he had amassed with his late wife; a popular soap opera star (Valerie Lemercier) about to open in a stage comedy but longing to play a serious movie role for a big Hollywood director (Sydney Pollock); and a theater concierge (Dani) on the eve of her retirement. Director and co-writer Daniele Thompson conveys a canny empathy with her characters, all searching to fill the emptiness in their lives. Subtitles. Sporadic rough and crude language and expressions, an implication of adultery, premarital relationships, sexual banter and the acceptability of divorce. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"Awake" (MGM/Weinstein)
Rated "R"
Softheaded, slightly sordid if effective thriller about a billionaire heart transplant patient (Hayden Christensen) torn between his possessive mother (Lena Olin) and the fiancee (Jessica Alba) he marries on an impulse. Writer-director Joby Harold builds this improbably twisty plot on a rare medical phenomenon in which anesthetized patients are awake during surgery and is fortunate to be working with a cast that lends plausibility, including Terrence Howard as the victim's friend and surgeon. Frequent rough language and profanity, a sequence in which one character experiences intense physical and psychological pain, graphic images of open-heart surgery, some violence, a fleeting instance of drug use, a few sexual references and partial upper nudity. 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.

"Away From Her" (Lionsgate)
Rated "PG-13"
Poignant story about a husband (Gordon Pinsent) coping with his wife's (Julie Christie) gradual decline from Alzheimer's disease, and his separation from her when she enters an assisted-living facility where she forms an emotional attachment to another patient (Michael Murphy). The luminous Christie in one of her finest performances makes an unavoidably downbeat film watchable, and writer-director Sarah Polley provides an uncompromising view of a situation that will no doubt resonate deeply with many, though the husband's brief affair with the wife (Olympia Dukakis) of the other patient is morally problematic, even under these tragic circumstances. Some rough expletives, a character's past infidelity and an adulterous affair. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

B
"Babel" (Paramount Vantage)
Rated "R"
Quietly powerful film charting three interconnected stories: an American couple (Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett) stranded in Morocco when the wife is seriously wounded by a stray bullet on their tour bus; the deaf-mute teenage daughter (Rinko Kikuchi) of a widower father (Koji Yakusho) in Tokyo who achingly longs for love; and a Mexican governess (Adriana Barraza) and her nephew (Gael Garcia Bernal) who take her two young charges across the border to attend a wedding with tragic results. Director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu's somber and lengthy film imparts an admirable message about a shared global humanity and the senselessness of violence, even as it blames U.S. foreign policy and bureaucracy as an obstacle, has superbly empathetic performances by an international cast, and ultimately packs an emotional wallop. Partially subtitled. Some rough language and profanity, crude expressions, some violence including a killing, full female nudity, some discreet sexual elements, and alcohol and drug use. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

"Babylon A.D." (Fox)
Rated "PG-13"
Pointless futuristic action outing in which a mobster (Gerard Depardieu) hires a mercenary (Vin Diesel) to escort a mysteriously gifted young woman (Melanie Thierry) and her guardian (Michelle Yeoh) from Mongolia to New York and deliver her to the minions of her cult's high priestess (Charlotte Rampling). Though not excessively violent, director Mathieu Kassovitz's leaden adaptation of French author Maurice G. Dantec's novel, "Babylon Babies," is driven by a muddled mythology that includes the repetition of a Gospel miracle, a plot turn requiring, though hardly meriting, mature interpretation. Moderate action violence, one use of the F-word, some crude language, a couple of profanities and a brief background view of a stripper. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Baby Mama" (Universal/Relativity)
Rated "PG-13"
Frequently funny but morally problematic romantic comedy about a hard-driving grocery chain executive (Tina Fey) who, incapable of bearing a child, hires an unpolished woman (Amy Poehler) to be a surrogate mother, subsequently becoming her roommate when the latter splits from her deadbeat common-law husband (Dax Shepard) while herself becoming attached to an ex-lawyer turned juice-bar owner (Greg Kinnear). Writer-director Michael McCullers' partially improvised feature debut, with a cast that also includes Sigourney Weaver and Steve Martin, abounds in comic energy but implicitly accepts current mores regarding fertility that are contrary to Catholic values. Acceptability of surrogate parenting and artificial insemination, implied premarital sex, some crude and crass language, sexual and scatological humor, and a drug reference. 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.

"The Back-Up Plan" (CBS Films)
Rated "PG-13"
In this dull and predictable romantic comedy single pet store owner Zoe (Jennifer Lopez) conceives twins through artificial insemination, and seems blissfully happy until Mr. Right appears in the form of cheese maker Stan (Alex O'Loughlin). Zoe falls hard, but when she confesses her condition to Stan, he freaks. Despite a "happy" ending, director Alan Poul's film presents a thoroughly warped view of love, marriage and parenthood, and contradicts Catholic moral teachings on the necessity of maintaining the connection between the unitive and procreative aspects of marital love. Morally skewed treatment of human sexuality, graphic premarital sexual activity, rear and partial nudity, scenes of defecation, much crude language, graphic gynecological exams, and a gruesome water birth scene. 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.

"Bad News Bears" (Paramount)
Rated "PG-13"
Bawdy, albeit entertaining, remake of the 1976 kiddie sports comedy about a boozing ex-big leaguer (Billy Bob Thornton in the Walter Matthau role) hired to coach a bungling team of Little League misfits and ends up turning their season and his own life around. Directed by Richard Linklater, the new version follows the original's coarsely sardonic lead, and, though ultimately redemptive, strikes out as recommendable family fare. Pervasive crude language and humor, as well as profanity by adults and children, drunkenness, some ethnic insensitivity, delinquent behavior, an implied sexual encounter and some risque situations. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

"Bad Teacher" (Columbia)
Ratred "R"
Coarse comedy celebrates a morally impaired middle-school teacher (Cameron Diaz) bent on landing a rich husband. Foul-mouthed, slatternly, racist, and conniving, she sets her sights on a new substitute teacher (Jason Timberlake) while feuding with one full-time colleague (Lucy Punch) and rejecting the attentions of another (Jason Segel). Working from a script by Gene Stupnitsky and Lee Eisenberg, director Jake Kasdan has fashioned a monotone picture in which every stab at humor derives from humiliation. All in all, the tawdry exhibition fails to shock, subvert, or entertain. Several scenes depicting nonmarital sexual activity, much drug use and alcohol consumption, at least one instance of upper female nudity, frequent explicit sexual humor, some uses of profanity, pervasive rough, crude, and crass language, some scatological humor. The Catholic News Service classification is O - morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R - restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"The Ballad of Jack and Rose" (IFC)
Rated "R"
Offbeat, slow-moving film about a nonconformist with a bad heart condition (Daniel Day-Lewis) who lives alone with his teenage daughter (Camilla Belle) on a former island commune "off the East Coast of the United States," but then brings the woman he has been dating into the house (Catherine Keener), along with the woman's two teenage sons, disrupting the delicate balance of their solitary lifestyle, all the while fending off the encroachments of a real estate developer (Beau Bridges). Written and directed by Rebecca (daughter of late playwright Arthur) Miller, the disjointed film features an accomplished performance by her real-life husband, the always watchable Day-Lewis, and Miller has created an atmospheric backdrop for her strange tale, but the vaguely incestuous undertones between father and daughter and a scene where the daughter invites one of the boys to deflower her make for fitfully distasteful viewing. Some rough and crude language, sexual situations and innuendo, a brief incestuous kiss, some talk of suicide, partial nudity, some drug material. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

"Balls of Fury" (Rogue)
Rated "PG-13"
Exhausting comedy about a washed-up pingpong prodigy (Dan Fogler) who is asked by an FBI agent (George Lopez) to help catch a mysterious crime lord (Christopher Walken). Along the way the former champ turns to a blind pingpong master (James Hong) to regain his skills, falls in love with the master's daughter (Maggie Q) and eventually must play in a tournament with life-or-death stakes. Frequently crude and always preposterous, director and co-writer Ben Garant's film has some flashes of originality and gets in a few good satiric swipes, even as it revels in its own silliness. Much crude language, one instance of profanity, suggestive gestures, gross and scatological jokes, and mild gay-themed humor. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults (though it's acceptable for older adolescents). The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

"Bandslam" (Summit/Walden)
Rated "PG"
Genial comedy with music in which a newcomer (Gaelan Connell) at a New Jersey high school overcomes his socially disastrous past when befriended by a popular fellow student (Alyson Michalka) who makes him the manager of her rock group as they prepare for the titular battle-of-the-bands competition, his confidence getting a further boost from his blossoming romance with a bookish goth (Vanessa Hudgens). Though it deals with a few mature topics, and is unlikely to interest very young viewers, director and co-writer Todd Graff's exuberant salute to clique-defying friendship is free of anything unsuitable for the tween-and-up audience at whom it's aimed. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-I -- general patronage. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.

"Bangkok Dangerous" (Lionsgate)
Rated "R"
Grim shoot-'em-up about a solitary hit man (Nicolas Cage) who travels to the titular city to carry out four contract killings for a local crime boss (Nirattisai Kaljareuk), but finds his emotional isolation thawed by his friendship with the petty thief (Shahkrit Yamnarm) he hires as an assistant and his feelings for a pretty pharmacy clerk (Charlie Young). As directed by the Pang brothers, this remake of their 1999 Thai film features considerable violence and muddled moral values, with its hero instructing his protege in the art of killing even while ostensibly reassessing his own viciousness. Brief graphic sexual activity, upper female nudity, intense action violence with gore, a suicide, and occasional rough and crude language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"The Bank Job" (Lionsgate)
Rated "R"
Stylish but lurid fact-based tale, set in 1971 London, about a car dealer and small-time criminal (Jason Statham) who, tipped off by an old friend (Saffron Burrows), organizes a gang (Stephen Campbell Moore, Daniel Mays and James Faulkner among others) to rob the safe deposit boxes of an upscale bank, only to find himself caught between a crime lord (David Suchet), allied with a militant black-power leader (Peter de Jersey), and an agent of the British counterintelligence service (Richard Lintern) intent on preserving royal secrets. Director Roger Donaldson's film is primarily an intelligent and engaging crime thriller, but it delves, along the way, into the seamy details of some of its characters' private lives, while also graphically portraying underworld brutality. Nongraphic sexual activity, some of it aberrant, upper female and rear nudity, torture, much rough, crude and crass language, adultery and pornography themes, drug and prostitution references, a passing anti-Catholic reference. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Barnyard" (Paramount)
Rated "PG"
Clumsy if colorful computer-animated tale set on a farm where, unbeknownst to the farmer, the animals can walk and talk like people, and centers on a callow young cow (voiced by Kevin James), who must grow up quickly, reluctantly assuming leadership to stand up to a marauding gang of coyotes after his father (Sam Elliott) is killed defending the barnyard from the predatory pack. Directed by Steve Oedekerk, the film's admirable, if heavy-handed, message about embracing responsibility and putting the common good ahead of one's own self-interest is undermined by a mediocre script padded with raucous, redundant mayhem and silly sight gags at the expense of story and character. Mildly crude humor, some menace and peril that may be upsetting to very young children, heedless theft and several mature story elements. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents.

"Basic Instinct 2" (Columbia)
Rated "R"
Sequel to the 1992 erotic thriller which finds that film's manipulative vamp character (Sharon Stone) relocated to London, where, implicated in the murder of a soccer star, she matches wits with a criminal psychiatrist (David Morrissey), leading him down a path of seduction, deception and murder. With its femme-fatale protagonist and murky style, director Michael Caton-Jones' potboiler aspires to film noir, but its shadowy sordidness can't hide a cartoonish lead performance and an insipid, tangled script which distracts with salaciousness to make up for its lack of suspense and intelligence. The film contains several graphic sexual encounters with partial frontal and rear nudity, a flash of full-frontal nudity, a shadowy orgy scene, violence, several lurid images, rough and sexually explicit language and several drug references. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive.

"Batman Begins" (Warner Bros.)
Rated "PG-13"
Dark and brooding prequel that explains how Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) became the costumed crimefighter and reveals the "hidden years," detailing his training as a member of a clandestine order of ninja-like vigilantes, leading up to his donning the cape and cowl to become Gotham City's self-appointed guardian. Director Christopher Nolan goes for a more gritty "reality-based" approach, focusing on the psychological dimension of Bruce/Batman's inner conflict rather than comic-book heroics. Intense action violence, some frightening images and mature thematic elements, as well as a few crude expressions and an instance of profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"Battle: Los Angeles" (Columbia)
Rated "PG-13"
Aliens are on the attack again, mounting an invasion of our planet. And, for no very apparent reason, Los Angeles is the last hope for humanity, the only city left that can mount a counterattack. So it's time to call in the Marines, led by a decorated combat veteran (Aaron Eckhart) who is also fighting demons of his own. Haunted by soldiers who died under his watch in the past, the present crisis offers him a chance for redemption, as well as the opportunity to expend a whole lot of ammunition. What ensues, under Jonathan Liebesman's direction, is a pastiche of films like "Independence Day" and "War of the Worlds," but with a major increase in the body count and noise level. Relentless action violence, gory images of carnage, at least one use of the F-word, some crude language. 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.

"Battle for Terra" (Lionsgate)
Rated "PG"
Ambitious animated parable, set on a distant planet that's being invaded by aggressive refugees from earth, in which a downed human airman (voice of Luke Wilson) finds his loyalties divided when he's befriended by one of the peace-loving, tadpole-shaped locals (voice of Evan Rachel Wood) his warmongering commander (voice of Brian Cox) is intent on destroying. Director Aristomenis Tsirbas' feature debut is an honorable, if at times heavy-handed, cautionary tale about prejudice, violence and environmental degradation, but the battle scenes -- especially as intensified by the 3-D presentation in some theaters -- are too strong for the youngest viewers, and quasi-religious aspects of the aliens' culture may require family discussion. Moderate combat violence and a suicide. 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.

"Beastly" (CBS Films)
Rated "PG-13"
Director Daniel Barnz's adaptation of Alex Flinn's novel retells the classic fairy tale "Beauty and the Beast" for the Facebook generation, offering good lessons in humility, kindness and old-fashioned romance along the way. Handsome and wealthy, but also self-absorbed and shallow, a popular teen (Alex Pettyfer) ridicules the ugly and less fortunate, including his high school's resident witch (Mary-Kate Olsen). In revenge, she casts a spell turning Kyle into a hideous monster, and gives him a year to find the true meaning of love and inner beauty or remain in his repulsive new guise forever. So he sets out to win the pure heart of a classmate (Vanessa Hudgens) who prefers substance to style. Probably acceptable for mature adolescents. Brief action violence and a few crass terms. 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.

"Beauty Shop" (MGM)
Rated "PG-13"
Amiable comedy about a widowed mother (Queen Latifah) working as a hairdresser who, after a falling-out with the shop's owner, flamboyant Jorge (scene-stealing Kevin Bacon), opens her own establishment in the ghetto and, thanks to her styling prowess and warm-hearted people skills, overcomes myriad obstacles to succeed. Bille Woodruff's engaging film is a perfect showcase for the likable Latifah, the eclectic ensemble cast (including Alfre Woodard, Alicia Silverstone, Djimon Hounsou and Andie MacDowell) makes for interesting watching, and despite some salty street language and salon sex chatter the movie imparts solid messages about loyalty, friendship, and parenting. Some profanity, crude language and crass expressions, sexual innuendo and suggestive dancing. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"Be Cool" (MGM)
Rated "PG-13"
Flat follow-up to the 1994 comedy "Get Shorty" in which mobster-turned-movie producer Chili Palmer (John Travolta) -- having grown disenchanted with the film industry -- sets his streetwise sights on the music business, and agrees to manage a promising young singer (Christina Milian) who is tied in with shady record producers (Harvey Keitel and Vince Vaughn). Based on the Elmore Leonard novel and directed by F. Gary Gray, the stale sequel lacks the sharpness and satirical edge of the far superior "Shorty," resulting in a film that, despite a charismatic, if retread, performance by Travolta, is contrary to its title only lukewarm. The movie contains recurring violence, an implied sexual encounter, images of smoking, drug content, some vulgar gestures, and much rough and crude language and humor. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

"Because I Said So" (Universal/Gold Circle)
Rated "PG-13"
Mediocre and unfunny comedy about an overbearing mother (Diane Keaton) who tries to match up her single daughter (Mandy Moore) with a shallow architect (Tom Everett Scott), while the daughter is more sensibly drawn to a decent single father (Gabriel Macht), but nonetheless engages in a sexual relationship with both. Director Michael Lehmann's appalling chick flick pushes the contemporary acceptance of premarital sex to new lows, as the permissive Keaton character and her three daughters blithely discuss their sexual experiences at every opportunity. Keaton's comic prowess, appealing performances from Moore, Macht and Stephen Collins, the absence of graphic sex, minimal expletives, and a reasonably moral tie-up fail to balance a script that is morally -- and dramatically -- askew at every turn. Several nongraphic sexual encounters, permissive sexual mores, much sexual banter, innuendo and other questionable elements, casual acceptance of porn and an instance of profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive.

"Because of Winn-Dixie" (20th Century Fox)
Rated “PG”
Gentle and disarming story based on Kate DiCamillo's award-winning best-seller about a Baptist preacher (Jeff Daniels) and his little girl, Opal (AnnaSophia Robb), who move to a small Florida town, and the dog they take in which becomes the catalyst for Opal to make friends with several of the town's outcasts: an ex-alcoholic recluse (Cicely Tyson), a fearful, spinsterish librarian (Eva Marie Saint), and a guitar-strumming pet store manager with a prison record (Dave Matthews). Wayne Wang's film, based on a novel by Kate DiCamillo, is beautifully acted all around, and imparts a heart-tugging message about people's loneliness and need to connect, making satisfying entertainment for adults as well as children. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-I -- general patronage.

"Becoming Jane" (Miramax)
Rated "PG-13"
Interesting speculative drama, based on only a few known facts, about the bittersweet romance between writer Jane Austen (Anne Hathaway) and an Irish lawyer (James McAvoy), and how the experience might have influenced her writings. Julian Jarrold directs with an authentic 18th-century feel, performances are good (with American Hathaway holding her own reasonably well among such British acting pros as Maggie Smith, Julie Walters and Ian Richardson) and though the film is somehow not entirely satisfying it nonetheless holds your interest up to its bittersweet ending. Though possibly acceptable for older teens, this film contains a couple of boxing sequences, a frisky but nongraphic husband and wife encounter, some prostitutes, an implied premarital encounter, mild innuendo and brief sexual allusions. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Bedtime Stories" (Disney)
Rated "PG"
The fanciful yarns a hotel handyman (Adam Sandler) spins about his own life while baby-sitting his niece and nephew (Laura Ann Kesling and Jonathan Morgan Heit) start to come true, affecting his competition with the hostelry's toadying manager (Guy Pearce) for their boss' (Richard Griffiths) favor, and shifting his romantic interest from his employer's glamorous daughter (Teresa Palmer) to his sister's (Courteney Cox) down-to-earth friend (Keri Russell). Aside from some mildly crude gags, director Adam Shankman's adventure comedy -- which affirms perseverance and family unity -- is unobjectionable, and the fantasy sequences are entertaining, though the humor is clearly geared to the grade-school set. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-I -- general patronage. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.

"Bee Movie" (DreamWorks)
Rated "PG"
Generally delightful animated feature about a scrappy bee (voice of Jerry Seinfeld) who decides to sue the human race for stealing the honey manufactured by his hard-working bee brethren and brings the case to court, with the help of a sympathetic florist (Renee Zellweger). An often very funny script (by Seinfeld and others), terrific voice work from a cast including John Goodman, Chris Rock, Kathy Bates, and many more, and ultimately, a valuable ecological lesson, make this film -- directed by Simon J. Smith and Steve Hickner -- above-average family fare. Mild innuendo. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-I -- general patronage. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.

"Bee Season" (Fox Searchlight)
Rated "PG-13"
Gently involving drama about a sixth-grade spelling prodigy (Flora Cross) whose father (Richard Gere), an academic who believes that words and letters "hold the secrets of the universe," obsessively tutors her for a national spelling bee to the detriment of his mentally unstable wife (Juliette Binoche) and religiously rebellious teenage son (Max Minghella). Co-directors Scott McGehee and David Siegel couple domestic dysfunction and Jewish mysticism, thoughtfully crafting an intelligent, finely acted, and visually imaginative, but emotionally muted, exploration of faith and family. A sexual encounter, a scene involving a questionable distribution of Communion, minimal rough and crude language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"Beerfest" (Warner Bros.)
Rated "R"
Mindless and crude comedy about two brothers (Erik Stolhanske and Paul Soter) who, together with some beer-guzzling friends (Kevin Heffernan, Steve Lemme and Jay Chandrasekhar, who also directs) travel to Germany to compete in an underground beer-drinking Olympics against a German team consisting of a rival branch of their family. The title says it all, as the insufferably adolescent plot is just a pole for the foulmouthed frat-house humor which is vulgar, unfunny and irresponsible. Pervasive crass and sexual humor, lewd sight gags and innuendo, much reckless drinking, a couple of racy sex scenes with partial nudity, as well as some unrelated partial nudity, comic violence, some irreverent humor, a suicide, drug content, excessive rough and crude language and some profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive.

"Before the Devil Knows You're Dead" (ThinkFilm)
Rated "R"
Grimly powerful, hypnotic drama about a robbery that goes horribly awry, and the tragic after-effects on two brothers (Ethan Hawke and Philip Seymour Hoffman) and their families (Albert Finney and Marisa Tomei, among them). Veteran director Sidney Lumet has lost none of his prowess, and this film -- heavily imbued with a mood of inexorable doom -- almost has the feel of Greek tragedy, as the narrative methodically, grippingly unfolds, and there are sensational performances by all, including Rosemary Harris, Amy Ryan and Brian F. O'Byrne. Graphic violence and murder, vengeance, two sexual encounters with rear male and upper female nudity, pervasive rough and crude language, profanity, adultery, frank sexual talk and drug use. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Being Julia" (Sony Classics)
Rated "R"
A few bright spots in an otherwise tedious adaptation of W. Somerset Maugham's novel, "Theatre," about a larger-than-life English stage actress (Annette Bening) who has an open marriage with her producer husband (Jeremy Irons), and takes up with an earnest young American accountant (Shaun Evans) in her husband's employ. Hungarian director Istvan Szabo is no stranger to period drama, having succeeded brilliantly with films like "Mephisto" and "Sunshine," but was perhaps the wrong choice for a film that doesn't quite ring true in its depiction of the 1938 period or very English locale (it was shot mainly in Budapest). Nor is American Bening completely convincing either, in spite of some effective moments. Evans as the young man is far too contemporary in his demeanor, though otherwise the blue chip cast -- including Juliet Stevenson, Bruce Greenwood, Michael Gambon, Rosemary Harris and Rita Tushingham -- is fine. A few instances of crude language, casual depiction of extramarital sex and an instance of rear nudity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

"Be Kind Rewind" (New Line/Partizan)
Rated "PG-13"
Zany, warmhearted comedy about a New Jersey video store worker (Mos Def) who comes up with a scheme to create amateur video versions of classic films when his bungling friend (Jack Black) accidentally erases all the tapes after the manager (Danny Glover) leaves town to investigate saving the building from demolition. Despite its intentionally rough-hewn, indie ambience, a wildly improbable plotline, and too much low-comedy schtick, writer-director Michel Gondry's valentine to filmmaking ultimately delivers a touching story of friendship, with a strong affirmation of community and good fellowship, as the townspeople rally to the aid of the threatened business. Some vulgar humor, brief sexual references and mild comic violence. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

"Bella" (Roadside)
Rated "PG-13"
Sweetly sentimental story about an unmarried New York waitress (an especially fine Tammy Blanchard) who loses her job after becoming pregnant, and her restaurant's empathetic chef (Mexican soap favorite Eduardo Verastegui) -- an ex-soccer star whose career ended after his car fatally struck a child -- who gives the young woman emotional support, takes her to visit his loving family, and gently tries to persuade her to keep the baby. Director and co-writer Alejandro Monteverde's impressive feature film debut is sometimes dramatically slack and implausible, but the sensitive performances, positive depiction of the chef's warm Latino family, and most of all, its affirmative pro-life message -- along with themes of self-forgiveness, reconciliation and redemption -- should resonate with Catholic viewers. Partially subtitled. A couple of crass words, a child's death, a drug reference, and the out-of-wedlock theme aside, film is admirably free of objectionable elements. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

"The Benchwarmers" (Columbia)
Rated "PG-13"
Lame comedy about three grown nerds (Rob Schneider, David Spade and Jon Heder) who are recruited by a former geek turned billionaire (Jon Lovitz) into playing against various Little League teams of bullying jocks in a tournament he's sponsoring. By beating them, the trio will win respect for every picked-on kid. Despite a commendable underdog message and some occasional funny moments, director Dennis Dugan's film strikes out, its "Bad News Bears" script straining under forced laughs and sophomoric slapstick. Recurring crass humor and sight gags, some sex jokes including running gay innuendo and a crude gesture, as well as a smattering of crude language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

Benji Off the Leash! (Mulberry Square)
Rated "PG"
With the dearth of family-friendly movies, it is a doggone shame that when good-guy filmmaker Joe Camp comes along, his well-intentioned labors result in a woofer of a movie like "Benji Off the Leash. The floppy-eared hero first strayed onto the big screen in "Benji" (1974), quickly followed by "For the Love of Benji" (1977) and a decade later by "Benji the Hunted" (1987). In addition to feature films, Benji also starred in numerous specials and even had his own TV series. In the new film, set in rural Mississippi, the eponymous mutt (the fourth mixed terrier to fill the leash) befriends a shaggy but spunky mongrel named -- appropriately enough -- Shaggy, and helps him rescue his ailing mother from a squalid backyard puppy mill run by greedy breeder Hatchett (Chris Kendrick). The doggie duo is aided in their canine capering by Hatchett's pet-loving stepson, Colby (Nick Whitaker), and hampered by two bumbling dogcatchers (Randall Newsome and Duane Stephens). The story, which is layered with such serious issues as domestic abuse, was allegedly inspired by the real-life search for a new dog to play the title role. Full of homespun charm, "Benji Off the Leash!" is the kind of little-movie-that-could which you desperately want to root for, but one which makes you leave the theater shaking your head in disappointment. Camp, Benji's creator -- whose Mulberry Square Productions specializes in family fare -- hopes the film will prove that not everyone in the entertainment industry subscribes to the prevalent lowest-common-denominator mentality. Referring to his new film a "true 'everybody' movie," he wanted to make a movie that didn't rely on violence and vulgarity as selling points. While such heart-in-the-right-place goals are certainly to be applauded and supported, neither the film's uplifting message nor its adorably scruffy stars can hide its poorly structured script, flat dialogue and stale performances, including the tedious slapstick antics of Newsome and Stephens. Sounds harsh, but to throw the film a more laudatory bone would be a clear case of letting the sentimental tail wag the dog of objectivity. Sadly, "Benji Off the Leash!" is nothing to bark about. Due to some mildly crude expressions, implied spousal abuse and images of animal cruelty, the USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents

"Beowulf & Grendel" (Union Station Media/Truly Indie)
Rated "R"
Grim and tepid, if earnest and ruggedly beautiful, retelling of the eighth-century Anglo-Saxon saga of the Norse hero Beowulf (Gerard Butler) who leads a troop of warriors across the sea to help the long-suffering Danish king Hrothgar (Stellan Skarsgard) rid his lands of a murderous troll, Grendel (Ingvar Sigurdsson), who is exacting revenge on Danes for an earlier wrong. Stripping the epic of both its fantasy and Christian elements while remaining faithful to its outline, director Sturla Gunnarsson does a good job at establishing the dark, dank and brutish world of the poem, breaking up the overall broodiness with savage swordplay and severed limbs, but what the film gains in pathos by humanizing the monster, and a contemporary feel by modernizing the dialogue (including frequent use of the f-word), it loses in mythic luster. Assorted bloody violence, including dismemberment, some gruesome images, a rape flashback, an implied sexual encounter, a crass scene of urination, and recurring rough and crude language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

"Beverly Hills Chihuahua" (Disney)
Rated “PG”
A pampered pooch (voice of Drew Barrymore) is kidnapped by a Mexican dog-fighting ring while on a junket in the custody of her doting owner's (Jamie Lee Curtis) self-absorbed niece (Piper Perabo), escapes with the help of a protective ex-police dog (voice of Andy Garcia) and discovers life on the streets while the ardent Chihuahua (voice of George Lopez) she once spurned leads the search for her. Along with entertaining adventures, director Raja Gosnell's sprightly live-action canine quest offers lessons about ethnic prejudice and class distinctions while also portraying the personality-warping effects of materialism. Mild menace. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-I -- general patronage. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.

"Beyond the Gates" (IFC)
Rated "R"
Gripping dramatization about the 1994 siege of a Rwandan secondary school at the height of the genocide, as a dedicated Catholic priest (John Hurt) and an idealistic young British teacher (Hugh Dancy) -- both fictional characters -- attempt to protect some 2,500 Tutsi citizens from the machete-wielding Hutus hovering just outside the school gates. Director Michael Caton-Jones has filmed this powerful film at the actual locations of the horrific events with survivors among the cast and crew. This important film is acceptable for mature teens. Much disturbing if discreetly handled violence, description of atrocities, images of dead and wounded, some rough language and mild profanity uttered under duress, a childbirth scene. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"Beyond the Sea" (Lions Gate)
Rated "PG-13"
Entertaining -- if dramatically uneven -- biopic about Bobby Darin (Kevin Spacey, who also directed) which traces the singer's life from sickly child in the Bronx, where his bout with rheumatic fever had doctors predicting he wouldn't make it to his 15th birthday, through his early rise to fame, marriage to actress Sandra Dee, and triumphs in nightclubs, film and recording. He did all this while racing the clock with a bad heart, a condition that would fell him at the young age of 36, and coping with a devastating revelation about his parentage. Spacey's singing of the Darin hits is phenomenally good, and even if he looks a mite mature for the role, he pulls it off, and though the flashback framing device is initially awkward, once the story gets going the film is absorbing with several touching scenes. Some rough and profane language and one nonexplicit sexual encounter. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"Bewitched" (Columbia)
Rated "PG-13"
Amiable retread of the 1960s sitcom, as a washed-up movie actor (Will Ferrell) decides to revive the series (and his career), casting an unknown (Nicole Kidman) to play his wife, not realizing she's an actual witch, leading to romantic complications. Writer-director Nora Ephron's comedy is more pleasantly amusing than outright hilarious, but the mercurial Kidman is a total delight, Ferrell has some bright moments, and there are felicitous turns by Michael Caine, Shirley MacLaine and Carole Shelley, as well as a positive message about honesty and friendship. Some crude expressions, sexual humor and innuendo, cartoonish witchcraft elements and partial blurred nudity make this best for adults and perhaps older adolescents. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"Big Momma's House 2" (20th Century Fox)
Rated "PG-13"
Stale sequel to the 2000 comedy in which FBI agent Malcolm Turner (Martin Lawrence), while posing as a plus-size nanny to investigate a software designer tagged with compromising national security, winds up bringing the suspected man's family closer together. Directed by John Whitesell, this only fitfully funny and unnecessarily crude second helping rehashes much of the original's forced slapstick humor, with the perfunctory plot an afterthought to Lawrence' sassy shtick. Comic violence, some gun waving and an implied shooting, some crude and sexual humor and innuendo, a brief drug reference, age-inappropriate suggestive dance moves involving young children, scattered crass expressions. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son" (Fox)
Rated "PG-13"
Warm but somewhat bland third installment in the "Big Momma" franchise, with Martin Lawrence again in the title role. Director John Whitesell and screenwriter Matthew Fogel put Momma through her paces as a housemother at an Atlanta girls school while Lawrence's real persona, an FBI agent -- with the help of Brandon T. Jackson as his son -- searches for a flash drive that will convict a group of mobsters. Some gun violence, fleeting crude and crass language and a partial rear view of a body suit. 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.

"The Big Question" (THINKfilm)
Rated "PG-13"
Curious documentary in which filmmakers Francesco Cabras and Alberto Molinari pose several direct questions to fellow cast and crew members on the set of "The Passion of the Christ" -- Mel Gibson among them -- about their personal religious beliefs, eliciting responses both poignant and pretentious from a diversity of creeds as well as from agnostics and atheists. Cleverly shot using the ancient Southern Italian town where Gibson's movie was shot as a backdrop, and with many of the respondents in full biblical costume, the film works for the most part, despite consisting of little more than people candidly discussing their ideas of the divine, interspersed with artsy images of a dog wandering the landscape. Subtitles. A brief drug reference. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents.

"Birth" (New Line)
Rated "R"
Unconventional love story about a New York widow (Nicole Kidman) who comes to believe that her dead husband has been reincarnated as a 10-year-old boy (Cameron Bright), much to the dismay of her new fiance (Danny Huston). Director Jonathan Glazer has crafted an elegiac meditation on love, loss and mortality, buttressed by exceptional performances from the assembled ensemble, hauntingly evocative visuals and a disquietingly plaintive score, but the film contains several controversial scenes between Kidman and Bright -- including one in a bathtub -- that many viewers may find extremely troubling. Suggestive situations involving an adult and a minor, and an explicit sexual encounter with nudity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive.

"The Big Year" (Fox 2000)
Rated "PG"
Warm-hearted seriocomedy in which a business tycoon (Steve Martin), a rudderless nuclear power plant worker (Jack Black) and a home contractor (Owen Wilson) vie to win the titular bird-watching competition by spotting the greatest number of different species over the course of a calendar year. As the builder obsessively tries to defend his seemingly insurmountable previous record, the executive and the slacker form an unlikely friendship as well as an alliance intended to best their sometimes unscrupulous rival. Director David Frankel's mostly agreeable film -- inspired by Mark Obmascik's book of the same name -- affirms the primacy of family life and personal relationships over materialistic or ego-driven goals. Brief nongraphic marital lovemaking, possible cohabitation, a fertility treatment theme, adultery references, at least one use of profanity, an obscene gesture, a few crude and crass terms. The Catholic News Service classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.

"The Black Balloon" (NeoClassics)
Rated "PG-13"
Moving Australian film about a teenager (Rhys Wakefield) settling into a new neighborhood with his pregnant mother (Toni Collette) and army officer father (Erik Thomson) and caring for his autistic brother (Luke Ward) with the help of a sympathetic girlfriend (Gemma Ward). First-time feature director Elissa Down's semiautobiographical story is well-acted and conveys a strong pro-family message and compassionate view of the disabled. Some crass expressions, brief domestic violence, a few expletives including a single use of profanity and of the F-word, mild sexual elements with innuendo and a birth control reference, and some scatological elements; acceptable for older teens. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Black Book" (Sony Classics)
Rated "R"
Glossy, well-acted World War II saga set in Holland about a Jewish singer (a compelling Carice van Houten) who, after her family is gunned down by the Nazis, joins the Dutch Resistance who ask her to romance and spy on the local Gestapo chief (Sebastian Koch) with whom she then genuinely falls in love. Director Paul Verhoeven has made essentially an old-style Hollywood espionage story but with a good deal of present-day permissiveness, and though the film has some serious intent, it registers mainly as escapist entertainment, even if inspired by true events. In Dutch, German, English and Hebrew, with subtitles. Strong rough and crude language and profanity, sexual encounters, full male and female nudity, innuendo, wartime violence including shootings and beatings, vigilante justice. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

"The Black Dahlia" (Universal)
Rated "R"
Adaptation of James Ellroy's novel built around the never-solved, true-life case of a young Hollywood hopeful (Mia Kirshner) -- whose mutilated body was found in a vacant lot in 1947 -- focusing on two L.A. cops (Josh Hartnett and Aaron Eckhart) who are involved in the case. The Hartnett character finds himself in a platonic menage with his partner and the latter's longtime girlfriend (Scarlett Johansson), then falls under the sway of a seductive rich girl (Hilary Swank) who resembles the murder victim. Brian DePalma's film-noir homage is uneven as drama (with its overly complex script), despite his customary stylish flourishes and good, if occasionally over-the-top, performances, but the pileup of sordid revelations, though expected in the noir genre, and sundry other lurid plot elements preclude recommendation. Rough and crude language, general decadence, sexual situations and innuendo, much violence, a couple of brutal boxing matches, some grisly imagery, a re-creation of the lesbian underworld, pornography, adultery, incest, rear nudity, murder, suicide and drug use. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"Black Snake Moan" (Paramount Vantage)
Rated "R"
Extremely lurid, but ultimately redemptive, melodrama set in rural Tennessee about an aging blues singer (Samuel L. Jackson) who nurses a badly beaten nymphomaniac (Christina Ricci) back to health, and gets her to overcome her drug and sexual addictions, conquering his own inner demons in the process. Writer-director Craig Brewer pulls out the stops with an intentionally florid style, while the impressive performances of the leads -- as well as those of John Cothran as a benevolent preacher, S. Epatha Merkerson as an empathetic friend and Justin Timberlake as an emotionally damaged soldier who loves the young woman -- overcome the more outrageous plot elements, The high quotient of sex, violence and foul language -- which walks the finest of lines between morally objectionable and dramatically valid -- will seriously limit the film's appeal to audiences, Catholic and otherwise. Pervasive rough and crude language and profanity, racial epithets, strong sexuality including a couple of graphic encounters without nudity, premarital situations, upper female nudity elsewhere, violence and drug use. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

"Black Swan" (Fox Searchlight)
Reted "R"
At the behest of her ballet company's artistic director (Vincent Cassel), a shy, inhibited dancer (Natalie Portman) rebels against her overprotective mother (Barbara Hershey) and seeks to imitate a passionate rival (Mila Kunis) by embracing a hedonistic lifestyle in order to fit her for the major role in Tchaikovsky's "Swan Lake," an onstage embodiment of guile and sensuality. Though Portman turns in a striking performance, director Darren Aronofsky's nightmarish, morally muddled drama plays on the extremes of sexual repression and debauched license and, whether read as insisting on the necessity of indiscriminate experience or as a cautionary tale, presents its heroine's experimentation with voyeuristic excess. Strong sexual content, including graphic lesbian and nonmarital heterosexual activity, as well as masturbation, drug use, a few instances of profanity, much rough and some crude language and numerous sexual references. The Catholic News Service classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"Blades of Glory" (Paramount/DreamWorks)
Rated "PG-13"
Fitfully amusing buddy comedy about rival skating champions -- a macho ladies' man (Will Ferrell) and a former child prodigy (Jon Heder) -- banned from the world championships after fighting on the ice, who reluctantly become a team when they learn it's the only way they'll be allowed back to compete, while a jealous brother-sister act (Will Arnett and Amy Poehler) attempt to sabotage the duo. Will Speck and Josh Gordon direct the sophomoric proceedings capably, the skating stunts are well handled, the leads are well paired, and there are apt satirical barbs at the skating industry. The pervasive low humor and vulgarity preclude the younger viewers who would most appreciate the humor, even as predictable affirmations of friendship and good sportsmanship eventually prevail. Crude language, crass expressions, mild profanity, a couple of brief nongraphic sexual encounters, innuendo, comic violence and mayhem, including a decapitation, brief comic suggestion of incest and drug use. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"Blade: Trinity" (New Line)
Rated "R"
Violent and vacuous fantasy action sequel, based on the titular Marvel Comics' character, a brooding half-mortal, half-vampire slayer (Wesley Snipes), who in this third go-round must join forces with a team of vampire-hunters (Jessica Biel and Ryan Reynolds) and battle an army of bloodsuckers (led by Parker Posey) bent on resurrecting the granddaddy of all undead, Dracula (Dominic Purcell) -- here re-imagined as an ancient Sumerian demon -- to spawn a vampiric master race. Directed by David S. Goyer, this bloodfest dishes out the same tedious gore and cheesy dialogue as the first two installments, and hopefully this one will drive a stake through any future films in this forgettable franchise. Excessive violence, much profanity and rough language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive.

"Blindness" (Miramax)
Rated "R"
Chilling parable in which an eye doctor (Mark Ruffalo) becomes an early victim in an epidemic of instant blindness and, voluntarily accompanied by his still-sighted wife (Julianne Moore), is forcibly quarantined in a dilapidated mental hospital where conditions, both physical and moral, rapidly deteriorate as the number of inmates (including Danny Glover, Alice Braga, Gael Garcia Bernal and Don McKellar, who also wrote the screenplay) grows. Director Fernando Meirelles' adaptation of Nobel Prize-winning author Jose Saramago's 1995 novel plumbs the depths of human sinfulness, but never gives way to nihilism. Strong sexual content, adultery, brief scenes of full nudity, frequent rough and some crude language, and occasional uses of profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"The Blind Side" (Warner Bros.)
Rated "PG-13"
Inspirational family drama, based on real events, in which a wealthy white couple (Sandra Bullock and Tim McGraw) in Memphis, Tenn., offer shelter to a homeless black student (Quinton Aaron) from their children's (Lily Collins and Jae Head) school and, as he becomes an increasingly integral part of their clan, help him to hone his football skills while also hiring a determined tutor (Kathy Bates) to raise his academic standing. Driven by Bullock's field-sweeping performance as the feisty, religiously motivated adoptive mother, writer-director John Lee Hancock's unapologetically Christian tale of human solidarity across racial and class divides, adapted from Michael Lewis' 2006 best-seller "The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game," is funny, shrewd and ultimately uplifting. Brief nongraphic marital lovemaking, at least one profanity, a few sexual and drug references, a half-dozen crass terms. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Blood and Chocolate" (MGM)
Rated "PG-13"
Disposable tale about an American comic book artist (Hugh Dancy) researching folklore in Romania where he romances an alluring expatriate chocolatier (Agnes Bruckner) who turns out to be a werewolf, provoking the ire of her shape-shifting clan, especially her insolent cousin (Bryan Dick) and the feral leader of the pack (Olivier Martinez) to whom she is promised. While relatively restrained in terms of sex and violence, director Katja von Garnier's film doesn't work as a love story or a thriller, and despite its nocturnal Bucharest backdrop and some modestly stylish sequences the overall effect is bland. Some violence, a few bloody images, erotically suggestive dancing, fleeting glimpse of a nude photograph, drug references and sexual innuendo, as well as sporadic mildly crude language and profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"Blood Diamond" (Warner Bros.)
Rated "R"
Compelling action-adventure set in Africa's Sierra Leone as a mercenary (a superb Leonardo DiCaprio), a crusading U.S. reporter (Jennifer Connelly) and a frantic African fisherman (Djimon Hounsou) who's been separated from his family join forces against a backdrop of bloody civil war and plundering of the country's natural resources. Director Edward Zwick masterfully balances the action sequences with the more intimate ones. The film, though overly long, delivers on entertainment value, while imparting a worthy message about the immoral origin of conflict diamonds and the exploitation of child soldiers, and delivers a strong affirmation of family, while the DiCaprio-Connelly romance is refreshingly devoid of overt sexual elements. Much violence and bloodshed though admirably restrained in its presentation, murder, rough language and profanity, crude expressions, threat of rape, underage drinking and smoking. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"Bobby" (MGM/Weinstein)
Rated "R"
Fact and fiction are deftly blended in a multistoried drama about the intertwining lives of guests and workers at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles -- played by an all-star cast including William H. Macy, Anthony Hopkins, Sharon Stone, Laurence Fishburne, Demi Moore and many more -- leading up to Robert F. Kennedy's assassination. The presidential candidate is only seen sporadically in newsreel footage but director-writer Emilio Estevez's characters -- despite conflicts -- ultimately come to reflect the noble ideals of brotherhood and forgiveness expressed in some of Kennedy's stirring campaign speeches. Though there is some oversentimentality, on the whole it's a compelling dramatization with a worthy message whatever one's political stripe. Some rough expletives and an instance of profanity, drug use, brief side and rear nudity, brief violence and an adulterous affair. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"Body of Lies" (Warner Bros.)
Rated "R"
Taut and engrossing Mideast thriller about a conscientious U.S. intelligence agent (Leonardo DiCaprio) who -- in an environment of deception and betrayals -- seeks out an Osama-like terrorist leader while taking orders from his longtime colleague, a hard-nosed CIA chief (Russell Crowe) back in Virginia. Director Ridley Scott maintains a good pace, and there are intelligent performances by all, including Mark Strong as the agent's Jordanian liaison, while the culturally enlightened script encourages humanistic understanding of the politically and socially volatile region. Relatively brief but graphic images of violence, torture, and medical procedures, pervasive rough language and profanity, and some blunt sexual expressions. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Bolt" (Disney)
Rated "PG"
The canine star of a TV show (voice of John Travolta), raised to believe he has superpowers and that the program on which he continually rescues his beloved owner (voice of Miley Cyrus) is real, is accidentally shipped cross-country and must make his way back with the help of a streetwise cat (voice of Susie Essman) and an enthusiastic hamster (voice of Mark Walton). Directors Chris Williams and Byron Howard's endearing animated adventure, which sees its hero learning to believe in himself and his companions -- especially the formerly selfish feline -- discovering the value of friendship and teamwork, has chase sequences and cartoon action that might frighten the youngest children, but is otherwise unobjectionable. Conventional and 3-D formats. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-I -- general patronage. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.

"Bonneville" (SenArt/Drop of Water)
Rated "PG"
Touching story of a widow (Jessica Lange) who treks by car from Idaho to California with her two girlfriends (Kathy Bates and Joan Allen) to turn over her late husband's ashes to her grown stepdaughter (Christine Baranski), who demands them in return for not evicting her stepmother from her home. First-time feature director Christopher Rowley -- with a sensitive script by Daniel D. Davis, who based the story on his grandmother and her friends -- sustains a gentle and easygoing tone throughout this mature "chick flick" road movie, the friendship of the women is beautifully dramatized, and there's an affectingly spiritual, if not specifically Catholic, quality in the healthy approach to dealing with death. A few instances of crass language, light violence and brief innuendo. 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.

"Boogeyman" (Screen Gems)
Rated "PG-13"
Hokey horror flick about a young man (Barry Watson) who has been haunted all his by memories of a traumatic incident he "witnessed" in his bedroom as a boy -- he is convinced the eponymous evil specter snatched his father -- and who is advised by his psychologist that in order to salvage his sanity, he must prove that the fearful episode was nothing more than a figment of his troubled imagination by spending a night alone in his creepy childhood home. Though not without some mild suspense and popcorn-tossing jolts, the movie, directed by Stephen Kay, is a muddled mess of failed frights, horror-movie cliches and backend-heavy special effects pieced together by a mostly incoherent script. Several sequences of menace, which involve horror-style violence as well as some sexually suggestive scenes, one which contains partial nudity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"The Book of Eli " (Warner Bros.)
Rated "R"
This unexpectedly contemplative and lyrical, if violent, homage to spaghetti Westerns, martial arts films and religious faith follows a lone hero (Denzel Washington) as he traverses a post-apocalyptic landscape using his considerable fighting skills to safeguard the only extant copy of the King James Bible. Director siblings Albert and Allen Hughes have succeeded at making an entertaining and relatively substantive movie, while refraining from saturating the proceedings in blood or prolonging the violent passages. Still, some moviegoers will find the pairing of scripture with stylized aggression unnecessary and avoidable. Intermittent strong violence including gun- and swordplay and a killing intended to be merciful, much rough language, some crude language, and brief sexual innuendo. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Borat! Cultural Learning of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan" (20th Century Fox)
Rated "R"
Juvenile mock documentary about a clueless journalist (Sacha Baron Cohen) from Kazakhstan who travels to the United States to report on the American way of life and embarks on a cross-country odyssey to meet actress Pamela Anderson with whom he becomes infatuated after seeing her on television. Some of the outrageous pranks -- many involving real people not in on the joke -- are, admittedly, funny, but mostly the film wallows in vulgarity, with Cohen and director Larry Charles more often going for shock laughs over wit in satirizing American culture and politics. Pervasive coarse sexual and scatological humor, crass sight gags, masturbation, nudity, some irreverent remarks, and excessive rough and crude language, as well as some ethnic stereotypes. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive.

"Bordertown" (THINKFilm)
Rated "R"
Worthy but bleak investigative drama in which, at the behest of her editor (Martin Sheen), a Chicago reporter (Jennifer Lopez) travels to Juarez, Mexico, to uncover the truth about a series of rapes and murders committed against female factory workers and, uniting with a former colleague and old flame (Antonio Banderas) as well as a wealthy local humanitarian (Sonia Braga), tries to protect the young survivor (Maya Zapata) of one such attack. Writer-director Gregory Nava's film, inspired by true events, is absorbing, despite some melodramatic elements and an oversimplified indictment of globalization. Brutal rape and attempted rape, nonmarital sexual activity, rear and upper female nudity, graphic images of blood and corpses, some rough, crude and profane language, and occasional crass language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"The Bounty Hunter" (Columbia/Relativity)
Rated "PG-13"
Forgettable, frequently mean-spirited mix of romantic comedy and crime story begins with a former police officer-turned-bounty hunter (Gerard Butler) delightedly arresting his journalist ex-wife (Jennifer Aniston) after she fails to appear for a court hearing, but the two quickly become entangled in a case of police corruption that leaves them dodging bullets and, far less successfully, a renewed hail of arrows from cupid's bow. Any potentially heartwarming elements in director Andy Tennant's predictable tale of rekindling romance get lost amid the frenetic shuffle as the rival protagonists use a Taser stun gun on one another as well as tackle and handcuff each other. Some action violence, scenes of torture, brief rear nudity, several sexual jokes and references, about eight uses of profanity, a bit of rough and much crude language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"The Bourne Ultimatum" (Universal)
Rated "PG-13"
This lightning-paced, globe-trotting follow-up to "The Bourne Identity" and "The Bourne Supremacy" wraps up Bourne's (Matt Damon) quest to discover his true name and history even as CIA project head (David Strathairn) orders his immediate termination, but is continually stymied by Bourne's lethal skills at evasion and unexpected help from female CIA operatives (Joan Allen and Julia Stiles). Director Paul Greengrass orchestrates sustained and eye-popping action-excitement throughout while a top-notch cast (including a climactic appearance by Albert Finney) manages to flesh out their characters, resulting in a satisfying if somewhat exhausting thriller. Much intense and fierce violence and intermittent profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"The Box" (Warner Bros.)
Rated "PG-13"
In 1976 Richmond, Va., a cash-strapped suburban couple (Cameron Diaz and James Marsden) find themselves in a moral dilemma when a mysterious, disfigured stranger (a haunting Frank Langella) presents them with a device that, if they choose to activate it, will kill someone unknown to them but will also gain them a $1 million payment. Spiritually well-grounded adult viewers willing to overlook some improbabilities in writer-director Richard Kelly's intelligently challenging, if over-elaborate, screen version of Richard Matheson's 1970 short story "Button, Button" may be intrigued by this reflection on ethical choices and consequences, but the evolving parable includes actions that would be blatantly unacceptable in a more realistic context. Mature themes, complex moral issues, a few uses of profanity and a couple of sexual references. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"The Boy in the Striped Pajamas" (Miramax)
Rated "PG-13"
The 8-year-old son (Asa Butterfield) of a Nazi concentration camp commander (David Thewlis) befriends a captive Jewish boy (Jack Scanlon) and is gradually exposed to the horrors of the Holocaust. Writer-director Mark Herman's luminous screen version of John Boyne's award-winning novel for both children and adults contrasts its protagonist's innocence with the brutal irrationality of the events he uncomprehendingly witnesses. Mature thematic material, including a disturbing but nongraphic mass extermination scene. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

"Boy A" (Weinstein)
Rated "R"
Achingly sad and touching story of a sensitive young man (stunning work by Andrew Garfield) -- released from prison after 14 years for a dreadful crime in which he took part as a child -- who, with the help of a concerned caseworker (Peter Mullan), tries to start anew with an assumed name working at a delivery company where he bonds with one co-worker (Shaun Evans) and falls in love with another (Katie Lyons). Director John Crowley's adaptation of John Trigell's novel is bleak, heart-wrenching, morally complex and thought-provoking in its themes of forgiveness, redemption, the negative influence of the media and the human tendency to judge without knowing the facts. Rough language and profanity, crude expressions, nongraphic sexual situations and frank discussion, fleeting upper female nudity, bodily violence, off-screen murder, suicide and brief drug use. 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.

"Boynton Beach Club" (Roadside/Samuel Goldwyn)
Rated "NR"
Touching story about widowed and divorced seniors in Florida adult community who meet in a bereavement group and come to learn that life is far from over, as they forge friendships and romantic relationships. Director and co-writer Susan Seidelman has gathered a first-rate cast including Joe Bologna, Dyan Cannon, Len Cariou, Sally Kellerman, Michael Nouri, Renee Taylor and Brenda Vaccaro, and has, for the most part, avoided hackneyed treatment, and with good messages about recovery from grief, finding unexpected love, and rebuilding self-esteem. Casual view of premarital sex including condom use and pornography, acceptability of divorce, mild innuendo, nongraphic sexual encounters, partial female nudity, a few instances of rough and crude words, a nonsexual encounter with a prostitute, drug use. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. Not rated by the Motion Picture Association of America.

"Bratz" (Lionsgate)
Rated "PG"
The sleazily dressed Bratz line of fashion dolls come to life in a fluffy, live-action movie about four empowered Southern California high-schoolers who are good to their parents and classmates, do well in school, follow their dreams, and stand up to the rigid and authority-abusing student body president, all while dressed like professional escorts or trashy music-video girls. Director Sean McNamara swerves from naturalistic drama to cartoon antics, and for all the girls' good works and admirable camaraderie, the Bratz (as they name their singing-dancing girl group) are insufferably self-satisfied hyperconsumers. Much tight and skimpy costuming, two brawls and two instances of crude physical humor. 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.

"The Brave One" (Warner Bros.)
Rated "R"
Finely wrought but ultimately troubling tale of a radio personality (Jodie Foster) who gradually becomes a vigilante after her fiance (Naveen Andrews) is killed and she herself grievously wounded in an attack in New York's Central Park, and of her complex relationship with a police detective (Terrence Howard) who is determined to hunt down the vigilante. An unsettling meditation on the effects of fear -- and of its absence -- director Neil Jordan's film has virtually every element of a great work of art -- except, ultimately, a steadfast commitment to humane values. Brutal violence with blood and gore, some graphic sexual activity, rear and upper female nudity, outbursts of extremely rough language, and frequent crude and crass language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"The Break-Up" (Universal)
Rated "PG-13"
Tepid but fitfully affable romantic comedy charting the deterioration of the relationship of an art gallery assistant (Jennifer Aniston) and a loutish Chicago tour bus operator (Vince Vaughn) who ultimately learns to be a more considerate person. Director Peyton Reed draws good work from the stars, especially the effortlessly appealing Aniston and a scene-stealing Judy Davis, though the protagonists from the start seem distinctly incompatible. Underneath the not-very-funny funny business, there are some universal truths about relationships, but the setup never quite rings true, and the script should be way sharper. Considerable profanity and crude language and an instance of rough language, some crass sexual banter, partial nudity and a permissive view of premarital relationship. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

"Breach" (Universal)
Rated "PG-13"
Interesting though, by its nature, downbeat dramatization about the case of FBI agent Robert Hanssen (a compelling Chris Cooper) who was revealed to be a spy for the Russians, called the worst breach in the history of U.S. intelligence, and how he was entrapped by young undercover agent Eric O'Neill (Ryan Phillippe), assigned to work with him. Writer-director Billy Ray's gray-toned film is deliberately paced, but ultimately delivers on suspense. There is secondary interest for Catholic viewers in Hanssen's commitment to Catholicism, though given the unsavory aspects of his personality (not only treasonous, but an alleged sexual deviant as well), the connection is more unfortunate than not. Candid discussion of sexual matters, some crude language and profanity, a brief image of a pornographic video, domestic discord and mild violence. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"Breaking and Entering" (Weinstein)
Rated "R"
So-so drama about a London architect (Jude Law) -- living with a Swedish-American divorcee (Robin Wright Penn) and her autistic 13-year-old daughter -- who has an affair with the widowed Bosnian mother (Juliette Binoche) of a troubled boy who has broken into the architect's inner-city office, prompting a re-evaluation of his life and relationships against the city's evolving cultural landscape. Writer-director Anthony Minghella's film features good performances, but interweaves its themes of immigration, motherhood and economic disparity into a plot that's not terribly compelling, though its moral resolution involves forgiveness and reconciliation. Some rough and crude language and profanity, upper female nudity, a prostitute character, a couple of nongraphic sexual encounters, some sexual banter, infidelity and a condom reference. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"Brick" (Focus)
Rated "R"
Gritty low-budget murder mystery set in Southern California about a high school loner (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) whose obsessive search for his missing ex-girlfriend (Emilie de Ravin) leads to danger and deception, with a list of suspects that includes her junkie boyfriend (Noah Segan), a manipulative socialite (Nora Zehetner), a drug dealer (Lukas Haas) and a volatile thug (Noah Fleiss). Inspired by the crime novels of Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett, director Rian Johnson cleverly gives the high school movie a noir twist, combining the teen and classic detective genres, resulting in a hard-boiled hybrid that proves intriguing despite its modest trappings, though its slangy dialogue may take some getting used to. Some violence, including several rough beatings and a shooting, recurring drug content, unflattering portrayal of authority figures, underage drinking and smoking, and sporadic crude language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"Bride & Prejudice" (Miramax)
Rated "PG-13"
Daffy, but likable, updated subversion of "Pride & Prejudice" -- with leading man Darcy (Martin Henderson) now an American hotel magnate, and the Bennet girls now the Bakshis, a genteel lower middle-class Indian clan -- but most of the Jane Austen plot elements are more or less intact, including the duplicitous Wickham (Daniel Gillies). Gurinder ("Bend it Like Beckham") Chadha's retread is also a garish musical in the Bollywood tradition, and though much of it is -- intentionally -- way over the top, the central romance between Darcy and the beautiful Lalita (Austen's "Elizabeth") (Aishwarya Rai) comes through appealingly. Some off-color remarks, a fistfight, provocative dancing, and some thematic material make this best for older adolescents on up. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents.

"Bride & Prejudice" (2005)
Daffy, but likable, updated subversion of "Pride and Prejudice" -- with leading man Darcy (Martin Henderson) now an American hotel magnate, and the Bennet girls now the Bakshis, a genteel lower-middle-class Indian clan -- but most of the Jane Austen plot elements are more or less intact, including the duplicitous Wickham (Daniel Gillies). Gurinder ("Bend It Like Beckham") Chadha's retread is also a garish musical in the Bollywood tradition, and though much of it -- intentionally -- is way over the top, the central romance between Darcy and the beautiful Lalita (Austen's "Elizabeth") (Aishwarya Rai) comes through appealingly. Some off-color remarks, a fistfight, provocative dancing and some thematic material make this best for older adolescents or adults. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents are strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13. (Buena Vista)

"Brideshead Revisited" (Miramax/BBC)
Rated "PG-13"
Well acted and lushly outfitted, but substantially re-imagined, screen version of Evelyn Waugh's 1945 novel about a middle-class 1920s Oxford University student (Matthew Goode) who becomes entangled with an aristocratic Catholic dynasty through his almost romantic friendship with its younger son (Ben Whishaw), subsequently clashing with its misguided matriarch (Emma Thompson) and pursuing an adulterous affair with her elder daughter (Hayley Atwell). Director Julian Jarrold's sweeping period drama transforms a Catholic convert's meditation on God's grace into a cautionary tale about the negative effects of guilt-inflicting religious fundamentalism. Nongraphic adulterous sexual activity, brief rear nudity, a passing same-sex kiss, and occasional crass language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Bridesmaids" (Universal)
Rated "R"
Ill-tempered comedy in which a failed bakery owner (Kristen Wiig) finds the downward spiral of her fortunes accelerating after her lifelong best friend (Maya Rudolph) becomes engaged and asks her to serve as maid of honor. What follows -- amid her frantic rivalry with another of the attendants (Rose Byrne) -- is a series of disastrous misadventures for the titular ensemble as a whole (which also includes Melissa McCarthy, Ellie Kemper and Wendi McLendon-Covey) as well as a potentially winning but prematurely physical romance pairing the heroine with a local policeman (Chris O'Dowd). As written by Wiig and Annie Mumolo, director Paul Feig's stumble toward the altar starts with a graphic, commitment-free bedroom scene and proceeds to lift the veil, to supposedly humorous effect, on other uninviting matters such as the symptoms of food poisoning. Explicit nonmarital sexual activity, much sexual and scatological humor, a same-gender kiss, at least a half-dozen uses of profanity and pervasive rough and crude language. The Catholic News Service classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"Bride Wars" (Fox 2000/Regency)
Rated "PG"
Amiable if predictable romantic bauble about longtime devoted pals (Kate Hudson and Anne Hathaway, both in good comic form), who have dreamt since childhood of June weddings at New York's Plaza Hotel, but then, as adults, have a falling-out just before their much-anticipated nuptials there, after which each sets out to sabotage the other. With the significant moral reservation that both gals are shown to be cohabiting with their fiances, director Gary Winick's fitfully amusing "chick flick" otherwise has no significant sex or language issues, and there are, at least, some worthy if pat messages of lasting friendship and sensible priorities. Premarital situations and some mildly suggestive dancing. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults, though it's acceptable for older teens. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.

"Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason" (Universal)
Rated "R"
Retread sequel to 2001's "Bridget Jones' Diary," which finds the plump, romantically challenged Brit once again navigating a minefield of jealousies and insecurities, while waffling between sincere affection for her dashing but strait-laced lawyer boyfriend (Colin Firth) and the temptation of her caddish ex-boss and former lover (Hugh Grant). It may be a new diary entry for Bridget but, as directed by Beeban Kidron, the story pretty much feels recycled from the first go-round, though Zellweger, Firth and Grant are at the top of their game. Several implied sexual encounters, a lesbian subplot, as well as an instance of rough language and recurring crude sexual language and humor. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

"Bridge to Terabithia" (Disney)
Rated "PG"
Coming-of-age fantasy based on Katherine Paterson's children's novel about a young loner (Josh Hutcherson) who befriends a new girl in school (AnnaSophia Robb), who's also an outcast, and together they create a magical world -- Terabithia -- where they can escape their real-life troubles. The young leads are charming and the sweet story gently imparts worthy messages about friendship, family and the power of imagination, but director Gabor Csupo's faithful adaptation is a bit underwhelming, as the anticipated fantastical elements are minimal. Still, despite a plot twist that may upset sensitive young children, the movie is family-friendly. Mature thematic elements, including the death of a child, some minor peril and a few mildly crude language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents.

"Brighton Rock" (IFC)
Rated "NR"
This powerful adaptation of Graham Greene's 1939 novel - first brought to the screen in a 1947 noir thriller -- revolves around a depraved young hoodlum (Sam Riley) who manipulates a naive waitress (Andrea Riseborough) to avoid being arrested for two brutal murders he commits in the coastal resort of Brighton, England. By setting the story in 1964, writer-director Rowan Joffe puts the violence and the two lead characters' Catholic faith in a more relatable social context than in the original. Yet the picture poses timeless and tough questions about good and evil while evoking visceral menace and moral dread; its potentially objectionable elements can be judged acceptable for adults willing to grapple with Greene's richly complex view of Catholicism and of faith in general. Considerable violence, primarily involving knives, brief nongraphic marital lovemaking, some profanity and sexual innuendo, and much rough and crude language. The Catholic News Service classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. Not rated by the Motion Picture Association of America.

Bright Young Things (ThinkFilm)
Rated “R”
Actor-writer Stephen Fry ("Wilde," "Gosford Park") makes a mostly successful directorial debut with "Bright Young Things," his own adaptation of Evelyn Waugh's famous novel, "Vile Bodies," an alternately funny and serious look at the upper-crust 1920s' Jazz Age sensation-seekers who partied till they dropped, obsessed with drink and drugs on the road to self-destruction. Overly fond of long, fast pan shots and annoying quick cutting (much like "Chicago") utilized to show the fast-paced lives these self-absorbed characters lead, the film barely slows down until the end, when the story takes a somber turn. At the center is writer Adam Symes (Stephen Campbell Moore), whose memoirs are seized by narrow-minded customs agents as he returns to England from Paris. This is particularly unfortunate, as he needs an advance of 1,000 British pounds from publishing magnate Lord Monomark (Dan Aykroyd) to be able to wed his fiancee, Nina (Emily Mortimer). At his boarding house, he wins an equivalent amount at cards, but then gambles the money on a horse called Indian Runner when a drunken major (Jim Broadbent) assures him the horse is a shoo-in. The major disappears, leading him to think he'll never see the money again. Lo and behold, the horse wins, and throughout the film Adam keeps running into the major, but for complicated reasons never seems to get his hands on the money he's owed. In desperation, he summons up the courage to ask Nina's loony father (Peter O'Toole) for the money. Surprisingly, the father agrees, but in his carelessness signs the check "Charlie Chaplin," rendering the check worthless. Since it appears Adam will never get the money, the pragmatic Nina decides to marry the wealthy Ginger (David Tennant), though she still loves Adam. Adam is eventually hired to be a gossip columnist -- "Mr. Chatterbox" -- after Simon Balcairn (James McAvoy), who had the job, writes an outrageous column filled with libelous fabrications of high-placed people, and then commits suicide. (At one point, Adam fleetingly considers suicide, too.) For a while, Adam fills his shoes admirably, until an unfortunate mishap. Eventually war comes, bringing the wanton frivolity of these bright young things to an end. Fry has seen in Waugh's story a searing indictment of a celebrity culture filled with gossip columnists and paparazzi, long before our present-day obsession with such gossip-generating engines as the National Enquirer and the E! channel. The film is peopled with various colorful characters, including Adam's kindly, eccentric landlady (a delightful turn by British musical star Julia MacKenzie), who's extraordinarily magnanimous about Adam's rent; a wild sophisticate named Agatha Runcible (Fenella Woolgar) who, in a pivotal scene, wreaks havoc as she tears off into the countryside in a racing car; and an effeminate fop named Miles (Michael Sheen) whose infatuation with another man leads him into serious trouble with the police. The film is extravagantly cast with some terrific English actors in roles large and small. Besides those mentioned, there are Sir John Mills, Richard E. Grant, Simon Callow, Margaret Tyzack and Jim Carter. Americans Aykroyd and Stockard Channing (as an evangelist traveling with a choir of attractive young ladies) hold their own. There's much decadent posing and snorting of cocaine and such in the party scenes, but, as in the book -- a classic of social criticism -- it's all for a moral purpose. "Oh, Nina, what a lot of parties," Adam sighs wearily at one point, voicing Waugh's sentiments. The central characters ultimately come to a realization of the more important things of life. Waugh himself was Catholic, and his Catholicism reached its popular apotheosis with the 1982 miniseries, "Brideshead Revisited." Fry has fiddled a bit with the time frame of the book so that the story now reaches its climax during World War II, and ties things up in a more neatly sentimental fashion than Waugh did. (The novel was published in 1928.) Otherwise, if the story isn't completely faithful in detail, it certainly is in spirit. The production is handsomely designed (by Michael Howells). The music score encompasses mostly period recordings, everything from "Sing, Sing, Sing" to Noel Coward ditties. Because of recreational drug and alcohol use, implied promiscuity, generalized decadence, amoral behavior and a suicide, the USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

"Brokeback Mountain" (Focus)
Rated "R"
Over-the-years love story between two emotionally fragile cowboys (Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal) who begin an intimate relationship during a solitary sheepherding assignment. Though shortly after, they try to go their separate ways, with one marrying his fiancee (Michelle Williams) and the other a former prom queen (Anne Hathaway), they continue to be drawn to each other. Director Ang Lee's well-crafted film, which is superbly acted, was adapted from a New Yorker short story by Pulitzer Prize-winner Annie Proulx. It treats the subject matter -- which a Catholic audience will find contrary to its moral principles -- with discretion. Tacit approval of same-sex relationships, adultery, two brief sex scenes without nudity, partial and shadowy brief nudity elsewhere, other implied sexual situations, profanity, rough and crude expressions, alcohol and brief drug use, brief violent images, a gruesome description of a murder, and some domestic violence. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

"Broken Flowers" (Focus)
Rated "R"
World-weary womanizer (Bill Murray), deserted by his latest amour (Julie Delpy), receives an anonymous letter from a long-ago flame informing him he has a 19-year-old son, leading his neighbor (Jeffrey Wright) to suggest he look up ex-girlfriends (Sharon Stone, Frances Conroy, Tilda Swinton, Jessica Lange) and determine which one might have sent the letter. Writer-director Jim Jarmusch's quirky film is a telling commentary on relationships and human interconnection, the performances are fine, and Murray is effortlessly luminous. Scattered uses of rough language, brief full-frontal female nudity, implied premarital sex, underage drinking and brief drug use. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

"Brooklyn's Finest" (Overture)
Rated "R"
Seamy New York police drama chronicling a week in the lives of a cynical patrolman (Richard Gere) on the verge of retirement, an undercover operative (Don Cheadle) desperate for promotion to a safe desk job and a narcotics officer (Ethan Hawke) tempted to steal drug money to provide for his ill wife and growing family. Though Catholic imagery pervades director Antoine Fuqua's grim journey through Gotham's criminal underworld, faith provides no meaningful guidance to the conflicted characters as they cross legal and moral boundaries, and as the obscenity laden-script lurches from bloodshed to explicit scenes of sexuality. Frequent bloody violence, including beatings, shootings and strangulation, graphic nonmarital sexual activity, upper female nudity, a few uses of profanity, unremitting rough and crude language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"Brooklyn Rules" (City Lights)
Rated "R"
A coming-of-age comedy-drama about three lifelong Catholic friends (Scott Caan, Jerry Ferrara and Freddie Prinze Jr.) facing young adulthood in 1980s New York and trying to resist the influence of a local Mafia lieutenant (Alec Baldwin). While nicely observed, with a focus on how friendships can transcend time and circumstances, director Michael Corrente's film lacks the depth of "The Sopranos." Pervasive rough and crude language; mild sexual innuendo and one nongraphic sex scene; much violence, including gunfire and beatings, with bloodshed; and a revenge killing without consequences. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

"Brothers" (Lionsgate/Relativity)
Rated "R"
After his upstanding Marine brother (Tobey Maguire) is reported dead in Afghanistan, a newly released ex-con and charming ne'er-do-well (Jake Gyllenhaal) matures as he cares for his grieving sister-in-law (Natalie Portman) and young nieces (Bailee Madison and Taylor Geare), but his sibling, who has actually been taken prisoner, suffers a moral breakdown in captivity that threatens to haunt him for life. Though a fine cast that also includes Sam Shepard as the family's Vietnam-vet patriarch do their best to lend intensity to this cautionary tale about the dehumanizing effects of war and the gulf between combat and civilian life, the cliches and simplistic characterizations in David Benioff's script leave director Jim Sheridan's adaptation of Susanne Bier's 2004 Danish film flatfooted. Sporadic intense violence, including torture; drug use, adultery and suicide themes; a few uses of profanity; frequent rough and some crude language. 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.

"The Brothers Grimm" (Dimension)
Rated "PG-13"
Visually inventive, highly atmospheric adult fantasy that presents the fairy-tale authors -- Wilhelm and Jacob Grimm (Matt Damon and Heath Ledger, with credible English accents) -- as con-artist characters in a story as fantastical as anything they might have written, incorporating familiar elements of many of their stories, as an autocratic French occupier (Jonathan Pryce) orders them to get to the bottom of strange happenings in a German forest involving missing children. Director Terry Gilliam gets high marks for creating an evocative, 19th-century world, and whipping up a good deal of excitement as the story races to its conclusion, but the film is marred by a slow start and an uneven screenplay by Ehren Krueger. Intense action violence, frightening images, many involving insects, torture scenes, scattered profanity and crude language, brief sexual situations, and brief irreligiousness. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"The Brothers Solomon" (Screen Gems)
Rated "R"
Excruciatingly dull comedy in the clueless-protagonist vein, in which two brothers (Will Forte, who scripted, and Will Arnett) must become fathers to come into an inheritance from comatose father Lee Majors, and they pay a woman they've met online (Kristin Wiig) to be artificially inseminated. Director Bob Odenkirk's slow pacing fails to propel the lifeless gags. Pregnancy out of wedlock; artificial insemination; rough, crude and crass language; one reference to pornography; and some mild sexual banter. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"Bruno" (Universal/Media Rights Capital)
Rated "R"
Wild social satire follows the exploits of a hyper-gay Austrian fashion reporter (Sacha Baron Cohen) as he travels to America in search of fame, and flaunts his proclivities -- and eccentricities -- to the discomfiture of many. As directed by Larry Charles, provocateur Cohen scores a few points at the expense of clueless celebrities and irresponsible parents determined to launch their babies in Hollywood, but his wince-inducing exploration of sexual mores is simplistic, excessively explicit, and includes something to offend everyone. Strong sexual content, including graphic perverse and adulterous sexual activity, full nudity, pervasive sexual and some irreverent humor, implicit acceptance of homosexual activity, much rough and some crude language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"The Bucket List" (Warner Bros.)
Rated "PG-13"
Unremarkable, formulaic, only mildly entertaining story of two cancer patients -- a wealthy, womanizing tycoon (Jack Nicholson) and a middle-class garage mechanic (Morgan Freeman) -- who decide to hit the road and experience all their wildest dreams in the time they have left, that is, until they "kick the bucket." We've seen all this before, and except for seeing the two stars in standard reliable form, director Rob Reiner's film is predictably routine, though some problematic elements aside, imparting a positive message about finding the joy in life and bringing joy to others. An instance of the f-word; some crude expletives, crass expressions and scattered profanity; a vulgar gesture; an implied nonmarital sexual encounter; sexual references and innuendo; and domestic discord. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Bucky Larson: Born to be a Star" (Columbia)
Rated "R"
Human degradation played for attempted comedy as Nick Swardson, playing an emotionally and intellectually stunted bucktoothed Iowa boy, tries to succeed as a star of pornographic films. Director Tom Brady and screenwriters Swardson, Adam Sandler and Allen Covert plumb the depths of their obsession with body functions. Much upper female nudity, frontal and rear male nudity, pervasive references to body functions and bodily fluids, and pervasive rough, crude and crass language. The Catholic News Service classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"Bug" (Lionsgate)
Rated "R"
Intense and ultimately repelling tale of a depressed cocktail waitress (Ashley Judd) who takes in an apparently gentle drifter (Michael Shannon) to her motel room while living in fear of her ex-con former husband (Harry Connick Jr.) and is soon persuaded by the stranger's increasingly hysterical conviction that their room is teeming with bugs as part of a widespread government conspiracy against them. Director William Friedkin's stage-bound adaptation of Tracy Letts' off-Broadway play is initially promising as a psychological study of vulnerable lost souls but eventually disintegrates into an ugly and unconvincing horror flick. Excessive gore and violence, constant rough language and profanity, a casual sex scene, full male and female nudity, recreational drug and alcohol abuse, same-sex kissing and suicidal behavior. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"Burlesque" (Screen Gems)
Rated "PG-13"
Initially pleasant but ultimately sordid musical tracing the rise of an Iowa farm girl (Christina Aguilera) as she moves to Los Angeles and becomes first a waitress and then -- thanks to her knock-'em-dead voice -- a star performer at a burlesque club. She's cheered on by a friendly co-worker (Cam Gigandet) -- with whom romantic sparks are bound to fly, his faraway fiancee notwithstanding. Eventually, she's taken under the wing of the establishment's financially beleaguered owner (Cher). Writer-director Steven Antin's small-town-gal-makes-good showbiz celebration starts out feeling as though Andy Hardy and his friends had wandered onto the set of "Cabaret." But a few of the showcased acts cross the line from saucy to salacious, the outcome of the love interest winds up glamorizing an unwedded encounter and an incidental gay relationship is treated as just another amorous alternative. Benign view of premarital sex and homosexuality, possible acceptance of abortion, an out-of-wedlock pregnancy, fleeting rear nudity, often suggestive and briefly obscene dancing, several uses of profanity and one rough and some crude and crass terms. The Catholic News Service 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.

"Burn After Reading" (Focus)
Rated "R"
Witty dark caper comedy about hapless Washington-based gym employees (Frances McDormand and Brad Pitt) who find the memoirs of a fired CIA analyst (John Malkovich) on a computer disc and believe they're in possession of classified information they can sell to the Russians. Joel and Ethan Coen have written an extremely clever script, directed with assured timing, and their film showcases a top-flight cast including George Clooney, Tilda Swinton and Richard Jenkins, all of whom reveal surprising comic chops. Overt sex and violence are minimal, but many will be disturbed by the strong language. Pervasive use of the F-word and some profanity; two brief instances of violence, one gruesome; implied nonmarital sexual activity; and a sexual sight gag. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Tim Burton's Corpse Bride" (Warner Bros.)
Rated "PG"
Darkly enchanting animated love story based on a Russian folk tale about a timid groom (voiced by Johnny Depp) whose arranged marriage to the shy daughter (voiced by Emily Watson) of stuffy aristocrats, is derailed the night before they are to wed when, practicing his vows alone in the woods, he finds himself betrothed to a dead girl (voiced by Helena Bonham Carter) he inadvertently reanimates. Though a bit morose for young children, co-directors Tim Burton and Mike Johnson have crafted a delightfully macabre fable that imparts a gentle message of selfless love which should warm most hearts -- beating or not. Mature thematic elements, a villainous clerical character and folkloric fantasy content. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents.

C
"Cadillac Records" (Sony Music/Parkwood)
Rated "R"
Colorful if sometimes sordid chronicle of the rise of Chess Records throughout the 1950s and 1960s as owner Leonard Chess (Adrian Brody), a Polish emigre, assembles an array of rhythm-and-blues musicians -- including such legendary names as Muddy Waters (Jeffrey Wright), Little Walter (Columbus Short), Chuck Berry (Mos Def), Howlin' Wolf (Eamonn Walker) and Etta James (Beyonce Knowles) -- eventually leading his artists to "cross over" to mainstream audiences. Writer-director Darnell Martin presents a kaleidoscopic overview of their personal and professional lives with excellent performances and a flavorful earful of tunes, though some of the elements below may limit its appeal to Catholic viewers. Pervasive rough language and some profanity; some brief nongraphic sexual encounters; some nonmarital, implied underage sex; innuendo; some racial violence; drug use and infidelity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Callas Forever" (Regent Releasing)
Rated "NR"
Fictitious but true-in-spirit story of self-obsessed opera diva Maria Callas' lonely last years in Paris after she had lost her voice, wherein a gay former manager (Jeremy Irons) persuades her she can have a second career by making film versions of her most notable operas while lip-syncing to her old recordings. French accent notwithstanding, Fanny Ardant succeeds to a remarkable degree in capturing the Greek-American soprano's temperament and physical appearance, while director Franco Zeffirelli -- a close friend and colleague of Callas -- directs with the expected authority and brings special flair to the "Carmen" sequences, though the specialized subject matter will be of most interest to Callas fans and opera buffs. A few instances of rough and crude language and a couple of mild sexual situations. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults. Not rated by the Motion Picture Association of America.

"The Calling" (Pleasant Avenue)
Rated "NR"
This absorbing documentary focuses on the struggles involved in responding to a religious vocation as it follows a young male novice and a mother superior, both of whom belong to a small community called the Family of Jesus the Healer. When the group's founder relocates them from Tampa, Fla., to Peru to serve that country's poor, both the newcomer and the veteran find it increasingly difficult to balance their calling with family ties and obligations back home. Filmmaker David Ranghelli's moving study of sacred aspirations and of the courageous commitment required to fulfill them is all the more effective for not glossing over the emotional cost a generous answer to God's summons can sometimes exact. While the ultimate decisions made by the people Ranghelli chronicles vary, this remains both an uplifting story for a general audience and an excellent tool for realistic vocations work. A brief discussion regarding chastity. The Catholic News Service classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents. Not rated by the Motion Picture Association of America.

"Capitalism: A Love Story" (Overture)
Rated "R"
Hard-hitting but at times overly simplistic documentary in which filmmaker Michael Moore highlights numerous dysfunctional aspects of the capitalist system in the U.S. and their negative effects on working people, who are thrown into unemployment or have their homes seized in foreclosure, ultimately calling for an economic revolution that would bring democracy to the workplace. Though Moore interviews two Catholic priests and retired Auxiliary Bishop Thomas J. Gumbleton of Detroit, who are unanimous in condemning capitalism as inherently sinful, this is not the teaching of the full magisterium, which instead recognizes both the efficiencies of the free market system and its need to be prudently regulated, while upholding the human dignity of workers, particularly their right to unionize. At least three uses of the F-word and a couple of crude terms. 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.

"Capote" (Sony Classics)
Rated "R"
Gripping chronicle of writer Truman Capote (a superb Philip Seymour Hoffman) getting the inspiration to write his acclaimed "nonfiction novel," "In Cold Blood," after a Kansas farm family is brutally murdered, and his probing interviews with the townspeople and the killers, which walk a fine line between calculation and compassion. Director Bennett Miller's sobering film masterfully recreates the early 1960s as Capote travels back and forth from the superficial New York social scene to the bleak aura of death row at Leavenworth, with fine performances by Catherine Keener, Clifton Collins Jr., Chris Cooper and Amy Ryan. Brief violent images, an implied homosexual relationship, scattered profanity and rough language, crude expressions, a vulgar anecdote, sexual reference, and a hanging. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"Captain America: The First Avenger" (Paramount)
Rated "PG-13"
A complete absence of cynicism, a crackling undercurrent of dry wit, and the classical purity of its golden-age Hollywood references distinguish this comic book adaptation relating the origins story of the titular superhero (Chris Evans). Director Joe Johnston displays a warm affinity for 1940s America as he chronicles the muscular warrior's battle against a rogue Nazi (Hugo Weaving) and his restrained romance with a fetching scientist (Hayley Atwell). Despite some scenes of destruction, the result is, for the most part, full-on family entertainment of the old school. Much action violence, including gunplay. The Catholic News Service classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

"Captivity" (Lionsgate/After Dark)
Rated "R"
Nasty tale about a model (Elisha Cuthbert) abducted and subjected to unrelenting torture by a masked figure. Director Roland Joffe's film eventually comes up with some interesting elements and plot twists, but by then it is too late, demonstrating he has come a long way from earlier and loftier achievements such as "The Killing Fields" and "The Mission." Graphic sex, violence, sadism and torture. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"Carandiru" (Luis Carlos Vasconcelos)
Rated "R"
"Carandiru" (Sony Classic) is a raw and rambling prison drama about life in an explosively overcrowded Latin American penitentiary, as seen through the eyes of a humanitarian-minded doctor (Luis Carlos Vasconcelos) brought in to implement an AIDS-prevention program. Based on actual events which occurred at Brazil's notorious Sao Paulo House of Detention, the film, directed by Hector Babenco, conveys an almost palpable sense of confinement and tinderbox volatility, but falls short of compelling, in large part due to an unfocused, episodic script, and, despite an underlying theme of redemption, the doctor's nonjudgmental acceptance of the inmates' aberrant behavior. Due to strong bloody violence including an intense riot sequence, several sexual encounters with partial nudity, a casual attitude toward homosexuality, recurring drug content and much rough and crude language, the USCCB classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

"Cars" (Disney)
Rated "G"
Delightful computer-animated movie set in a world of anthropomorphic autos about a cocky racecar (voiced by Owen Wilson) which, while en route cross-country to compete in a prestigious championship, is unexpectedly detained in a neglected desert town, where his growing friendship with the town's four-wheeled residents (voiced by Paul Newman, Bonnie Hunt and Larry the Cable Guy, among others) effects a change of heart regarding fame in the fast lane. Co-directed by John Lasseter and Joe Ranft, the film has a full tank of humor and emotions -- not to mention bar-raising visuals -- while its solid storytelling imparts a charming message about taking the time to appreciate what really matters in life. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-I -- general patronage.

"Cars 2" (Disney/Pixar)
Rated "G"
In director John Lasseter's winsome -- and equally family-friendly -- sequel to 2006's "Cars," some of the anthropomorphic vehicles of the first feature depart Route 66 for an around-the-world adventure as a veteran racecar (voice of Owen Wilson) accepts a challenge to compete in the first-ever World Grand Prix across three countries. With his best friend, a hapless tow truck (voice of Larry the Cable Guy), in tow, he takes on his main rival, a cocky Italian Formula One speedster (voice of John Tuturro). A case of mistaken identity, meanwhile, sees the amigos mixed up in James-Bond-style intrigue involving an Aston Martin (voice of Michael Caine) who is the superspy of British Intelligence. Amid the sight gags and belly laughs are good lessons about family, friendship, self-esteem, environmental stewardship and acceptance of others. Some of the action, however -- mainly the spy scenes showcasing explosions, gunfights, and car "torture" -- may be too intense for the littlest viewers. The Catholic News Service classification is A-I -- general patronage. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is G -- general audiences, all ages admitted.

"Case 39" (Paramount Vantage)
Rated "R"
Turgid self-parody of a horror film in which a social worker (Renee Zellweger) finds she has a demon-possessed child (Jodelle Ferland) on her hands. Director Christian Alvart and screenwriter Ray Wright scoop deeply from the cliches of demon-seed-children flicks to clumsy effect. Fleeting crude language, a scene of non-sexual child abuse, brief but intense bloody violence. 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.

"Cassandra's Dream" (Weinstein)
Rated "PG-13"
Fairly interesting but ultimately unconvincing London-based drama about two financially needy brothers (Ewan McGregor and Colin Farrell) asked by their rich uncle (Tom Wilkinson) to kill a business associate for pay. The two leads are excellent, but writer-director Woody Allen's Hitchcockian script fails to avoid a sense of contrivance, and Allen's nihilistic worldview, as espoused here by McGregor's character, is beginning to grow tiresome. An off-screen murder, brief violence, much conversational profanity, drug references, some brief sexual banter and nonmarital relationships. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Casanova" (Touchstone)
Rated "R"
Handsome but leisurely paced period piece about history's most famous lover (Heath Ledger), focusing on a fictitious "secret" episode in his life: his incognito love affair with an 18th-century Venetian beauty (Sienna Miller) who writes feminist tracts under a male nom de plume. On the plus side, Lasse Hallstrom's film is well acted, farcical without overdoing the slapstick, remarkably restrained in sexual matters, and even has a reasonably moral ending, but there's a surfeit of troublesome Inquisition-era jibes at the Catholic Church (including a comically villainous bishop played by Jeremy Irons), and an episode involving seduction of a novice. Brief sexual episodes without nudity, innuendo, some crude expressions, pervasive anti-clerical view and a mild torture scene. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

"Casino Royale" (Columbia/MGM)
Rated "PG-13"
Adrenaline-charged adaptation of Ian Fleming's first James Bond novel (spoofed in a 1967 film of the same title) in which the iconic British superspy (Daniel Craig in his 007 debut) must infiltrate a high-stakes card game organized by a banker (Mads Mikkelsen) to international terrorists. Director Martin Campbell's addition to the franchise (the 21st overall) jettisons the campy elements of past films for a grittier, more serious return to the harder-edged tone of the books -- especially in regard to the violence -- blending virtuoso action sequences and substantial character development to show the origins of the Bond mythology. Virile yet vulnerable, Craig's secret agent is less the sophisticated playboy -- though there is the usual womanizing -- and more a brash and brooding assassin. Recurring strong action violence, including an intense torture scene, adultery, partial nudity, sexual situations, and some mildly crude language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"Catch and Release" (Columbia)
Rated "PG-13"
Dour, slow-moving romantic comedy about a woman (Jennifer Garner) whose fiancee is killed shortly before their wedding who learns that he fathered a child with an out-of-town massage therapist (Juliette Lewis) who eventually comes to town with the child in tow moving in with her and her fiance's buddies (Kevin Smith, Sam Jaeger and Timothy Olyphant) with ensuing romantic complications. Writer-director Susannah Grant's formulaic chick flick strains for credibility, the acting is bland (especially Olyphant as her principal love interest), and is unredeemed by the overall message of forgiveness and a reasonably moral wrap-up. Permissive sexual mores, intimate encounters (one intense but fully clothed, the other gauzily photographed with no actual nudity), sexual banter and innuendo, some crude language and expressions and profanity, a suicide attempt and drug use. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"Catch a Fire" (Focus)
Rated "PG-13"
Intelligent if unevenly compelling drama set in apartheid-era South Africa that tells the real-life story of Patrick Chamusso (Derek Luke), a husband and father who abandons his apolitical stance and becomes a militant rebel fighter after he and his wife (Bonnie Henna) are wrongfully arrested and tortured by white police investigators (headed by Tim Robbins) in connection with an explosion at the oil refinery where he works. Despite all the right ingredients -- a solid cast, a worthy story, taut pacing and an accomplished director in Phillip Noyce -- the tale never ignites from an emotional standpoint. However, in exploring themes of racism and the timely issue of using violence as a means of political protest, the film ultimately advocates forgiveness as imperative in healing the wounds caused by hatred. Some violence, images of torture, an instance of rough language and a few crude expressions and racial slurs. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore" (Warner Bros.)
Rated "PG"
Entertaining and inventive 3-D spy adventure -- seamless blending live action, puppetry, and computer animation -- in which rogue feline agent Kitty Galore (voice of Bette Midler) threatens to make the world her "personal scratching post" by unleashing the "Call of the Wild," a screech that serves as a weapon of mass destruction. Led by Diggs (voice of James Marsden), a police K-9 German shepherd who hates cats, and Catherine (voice of Christina Applegate), a feline agent who puts her nine lives on the line, the covert pet intelligence agencies DOG and MEOWS must put differences aside and work together to bring Kitty down. Plenty of excitement, gizmos and cute-as-a-button moments will charm and enthrall the youngsters, while their parents will enjoy the inside jokes referencing James Bond films. The Catholic News Service classification is A-I -- general patronage. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested.

"The Cave" (Screen Gems)
Rated "PG-13"
Schlocky horror action movie about a team of expert cave explorers (led by Cole Hauser and Eddie Cibrian) trapped miles beneath the surface, who, while struggling to find a way out, fall prey to an unknown subterranean species of ravenous creatures. Despite its creepy claustrophobic setting, Bruce Hunt's directorial debut provides few (even B-movie) jolts, resulting in a formulaic and forgettable group-peril flick that caves in under the weight of its illogical and hackneyed script. Recurring monster menace and bloody gore, as well as scattered crude language and profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

"The Cave of the Yellow Dog" (Tartan)
Rated "NR"
Gentle tale that chronicles the daily life of a family of nomadic Mongolian sheepherders and centers on a young girl's efforts to conceal a stray puppy she found, defying her father's orders forbidding her from keeping the dog. Once again using indigenous, nonprofessional actors (all are real nomads), director Byambasuren Davaa blends documentary and narrative storytelling less successfully than in her previous effort, "The Story of the Weeping Camel." Despite virtually no plot, she nevertheless manages to craft a simple yet lovely and gracefully shot fable that explores themes of family bonds and modernity's encroachment into traditional ways of life. Though underpinned by a cyclical Buddhist spirituality -- particularly its central belief in reincarnation -- the story and its affirmation of the supreme value of human life should resonate with Catholic viewers. Subtitles. The scene of a dead sheep being skinned may upset very young children. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-I -- general patronage. Not rated by the Motion Picture Association of America.

"Cave of Forgotten Dreams" (IFC)
Rated "G"
Spellbinding 3-D documentary on the 32,000-year-old paintings in the Chauvet cave of southern France. Director Werner Herzog includes frank discussions of paintings and sculptures of nude women, making this better appreciated by mature adolescents, just as with any other visit to an art museum. Herzog uses the 3-D technology to expertly capture the paintings in the depth they were meant to convey when they were created in the Paleolithic Era. The Catholic News Service classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is G -- general audiences. All ages admitted.

"Cellular" (New Line)
Rated "PG-13"
Somewhat satisfying fast-paced thriller about a kidnapped woman (Kim Basinger) whose life -- along with that of her young son -- hangs on the tenuous connection to a stranger's (Chris Evans) cell phone. Giving the old damsel-in-distress formula a wireless twist, director David R. Ellis' slim story about a good Samaritan slacker trying to save a woman he has never met is full of predictable popcorn thrills -- including high-octane car chases -- which, taken as a whole, add up to more than the sum of its B-movie parts. Recurring violence, some gore and terror situations, an instance of rough language, a crude gesture and some sexual humor, as well as crass language and profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"Chandni Chowk to China" (Warner Bros.)
Rated "PG-13"
In this flavorful yet prolix fusion of Bollywood cinema and Hong Kong martial arts, a clownish cook (Akshay Kumar) from Delhi travels to China to vanquish a gangster exploiting villagers near the Great Wall. He crosses paths with a set of female twins and is transformed into a fighter by their father, a kung fu master. Director Nikhil Advani blends music and melodrama, cartoonish humor and stylized action into a colorful spectacle that proves to be too much of too many things, destined to test the patience of uninitiated moviegoers as well as ardent fans of both genres. Frequent martial arts violence that is occasionally intense and pervasive broad, if generally chaste, humor characteristic of the Bollywood idiom. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Changeling" (Universal)
Rated "R"
Gripping true-life drama set in 1928 Los Angeles recounting how the young son of a single telephone operator (a fine Angelina Jolie) goes missing, and how the corrupt Los Angeles police department tries to silence her when she protests that the child they subsequently return to her is not her son, while a crusading Presbyterian minister (John Malkovich) takes up her cause. Clint Eastwood directs with trademark austerity. Though the subject matter is often grim, with some necessarily unpleasant scenes, the story has historical significance as the case led to reform. There's also inspiration in the mother's stubborn determination to continue the search for the boy against all odds. Strong if nongraphic scenes of violence, murder, nonsexual child abuse, patient abuse in a mental institution, an execution, some rough language and 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.

"The Change-Up" (Universal)
Rated "R"
This raunchy riff on the age-old switched identities premise has a diligent but beleaguered husband and dad (Jason Bateman) temporarily exchanging bodies with his commitment-phobic ne'er-do-well best friend (Ryan Reynolds). Since the single lothario's lifestyle includes making soft-core porn and indulging his aberrant sexual tastes, while his amigo's parenthood is marred by diaper disasters, helmer David Dobkin's puerile comedy amounts to little more than a tiresome attempt to expand the boundaries of bad taste. Graphic nonmarital sexual activity, masturbation, upper female and rear nudity, drug use, repulsive scatological humor, several uses of profanity, pervasive rough and crude language. The Catholic News Service classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" (Warner Bros.)
Rated "PG"
Entertaining and stylish remake of 1971's "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory," as sweet-natured young Charlie (Freddie Highmore), along with four bratty children, wins a visit to a mysterious emporium, run by the reclusive candy-maker Wonka (Johnny Depp). Tim Burton's take on the Roald Dahl tale is predictably darker than the bright Gene Wilder version, but it's hugely inventive, combining Dickensian atmospherics with mordant wit and featuring an understated, slyly humorous performance by Depp who seems, at times, to be channeling Michael Jackson's Neverland persona. The plot contains positive messages about family, loyalty and unselfishness, and only a few scenes of tongue-in-cheek peril that might upset the very youngest viewers. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-I -- general patronage.

"Charlie Bartlett" (Sidney Kimmel/MGM)
Rated "R"
Off-beat comic study of a troubled but charismatic teen (Anton Yelchin) who partners with a reformed bully (Tyler Hilton) to set up an informal psychiatric practice and prescription drug dispensary in the boys' room of his high school, thus becoming its most popular student, much to the amazement of his weak-willed mother (Hope Davis) and the chagrin of the inept principal (Robert Downey Jr.) whose daughter (Kat Dennings) he's dating. Director John Poll's often droll feature debut highlights the value of open communication, the dignity of the marginalized and the dangers of narcotics, but its worthy intentions are undercut by a barrage of swear words and some crude humor. Nongraphic premarital sexual activity, brief upper female nudity, frequent coarse language, two profanities, a suicide theme and a gay reference. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Charlie St. Cloud" (Universal)
Rated "PG-13"
After losing his younger brother (Charlie Tahan) in a car accident for which he was indirectly responsible, a gifted sailboat racer (Zac Efron), racked by guilt and grief, becomes the caretaker of the cemetery where his sibling rests, on the edge of which, briefly each evening, he is mysteriously able to see and communicate with the lad. But his reclusiveness is challenged when a high school classmate and fellow sailor (Amanda Crew) returns to town and captures his heart. Though unusually spiritual and even explicitly religious, director Burr Steers' melancholy parable, adapted from Ben Sherwood's best-selling 2004 novel, "The Death and Life of Charlie St. Cloud," never quite jells, despite Efron's sensitive portrayal of his isolated, ethereal character, while the script romanticizes the premature consummation of the scarred youth's potentially life-altering love. Nongraphic premarital sexual activity, a few instances of sexual humor, at least one use of profanity, a couple of crude terms and six crass remarks. 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.

"Charlie Wilson's War" (Universal)
Rated "R"
Adept, sophisticated political drama, based on real events, recounting how an obscure, high-living Texas congressman (Tom Hanks) united with a wealthy, ostensibly pious political supporter (Julia Roberts) and a gifted but volatile CIA agent (Philip Seymour Hoffman) to defeat the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. Director Mike Nichols' rollicking film revels in the comic divide between its central character's disreputable lifestyle, which is portrayed at times quite graphically, and his historic achievement, with perhaps an invitation to excuse or even celebrate the one in light of the other. Sustained upper female and rear nudity, implied nonmarital sex, drug use, sexual humor, irreverent dialogue, pervasive rough and some crude and crass language, and scenes of wounded children. 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.

"Charlotte's Web" (Paramount)
Rated "G"
Charming live-action adaptation of E.B. White's beloved children's classic about a runt pig (voiced by Dominic Scott Kay) who is saved from slaughter by the love of a young girl (Dakota Fanning), a barnyard of computer-enhanced talking animals (voiced by Oprah Winfrey, Steve Buscemi, John Cleese and Robert Redford, among others), and the fancy web work of a sage spider, Charlotte (voiced by Julia Roberts). Hewing closely to the book, director Gary Winick makes sure that the techno-wizardry never overshadows the story and its simple, timeless themes of friendship and the bittersweet cycle of life. Some mildly crude humor. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-I -- general patronage.

"Cheaper By the Dozen 2" (20th Century Fox)
Rated "PG"
Agreeably entertaining sequel to the 2003 comedy which finds the Baker brood -- mom (Bonnie Hunt), dad (Steve Martin) and their 12 children -- vacationing at a lakefront cabin where their summer holiday unravels into a battle for bragging rights against a rival clan headed by a hypercompetitive blowhard (Eugene Levy). Director Adam Shankman serves up a similar helping of mildly amusing slapstick and heart-tugging sentiment, slightly more satisfying this time around, while again affirming a strong family-values message. Much comic mayhem, and some mildly crude humor, language and innuendo. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents.

"Chicken Little" (Disney)
Rated "G"
Disappointing computer-animated comedy adventure based on the classic nursery rhyme about a little chick (voiced by Zach Braff) who, after humiliating himself by sounding the alarm that the sky is falling, gets a chance to save face -- and his hometown -- when his apocalyptic announcement later proves true. Directed by Mark Dindal, the movie's vibrant, through unremarkable, animation goes for a more 3-D look, but the flat story and characterizations lack much emotion, charm or wit, undercutting the film's warm themes of family bonds and believing in oneself. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-I -- general patronage.

"Children of Men" (Universal)
Rated "R"
Bleak futuristic political thriller in which a mysterious infertility has stopped the birth of babies, and a disillusioned London bureaucrat (an excellent Clive Owen) races to carry the world's only pregnant woman (Clare-Hope Ashitey) to safety, while dodging refugee terrorists, the authorities, explosions and bullets at every turn. Director Alfonso Cuaron's adaptation of a P.D. James novel is intentionally dark and disturbing, if exciting in its chase sequences, and though the first-rate cast includes Michael Caine, Julianne Moore, Chiwetel Ejiofor and more, some appearances are virtual cameos. The somber palette and relentlessly downbeat milieu may not be for every taste, though some may discern biblical parallels in the "miraculous" birth of the child. Pervasive rough and crude language and some mild profanity, crude expressions, heavy but not graphic violence including explosions and shootings, a childbirth sequence, brief partial nudity and drug use. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

"Choke" (Fox Searchlight)
Rated "R"
Generally repellant comedy with serious pretensions adapted from Chuck Palahniuk's novel about an inveterate sex addict (Sam Rockwell). When not pursuing a lucrative choking-in-a-restaurant scam, he works as a historical theme park performer to pay the mental hospital bills for his mother (Angelica Huston), whose compassionate physician (Kelly Macdonald) falls for him. Writer-director Clark Gregg has a good bit as one of the theme-park workers in a cast that also includes Brad William Henke, Jonah Bobo and Joel Grey. But the pervasive sexual encounters and various irreverent elements -- the doctor informs the son that he may be the offspring of Jesus, and there are two sexual encounters in the hospital's chapel -- cross the line, whatever their ostensible satiric and dramatic purpose. Strong sexual content with multiple encounters, most with upper female nudity, sacrilegious elements, some rough language and profanity, and scatological and drug references. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"Christmas at Maxwell's" (LauferFilm)
Rated "PG"
Ohio-based wine merchant (Andrew May) copes with the cancer-related illness of his wife (Jack Hourigan), while raising their two children (Charlie and Julia May), and struggling with profound guilt about the past, until an elderly nursing home resident (Angus May) changes their lives at Christmas time in this Ohio-set tale. Inspired by personal experience, director-writer William C. Laufer (who also plays a priest) has made a heartfelt film with admirable messages about God's forgiveness, the strength of family and being a Good Samaritan, and features a touching conclusion, but the picturesque film is handicapped by languid pacing, an episodic script and mostly colorless performances, except for a reasonably convincing Hourigan. Mild profanity, crass expressions, mild sexual innuendo and mature thematic material. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents.

"Christmas in the Clouds" (Slowhand Cinema/Majestic Films)
Rated "PG"
Romantic comedy about a young widow (Mariana Tosca) who travels from New York to Michigan to surprise her pen pal-suitor (Sam Vlahos), an elderly man whom she's never met, only to fall in love with his good-looking son (Tim Vahle), a ski resort owner. She mistakes the son for her correspondent, while the son, in turn, confuses her with a hotel critic. Producer-writer-director Kate Montgomery's Sundance, Utah-shot film has assembled an appealing largely Native American cast, offering an agreeable, refreshingly offbeat story of love and forgiveness during the holiday season. Smattering of crude language, mild sexual humor and innuendo, a nongraphic bedroom scene, and a permissive view of premarital sex. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"A Christmas Tale" ("Un Conte de Noel") (IFC)
Rated "NR"
Three grown siblings (Anne Consigny, Mathieu Amalric and Melvil Poupaud) of a dysfunctional French family gather at their parents' (Catherine Deneuve and Jean-Paul Roussillon) home for Christmas after their mother is diagnosed with the same disease that killed their older brother in childhood. Though the angst-ridden proceedings, as written and directed by Arnaud Desplechin, inch toward reconciliation, uniformly fine acting from the ensemble cast only makes the discord along the way that much more uncomfortable to watch, while an ambivalent portrayal of faith and an indulgence of adultery add further complications. In French. Subtitles. Graphic adulterous sexual activity, partial upper female and brief rear nudity, cohabitation, occasional rough and crude language, and sexual references. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. Not rated by the Motion Picture Association of America.

"Christmas With the Kranks" (Columbia)
Rated “PG”
Delightful yuletide comedy about a Chicago couple (Tim Allen and Jamie Lee Curtis) who boycott Christmas after their daughter leaves home to join the Peace Corps, sparking unforeseen reactions from their militantly merry neighbors (led by Dan Aykroyd). The film is based on the novella "Skipping Christmas" by John Grisham. Director Joe Roth delivers a dose of holly-jolly fun that is, by turns, extremely funny and poignantly tender, and its warmhearted message of selflessness, family and coming together as a community clearly embodies the truest spirit of the season. Some suggestive humor, comic violence and mildly crude language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents.

"The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader" (Fox)
Rated "PG"
Swashbuckling sequel, combining live action and animation, in which a brother and sister (Skandar Keynes and Georgie Henley) from World War II-era Britain are once again transported to the titular world, this time accompanied by their obnoxious, cynical cousin (Will Poulter). Reunited with their friend, the king of Narnia (Ben Barnes), the siblings -- and, more reluctantly, their traveling companion -- join his quest to vanquish a menacing manifestation of evil. They do this by bringing together at the table of the noble lion Aslan (voice of Liam Neeson) seven magical swords empowered to protect the land from harm. Directed by Michael Apted, this screen version of the third in C.S. Lewis' classic series of Christian-themed allegorical novels keeps faith front and center as the good kids battle temptations ranging from envy to cowardice. Meanwhile, their initially nasty relative -- helped along by the wisdom of a plucky warrior mouse (voice of Simon Pegg) -- moves toward conversion. An enjoyable, mostly kid-friendly voyage, though somewhat less impressive dramatically than thematically. Considerable peril and bloodless violence, a couple of mild bathroom jokes. The Catholic News Service classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested.

"The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" (Disney)
Rated "PG"
Captivating live-action fantasy adventure based on C.S. Lewis' beloved children's classic set in World War II-era England about four siblings (Georgie Henley, Skandar Keynes, William Moseley and Anna Popplewell), who, having been evacuated from London to the home of an eccentric professor (Jim Broadbent), stumble through a magical wardrobe into the enchanted realm of Narnia, where they help the wise and noble lion Aslan (voiced by Liam Neeson) defeat the evil White Witch (Tilda Swinton), who holds the land under an icy spell of eternal winter. Seeded with Christian symbolism and subtext, director Andrew Adamson's faithful adaptation balances spectacle with storytelling while exploring themes of good and evil to capture the childlike wonder that underscores Lewis' tale. Some battlefield violence, intense scenes of child peril and menace, and several frightening sequences. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents.

"The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian" (Disney)
Rated "PG"
Exciting and well-crafted if less emotionally absorbing follow-up to 2005's "The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe" has the Pevensie siblings (William Moseley, Anna Popplewell, Skandar Keynes and Georgie Henley) returning to Narnia to help the title character (Ben Barnes) stage a revolt against his evil uncle. The bellicose nature of the proceedings and uneven attempts by director and co-writer Andrew Adamson to inject humor and romance don't prevent this faithful adaptation of the second volume in C.S. Lewis' classic series from being salubrious entertainment. Battlefield violence and deadly hand-to-hand combat, an implied decapitation, a brawl involving schoolchildren, some intense scenes of child peril and several frightening sequences. 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.

"The Chorus (LesChoristes)" (Miramax)
Rated "PG-13"
Glossily sentimental and heart-tugging French film about a failed musician (Gerard Jugnot) who takes a teaching job at a boarding school for troubled boys in the late 1940s, and helps them overcome their delinquent and violent ways by forming a choir, under the disapproving eye of the school's autocratic principal (Francois Berleand). Christophe Barratier's film about the healing power of music features first-rate performances, and heavenly singing by the boys -- once they get going -- making this a surefire audience pleaser even as the setup is transparently manipulative. Some crude language, a brief verbal suggestion of sexual impropriety and a few violent episodes. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents.

"The Chumscrubber" (Newmarket)
Rated "R"
Alternately funny and disturbing satire about suburban kids who kidnap the wrong boy after intending to target the younger brother of the school loner (Jamie Bell) to compel the latter to get them the drugs they believe he can secure from the home of a schoolmate dealer who's just committed suicide. Arie Posin's searing indictment of aloof, disengaged parents, alienated youths and our drug-saturated society is overly simplistic, but brilliantly acted by Bell, Glenn Close, Ralph Fiennes and Allison Janney, and ends on a satisfyingly redemptive note. Profanity and rough language, crude expressions, underage drug use and smoking, brief violence with blood, a sexual situation with brief partial nudity, and suicide. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

"Cinderella Man" (Universal)
Rated "PG-13"
Moving true-life story of Depression-era boxer Jimmy Braddock (Russell Crowe in top form) who -- after several years out of the ring, working on the docks -- took up fighting again to support his loving wife (Renee Zellweger) and their three young children, and against all odds made a tremendous comeback, eventually going up against the notorious Max Baer (Craig Bierko). Director Ron Howard has made an absorbing film with first-rate performances (including that of Paul Giamatti as his manager) and authentic period flavor; though the boxing sequences are strong they're far less graphic than similarly themed films, and the human story of Jimmy's devotion to his family is paramount. Much period profanity, some crude language, ring violence with blood. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"A Cinderella Story" (Warner Bros.)
Rated "PG-13"
Light but lackluster teen romantic comedy set in Southern California about a slaving high school senior (Hilary Duff) whose hopes of happily-ever-aftering it with a quarterback Prince Charming (Chad Michael Murray) are stymied by her wicked stepmom (Jennifer Coolidge). Director Mark Rosman gives the familiar fairy tale a contemporary makeover, stripping it of its fantasy elements, while retaining its sweet sense of storybook romance. Some mildly crude language, humor and innuendo. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents.

"Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant"
Rated "PG-13"
A strait-laced high school student (Chris Massoglia) and his rebellious best friend (Josh Hutcherson) get mixed up in a centuries-old conflict between a race of human-friendly vampires (led by John C. Reilly) and a group of homicidal bloodsuckers known as the Vampaneze. Director and co-writer Paul Weitz's unfocused adaptation of three novels in Darren Shan's "Cirque du Freak" series of children's books, which gets off to a stylish start but bogs down in a meandering plot and overlong fight scenes, offers such a bleak outlook on conventional family life that joining the community of the undead and being adopted by the traveling sideshow of the title -- populated by a beard-sprouting lady (Salma Hayek), a Japanese giant (Ken Watanabe) and the like -- is presented as an inviting alternative. Considerable hand-to-hand and knife violence, some crude and crass language, and a pornography reference. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"City of Ember" (Fox Walden)
Rated "PG"
Imaginative futuristic tale about a doomed underground city whose inhabitants know nothing of the world above, and a brave girl (Saoirse Ronan) and resourceful inventor's son (Harry Treadaway) who try to discover the secret way out before the city's failing generator breaks down completely. With an intricate and clever production design, and an interesting cast including Bill Murray, Tim Robbins, Martin Landau and Toby Jones, first-time feature director Gil Kenan's well-paced adaptation of Jeanne DuPrau's novel imparts good values and makes excellent family entertainment for all but the youngest viewers who might be frightened by a particularly scary monster and some other scenes of peril. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-I -- general patronage. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.

"Civic Duty" (Freestyle)
Rated "R"
An out-of-work accountant (Peter Krause) begins to suspect that his next-door neighbor, a Muslim student (Khaled Abol Naga), may be a terrorist and reports him to a skeptical FBI agent (Richard Schiff), much to the consternation of his wife (Kari Matchett), who scoffs at his unfounded suspicions. Jeff Renfroe directs with the requisite tension and Krause is especially good mixing his average-Joe persona with increasingly loony paranoia, but although Andrew Joiner's script grapples with some interesting post-Sept. 11 themes, the presumably intentional ambiguity of certain plot elements undermines the message of an otherwise suspenseful thriller. Rough and crude language, mild profanity, innuendo, ethnic slurs, moderate violence including a shooting death, nongraphic husband-wife sexual encounter, domestic discord, and brief drug reference. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"Changeling" (Universal)
Rated "R"
Gripping true-life drama set in 1928 Los Angeles recounting how the young son of a single telephone operator (a fine Angelina Jolie) goes missing, and how the corrupt Los Angeles police department tries to silence her when she protests that the child they subsequently return to her is not her son, while a crusading Presbyterian minister (John Malkovich) takes up her cause. Clint Eastwood directs with trademark austerity. Though the subject matter is often grim, with some necessarily unpleasant scenes, the story has historical significance as the case led to reform. There's also inspiration in the mother's stubborn determination to continue the search for the boy against all odds. Strong if nongraphic scenes of violence, murder, nonsexual child abuse, patient abuse in a mental institution, an execution, some rough language and 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.

"The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian" (Disney)
Rated "PG"
Exciting and well-crafted if less emotionally absorbing follow-up to 2005's "The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe" has the Pevensie siblings (William Moseley, Anna Popplewell, Skandar Keynes and Georgie Henley) returning to Narnia to help the title character (Ben Barnes) stage a revolt against his evil uncle. The bellicose nature of the proceedings and uneven attempts by director and co-writer Andrew Adamson to inject humor and romance don't prevent this faithful adaptation of the second volume in C.S. Lewis' classic series from being salubrious entertainment. Battlefield violence and deadly hand-to-hand combat, an implied decapitation, a brawl involving schoolchildren, some intense scenes of child peril and several frightening sequences. 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.

"CJ7" (Sony Classics)
Rated "PG"
Generally enchanting though somewhat flawed comic fable about an impoverished, shunned Chinese schoolboy (Xu Jiao) whose life is transformed when his hardworking, widowed father (Stephen Chow) brings a toy home from the garbage dump that turns out to be a doglike alien critter with supernatural powers. Chow, who also wrote and directed, hits the mark both humorously and dramatically, and his film offers a telling critique of cut-throat materialism, though its positive message and humane, even specifically Christian, values are undercut by a few distasteful scenes focused on the alien's doggy poop. Occasional crude language, comic book violence and scatological humor, though probably acceptable for older teens. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.

"Clash of the Titans" (Warner Bros.)
Rated "PG-13"
Muddled mythological epic, set in ancient Greece, in which the demigod Perseus (Sam Worthington) embarks on a quest to defend humanity against the forces of Hades (Ralph Fiennes), the god of death, whom his brother Zeus (Liam Neeson), as king of the gods, has unleashed to punish humankind for their growing dissatisfaction with, and attempted rebellion against, the Olympian deities. Long action sequences and an emphasis on special effects leave little room for engaging drama in director Louis Leterrier's frequently violent 3-D remake of Desmond Davis' 1981 swords-and-sandals exercise, though undemanding viewers may be content enough with the proceedings not to notice the gifts of top-tier players such as Fiennes and Neeson being squandered on stilted dialogue. Complex, though undeveloped, religious themes; constant action violence, some of it bloody or gruesome; a bedroom encounter with implied sexual activity; at least one sexual reference; and a couple of mildly crass terms. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"The Class" (Sony Classics)
Rated "PG-13"
Thoughtful docudrama re-creating the experiences of an idealistic French literature teacher (Francois Begaudeau), over the course of an academic year, as he tries to connect with a class of ethnically mixed students in a depressed Paris neighborhood. Director and co-writer Laurent Cantet's innovative approach -- using actual students, and combining their stories with incidents recounted in real-life instructor Begaudeau's fact-based novel to shape the script -- yields an engrossing meditation on social and class divisions and on the possibilities, and limits, of an educator's vocation. In French. Subtitles. Probably acceptable for older teens. Some rough and crude language, sexual references, at least one use of profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Clerks II" (Weinstein/MGM)
Rated "R"
Interminably lewd and infantile sequel to the 1994 indie cult hit, which finds New Jersey underachievers Dante (Brian O'Halloran) and Randal (Jeff Anderson) once again slacking off and engaging in foul-mouthed banter -- this time while flipping burgers at a fast-food joint after the Quick Time Grocery burns down -- with Dante in a relationship dilemma, torn between his rich-but-controlling fiance (Jennifer Schwalbach) and kindred-spirit boss (Rosario Dawson). Again directed by Kevin Smith, the film is capped with a message about friendship and staying true to yourself, but that hardly excuses the wall-to-wall vulgarity, much of which redefines distasteful, that precedes it. Pervasive rough and crude language and raunchy sexual humor, including a gag involving bestiality, some irreverence and profanity, drug references, masturbation, partial frontal and rear nudity, and some racial slurs. The USSCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive.

"Click" (Columbia/Revolution)
Rated "PG-13"
Fitfully compelling fantasy about a workaholic architect (Adam Sandler) who receives a remote-control device from a mysterious inventor (Christopher Walken) allowing him to fast-forward through life. Frank Coraci's uneven and predictable film begins as a comedy (and a fairly crude one at that), then turns almost tragic when the protagonist gets a chance to see into the future, leading him to regret his all-consuming work habits and coming to the profound realization that family comes first. Sandler's performance, too, is a mix of his old-style lowbrow antics and impressive growing maturity, but the script for this "It's a Wonderful Life" retread could have been better. Unneeded vulgar humor including flatulence, innuendo, and sexual sight gags, crude language and expressions, profanity, promiscuity, ethnic stereotyping, transgender character and drug references. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"Closer" (Columbia)
Rated "R"
Talky, occasionally sluggish adaptation of Patrick Marber's West End and Broadway stage hit about the shifting romantic and amoral entanglements among two couples (Jude Law and Natalie Portman, Julia Roberts and Clive Owen) in London. Over-the-years narrative explores the foibles of human relationships, and how love evolves from the excitement of first meeting to myriad lies and betrayals, with first-rate performances and direction (by Mike Nichols) though none of the characters are particularly likable, and while there is virtually no sexual activity, except for risque gyrating by Portman's skimpily dressed character (an ex-stripper), the sex talk is as graphic and shocking in its bluntness as it was onstage. Much gratuitously rough and sexually explicit language, a suggestive striptease, partial nudity, freewheeling attitude towards sex. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive.

"Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs" (Columbia)
Rated "PG"
Loosely based on the 1978 children's book, this animated fantasy concerns a previously ridiculed young inventor (voice of Bill Hader) who fashions a machine that makes food fall from the sky, and who finds a kindred spirit in a rookie weather reporter (voice of Anna Faris) assigned to cover the bizarre climactic phenomenon. Serving to warn against overindulgence and extol the virtues of persistence and ingenuity, the film boasts dazzling 3-D visuals deployed to entertaining, if not always appetizing, effect by co-writers and directors Chris Miller and Phil Lord. Considerable cartoon violence, some rude expressions, a scatological reference and a few moderately scary action sequences. 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.

"Cloverfield" (Paramount)
Rated "PG-13"
Skillful, effective horror exercise in which the amateur videotaping of a going-away party for a young executive (Michael Stahl-David) hosted by his brother (Mike Vogel) and attended by the girl who's awakened his interest (Odette Yustman), as well as a number of other friends (Lizzy Caplan, Jessica Lucas and T.J. Miller), is interrupted by the arrival in Manhattan of a rampaging monster. Director Matt Reeves' film cleverly contrasts the intimate feel of the ubiquitous camcorder with the vast scale of the havoc being unleashed and also benefits from believable characters and a script rich in deadpan humor. Some graphic images of the wounded, two uses of the f-word, pervasive crude and frequent profane language, and sexual references. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Coach Carter" (Paramount)
Rated "PG-13"
Formulaic but interesting story of real-life basketball coach Ken Carter (Samuel L. Jackson) who accepts a job at a Richmond, Calif., high school with the stipulation that all the players sign contracts agreeing to uphold academic standards, and when some of them don't, he grounds the entire team, a controversial action that causes a great furor. The film directed by Thomas Carter (no relation) is reasonably absorbing, and Jackson gives a compellingly tough and unsentimental performance. Though parents may consider it important for inner-city kids to see this inspiring story with its message extolling academic achievement and teamwork, be warned that there's a good deal of crude language (unfortunately true to life) and an abortion subplot with questionable moral implications. Much crude language, drug dealing, some violence, abortion, suggestive dancing and sexual situations. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"Code 46" (United Artists)
Rated "R"
Bleak futuristic story about a married insurance investigator (Tim Robbins) solving a case of forged passports and falling in love with the perpetrator (Samantha Morton), told with elements of film noir and sci-fi while grappling pretentiously with heavyweight issues such as human cloning and even Oedipal attraction. A morally muddled story line glamorizes the investigator's adulterous affair, and proves only fitfully interesting. An explicit extramarital sexual encounter with full frontal nudity and perverse undertones. USCCB classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

"Collateral" (DreamWorks)
Rated "R"
Sleek and stylish crime thriller set in Los Angeles about a cab driver (Jamie Foxx) forced to drive a contract killer (Tom Cruise) on his appointed rounds to assassinate five federal witnesses in the span of one night. Returning to familiar genre terrain, director Michael Mann crafts a tautly paced, multilayered film oozing with L.A. noir moodiness and hardboiled menace, by turns violent and reflective in tone, featuring knockout performances by Cruise and Foxx. Recurring intense violence, autopsy gore and much rough language. USCCB classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

"The Collector" (Freestyle)
Rated "R"
Gruesome horror tale in which a handyman (Josh Stewart) breaks into his employer's (Michael Reilly Burke) isolated country home, believing it to be empty, but finds that the boss, his wife (Andrea Roth) and their daughter (Karley Scott-Collins) have all been taken captive by a sadistic lunatic, who also has booby-trapped the house with killing devices. Director and co-writer Marcus Dunstan's pitch-black painfest leaves aside the fish hooks, barbed wire and bear traps only long enough for a gratuitous teen sexual encounter. Pervasive gory violence, including dismemberment and torture, graphic nonmarital sexual activity, upper female nudity, some rough language, and a few crude terms and uses of profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"College" (MGM)
Rated "R"
Salacious, smile-free teen comedy about three high school seniors (Drake Bell, Andrew Caldwell and Kevin Covais) on a weekend campus tour who opt to stay in a fraternity house, drawn by its booze and strippers, but have to endure crude hazing by its loutish leader (Nick Zano), while one falls in love with a pretty coed (Haley Bennett) who takes him for a fellow freshman. Director Deb Hagan's spiritless film -- even the ostensible comedy falls flat -- briefly takes its protagonists into true romance and emotional maturity, but the emphasis is squarely on repulsive bullying and decadent partying. Strong sexual content, upper-female and rear nudity, much sexual and scatological humor, drug use, underage drinking, pervasive rough and crude language, and a few uses of profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"College Road Trip" (Disney)
Rated "G""
Unobjectionable, though uninspired, family comedy in which a wildly overprotective father (Martin Lawrence), despite the misgivings of his sensible wife (Kym E. Whitley), insists on accompanying his 17-year-old daughter (Raven-Symone) on a visit to a distant university she's considering, meanwhile trying to convince her to attend a college much closer to home and discovering along the way that his small but precocious son (Eshaya Draper) has stowed away for the ride, accompanied by his pet pig. Director Roger Kumble's film is generally pleasant and conveys good messages about parental concern and the need for trust, but most of the humor is too implausible to really work. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-I -- general patronage. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is G -- general audiences. All ages admitted.

"Code Name: The Cleaner" (New Line)
Rated "PG-13"
Forgettable comedy about a janitor (Cedric the Entertainer) who wakes up in a hotel room with total memory loss and, believing he's really a secret agent, sets out to piece together his past with the help of his waitress girlfriend (Lucy Liu). All the while, he's targeted by a siren (Nicollette Sheridan) who claims to be his wife but works for a high tech company whose shady CEO (Mark Dacascos) thinks the amnesiac has proof of his criminal activities. Saddled with such vacuous material, Cedric provides only modest laughs, and director Les Mayfield's unfunny, at times lewd, shenanigans could have been cleaner. Crude and sexual humor, including erotic comic interplay, and recurring crass language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"The Collector" (Freestyle)
Rated "R"
Gruesome horror tale in which a handyman (Josh Stewart) breaks into his employer's (Michael Reilly Burke) isolated country home, believing it to be empty, but finds that the boss, his wife (Andrea Roth) and their daughter (Karley Scott-Collins) have all been taken captive by a sadistic lunatic, who also has booby-trapped the house with killing devices. Director and co-writer Marcus Dunstan's pitch-black painfest leaves aside the fish hooks, barbed wire and bear traps only long enough for a gratuitous teen sexual encounter. Pervasive gory violence, including dismemberment and torture, graphic nonmarital sexual activity, upper female nudity, some rough language, and a few crude terms and uses of profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"College Road Trip" (Disney)
Rated "G"
Unobjectionable, though uninspired, family comedy in which a wildly overprotective father (Martin Lawrence), despite the misgivings of his sensible wife (Kym E. Whitley), insists on accompanying his 17-year-old daughter (Raven-Symone) on a visit to a distant university she's considering, meanwhile trying to convince her to attend a college much closer to home and discovering along the way that his small but precocious son (Eshaya Draper) has stowed away for the ride, accompanied by his pet pig. Director Roger Kumble's film is generally pleasant and conveys good messages about parental concern and the need for trust, but most of the humor is too implausible to really work. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-I -- general patronage. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is G -- general audiences. All ages admitted.

"Colombiana" (TriStar/Stage 6)
Rated "PG-13"
Over-the-top action flick in which a highly trained assassin (Zoe Saldana) carries out contracts for her uncle (Cliff Curtis) while awaiting the opportunity to turn her skills against the Columbian gangsters (led by Beto Benites and Jordi Molla) who murdered her parents when she was a child (Amandla Stenberg). But the dogged pursuit of an FBI agent (Lennie James) and her romance with an increasingly nosy artist (Michael Vartan) threaten to thwart her revenge. Pure pulp, director Olivier Megaton's shoot-em-up expends ammo at a "Scarface" pace, yet generally demurs from showing the gory consequences of its gun battles, or of its heroine's more creative hits, such as that involving a shark tank. Constant, largely bloodless, action violence, vengeance theme, brief nongraphic premarital sexual activity, a few uses of profanity, at least one instance of rough language, frequent crude or crass terms. 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.

"The Comebacks" (Fox Atomic)
Rated "PG-13"
Absurd sports satire in which a perennially losing coach (David Koechner), at the request of a colleague (Carl Weathers), returns from retirement to try to lead a college football team to victory, even at the risk of alienating his wife (Melora Hardin), while two of his players (Matthew Lawrence and Jackie Long) compete for the affections of his daughter (Brooke Nevin). Director Tom Brady's broad, bawdy comedy is as much slapdash as slapstick, lurching incoherently from one gag to the next, scoring a few hits, but more often than not missing the ball. Pervasive sexual and scatological humor, nongraphic sexual activity, a same-sex kiss, some crude and crass language, five uses of profanity, adultery and drug references, and a transvestite character. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Conan the Barbarian" (Lionsgate)
Rated "R"
This blood-saturated 3-D action-adventure -- based on the 1930s pulp fiction of Robert E. Howard -- stars Jason Momoa as the eponymous warrior out to avenge his father's murder by a warlord (Stephen Lang). The latter, together with his half-witch daughter (Rose McGowan), also kidnaps a martial arts maiden (Rachel Nichols) in his quest to dominate the mythical land of Hyboria. Bringing 21st-century moviemaking techniques to the sword-and-sorcery subgenre, director Marcus Nispel offers up a visually dynamic yet exceedingly violent piece of hokum, bereft of positive values. "No mercy" could be its mantra, applying equally to those on screen and off. Pervasive graphic violence -- including decapitations, severed limbs and torture -- explicit nonmarital sexual activity, considerable upper female and brief rear male nudity, some sexual innuendo, one instance of crude language. The Catholic News Service classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"The Condemned" (Lionsgate)
Rated "R"
In this punishing action movie produced by World Wrestling Entertainment and starring "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, a television producer (Robert Mammone) stages a reality event for the Internet during which 10 criminals fight to the death on a tropical island. Director and co-writer Scott Wiper tries to have it both ways by showcasing extreme violence and depraved behavior while simultaneously criticizing those who peddle such objectionable material. Pervasive brutal violence and degrading situations, including torture and rape, pervasive rough and crude language and some profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive.

"Confessions of a Shopaholic" (Touchstone/Bruckheimer)
Rated "PG"
Mostly silly romantic comedy set in New York about a ditsy compulsive shopper (Isla Fisher) who achieves improbable success writing an anonymous advice column for a financial magazine, despite being deeply in debt herself, and who falls for her good-looking boss (Hugh Dancy). Director P.J. Hogan's glossy adaptation of Sophie Kinsella's novels is lively and colorful, and the leads are not without charm, but the film is a paean to materialism even as it pretends to convey a contrary message, while an overabundance of slapstick greatly undermines the humor. A premarital relationship, a few crude words and expressions, mild innuendo, and an undue emphasis on materialism. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.

"Conviction" (Fox Searchlight)
Rated "R"
When her brother (Sam Rockwell) is convicted of a brutal murder and imprisoned for life, a working-class Massachusetts woman (Hilary Swank), who dropped out of high school, completes her undergraduate degree and struggles to finish law school and gain admission to the bar, all in an attempt to clear him. As her suspicions focus on one of the arresting officers (Melissa Leo), she gains the help of a fellow law student and newfound friend (Minnie Driver) as well as that of a famed attorney (Peter Gallagher). Gritty yet touching, director Tony Goldwyn's fact-based drama -- set in a hardscrabble environment, its dialogue studded with vulgarities -- celebrates its heroine's selfless dedication and endless determination. But it also shows the toll her crusade takes on her marriage and her relationship with her two young sons (Conor Donovan and Owen Campbell). Some gruesome crime scene images, brief rear nudity, a suicide theme, about a dozen uses of profanity, close to 60 instances of rough language, and frequent crude or crass terms. 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.

"Confetti" (Fox Searchlight/BBC)
Rated "R"
Three couples -- played by Martin Freeman and Jessica Stevenson, Stephen Mangan and Meredith MacNeill, and Robert Webb and Olivia Colman -- vie for "most original wedding in Britain" in a competition run by the executives at a British bridal magazine, and plan themes of Hollywood musicals, tennis and nudism for their ceremonies, respectively, under the guidance of a couple of campy wedding planners (Vincent Franklin and Jason Watkins). Director Debbie Isitt's largely improvised satire generates some laughs and contains truths about human relationships, but some may be put off by a fair amount of expletives and by the uninhibited -- if utterly nonsexual -- nudity of the naturalist pair. Conversational rough language and profanity, full male and female nudity, some innuendo, a brief hint of a gay marriage at end of film and a couple of rough brawls. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"The Constant Gardener" (Focus)
Rated "R"
Complex political thriller about an African-based British diplomat (Ralph Fiennes, in top form) who sets out to uncover the mystery behind the murder of his apparently unfaithful activist wife (Rachel Weisz), and uncovers a web of intrigue involving conspiracies, government corruption and betrayal at the highest levels of power and the pharmaceutical industry. Director Fernando Meirelles' adaptation of a John le Carre novel is a long, but generally absorbing, suspense story and a condemnation of drug testing on unsuspecting Third World people, with solid performances and flavorful location shooting in Kenya. Brief rear and partial nudity, scattered profanity, rough language and crude expressions, a restrained premarital bedroom scene, quick blurry shots of violence including lynching, and a gruesome description of death. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"Constantine" (Warner Bros.)
Rated "R"
Intensely violent action film, based on the "Hellblazer" graphic novels, about a world-weary, chain-smoking exorcist (Keanu Reeves) fighting lung cancer and demonic forces with the help of a police detective (Rachel Weisz), whose twin sister either committed suicide or was murdered and is now consigned to the fires of hell. Though gussied up with all sorts of religious mumbo jumbo -- the powers of good versus the forces of evil, self-sacrifice, redemption, a Gabriel character (Tilda Swinton), and a "sword of destiny" (aka the weapon used to pierce Christ on the cross) -- Francis Lawrence's film is basically another formulaic action film -- think "The Exorcist," "Alien" and "The Matrix" rolled into one -- that's only fitfully interesting, when the gory bits aren't positively wince-inducing. Graphic violence with attendant gore, some rough and crude language, and some sacrilegious imagery. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

"Constantine's Sword" (First Run)
Rated "NR"
Earnest but unbalanced documentary, adapted from ex-priest James Carroll's "Constantine's Sword: The Church and the Jews -- A History," surveys the fraught history of Christian anti-Semitism, particularly as it plays out among American evangelicals today, and its roots dating back to the early days of the Roman Catholic Church, incorporating seminal episodes from his life story, including his sometimes conflicted relationship with his father, and his ultimate disillusionment with the institutional church. Director Oren Jacoby's film ignores some significant nuances in the historical record, as it broadly outlines the tragic conflict. Mature religious themes, one use of the f-word and occasional crude and crass language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. Not rated by the Motion Picture Association of America.

"Conversations With God" (Samuel Goldwyn)
Rated "PG-13"
Drama based on the successful series of spiritual self-help books by author Neale Donald Walsch (Henry Czerny), who, after losing his job and finding himself homeless, alleges that God, prompted by his questioning, began speaking to him directly, with their ongoing "conversation" resulting in his best-sellers. Earnestly directed by Stephen Simon, the film fluctuates between maudlin and genuinely moving, and while clearly containing ideas (a hodgepodge of gnosticism, pantheism and New Age mysticism) incompatible with Christian theology, nevertheless imparts a sincere message about God's unconditional love and abiding presence that should resonate with Catholic viewers. Questionable theological underpinnings, some mature themes and brief mild innuendo. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"The Cookout" (Lions Gate)
Rated "PG-13"
Forgettable comedy about a young basketball player (Storm P) who, after striking it rich as the NBA's No. 1 draft pick, decides to throw a family barbeque at his palatial new home in an exclusive white suburban community, policed by an overzealous security guard (Queen Latifah). Mayhem ensues when the cookout turns into a tug-of-war between his eccentric relatives, who want to make sure that his newfound success doesn't go to his head, and his gold-digger girlfriend, (Meagan Good), who's just after his money. While imparting a message that family is more important than fame, much of Lance Rivera's unfunny directorial debut only serves to reinforce many of the African-American stereotypes it purports to discredit. Some crass sexual and racial humor, drug content and recurring crude language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"Conan the Barbarian" (Lionsgate)
Rated "R"
This blood-saturated 3-D action-adventure -- based on the 1930s pulp fiction of Robert E. Howard -- stars Jason Momoa as the eponymous warrior out to avenge his father's murder by a warlord (Stephen Lang). The latter, together with his half-witch daughter (Rose McGowan), also kidnaps a martial arts maiden (Rachel Nichols) in his quest to dominate the mythical land of Hyboria. Bringing 21st-century moviemaking techniques to the sword-and-sorcery subgenre, director Marcus Nispel offers up a visually dynamic yet exceedingly violent piece of hokum, bereft of positive values. "No mercy" could be its mantra, applying equally to those on screen and off. Pervasive graphic violence -- including decapitations, severed limbs and torture -- explicit nonmarital sexual activity, considerable upper female and brief rear male nudity, some sexual innuendo, one instance of crude language. The Catholic News Service classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"Conspiracy of Silence" (Watch Entertainment)
Not Rated
Insipid thriller set in modern-day Ireland about a muckraking reporter (Jason Barry) who, while investigating the connections between two seemingly unrelated events -- the suicide of a local priest and the expulsion of a young, idealistic seminarian (Jonathan Forbes) -- uncovers a secret incriminating those in the highest ranks of the church. With little in the way of plausible suspense, director John Deery uses the film's slim story line as a rod on which to hang his grievances, including the church's stands on homosexuality and celibacy, employing caricature and distortion to position the hierarchy as one-dimensionally corrupt. A manipulative and sinister portrayal of the institutional church, including anti-clerical characterizations, a suicide, a sexual encounter with shadowy nudity, a shower scene with rear nudity, brief violence, and recurring rough and crude language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive.

"The Conspirator" (Roadside)
Rated "PG-13"
Engrossing historical drama, set in the final days of the Civil War, in which a Union Army officer-turned-lawyer (James McAvoy) is called upon to defend Mary Surratt (Robin Wright), the pro-Confederate widow in whose Washington boardinghouse John Wilkes Booth and his co-conspirators -- including her own son John (Johnny Simmons) -- plotted to kill Abraham Lincoln. Initially convinced of his client's guilt, the attorney's views shift as he witnesses the ruthless maneuvering of the prosecution team (led by Danny Huston) at her military tribunal. His new outlook leads to friendship with Mary's daughter Anna (Evan Rachel Wood) but alienates the powerful secretary of war (Kevin Kline) as well as the young barrister's socialite fiancee (Alexis Bledel). In recounting an episode with obvious implications for contemporary debates about the proper treatment of accused terrorists, director Robert Redford avoids heavy-handed politicking. Instead, his portrait of a protagonist admirably committed to the rule of law is made all the more effective by the fair assessment of those with other legitimate priorities. A similarly balanced approach characterizes the portrayal of Surratt's devout Catholic faith. Possibly acceptable for older teens. Some wartime gore, a realistic hanging, a couple of crude and crass terms. 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.

"Contagion" (Warner Bros.)
Rated "PG-13"
Director Steven Soderbergh reimagines the all-star disaster movie genre with a compelling tale of a deadly virus' uncontrolled march across the planet. Beth Emhoff (Gwyneth Paltrow) returns from a business trip to Hong Kong and drops dead, and soon everyone she encountered along the way meets their maker. It's an unknown virus, and as a pandemic erupts and millions fall, doctors from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Laurence Fishburne, Kate Winslet) and the World Health Organization (Marion Cotillard) race against time to find the cure. Getting in their way is an enterprising blogger (Jude Law) who cries conspiracy, fomenting unrest in the streets. Disturbing images of dying people, corpses and autopsies, a reference to an adulterous relationship and fleeting rough language. 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.

"Contraband" (Universal)
Rated "R"
Expletive-laden, dispiriting crime thriller about an ex-smuggler (Mark Wahlberg) forced to ply his illicit trade once more in order to protect his family from a drug dealer. Set in New Orleans, and in the shipping lanes between the Crescent City and Panama, this Hollywood retread of a 2008 Nordic movie immediately bogs down in vulgar language, while director Baltasar Kormakur, who starred in and produced the original, fails to provide any depth or to exploit the relatively novel crime scenario. Adding insult to injury, Aaron Guzikowski's script shows its putative hero profiting from his escapade and thus transmits a false message about the consequences of felonious behavior and a supposed immunity from ethical corruption. Skewed values, much lethal but only moderately graphic violence, one instance of drug use, some profanity, pervasive rough, crude and crass language. The Catholic News Service classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"Conversations With God" (Samuel Goldwyn)
Rated "PG-13"
Drama based on the successful series of spiritual self-help books by author Neale Donald Walsch (Henry Czerny), who, after losing his job and finding himself homeless, alleges that God, prompted by his questioning, began speaking to him directly, with their ongoing "conversation" resulting in his best-sellers. Earnestly directed by Stephen Simon, the film fluctuates between maudlin and genuinely moving, and while clearly containing ideas (a hodgepodge of gnosticism, pantheism and New Age mysticism) incompatible with Christian theology, nevertheless imparts a sincere message about God's unconditional love and abiding presence that should resonate with Catholic viewers. Questionable theological underpinnings, some mature themes and brief mild innuendo. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"Cop Out" (Warner Bros.)
Rated "R"
This vulgar buddy comedy follows two unconventional New York police detectives (Bruce Willis and Tracy Morgan) as they try to recover the valuable baseball card Willis' character was planning to sell to finance his daughter's wedding but which was stolen by a petty thief (Seann William Scott), and passed on to a memorabilia-obsessed drug lord (Guillermo Diaz). As penned by Robb and Mark Cullen and directed by Kevin Smith, foul-mouthed dialogue and bullet-riddled action sequences drown out the mostly smile-free script's faint messages about marital trust and self-sacrificing parental love. Considerable, sometimes gory, action violence; a scene of torture; pervasive rough and crude language; about a dozen uses of profanity; and much sexual and scatological humor. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"Coraline" (Focus)
Rated "PG"
Entrancing, though eerie, 3-D animated cautionary tale in which a bored girl (voice of Dakota Fanning) discovers an alternate world inhabited by more accommodating versions of her parents (voices of Teri Hatcher and John Hodgman) but finds herself imperiled when the doubles reveal sinister plans for her. Writer-director Henry Selick's vibrantly colorful stop-motion adaptation of Neil Gaiman's best-selling, award-winning 2002 young adult novel sees its heroine overcoming selfishness, learning to appreciate her blessings and drawing closer to family and friends. Brief partial nudity, frightening images and a few mildly bawdy lyrics. 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.

"The Counterfeiters" ("Die Falscher") (Sony Classics)
Rated "R"
Absorbing true story about the largest counterfeiting operation in history, as inmates of a German concentration camp are ordered to forge vast amounts of Allied currency to undermine England's and America's war effort, but courageously delay the production of American dollars that might have adversely altered World War II's outcome. Writer-director Stefan Ruzowitzky's frequent use of hand-held camera technique and Marius Ruhland's score add contemporary touches to a suspenseful tale bolstered by good performances including Karl Markovics as the expert criminal forger who's put in charge of the team, and August Diehl as the inmate who repeatedly sabotages the operation with the former's grudging allowance. In German. Subtitles. Some violence including brutal shootings, brief upper female and rear nudity, further brief shower nudity, brief nongraphic sexual encounters, a crass scene of urination, an irreverent joke, a few expletives including the f-word, and racial epithets. 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.

"Country Strong" (Screen Gems)
Rated "PG-13"
This music-filled drama about a troubled country singer (Gwyneth Paltrow) wears its mawkish cliches proudly on its flannel sleeves. Writer-director Shana Feste creates four one-dimensional characters -- besides the alcohol- and drug-addicted troubadour, there's her manipulative promoter-husband (Tim McGraw), her on-again-off-again lover (Garrett Hedlund) and a young, neurotic beauty queen-turned-crooner (Leighton Meester) -- then sends the quartet spinning like pinballs in a twangy, shopworn tale of substance abuse, adultery and the grim lifestyle played out on a tour bus. Scenes of implied adulterous and premarital sex, pervasive crude language and fleeting profanity. 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.

"Couples Retreat" (Universal/Relativity)
Rated "PG-13"
Mostly dull, sexually wayward comedy in which a suburban couple (Jason Bateman and Kristen Bell) on the verge of divorce convince a group of their friends (most prominently Vince Vaughn and Malin Akerman) to join them at a South Pacific resort whose founder (Jean Reno) specializes in marriage therapy. While Peter Billingsley's directorial debut ultimately affirms marital fidelity, viewers have to endure waves of constantly suggestive, occasionally smutty humor and a tide of New Age psychobabble -- an obviously inadequate substitute for faith as a basis for lifelong commitment -- before reaching that safe shore. Strong sexual content, including brief but aberrant adulterous activity, fleeting nongraphic sexual activity within marriage, a flash of rear nudity, many sexually themed jokes, and some crude and much crass language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Courageous" (TriStar)
Rated "PG-13"
After the tragic death of his young daughter, a devoutly Christian police officer (Alex Kendrick) convinces a group of his friends (Ken Bevel, Ben Davies, Kevin Downes and Robert Amaya) to join him in subscribing to a Bible-based resolution designed to make them better, more dedicated fathers. But a variety of circumstances, including a couple of illustrative moral quandaries, quickly put each dad's resolve to the test. Though occasionally heavy-handed, Kendrick, who also directed and co-wrote, crafts an uplifting message movie about the dire consequences of paternal neglect and the scriptural principles of sound parenting. Some gun violence and mature themes, including drug trafficking. The Catholic News Service classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children.

"The Covenant" (Screen Gems)
Rated "PG-13"
Supernatural thriller set in a New England boarding prep school about four warlocks (Steven Strait, Taylor Kitsch, Toby Hemingway and Chase Crawford) -- all good-looking descendants of the infamous Salem witches -- who must battle a sinister student (Sebastian Stan) who wants their powers to augment his own magic, while navigating jealousies within their group. Director Renny Harlin keeps things dark and dank, but the moody atmospherics can't disguise a run-of-the-mill script which substitutes schlocky sorcery effects for story and suspense. Some supernatural violence, a few disturbing images, occult elements, rear nudity, sexually suggestive situations and humor, and recurring crude language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Cowboys & Aliens" (Universal)
Rated "PG-13"
Genre bender in which a posse of perplexed Old West townsfolk -- led by an amnesic ex-outlaw (Daniel Craig), a ruthless local cattle baron (Harrison Ford) and a mysterious stranger (Olivia Wilde) -- track the extraterrestrials who attacked their ramshackle village and kidnapped numbers of its citizens. Interludes of harsh violence and dubious -- though inconsequential -- theologizing by the community's resident preacher (Clancy Brown) restrict the appropriate audience for director Jon Favreau's sometimes clever, but ultimately unsatisfying, adaptation of Scott Mitchell Rosenberg's graphic novel.

"Crank" (Lions Gate)
Rated "R"
Noisy and endlessly unpleasant action film about a Los Angeles hit man (Jason Statham) who must keep in perpetual motion after he finds out that a rival thug (Jose Pablo Cantillo) has poisoned him with a substance designed to kill him within seconds if his heart rate drops. Co-writers and directors Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor load on the bloody video-game-style action in an empty and mindless exercise. Excessive and graphic violence and gore, lewd sexual content, vulgar humor, recurring partial nudity, drug use and pervasive rough and crude language and profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive.

"Crash" (Lions Gate)
Rated "R"
Powerful, beautifully crafted film with a strong moral center about a disparate, racially mixed group of Los Angeles residents, including a district attorney and his wife (Brendan Fraser and Sandra Bullock), a hardened cop and a rookie (Matt Dillon and Ryan Phillippe), an immigrant store owner, a locksmith, a pair of carjackers, a television director, and a weary detective with professional and domestic problems (Don Cheadle), whose lives will intersect in unlikely and redemptive ways. Writer-director Paul Haggis takes a story and milieu that at first seems sordid and ugly, and with the help of a terrific ensemble cast, has fashioned a transcendently moving essay on the benevolence that may lie beneath racial intolerance, and the interconnectedness of human beings, showing how good and bad can coexist in all of us, and how the former generally prevails. Much rough and crude language, some violence, many racial epithets, sexual situations, including one encounter with partial nudity, another with suggestive groping and innuendo, and a bloody traffic-accident injury. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

The Joan Crawford Collection
In tandem with "The Bette Davis Collection" recently reviewed, Warner Bros. has released a similar set of five of the best films of Davis' sometime rival, Joan Crawford, all featuring vivid prints and some with short (eight- to nine-minute) features illuminating some aspect of the film. "The Women" and "Mildred Pierce" have been available, but they have been repackaged and included in the new box.

"The Damned Don't Cry" (1950)
Slick but unconvincing melodrama of a woman (Crawford) leaving a small-town, blue-collar husband to seek her fortune in the big city where she uses an accountant (Kent Smith) infatuated with her to meet the big syndicate boss (David Brian), then becomes his mistress until learning that crime doesn't pay. Directed by Vincent Sherman, the Crawford vehicle showcases her emotional range from earnest housewife to cynical playgirl, though in the midst of all this corruption Smith's portrayal of a decent fellow steals the show. The DVD, which is the first home video release of this title, includes commentary by Sherman and the featurette "The Crawford Formula: Real and Reel." Stylized violence and sexual situations. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults. Not rated by the Motion Picture Association of America. (Warner Bros.)

"Humoresque" (1946)
Crawford gave one of her best performances as socialite Helen Wright, "torn between selfless love and selfish impulses." John Garfield plays the driven violin virtuoso with whom she falls in love. Fine earful of music between the suds. Directed by Jean Negulesco, with a score by Frank Waxman. The DVD includes a featurette, "The Music of Humoresque," explaining how the great violinist Isaac Stern did the actual playing and finger movements for Garfield in the film, and featuring comments from Garfield's daughter and Waxman's son. Suicide in plot solution. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. Not rated by the Motion Picture Association of America. (Warner Bros.)

"Mildred Pierce" (1945)
Misplaced ambition fuels James M. Cain's dark story of a driven woman (Crawford) who shucks a useless husband (Jack Carson) in rising from waitress to head a restaurant chain, then falls for a scoundrel (Zachary Scott) who turns his attentions to her adolescent daughter (Ann Blyth). Directed by Michael Curtiz, it's an acerbic tale of how obsession with material success ultimately destroys its misguided heroine, not the least of whose mistakes is raising her only child to be a spoiled brat. The double-sided DVD features a fully restored print and the excellent and comprehensive TCM documentary feature "Joan Crawford: The Ultimate Movie Star," narrated by Anjelica Huston. Mature theme and treatment. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults. Not rated by the Motion Picture Association of America. (Warner Bros.)

"Possessed" (1947)
Murky melodrama in which a troubled woman (Crawford) is rejected by her lover (Van Heflin), then marries a wealthy widower (Raymond Massey) in hopes of winning him back, only to go bonkers when he turns to another. Directed by Curtis Bernhardt, the convoluted story is told in flashbacks as the woman is treated by a psychiatrist, but the main interest is Crawford's vintage performance in a split-personality role. The DVD includes commentary by film historian Drew Casper and a featurette, "Possessed: The Ultimate Film Noir." Heavy-handed treatment of an emotionally unstable person, romantic complications and some stylized violence. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents. Not rated by the
Motion Picture Association of America. (Lions Gate)

"The Women" (1939)
Lavish screen version of Clare Boothe Luce's satiric play in which a New York socialite (Norma Shearer) whose husband has fallen for a calculating gold digger (Crawford) goes to Reno for a divorce, then returns home to pick up the pieces. Directed by George Cukor, the all-female cast (Rosalind Russell, Paulette Goddard, Mary Boland and many others) provides a comic compendium of feminine stereotypes and caustic comments on the battle of the sexes, much of which is unflattering to women, but it is the unseen males who get the worst of it. The DVD includes two vintage documentaries, an alternate fashion show sequence with different footage, and audio-only scoring session music cues. Comic treatment of sex and marriage. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults. Not rated by the Motion Picture Association of America. (Warner Bros.)

"The Crazies" (Overture)
Rated "R"
A small-town sheriff (Timothy Olyphant), his deputy (Joe Anderson), the sheriff's doctor wife (Radha Mitchell) and her office assistant (Danielle Panabaker) fend off their neighbors, who have been transformed into homicidal maniacs by an environmental accident affecting the local water supply, while also struggling to evade capture by Army troops bent on quelling the outbreak at any cost. A potentially thought-provoking parable about ecological irresponsibility and military excess in an emergency is lost amid the bloodletting in director Breck Eisner's relatively lavish updating of George A. Romero's low-budget 1973 horror exercise. Excessive gory violence, some gruesome images, at least a half-dozen uses of profanity, pervasive rough and much crude language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"Crazy Love" (Magnolia)
Rated "PG-13"
Perversely engrossing documentary charts how a married, ambulance-chasing lawyer fixated on a 20 year-old Bronx receptionist, wooed her, then had someone blind and disfigure her with lye in 1959 when she became engaged to another, only to marry her after serving 14 years in prison for the crime. Director Dan Klores conducts extensive on-camera interviews with the still-married couple as viewers are left to evaluate if this is just a bizarre story of obsession and co-dependency or one of enduring love and forgiveness. Intermittent violent, suicidal and sexual references, an instance of rough language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Crazy, Stupid, Love" (Warner Bros.)
Rated "PG-13"
Multigenerational romantic comedy tracing the tangled loves of a long-married but recently separated suburbanite (Steve Carell), his dissatisfied wife (Julianne Moore), their 13-year-old son (Jonah Bobo) and the family's 17-year-old baby sitter (Analeigh Tipton) for whom the boy yearns, but whose heart belongs -- secretly -- to daddy. Also in the mix is the suave playboy (Ryan Gosling) who tries to teach the newly single nebbish the secrets of successful womanizing before being smitten himself (by Emma Stone). As helmed by co-directors Glenn Ficarra and John Requa, the proceedings eventually reach a conclusion that affirms genuine affection and marital fidelity over the apparent glamour of promiscuity. But the path to this mostly acceptable wrap-up is littered with sordid attempts to garner laughs from degraded behavior. Strong sexual content -- including semi-graphic adulterous activity, implied masturbation, and an amateur pornography theme -- considerable sexual and brief irreverent humor, a couple of uses of profanity, a bit of rough and much crude language. The Catholic News Service 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.

"Creature" (The Bubble Factory)
Rated "R"
A sleazy, exploitative horror film with all the stock elements: good-looking singles, gratuitous sex and nudity, buckets of blood and gore and a nasty (and very hungry) monster. Three young couples are on a road trip to New Orleans when they take a wrong turn. A stop at the filling station turns into a local history lesson with tales of a half-man, half-alligator creature named "Lockjaw." The curious friends detour to the bayou where Lockjaw lives and make camp. Soon things go bump in the night, and it's feeding time for the monster. First-time director Fred Andrews, not content with a gorefest, also offers up a desecration of Christianity. Pervasive graphic violence and gore, including cannibalism, animal attacks, severed limbs, gunplay and torture; full-frontal and rear female nudity; nonmarital sexual activity; an incestuous relationship; masturbation; drug use; and frequent rough and profane language. The Catholic News Service classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"Criminal" (Warner Independent Pictures)
Rated "R"
Smartly crafted scam movie about a veteran con man (John C. Reilly) who takes a young street hustler (Diego Luna) under his wing in order to swindle a wealthy collector (Peter Mullan) into buying a forged, extremely rare currency note. Director Gregory Jacobs' beat-for-beat remake of the 2002 Argentinian film "Nine Queens" fails to match the sharpness of the original, but its clever shell-game narrative still provides enough double-dealing plot twists to keep viewers guessing. However, the movie follows the original's morally muddy lead in suggesting that duplicity pays off. An implied sexual encounter and recurring rough language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

"Crossover" (Sony)
Rated "PG-13"
Urban drama about lifelong Detroit friends Cruise and Tech -- a college-bound basketball prodigy (Wesley Jonathan) with med-school ambitions and a high-school dropout (Anthony Mackie) with dreams of his own -- who enter an underground "streetball" tournament run by a smooth-talking promoter (Wayne Brady) to dethrone the league's cocky star player (Phillip Champion), jeopardizing Cruise's promising future. Written and directed by Preston A. Whitmore II, the film is commendable in its endorsement of education and integrity over money and fame, but, some energetic hoop sequences aside, the effort is weighed down by a trite, tired and predictable script. Some sexual content, including a subplot involving an out-of-wedlock pregnancy, lewd dance and cheerleading moves, suggestive wardrobe, sporadic crude language and humor and an instance of profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"Cry Wolf" (Rogue)
Rated "PG-13"
Modestly involving teen thriller set in a posh prep school where, following an off-campus murder, a group of students (including Lindy Booth and Jared Padalecki) initiate a new arrival (Julian Morris) into their clique and, as a prank, concoct a story about a masked killer only to find themselves menaced by a real stalker -- eerily echoing their fabrications -- with no one to believe them. Directed by Jeff Wadlow, the low-budget film's "Ten Little Indians" story line is reasonably suspenseful despite genre cliches, and its better than average script -- littered with red herrings and capped with a surprise twist -- emphasizes psychological tension over slasher gore. Some bloody violence, sexual humor and suggestiveness, and sporadic crude language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

"Courageous" (TriStar)
Rated "PG-13"
After the tragic death of his young daughter, a devoutly Christian police officer (Alex Kendrick) convinces a group of his friends (Ken Bevel, Ben Davies, Kevin Downes and Robert Amaya) to join him in subscribing to a Bible-based resolution designed to make them better, more dedicated fathers. But a variety of circumstances, including a couple of illustrative moral quandaries, quickly put each dad's resolve to the test. Though occasionally heavy-handed, Kendrick, who also directed and co-wrote, crafts an uplifting message movie about the dire consequences of paternal neglect and the scriptural principles of sound parenting. Some gun violence and mature themes, including drug trafficking. The Catholic News Service classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children

"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" (Paramount)
Rated "PG-13"
Overly long but imaginative expansion of an F. Scott Fitzgerald short story set in New Orleans about a man born old (Brad Pitt) who ages backward from World War I to the present and his bittersweet romance with a dancer (Cate Blanchett). Under David Fincher's direction, the leads give fine performances and outstanding digital effects make the forward and backward aging remarkably believable, and the unusual story -- presenting a unique, often profound perspective on the transience of human life and how we deal with the people we meet and the things we experience, including death -- is thought-provoking and poignant. Implied nonmarital situations including nongraphic encounters, some rough language and brief profanity, mild innuendo, out-of-wedlock pregnancy, adultery, brief rear nudity and wartime violence. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Curious George" (Universal)
Rated "G"
Delightful and disarming animated adventure based on the beloved children's books by A.H. and Margaret Rey, about an inquisitive chimp -- George -- who befriends a museum curator (voiced by Will Ferrell) searching for a legendary idol for his failing museum, and who eventually stows away, leaving his jungle home for New York, where much monkey mischief ensues. Directed by Matthew O'Callaghan, the simply told but visually vibrant film stays faithful to the gentle tone of the books, imparting a warmhearted message about friendship, which though geared toward youngsters adults will find charming. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-I -- general patronage.

"Cursed" (Dimension)
Rated "PG-13"
Banefully bad horror flick about a young television producer (Christina Ricci) and her geeky teenage brother (Jesse Eisenberg), who find themselves in increasingly hairy situations after being bitten by a werewolf-at-large in their Los Angeles neighborhood. Clumsily grafting themes of high school angst, homophobia and sexually transmitted diseases onto its B-movie script, this campy clunker directed by Wes Craven is all bark and no fright, and should have viewers howling for their money back. Recurring horror violence and gore, two instances of fleeting rear nudity, mild innuendo, scattered crude language and humor. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.
D
"Daddy Day Camp" (TriStar)
Rated "PG"
A few years after the events of "Daddy Day Care," the two entrepreneurial fathers (now played by Cuba Gooding Jr. and Paul Rae) buy a run-down summer camp and take up a rivalry with the big, mean bully camp next door. Director Fred Savage, the former child star now making his feature-film debut, runs through the checklist of crass jokes and heavy-handed messages about life and teamwork that would have been a lot more resonant if they had been grounded in reality. A few instances of crass language, some children's brawls, bathroom humor, light cartoonlike violence and an offhand sexual remark. 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.

"Daltry Calhoun" (Miramax)
Rated "PG-13"
Modestly endearing tale set in small-town Tennessee about a reformed good-for-nothing (Johnny Knoxville) who, with his rags-to-riches story facing a reversal of fortune, seeks reconciliation with the daughter he abandoned as an infant -- now a precocious, musically gifted teenager (Sophie Traub) -- when the girl's mother (Elizabeth Banks) shows up on his doorstep with news that she is dying and asks him to take over the parenting reins after she is gone. Directed by Katrina Holden Bronson, the film has its narrative bumps but they are smoothed over by its heartfelt emotion and redemptive message about hope and second chances. An implied sexual encounter, some sexual discussions, underage drinking and smoking, a mildly irreverent scene, brief fisticuffs, and scattered crude language and profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"Dance Flick" (Paramount)
Rated "PG-13"
Flat-footed genre satire with a minimal plot about the unlikely romance between a would-be ballerina (Shoshana Bush) and a street dancer (Damon Wayans, Jr.). Stumbles far outnumber leaps in director and co-writer Damien Dante Wayans' rambling sendup, and a few of the gags are patently vulgar. Much sexual and some scatological humor, one use of the F-word, frequent crude and crass language, and occasional comic violence. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Dan in Real Life" (Touchstone/Focus)
Rated 'PG-13"
Steve Carrell shines as the widowed father of three girls who takes them to a family reunion at his parents' rambling house in Rhode Island, and while there falls in love with an empathetic woman (Juliette Binoche) he meets in a bookstore, only to learn she's the girlfriend of his younger brother (Dane Cook). Also on the plus side of director Peter Hedges' leisurely paced, likable but only mildly amusing film are the positive depiction of Carrell's large, loving family, and the almost total lack of objectionable elements. But the basic setup seems contrived, the ostensible romance earthbound, and the formulaic script not terribly funny. Mild innuendo. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

"The Darkest Hour" (Summit)
Rated "PG-13"
Director Chris Gorak's weak alien-invasion entry has five American visitors to Moscow (Emile Hirsch, Olivia Thirlby, Max Minghella, Rachael Taylor and Joel Kinnaman) running away from space intruders who manifest themselves as balls of lethal microwave radiation, and start zapping folks -- right, left and center. Action violence and fleeting profane, crude and crass language. 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.

"The Dark Knight" (Warner Bros./Legendary)
Rated "PG-13"
Tumultuous, technically dazzling -- if overlong and excessively complex -- sequel to "Batman Begins" as the chiropteran crusader (Christian Bale) is challenged by the anarchic Joker (Heath Ledger) to reveal his true identity or else scores will die, while a romantic rival for his ex-girlfriend's (Maggie Gyllenhaal) affections -- the upstanding district attorney (Aaron Eckhart), working in tandem with the city's crime unit chief (Gary Oldman) -- strives to bring integrity to corrupt Gotham. Ledger is electrifying in his last completed performance, while director and co-writer Christopher Nolan brings consummate polish to the creation of a chaotic and brutal milieu, albeit one relieved by underlying decency. Bloodless but intense action violence including shootings, explosions and vehicular mayhem, but virtually no objectionable language or sexual elements. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Dark Water" (Touchstone)
Rated "PG-13"
Smartly crafted and suspenseful psychological thriller about a recently separated single mom (Jennifer Connelly) -- locked in an ugly custody battle with her estranged husband -- struggling to keep hold of her fragile sanity and 5-year-old daughter (Ariel Gade) when they move into a dilapidated apartment with a creepy chronic ceiling leak and a dark past. Director Walter Salles' stylish and sophisticated ghost story (a remake of a Japanese horror film) takes a more subtle approach to maintaining its taut-nerve tension, keeping viewers' cold sweat on a slow drip rather than going for cheap jolts with lots of gore or computer generated tricks. Mature thematic elements, recurring menace, some frightening moments, child peril, including a disturbing drowning sequence, a brief implied sexual situation and scattered crude language and profanity and an instance of rough language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"The Darjeeling Limited" (Fox Searchlight)
Rated "R"
Quirky, bittersweet odyssey about three estranged siblings -- the eldest, controlling brother recovering from a near-fatal injury (Owen Wilson), anxious father-to-be middle son (Adrien Brody), and the youngest, a writer (Jason Schwartzman) -- who set out on a spiritual journey on a train through India after their father's death, including a visit to a Himalayan monastery where their widowed mother (Angelica Huston) has become a nun. Though the colorful film, as per director and co-writer Wes Anderson's usual style, is not conventionally structured, it becomes more involving as well as genuinely touching as it progresses, with some off-putting antics of the brothers at the start of their trip yielding to reflection and transformation after a tragic occurrence along the way. A nonmarital sexual encounter without nudity, brief rough language and profanity, and a drug reference. 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.

"Date Movie" (20th Century Fox)
Rated "PG-13"
Crudely sophomoric sendup of recent popular romantic comedies barely held together by a perfunctory plot involving the upcoming wedding of a formerly obese waitress (Alyson Hannigan) to the man of her dreams (Adam Campbell), a wedding that the latter's seductive ex-flame (Sophie Monk) threatens to sabotage. Following in the genre-skewering footprints of "Scary Movie," directors Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer spoof such films as "My Big Fat Greek Wedding," "Hitch" and "My Best Friend's Wedding," among others, in a nonstop barrage of vulgar and unfunny juvenile sight gags that test the limits of its PG-13 rating. Pervasive raunchy and gross-out humor, some comic violence, recurring crude language and a few instances of profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive.

"Date Night" (Fox)
Rated "PG-13"
This well-intentioned but ultimately wayward mix of the romantic comedy and action genres sees an ordinary suburban New Jersey couple (Steve Carell and Tina Fey) caught up in an underworld blackmail scheme after being mistaken for the cohabiting lowlifes (James Franco and Mila Kunis) who are out to sell the damning evidence. As written by Josh Klausner and directed by Shawn Levy, the pair's nocturnal Manhattan odyssey -- during which they flee a duo of thugs (Common and Jimmi Simpson) in the employ of a mob boss (Ray Liotta), and turn for help to a James Bond-like intelligence agent (Mark Wahlberg) -- though its travails aid them to rekindle their flickering love for each other, eventually leads to an underground sex club where they briefly find themselves forced to entertain a powerful patron with perverse tastes. Considerable, though bloodless, action violence, partial rear nudity, much sexual humor, including gags about casual sex, masturbation and aberrant practices, at least one use of profanity and of the F-word, some crude and crass language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"The Da Vinci Code" (Columbia)
Rated "PG-13"
Dan Brown's record-breaking best-seller comes to the screen with most of its spurious historical, artistic, and theological misstatements intact. The film follows the book's plot of a Harvard "symbologist" (Tom Hanks) on the run from French police after the murder of a curator from the Louvre museum, with the latter's granddaughter (Audrey Tautou) in tow, as they piece together the motives for the killing, implicating the Catholic Church in a centuries-old conspiracy to suppress an explosive secret. As expected, director Ron Howard has made a glossy, competent thriller, though perhaps a little confusing for those unfamiliar with the book. The performances, including that of Sir Ian McKellen as another scholar and Paul Bettany as the albino monk assassin, are colorful; the underlying assertions -- particularly as they question Jesus' divinity -- and the obvious falsehoods about Opus Dei are deeply abhorrent. Partly subtitled. Violence including brutal murders, crude language, irreverent underpinning, rear male nudity, scenes of corporal mortification, fleeting hint of prostitution, glimpse of ritualistic sex. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive.

"Daybreakers" (Lionsgate)
Rated "R"
This potentially intriguing, but excessively violent tale, set in a futuristic world where a mysterious plague has transformed the vast majority of the population into vampires, and where the blood supply drawn from the few remaining mortals is rapidly dwindling, follows the efforts of a conscientious undead researcher (Ethan Hawke) to develop a viable substitute, his conflict with the greedy chief (Sam Neill) of the conglomerate sponsoring his work and his eventual partnership with two fugitive humans (Willem Dafoe and Claudia Karvan) who may have discovered an alternative solution to the crisis. Co-writers and directors Peter and Michael Spierig effectively conjure a society where blood-suckers are the norm and use it to make satiric points about corporate excess and environmental irresponsibility, but the intermittently gory proceedings move toward a climactic scene of orgiastic bloodletting. Graphic gruesome violence, including decapitation, dismemberment and exploding bodies; upper female nudity; at least three uses of profanity; and some rough and crude language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"Days and Clouds" ("Giorni e Nuvole") (Film Movement)
Rated "NR"
Mature, generally perceptive drama in which an idealistic middle-age Genoese executive (Antonio Albanese) and his art restorer wife (Margherita Buy) find their relationship strained after he is forced from his job by his business partners, an economic and social crisis they try to conceal from, among others, their 20-year-old daughter (Alba Rohrwacher). Director and co-writer Silvio Soldini's intimate, award-winning portrait of a marriage under siege upholds the value of long-term mutual commitment, though it downplays the devastating consequences of physical infidelity. In Italian. Subtitles. Brief, nongraphic adulterous sexual activity, much rough and crude language and sexual references. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults. Not rated by the Motion Picture Association of America.

"The Day the Earth Stood Still" (Fox)
Rated "PG-13"
Competent but inferior science-fiction remake about an alien (Keanu Reeves) who lands on earth to warn of the planet's doom, and gains the assistance of a top-flight scientist (Jennifer Connelly), escaping from government custody to continue his mission, despite the initial hostility of the scientist's distrustful young stepson (Jaden Smith). Director Scott Derrickson's version of Robert Wise's 1951 genre classic, which also features Kathy Bates as the wary U.S. secretary of defense, substitutes global warming for the threat of Cold War annihilation (both worthy themes), but though objectionable elements are minimal, the alien's deadpan emotion is a serious drawback. Moderate, mostly bloodless violence. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG--13 -- parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

"Death at a Funeral" (Screen Gems)
Rated "R"
Ensemble farce relating the various outlandish mishaps that befall two estranged brothers (Chris Rock and Martin Lawrence) and their relatives and friends (notably James Marsden, Tracy Morgan and Danny Glover) as they gather to bury the family patriarch, including the played-for-laughs revelation of the deceased's concealed relationship with a mysterious stranger (Peter Dinklage). Director Neil LaBute's Americanization of Frank Oz's 2007 British comedy of the same title mostly seeks laughs in the bed- and bathroom, with predictably woeful results. Frivolous treatment of adulterous homosexuality, rear and partial nudity, drug theme, graphic scatological humor, sexual jokes and references, a half-dozen uses of profanity, frequent rough and crude language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"Death Race" (Universal/Relativity)
Rated "R"
Brooding dystopian futuristic action tale in which, after being framed for the murder of his wife, a factory worker (Jason Statham) is offered freedom by his warden (Joan Allen) if, with the assistance of a female convict navigator (Natalie Martinez) and a skilled pit crew (Ian McShane, Fred Koehler and Jacob Vargas), he competes in the car-races-to-the-death she supervises for public entertainment. Writer-director Paul W.S. Anderson's updating of Paul Bartel's 1975 "Death Race 2000" is one long paean to brutality, as the speedway gladiators are decapitated, gored and napalmed. Pervasive graphic violence with blood, fleeting rear nudity, frequent rough and crude language, and a couple of profanities. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"D.E.B.S." (Destination/Samuel Goldwyn)
Rated "PG-13"
Satire of "Charlie's Angels"-type action films and teen movies, in which the high school-age secret agents take on the archcriminal Lucy Diamond (Jordana Brewster) with a surprising twist: Amy (Sara Foster), one of the leading D.E.B.S. (seniors chosen for an underground academy based on their abilities to lie, cheat and fight), comes face to face with Lucy, and instead of killing her, begins to feel the stirrings of a romantic attraction. Director and writer Angela Robinson's lesbian riff on a familiar genre -- surprisingly slick for an independent film (with some appealing performances) -- is not without bright moments, but despite imparting some worthy messages such as the value of friendship and being true to yourself, the ringing affirmation of physically giving vent to one's sexuality, gay or straight, particularly at the borderline age of consent, is troubling, even if presented as a lighthearted spoof. Some profane, rough and crude language, action violence, premarital sexual situations, overall thematic material, alcohol and tobacco use. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive.

"Dead Silence" (Universal)
Rated "R"
Mechanical, relatively mayhem-free horror movie about a man (Jamie Ashen) who returns to his hometown seeking answers to his wife's murder. Director James Wan teases a bit of mystery out of an ordinary plot concerning the revenge of a female ventriloquist and her collection of dolls, but the film proves long on buildup and short on genuine frights. Some crass language, violence, bloody images and dead bodies. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"Dear Frankie" (Miramax)
Rated "PG-13"
Captivating film set in Scotland about a loving single mother (Emily Mortimer), who pretends to her 9-year-old deaf son, Frankie (Jack McElhone), that his father -- whom the boy has never seen -- is simply away at sea, and forges letters purporting to be from the absent father, then pays a stranger (Gerard Butler) to pose as the father for a day. Shona Auerbach directs a beautifully written story that is immensely appealing, sensitively acted, and sure to bring a lump to the throat, resulting in superlative entertainment for adults and older adolescents. A few profane and rough words, a single lewd gesture from a child, some mature thematic material and some alcohol use. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"Dear John" (Screen Gems)
Rated "PG-13"
This frequently sentimental drama, set in South Carolina, charts the love-at-first-sight romance between a Special Forces sergeant (Channing Tatum) home on leave to visit his mildly autistic father (Richard Jenkins) and an affluent college student (Amanda Seyfried), their prolonged separation due to his reenlistment following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and their efforts to maintain their bond by long-distance letter writing. Though the portrayal of the conflicted filial relationship is moving, director Lasse Hallstrom's adaptation of Catholic writer Nicholas Sparks' best-selling 2006 novel focuses mostly on the emotionally unrealistic evolution of the lovers' attachment, and endorses its premature consummation along the way. Nongraphic premarital sexual activity with partial nudity, a few uses of profanity, at least four instances of the S-word. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Dear Wendy" (Wellspring)
Rated "NR"
Oddly compelling and offbeat story about lonely teenagers in a small town who become enamored of guns, and though intending never to use them for violent means become swept up in the weapons' mystique and power in spite of themselves. Distinguished Danish filmmaker Thomas Vinterberg's second English-language film features a standout performance by Jamie Bell (whose anthropomorphized revolver is the lady of the title), and the others (including Novella Nelson) are good, too. Though the admirable message is anti-guns and anti-violence, the moral issues are too muddled, and the film's inevitable bloodbath ending is dramatically unsatisfying. Profanity and rough language, violence and bloodshed. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

"Death at a Funeral" (MGM/Sidney Kimmel)
Rated "R"
Chaos reigns in this mordant British comedy as family members -- arrogant famous novelist son (Rupert Graves), insecure second son (Matthew MacFadyen) and his exasperated wife (Keeley Hawes), their cousin (Daisy Donovan) and her fiance (Alan Tudyk) -- gather for a patriarchal funeral and everything goes wildly wrong, including a mysterious guest (Peter Dinklage) who threatens a scandalous revelation. Director Frank Oz whips up a skillfully farcical frenzy, and the cast is game, but recommendation must be tempered by an overload of expletives as well as other elements that may offend viewers. Gratuitous and pervasive profanity, rough and crude language, rear male nudity, drug use, homosexual blackmail theme, innuendo and scatological humor. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"The Death of Mr. Lazarescu" (Tartan)
Rated "R"
Trenchant Romanian drama that follows the all-night odyssey of a dying old man, Mr. Lazarescu (Ion Fiscuteanu), as he is shuttled from one hospital to the next, encountering indifference and insensitivity from the doctors and medical staff, with only a compassionate ambulance driver (Mioara Avram) to plead his case. Deliberately paced, filmed with an unvarnished look and featuring understated performances, director Cristi Puiu's perceptive commentary on health care, in charting Lazarescu's plight, poignantly brings attention to how uncaring bureaucracy and societal apathy can depreciate the dignity of a human being. Subtitles. Some rough and crude language and brief partial nudity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"Death Sentence" (Fox)
Rated "R"
Mild-mannered financier (Kevin Bacon) commits capital murder against gang members to avenge the death of his son. For the first hour, director James Wan (best known for "Saw") and screenwriter Ian Jeffers follow the nuances of novelist Brian Garfield's 1975 sequel to "Death Wish" and sprinkle in mordant humor, but the last half-hour descends into splatter and heavy-handed symbolism. Rough, crude and crass language, profanity and extended scenes of bloody gun violence. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"The Debt" (Focus)
Rated "R"
This stylish -- though frequently violent -- remake of the 2007 Israeli spy thriller of the same name is a game of cat-and-mouse across two time periods as three Mossad agents (Helen Mirren, Tom Wilkinson and Ciaran Hinds) track down and capture a Josef Mengele-like Nazi war criminal (Jesper Christensen). Their feat -- told in flashback by their younger selves (Jessica Chastain, Marton Csokas and Sam Worthington) -- has made them national heroes. But it seems there's more to their exploit than the official story recounts. While suitable only for mature viewers open to challenging material, as directed with flair by John Madden, this gritty drama will certainly keep them guessing right up to the end. Considerable bloody violence, a disturbing portrayal of anti-Semitism, brief nongraphic premarital sexual activity, some rough language. 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.

"December Boys" (Warner Independent)
Rated "PG-13"
Moving Australian coming-of-age drama as four boys from a convent orphanage (Daniel Radcliffe, Christian Byers, Lee Cormie and James Fraser) are sent on holiday to board with an elderly couple (Jack Thompson and Kris McQuade) by the seaside, where they learn that the childless couple nearby (Sullivan Stapleton and Victoria Hill) may adopt one of them, leading to rivalry among the friends. Besides sensitive performances and majestic cinematography, director Rod Hardy's adaptation of Michael Noonan's novel has a strong Catholic underpinning, including a bona fide miracle, and a compassionate humanistic viewpoint. An instance of crude language, mild profanity, dim upper female nudity, brief rear nudity, a clothed, nonexplicit sexual encounter, and brief underage drinking and smoking. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Deception" (20th Century Fox)
Rated "R"
Dull, sometimes obvious thriller about a lonely accountant (Ewan McGregor) who's befriended by a charismatic corporate lawyer (Hugh Jackman), who introduces him to a sex club offering "intimacy without intricacy" where he falls for one of the other members (Michelle Williams) and soon becomes a blackmail victim. Director Marcel Langenegger's feature debut -- nocturnal and claustrophobic -- glamorizes its main character's anonymous encounters before endorsing his more substantial relationship. Graphic nonmarital sexual activity, rear and upper-female nudity, scanty costuming, much rough and crude and some crass and profane language, sexual discussion, and drug use. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Deck the Halls" (20th Century Fox)
Rated "PG"
Yuletide comedy about an obsessively organized eye doctor (Matthew Broderick) whose regimental holiday zeal alienates his wife (Kristin Davis) and two kids (Alia Shawkat and Dylan Blue), and who meets his match when his new neighbor (Danny DeVito) challenges his reputation as the town's "king of Christmas" by decorating his own house with enough lights to be visible from outer space, prompting escalating attempts by the two men to outdo each other at the risk of losing what matters most to them, their families. Though brightly colored bulbs abound, the laughs are mostly low-wattage, as director John Whitesell decks his plot with clumsy slapstick and a few out-of-place off-color gags, but he ultimately proves that his heart is in the right place with an earnest endorsement of home, family and friendship. And while a secular view of Christmas dominates, things are brought to a predictably sentimental close that at least acknowledges in song the true meaning of the holiday. Some mildly crude language and humor, including a few suggestive images and a lightly irreverent sight gag, innuendo and an instance of profanity, limiting the film's suitability to older adolescents and up. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"Dedication" (Weinstein/Plum)
Rated "R"
Embittered, highly phobic children's book writer (Billy Crudup) is forced to work with a new illustrator (Mandy Moore) when his former collaborator and only friend (Tom Wilkinson) dies. Director Justin Theroux's unconventional love story begins sordidly in a porn theater and the expletive quotient is high, but the narrative ultimately takes a touching and redemptive turn, anchored by Crudup's mesmerizing performance. Pervasive rough language and profanity, some crude expressions and sexual remarks, implied premarital sexual encounter, fleeting porn imagery and other sexual elements. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Deep Blue" (Miramax)
Rated "G"
Visually spectacular nature documentary which explores Earth's final frontier, the ocean, from its wave-tossed surface teeming with myriad marine life to its unfathomable depths, revealing both its sublime beauty and indiscriminate cruelty. Directed by Alastair Fothergill and Andy Byatt and narrated by Pierce Brosnan, this awe-inspiring tour through liquid space, with its breathtaking, up-close, underwater photography (culled from the BBC series "The Blue Planet"), is highly emotional and imparts a deeper appreciation for the wonders of God's creation. Some disturbing predatory images. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents.

"Defiance" (Paramount Vantage)
Rated "R"
This is a well-acted and too lengthy but ultimately worthy history lesson about the Bielski brothers (Daniel Craig, Liev Schreiber and Jamie Bell), Jewish farmers who chose not to be victimized by the Nazis, who sheltered hundreds of Jews, taking them to safety in the forests of Eastern Europe during World War II, and who violently fought off the Germans. Director and co-writer Edward Zwick keeps the episodic story moving reasonably well considering the three-year time span, and the script gives a different perspective than the typical Holocaust movie, but the brothers' heroism here is shown to be marred by several morally unacceptable instances of senseless slaughter. Strong sporadic violence, vigilante killing, rough language, mild sexuality and a rape reference. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Definitely, Maybe" (Universal)
Rated "PG-13"
Carefully wrought romantic comedy, albeit with some problematic material, in which an advertiser (Ryan Reynolds) on the verge of divorce recounts to his inquiring daughter (Abigail Breslin) how he chose her mother from among the three women (Elizabeth Banks, Rachel Weisz and Isla Fisher) he had once been dating. Writer-director Adam Brooks' generally well-written, often touching film is most suitable for mature viewers. Implied nonmarital sexual activity and cohabitation, some profanity, frank sexual talk and crass language, divorce theme, lesbian reference and political pro-choice allusion. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"District 9" (TriStar)
Rated "R"
Exceedingly violent yet powerful science fiction parable in which, two decades after the arrival in South Africa of an unwelcome race of human-sized but insect-shaped aliens, a bureaucrat (Sharlto Copley) for a multinational corporation charged with relocating them from the titular ghetto to a concentration camp finds his condescending attitude transformed when a chemical accident turns him into a fugitive from the system he previously served. Propelled by Copley's intense performance, director and co-writer Neill Blomkamp's unflinchingly harsh feature debut employs a mock documentary format to create an incisive study of prejudice and societal indifference. Considerable gory violence, including brief torture, pervasive rough and some crude language, and a few sexual references. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Deja Vu" (Touchstone)
Rated "PG-13"
Action thriller about a federal agent (Denzel Washington) who, in investigating a deadly explosion on a New Orleans ferry, is recruited into a top-secret project whose members (including Val Kilmer) have found a way to peer into the past to solve crimes, and, while helping them track down the bomber (Jim Caviezel), falls in love with one of the blast's casualties (Paula Patton) and decides to travel back in time to prevent her death. Managing to keep the twisting plot mostly lucid, director Tony Scott grafts inventive action sequences onto the intriguing premise resulting in a sufficiently engaging sci-fi mystery, despite some holes in story logic. Some intense action violence, disturbing images of death, blurred shower nudity, brief rear nudity, and some mildly crude language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"Delgo" (Freestyle)
Rated "PG"
Well-meaning but only average animated children's parable, set in a mythical land, about a part-human, part-reptile teenager (voice of Freddie Prinze Jr.) who falls for the winged, pixielike princess (voice of Jennifer Love Hewitt) of a rival nation and enlists the help of his bumbling best friend (voice of Chris Kattan) and a fearless general (Val Kilmer) to thwart the warmongering schemes of the princess' exiled aunt (voice of Anne Bancroft). This Romeo-and-Juliet tale, co-written and directed by Marc F. Adler and Jason F. Maurer, exalts peace, racial and ethnic harmony and the power of mercy to break a cycle of hatred, values which compensate for special effects well behind the vanguard and a sometimes unimpressive script. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-I -- general patronage. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.

"Delirious" (Peace Arch/Thema/Artina)
Rated "NR"
The unlikely friendship between a lowlife "paparazzo" (Steve Buscemi) and a sympathetic street kid (Michael Pitt) is put to the test when an even more unlikely romance develops between the photographer's recently homeless protege and a world-famous pop-music star (Alison Lohman). The tone of writer-director Tom DiCillo's film veers disconcertingly from bleak cynicism to sophomoric fantasy, so that in the end neither the often witty script nor some genuinely impressive performances among the lead actors can save this story from degenerating into an unconvincing muddle. Relentless rough and crude language and some profanity, much crude humor, rear and partial nudity, some skimpy costuming, innuendo and implied unmarried sexual liaisons. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. Not rated by the Motion Picture Association of America.

"Delta Farce" (Lionsgate)
Rated "PG-13
Stale, flat attempt at a military comedy starring Daniel Whitney in his guise of Larry the Cable Guy, supported by "Blue Collar TV" co-star Bill Engvall and the twitchy D.J. Qualls, playing amiable dumb-guy Army reservists called up to Fallujah, Iraq, but landing instead in a remote Mexican village, where they take on local bandits. Director D.B. Harding, evidently assuming a short attention span for the audience, chops the comedic scenes into annoyingly tiny bits, but is more successful turning Larry into a good-hearted, Southern-fried teddy bear. Some crude language, sexual innuendo, gay characters, a scatological sight gag and some ethnic slurs. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"The Departed" (Warner Bros.)
Rated "R"
Hard-hitting if overlong tale of two rookie cops in South Boston -- one (Matt Damon) an informant for the mob, the other (Leonardo DiCaprio) secretly assigned by senior officers (Martin Sheen and Mark Wahlberg) to infiltrate the crime ring run by a notorious mob boss (over-the-top Jack Nicholson) -- with both young cops pushed to the mental breaking point in their double-dealing roles, and frantic to uncover the other's identity. Director Martin Scorsese has lost none of his flair for the genre, and DiCaprio and Damon are extremely good, but the setup seems far-fetched, and there's predictably a high quotient of violence, with the nonstop barrage of expletives excessive even for the underworld environment. Pervasive rough language, racial epithets, profanity, extremely crude expressions, heavy violence, grisly images, nongraphic sexual situations and encounters, irreverent remarks about the church. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

"Derailed" (Weinstein)
Rated "R"
Forgettable thriller about two unhappily married strangers (Jennifer Aniston and Clive Owen) whose chance meeting on a commuter train sparks an affair, cut short when their hotel room tryst is intruded on by a vicious thug (Vincent Cassel), who proceeds to blackmail them, entangling them in a spiral of violence and deception. Directed by Mikael Hafstrom, what could have been a smart cautionary tale about the consequences of deceit is instead derailed by a predictable plot and a ridiculous, morally problematic ending, in which a character literally gets away with murder. An adulterous sexual encounter, a rape, bloody violence including several shootings and a stabbing, as well as much rough and crude language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive.

"The Descent" (Lionsgate)
Rated "R"
Chiller about six adventurous female friends (including Shauna Macdonald, Natalie Mendoza and Alex Reid) whose thrill-seeking outing turns into a battle for subterranean survival when they become trapped in a maze of caves deep beneath the Appalachian Mountains, where they fall prey to a race of vicious humanoid creatures. What starts out as a highly effective horror film that conveys an unnerving, almost palpable sense of claustrophobia and primal fear becomes a routine monster flick, as director Neil Marshall increasingly indulges in easy jolts and grisly excess. Gratuitous bloody violence and gore, a mercy killing, a gruesome car accident, much rough and crude language. The USSCB Office for Film & Broadcasting is O -- morally offensive.

"Despicable Me" (Universal)
Rated "PG"
This enchanting 3-D animated comedy about a slightly wicked but ultimately softhearted rogue (voice of Steve Carell) follows his rivalry with a nerdy newcomer (voice of Jason Segel) for the title of world's most terrible villain -- during which they compete to steal the moon, no less - and charts the life-altering effect a trio of orphans (voices of Miranda Cosgrove, Dana Gaier and Elsie Fisher) have on him after he takes them under his wing, initially for his own nefarious purposes. Co-directors Chris Renaud and Pierre Coffin -- who also provide voice work for the main miscreant's army of comically mumbling undersized minions - serve up a delightfully humorous conversion tale spun around themes of loyalty and the transformative power of family love with only a few effects that might scare the most timid and a touch of mild bathroom humor to raise concern among some parents. The Catholic News Service classification is A-I -- general patronage. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.

"Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo" (Columbia)
Rated "R"
Brainless and disastrously distasteful sequel to the 1999 comedy "Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo" which finds the doltish fish-tank-cleaner-turned-male prostitute (Rob Schneider) in Amsterdam, Netherlands, where he must solve the murders of Europe's top gigolos to clear the name of his friend and former pimp (Eddie Griffin) implicated in the crimes. Directed by Mike Bigelow, the much raunchier follow-up wallows in juvenile sexual and scatological sight gags that succeed in lowering the already rock-bottom bar set by the original. Pervasive sexual and gross-out humor, some partial frontal nudity and comic violence, comical treatment of physical and mental disabilities, and drug content, as well as much rough and crude language and profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive.

"Deus Ex: Human Revolution" (Square Enix)
Rated "NR"
Complex, violent action/role-playing game exploring a future where humans may augment their bodies at will, and the way these changes affect individuals and society. With its combination of adult themes and choice-based gameplay, the plot can develop along moral, immoral, or morally ambiguous lines. Even if the game is played largely with nonlethal violence, though, the content remains graphic and disturbing. Intense violence with gore, sexual themes, mature subject matter, alcohol use, drug references, strong language, implied prostitution. The Catholic News Service classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. The Entertainment Software Ratings Board rating is M -- Mature.

"Devil" (Universal)
Rated "PG-13"
Rapidly fizzling horror entry in which Satan stalks an elevator stuck between floors in a Philadelphia high-rise. Director John Erick Dowdle, working from a story by M. Night Shyamalan, puts reliable scream queen Bojana Novakovic and a handful of other riders with unsavory pasts through some decidedly less-than-scary paces as the Prince of Darkness dispenses some rough justice. Fleeting crude and crass language, dubious, though incidental, use of Catholic imagery. 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.

"The Devil Inside" (Paramount)
Rated "R"
Director and co-writer William Brent Bell's eye-poppingly bad, grotesque exorcism outing combines inept storytelling with a lazy, sullen antagonism toward the Catholic Church. Keen to know what provoked her mother (Suzan Crowley) to murder two priests and a nun during an exorcism 20 years earlier, a plucky documentary maker (Fernanda Andrade) jets off to Rome in search of answers, accompanied by her faithful cameraman (Ionut Grama). They eventually join forces with two renegade clergymen (Simon Quarterman and Evan Helmuth) who conduct unsanctioned exorcisms for the ostensible benefit of those the "institutional" church refuses to help. Anti-Catholic animus, a fallacious presentation of church teaching and practice, implied acceptance of abortion, rare but intensely gory violence, a few uses of profanity and frequent rough and occasional crude language. The Catholic News Service classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"The Devil's Rejects" (Lions Gate)
Rated "R"
Violently perverse horror sequel to "House of 1000 Corpses" which follows the bloody trail of the homicidal Firefly clan (Sid Haig, Bill Moseley and Sheri Moon Zombie), as they flee the vigilante justice of a relentless sheriff (William Forsythe) determined to avenge his brother's murder. Laced with visual nods to Arthur Penn, Sam Peckinpah and Tobe Hopper, writer-director Rob Zombie's almost pornographic follow-up is as pointless as it is utterly revolting, sinking to nauseating lows in presenting depravity as entertainment. Pervasive dehumanizing violence, including grisly killings and mutilations and torture; sadistic sexual situations, including violation with a gun; a soft-core sexual encounter with partial nudity; full frontal shower nudity; drug content; themes of revenge; and much rough and crude language and profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive.

"The Devil Wears Prada" (Fox)
Rated "PG-13"
Entertaining comedy-drama about an aspiring writer (Anne Hathaway) who takes a job as junior assistant to an imperious editor (a delicious Meryl Streep) at a high-powered fashion magazine, while her friends, including her boyfriend (Adrian Grenier) chide her for losing sight of her real values as she gets caught up in the competitive environment. Director David Frankel's handsomely photographed adaptation of Lauren Weisberger's 2003 best-seller is a fast-moving morality tale with a simple but commendable message about staying true to your ideals and not selling out, with good performances all around, including those of Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci. Admirably light on objectionable content. A couple of implied premarital situations (but no sex scenes), some crass expressions, brief profanity and innuendo, and a couple of uses of the s-word, making this inappropriate for younger adolescents. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents.

"Diary of a Wimpy Kid" (Fox)
Rated "PG"
Mostly likeable, though lightweight coming-of-age comedy about the travails of a first-year middle school student (Zachary Gordon) whose ill-conceived efforts to gain popularity and status in his new environment -- frequently, though unintentionally sabotaged by the carefree nerdiness of his long-standing best friend (Robert Capron) -- instead see him slipping lower and lower in the lunchroom and recess pecking order, while his home life is made miserable by the petty bullying of his cocky older brother (Devon Bostick). Director Thor Freudenthal's adaptation of Jeff Kinney's best-selling 2007 novel in cartoon format offers lessons about loyalty, self-sacrificing friendship and gaining genuine acceptance by being true to yourself; but the proceedings sometimes veer into mildly off-color humor, and the script makes it clear -- albeit in a restrained way -- that one of the hierarchical divisions separating the students is based on the rate of pubescent physical development. Brief images of a scantily clad woman, a few instances of mildly gross and scatological humor, a couple of vaguely sexual jokes, at least one crass term. 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.

"Did You Hear About the Morgans?" (Columbia/Relativity)
Rated "PG-13"
Pleasant, if largely predictable, romantic comedy in which a recently separated New York couple (Hugh Grant and Sarah Jessica Parker) accidentally witness the contract killing of an arms dealer and, as part of the government's protection program, are abruptly relocated to rural Wyoming where, sheltered and shielded by a no-nonsense federal marshal (Sam Elliott) and his gun-toting wife (Mary Steenburgen), they gradually discover the joys of down-home living as they reassess their relationship. Writer-director Marc Lawrence's fish-out-of-water tale is an unabashed celebration of marriage and family life and, though it features extensive discussion of the negative effects of infidelity, is mostly free of objectionable material, making it probably acceptable for older teens. Adultery and infertility themes, off-screen marital lovemaking, a few mildly sexual jokes, at least one crude and one crass term. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Diggers" (Magnolia)
Rated "R"
Mostly downbeat comedy-drama about the life and loves of Long Island clam diggers (Paul Rudd, Ken Marino, Josh Hamilton and Ron Eldard) played out against the encroachment of a big fishing corporation wreaking havoc on their traditional way of life. Katherine Diekmann directs Marino's script capably, and there are good performances -- including those of Lauren Ambrose and Maura Tierney -- but the only mildly involving and sometimes sordid plot and the high quotient of expletives are detriments. Pervasive rough and crude language and profanity, drug and contraception references, rear male nudity, sexual encounters without overt nudity and sexual references, premarital situations, brief pornography images, domestic violence and gratuitous bathroom scenes. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

"The Dilemma" (Universal)
Rated "PG-13"
Unappealing mix of comedy and drama as a Chicago businessman (Vince Vaughn) and reformed gambler discovers that his best friend and partner's (Kevin James) wife (Winona Ryder) is cheating with a younger man (Channing Tatum). Unable to bring himself to share the news, he undertakes a series of credulity-straining antics designed either to gain proof of the affair or end it. But his strange behavior convinces his live-in girlfriend (Jennifer Connelly) that he's returned to betting. Though fidelity, honesty and the value of marriage are affirmed in passing, and Vaughn's character even pauses to pray for guidance, the plot of director Ron Howard's mood-shifting mess primarily serves as an excuse for stringing together Vaughn's trademark manic riffs. And like them or not, they fail to offset the showcasing of wayward, sometimes seamy bedroom behavior. Brief graphic adulterous sexual activity with fleeting rear nudity, cohabitation, prostitution theme, much sexual humor, a half-dozen uses of profanity, at least one instance of the F-word, considerable crude and crass language, obscene gestures. 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.

"Dinner for Schmucks" (Paramount)
Rated "PG-13"
To score a promotion, a financial analyst (Paul Rudd) must bring a suitable guest to the titular meal organized by his boss (Bruce Greenwood) as a competition to see which corporate hotshot can produce the most amusing idiot as a target for secret ridicule, so his accidental meeting with a bizarrely naive and nerdy IRS agent (Steve Carell) seems like a godsend until his victim's well-intentioned bumbling begins to ruin both his career and his relationship with his live-in girlfriend (Stephanie Szostak). Though its underlying message is one of sensitivity and respect, director Jay Roach's comedy, adapted from Francis Veber's 1998 French feature "Le Diner de Cons," showcases numerous wayward riffs on topics such as adultery, casual sex and venereal disease. Shadowy rear and partial nudity, cohabitation, much sexual and brief irreverent humor, a couple of uses of profanity, at least one use of the F-word, six crude terms. 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.

"Dirty" (Silver Nitrate)
Rated "R"
Unremittingly ugly police drama set in Los Angeles about a former gang member-turned-cop (Clifton Collins Jr.) torn between conscience and loyalty to his out-of-control partner (Cuba Gooding Jr.) in deciding to come clean about their unit's illegal activities, while reluctantly agreeing to one last score for his crooked bosses on the force (Keith David and Cole Hauser). Written and directed by Chris Fisher, this gritty "Training Day" clone offers little illumination into corruption and violence, despite pretensions of social commentary, resulting less in a modern morality tale than an unpleasant stock urban action film. Much strong and bloody violence, including several graphic shootings and a tense game of Russian roulette resulting in death, some sexual situations, including suggestive groping of a teenage girl and brief, shadowy strip club partial nudity, recurring drug content, pervasive rough and sexually crude language, as well as some profanity and racial epithets. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive.

A Dirty Shame (Fine Line)
NC-17 -- no one 17 and under admitted
Sex addicts run rampant in Harford Road, a blue-collar neighborhood of Baltimore, in the latest film from John Waters ("Hairspray," "Pink Flamingos"). Though he's got a name cast and his intent is to offer a humorous look at sexual anarchy, the film's content is predictably smutty, however satiric in intent, and the sophomoric humor quickly wears thin in. Repressed housewife Sylvia (Tracey Ullman) and her square husband, Vaughn (Chris Isaak), keep their go-go dancer daughter, Caprice (Selma Blair), with her grotesquely enlarged breasts, locked in a room over their garage. A traffic collision soon gives Sylvia a head injury which transforms her from a puritanical prude to a wanton sex maniac. Truck driver Ray-Ray Perkins (Johnny Knoxville), a sexual minister, recognizes that the metamorphosed Sylvia is primed to be one of his sex disciples, and Sylvia is only too happy to give vent to her newfound urges. Her transformation is evident to all when she performs an obscene dance at a nursing home. Because of almost nonstop rough, crude and profane language, full frontal nudity, sexual imagery, obscene gestures, scatological humor, casual portrayal and descriptions of deviant sexual practices, a glorification of freewheeling sex and some sacrilegious imagery, the USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive.

"Disaster Movie" (Lionsgate)
Rated "PG-13"
Wacky sophomoric spoof of the genre -- with takeoffs on every iconic movie character of the past year (e.g., Indiana Jones, Beowulf, Prince Caspian and the Love Guru) thrown in for good measure -- as a young man (Matt Lanter) and a motley crew (Gay "G-Thang" Johnson, Nicole Parker, Kim Kardashian and Crista Flanagan) attempt to rescue his girlfriend (Vanessa Minnillo) amid nonstop calamities. The film is by co-writers and directors Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer. The cast is game, and some of the gags are funny, while others are considerably less so, but satirically intended or not the humor is relentlessly and unabashedly vulgar. Pervasive sexual and scatological humor, some crude language, crass expressions, and occasional profanity; strong comic violence; partial male nudity; and passing religious jibes. 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.

"District 9" (TriStar)
Rated "R"
Exceedingly violent yet powerful science fiction parable in which, two decades after the arrival in South Africa of an unwelcome race of human-sized but insect-shaped aliens, a bureaucrat (Sharlto Copley) for a multinational corporation charged with relocating them from the titular ghetto to a concentration camp finds his condescending attitude transformed when a chemical accident turns him into a fugitive from the system he previously served. Propelled by Copley's intense performance, director and co-writer Neill Blomkamp's unflinchingly harsh feature debut employs a mock documentary format to create an incisive study of prejudice and societal indifference. Considerable gory violence, including brief torture, pervasive rough and some crude language, and a few sexual references. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Disturbia" (Paramount)
Rated "PG-13"
Reasonably suspenseful thriller in the tradition of Hichcock's "Rear Window" about a teen (Shia LaBeouf) -- under house arrest after an emotional outburst stemming from his dad's death -- who begins to spy on the neighbors, eventually suspecting one (David Morse) of being a serial killer. Director D.J. Caruso ("Taking Lives") handles his serial-killer theme with relative restraint, with the emphasis squarely on suspense. Some violence including two murders, an image of a corpse and some discreet shots of other dead bodies, a disturbing car accident, some crude and crass language and profanity, skimpy costuming, underage drinking, suggestive dancing, brief suggestions of infidelity and underage viewing of pornography. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" (Miramax)
Rated "PG-13"
Inspiring if sobering true story of a French magazine editor (Mathieu Amalric) whose massive stroke left him completely paralyzed but who was able to tap into his imagination to take in the world around him, appreciate the important things in his life, and even dictate his memoirs by blinking his eye for every letter. Julian Schnabel's film begins entirely from the perspective of the paralyzed patient, but gradually expands to a third-person view. Though some may find his situation difficult to watch, the strongly life-affirming way he responded to adversity rather than succumb to despair is praiseworthy beyond measure. In French. Subtitles. References to past adultery, partial-male and upper-female nudity, nongraphic sexual encounter, and some crass words and sexual talk. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"DOA: Dead or Alive" (Dimension)
Rated "PG-13"
Mindless but bloodless action movie, based on a video-game series, pitting four bikini-clad young women (Devon Aoki, Jaime Pressly, Holly Valance and Sarah Carter) and others in an "ultimate fighter" tournament where athletes battle not to the death, but to the "knocked-out," while the master of ceremonies (Eric Roberts) has a secret agenda. Hong Kong action-movie director Corey Yuen fills the movie with wire-work stunts in which martial artists take superhuman leaps, and no one really gets hurt except for the bad guy. A few instances of crude language, frequent crass language, a couple instances of mild profanity, brief partial nudity, much skimpy costuming, crude humor, a morning-after bedroom scene and much action violence including explosions. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story (20th Century Fox)
Rated "PG-13"
With a running time just north of 90 minutes, "Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story" is about an hour and a half too long. Full of forced, crass humor, this doggedly dreadful movie tries to capitalize on viewers' childhood memories of gym-class trauma, resulting in an experience about as enjoyable as getting drilled in the kisser with a rubber ball hurled by some snotty seventh-grade sadist. Vince Vaughn stars as Peter LaFleur, a rakish underachiever and proprietor of a fleabag gym called Average Joe's. The rundown joint serves as a watering hole for a motley bunch of social rejects, including a self-styled pirate (Alan Tudyk) and a scrawny nerd (Justin Long) whose most common experience with a gym locker is getting stuffed into one. To make a dumb story short, LaFleur's nonexistent bookkeeping and kindhearted habit of letting his friends slide on paying membership dues leaves him $50,000 in arrears. Licking his faux tan chops at the prospect of bulldozing Average Joe's and turning it into a parking lot is White Goodman (Ben Stiller), LaFleur's cross-street rival, a narcissistic fitness freak and owner of the state-of-the-art Globo Gym where the sales pitch is, "We're better than you and you know it." With their beloved gym facing closure, the scrappy misfits come up with the idea of forming a dodgeball team with their hopes set on winning a high-stakes tournament in Las Vegas with a cash prize of $50,000. Predictably, the lovable losers prevail against all odds and make it to the final round. But in order to go the distance they must face Globo Gym's Purple Cobras -- a team of steroid-enhanced all-stars captained by Goodman -- in a winner-takes-all showdown. Christine Taylor plays Kate Veatch, an attorney sent by the bank to facilitate the foreclosing of Average Joe's, but who winds up being their team's secret weapon. Rip Torn plays the crotchety, wheelchair-bound Patches O'Houlihan, a legendary dodgeball icon who pilots LaFleur's sad-sack squad from geekdom to greatness and helps them connect with their inner champion. O'Houlihan teaches them that the key to success in the sport can be distilled down to the five-point mantra, "Dodge, duck, dip, dive and dodge" -- driving home the importance of each by firing wrenches at them, "If you can dodge a wrench, you can dodge a ball." Moviegoers would be well advised to add "dash" to that list -- as in away from any theater playing this clunker. As directed by Rawson Marshall Thurber, "Dodgeball" follows the well-worn David-vs.-Goliath formula of such comedies as "The Bad News Bears," but its love-yourself-for-who-you-are message is weighed down by the film's preponderance of puerility including jokes about lesbianism, penile pumps, S&M leatherwear and, of course, running sight gags of people getting smashed in the face -- or considerably lower -- with spherical projectiles. A few chuckles are provided by a peppering of campy cameos including David Hasselhoff and William Shatner. As viewers are reminded throughout the film, Average Joe's team motto is "aim low" -- a slogan which could just as easily be applied to the comedic aspirations of this movie. Due to recurring crude and sexual language and humor, an instance of rough language and profanity and same-sex kissing, the USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

"Dolphin Tale" (Warner Bros.)
Rated "PG"
The true story of "Winter," a dolphin that received the first artificial tail, is brought to the screen in a family-friendly film that offers lessons in faith, perseverance, and respect for persons -- and animals -- with disabilities. Eleven-year-old Sawyer (Nathan Gamble) finds Winter washed up on a beach,badly injured from a fishing trap. His new friend is transported to the Clearwater Marine Hospital, run by Dr. Clay Haskett (Harry Connick Jr.) and his father, Reed (a very grizzled Kris Kristofferson), with a little help from Clay's young daughter, Hazel (Cozi Zuehlsdorff). When Winter's tail is amputated, his survival is threatened, until Dr. Cameron McCarthy (Morgan Freeman), a master of prosthetics, decides to take on the challenge. A refreshing diversion for the entire family. The Catholic News Service classification is A-I -- general patronage. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG - parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.

"Dominion: The Prequel to the Exorcist" (Warner Bros.)
Rated "R"
Subdued yet somewhat involved prequel to the 1973 horror classic set in 1949 British East Africa where lapsed priest Father Merrin (Stellan Skarsgard), wrestling with a crisis of faith wrought by wartime memories of Nazi atrocities, rediscovers his belief to help a possessed native boy after an ancient evil is unleashed by the excavation of a Byzantine church. Sparse on horror gimmicks, director Paul Schrader's more cerebral movie is a marked improvement over Renny Harlin's 2004 gorier "alternate" version of the same story, yet, while thoughtfully exploring the nature of evil, faith, doubt, guilt and forgiveness, the ultimately redemptive, if at times dry, film is hampered by laggard pacing, shaky theology and narrative gaps -- not to mention some cheesy computer-generated effects. Some strong violence, including a graphic suicide, and several grisly murders and executions, demonic violence, a disturbing childbirth scene, a bloody medical procedure and a few racial slurs. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

"Domino" (New Line)
Rated "R"
Trashy, repellent action-comedy film inspired by British actor Laurence Harvey's daughter Domino's (Keira Knightley) improbable career as a model turned bounty hunter. She and her team members (Mickey Rourke and Edgar Ramirez) get involved in a double-dealing plot to recover a large amount of cash and catch the culprits, while being filmed by a reality-TV show producer (Christopher Walken). Director Tony Scott's nonstop camera moves, quick cutting and pretentious lighting effects make for a disjointed, confusing, ugly and hardly funny mess, left unredeemed by some fleeting use of religious imagery and a "good deed" ending. Pervasive violence and bloodshed, over-the-top profanity, rough language, some sexuality, partial nudity, suggestive movements and drug use. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive.

"Don't Be Afraid of the Dark" (FilmDistrict)
Rated "R"
This staid and stale remake of the 1973 made-for-TV horror movie indulges in little bloodletting, but offers no genuine chills, at least after the initial appearance of the evil goblins who live in the basement of a spooky old house in Providence, R.I. -- and pursue the young daughter (Bailee Madison) of its new owner (Guy Pearce). Director Troy Nixey attempts an elegant homage but ends up with a fright-free misfire. Intense action scenes with a bit of gore, cohabitation, fleeting profane and crude language. 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.

"Don't Come Knocking" (Sony Classics)
Rated "R"
Unsatisfying story of hard-living actor (Sam Shepard) who, post-meltdown, goes AWOL and abandons his location Western movie set, returns home to his mother (Eva Marie Saint) in Nevada, and learns he has a grown son (Gabriel Mann) by a waitress (Jessica Lange) with whom he was involved years ago, while a private eye (Tim Roth) hired by the film studio attempts to find him. Director Wim Wenders, working again from a Shepard script after their "Paris, Texas" teaming, adds his artful cinematic vision to Shepard's familiar themes of the myth versus reality of the American West, the pitfalls of fame, the human capacity for violence, broken families, loneliness and loss, but there's a stilted quality to the story and the performances never quite ring true. Profanity, rough and crude language, some domestic violence, adult thematic material, brief drug references, a crass gesture, dispersal of cremated remains, brief nudity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

"Don't Move" (Northern Arts)
Rated "NR"
Heavy-breathing potboiler about a doctor (Sergio Castellitto) who's just learned that his daughter's been in a near-fatal motorcycle accident, and reminisces about a time 16 years earlier when his car broke down and he raped the young impoverished woman who let him use her phone (Penelope Cruz in an admirably intense performance), leading to an obsessively passionate and kinky relationship, even after his bourgeois wife (Claudia Gerini), who intuits the adulterous affair, learns she's pregnant. Castellitto directed this alternately sentimental and repellant adaptation of wife Margaret Mazzantini's best seller, though its high-caliber acting and artsy trappings can't erase the considerable sordidness of the plot even with its tacked-on "redemptive" ending, and a soul-searching protagonist who remains self-pityingly unsympathetic. In Italian. Subtitles. Rough and crude language, brutal sexual encounters, abortion, partial nudity, graphic operating room gore, and gratuitous scenes of bodily functions. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive.

"Doogal" (Weinstein)
Rated "G"
Unobjectionable but bland computer animated story of dog and his unlikely friends -- a rabbit, a snail, a cow and a train -- who set out on an adventurous journey to find three diamonds that will release the pooch's best friend from an icy imprisonment and prevent a villainous wizard from freezing the sun. Co-directors Jean Duval, Frank Passingham, and Dave Borthwick's originally British film has been re-voiced with a big-name American cast (including Whoopi Goldberg, Chevy Chase and William H. Macy) -- and there's a commendable message about "friendship being the best weapon," but toddlers -- and even their indulgent parents -- may find this a tired retread of many other superior films. Some mild scenes of peril. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-I -- general patronage.

"Doom" (Universal)
Rated "R"
Unremittingly violent sci-fi action adventure set in the future about a team of Marine commandos (led by Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson) deployed to secure a remote scientific research facility on Mars that is crawling with nasty mutant creatures unwittingly unleashed by the facility's genetic experimentation gone awry. Based on the popular video game of the same name, director Andrzej Bartkowiak's film aspires to the claustrophobic suspense of "Alien," but is little more than stretches of mindless mayhem strung together by an absurd plot, which completely crumbles during the movie's carnage-heavy climax. Excessive bloody violence and gore, including dismemberment and decapitation, pervasive rough and crude language and some profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive.

"Doomsday" (Universal)
Rated "R"
Blood-soaked futuristic adventure tale in which a tough policewoman (Rhona Mitra) is ordered by the British prime minister (Alexander Siddig) and his scheming security chief (David O'Hara) to lead a team of soldiers into pandemic-ravaged Scotland, where they battle a cannibalistic tribal chieftain (Craig Conway) and the ruler of a medieval castle (Malcolm McDowell) to bring back an immune survivor. Writer-director Neil Marshall's thoroughly benighted film wallows in barbarism. Graphic violence, mutilation, torture, cannibalism theme, brief upper female and sustained rear nudity, pervasive swearing, including at least 45 uses of the f-word, four uses of profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"Dot the I" (Summit Entertainment)
Rated "R"
Convoluted, kinky story set in London about a temperamental flamenco dancer (Natalia Verbeke) who, recovering from an abusive relationship, agrees to marry a gentlemanly Brit (James D'Arcy), but at her bachelorette party encounters a video-camera-wielding Brazilian actor (Gael Garcia Bernal in his first English-speaking role), setting the scene for a romantic triangle. Writer-director Matthew Parkhill's story of seamy love is not quite what it seems to be, as there are some neat Hitchcockian twists along the way, but the plot is improbable in the extreme, and the execution -- despite some clever touches -- feels semiamateurish. Much rough and crude language, sexual situations, partial rear nudity, suicide with associated gore, murder without retribution. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

"Doubt" (Miramax)
Rated "PG-13"
Engrossing drama set in 1964 at a Bronx parochial grammar school where the nun (Meryl Streep) who serves as principal suspects a popular priest (Philip Seymour Hoffman) of impropriety with a 12-year-old black student, and together with a young teacher (Amy Adams), sets out to confront him. Writer-director John Patrick Shanley has successfully adapted his Pulitzer Prize-winning stage hit, deftly recreating the Catholic milieu of the era, with outstanding performances, including that of Viola Davis as the distraught mother of the putative victim. Though sexual abuse is part of the story, it is the balance of doubt and certainty in society at large that forms the principal thematic subtext. Discreetly handled sexual abuse theme. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

Downfall" (Newmarket)
Rated "R"
Vividly authentic recreation of the last days of Adolf Hitler (Bruno Ganz) trapped in his Berlin-based underground hideout with other officials of the Third Reich and their families, as the Russian army closes in for certain victory at the end of World War II in 1945, all seen through the eyes of Traudl Junge (Alexandra Maria Lara), his young personal secretary, who stayed with him through his suicide and that of his mistress, Eva Braun (Juliane Kohler), and managed to escape through enemy lines. Oliver Hirshbiegel's German-language film has impeccable production values, superb performances, and generates a good deal of suspense even though the outcome is known. Some crude language, multiple suicides and wartime violence, some with attendant gore, brief but brutal scenes of amputation, partial nudity, a brief sexual situation, heavy smoking and alcohol use. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"Down in the Valley" (THINKFilm)
Rated "R"
Offbeat but quite interesting story of easygoing South Dakota ranch hand (an impressive Edward Norton) who romances the much-younger, rebellious teenage daughter (Evan Rachel Wood) of a San Fernando Valley police officer (David Morse), and befriends her painfully shy younger brother (Rory Culkin), against the father's wishes. Writer-director David Jacobson's initial "young lovers" romance shifts tone dramatically midway with a shocking twist, and becomes a suspenseful drama that pays homage to elements from the classic Westerns of John Ford and Howard Hawks. Considerable profanity, rough language and crude expressions, a couple of shootings, gun use by a minor, intense domestic discord, premarital sex and nongraphic sexual encounters, and drug use. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

"Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears a Who" (20th Century Fox)
Rated "G"
Enchanting animated adaptation of the classic children's book about a warmhearted elephant (voice of Jim Carrey) who discovers that a speck of dust is home to the microscopic town of Who-ville, led by a slightly eccentric mayor (Steve Carell), and who must find the particle a safe resting place despite the opposition of a closed-minded kangaroo (Carol Burnett) and a wicked but dim eagle (Will Arnett). The film, co-directed by Jimmy Hayward and Steve Martino, promotes excellent values and the script, performances and animation all match the high quality of the original source material. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-I -- general patronage. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is G -- general audiences. All ages admitted.

"Drag Me to Hell" (Universal)
Rated "PG-13"
Intentionally over-the-top horror tale in which a Los Angeles loan officer (Alison Lohman) is cursed to death and damnation by a woman (Lorna Raver) on whose home her bank is foreclosing and, with the reluctant support of her skeptical boyfriend (Justin Long), enlists the aid of a fortuneteller (Dileep Rao) in her increasingly frantic efforts to undo the spell. Gross-out sight gags abound in director and co-writer Sam Raimi's canny shockfest, but bloodletting is generally minimal and the occult elements, like the dubious premise that one person can consign another to Hades, need not be taken seriously. Some hand-to-hand violence, a premarital situation, a couple of uses of profanity and of the S-word, and a few crass terms. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Dreamgirls" (Paramount)
Rated "PG-13"
Entertaining screen version of 1981 Broadway hit charting the rise of a Motown-like 1960s girl group (Beyonce Knowles, Anika Noni Rose and Sharon Leal), and the heavyset lead singer (Jennifer Hudson) they push out of the group when she doesn't match their new svelte image, as well as an R&B singer (Eddie Murphy), and the ruthless manager (Jamie Foxx) who guides all their careers. Director Bill Condon has skillfully refashioned the show for the screen turning most of the sung recitatives into spoken dialogue, and there are especially good performances from Murphy and newcomer Hudson. Despite some flagged material, the overarching themes of loyalty, doing the "right thing," dedication to family and friends, and overcoming adversity are key. Romantic complications including adultery, a child born out of wedlock, crude language, some innuendo, mild profanity, drug use and some onstage vulgarity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"Dream House" (Universal)
Rated "PG-13"
Psychological thriller about a couple (Daniel Craig and Rachel Weisz) who ditch the big city for the countryside and the perfect house in which to raise their two small daughters. But they soon discover that five years ago the previous owner gunned down his wife and two daughters in cold blood. As the new occupants investigate what happened, the line between reality and the world of dreams becomes blurred. Though intriguing in some respects, director Jim Sheridan's traditional Gothic horror film features a level of gory mayhem that severely restricts its appropriate audience. Scenes of bloody violence and terror, brief nongraphic marital lovemaking, some profanity. 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.

"Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story" (DreamWorks)
Rated "PG"
Warm and winning family film set in rural Kentucky about a dispirited racehorse trainer (Kurt Russell), his young daughter (Dakota Fanning) and estranged father (Kris Kristofferson), who nurse an injured Seabiscuit-like thoroughbred back to form and in the process mend their own broken relationships. Written and directed by John Gatins, the movie is a handsome and unapologetically sentimental old-fashioned crowd-pleaser, with tender performances by Fanning and Russell and heartfelt themes of family, the healing power of love and the importance of holding on to one's dreams. A few mildly rude expressions and a racetrack accident that may disturb sensitive young children. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-I -- general patronage.

"Dream House" (Universal)
Rated "PG-13"
Psychological thriller about a couple (Daniel Craig and Rachel Weisz) who ditch the big city for the countryside and the perfect house in which to raise their two small daughters. But they soon discover that five years ago the previous owner gunned down his wife and two daughters in cold blood. As the new occupants investigate what happened, the line between reality and the world of dreams becomes blurred. Though intriguing in some respects, director Jim Sheridan's traditional Gothic horror film features a level of gory mayhem that severely restricts its appropriate audience. Scenes of bloody violence and terror, brief nongraphic marital lovemaking, some profanity. 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.

"Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears a Who" (20th Century Fox)
Rated "G"
Enchanting animated adaptation of the classic children's book about a warmhearted elephant (voice of Jim Carrey) who discovers that a speck of dust is home to the microscopic town of Who-ville, led by a slightly eccentric mayor (Steve Carell), and who must find the particle a safe resting place despite the opposition of a closed-minded kangaroo (Carol Burnett) and a wicked but dim eagle (Will Arnett). The film, co-directed by Jimmy Hayward and Steve Martino, promotes excellent values and the script, performances and animation all match the high quality of the original source material. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-I -- general patronage. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is G -- general audiences. All ages admitted.

"Drillbit Taylor" (Paramount)
Rated "PG-13"
Droll portrait of the unlikely friendship between a homeless veteran (Owen Wilson) and the three high school misfits (Nate Hartley, Troy Gentile and David Dorfman) who hire him as a bodyguard to protect them from a malevolent bully (Alex Frost) and his thuggish sidekick (Josh Peck). Director Steven Brill's film, produced by the prolific Judd Apatow, emphasizes its titular character's evolution from con man to caring mentor, and his young clients' search for courage and solidarity, but dialogue rife with vulgar terms and a problematic central love story make it appropriate fare only for the mature. Brief rear nudity, implied premarital sex, frequent crude and pervasive crass language, six uses of profanity, and drug and pornography references. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Drive" (FilmDistrict)
Rated "R"
A dark and introspective drama about Driver (Ryan Gosling), a self-absorbed loner who lives for the open road but unexpectedly finds his conscience along the way. By day, Driver is a stunt car driver for action movies, and fixes cars at the auto body shop run by Shannon (Bryan Cranston). By night, Driver and Shannon run heists around Los Angeles. Not content with petty crime, Shannon buys a race car for Driver, and seeks the backing of two mob bosses (Albert Brooks and Ron Perlman), who have more than NASCAR in mind. So does Driver, who embarks on a romance with hismarried neighbor, Irene (Carey Mulligan). When her husband (Oscar Isaac) is released from prison, Driver decides to help him with one final heist that goes terribly wrong. Brutal bloody violence and gore, upper female nudity, and frequent rough language. The Catholic News Service classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R - restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"Drive Angry" (Summit)
Rated "R"
Over-the-top, hyper-violent 3-D action flick weaving a vendetta theme into a demonic road trip narrative. In director and co-writer Patrick Lussier's noisy story -- which manages to affront audiences on every level -- doomed soul Nicolas Cage escapes from hell and travels through the desolate American West on a mission to rescue his infant granddaughter from being sacrificed by a Satanic cult. He's accompanied by a potty-mouthed waitress (Amber Heard), and trailed by an ever-so-polite fallen angel (William Fichtner). Frivolous treatment of the supernatural, intense, sometimes grotesque gun, knife and sexual violence, graphic sexual encounters, full-frontal female nudity, pervasive rough, crude and crass language. The Catholic News Service classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"The Duchess" (Paramount Vantage)
Rated "PG-13"
Lavishly mounted, compellingly acted but somewhat morally lax costume drama, based on real events, recounting the tangled lives of the late-18th-century Duchess of Devonshire (Keira Knightley), her coldly indifferent husband (Ralph Fiennes), her best friend (Hayley Atwell), who becomes his live-in lover and the statesman (Dominic Cooper) for whom she falls. Director and co-writer Saul Dibb's adaptation of Amanda Foreman's biography, "Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire," delineates the plight of aristocratic yet powerless women, but also tends to legitimize its subject's adultery. Strong sexual content, including a nongraphic but intense rape scene and adulterous sexual activity, brief rear nudity, domestic abuse theme and sexual references. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Due Date" (Warner Bros.)
Rated "R"
Sour road comedy pairing a disaster-prone aspiring actor (Zach Galifianakis) on his way to Hollywood and an uptight architect (Robert Downey Jr.) rushing home to Los Angeles for the birth of his first child. A misunderstanding sees them both kicked off their flight from Atlanta, placed on the no-fly list and forced to drive to the West Coast together. Among the eccentricities attributed to Galifianakis' somewhat effeminate man-boy, in director and co-writer Todd Phillips' frequently unpleasant odd-couple odyssey, are a taste for marijuana and a habit of lulling himself to sleep via self-gratification, a daily indulgence that the close proximity of his new companion does nothing to curb. Drug trafficking and use, masturbation, about a half-dozen uses of profanity, pervasive rough and much crude language, some sexual jokes and references. The Catholic News Service classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"Deus Ex: Human Revolution" (Square Enix)
Rated "NR"
Complex, violent action/role-playing game exploring a future where humans may augment their bodies at will, and the way these changes affect individuals and society. With its combination of adult themes and choice-based gameplay, the plot can develop along moral, immoral, or morally ambiguous lines. Even if the game is played largely with nonlethal violence, though, the content remains graphic and disturbing. Intense violence with gore, sexual themes, mature subject matter, alcohol use, drug references, strong language, implied prostitution. The Catholic News Service classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. The Entertainment Software Ratings Board rating is M -- Mature.

"The Dukes" (CAVU)
Rated "PG-13"
Two cash-strapped cousins (Robert Davi and Chazz Palminteri) who once enjoyed fame as part of the titular doo-wop singing group join their two best friends -- a former stand-up comic (Frank D'Amico) and an out-of-work airline mechanic (Elya Baskin) -- in a bungling burglary scheme. Davi, who also directed and co-wrote, creates a low-key working-class drama far more concerned with friendship and perseverance than crime, though the comic treatment of one character's sexual exploits is unwelcome. Brief nongraphic, nonmarital sexual activity, drug use, some sexual humor, one use of the S-word, occasional crass language, and a couple of uses of profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"The Dukes of Hazzard" (Warner Bros.)
Rated "PG-13"
Sleazed-up film version of the popular television series about redneck rascals Luke and Bo Duke (Johnny Knoxville and Seann William Scott), who with the help of curvaceous cousin Daisy (Jessica Simpson) and moonshine-running Uncle Jesse (Willie Nelson) foil the shady land dealings of crooked local politician "Boss" Hogg (Burt Reynolds). Directed by Jay Chandrasekhar, the movie plays like an episode of the original TV show, capturing its rip-roaring spirit, but also introducing a raunchier brand of humor that pushes the envelope of its PG-13 rating. Recurring action violence, sexual situations and humor, drug references, Southern stereotypes, reckless behavior, flagrant if comical disregard for authority, as well as some crude language and gestures and profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

Duma (Warner Bros.)
Rated "PG"
First-rate coming-of-age adventure set in Africa about a headstrong young boy (Alexander Michaletos) who embarks on a journey of self-discovery when he resolves to trek across hundreds of miles of treacherous terrain in order return his pet cheetah -- which he raised since it was an orphaned cub -- to its rightful home in the wild. Beautifully crafted by director Carroll Ballard, the boy-and-his-cheetah buddy movie combines exceptional nature photography -- including some amazing shots of African wildlife -- with a warm and winning story about the bonds of family and friendship, resulting in a film that is sweetly charming without being overly sentimental. Some scenes of peril, and brief wildlife violence which may be frightening to some young children. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents.

"Duplicity" (Universal/Relativity)
Ratedf "PG-13"
Sophisticated romantic caper about two intelligence officers (Julia Roberts and Clive Owen) who turn to industrial espionage hoping to exploit the no-holds-barred feud between the CEOs (Tom Wilkinson and Paul Giamatti) of rival pharmaceutical companies. Writer-director Tony Gilroy's tartly clever globe-trotting thriller, which boasts all the complexity of a master chess match, explores the paranoia produced by corporate greed and the redeeming potential of the love between its cynically untrusting lead characters, though their affection is expressed in an intense unwedded affair. Brief, nongraphic, premarital sexual activity; some sexual humor and references; occasional crude and crass language; and at least a dozen profanities. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"The Dust Factory" (MGM)
Rated "PG"
Life-affirming family fantasy about a young boy (Ryan Kelley) -- mute since witnessing his father's tragic death -- who falls from a bridge into the titular dream realm somewhere between this world and the next, where he must confront his fears of mortality, guided by his grandfather (Armin Mueller-Stahl) and the friendship of a mercurial girl (Hayden Panettiere). Written and directed by Eric Small, the intriguing film wrestles with heavy issues -- death, loss and grief -- in an imaginative way, but its opaque narrative, freighted with surreal imagery, fogs the movie's underlying message: that despite its transience and unavoidable pain, life is ultimately worth embracing. Mature themes and some frightening images. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents.

"D-War: Dragon Wars" (Freestyle)
Rated "PG-13"
Hilariously silly but never dull throwback to the old Godzilla movies, with a Los Angeles reporter (Jason Behr) protecting a young woman (Amanda Brooks) whose life-force is sought by a good giant serpent and a bad giant serpent. Writer-director Hyung-rae Shim gives undiscriminating young teens and tongue-in-cheek genre fans some terrifically choreographed battle scenes between the U.S. military and dinosaur-sized armadillo-thingies, raptors with wings, and a mystical mean guy in a black-leather trench coat and short white hair who occasionally morphs into what looks like a medieval Darth Vader. A couple of instances of crude language and some crass language, one background-dialog instance of mild sexual innuendo, much bloodless medieval and modern-day warfare, numerous explosions, crashed and crushed vehicles with unseen occupants, a leap from a cliff into the sea, and a woman who is chomped by a giant serpent and tossed away. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

"Dylan Dog: Dead of Night" (Freestyle)
Rated "PG-13"
Maladroit, low-budget adaptation of the Dylan Dog comic books has the titular private eye (Brandon Routh) prowling through New Orleans to find out why the Crescent City's normally peaceful zombies, vampires and werewolves have started killing humans again. Director Kevin Munroe takes the potentially diverting premise that the undead coexist peacefully with the living until something goes wrong that plunges them into murderous behavior, and drives it into the ground. Considerable action violence, a few drug references and fleeting crude and crass language. 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.

E
"88 Minutes" (TriStar)
Rated "R"
Shoddy, B-level thriller about a forensic psychiatrist (Al Pacino) whose testimony leads to a serial killer's death sentence, but on the eve of the execution, copycat murders raise doubts, and the professional profiler gets a mysterious call informing him he will die in 88 minutes. Pacino does his best with the obvious and laughable script, with more red herrings than in a Scandinavian deli, but the result -- frenetically but dully directed by Jon Avnet -- is inferior to even run-of-the-mill television police procedurals. Torture and murder with blood, profanity, crude language, briefly glimpsed lesbian seduction, implied nonmarital encounter, some sexual talk and partial nudity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"The Eagle" (Focus)
Rated "PG-13"
Vigorous screen version of Rosemary Sutcliff's popular 1954 novel "The Eagle of the Ninth" in which a young Roman soldier (Channing Tatum) in second-century Britain goes in quest of the titular military symbol lost 20 years earlier when the legion his father commanded disappeared, under unexplained circumstances, in the wilds of Scotland. Though discouraged from venturing beyond Hadrian's Wall -- the northern limit of the Empire -- by his cautious uncle (Donald Sutherland), the youth is guided on his daring foray by a native slave (Jamie Bell) whose mix of resentment toward Rome and personal loyalty toward his master makes for a fraught friendship. Director Kevin Macdonald keeps the pace lively and the battles mostly gore-free while themes of intercultural respect and conflict-transcending human solidarity help leaven the macho atmosphere. Probably acceptable for older adolescents. Considerable but largely bloodless combat violence, brief distant images of unclothed corpses, a single use of the S-word, a couple of crass terms. 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.

"Eagle Eye" (DreamWorks)
Rated "PG-13"
Well-executed action yarn about two strangers, a gifted underachiever (Shia LaBeouf) and a divorced mother (Michelle Monaghan), who are thrown together when they become the unwilling agents of an anonymous, seemingly all-powerful entity that uses technology and personal information to blackmail them into obedience, while an FBI agent (Billy Bob Thornton) and an Air Force investigator (Rosario Dawson) try to track them down. Though its solution is hardly original, director D.J. Caruso's sleek puzzler provides sufficient diversion along the way. Moderate action violence, brief sexual humor, one use of the F-word, much crude language and some uses of profanity; possibly acceptable for older teens. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Earth" (Disneynature)
Rated "G"
Majestic and moving nature documentary chronicling a year in the lives of a variety of wild animals in different habitats, most prominently a polar bear, an elephant and a humpbacked whale. In this big-screen adaptation of their television series, "Planet Earth," co-directors Alastair Fothergill and Mark Linfield make the most of high definition technology to present a stunning portrait of creation and a subtle plea for environmental responsibility. A couple of bleeped exclamations. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-I -- general patronage. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is G -- general audiences. All ages admitted.

"Eastern Promises" (Focus)
Rated "R"
Taut, grippingly powerful story of the Russian underworld as a midwife in a London hospital (Naomi Watts) tries to locate the family of Russian girl who died giving birth; when she reveals she has the dead girl's incriminating diary, she becomes the target of a restaurateur-mobster (Armin Mueller-Stahl), his alcoholic bully of a son (Vincent Cassel) and their taciturn chauffeur (Viggo Mortensen). Director David Cronenberg's somber thriller is crafted with impressive artistry, and performances -- including those of Sinead Cusack and Jerzy Skolimowski -- are excellent, but though the violence is artistically valid extreme caution is advised as there are some graphic images and one intense sexual encounter. Brutal violence with bloodshed, the mutilation of a corpse, a graphic sexual act, rear and fleeting full-frontal-male and upper-female nudity, blood hemorrhaging, an extended tattooing sequence, rough language and profanity, and drug and rape references. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Easy A" (Screen Gems)
Rated "PG-13"
A clean cut but lost-in-the-crowd teen (Emma Stone) becomes notorious among her peers when a self-righteous fellow high school student (Amanda Bynes) overhears her lying to her best friend (Aly Michalka) about losing her virginity. The gossip about her sexual exploits rapidly snowballs out of control. Though director Will Gluck's satire conveys some worthwhile messages about the dangers of judging from appearances and the temptation to pigeonhole or belittle others, the script presents all Christians as hypocrites and implies that any consensual form of bedroom behavior is acceptable. Negative portrayal of Christianity, including Catholicism, benign view of premarital sex and homosexuality, implied drug use, brief partial nudity, venereal disease theme, some sexual humor, at least 10 uses of profanity, much crude and crass language. The Catholic News Service 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.

"Easy Virtue" (Sony Classics)
Rated "PG-13"
Glossy but ho-hum retread of an early Noel Coward play (1924), adapted by director and co-writer Stephen Elliott, wherein a landed young Englishman (Ben Barnes) brings home his vivacious new bride, a glamorous American widow (likable Jessica Biel) with a "past," who clashes with her husband's stodgy mother (Kristin Scott Thomas) and sisters, though winning the admiration of his more bohemian father (Colin Firth). The colorful period and background tunes are enjoyable, but performances are generally flat and the dated and unconvincing story is further sabotaged by a couple of morally problematic plot additions. Unconventional view of marriage, divorce, assisted suicide, nongraphic sexual marital encounters, brief rear and partial nudity, some crass language and heavy smoking. 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.

"Eat Pray Love" (Columbia)
Rated "PG-13"
Off-kilter values underlie this fact-based narrative of a travel writer's (Julia Roberts) self-initiated divorce (from Billy Crudup), brief affair with a much younger actor (James Franco) and yearlong quest for enlightenment and self-understanding via Italian cuisine, Hindu spirituality (under the guidance of Richard Jenkins) and romance with a Brazilian expatriate (Javier Bardem) living in Bali. Director and co-writer Ryan Murphy's overlong, ultimately exhausting screen version of Elizabeth Gilbert's best-selling 2006 memoir displays an ambivalent attitude toward marriage, ignores Christianity as a source of insight and revolves around an interminably navel-gazing central figure. That figure, along the path of her pampered pilgrimage, confuses psychobabble for wisdom. Complex religious themes, acceptability of divorce, nonmarital and premarital situations, rear nudity, some sexual humor, an obscene gesture, a few uses of profanity, at least one rough and a half-dozen crude terms. 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.

"Echoes of Innocence" (New World)
Rated "PG-13"
Well-intentioned, Christian-flavored teen "romantic thriller" about a high school senior (Sara Simmonds) who is obsessed with St. Joan of Arc and whose childhood vow to remain a virgin until she can marry her long-disappeared first love attracts the curiosity -- and eventually, affections -- of a reporter from the school paper (Jake McDorman), as well as the predatory interest of a menacingly mysterious student (Matt Vodvarka). Earnestly directed by Nathan Todd Sims, the film's positive portrayal of religious belief and admirable pro-chastity message is greatly handicapped by the uneven performances and clumsy story line, little of which makes sense. An implied teen sexual encounter and sexual thematic elements, minimal violence, scattered crude expressions, and a questionable -- but reverent -- treatment of the sacraments of penance and marriage, making it suitable for older adolescents and up. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"Edge of Darkness" (Warner Bros.)
Rated "R"
After his adult daughter (Bojana Novakovic) is brutally murdered, a Boston police detective (Mel Gibson) investigates her secretive work for a nuclear research firm (led by Danny Huston), aided by her fearful boyfriend and co-worker (Shawn Roberts) and by a shadowy fixer (Ray Winstone) whose loyalties are ambiguous. In a reasonably absorbing but gritty adaptation of the acclaimed 1985 BBC miniseries of the same title, director Martin Campbell mixes sometimes shocking violence into a stark tale of loss and corruption, and skirts the dark edges of vigilantism. Complex moral issues, considerable and sometimes bloody violence, an implied premarital relationship, a few uses of profanity, much rough and some crude language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Eight Below" (Disney)
Rated "PG"
Winning family-friendly adventure inspired by real events about a team of sled dogs left behind during a forced evacuation of a remote Antarctic research station who struggle against the odds to survive in the inhospitable environment while their devoted handler (Paul Walker) races against time and indifference to mount a rescue mission. Set against spectacular South Pole vistas, director Frank Marshall's film balances action and heart-tugging emotion in telling its captivating tale of friendship and canine courage. Some human and animal peril, predatory violence, and a few sad scenes that may upset the youngest children. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents.

"El Cantante" (Picturehouse)
Rated "R"
Lively but sordid life of Puerto Rican salsa star Hector Lavoe (Marc Anthony), who died at 46 of drug-related AIDS in 1993, and his tumultuous relationship with wife Puchi (Jennifer Lopez, exhibiting unaccustomed range), who relates their story in flashback. The stars are good, and co-writer and director Leon Ichaso re-creates the era convincingly in this over-the-decades saga (starting in the 1960s), with a fine musical earful throughout, but the couple's endless fights and the nonstop barrage of expletives are repetitious and ultimately wearying. Pervasive rough language, drug and alcohol abuse, attempted suicide, premarital situations, some nongraphic sexual encounters, innuendo, implied adultery and a brief suggestion of sexual kinkiness, and some skimpy costuming. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Elegy" (Goldwyn)
Rated "R"
Somber but absorbing and impressively acted adaptation of a Philip Roth novel about a womanizing professor (Ben Kingsley), the graduate student with whom he falls in love (Penelope Cruz), his poet friend (Dennis Hopper), longtime mistress (Patricia Clarkson) and estranged son (Peter Sarsgaard). Director Isabel Coixet sensitively captures the story's themes of love, aging and death, with Cruz and Kingsley in top form, and though characterized by the somewhat artificial air of many literary adaptations, the emotions are achingly authentic. Nonmarital situations and nongraphic sexual encounters, upper-female nudity, frank sexual talk, adultery, abortion reference, some rough language and brief profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Elektra" (20th Century Fox)
Rated "PG-13"
Low-wattage action movie based on the titular Marvel Comics character (played by a buff Jennifer Garner in hellcat mode), a blade-wielding femme fatale who runs afoul of a super-powered crime syndicate when she decides to turn from her assassin ways and protect the two targets -- a young girl (newcomer Kirsten Prout) and her father (Goran Visnjic) -- whom she has been contracted to kill. Directed by Rob Bowman, this slick but stale "Daredevil" spinoff is little more than a series of frenetic death duels sloppily strung together in a hackneyed attempt to distract viewers from the lame dialogue and muddled plot, resulting in a viewing experience which is anything but "Elektra-fying." Recurring strong stylized violence, including several impalings and an implied decapitation, thematic moral ambiguities, a gratuitously erotic same-sex kiss, sporadic crude language and an instance of profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

"Elizabeth: The Golden Age" (Universal)
Rated "PG-13"
Sweeping, but historically slipshod biography in which England's "Virgin Queen" (Cate Blanchett), with the help of a wise counselor (Geoffrey Rush), prepares to fend off the Armada, sent against her by King Philip of Spain (Jordi Molla), and defeat the intrigues of the captive Mary, Queen of Scots (Samantha Morton), while also contending with one of her ladies-in-waiting (Abbie Cornish) for the affections of Sir Walter Raleigh (Clive Owen). The film, as directed by Shekhar Kapur, is rich in spectacle, yet it whitewashes its subject, even as it darkly caricatures the cause of Spain and of Catholicism. Rear and partial upper female nudity, scenes of torture, blood with gore and occasional crass language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Elizabethtown" (Paramount)
Rated "PG-13" Parents are strongly cautioned
Sentimental, if not completely satisfying, romantic comedy drama about a disgraced sneaker designer (Orlando Bloom) who, after nearly sinking his employer's footwear empire and contemplating suicide, is dispatched by his mom (Susan Sarandon) to retrieve the remains of his father -- who died unexpectedly -- in rural Kentucky. There he reconnects with his roots and, while en route, encounters a sunny, free-spirited flight attendant (Kirsten Dunst) who brightens his view and appreciation of the world. Despite a miscast Bloom and a baggy script, director Cameron Crowe's film celebrates family and love, imparting a warm and welcome message that, though full of risk, life is ultimately worth living. An implied sexual encounter, an attempted suicide, a questionable (for Catholics) dispersal of ashes, and some rough and crude language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"Elsa & Fred" ("Elsa y Fred") (Distrimax/Mitropoulos)
Rated "PG"
Gentle, restrained song-at-twilight love story in which a buttoned-up Madrid widower (Manuel Alexandre) finds his horizons widened when he falls for his elegant but unconventional new neighbor (China Zorrilla). Though its central dynamic of attracted opposites is familiar, director and co-writer Marcos Carnevale's "carpe diem" comedy, which also features Blanca Portillo as the reticent Romeo's controlling daughter, is kept rolling by the verve of its veteran leads. In Spanish. Subtitles. A morally ambiguous relationship. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.

"Employee of the Month" (Lionsgate)
Rated "PG-13"
Lightweight comedy about a slacker stock clerk (Dane Cook) at a Costco-style superstore where he tries to dethrone a cocky rival co-worker (Dax Shepard) -- who's nabbed "employee of the month" honors for 17 months straight -- in order to win the affections of a pretty new cashier (Jessica Simpson), sparking a madcap competition. Director Greg Coolidge blends slapstick, broad comedy and satire to uneven effect, and while the gamesmanship is intermittently amusing, the general vulgarity undermines the story's sweet center. Much crude and sexual humor, gay innuendo, a racial joke, a use of the f-word, as well as recurring crude language and profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

"Enchanted" (Disney)
Rated "PG"
Delightful musical romance follows a maiden (the sparkling Amy Adams) from the world of animated fairy tales into contemporary, live-action Manhattan where she falls in love with a lawyer (Patrick Dempsey), despite the entreaties of her princely suitor (James Marsden) and the meddling of an evil queen (Susan Sarandon). With affection and wit, director Kevin Lima and his team gently spoof the cartoon fairy-tale genre on which Disney built its reputation, never losing sight of its traditional values and perennial charms. A few scary images, some sexual innuendo and a brief instance of scatological humor. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-I -- general patronage. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.

"Enduring Love" (Paramount Classics)
Rated "R"
Superbly acted and crafted but ultimately disappointing story about a university professor increasingly racked by guilt that he might have saved a man involved in a freak accident, while another participant in the failed rescue attempt stalks him and seems to offer to provide the key to what really happened. Roger Michell directed this adaptation of Ian McEwan's acclaimed 1998 novel, which keeps you absorbed with its tense moral ambiguity even as it turns into a more prosaic tale of a stalker. Adult themes, some implied sexuality, some rough language and violence with associated blood. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

"Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room" (Magnolia)
Rated "NR"
Absorbing documentary chronicling the rise and fall of the now-infamous energy giant, Enron, analyzing the Darwinian mind-set that dominated its upper echelons and created a moral vacuum which precipitated one of the greatest corporate corruption scandals in U.S. history. Directed by Alex Gibney and based on the best-selling expose of the same name, the film combines standard interviews with journalists, former employees and Wall Street insiders, archival news footage and re-enactments to craft a sobering portrait of hubris and blind greed. Strip-club images involving nudity, a dramatized suicide and sporadic rough and crude language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"Epic Movie" (Fox)
Rated "PG-13"
Tired spinoff of the "Scary Movie" franchise which here spoofs blockbusters such as "The Chronicles of Narnia," "X-Men," "The Da Vinci Code" and "Pirates of the Caribbean," while it follows four orphans (Kal Penn, Adam Campbell, Jayma Mays and Faune A. Chambers) battling to free a Narnia-like realm from an evil witch (Jennifer Coolidge). Directors Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer elicit few chuckles amid a mostly witless slog of sophomoric slapstick and lowbrow humor, amounting to an epic waste of time. Pervasive crass and sexual humor, lewd and irreverent sight gags, innuendo, comic violence, an instance of rough language and recurring crude language, as well as some profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive.

"Eragon" (Fox 2000)
Rated "PG"
Reasonably diverting, if predictable, fantasy adventure for youngsters about a farm boy (Ed Speleers) who, after the death of his uncle, learns it's his destiny to become a dragon rider battling an evil king (John Malkovich) and his henchman (Robert Carlyle) in a mythical kingdom, all the while assisted by a retired dragon rider (Jeremy Irons). The script, based on a novel by Christopher Paolini, trots out every cliche known to this genre, but the special effects, especially involving the hero's majestic dragon (voice of Rachel Weisz) are well done. Director Stefan Fangmeier's film is well paced, and the violence, though noisy and chaotic, avoids overt gore, while there are no sex or language concerns. Action violence, magical hocus pocus. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents.

"Eternal" (Regent Releasing/Here! Films)
Rated "NR"
Stylish but salacious thriller about a Montreal vice detective (Conrad Pla) whose investigation into the disappearance of his wife leads him to an alluring mystery woman (Caroline Neron) who may be Erszebet Bathory, a real-life 16th-century Hungarian countess responsible for slaughtering hundreds of virgins and bathing in their blood to quench her vampiric thirst for immortality. Directed by Wilhelm Liebenberg and Federico Sanchez, the racy film has some slick atmospherics, but the filmmakers seem more concerned with titillation than competently telling a story. Recurring lesbian erotica; several kinky sex scenes, one with partial nudity; some gory violence; and much rough language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive.

"Eulogy" (Lions Gate)
Rated "R"
Uneven comedy about feuding family members (including Ray Romano, Debra Winger, Hank Azaria and Kelly Preston) brought together to mourn the death of their patriarch (Rip Torn), who must survive the days leading up to the funeral without killing each other. First-time director Michael Clancy has assembled a solid cast and displays some sharp wit but the mean-spirited tone of the humor and overall cynical view of family life are more than a bit off-putting. Gay and straight sexual encounters, drug content, two attempted suicides, as well as recurring rough and crude language and humor. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

"Evan Almighty" (Universal/Spyglass)
Rated "PG"
Delightful contemporary spin on the Noah story, as a TV anchorman turned congressman (Steve Carell) is instructed by God (Morgan Freeman) to build an ark in light of an impending flood, much to the skeptical consternation of his colleagues on Capitol Hill (John Michael Higgins, Wanda Sykes and John Goodman), his wife (Lauren Graham) and three young sons. Imparting an overall message about how one act of random kindness can change the world, director Tom Shadyac and screenwriter Steve Oedekerk skillfully combine slapstick, sentiment and surprising reverence -- these elements beautifully embodied in Carell's seriocomic central performance -- while the paired animals and the flood effects are wonderfully done. A smattering of mildly crass language, humor, irreverence and innuendo. 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.

"Evening" (Focus)
Rated "PG-13"
Artful but studied story of a dying woman (Vanessa Redgrave) recalling the Newport wedding of her best friend (Mamie Gummer) years before, where, as a maid of honor (now played by Claire Danes) she had a romance with a young doctor (Patrick Wilson), an encounter with unexpectedly tragic consequences. Director Lajos Koltai's rendering of Susan Minot's novel is handsomely filmed, with predictably fine performances by an incredible cast that also includes Meryl Streep, Glenn Close, Natasha Richardson, Toni Collette, Hugh Dancy and Eileen Atkins, but the narrative often feels contrived, despite some keen observations on mortality, mother-daughter dynamics, and how the actions of one generation can affect the next. An out-of-wedlock encounter, post-coital tableau, premarital pregnancy, innuendo, brief abortion discussion, alcohol abuse, some profanity and rough language, divorce, subliminal same-sex attraction and a car accident. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Even Money" (Yari)
Rated "R"
The smart money will steer clear of this trite ensemble drama about various troubled and indebted souls -- including characters played by Kim Basinger, Forest Whitaker and Danny DeVito -- seeking redemption from the sins of gambling. Armed with mushy dialogue masquerading as hard-boiled jargon, veteran director Mark Rydell establishes an implausibly gritty atmosphere and allows proven actors to do subpar work. Pervasive rough and crude language, some graphic violence and gunplay, a sex act between a married couple and sexual banter. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

"Everything Is Illuminated" (Warner Independent)
Rated "Pg-13"
Reflective road movie about a young Jewish-American (Elijah Wood) who travels to Ukraine where -- guided by a colorful local (Eugene Hutz) and his crusty grandpa (Boris Leskin) -- he searches for the woman who saved his own grandfather from the Nazis. Lyrically directed by Liev Schreiber, the intimately scaled adaptation of Jonathan Safran Foer's complex novel is by turns poignant and mutedly funny, resulting in a moving meditation on family, identity, memory, guilt, anti-Semitism and the human need for connectedness. Suggested wartime violence, including discreet death images, a suicide, a brief scene of a boy looking at a pornographic magazine, an instance of rough language, as well as some crude expressions and profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"Everyone's Hero" (20th Century Fox)
Rated "G"
Charming Depression-era animated tale about a young boy (voiced by Jake T. Austin) who sets out -- with the help of a magical talking baseball (Rob Reiner) -- to recover the stolen lucky bat (Whoopi Goldberg) of his idol Babe Ruth (Brian Dennehy) during the 1932 World Series. Directors Daniel St. Pierre and Colin Brady -- building on work started by Christopher Reeve before his 2004 death -- hit a home run with this visually delightful fable that has heart and a simple but winning message about familial love and perseverance. A mildly gross sight gag. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-I -- general patronage. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is G -- general audiences. All ages admitted.

"The Ex" (MGM/Weinstein)
Rated "PG-13"
Sour and simple-minded comedy about a husband (Zach Braff) who feels his manliness threatened by one of his wife's (Amanda Peet) old lovers (Jason Bateman), a paraplegic known for his sexual prowess. Director Jesse Peretz and two first-time screenwriters are neither clever nor satiric enough to transcend formula, and their film is gratuitously vulgar. Some crude and crass language, one instance each of the f-word and of mild profanity, some sexual banter and innuendo, condom use, a mild scene of clothed marital groping, some slapstick violence and several inadvisable scenes of a child trying to swallow a hamburger whole. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"The Exorcism of Emily Rose" (Screen Gems)
Rated "PG-13"
Sober, theologically oriented thriller based, in part, on true events surrounding a Catholic priest (Tom Wilkinson) on trial for negligent homicide in connection with an exorcism he performed on a young woman (Jennifer Carpenter) believed to be possessed that resulted in her death. Thoughtfully directed by Scott Derrickson and with a solid performance by Laura Linney as the priest's skeptical attorney, the film eschews horror-movie cliches (though not entirely) in favor of serious reflection on faith and the mystery of evil. Disturbing scenes of demonic possession, a brief but violent vehicular homicide, a grisly death image, as well as minimal crude language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

Exorcist: The Beginning (Warner Bros.)
Rated “R”
Saints and sages concur that nothing irks the devil's pride more than being mocked. That being true, Lucifer should consider investing in a pair of earplugs before seeing the laughably bad "Exorcist: The Beginning.” Director Renny Harlin must have been possessed if he actually thought audiences would take seriously this poorly crafted prequel to William Friedkin's 1973 horror classic based on the William Peter Blatty novel. Playing a considerably younger version of the role originated by Max von Sydow, fellow Swede Stellan Skarsgard stars as the reluctant exorcist Father Lankester Merrin. Set in 1949, the film attempts to fill in the biographical blanks about the enigmatic priest's early life. Apparently, 24 years before finding his way to the infamous upper room in Georgetown, Father Merrin, haunted by memories of Nazi atrocities witnessed as a parish priest in his native Holland, had abandoned both his ministry and his faith. Boozing his way through Cairo, the priest is approached by a rare antiquities dealer (Ben Cross) who, aware of his archeological expertise, hires him to retrieve an ancient religious artifact in a Byzantine Christian church, recently unearthed -- in pristine condition -- in a remote region of Kenya by British troops. What makes the find so astonishing is that the anachronistic structure dates back to the fifth century, long before Christianity had spread to sub-Saharan Africa. Once Father Merrin arrives at the dig site, the movie shifts into a more conventional fright mode. Strange but predictable occurrences begin to unfold: beds shake, crucifixes are desecrated, a pack of hyenas savage a young boy, and a baby is born covered with maggots -- just the sort of things to shake Father Merrin out of his dark night of the soul. And though he first looks for rational explanations, Father Merrin slowly begins to suspect what the local Turkana tribesmen -- and the audience -- have known all along: Some things are best left buried, especially if it happens to be a church adorned with satanic mosaics. Izabella Scorupco plays Dr. Sarah Novack, a Holocaust survivor working among the villagers, who dabbles in the occult and is attracted to Father Merrin. James D'Arcy plays Father Francis, an idealistic young missionary rerouted to Kenya by the Vatican to help with the investigation. Alan Ford plays the racist foreman of the excavation who suffers from an increasingly severe case of demonic dermatitis. The film opens with a puzzling prologue on an ancient corpse-strewn battlefield, which should have served as an omen for the muddled narrative to come. The dialogue is at times hellishly hackneyed. The script's explanation as to why the church is a satanic ground zero of sorts is staggeringly ridiculous. Forget an exorcist; some one should have summoned a better screenwriter. While not without some cheap chills, Harlin has exorcised any real eeriness out the film, substituting more-silly-than-scary supernatural special effects for genuine suspense. Maybe the devil made him do it? Father Merrin does perform an exorcism but it comes very late in the game, and, unlike the creepy battle of wills in the original, plays out here like a diabolic WWF Smackdown. The cinematography, from legendary light master Vittorio Storaro, is underwhelming, as is the derivative "possession" make-up. Apparently one side effect of being infested by evil is that you end up looking surprisingly like Linda Blair. And, as with Blair, the demoniac in this film displays a similar proclivity for derisive foul-mouthed rants, as well as a total disregard for vertebrae. To be fair, "Exorcist: The Beginning" is a few infernal levels above any of the original's subsequent sequels, with the lowest ring reserved for "Exorcist II: The Heretic" (1977). However, while on shaky ground theologically, the film maintains a respectful tone toward Catholicism. Father Merrin's spiritual struggles are not aimed at denigrating his priesthood, but are part of his character's emotional arc, a trajectory that ultimately leads him back to re-embrace his lost faith. Underneath its spooky atmospherics, the film grapples with deeper questions concerning belief and doubt, good and evil. Its heavy-handed denouement also points to man's inhumanity as the surest proof of the demonic in the world, reminding us that if we want to see the devil we do not need to look any farther than the evening news.
Due to grisly scenes of demonic possession, two graphic suicides, some battlefield violence and associated gore, strong sexual references and rough language, and some instances of defiled religious symbols, the USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

"The Expendables" (Lionsgate/Millennium)
Rated "R"
Brutally violent action vehicle, directed and co-written by Sylvester Stallone, in which a veritable Who's Who of Hollywood tough guys and professional sports stars form a ragtag brotherhood of mercenaries who travel the world freeing hostages and toppling dictators. On the advice of the group's soulful guru (Mickey Rourke), its leader (Stallone) and the gang's knife specialist (Jason Statham) head to a fictional South American nation where a rogue CIA agent (Eric Roberts) is running a corrupt regime. Though the pair barely escape after this initial mission, the chief, smitten with a resistance agent (Giselle Itie), vows to return with his whole crew (rounded out by Jet Li, mixed martial artist Randy Couture and ex-NFL star Terry Crews) to overthrow the terrorists and restore freedom. Relentless bloody and graphic violence, including shootings, knifings, explosions, decapitations, torture, and implied rape, some rough language. The Catholic News Service classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed" (Premise/Rampant)
Rated "PG"
Provocative documentary intended to show that academics and research scientists are penalized for merely suggesting that there might be flaws in the prevailing theory of Neo-Darwinian evolution and that purported scientific evidence for the alternate theory of intelligent design is being systematically ignored. Director Nathan Frankowski's unabashedly partisan film -- using old movie clips to humorously underscore the film's themes of suppression and duplicity, and with at least some of the interviewees seemingly caught off guard by the line of questioning -- is impishly hosted and co-written by former presidential speechwriter, economist and sometime actor Ben Stein. Holocaust imagery and mature philosophical issues. 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.

"The Express" (Universal)
Rated "PG"
Inspiring fact-based sports drama, set against the background of the civil rights movement of the late 1950s and early '60s, in which a hard-driving Syracuse University coach (Dennis Quaid) hones the skills of a gifted African-American football player (Rob Brown) while he, in turn, challenges the coach's conservative reaction to changing times. Director Gary Fleder's rousing tribute to the first African-American recipient of the Heisman Trophy, which also features Omar Benson Miller as the star's best friend, highlights the role faith played in shaping his values while effectively personalizing the problems and lessons of the era. Brief nongraphic premarital sexual activity, occasional crude and crass language, some uses of profanity and racial slurs; possibly acceptable for older teens. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.

"Extract" (Miramax)
Rated "R"
The successful owner (Jason Bateman) of a flavor extract factory is convinced by his best friend (Ben Affleck) to hire a young gigolo (Dustin Milligan) to seduce his sex-withholding wife (Kristen Wiig) so that he can have a guilt-free affair with an attractive new employee (Mila Kunis), not realizing that the newcomer is a con artist who is manipulating a fellow worker (Clifton Collins Jr.) into suing him over an on-the-job injury in order to make off with the wounded man's award money. Though the dialogue is at times undeniably clever, and though the plot moves toward a generally moral wrap-up, writer-director Mike Judge's comic portrait of a personally and professionally beleaguered entrepreneur showcases skewed marital values and, in at least one instance, gives a pass to infidelity. Adultery, a repeated blasphemous joke, much sexual humor, some profanity and rough language, and frequent crude and crass terms. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"Extraordinary Measures" (CBS Films)
Rated "PG"
Engaging medical drama, based on actual events, about the often prickly partnership between a successful pharmaceuticals executive (Brendan Fraser) -- two of whose children (Meredith Droeger and Sam M. Hall) are afflicted by the same rare and fatal disease -- and the eccentric scientist (Harrison Ford) whose pioneering but underfunded research may offer the only hope of saving the kids. Director Tom Vaughan's adaptation of Geeta Anand's 2004 book "The Cure," which also features Keri Russell as the businessman's rock-solid spouse, makes no mention of the Catholic faith that helped to sustain the real-life dad, but does chart his relentless, against-the-odds struggle to overcome the illness, a battle which initially seemed likely to derail his career and deprive him of what little time he might have left to spend with his son and daughter. Brief nongraphic marital lovemaking, at least five uses of profanity, about a dozen crude and a half-dozen crass terms. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.

"The Eye" (Lionsgate/Paramount Vantage)
Rated "PG-13"
Reasonably effective suspense yarn about a blind concert violinist (a believable Jessica Alba) who, after receiving corneal transplants, begins to envision harrowing scenes of devastation and spectral spirits for reasons she connects with her anonymous eye donor, while she tries to convince her doctor (Alessandro Nivola), sister (Parker Posey) and conductor (Rade Serbedzija) that she's not hallucinating. Co-directors David Moreau and Xavier Palud's remake of a 2002 Taiwanese film delivers the requisite scary jolts, despite plot improbabilities, and is devoid of sex and language concerns. Some brief and nongraphic but disturbing violent images, including fires and explosions, and a suicide flashback. Acceptable for older teens. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

F
"50/50" (Summit)
Rated "R"
Ultimately touching but frequently crude tale of a young radio producer (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) whose diagnosis with a rare form of cancer leads him to reassess his relationships with his live-in girlfriend (Bryce Dallas Howard), his longtime best buddy (Seth Rogen) and his overprotective mother (Anjelica Huston). His efforts to come to grips with the grim situation -- the title refers to his chances of survival -- are further complicated by his romantic feelings for the plucky but novice psychologist (Anna Kendrick) who's been assigned to counsel him. Though its underlying values are strong, director Jonathan Levine's sometimes courageous blend of drama and comedy, drawn from the real-life experiences of screenwriter Will Reiser and enhanced by Gordon-Levitt's delicately calibrated performance, nonetheless showcases one of its main characters' debased view of sexuality and winks at using pot. Brief graphic nonmarital sexual activity, cohabitation, drug use, much sexual humor, about a half-dozen uses of profanity, pervasive rough and crude language. 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 is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"Facing the Giants" (Samuel Goldwyn)
Rated "PG"
Evangelical sports drama about a losing football coach (Alex Kendrick, who also directs) at a Christian high school in Georgia, who, experiencing personal and professional adversity, revives his team's season by turning to his faith. The earnest performances from the nonprofessional cast are surprisingly competent and the movie's look is reasonably polished, but while the film's heart is in the right place, its positive message about putting one's trust in God is undermined by a prosaic script that tends toward the preachy. Some mature thematic elements, including discussions about infertility. 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.

"Factory Girl" (Weinstein/MGM)
Rated "R"
The sad, sordid rise and fall of socialite Edie Sedgwick (Sienna Miller), who shone briefly in the spotlight as part of Andy Warhol's (Guy Pearce) artistic center, the Factory, in the 1960s, appearing in his underground movies until the pop artist tired of her, showing how the over-the-top lifestyle led to her eventual burnout despite a nurturing interlude with a legendary singer (Hayden Christensen). Director George Hickenlooper's film takes an episodic approach in telling the story as Sedgwick, near the end of her short life (which ended at 28 from a drug overdose), relates her experiences to a psychiatrist. The milieu is downbeat and often seamy, but presented with relative restraint, and Miller is immensely appealing in her sensitive portrait of the trusting, vulnerable waif. Nongraphic premarital sexual encounters, upper female and partial nudity, brief sexual banter and innuendo, drug use, some rough and crude language, gay references, references to child abuse and suicide. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

"Factotum" (IFC)
Rated "R"
Bleak adaptation of novelist-poet Charles Bukowski's 1975 novel (his second) about a heavy-drinking, often brutish, aspiring writer (a superb Matt Dillon), drifting from one menial job to another, and his relationships with a couple of equally self-destructive losers (Lili Taylor and Marisa Tomei). Writer-director Bent Hamer captures the desolate world of the writer (Bukowski's alter ego) with uncompromising exactitude, and the performances are perfectly realized, but the unrelenting ugliness of the story and language, strong sexual elements and overall amoral behavior of its protagonists -- despite the film's literary pedigree -- will seriously limit its appeal. Pervasive rough and crude language and profanity, rear male and partial female nudity, premarital sexual encounters, gambling, heavy drinking and occasional violence. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

"Failure to Launch" (Paramount)
Rated "PG-13"
Uneven but oddly likable comedy about professional "intervention" consultant (Sarah Jessica Parker) hired by the parents (Kathy Bates and Terry Bradshaw) of a 35-year-old, still-living-at-home jock (Matthew McConaughey) in the hopes of making him independent enough to move out, with predictable romantic complications. Director Tom Dey maintains a spirited pace, there are some pleasing performances, the sylvan and aquatic settings are easy on the eyes, and the ending is morally sound, outweighing too many conversational expletives and a permissive view of premarital sex. Profanity, rough and crude language and expressions, implied sexual situations and banter, and a comic instance of rear male nudity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"5X2" (ThinkFilm)
Rated “R”
Finely acted, perceptive story of the disintegration of a contemporary relationship, told in five sequences in reverse order from divorce to first romantic meeting. Francois Ozon's measuredly paced "scenes from a marriage" is quite fascinating, as it reveals layer by layer the over-the-years affection, betrayals, foibles, and idiosyncracies of the couple played impeccably by Valeria Bruni-Tedeschi and Stephane Freiss. Subtitles. A graphic sex scene with female frontal nudity, gay subplot, frank sexual talk, premarital and postmarital sexual situations, discussion of artificial insemination, and rough and crude language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

Fahrenheit 9/11 (Lions Gate)
Rated "R"
Michael Moore's feature-length documentary "Fahrenheit 9/11" is a scathing indictment of the Bush administration's domestic and international policies leading up to and following the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Unabashedly biased in its inflammatory assertions, the controversial film is certain to provoke strong reactions from bashers and backers alike of President George W. Bush. However, in mounting such a one-sided ad hominem attack, director Moore walks a perilous line between investigative journalism and partisan propaganda. And, though artfully packaged and engagingly entertaining, as a political polemic the case made by Moore ultimately falls short of convincing. The terrain covered by "Fahrenheit 9/11" is as sprawling as it is contentious. The film begins by revisiting the events surrounding the hotly disputed presidential election of 2000, before rushing full throttle into a relentless pillorying of Bush, who is caricatured throughout as a lazy, incompetent buffoon. Moore's livid litany consists mainly of warmed-over accusations, leading him to investigate territory already charted in exposes by Bush insiders like Richard Clarke and Paul O'Neill. While Moore lands some solid body blows in taking Bush to task, his rant offers little in the way of new information or stop-the-presses revelations. In a nutshell, Moore contends that, after lollygagging it in Crawford, Texas, for most of his first months in office, Bush sought to capitalize on the tragedy of Sept. 11 by fanning the flames of fear in order to stifle dissent and hoodwink the American public into an immoral war with Iraq. Moore also rehashes allegations that Bush both profited from and was influenced by his family's financial ties to prominent Saudi oil sheiks, including members of the ultra-wealthy bin Laden clan. The film -- its title a play on a Ray Bradbury novel -- loses focus midway through, unraveling into a shapeless and discursive diatribe which goes everywhere and nowhere. In one sequence he exposes gaping holes in homeland security defenses along the expansive Pacific Northwest coastline. In another he reads the Patriot Act to Congress over the speaker of a Mr. Softee ice cream truck. While such antics make for good entertainment, the accompanying analysis is superficial at best. Its title notwithstanding, while the film has certainly generated much heat, it provides little light. Using the proverbial hammer, Moore hits viewers over the head with an angry screed of statistics, jettisoning any pretense of impartiality. Nowhere is this lack of objectivity more evident than in his choice of interviewees, all of whom are in lockstep agreement with the film's overriding thesis. Such an unbalanced approach mutes the credibility of his arguments, a pitfall that could have been avoided by a more evenhanded inclusion of voices from both sides of the political divide. In connecting the dots, the film unfairly subscribes to a blame-Bush-for-everything attitude that fails to take into account wider geopolitical realities, including the foreign-policy missteps of previous administrations.
Moore buttresses his version of the story with carefully selected images and sound bites -- strung together without context or, in some cases, even sources -- which conveniently support his oversimplified conspiracy theories, resulting in a misleading, manipulative and at times self-contradicting interpretation of facts. However, the film is not entirely without merit. "Fahrenheit 9/11" contains sobering footage which unflinchingly illustrates the obscenity of war, including wince-inducing pictures of dead Iraqi children killed during U.S. air strikes. It also shows the charred remains of American soldiers dragged through the streets of Fallujah, Iraq, by angry mobs. While such vile imagery is hard to watch, Moore refrains from wallowing in it, using it sparingly to accentuate his points. Perhaps the most indelible images are those of Lila Lipscomb, a patriotic resident of Moore's home town of Flint, Mich., who does a 180-degree turn concerning her views on the war in Iraq after her son is killed in combat. Her heart-wrenching grief transcends all political stripes. The pugnacious provocateur leavens the weighty subject matter with his signature acerbic wit, including a comedic play on the old TV Western "Bonanza" staring Bush and his cronies. The Midwestern muckraker also stages one of his trademark ambush interviews, asking congressmen if they would like to enlist their children in the armed forces to fight the war they voted for -- a war whose price, Moore argues, is disproportionately paid by the blood of America's poor. "Fahrenheit 9/11" is by turns outrageous, inflammatory, extremely emotional, at times compelling and occasionally quite funny. Viewers will most likely leave the theater with the same political baggage that they came in with. To critics of Bush, Moore's hoop-jumping is simply preaching to the choir. However, the question remains: Will the choir loft become more crowded as a result? You can agree or disagree with Moore -- or even have mixed emotions -- but he raises troubling questions that are not easily dismissed. Still, from a filmmaker with his evident passion and satirical skill, one would have expected more. Due to footage of battlefield violence, graphic images of combat casualties including children, and some rough language, the USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"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.

"Fame" (MGM)
Rated "PG"
Ensemble drama with music follows a class of gifted students (most prominently Kay Panabaker, Asher Book, Naturi Naughton and Collins Pennie) and their dedicated teachers (among them Kelsey Grammer, Charles S. Dutton and Bebe Neuwirth) through four years at a New York City high school for the performing arts. Director Kevin Tancharoen's remake of Alan Parker's 1980 celebration of creative exuberance jettisons most of the original's objectionable elements but, some enjoyable musical numbers aside, the results are mostly tepid. A scene involving suicide, a sexual situation, underage drinking, at least one use of profanity, and a half-dozen crude and a few crass terms. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.

"Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer" (Fox)
Rated "PG"
The wedding of Mister Fantastic (Ioan Gruffudd) and Invisible Woman (Jessica Alba) is interrupted by a cosmic force set to destroy the planet, and the pair must join with the Human Torch (Chris Evans) and the Thing (Michael Chiklis) to avert disaster, trying to dissuade the evil force's emissary, a silver man (voice of Laurence Fishburne) on a flying surf board, from his dastardly mission, while contending with an overbearing army general (Andre Braugher) and duplicitous Dr. Doom (Julian McMahon). Apart from the elements listed below, director Tim Story's superior sequel -- with its personable leads, above-average special effects, and not-taking-itself-too-seriously tone -- makes for an engaging B-level adventure with a commendable message about making the right choices in life. Some mild innuendo and crass expressions, moderate action violence and implied nudity. 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.

"Fantastic Mr. Fox" (Fox)
Rated "PG"
Droll stop-motion animated adventure, set in the animal world of rural Britain, in which the titular vulpine creature (voice of George Clooney), now a respectable newspaper columnist with a wife (voice of Meryl Streep) and son (voice of Jason Schwartzman), tries to recapture his wild past as a chicken thief poaching on local farms, but his renewed raiding, abetted by his daring nephew (voice of Eric Anderson), enrages a trio of mean-spirited farmers whose escalating countermeasures endanger the whole burrowing community. A touch of menace and a fleeting joke about Mrs. Fox's youthful indiscretions aside, director and co-writer Wes Anderson's clever, lovingly crafted adaptation of Roald Dahl's 1970 children's book offers sophisticated family entertainment, with abundant fun for youngsters and a few insights into the tensions and paradoxes of human nature for adults. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-I -- general patronage. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.

"Faster" (CBS)
Rated "R"
Sour revenge flick in which a paroled convict (Dwayne Johnson) hunts down and slays those responsible for his brother's death at the hands of a rival gang. On his trail are a scrofulous drug-addicted detective (Billy Bob Thornton) and a suave British assassin (Oliver Jackson-Cohen). Director George Tillman Jr. and screenwriters Tony and Joe Gayton assemble a series of foul cliches and then just let the actors rip. Multiple scenes of murderous revenge, slow-motion gun and knife violence, drug use, some profane and crude language. The Catholic News Service classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"Fast Five" (Universal)
Rated "PG-13"
An all-star cast culled from the previous four films in the action-oriented franchise that began with 2001's "The Fast and the Furious" -- most prominently Vin Diesel and Paul Walker, along with newcomer Dwayne Johnson -- reunite in Rio de Janeiro for more speeding cars, gunplay and a heist of millions of dollars from a corrupt Brazilian police chief (Joaquim de Almeida). Director Justin Lin and screenwriter Chris Morgan keep the pace predictably rapid, with occasional comedic dialogue to indicate that no one's taking the proceedings all that seriously. Much gun and physical violence, a premarital pregnancy, a few instances of profanity, frequent crude and crass language, and fleeting sexual banter. 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.

"Fateless" (ThinkFilm)
Rated "R"
Holocaust drama about a Hungarian Jewish boy's (Marcell Nagy) coming-of-age experiences in various concentration camps, where, through relationships with fellow prisoners, he struggles to make sense of the atrocities around him and gain deeper insights about himself. Directed by Lajos Koltai from a script by Imre Kertesz based on the latter's semiautobiographical novel, the film, despite its grim subject matter, is visually graceful, and the intimate story conveys universal themes, such as the resiliency of the human spirit and its ability to discern beauty in even the darkest situations. Disturbing Holocaust images, brief partial and full prison camp nudity, and some rough and crude language. Subtitles. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"The Family Stone" (20th Century Fox)
Rated "PG-13"
Bittersweet Christmas comedy-drama as a New York businessman (Dermot Mulroney) brings his controlling but socially awkward fiancee (Sarah Jessica Parker) home to New England to meet the family (played by Diane Keaton, Luke Wilson, Rachel McAdams and Craig T. Nelson among others), but sensing that everyone dislikes her, the woman invites her sister (Claire Danes) to join her for moral support, leading to romantic complications. Writer-director Thomas Bezucha's low-keyed film takes its time getting started, and is not devoid of contrivances, but the cast is excellent, and the plot ultimately leads to a moving, life-affirming conclusion. Some profanity and crude language, light sexual banter, partial nudity, a same-sex couple and their adopting a child, premarital situations, and drug references. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"Fantastic Four" (20th Century Fox)
Rated "PG-13" (Parents strongly cautioned)
Occasionally fun, but mostly unfantastic, superhero movie based on the Marvel comic-book series about four scientists endowed by cosmic rays with superpowers -- the elastic Mr. Fantastic (Ioan Gruffudd), Invisible Woman (Jessica Alba), self-combustible Human Torch (Chris Evans) and superstrong rocklike "Thing" (Michael Chiklis) -- who come together to stop the villainous Dr. Doom (Julian McMahon). Despite ham-fisted dialogue, bad acting, chintzy sets and, at times, cheesy special effects, director Tim Story's film has a goofy campiness but doesn't take itself too seriously, and manages to impart a positive message about teamwork and accepting those who are different. Intense comic-book action violence, some sexual innuendo and brief mildly crude language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents.

"Fast & Furious" (Universal/Relativity)
Rated "PG-13"
Overheated, morally swerving action sequel in which an ex-con (Vin Diesel) pursuing a vendetta and an undercover FBI agent (Paul Walker) renew their rivalry as they both use their driving skills to infiltrate a cross-border drug smuggling ring and identify its secretive leader. As directed by Justin Lin, the thin story is no more than an excuse for long sequences of reckless racing, while the characters move from one side of the law to the other as it suits them. Vigilantism, brief nongraphic sexual activity, partial nudity, cohabitation, occasional rough language and profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift" (Universal)
Rated "PG-13"
In this loud and ludicrous third installment of the adrenaline-charged series, a drag-racing rebel (Lucas Black) is sent to live with his estranged father in Japan, where he befriends a fellow American (rap artist Bow Wow) who introduces him to Tokyo's underground racing scene, running afoul of its mob-connected champ (Brian Tee) when he falls for the gangster's girlfriend (Nathalie Kelley). Director Justin Lin delivers more of the same requisite high-octane race sequences, but, as before, there's little plot under the film's flashy hood, and its glamorization of reckless driving is troubling. Much hazardous and illegal behavior involving teens, some violence, objectification of women, several implied sexual situations including same-sex kissing, suggestive wardrobe and dancing, and scattered crude language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"Fast Food Nation" (Fox Searchlight)
Rated "R"
Absorbing albeit bleak multiplotted expose excoriating the fast food industry for its dangerous, unsanitary and exploitative working conditions, from the perspective of a fictitious burger franchise's marketing executive (Greg Kinnear) who goes to Colorado to investigate conditions at their plant; a young cashier (Ashley Johnson) whose uncle (Ethan Hawke) urges her to improve her life, despite the complacency of her unmotivated mother (Patricia Arquette); and a young Mexican immigrant couple (Catalina Sandino Moreno and Wilmer Valderrama) struggling to build a better life. Director Richard Linklater's skillful dramatization of Eric Schlosser's nonfiction book (they co-wrote the script) is sometimes preachy and the ending intentionally inconclusive, but the issues raised are timely ones, while the cast (including Bruce Willis, Bobby Cannavale and Kris Kristofferson) offers solid, selfless performances. Partly subtitled. Rough and crude language, a couple of briefly intense, if nongraphic, sexual encounters, fleeting partial nudity, innuendo, some gruesome slaughterhouse shots and drug references. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

"Fat Albert" (20th Century Fox)
Rated "PG"
Flat live-action comedy based on the characters of the long-running animated series created by Bill Cosby, in which the heavyset hero (Kenan Thompson) and his junkyard gang step out of their cartoon world in order to help a troubled teen (Kyla Pratt) believe in herself. While imparting the same sort of positive, family-value life lessons, director Joel Zwick's film lacks the intelligence, originality and fun of the groundbreaking Saturday morning show. Brief crude language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents.

"Fay Grim" (Magnolia)
Rated "R
Engagingly off-kilter farce about a woman (Parker Posey) pressed into service by the CIA to recover the diaries of her husband (Thomas Jay Ryan), a mysterious fugitive suspected of consorting with terrorists. In the sequel to his 1998 independent sensation "Henry Fool," writer-director Hal Hartley manages to send up spy movies, offer droll reflections on literature and geopolitics, and create an intriguing if frustrating espionage thriller-cum-romance of his own. Occasional rough and crude language, some violence and sexual references and one sexual encounter. 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.

"Feast of Love" (MGM)
Rated "R"
Moving but excessively graphic examination of romantic love as experienced by a college professor (Morgan Freeman), his wife (Jane Alexander), the owner of a local cafe (Greg Kinnear), the two women for whom he sequentially falls (Selma Blair and Radha Mitchell), a hardened businessman (Billy Burke) and a young, Romeo and Juliet-like couple (Alexa Davalos and Toby Hemingway). The film, as directed by Robert Benton, is beautifully atmospheric and features some excellent performances, yet its script offers the audience a set of false choices, making an idol of erotic love and portraying that love with an intrusive frankness. Extensive frontal, rear and upper female nudity, sexual encounters, some of them graphic and adulterous, same-sex coupling, some rough language, occasional profanity, drug use and pornography. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"Feel the Noise" (TriStar)
Rated "PG-13"
Pleasant if naive musical in which an aspiring rapper (Omarion Grandberry) must leave his Harlem home and the single mother who raised him (Kellita Smith) after attempting to steal the wrong person's hubcaps, and goes to stay with his father (Giancarlo Esposito) and stepmother (Rosa Arredando) in Puerto Rico, where he befriends his musically inclined stepbrother (Victor Rasuk), falls in love with a local dancer (Zulay Henao), discovers the pop music genre called reggaeton, and manages to impress a New York-based music producer (James McCaffrey). Director Alejandro Chomski's film is mostly just a showcase for the singing and dancing, but fans of world music, and of reggaeton in particular, will no doubt enjoy what they hear. Sexual activity without nudity, drug use, skimpy clothing, suggestive dancing, one use of the f-word, two uses of the n-word, and occasional crass and crude language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Fever Pitch" (20th Century Fox)
Rated "PG-13"
Sweet and funny romantic comedy set in Boston about a 30-year-old workaholic (Drew Barrymore) whose relationship with a goofy but charming high school math teacher (Jimmy Fallon) is strained when she discovers that underneath his "normal" exterior is a rabid Red Sox fan who is torn between his commitment to her and the boys from Beantown. Directed by Bob and Peter Farrelly and loosely based on a novel by Nick Hornby, the film -- which plays out against the improbable 2004 Red Sox season -- features pitch-perfect performances from Fallon and Barrymore and imparts a feel-good message about how love ultimately demands both acceptance and sacrifice. Implied premarital sex, some comic violence and crude humor, as well as scattered crass expressions. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents are strongly cautioned.

"The Fighter" (Paramount)
Rated "R"
Director David O. Russell's gritty, fact-based drama follows two half-brothers from Lowell, Mass., who long for success -- and redemption -- via the boxing ring. One (Christian Bale, who effectively steals the movie) is a washed-up fighter on a self-destructive binge of drugs and loose women. At the urging of their obsessive mother and manager (Melissa Leo), he trains his reluctant younger sibling (Mark Wahlberg) in the sweet science. But, recognizing that the lad is being exploited, a barmaid with a heart of gold (Amy Adams) persuades him to chart his own destiny. Ultimately, "Rocky"-like fame and fortune are within reach, but not without forgiveness and the love and support of the duo's raucously dysfunctional family. Excessive boxing and other violence, including familial strife, nongraphic premarital sexual activity, explicit drug use, a handful of profanities, frequent rough and crude language. 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.

"Fighting" (Rogue)
Rated "PG-13"
Intermittently violent, but otherwise engaging boxing drama about a failed street salesman (Channing Tatum) who turns to underground fighting to survive, and bonds with his manager (Terrence Howard) while romancing a waitress (Zulay Henao). Scenes of punishing brutality and approval of premature sexual relations mar director and co-writer Dito Montiel's mostly moving portrait of a friendship between two down-on-their-luck New Yorkers. Graphic beatings, a premarital sexual encounter, and some crude and crass language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"The Final Cut" (Lions Gate)
Rated “PG-13”
Gloomy sci-fi thriller set in a future where humans can have memory chips implanted at birth which record their entire lives and which are edited into sanitized memorial films to be shown at their funerals. The story centers on the best editor -- or "cutter" -- in the business (Robin Williams), who becomes entangled in a dangerous game with a former associate (Jim Caviezel) over the implant of a corrupt corporate bigwig. Directed by Omar Naim, the film raises some intriguing ethical questions but is weighed down by its cheerless performances and slumberous pacing. Brief violence, an implied sexual encounter and some crude language and profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"Final Destination 3" (New Line)
Rated "R"
Mindless third installment in the horror franchise, this time involving a group of high school students (including Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Ryan Merriman) who escape death by getting off a roller coaster moments before it derails killing everyone else on board, only to find out you can't cheat the Grim Reaper as each survivor subsequently meets a gory demise. Little more than a tedious series of gratuitously grisly fatalities, director James Wong's film tries to out-gross its predecessors with increasingly intricate ways to kill its young cast, using them as mere props for sadistic sight gags. Excessive graphic and bloody violence, including impalings and dismemberments, partial frontal nudity, much rough and sexually crude language, some profanity and recurring crass humor. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive.

"Final Destination 5" (Warner Bros.)
Rated "R"
The cinematic meat grinder that is the "Final Destination" franchise churns on as a group of paper factory executives -- played by Emma Bell, Miles Fisher, Ellen Wroe, P.J. Byrne, Arlen Escarpeta and David Koechner -- evade death thanks to the timely premonition of a colleague (Nicholas D'Agosto). But the Grim Reaper begins evening his accounts by subjecting each survivor in succession to a bizarre and grisly end. Appealing exploitatively to the worst in human nature -- a morbid desire to watch special-effects-fodder characters killed off in various nauseating ways -- director Steven Quale's gorefest is mind-numbingly boring when not repulsive. Pervasive gruesome violence, a few rough and about a dozen crude terms, some sexual references. The Catholic News Service classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"The Final Destination" (New Line/Warner Bros.)
Rated "R"
Repellent horror sequel in which a young man's (Bobby Campo) premonition of impending death saves him, his girlfriend (Shantel VanSanten), two of their pals (Haley Webb and Nick Zano) and a number of strangers from perishing in a speedway accident, but the Grim Reaper is not to be cheated, and the survivors begin to die off in a series of horrifically gruesome misadventures. Director David R. Ellis' utterly callous fourth installment in the franchise amounts to little more than an exercise in gross-out special effects, with a gratuitous scene of debased casual sex tacked on for bad measure. Conventional and 3D formats. Pervasive gory violence, including mutilation, brief graphic nonmarital sexual activity, a couple of uses of profanity, and some rough and much crude language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"The Final Season" (Yari)
Rated "PG"
Low-key but good-hearted sports drama in which a new high school baseball coach (Sean Astin) tries to extend the winning streak established by his formidable predecessor (Powers Boothe) even as his small town's citizens battle over their school's future, meanwhile romancing a state education official (Rachael Leigh Cook) and having a positive influence on a troubled team member (Michael Angarano) who has been sent to live with his grandparents (James Gammon and Angela Paton) by his widowed, workaholic father (Tom Arnold). Director David Mickey Evans' film, based on true events, is as much an examination of contemporary challenges to small-town America as a celebration of baseball, and it works competently in both capacities. Occasional crude and some crass language, underage smoking, and drug and underage drinking references. 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.

"Finding Amanda" (Magnolia)
Rated "R"
Pungent semi-autobiographical black comedy about a floundering, addictive Los Angeles TV writer (Matthew Broderick) who travels to Las Vegas to convince his prostitute niece (Brittany Snow) to enter rehab and to prove to his disaffected wife (Maura Tierney) that he can resist his gambling compulsion. Writer-director Peter Tolan's feature directing debut takes on some unlikely topics for comedy, but a redemptive trajectory keeps the film from ranking as sheer exploitation. Nongraphic sexual activity, implied nonmarital sex and cohabitation, rear and upper female nudity, drug use, prostitution, strong sexual themes and humor, pervasive rough and crude language, several uses of profanity and obscene gestures. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Finding Neverland" (Miramax)
Rated “PG”
Beautifully crafted and affecting -- if occasionally somber -- fictionalized story about the fondness of playwright J.M. Barrie (Johnny Depp) for a widow (Kate Winslet) and her four young sons who inspire him to write his greatest success, "Peter Pan." Marc Forster deftly captures the 1903 period ambience, and has drawn fine performances from Depp (in one of his finest roles), Winslet, Julie Christie and Freddie Highmore as the boy who became the inspiration for Peter Pan. Some thematic material -- marital discord and the mother's tragic illness -- and some mildly coarse language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents.

"Find Me Guilty" (Yari)
Rated "R"
Fact-based drama from veteran director Sidney Lumet concerning one of the longest criminal trials in U.S. history (it lasted 21 months in 1987-88), during which New Jersey's Lucchese family mobster Giacomo "Jackie Dee" DiNorscio (Vin Diesel in a credible change of pace from his usual action films) defends himself in court, providing disruption and comic relief, but also scoring points against dogged prosecuting attorney Sean Kierney (Linus Roache). Lumet's assured guidance, and some excellent supporting performances (Roache, Ron Silver, Raul Esparza, Peter Dinklage) provide some interest but, the historical record aside, it's difficult to care about the travails of this lowlife wise guy. Nonstop rough language and crude expressions, instances of profanity, ethnic slurs, some violence including a shooting, a steamy sexual encounter, sexual banter and innuendo, drug use. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

"Fired Up!" (Screen Gems)
Rated "PG-13"
Banal sex comedy in which two philandering high school football players (Nicholas D'Agosto and Eric Christian Olsen) attend a mostly female cheerleading camp, racking up conquests till one falls for the captain of his squad (Sarah Roemer) and the other for the wife (Molly Sims) of the head coach (John Michael Higgins). Director Will Gluck's feature debut treats the pursuit of sexual gratification as just another sport, and most of the attempts at humor are tasteless as well as flat-footed. Nongraphic nonmarital and adulterous sexual activity, homosexual comic elements, brief rear nudity, much sexual humor, underage drinking, frequent crude and crass language, and a few uses of 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.

"Firehouse Dog" (Fox)
Rated "PG"
A pampered Hollywood pooch rescues an inner-city station house from closure and helps a father and son (Bruce Greenwood and Josh Hutcherson) bond in this catch-all family comedy, which tries to be parody, mystery, and action-adventure rolled into one. Director Todd Holland's too-long-for-the-kids movie has too many plot strands and some cruder than expected language, toilet humor and innuendo, although mostly in reference to canines. Mild crass language and gags, scenes of action peril and one brief instance of physical violence. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents.

"Fireproof" (Goldwyn)
Rated "PG"
Modest but heartwarming drama about a small-town fireman (a fine Kirk Cameron) who, under the guidance of his born-again father (Harris Malcom), works to save his seven-year-old marriage, despite the unyielding obstinacy of his wife (Erin Bethea). The message -- that a successful marriage is grounded in the knowledge that God loves us with all our faults -- is the overriding virtue of co-writers and directors Alex and Stephen Kendrick's nicely shot, evangelical-flavored film in which the former "Growing Pains" star is supported by a mostly volunteer but surprisingly capable cast. Domestic discord, extramarital flirtation and pornography references. 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.

"Firewall" (Warner Bros.)
Rated "PG-13"
Tense noirish thriller of upstanding bank security executive (Harrison Ford), his architect wife (Virginia Madsen), and two young children (Carly Schroeder and Jimmy Bennett) held hostage by master criminal (Paul Bettany) and his gang who force the banker to break into the bank's computer system, which the executive designed, and extract millions. Director Richard Loncraine maintains a white-knuckle pace throughout, the performances are good (including Mary Lynn Rajskub as a loyal secretary), and though the movie may be too protracted for many the violence is handled with relative discretion, making this a plausible "Desperate Hours" for the cyberspace age. Some profanity, rough and crude language, violence, intense suspense and murder. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"The First Daughter" (20th Century Fox)
Rated "PG"
Fluffy and formulaic romantic comedy about a presidential daughter (Katie Holmes) trying to fit in when she goes away to college, whose attempts at a "normal" student life are complicated by a knotty campus romance. Though targeting 'tweeners, this lightweight love story, directed by Forest Whitaker, contains some behavior inappropriate for a PG-rated movie. Underaged drinking and implied sexual situations, as well as some crude language and humor. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"First Sunday" (Screen Gems)
Rated "PG-13"
Lively ensemble comic drama in which two friends, one (Ice Cube) desperate for money to keep his ex-girlfriend (Regina Hall) from leaving town with his son (C.J. Sanders) and the other (Tracy Morgan) in debt to Jamaican gangsters, break into a church and end up holding hostage the pastor (Chi McBride), his daughter (Malinda Williams), a deacon (Michael Beach), the church secretary (Loretta Devine), the choir director (Katt Williams) and various prominent members of the congregation. Writer-director David E. Talbert's film serves up a serious message about bad decisions and second chances with more than a dollop of enjoyable humor. Occasional crude and profane language, pervasive crass language, some irreverent and sexual humor, implied nonmarital sex and an obscene gesture. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Fish Without a Bicycle" (Newmark/Echelon)
Rated "R"
Mostly unappealing story of L.A.-based actress (Jenna Mattison, who also wrote and produced) and her all-important quest to "find herself," as she dumps her fireman boyfriend for a self-absorbed director (Bryan Callen), ignoring her decent-guy acting partner (Brian A. Green, who also directed), who seems the ideal mate for her, while her sardonic best friend (Jennifer Blanc) suddenly reveals a lesbian attraction to her. Occasional flashes of wit and some good supporting performances fail to balance the low-budget production values, gratuitously frank sex talk and implied activity that tries to outdo "Sex and the City," and a leading lady with a fatal case of the cutes, relegating the film squarely to the category of a sappy vanity production. Much rough and profane language, sexual situations, vulgarity and a questionable world view. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted.

"Flags of Our Fathers" (Paramount)
Rated "R"
Compelling World War II drama that tells the story behind the iconic photograph of six U.S. servicemen raising of the flag on Iwo Jima, recounting both the battle to capture the Pacific island from the Japanese and the home-front experiences of the three surviving flag-raisers (Jesse Bradford, Adam Beach and Ryan Phillippe) recruited into using their new celebrity to help sell war bonds and boost national morale. In adapting James Bradley (the son of one of the men in the photo) and Ron Powers' book, director Clint Eastwood combines intense battle re-enactments -- horrifying in their realism -- with outstanding performances to explore themes of heroism and the power of images to exploit and inspire. Graphic images of combat violence and gore, as well as recurring rough and crude language and profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"Flash of Genius" (Universal)
Rated “PG-13”
Greg Kinnear gives an excellent performance as Robert Kearns, the real-life Detroit inventor of the intermittent windshield wiper who, with the support of his wife (Lauren Graham) and six children, obsessively persevered in taking Ford Motor Co. to court for the infringement of his patent. Though director Marc Abraham's absorbing film is formulaic in its basic structure, with the "bad guys" too obvious from the get-go and the "quality film" trappings a bit heavy-handed, the story of an individual standing up for his rights against impossible odds is irresistible and beautifully underscores the importance of family and human dignity. Some crude words, one instance of the F-word and intermittent profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

"Flawless" (Magnolia)
Rated "PG-13"
Stylish heist film set in 1960 London as an executive (Demi Moore) in a diamond corporation and the soon-to-be-retired night cleaning man (Michael Caine) join forces to steal gems from the firm's high security vault, after she learns she will be dismissed from her position. Director Michael Radford, working from a first-time script by Edward Anderson, captures the milieu of the corporation and the era well and builds taut suspense, with Moore, Caine and Lambert Wilson as the detective assigned to investigate the robbery all in top form, while objectionable elements -- apart from some language and the robbery itself, of course -- are practically nil. Brief profanity, a single use of the f-word and some crass language; acceptable for older teens. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Flicka" (20th Century Fox)
Rated "PG"
Warmhearted story set in contemporary Wyoming about a strong-willed teen (Alison Lohman) who, defying her tough but loving dad (Tim McGraw), determines to tame a spirited wild mustang, ultimately bringing father and daughter closer together, even as the former contemplates selling the financially strapped family ranch. In adapting Mary O'Hara's book, director Michael Mayer makes some changes but remains faithful in spirit, imparting a sentimental message about family bonds, youthful ambition, and the passing of the American West. Minimal mildly crass expressions and some minor peril involving a marauding mountain lion which may upset very young viewers. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-I -- general patronage.

"Flightplan" (Touchstone)
Rated "PG-13"
Smartly crafted Hitchcockian thriller set aboard a jumbo jet en route from Berlin to New York in which a recently widowed passenger (Jodie Foster) questions her sanity as she desperately searches for her young daughter who mysteriously disappeared midflight leaving no trace she was ever on board. Directed by Robert Schwentke with a top-flight performance by Foster, the tautly paced nail-biter maintains a high suspense altitude, though the script experiences increasing turbulence in its story logic and plausibility leading to a more conventional action climax. Several intense sequences, some violence including the bad guy meeting a fiery end, minimal crude language and profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"The Flight of the Phoenix" (20th Century Fox)
Rated "PG-13"
Underwhelming remake of the 1966 James Stewart action-adventure involving a cargo plane full of oil-rig workers which crashes off-course in a remote region of the Gobi desert, leaving the survivors -- including the gruff pilot (Dennis Quaid, in the Stewart role) and an enigmatic, last-minute passenger (Giovanni Ribisi) -- without a radio and with dwindling rations. With hope of rescue fading, the castaways decide to build a makeshift plane from the wreckage, while battling killer sandstorms, hostile marauding nomads and internecine frictions. Directed by John Moore, the film boasts some nice desert photography and manages to take off in the final half-hour, but most of this flight is grounded by bland performances (Ribisi excluded), corny dialogue and an undernourished script. Some violence, including a murder and an intense plane crash, an anti-religious comment and intermittent crude language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"Flipped" (Warner Bros.)
Rated "PG"
A heartwarming coming-of-age story, based on the Wendelin Van Draanen novel, that chronicles the relationship of two kids, Juli Baker (Madeline Carroll) and Bryce Loski (Callan McAuliffe), over a six-year period. At 7 years old, Juli has "flipped" over Bryce, but her puppy love is not returned. Amid the ups and downs of their friendship, the film examines family life in baby boom-era suburbia, challenging stereotypes and prejudices with a surprisingly strong pro-life message. As directed by Rob Reiner, everything about "Flipped" feels right and genuine, with a prevailing atmosphere of innocence and sensitivity, making this uplifting film probably acceptable for older teens. A handful of profane and crass expressions and scenes of family discord. The Catholic News Service classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested.

"Flyboys" (MGM)
Rated "PG-13"
Truth-inspired World War I action drama about a disparate group of young Americans (James Franco, Abdul Salis, Philip Winchester and Tyler Labine) who, before the United States' entry in the war, volunteer for various reasons with a French air squadron -- the Lafayette Escadrille -- during the pioneer days of aviation combat and whose idealism is chilled by their experiences. Directed by Tony Bill, the film's appealing young cast and impressive aerial dogfight sequences are wasted on an episodic and overly long script that never takes off dramatically and lacks well-developed characters. Recurring wartime violence, a scene in a brothel, a suicide, some sexual innuendo, scattered mildly crude expressions, profanity and racial slurs. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"The Flying Scotsman" (MGM)
Rated "PG-13"
Carefully mining the potential for an underdog sports drama to uplift and inspire, this is the true story of melancholy cyclist Graeme Obree (Jonny Lee Miller). Director Douglas Mackinnon uses the lionhearted athlete's bouts of depression to generate suspense and avoid an overly formulaic ending, while Obree's friendship with a Protestant minister (Brian Cox) provides another interesting but not overplayed dimension to the narrative. Some rough language, a suicide attempt, implied lovemaking between husband and wife, brief violence and a crass scene of urination. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"Flushed Away" (DreamWorks)
Rated "PG"
Frolicsome computer-animated tale about an urbane pet mouse (voiced by Hugh Jackman) whose cushy lifestyle is turned topsy-turvy when he's flushed down a toilet and into the bustling underground world of London's sewer system where he teams with a spunky rat (Kate Winslet) to foil the doomsday plot of a frog kingpin (Ian McKellen) who wants to exterminate the sewers' rodent population. Co-directors David Bowers and Sam Fell combine zippy animation, a simple but smartly entertaining script and topnotch voice talent to delightfully zany effect, while imparting a warm message about the importance of friendship and family. Some mildly rude humor and language and cartoon action violence. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents.

"Fly Me to the Moon" (Summit)
Rated "G"
Good-natured animated 3-D children's adventure in which a thrill-seeking young fly (voice of Trevor Gagnon), inspired by his grandfather's (voice of Christopher Lloyd) oft-told exploits, convinces two friends to join him in stowing away on the 1969 Apollo 11 mission to the moon. Director Ben Stassen's film provides a painless history lesson via some of those startling 3-D special effects, though the story line and central characters are less impressive. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-I -- general patronage. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is G -- general audiences. All ages admitted.

"The Fog" (Columbia)
Rated "PG-13"
Schlocky remake of John Carpenter's 1980 horror film about a cursed island community off Oregon enveloped by a sinister shroud of fog that brings with it the ghostly crew of an ill-fated ship returning to exact revenge on the locals (including Tom Welling, Maggie Grace and Selma Blair) for murderous crimes committed by the town's founding fathers. Directed by Rupert Wainwright, the new version pretty much follows the original's soggy B-movie lead, but, despite slicker effects and a bigger budget, it is mist-ifyingly less suspenseful this time around. Strong violence and gore, including flaming bodies, and an impaling with shards of glass, a sexual encounter, horror effects, and minimal crude language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"Fool's Gold" (Warner Bros.)
Rated "PG-13"
Sparring treasure hunter (Matthew McConaughey and ex-spouse (Kate Hudson) join forces with a billionaire (Donald Sutherland) and his pampered daughter (Alexis Dziena) to seek ancient treasure in the waters off a Caribbean island before a gangster (Kevin Hart) and the hunter's former mentor (Ray Winstone) get to it first. The amiable stars, eye-filling location shooting and moral wrap-up are pluses, but the routine script co-authored by director Andy Tennant is generally witless and is bogged down by exposition, while the action sequences are lively but unexciting. Some uses of the s-word and brief profanity, a few crass expressions, moderate action violence, an implied sexual encounter in an abandoned church, and some light sexual banter. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Footloose" (Paramount)
Rated "PG-13"
After a night of dirty dancing by five hard-drinking, drug-taking high school seniors from a small Southern town ends with a fatal car crash, one victim's father (Dennis Quaid), the local Presbyterian minister, spearheads legislation to ban public dancing. But his daughter (Julianne Hough) supports an underground teen revolt, which gains steam with the arrival from Boston of a James Dean-like pouting rebel (Kenny Wormald). Director Craig Brewer's remake of the 1984 film of the same title retains -- and ramps up -- the problematic message of the original, namely, that teenagers must disobey their parents, break all the rules and follow their dreams no matter the consequences. Negative portrayal of religion; acceptance of teenage drinking, drug use, sexual activity and reckless driving; a brutal assault; and a few instances of crude and crass language. The Catholic News Service 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.

"For Colored Girls" (Lionsgate)
Rated "R"
Ensemble drama that shuttles among the lives of nine African-American women, most prominently a successful but emotionally isolated business executive (Janet Jackson), her harried assistant (Kimberly Elise) and a lovelorn nurse (Loretta Devine). Their personal lives are in disarray because of various problems -- ranging from unfaithfulness to alcoholism -- of the men in their lives (respectively, Omari Hardwick, Michael Ealy and Richard Lawson). Adapted by writer-director Tyler Perry from Ntozake Shange's 1974 play, "For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow Is Enuf," this downbeat exploration of societal ills is studded with verbally impressive, but sometimes dramatically distancing poetic set pieces. As various characters endure rape, abuse and betrayal, however, the feminist script takes for granted behavior quite at odds with Judeo-Christian sexual ethics, while the sole source of hope it holds out lies in the discovery of the "God-within-myself" and female solidarity. A graphic rape, a scene of abortion, nonexplicit nonmarital sexual activity, fleeting rear and obscured full male nudity, incest, sex abuse and homosexuality themes, about a dozen rough terms, frequent crude and crass language. The Catholic News Service classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"The Forbidden Kingdom" (Casey Silver/Relativity/Huayi Brothers/ Weinstein/ Lionsgate)
Rated "PG-13"
Glossy kung fu fantasy in which a teenage martial-arts film fan (Michael Angarano) is transported to ancient China where he embarks on a quest to return a magical staff to the Monkey King (Jet Li) so that he can continue his age-old struggle against the evil Jade War Lord (Collin Chou), assisted along the way by a tippling poet (Jackie Chan), a reticent monk (also Li) and a girl (Liu Yifei) out to avenge the tyrant's murder of her parents. Director Rob Minkoff's saga features impressive action sequences and special effects, but only passable humor and virtually no emotional depth. Crass scene of urination, two uses of the s-word, occasional crass language and vulgar expressions, one profanity, and fantasy violence. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Forever Strong" (Crane)
Rated "PG-13"
A reckless teenage rugby player (Sean Faris), whose team is coached by his overbearing father (Neal McDonough), is jailed for drunk driving, but the warden (Sean Astin) offers him early release if he plays for a rival trainer (Gary Cole) who holds his athletes to unusually exacting standards on and off the field. In between scenes of arduous play, director Ryan Little's fact-based coming-of-age tale offers an uplifting study in true maturity, self-possessed masculinity and dedicated sportsmanship. Underage drinking, drug use, mild innuendo and a few vulgar gestures. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

"Forgetting Sarah Marshall" (Universal)
Rated "R"
Romantic comedy -- by turns touching and funny but also frequently vulgar -- about a TV composer (very appealing Jason Segel who also wrote the often perceptive script) who, dumped by his actress girlfriend (Kristen Bell), travels to Hawaii to nurse his wounds, only to find his ex there with her new boyfriend, a British rock star (Russell Brand), while he falls for the hotel's empathetic receptionist (Mila Kunis). Take out the raunchy elements from first-time director Nicholas Stoller's film, and there's a surprisingly sensitive story that makes intelligent points about relationships, and even in some respects a moral underpinning, but the objectionable elements (characteristic of the Judd Apatow brand of R-rated comedy) are too pervasive to ignore. Sexual encounters, some aberrant, with partial nudity, full-frontal male-nudity sight gag, frank sexual talk, nonmarital situations, much rough language including irreverent remarks, and comic violence. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"The Forgotten" (Revolution Studios)
Rated "PG-13"
Absorbing, if not quite top-drawer, thriller about a mother (Julianne Moore) grieving for the son killed in a plane crash, who is told that the boy never existed in the first place, prompting her to join forces with a retired hockey player (Dominic West), whose daughter allegedly perished with her son, and solve the mystery. Good performances, some genuine chills and tight -- if formulaic -- direction by Joseph Ruben in the Shyamalan mode. Some rough language and profanity, and a few intensely jolting moments. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III - - adults.

"The Fountain" (Warner Bros.)
Rated "PG-13"
Love story weaving together three interrelated tales set in the past, present and far future, with the couples in each ably played by Hugh Jackman and Rachel Weisz: a medical researcher racing to find a cure to save his terminally ill wife; the characters in a novel she's writing about a 16th-century conquistador questing after the fabled Fountain of Youth for his lover, the queen of Spain; and the same scientist, who hasn't aged a bit, traveling to a distant star in the 26th century, still searching for the secret of eternal life. Written and directed by Darren Aronofsky, the script is by turns poignant and confusing but the visuals are striking and the film's unifying themes of love and mortality provide for some thoughtful reflection on the way death helps delineate our humanity and give our lives meaning. Some violence, a suggested marital sexual encounter, a bloody scene of self-mortification, brief torture images and an instance of rough language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"Four Christmases" (Warner Bros.)
Rated "PG-13"
Routine comedy in which an airport shutdown ruins an unmarried couple's (Vince Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon) usual Christmas getaway, forcing them instead to spend the holiday visiting each of their divorced parents (Robert Duvall, Mary Steenburgen, Sissy Spacek and Jon Voight). Despite the innovative casting of dramatic actors in comic roles, documentarian Seth Gordon's first fictional offering, which takes many a crude detour on the way to its muted affirmation of emotional maturity and commitment, boasts a few clever exchanges between its leads, but little else. Brief nongraphic, nonmarital sexual activity, cohabitation, much sexual humor, some crude and crass language, and a contraception reference. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"The 40-Year-Old Virgin" (Universal)
Rated "R"
Relentlessly vulgar story of shy electronics store clerk (likeable Steve Carell, who, alas, co-wrote the execrable screenplay) whose rowdy co-workers (Paul Rudd, Romany Malco and Seth Rogen) set out to help him, finally, lose his virginity, and he falls in love with a single mother (Catherine Keener) who works across the street. Director and co-writer Judd Apatow's film has many good ingredients, including an appealing cast and classic comic setup, but the nonstop expletives and raunchy sexual talk and situations make for an embarrassingly tasteless two hours, unredeemed even by its morally sound ending. Profanity, rough and crude language, racial epithets, rear and partial nudity, heavy sexual content including strongly permissive view of premarital sex, condom use, characters displaying demeaning view of women, crass gay and bathroom humor, drug use and drinking. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive.

"The Fourth Kind" (Universal)
Rated "PG-13"
Supposedly fact-based thriller about a recently widowed Alaska psychologist (Milla Jovovich) who becomes convinced that several patients she has been treating for a sleep disorder are in fact victims of alien abduction, and that the malevolent interplanetary visitors also killed her husband, though the local sheriff (Will Patton) and a colleague (Elias Koteas) she consults remain skeptical. The occasional jolt aside, writer-director Olatunde Osunsanmi's pseudo-dramatization, which intersperses "actual" video and audio of the case with alleged re-enactments, is slow-moving and largely ineffective, though the script's fleeting, potentially troublesome foray into theology is at least partially set right by the main character's explicitly Christian faith. Some violence, including a short scene of gory murder, brief nongraphic marital lovemaking, a half-dozen uses of profanity and a few crude terms. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults. Motion Picture Association of America rating, PG-13 -- parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

"Fracture" (New Line)
Rated "R"
Generally effective mystery thriller about a wealthy man (Anthony Hopkins) who shoots his unfaithful wife and afterward baits the career-minded young prosecuting attorney (Ryan Gosling) who can't nail him unless the murder weapon is found. Director Gregory Hoblit's detached style and the stylishly cold production design prove a bit distancing, but the protagonists are compelling, the mostly literate script tries hard to avoid the predictable, and several ethical issues (satisfactorily resolved) add further texture to the whole. Brief shots of the shooting, suicide, murder, rough language and vulgar expressions and profanity, innuendo, adultery and implied premarital encounters. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"Friday the 13th" (New Line/Paramount)
Rated "R"
Searching for his missing sister (Amanda Righetti), who disappeared after trespassing on the turf of masked maniac Jason Voorhees (Derek Mears), a young man (Jared Padalecki) becomes one of the slasher's many targets himself, along with the college student (Danielle Panabaker) who's helping him hunt. Director Marcus Nispel's gruesome revival follows the franchise's usual crass recipe: a melange of sadistic murder, casual teen sexuality, gratuitous nudity and a dash of drug use. Frequent gory violence, torture, graphic nonmarital sexual activity, upper female and rear nudity, brief pornographic imagery, marijuana use, pervasive rough and crude language, half a dozen uses of profanity, and sexual humor and references. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"1408" (MGM/Dimension)
Rated "PG-13"
Adaptation of a Stephen King short story has Mike Enslin (John Cusack), the writer of guides to occult phenomena, spending a genuinely frightening night in a haunted Manhattan hotel room during which he must confront a past tragedy and his skepticism about God, the afterlife and anything remotely otherworldly. Swedish director Mikael Hafstrom assaults the senses with a barrage of well-executed special effects, but this elaborate, discomfiting ghost tale -- part horror story and part supernatural thriller -- exploits the suffering of a child and ultimately undercuts itself with too many twists. Countless violent and morbid images and references, including many to suicide, frequent crude and profane language, and some sexual references. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Four Brothers" (Paramount)
Rated "R"
Excessively violent revenge drama directed by John Singleton about four street toughs -- two white (Mark Wahlberg and Garrett Hedlund) and two black (Andre Benjamin and Tyrese Gibson) -- raised as foster brothers who return home to Detroit to avenge the brutal murder of their saintly adoptive mother. Despite believable performances and chemistry, the quartet is wholly unsympathetic (save for Benjamin) and their thuggish eye-for-an-eye tactics have little to do with true justice and undermine the shaky narrative's emotional drama. Recurring strong violence and gore, vengeful killings, vigilantism, a sexual encounter, some crass sexual humor, fleeting rear shower nudity, pervasive raw language and profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive.

"Fred Claus" (Warner Bros.)
Rated "PG"
Generally funny yet bittersweet tale of a sad-sack Chicago repo man (Vince Vaughn) who travels to the North Pole to help his younger, more popular brother, St. Nicholas (Paul Giamatti), at Christmas, while a devious efficiency expert (Kevin Spacey) threatens to shut down the elves' toy factory. Underneath the laughs, Dan Fogelman's script is a surprisingly resonant take on sibling rivalry, with lots of heart-tugging sentiment, and solid messages about family, self-esteem, forgiveness and ultimately redemption. Under David Dobkin's deft direction, there's sharp work by the leads and the classy supporting cast (Miranda Richardson, Rachel Weisz, Kathy Bates and John Michael Higgins). Mild innuendo, an implied premarital living arrangement, a suggestive costume, and some crass humor and expressions. 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.

"Freedomland" (Columbia)
Rated "R"
Overheated and grim melodrama about an emotionally fragile woman (Julianne Moore) who says she was carjacked near a predominantly black housing project, with her assailant taking off in the car with her son in the back seat, and the police detective (Samuel L. Jackson) who attempts to uncover the truth while keeping racial tensions at bay. Joe Roth's film, based on Richard Price's bestseller, is finely acted by its two leads and by Edie Falco as the head of a missing-children advocacy group, but despite a worthy premise, a redemptive ending, and a central character imbued with a strong faith the movie is undermined by plot contrivances. Much profanity and rough language, racial epithets, riot violence, some blood, drug references, an intense emotional breakdown, an unwed mother, adultery, domestic and child abuse, a fall from a window. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

"Freedom Writers" (Paramount)
Rated "PG-13"
Classroom drama about the efforts of an idealistic, novice high school English teacher (Hilary Swank) to transform a racially divided class of troubled teens into model students by inspiring them to believe in themselves and break the cycle of gang violence in which they feel trapped. As a way of empowering them, she has them record their personal stories, experiences and feelings in journals, which they eventually get published. Director Richard LaGravenese overcomes a predictable and, at times, message-heavy script with emotionally powerful performances by the young ensemble and redemptive themes of self-worth, the efficacy of education and empathy to overcome intolerance, and the ability of one person to make a difference. Some graphic violence, including shootings, beatings and brief but disturbing images of domestic abuse, a divorce subplot, one instance of the f-word, recurring crude language and a few racial slurs, limiting its appropriateness to older adolescents and up. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents.

"Freshman Orientation" (Regent)
Rated "R"
Confusion, if not hilarity, ensues when a college freshman (Sam Huntington) poses as gay in order to befriend a sorority pledge (Kaitlin Doubleday) and win her away from her frat-brother-ex-boyfriend (Bryce Johnson); along the way, he's instructed in gay culture by a local bartender (John Goodman), nearly exposed by an ex-girlfriend (Marla Sokoloff), and gains the unsought affection of his roommate (Mike Erwin). Writer-director Ryan Shiraki's comic venture, a tale of sexual anarchy, suffers from a heavy-handed script and is more glum than amusing. Extensive sexual activity, rear and upper female nudity, brief pornographic imagery, a suicide and pervasive rough, crude and crass language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"Friday Night Lights" (Universal)
Rated "PG-13"
Hard-hitting drama about a season in the life of a small-town high school football team (coached by Billy Bob Thornton) as it struggles to make it to the Texas state championship. Based on the nonfiction best seller by H.G. Bissinger and directed by Peter Berg, the film is an engrossing, at times unsettling, portrait of the lives and fragile dreams of young athletes which exposes the unhealthy pressure-cooker environment where teenagers are asked to shoulder the expectations of an entire community. Much football violence, some underage drinking, two sexual situations, one with partial nudity, an abusive father-son relationship and some crude language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"Friends With Benefits" (Screen Gems)
Rated "R"
Frustrated with the urban dating scene, a New York headhunter (Mila Kunis) and the formerly L.A.-based art director (Justin Timberlake) she recently recruited for a job in Gotham, form a pact to maintain their newfound friendship while also sharing commitment-free, emotionally uninvolved sex. Neither friendly nor beneficial, director and co-writer Will Gluck's thoroughly unromantic romantic comedy features excessively detailed bedroom scenes, a frivolous view of human sexuality and dialogue replete with obscenities. Strong sexual content including graphic nonmarital sexual activity, rear nudity, pervasive sexual and some irreverent humor, relentless rough and crude language. The Catholic News Service classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"Friends With Money" (Sony Classics) *
Rated "R"
Perceptive comedy-drama set in Los Angeles about three couples (Catherine Keener and Jason Isaacs, Frances McDormand and Simon McBurney, Joan Cusack and Greg Germann) and their single underachieving friend (a particularly fine Jennifer Aniston) who serves as a catalyst for the women to rethink their own relationships and priorities. Director-writer Nicole Holofcener skillfully balances the various plotlines, painting an accurate view of contemporary society as she explores the themes of marriage, career, relationships, self-esteem, mortality, facing life's realities and yes, money. Pervasive conversational rough and crude language and expressions, some profanity, a permissive view of premarital sex, implied off-color sexual activity, a running gag about a character's presumed homosexual orientation and a marital breakup. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

"Fright Night" (Disney)
Rated "R"
A Las Vegas-area teen (Anton Yelchin) suspects his new neighbor (Colin Farrell) is a vampire responsible for the sudden disappearance of his boyhood best friend (Christopher Mintz-Plasse). So he seeks the aid of an occult-obsessed illusionist (David Tennant) as he tries to protect his mom (Toni Collette) and girlfriend (Imogen Poots) from the toothy predator. Initially restrained bloodletting gives way to gore galore in director Craig Gillespie's nocturnal remake of a 1985 horror-comedy mix while Marti Noxon's script is peppered with obscenities throughout. Excessive graphic violence, a benign view of teen sexual activity, brief rear nudity, several uses of profanity, pervasive rough and crude language. The Catholic News Service classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"From Paris With Love" (Lionsgate)
Rated "R"
A Paris-based American diplomat and low-level CIA agent (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) yearns to be a real spy but finds himself bewildered when assigned to partner a trigger-happy visiting operative (John Travolta) whose wild pursuit of drug dealers and terrorists sees the pair cutting a bloody swath through the French capital's criminal underworld while the novice's prolonged absence from home causes friction with his live-in Gallic girlfriend (Kasia Smutniak). As directed by Pierre Morel, the proceedings are occasionally amusing but far more often gleefully violent, with Adi Hasak's F-word heavy script glamorizing the mayhem and winking at the Travolta character's tawdry encounter with a streetwalker. Constant, sometimes bloody action violence, offscreen sexual activity with a prostitute, cohabitation, drug use, a couple of profanities, pervasive rough and much crude language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"Frost/Nixon" (Universal)
Rated "R"
Successful expansion of Broadway and London stage hit about the genesis of talk-show host David Frost's (Michael Sheen) historic TV talks with disgraced former U.S. President Richard Nixon (Frank Langella) in 1977. Director Ron Howard and writer Peter Morgan build a good deal of suspense into Frost landing the interview and then getting Nixon publicly to admit for the first time his wrongdoing in the Watergate break-in scandal, with the stars giving pitch perfect performances. Some conversational rough language, brief profanity, and crude expressions, implied nonmarital relationship, fleeting rear nudity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults, though acceptable for older teens. Motion Picture Association of America rating, R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"Frozen River" (Sony Classics)
Rated "R"
Two cash-strapped women in upstate New York -- one (Misty Upham) a widowed Mohawk, the other (Melissa Leo) a white working-class mother of two sons (Charlie McDermott and James Reilly) abandoned by her gambling-addicted husband -- are driven to smuggle undocumented aliens from Canada across the ice-bound St. Lawrence River into the United States for pay. Writer-director Courtney Hunt's somber, understated but dramatically effective feature debut is an unflinching study of hard times, racial divisions, the plight of migrants and the lure of fast money, though it also ultimately celebrates barrier-transcending friendship, rediscovered decency and quiet, self sacrificing heroism. Human trafficking theme, some rough and crude language, and a brief strip club scene without nudity. 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.

"Fugitive Pieces" (Samuel Goldwyn)
Rated "R"
Quietly reflective and affecting story about a small Jewish boy (Robbie Kay) in Poland, separated from his family during the Holocaust, who is adopted by a gentle Greek archaeologist (Rade Sherbedgia), and how the events of those years mold his adulthood as a writer in Canada (where he's played by Stephen Dillane) and his relationships (with Rosamund Pike and Ayelet Zurer). Directed with a measured pace by Jeremy Podeswa, who also wrote the adaptation of Anne Michaels' 1996 novel, the film is especially touching in the tender scenes with Sherbedgia and young Kay who morphs seamlessly into the excellent Dillane, who beautifully conveys how his character comes to terms with the ghosts and guilt of the past. Some nonmarital sexuality with partial and rear nudity, a shooting death, and other brief nongraphic violence, a suicide reference and a couple of mild expletives. 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.

"Fun With Dick and Jane" (Columbia)
Rated "PG-13"
Middling remake of the 1977 George Segal-Jane Fonda comedy about an affluent suburban couple who fall on hard times when they lose their jobs, and after failing to land something else turn to robbery in desperation. Director Dean Parisot's version starts out promisingly, but turns sour and unfunny, despite the skill of its two accomplished stars, while the basic premise, a satire on the American dream and corporate greed, is unconvincing from a dramatic, as much as a moral, standpoint. Some rough and crude language and profanity, brief bedroom encounters between husband and wife, some crude humor and innuendo, mild irreverence. he USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"Funny Games" (Warner Independent)
Rated "R"
Bleak, horrifying thriller about a vacationing couple (Naomi Watts and Tim Roth) and their young son (Devon Gearhart) whose summer house is invaded by two sadistic young men (Michael Pitt and Brady Corbet) who hold them hostage and threaten to kill them. Director Michael Haneke's shot-by-shot remake of his 1997 German film is purportedly a critique of violence and the media, but despite excellent performances, Haneke's undeniable craftsmanship, and most of the appalling violence occurring off-camera, many will find the unrelenting brutality unbearably disturbing, no matter what the intended social commentary. Extreme violence including torture and murder, blood, some crude language and profanity, skimpy female attire and a drug reference. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Funny People" (Universal)
Rated "R"
Told he has only a short time to live, a successful but isolated Hollywood comedian (a pitch-perfect Adam Sandler) hires a struggling comedy novice (Seth Rogen) as his assistant and sidekick, but their budding friendship is threatened by the protege's disapproval of his mentor's potentially destructive reunion with a now-married ex-girlfriend (Leslie Mann). Under a thick crust of raunchy humor and ostensibly misguided sexual attitudes, mature viewers willing to endure a barrage of vulgarity may discern a moving affirmation of moral courage, marital fidelity and the pursuit, however halting, of a meaningful, committed life in writer-director Judd Apatow's overlong but generally effective seriocomic tale. Brief graphic nonmarital sexual activity, adultery, upper female nudity, pervasive rough and crude language, and a half-dozen uses of profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Fur: An Imaginary Portrait of Diane Arbus" (Picturehouse)
Rated "R"
Cinematically inventive fictional take on photographer Diane Arbus (a luminous Nicole Kidman), circa 1958, on the verge of transformation from being her photographer husband's (Ty Burrell) stylist and becoming a trendsetting pictorial chronicler of societal pariahs and those with physical abnormalities. The catalyst for her transformation is her upstairs neighbor (Robert Downey Jr.), a mysterious figure covered with voluminous hair from head to toe, who unleashes her inhibitions and her artistic vision, and with whom she enters into a mostly platonic, but sensually charged, relationship. Director Steven Shainberg uses elements of "Beauty and the Beast" and "Alice in Wonderland" for this absorbing allegory which, if viewed in that light, tempers some of the undeniably problematic elements which will severely limit its appeal to Catholic audiences, and necessitate the restrictive classification. Full-frontal nudity, a sexual encounter along with several highly suggestive if nongraphic encounters, adultery, suicide, some instances of profanity, rough language and crude expressions, mortuary image of dead woman, alcohol and fleeting drug use. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

"Furry Vengeance" (Summit)
Rated "PG"
Painfully flat comedy in which a Chicago-based construction supervisor (Brendan Fraser) moves to the Oregon woods to oversee a new housing development but finds his work stymied by a mischievous conspiracy of the forest creatures whose habitat the supposedly eco-friendly development will displace, leading to complications with his scheming boss (Ken Jeong) and his unwillingly uprooted wife (Brooke Shields) and son (Matt Prokop). Director Roger Kumble's frequently distasteful romp registers as more juvenile than sprightly, while its underlying themes of respect for nature and the priority of family life over career advancement, though honorable, are driven home far too ham-handedly. Much scatological humor and some comic violence. 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.

G
"G" (Andrew Lauren Productions)
Rated "R"
Tepid updating of F. Scott Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby," set amid the affluence of the Hamptons on Long Island, N.Y., about a tormented hip-hop mogul (Richard T. Jones) still passionately in love with the woman (Chenoa Maxwell) who left him 10 years earlier and who is now the unhappily married trophy wife of an unfaithful Wall Street executive (Blair Underwood). Despite a solid performance by Jones, the low-budget film is weighed down by a flat, melodramatic script riddled with decidedly un-"G"-rated dialogue. An adulterous sexual encounter, brief violence and pervasive rough and sexually crude language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

"G-Force" (Disney)
Rated "PG"
3-D fantasy adventure, combining live action and animation, in which a team of three guinea pigs (voices of Sam Rockwell, Tracy Morgan and Penelope Cruz) and a mole (voice of Nicolas Cage), all trained and equipped as government agents by an innovative scientist (Zach Galifianakis), work to foil the plans of a sinister industrialist (Bill Nighy) bent on world domination. As directed by Hoyt H. Yeatman Jr., this exuberant, at times spectacular, rodent romp portrays the crime-fighting team, which eventually includes an enthusiastic but inept pet-store guinea pig (voice of Jon Favreau), as an improvised family, sustained by cooperation, self-sacrifice and forgiveness; these are positive lessons for all but the most impressionable viewers, who might be frightened by repeated scenes of peril. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-I -- general patronage. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.

"G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra" (Paramount/Spyglass)
Rated "PG-13"
Futuristic combat fantasy in which two soldier buddies (Channing Tatum and Marlon Wayans) join an elite international force (led by Dennis Quaid) to thwart an evil arms dealer (Christopher Eccleston) bent on world domination. Special effects are expensive and the lives of the extras are cheap in director Stephen Sommers' slick but uninvolving action excursion, developed from a line of Hasbro toys. Pervasive action violence, brief gore, at least two uses of profanity and about a dozen crude or crass terms. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Game 6" (Serenade)
Rated "R"
A dreary day in the life of a philandering Broadway playwright (Michael Keaton) as his latest play is set to open shows him juggling his apprehensions about the play's reception by a notorious drama critic (Robert Downey Jr.) and hopes that his favorite team, the Red Sox, might finally win the World Series in 1986. Director Michael Hoffman's adaptation of a screenplay by novelist Don DeLillo has a decent cast (including Griffin Dunne, Catherine O'Hara, Bebe Neuwirth, Roger Rees, Lillias White and Harris Yulin), but feels hollow from start to finish, the New York theater milieu ringing particularly false, and the redemptive ending fails to balance the preceding 83 minutes of tedium. A few instances of profanity, rough and crude language, two nongraphic sexual encounters, one with rear and upper female nudity, premarital sexual encounters, sexual discussions, and a violent brawl. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

"The Game Plan" (Disney)
Rated "PG"
Endearing, though slightly implausible story of an egotistical football star (Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, proving a surprisingly congenial comic) whose party-oriented lifestyle is disrupted by the arrival on his doorstep of the 7-year-old daughter he never knew he had (remarkably self-assured Madison Pettis). This event complicates his pursuit of the championship and his relationship with his agent (Kyra Sedgwick), as well as with some of his teammates and friends (Morris Chestnut, Hayes MacArthur and Brian White), but may also lead to romance with his daughter's no-nonsense ballet teacher (Roselyn Sanchez). Director Andy Fickman's film has great appeal for kids, though parents may be grateful for the presence of Sedgwick, whose tart character helps to keep the sweetness level from inducing diabetes. One instance of scatological humor and two mildly crass words may combine with scenes of a lost child and an allergic reaction to preclude very young children. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-I -- general patronage. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.

"Gamer" (Lionsgate/Lakeshore)
Rated "R"
Brutal futuristic gladiator tale in which a wrongly convicted death-row inmate (Gerard Butler), who has been bioengineered for remote control, battles to stay alive and eventually win his freedom under the online direction of a rich teen (Logan Lerman) in a combat game developed by an evil genius (Michael C. Hall). Co-writers and directors Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor's dystopian mishmash also samples the mastermind's other game where players use similarly altered people to act out their sexual fantasies. Constant action violence, much of it gory, mutilation, brief graphic aberrant sexual activity, upper female and rear nudity, a few uses of profanity, and much rough and crude language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"Garden State" (Fox Searchlight)
Rated "R"
- "Garden State" is an offbeat comedy about a struggling, emotionally autistic L.A. actor (Zach Braff) deadpanning it in a lithium-induced daze, who returns to his New Jersey home after 10 years in order to attend his mother's funeral.Through a series of chance encounters with old slacker friends and an eccentric girl (Natalie Portman), he begins to reclaim his life, including his estranged relationship with his father (Ian Holm). Well written and acted, the visually quirky film (Braff's directorial debut) offers witty observations on family, loss and America's fascination with pharmaceutical solutions to life's problems. However, the movie's hope-affirming message is weighed down by its catatonic talkiness. Because of recurring drug content, sexual encounters with partial nudity, and some rough and crude language and humor, the USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"Garfield: A Tale of Two Kitties" (20th Century Fox)
Rated "PG"
Trivial, if innocuously entertaining, sequel to the 2004 comedy based on the Jim Davis comic strip, in which the wisecracking, lazy orange housecat (once again computer animated and lethargically voiced by Bill Murray) travels to England, where he inadvertently switches places with a pampered blueblood feline (voiced by Tim Curry) who has just inherited a castle, finding himself in the cross hairs of the estate's kitty-hating, next-in-line human heir (Billy Connolly) while enjoying the royal treatment from the manor's barnyard staff of talking animals (voiced by the likes of Bob Hoskins, Vinnie Jones and Rhys Ifans). Directed by Tim Hill, the follow-up improves on the first, but the bland script once again relies heavily on the kind of screwball sight gags and slapstick that the kiddies may find amusing, but -- even at a mere 75 minutes -- may induce accompanying adults to take a catnap. Some mildly crude humor. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-I -- general patronage.

"Georgia Rule" (Universal)
Rated "R"
Uneven drama (with some comic moments) about a San Francisco mother (Felicity Huffman) who leaves her deeply troubled 17-year-old daughter (an impressive Lindsay Lohan) in the care of a stern but loving, God-fearing grandmother (Jane Fonda) in small-town Idaho. Director Garry Marshall's glossy soap opera is well acted, and ultimately delivers a pro-family message, along with other positive themes of intergenerational bonding and forgiveness, but the formulaic plot, insufficiently defined characters and tawdry elements like the granddaughter's blatant sexuality and gutter language, a major sexual abuse theme, and patronizing view of the pious Mormon townspeople are detriments. Strong sexual material, though no nudity, implied underage encounters, innuendo, rough and crude language and profanity, domestic violence, blackmail, heavy alcohol use and drug references. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

"Get Him to the Greek" (Universal)
Rated "R"
Raucous, frequently coarse comedy in which a timid young record company executive (Jonah Hill) is tasked by his hard-bitten boss (Sean Combs) with escorting a hedonistic British rock star (Russell Brand) from London to the titular Los Angeles theater for a comeback concert, a journey that coincides with, and aggravates, a break with his live-in girlfriend (Elisabeth Moss). Like his 2008 debut, "Forgetting Sarah Marshall," in which Brand's character first appeared, writer-director Nicholas Stoller's tale of an unlikely friendship features a few touching moments and some positive underlying values, but these elements are ultimately eclipsed by obscenity-laden dialogue and debauched, sometimes perverse behavior. Brief graphic nonmarital sexual activity, scenes of aberrant sexuality, cohabitation, drug use, some gruesome images, upper female and rear nudity, much sexual humor, a couple of uses of profanity, pervasive rough and crude language. The Catholic News Service classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"Get Rich or Die Tryin" (Paramount)
Rated "R"
Disagreeable inner-city drama loosely inspired by the experiences of rap artist Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson, which follows a street thug and aspiring rapper (Jackson) orphaned as a child, who becomes a drug dealer, serves time in prison, survives a near-fatal shooting and eventually turns his life around, quitting crime to pursue his dream of hip-hop stardom. With the film's contrived plot and unsympathetic protagonist, director Jim Sheridan walks a thin line between fashioning a tale of redemption and glorifying the violent "gangsta" lifestyle. Recurring strong violence, including brutal shootings, stabbings, beatings, a bloody scene of implied torture, drug content, sexual situations with partial nudity, a shower scene with rear and fleeting frontal nudity, as well as excessive rough and sexually explicit language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive.

"Get Smart" (Warner Bros.)
Rated "PG-13"
Good-natured update of 1960s TV series with secret agent Maxwell Smart (a perfectly cast Steve Carell), alternately bungling and clever, and his partner, Agent 99 (Anne Hathaway), dispatched to Russia by their chief (Alan Arkin) to battle the evil KAOS crime syndicate boss (Terence Stamp). Director Peter Segal deftly balances action, comedy and sentiment, with quite a few pearly moments, but though the action sequences are never gory or the comedy gross or mean-spirited, the elements listed below are arguably still strong enough to preclude the youngest viewers. Much comic action violence including killings, light sexual references and innuendo, some crude language and crass expressions, a vulgar gesture and brief rear-male nudity; acceptable for older teens. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Ghosts of Girlfriends Past" (Warner Bros.)
Rated "PG-13"
A heartless womanizing bachelor (Matthew McConaughey) is visited by the ghosts of his playboy uncle (Michael Douglas) and those of his jilted girlfriends (Emma Stone, Noureen DeWulf and Olga Maliouk) on the eve of the wedding of his brother (Breckin Meyer), and he comes to realize the depth of his feelings for his childhood sweetheart (Jennifer Garner). Though there's ultimately a wonderfully redemptive outcome and a strong affirmation of marriage and fidelity, along with a couple of superlative scenes for McConaughey, director Mark Waters' "A Christmas Carol" retread is marred by far too much crude and smutty humor before getting there. Crass sexual talk and innuendo, some crude language and fleeting profanity, premarital sexual situations and a drug reference. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Ghost Rider" (Columbia)
Rated "PG-13"
Lightweight supernatural action adventure based on the Marvel Comics' character about a motorcycle daredevil, Johnny Blaze (Nicolas Cage), who makes a deal with the devil (Peter Fonda) and is cursed with having to serve as his "bounty hunter" -- transforming into a flaming skeletal biker astride a fiery chopper by night -- to escape damnation by stopping a renegade fallen angel (Wes Bentley) from unleashing hell on earth. Despite a dumb script and risible theology, the film never takes itself too seriously, and Cage's campy but committed performance is laced with enough humor to make the hokey ride sufficiently diverting B-movie fare. Some parents may find the demonic elements problematic, but it's little more than a comic book retelling of "Faust," and while of greater concern that vengeance, not justice, is meted out by Blaze, love is ultimately shown to be stronger than evil, with a recurring theme of redemption and second chances. Stylized violence, some horror images, a vulgar gesture, scattered crude language and a couple of instances of profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"Ghost Town" (DreamWorks/Spyglass)
Rated "PG-13"
Bittersweet romantic comedy set in New York in which a misanthropic dentist (Ricky Gervais) finds he has acquired the ability to see ghosts after he is clinically dead for seven minutes during a routine medical procedure and is persuaded by the spirit of a recently deceased husband (Greg Kinnear) to break up the engagement of his widow (Tea Leoni), falling for her himself. A melancholy tone pervades director and co-writer David Koepp's cross between "A Christmas Carol" and "Topper," but the laughs are there, along with an overriding message about living life in service to others, and ultimately "letting go" of our deceased loved ones. Some rough language and brief profanity, sexual humor, partial male nudity and drug references; acceptable for older teens. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" (Columbia)
Rated "R"
This piercingly violent and sordid crime thriller, based on the first book in Swedish writer Stieg Larsson's "Millennium Trilogy," follows a journalist (Daniel Craig) and a talented computer hacker (Rooney Mara) as they investigate a wealthy clan's role in the murder of a female member of the family 40 years prior. Director David Fincher's unflinching adaptation is faithful to the often disturbing source material, which includes scenes of heinous physical abuse. Although skillfully -- if exhaustingly -- executed, his film portrays a world seemingly devoid of moral coordinates. The transgressions endured by the title character, and the choices she makes in response, both undermine her quest for justice and render the proceedings inappropriate for all. Excessively graphic violence, including rape, torture and maiming; images of women sadistically murdered; antireligious undertones; strong sexual content, including explicit lesbian and nonmarital encounters and frequent nudity; and much crude and crass language. The Catholic News Service classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"Glee The 3D Concert Movie" (Fox)
Rated "PG"
The popular television show "Glee" leaps to the big screen with a documentary-style look at its ensemble's live-performance concert tour. On the surface, this appears to be innocent karaoke, with fresh-faced "teens" (most, in reality, well past high school age) expressing their inner angst and searching for acceptance by singing cover versions of popular songs. But the showcasing of dedicated fans, called "Gleeks," for whom the show serves as a substitute religion, a politically correct gospel of universal tolerance that, among other things, celebrates homosexual behavior, sets the film irrevocably at odds with Catholic teaching. Explicit endorsement of the homosexual lifestyle, some provocative lyrics and dancing. The Catholic News Service classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.

"Glory Road" (Disney)
Rated "PG"
Crowd pleaser based on the true story of an unproven, small-town basketball coach (Josh Lucas), who -- hired to turn around a Texas college's losing program -- bucks the color barrier by recruiting African-American athletes (including Derek Luke), molding his interracial underdogs into a unified team and leading them to an improbable and racially heated shot at the 1966 national title, where he starts five black players -- a first in college hoops -- against a top-seeded, all-white Kentucky squad. Directed by James Gartner, the feel-good, if formulaic, film rips a familiar page from the playbook of past inspirational sports movies, but has heart and a winning message about teamwork and racial equality that transcends sports. An instance of violence, some racial slurs and minimal crude language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents.

"Gnomeo & Juliet" (Touchstone)
Rated "G"
William Shakespeare's classic tragedy about star-crossed lovers morphs into a clever animated comedy as rival families of garden gnomes face off in a battle for backyard supremacy. It's love at first ceramic clink for Juliet Capulet (voice of Emily Blunt) and Gnomeo Montague (voice of James McAvoy), but differences in clan allegiance threaten to drive them apart. Until, that is, a wise pink flamingo (voice of Jim Cummings) assures them that love conquers all including, in this case, the Bard's original ending. Director Kelly Asbury's slightly warped but ultimately winning film offers good, clean, wholesome fun for the entire family. The Catholic News Service classification is A-I -- general patronage. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is G -- general audiences, all ages admitted.

"Goal! The Dream Begins" (Touchstone)
Rated "PG"
Familiar but satisfying sports drama about an undocumented Mexican migrant (Kuno Becker) who is given an opportunity to escape his father's (Tony Plana) hardscrabble fate and fulfill his dream of playing professional soccer when a former British scout (Stephen Dillane) visiting Los Angeles offers him a tryout with a top-tier English soccer team. Directed by Danny Cannon, the film's feel-good underdog theme coupled with Becker's appealing performance scores, despite a formulaic script, underdeveloped characters and an overlong length. A few crude expressions, suggested drunkenness and carousing, implied sexual situations and some sports roughness, limiting its appropriateness to older adolescents and up. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents.

"Going the Distance" (Warner Bros.)
Rated "R"
Drew Barrymore and Justin Long are girlfriend and boyfriend living on opposite sides of the country in this surprisingly raunchy romantic comedy. Whatever wholesome charms the two actors possess are obscured by the dirty-minded nature of the dialogue as director Nanette Burstein and screenwriter Geoff LaTulippe resort to sophomoric bawdiness to enliven the proceedings. The couple's separation anxiety pales in comparison to the audience's distress at hearing them continuously spout vulgarities and obsess about sex. Two somewhat explicit if fleeting premarital encounters, rear male nudity, persistent alcohol and an instance of marijuana use, much profanity, frequent graphic sexual banter and pervasive rough, crude and crass language. The Catholic News Service classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"Going Upriver: The Long War of John Kerry" (ThinkFilm)
Rated "NR" Not Rated
Serious-minded feature-length documentary based on the book "Tour of Duty" profiling John Kerry's experiences as a Navy Swift boat commander during the Vietnam War and his subsequent anti-war activism, focusing on his leadership role during a 1971 veterans' protest in Washington. Directed by longtime Kerry friend George Butler, the film wrestles with questions about the meaning of patriotism, blending compelling archival footage and photographs with talking-head interviews with fellow veterans to create an emotional, if highly idealized, portrait of Kerry. Though temperate in tone, the film ultimately comes across as advocacy journalism, opinions of which will vary according to viewers' political stripes. Images of war violence and some crude language. USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents.

"The Golden Compass" (New Line)
Rated "PG-13"
Lavish, well-acted, and fast-paced adaptation of the first volume of Philip Pullman's trilogy, "His Dark Materials," charting the adventures of a spunky young girl (Dakota Blue Richards) who leaves home to become apprentice to a glamorous scholar (Nicole Kidman) who later turns duplicitous, causing the girl to escape and, inspired by her explorer-uncle (Daniel Craig), flees northward to try to rescue her young friend who have been kidnapped by a repressive agency known as the Magisterium, finding allies in a piratelike seafarer (Jim Carter), a Texas aeronaut (Sam Elliott), and a great polar bear (voice of Ian McKellen). Despite the professed atheism of its author, and the more overt church connotation of this Magisterium in the novels, director Chris Weitz's film, taken purely on its own cinematic terms, can be viewed as an exciting adventure story with a traditional struggle between good and evil, and a generalized rejection of authoritarianism. Intense but bloodless fantasy violence, anti-clerical subtext, standard genre occult elements, character born out of wedlock, a whiskey-guzzling bear. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

"Gone Baby Gone" (Miramax)
Rated "R"
Thought-provoking mystery about a private investigator (a superlative Casey Affleck) and his girlfriend-partner (Michelle Monaghan) hired to investigate the disappearance of the 4-year-old daughter of a drug addict (Amy Ryan) in the Boston area, with the reluctant cooperation of the police (Morgan Freeman and Ed Harris). Ben Affleck makes an auspicious directorial debut in this adaptation of Dennis Lehane's novel, and though the seedy environment, pervasive expletives and sporadic but graphic violence will not be to everyone's taste, mature viewers will find those elements and some morally troublesome actions handled with gravity and intelligence. Pervasive rough language, profanity, violence with blood, corpses, an impulsive vigilante-style killing, drug use, implied nonmarital relationships, and child abuse references. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard" (Paramount Vantage)
Rated "R"
Shoddy, vulgar comedy about a failing used-car dealer (James Brolin) who summons a team of crack freelance sales types (led by Jeremy Piven) in a last-gasp bid to save his business. Despite a plotline about freewheeling Piven's desire to settle down as a family man, director Neal Brennan's gear-grinding lemon mostly runs on humor and language as sordid as the strip clubs its characters frequent. Strong sexual content, including adultery and brief graphic nonmarital sexual activity, full nudity, drug use, about a dozen uses of profanity, and pervasive rough and much crude language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"The Good German" (Warner Bros.)
Rated "R"
Compelling, well-acted, if somewhat contrived, story of a U.S. war correspondent (George Clooney) who comes to Berlin to cover the Potsdam peace conference after World War II, and finds the German woman with whom he once had an affair (Cate Blanchett), who is now desperate to leave the country, as he attempts to solve the mystery of the murder of the opportunistic young corporal (Tobey Maguire) assigned to be his driver, eventually leading him to the woman's scientist husband whose expertise is sought by both the American and Russian occupiers. Director Steven Soderbergh has filmed this adaptation of Joseph Kanon's novel with the black-and-white trappings of postwar-era films, a distracting stunt that is nonetheless more successful than not, though the adult themes, sexual content and language are very much in the contemporary vein. Rough language and profanity, crude expressions, racial epithets, prostitution, a shadowy sexual encounter without nudity, adultery, rape discussion, violence, murder and a mild striptease. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"Good Luck Chuck" (Lionsgate)
Rated "R"
Raunchy comedy about a dentist (Dane Cook) cursed with being a steppingstone for women seeking Mr. Right is obnoxious, humorless and often downright nauseating. Even with the charming Jessica Alba at his disposal, first-time director Mark Helfrich can't make the vulgar material flow or soften its warped take on modern relationships and physical intimacy. Dozens of sexual encounters and pervasive explicit banter, frequent rough, crude and crass language, masturbation, bathroom humor, drug use, rear male nudity, and numerous shots of upper female nudity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"The Good Night" (Yari)
Rated "R"
Meandering New York-based tale of a complacent commercial-jingle writer (Martin Freeman), whose relationship with his live-in girlfriend (Gwyneth Paltrow) has soured, so he begins to fantasize about an idealized woman (Penelope Cruz), and with the help of a New Age dream expert (Danny DeVito), works to conjure her in his sleep (even during the day) to escape his increasing doldrums. Despite Freeman's hangdog appeal, and decent performances from a cast that includes Simon Pegg and Michael Gambon, viewers of writer-director Jake Paltrow's feature-film debut may find refuge in sleep themselves. Pervasive rough language and casual profanity, crude expressions and sexual references, a nonmarital living arrangement, brief upper female nudity, sexual groping and implied masturbation. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Good Night, and Good Luck." (Warner Independent)
Rated "PG"
Stylish black-and-white recreation of 1950s television era as crusading broadcast journalist Edward R. Murrow (an uncannily evocative David Strathairn) and his colleagues Fred Friendly (George Clooney), Joe Wershba (Robert Downey Jr.), and "Sig" Mickelson (Jeff Daniels) take on Sen. Joseph McCarthy in his crusade against communism, under the watchful eye of CBS President William Paley (Frank Langella) and brace for repercussions. Clooney directed this well-deserved tribute to a television golden-age legend, streamlining events, but basically dramatizing the facts as known, and skillfully interweaving the footage with actual TV programs and commercials of the time. A couple of instances of profanity, a suicide and much tobacco use. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents.

"The Good Shepherd" (Universal)
Rated "R"
Austere but generally absorbing over-the-years saga of a fictitious CIA man (a quietly intense Matt Damon) tracing his life from initiation into the secretive Yale Skull and Bones fraternity; his unhappy marriage to a classmate's sister (Angelina Jolie); his recruitment into the Office of Strategic Services during World War II; his role in the failed Bay of Pigs invasion during John F. Kennedy's administration; and his poignant relationship with the son (Eddie Redmayne) with whom he could never be close. Robert De Niro (who plays a small part here) directs the fact-based film with a sure hand, and though the plot has some holes effectively demonstrates the emotional consequences of its protagonist's overly secretive life and the tragedy of sacrificing one's humanity for misplaced ideals. Adultery and premarital sex, a shadowy sexual encounter, innuendo, a predatory gay character, a couple of cold-blooded murders and other spy-related dirty doings, suicides, marital discord, partial nudity, drug use, a few expletives and racial epithets. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"The Gospel" (Screen Gems)
Rate "PG"
Elevating if melodramatic redemption drama about a preacher's son (Boris Kodjoe) who returns home after 15 years -- putting his temptation-filled success as a chart-topping hip-hop artist on hold -- to mend fences with his estranged father (Clifton Powell), who is terminally ill; his childhood friend (Idris Elba), who's been named his father's successor at the church; and make peace with himself and his past. Despite an undernourished script padded with roof-raising gospel music numbers, director Rob Hardy's contemporary reimagining of the prodigal son parable movingly explores themes of family, faith, forgiveness, flawed humanity and God's unconditional love. An implied sexual encounter, mature themes, brief fisticuffs, a bump-and-grind dance sequence and some mildly crude language, making it better suited for older adolescents. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"The Grace Card" (Samuel Goldwyn)
Rated "PG-13"
Idealistic drama -- set in Memphis, Tenn. -- about the transformative relationship between a troubled, borderline-racist police officer (Michael Joiner) and the black patrol partner (Michael Higgenbottom) with whom he finds himself unwillingly teamed. Haunted by the long-ago death of his toddler son, the white cop is disconnected both from his loving wife (Joy Moore) and from the deceased lad's younger brother (Rob Erikson), now an adrift teen. Though repeatedly rebuffed, his new cohort, a happily married part-time minister, is confident the solution can be found in Gospel values. While not especially subtle, director David Evans' warm-hearted, unobjectionable message movie -- which also features Louis Gossett Jr. as the preacher's inspirational grandfather -- winningly celebrates familial forgiveness and racial reconciliation. Drug-use theme and brief action violence with some blood. The Catholic News Service classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

"Gracie" (Picturehouse)
Rated "PG-13"
Father-daughter story about a teenage girl (Carly Schroeder) in 1978 New Jersey who's determined to play for her high school's boys' soccer team. Director Davis Guggenheim refreshingly doesn't follow the standard sports-film trajectory, making her path far from smooth or direct, and the climactic game all the more inspiring for its naturalism. Several instances of crude language, two instances of mild, clothed sexual groping, one bloody nose, a few puffs of underage smoking, an underage teen at a disco. The film might be acceptable for older teens. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"The Grand" (Anchor Bay Entertainment)
Rated "R"
Moderately amusing improvised mock documentary about an addiction-prone, down-on-his-luck Las Vegas casino owner (Woody Harrelson) who sponsors and plays in a poker tournament that brings together a collection of eccentrics (David Cross, Dennis Farina and Cheryl Hines, among others) to compete for a $10 million prize. Co-writer and director Zak Penn's comedy, following the path blazed by Christopher Guest, takes a sly, deadpan approach to its characters' sometimes outrageous, sometimes banal behavior, but only scores laughs intermittently. Much rough, crude and crass language, three uses of profanity, some sexual humor, drug and prostitution references, and an obscene gesture. 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.

"Grandma's Boy" (20th Century Fox)
Rated "R"
Unspeakably bad comedy about a video-game tester (Allen Covert) who moves in with his grandmother (Doris Roberts) and her geriatric roommates (Shirley Jones and Shirley Knight) after he's evicted for nonpayment of rent, his growing attraction to the efficiency expert at the office (Linda Cardellini), and his interaction with a coterie of goofy friends (including Nick Swardson). Nonstop gross-out humor and rough and crude language, sexual situations and innuendo, upper female and rear male nudity, heavy drug use, hedonistic worldview. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive.

"Gran Torino" (Warner Bros.)
Rated "R"
Improbable and gritty if ultimately humane redemption tale of a crusty Korean War vet (Clint Eastwood in peak form) who resents the encroachment of the Laotian Hmongs who have moved into his Detroit neighborhood, but becomes their reluctant hero and unlikely friend after he saves the young teen (Bee Vang) next door from being pressured to join a marauding Hmong gang. Eastwood directs with his customary frontier worldview, with the cultural tolerance theme and a positive priest character (Christopher Carley) strong pluses, though the nonstop racial epithets and expletives are, even in this context, excessive. Pervasive rough language, profanity and racial slurs, violence with bloodshed, and a morally tangled ending. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"The Great Buck Howard" (Magnolia)
Rated "PG"
Charming show biz comedy about a law school dropout (Colin Hanks) who takes a job as road manager for a once-famed but now washed-up mentalist (John Malkovich), eventually bonding with him, despite the performer's egotistical delusions, and falling for his much put-upon publicist (Emily Blunt). Sustained by Malkovich's masterly characterization, writer-director Sean McGinly's gentle spoof offers a valentine to perseverance along with a sendup of celebrity culture, though the central romance becomes sexual after mere acquaintance. A premarital relationship and some mildly sexual humor. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.

"The Great Raid" (Miramax)
Rated "R"
Stirring World War II drama set in the Philippines which tells the real-life story of the daring mission to rescue 500 American POWs from a Japanese prison camp by a vastly outnumbered joint team of U.S. Army rangers (led by Benjamin Bratt and James Franco) and Filipino resistance fighters. Directed by John Dahl, the movie has an old-fashioned patriotic feel, and while the acting and writing are less than stellar, it hardly detracts from what is a tremendous tale of heroism and sacrifice. Intense wartime violence, including torture, executions and scenes of burning bodies, some vulgar language, profanity and ethnic slurs. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"The Green Hornet" (Columbia)
Rated "PG-13"
Rancid comedic remake of the masked crimefighter franchise that began as a Golden Age radio drama in the 1930s. Director Michel Gondry combines unlikable, potty-mouthed characters, occasional racist outbursts and a numbing procession of car crashes as he updates the familiar story of a respectable newspaper publisher by day (Seth Rogen) who becomes, by night, a disguised vigilante working outside the law. Much gun and martial-arts violence, vigilantism theme, one scene of implied premarital sex, occasional profanity, pervasive crude and crass language. 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.

"Green Lantern" (Warner Bros.)
Rated "PG-13"
Mediocre comic book adaptation, directed by Martin Campbell, in which a devil-may-care test pilot (Ryan Reynolds) is endowed with superhuman powers and joins the ranks of an elite force of intergalactic warriors. Opposing the flyboy is a biology professor (Peter Sarsgaard) whose accidental infection with super-villain negative energy offers him the chance to act on his longstanding jealousy over our hero's on-again, off-again relationship with an aeronautics executive (Blake Lively) both have known since childhood. The effects-driven proceedings see the main character struggling to become more responsible -- in the bedroom as well as on the cosmic beat. But the underlying mythos, which pits will against fear and posits that the former, properly channeled, can turn thoughts into reality, including newly created physical objects, seems tainted with a range of crackpot ideologies to which responsible parents will not want their targeted teens exposed. Themes requiring mature discernment, much bloodless violence, implied casual sex, a few uses of profanity, some crude language and sexual references. 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.

"Gridiron Gang" (Columbia)
Rated "PG-13"
Inspiring truth-based sports drama about a juvenile detention camp probation officer (Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson) who organizes a football team from among the teen inmates (including Jade Yorker and David Thomas) to teach them discipline and teamwork, and through his tough-love determination succeeds in instilling self-esteem and turning their lives in a positive direction, while competing for the regional high school championship. Despite formulaic plot elements, director Phil Joanou's uplifting movie shows the heart of a winner, with emotional performances and a surprisingly strong redemptive theme of second chances. Pervasive crude language, scattered profanity, an instance of the f-word, intense street violence, brief sexual humor, football roughness and a few racial slurs. Some parents may feel the worthy message makes it acceptable for older adolescents. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

The Greatest Game Ever Played" (Disney)
Rated "PG"
Absorbing and inspiring true-life story of a young amateur working-class golfer, Francis Ouimet (Shia LeBeouf), who played against British golf champion Harry Vardon (Stephen Dillane) in the 1913 U.S. Open. Director Bill Paxton's film is filled with excellent period detail, and though the pace is leisurely, the color palette muted, and the dialogue low-key, the themes of class conflict, achievement against improbable odds, loyalty, and good sportsmanship are vividly drawn, and the golf sequences are grippingly suspenseful. This film contains minimal, mild language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-I -- general patronage.

"Green Zone" (Universal)
Rated "R"
Idealistic but raw combat drama, set in the early days of the U.S. invasion of Iraq, as a dedicated Army officer (Matt Damon) tries to discover why his unit's search for the Saddam regime's weapons of mass destruction continually comes up empty, and finds himself caught in a power struggle between a Defense Department intelligence agent (Greg Kinnear) who's indifferent to the justification for American intervention and a rogue CIA station chief (Brendan Gleeson) who believes the whole operation rests on a foundation of lies and fabrications. Director Paul Greengrass' uneasy mix of political conspiracy yarn and action adventure, loosely inspired by journalist Rajiv Chandrasekaran's 2007 best-seller "Imperial Life in the Emerald City," increasingly takes on the qualities of a personal crusade by its hero, thus blunting its ability to dissect larger questions of real-life morality. Considerable action violence, some of it bloody, torture, several uses of profanity, frequent rough and crude language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Grindhouse" (Dimension)
Rated "R"
Cinematically inventive but brutally sordid two-part homage to the cheapie exploitation films of the 1960s and '70s features writer-director Robert Rodriguez's zombie-inspired "Planet Terror" in which residents of a Texas town (Freddy Rodriguez, Rose McGowan, Josh Brolin and Marley Shelton) face down plague-infested mutants; and writer-director Quentin Tarantino's revenge slasher "Death Proof" in which a sadistic killer (Kurt Russell) makes the mistake of targeting a group of movie stuntwomen (Rosario Dawson, Tracie Thoms and Zoe Bell), and gets more than he bargained for. Though both films have been made with skill and wry humor, all the unsavory elements that made those original B-movies so objectionable are now presented with a permissiveness that far eclipses the originals. Pervasive rough language and profanity, heavy-duty gore with bloodshed and worse, blatant sexuality including upper female nudity and attempted rape, a non-graphic encounter with partial nudity, sadism, innuendo, torture, much gross-out imagery and vigilante justice. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive.

"Grizzly Man" (Lions Gate)
Rated "R"
Fascinating profile of grizzly bear preservationist Timothy Treadwell, who filmed himself alone in the wilderness over a five-year period as he tried to "make friends" with wild bears and protect them, fully aware of the dangers, until he was killed by a bear in 2003. German director Werner Herzog explores the life and death of a man by turns passionate, eccentric and childlike -- using much of Treadwell's own footage -- to which he added the recollections of Treadwell's parents, colleagues and girlfriends. The result is a compulsively absorbing psychological study of an obsessed man, alternately admired and disparaged by those who knew him, as much as a nature documentary. Profanity, much rough language including repeated use of the f-word, some sexual musings, irreligious grumblings, animal violence, and gruesome description of his death (not shown). The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

"The Groomsmen" (Bauer-Martinez)
Rated "R"
Intermittently engaging New York drama about a writer (Edward Burns, who also directs) wrestling with anxiety over his impending marriage to his pregnant girlfriend (Brittany Murphy) during a week, leading up to the wedding, of male bonding with his groomsmen (Jay Mohr, Matthew Lillard, Donal Logue and John Leguizamo), each of whom is dealing with personal dilemmas as well. As with past Burns' films, the movie -- set in his usual working-class, Irish-Catholic milieu -- explores themes of family and friendship, love and commitment, relationships and responsibility, but while it has moments of honest emotion, the talky script lacks focus and much of the banter is banal. Pervasive rough and crude language, some profanity, an uncritical view of homosexuality, tacit approval of premarital living arrangements, several vulgar gestures, fleeting rear nudity, a scene in a strip club, and a crass scene of urination. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

"Grown Ups" (Columbia)
Rated "PG-13"
Meandering, scattershot comedy, of interest mainly to devoted Adam Sandler fans, in which co-writer Sandler and director Dennis Dugan set out to tell the tale of five friends (Kevin James, Chris Rock, David Spade and Rob Schneider, along with Sandler), all once members of a championship private-school basketball team, who reunite with their families at a New England lake cabin after their coach dies, but this weak entry mostly offers up stale riffs and physical comedy in lieu of a strong story. Some mild sexual and scatological humor, including a running gag about a 4-year-old boy who still breastfeeds, brief rear nudity, fleeting crude and crass language, a few instances of innuendo. 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.

"The Guardian" (Touchstone)
Rated "PG-13"
Action drama about a veteran Coast Guard rescue swimmer (Kevin Costner) who, after losing a colleague, temporarily hangs up his fins to teach at a Coast Guard academy, where he locks horns with a cocky recruit (Ashton Kutcher). Despite treading water for most of its first hour that plays like a commercial for the Coast Guard, director Andrew Davis' formulaic film is kept afloat by appealing performances, exciting rescue sequences and an admirable theme about sacrificing one's life for others. Intense scenes of peril, including a harrowing helicopter crash, implied sexual encounters and a tacit approval of casual sex, a brief bar fight, an instance of the f-word, as well as some crude language and profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

A Guide To Recognizing Your Saints" (First Look)
Rated "R"
Adaptation of writer-director Dito Montiel's gritty memoir about his turbulent adolescence (where he's played by Shia LaBeouf) in Queens, New York, with its street violence, casual sex and drugs, his longing for his dad's (Chazz Palminteri) love, and ultimately his flight from and eventual return to the neighborhood as an adult (Robert Downey Jr.) when the father is gravely ill. The film is a kaleidoscopic jumble of fast edits, zooms and pans conveying the undoubted upheaval in Dito's life, but despite its redemptive message about parent-child reconciliation, the brutal milieu and heavy-duty street patois, however accurate, are extremely rough going. Nonstop rough and crude language and general vulgarity, racial slurs, sexual banter and situations with partial nudity, innuendo, drug use, violence, murder, suicide and much domestic discord. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Gulliver's Travels" (Fox)
Rated "PG"
Mediocre effort attempting to cash in on the elusive comic abilities of Jack Black, who plays a modern riff on the traveler Lemuel Gulliver, hero of Jonathan Swift's classic 18th-century novel. A lazy mailroom clerk who dreams of becoming a travel writer to impress the editor (Amanda Peet) for whom he has fallen, Gulliver cheats his way to a seaborne assignment, only to find himself transported to Lilliput, a vaguely British island populated by a race of people only 4 inches tall. Although marketed to children and families, director Rob Letterman's sour, slapped-together project features a flagrantly overplayed gross-out gag and carries a noxiously cynical message: You can plagiarize and lie without penalty and still end up with the girl -- and the job --- of your dreams. Skewed moral values, graphic scatological humor and some intense action scenes. The Catholic News Service classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.

"The Gunstringer" (Microsoft)
Rated "T"
Enjoyable but less than family-friendly Kinect title for the Xbox 360 in which the player is involved in a puppet show, controlling an undead sheriff marionette via his strings. The action takes place in a multitude of stage environments as the lawman pursues a quest to avenge his death. Despite a short playing span, the Kinect implementation is well done and enriches the game. But what could have been a fun experience for all must be marked off-limits for kids due to adult -- and sometimes troubling -- content. Cartoon violence with gore, some sexual material including a bizarre, potentially aberrant sequence, prostitution and drug references. The Catholic News Service classification is A-III -- adults. The Entertainment Software Rating Board rating is T -- Teen.

"The Grudge" (Columbia)
Rated "PG-13"
Stylish and spooky supernatural thriller set in Japan about a young American student (Sarah Michelle Gellar), who becomes entangled in the strange goings-on at a cursed house haunted by the vengeful spirits of its murdered former residents. A remake of his hugely popular 2003 Japanese horror movie, director Takashi Shimizu wisely resists the temptation to indulge in a special-effects orgy, avoiding gory excess in favor of more muted psychological chills, which offer viewers some spine-tingling moments. Scary scenes, a suicide and some violence. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents are strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

"The Grudge 2" (Columbia)
Rated "PG-13"
Sequel to the 2004 supernatural thriller about a vengeful ghost whose malice swells beyond the haunted Tokyo abode of the first film to "infect" the sister (Amber Tamblyn) of the previous movie's heroine (Sarah Michelle Gellar in cameo) and an American schoolgirl (Arielle Kebbel) studying in Japan who carries the evil "grudge" back home to Chicago where it spreads to her neighbors (including Jennifer Beals). Director Takashi Shimizu (who also directed the American and earlier Japanese originals) provides some chills, but the spooky effects are wasted on a nonsensical script that will leave those who didn't see the first installment -- and some who did -- scratching their heads, and which is made all the more confusing by its nonlinear plot. Some scary and disturbing images, horror violence, sexual situations and innuendo, as well as some scattered mildly crude expressions. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"Guess Who" (Columbia)
Rated "PG-13"
Loosely based updating of the 1967 classic, "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner," with a race-reversing twist in which an African-American girl (Zoe Saldana) brings home her white fiance (Ashton Kutcher) to meet her pigment-conscious parents, only to be met with resistance by her overprotective father (Bernie Mac). Directed by Kevin Rodney Sullivan, the film, with its love-is-colorblind message, has its moments thanks to a solid turn by Mac, but most of its broad comedy falls flat and in playing it strictly for laughs lacks the eyebrow-raising original's now-dated sense of daring and social import. Some crude and profane language and sex-related humor. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents are strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

"Gunner Palace" (Palm)
Rated "PG-13"
Raw and unfocused but affecting anti-war documentary chronicling the daily lives, fears and frustrations of soldiers serving in a U.S. Army unit known as the "Gunners" and stationed in a volatile area of Iraq, traveling with them on hazardous night patrols and raids of houses of suspected insurgents, as well as showing them relaxing at the bombed-out former palace of Uday Hussein, now converted into barracks -- complete with swimming pool and putting green -- from which the film derives its title. Directed by the married filmmaking team of Michael Tucker and Petra Epperlein -- from footage Tucker spent two months collecting while embedded with the troops -- the (mostly) apolitical movie, shot in no-frills verite style and told entirely from the soldiers' point of view in their own uncensored words, is by turns sobering and surreal, resulting in snapshots of combat drudgery which add up to a war-is-hell message that will resonate with viewers whatever their political stripes. The film contains much strong language and recurring images of wartime violence. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.
H
"Hairspray" (New Line)
Rated "PG"
Highly enjoyable adaptation of the hit Broadway musical based on a 1988 film of the same title about an overweight 1960s Baltimore girl (Nikki Blonsky) whose parents (Christopher Walken and John Travolta, the latter in a cross-dressing role) support her dreams of competing on a racially segregated local dance program which the girl helps integrate. Director Adam Shankman keeps the pace moving and strikes a sensible balance between heightened realism and more fanciful elements. There are entertaining performances from a well-chosen cast, including Michelle Pfeiffer, Queen Latifah, Zac Efron and James Marsden, and strong messages about racial tolerance and self-respect. Some crass expressions, innuendo, mild sexual banter and irreverence, and brief teen smoking make this best for older adolescents. 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.

"Half Nelson" (THINKFilm)
Rated "R"
Small but poignant drama about an inner-city public school history teacher (Ryan Gosling) whose classroom idealism hides his private, self-destructive spiral into drug addiction, until he's caught in the act by one of his students (Shareeka Epps), a tough girl with a troubled home life, triggering an unlikely friendship that changes them both. Despite its bleak subject matter, director Ryan Fleck's gritty film is ultimately about redemption, connection and transformation, and is buttressed by emotionally honest performances that illuminate flawed humanity and a taut script that avoids cliche, easy answers or oversentimentality. Recurring drug content, a sexual encounter with fleeting partial nudity, and much rough and crude language, as well as some profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"Hall Pass" (Warner Bros.)
Rated "R"
Directors and co-writers Peter and Bobby Farrelly take a low-road journey through contemporary marital mores as two sex-obsessed suburban husbands (Owen Wilson and Jason Sudeikis) are given permission by their exasperated mates (Jenna Fischer and Christina Applegate) to ignore their wedding vows for a week. Though the primary joke in the brothers' script (penned in collaboration with Pete Jones and Kevin Barnett) concerns how little productive use the would-be studs make of their supposed freedom -- an arrangement referred to by the slang phrase of the title -- at least two instances of flat-out infidelity are treated as minor, if regrettable, indiscretions. A juvenile view of human sexuality also prevails throughout. The relentlessly vulgar bedroom banter is interspersed, on occasion, by repellant sight gags. Strong sexual content including adultery, a homosexual rape, masturbation, full nudity and pervasive coarse dialogue, drug use, graphic scatological humor, much rough and crude language. The Catholic News Service classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"Halloween" (Dimension)
Rated "R"
This egregiously sadistic remake of John Carpenter's 1978 cult horror film recounts the repeated rampages of Michael Myers who, as a boy (Daeg Faerch), murders -- among a few others -- his stripper mother's (Sheri Moon Zombie) deadbeat boyfriend (William Forsythe) and his wayward older sister (Hanna Hall) and, as a man (Tyler Mane), terrorizes -- among many others -- his psychiatrist (Malcolm McDowell) and his younger sister (Scout Taylor Compton). Writer-director Rob Zombie's film is both an aesthetic crime and a mistake, wallowing in blood, gore, screams and the dying desperation of its victims. Scenes of prolonged, gruesome and bloody violence with gore; sexual activity; rear and upper female nudity; obscene gestures; pervasive rough, crude and crass language; and scatological humor. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"Halloween II" (Dimension)
Rated "R"
Writer-director Scott Zombie creates a horror film so boring and predictable, even Michael Myers (Tyler Mane) looks embarrassed to be put through his desultory homicidal paces. Deborah Myers (Sheri Moon Zombie, the director's wife), is Michael's semi-spooky, cliche-spouting ghost of a mother, and Scout Taylor-Compton reprises her scream-queen role as Michael's disturbingly foulmouthed sister Laurie, with whom he longs to have a violent, delusional reunion. Strong violent content, including multiple stabbings, a strangling and a fatal stomping, fleeting upper female nudity, pervasive rough and crass language and occasional sexual banter. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"The Hangover Part II" (Warner Bros.)
Rated "R"
This joke is so over. Identical plot to its predecessor with a darker tone, considerably more Asian stereotyping in a Thailand setting, and ugly sexual humor. The "We were so stoned that ..." epic, directed by Todd Phillips and written by Craig Mazin and Scot Armstrong, reunites Ed Helms, Bradley Cooper and Zach Galifianakis to reconstruct a violent debauch in Bangkok. Full-frontal male and female nudity, pervasive crass, crude and profane language, considerable drug use, and references to sexual acts. The Catholic News Service classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"Happy-Go-Lucky" (Miramax)
Rated “R”
Likable, nearly plotless comedy, about a persistently good-natured grade schoolteacher (Sally Hawkins) and her circle of friends, relatives and acquaintances: her longtime roommate (Alexis Zegerman), tightly wound driving instructor (Eddie Marsan), impassioned flamenco trainer (Karina Fernandez) and the school social worker (Samuel Roukin) with whom she falls in love. Hawkins' mannerisms are sometimes grating, and the film, though never dull, is occasionally static, but the story builds and its heroine's eccentricities become more tolerable as writer-director Mike Leigh's film progresses, while its heroine's unshakable optimism and deep compassion for others proves ultimately affecting. Some rough language and brief profanity, some crude expressions and sexual remarks, and an implied nonmarital sexual encounter. 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.

"Hamlet 2" (Focus Features)
Rated "R"
Comic free-for-all in which a quirky failed actor turned high school drama teacher (Steve Coogan) works with two favorite students (Skylar Astin and Phoebe Strole) and a gifted newcomer (Joseph Julian Soria) to mount the titular sequel -- a cathartic extravaganza of his own creation -- in an effort to halt the shutdown of his program, despite growing community controversy and the indifference of his caustic wife (Catherine Keener). Director and co-writer Andrew Fleming's provocative, sometimes overreaching satire, which takes on everything from racial attitudes to child abuse to the gulf between Christian spirituality and celebrity culture, may strike many as wayward, but its underlying values are humane. Fleeting frontal male and brief rear nudity, much sexual and some irreverent humor, frequent rough and crude language, a few uses of profanity, child molestation, adultery and fertility themes, and drug references. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Hancock" (Columbia/Relativity)
Rated "PG-13"
Ultimately muddled action film in which a dyspeptic, alcoholic Los Angeles superhero (Will Smith), whose good deeds often lead to mayhem, finds the road to reform laid out for him by an idealistic PR executive (Jason Bateman) made bumpy by his deep attraction to his new friend's wife (Charlize Theron. With its clever premise and dizzying special effects, the first part of director Peter Berg's film works well enough, but after one snappy plot twist bogs down in the murky mythology of its back story. Moderately intense fantasy action, partial rear nudity, some vulgar humor, occasional rough and much crude language, a profanity and an obscene gesture. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"The Hangover" (Warner Bros.)
Rated "R"
A 100-minute assault of crude behavior, violence, racial stereotypes and male nudity strung along a thin plot of three groomsmen (Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis, Justin Bartha) searching for their pal the bridegroom (Bradley Cooper) after a drunken and drugged Las Vegas debauch the night before the wedding. Producer-director Doug Phillips and screenwriters Jon Lucas and Doug Moore work on the assumptions that any loutish behavior is hilarious, and if it's funny when a grown man gets hit in the face by a car door, it's even funnier when it later happens to an infant. Intermittent violence; pervasive crass, crude and profane language; upper female and explicit male nudity; drug use; frequent urination; and crude sexual gags, one involving an infant. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"Hanna" (Focus)
Rated "PG-13"
Espionage thriller in which Saoirse Ronan plays the titular teen, a child bred to kill. Raised in isolation by her father (Eric Bana), who trains her to use violence as instinctively as a wild animal, she's pursued -- once she starts to put her deadly skills to use -- by the CIA agent (Cate Blanchett), who alone knows her family's dark secrets. Engaging performances overcome plot improbabilities in director Joe Wright's action outing. But the moral murkiness of story lines instrumental to the wrap-up, and references to genetic manipulation and abortion, restrict the film's appropriate audience to religiously and ethically well-grounded adults. Mature themes, extensive but non-gory gun and martial-arts violence, a single profanity and fleeting crude language. 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.

"Hannah Montana the Movie" (Disney)
Rated "G"
Breezy romance with music in which a teen singer (Miley Cyrus), who has gained fame under the pseudonym Hannah Montana, is forced by her concerned father (Billy Ray Cyrus) to retreat temporarily from her hectic career and spend time with him and her grandmother (Margo Martindale) on the Tennessee farm where she grew up, where she falls for a local farmhand (Lucas Till) while fending off a British paparazzo (Peter Gunn) out to reveal the secret of her persona. Director Peter Chelsom's delightfully innocent country idyll emphasizes humility, simplicity and the primacy of family obligations over professional goals. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-I -- general patronage. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is G -- general audiences. All ages admitted.

"Hannah Montana & Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert" (Disney)
Rated "G"
Exuberant, refreshingly innocent live-performance feature capturing singing star Miley Cyrus' 69-city tour during which she appeared both as herself and as her Disney Channel television persona, Montana. In addition to her onstage singing and dancing, director Bruce Hendricks' film showcases Miley's life behind the scenes, practicing guitar, rehearsing routines and dashing through a breakneck costume change. A few short skirts and a bit of crass language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-I -- general patronage. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is G -- general audiences. All ages admitted.

"Hannibal Rising" (MGM)
Rated "R"
Bland and brutal prequel to "Silence of the Lambs" that charts serial killer Hannibal Lecter's origins from his boyhood (played by Aaron Thomas) in Nazi-occupied Lithuania through early adulthood (played by Gaspard Ulliel), tracing his descent from traumatized youth -- having witnessed an unspeakable wartime crime involving his little sister -- to sadistic fiend who tracks down and kills the men responsible (including Rhys Ifans). Director Peter Weber's adaptation of Thomas Harris' fourth Lecter novel eschews psychological suspense for a more exploitative standard revenge formula without ever delving into the complexities of Hannibal's character or exploring the nature of evil, while its attempt to position its deranged protagonist, by pitting him against ex-Nazi-thugs, as a hero of sorts is troubling. Much bloody and sadistic violence, revenge themes with vigilante justice, grisly images including a decapitation, suggested cannibalism, some crude sexual references and a few instances of rough language. The USSCB Office for Film & Broadcasting is O -- morally offensive.

"The Happening" (Fox)
Rated "R"
Intriguing but only sporadically scary thriller -- with a well-intended if rather obvious social message -- concerning a Philadelphia science teacher (Mark Wahlberg), his emotionally fragile wife (Zooey Deschanel) and the young daughter (Ashlyn Sanchez) of his best friend (John Leguizamo) on the run from a mysterious epidemic already gripping New York and Philadelphia, causing those infected to kill themselves. M. Night Shyamalan it at the top of his game in terms of direction, and graphic violence is relatively restrained, but his contrived and predictable script, peppered with illogical motivation, stilted dialogue and lame humor, strains credulity. Some very brief but grisly images of murder, mayhem and death, brief profanity and a couple of crude words, multiple but mostly nongraphic suicides, and a fleeting sexual reference. 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.

"Happy Endings" (Lions Gate)
Rated "R"
Overly long and morally muddled intertwining stories of a woman (Lisa Kudrow) involved with a sex masseur (Bobby Cannavale) while a would-be filmmaker (Jesse Bradford) insists on filming the latter's life in exchange for revealing the identity of a child she had out of wedlock years before; her gay stepbrother (Steve Coogan) and his companion (David Sutcliffe), whose sperm may have been used for the child of lesbian friends Diane (Sarah Clarke) and Pam (Laura Dern); and a singer (Maggie Gyllenhaal) who seduces the sexually conflicted son (Jason Ritter) of a rich businessman (Tom Arnold) before casting an opportunistic eye on the father. Director Don Roos has made an edgy, offbeat comedy not completely devoid of a moral center -- many of the dysfunctional characters ultimately behave decently, and there's a subtext about the value of human life -- but the results are just not profound enough to overcome the general amorality on parade for most of the film's two hours-plus running time. Profanity, crude language and expressions, abortion and artificial insemination, partial nudity, same-sex coupling, premarital and underage sex, drug use, sexual situations including brief partial nudity, and a violent car accident. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive.

"Happily N'Ever After" (Lionsgate)
Rated "PG"
Computer-animated adventure set in a storybook realm where a wicked stepmother (voiced by Sigourney Weaver) swipes a wizard's magic staff, which enables her to rewrite classic fairy tales so they have unhappy endings, leaving it up to Cinderella (Sarah Michelle Gellar) -- here called "Ella" -- to set things right, while finding herself torn between her vainglorious Prince Charming (Patrick Warburton) and his beleaguered but brave manservant (Freddie Prinze Jr.). Though produced by John H. Williams, who also produced the "Shrek" movies, director Paul J. Bolger's parody falls well short of those films' sharp wit, superior animation and charm, but its lively tone, colorful look and cute premise nevertheless prove modestly entertaining as family fare. Some mildly crude humor and expressions. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-I -- general patronage.

"Happy Feet" (Warner Bros.)
Rated "PG"
Computer-animated fable set in the Antarctic about a young emperor penguin (voiced by Elijah Wood) whose inability to carry a tune and propensity for tap dancing gets him banished by the puritanical elders who blame him for the colony's dwindling fish supply, prompting the misfit to prove them wrong, get to the bottom of the food shortage, and hopefully discover his "heartsong," the mating call unique to each penguin that will help him find true love. Director George Miller combines terrific animation and voice talent (that also includes Robin Williams, Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman) but packs too many themes -- tolerance, conformity, environmental responsibility -- into the sweet yet slender story. There are some dark and intense moments laced throughout and an unflattering view of religious authority, but the broader themes of love and self-worth should melt most objections. Some mildly rude humor and innuendo, as well as some menace and two frightening sequences that may upset very young viewers, but probably OK for older children. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents.

"Happy-Go-Lucky" (Miramax)
Rated “R”
Likable, nearly plotless comedy, about a persistently good-natured grade schoolteacher (Sally Hawkins) and her circle of friends, relatives and acquaintances: her longtime roommate (Alexis Zegerman), tightly wound driving instructor (Eddie Marsan), impassioned flamenco trainer (Karina Fernandez) and the school social worker (Samuel Roukin) with whom she falls in love. Hawkins' mannerisms are sometimes grating, and the film, though never dull, is occasionally static, but the story builds and its heroine's eccentricities become more tolerable as writer-director Mike Leigh's film progresses, while its heroine's unshakable optimism and deep compassion for others proves ultimately affecting. Some rough language and brief profanity, some crude expressions and sexual remarks, and an implied nonmarital sexual encounter. 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.

"Hard Candy" (Lionsgate)
Rated "R"
Twisted thriller about a crafty 14-year-old (Ellen Page) who turns the tables on a fashion photographer (Patrick Wilson) she met on the Internet and who, she is convinced, is a pedophile killer, baiting him into a psychological contest of wills while planning to exact sadistic vigilante justice. Director David Slade's two-character film starts out as an intriguing cautionary tale, but despite riveting performances quickly descends into exploitative territory rather than saying anything of substance about its serious subject matter, while its blurred delineation between "victim" and "predator" further muddies its murky morality. Disturbing scenes of brutality and torture, including an intense castration sequence, a suicide, sexual situations involving a minor, underage drinking, pedophilia theme, and much rough and crude language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive.

"Harold & Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay" (New Line/Mandate)
Rated "R"
Potentially acute satirical adventure, overwhelmed by sophomoric excess, in which a drug-addled slacker (Kal Penn) and his slightly more motivated friend (John Cho) are mistaken for terrorists, escape from the titular detention camp, and embark on a road trip to Texas where the former's ex-girlfriend (Danneel Harris) and her politically connected fiance (Eric Winter) may help clear their names. Co-writers and directors Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg's buddy sequel revels in the salacious and the scatological while glorifying drug use. Graphic and frequent rear, upper-female and full-frontal nudity; sexual activity; some aberrant, pervasive rough, crude and crass language, including at least 100 uses of the f-word, seven uses of profanity, sexual and graphically scatological humor; drug use and references; a prostitution theme; and a pornography reference. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1" (Warner Bros.)
Rated "PG-13"
The penultimate film in the wildly successful franchise based on J.K. Rowling's fantasy novels finds the Hogwarts trio -- Harry (Daniel Radcliffe, of course), Hermione (Emma Watson) and Ron (Rupert Grint) -- on the run, jumping all over Britain to escape the clutches of evil Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) and his Death Eaters. As the "Chosen One," Harry is on a mission to destroy evil by locating the paraphernalia which sustains Voldemort, including the three items that constitute the "Deathly Hallows." Director David Yates' adventure mirrors the darker and more violent tone of Rowling's final volume, making this unsuitable for younger viewers. Much action violence with frequent peril, brief partial nudity in a sexual context, scenes of murder and torture, a few vaguely sexual references. 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.

"Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" (Warner Bros.)
Rated "PG-13"
Fourth film in the series based on J.K. Rowling's fantasy novels, in which Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) competes against students from two rival schools in a perilous wizard's tournament that ends up being sabotaged by the evil Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes), who uses it to ensnare Potter. Director Mike Newell continues the darker tone set by 2004's "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban," and though this go-round feels a tad long, it still conjures enough movie magic to cast a satisfying spell over audiences. Frightening images, scenes of intense menace and some sexual innuendo. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents.

"Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" (Warner Bros.)
Rated "PG"
At the behest of his mentor (Michael Gambon), the now-teenage wizard (Daniel Radcliffe) ingratiates himself with a returning Hogwarts instructor (Jim Broadbent) who once taught his archenemy Lord Voldemort and whose memories may hold the key to defeating the villain, while adolescent romantic tensions complicate the lad's relationship with his two closest friends (Rupert Grint and Emma Watson). As directed by David Yates, this sixth adaptation of J.K. Rowling's hugely popular fantasy novel series is a richly textured, though at times overcrowded, adventure narrative in which good and evil are clearly delineated, but characters present a range of moral shading. Also shown in Imax. Moderate action violence, occasional peril, a couple of crass expressions, and a few vaguely sexual references. 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.

"Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" (Warner Bros.)
Rated "PG-13"
Teenage wizard Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) and his intrepid Hogwarts chums (Emma Watson and Rupert Grint) face an unexpected obstacle in their ongoing struggle with the malevolent Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes): a repressive teacher (Imelda Staunton) from the Ministry of Magic who won't allow the practice of hocus-pocus that they need to defend themselves against the evil forces. With director David Yates at the helm, this fifth installment is arguably the best yet with its excellent performances, superior special effects, coherent narrative and sensible balance between action sequences and human drama, not to mention a meaningful subtext about the power of love and personal choice in doing good versus evil. Some scenes of peril, moderate fantasy violence and scary imagery may preclude very young viewers. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

"Harsh Times" (MGM)
Rated "R"
Grim and gritty urban drama about a psychologically unstable soldier (Christian Bale) who, returning home to Los Angeles after serving in Iraq, reverts to his former street-thug ways and whose fracturing mental frame precipitates a self-destructive spiral of violence and crime into which he drags his best friend (Freddy Rodriguez), much to the dismay of the latter's lawyer girlfriend (Eva Longoria). Bale's explosive and scarily credible performance notwithstanding, the action is bleak and brutish, compounded by the script's nihilism and morally problematic ending, which undermines whatever writer-director David Ayer may be trying to say about the culture of violence, including its desensitizing effect, especially on those in combat. Pervasive rough and crude language and profanity, intense and graphic violence, some disturbing images, a mercy killing, drug content and a suggested sexual encounter. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive.

"The Haunting of Molly Hartley" (Freestyle)
Rated "PG-13"
Tedious horror tale about a teenage girl (Haley Bennett) trying to recover from her mother's (Marin Hinkle) inexplicable attempt to kill her with support from her weak-willed father (Jake Weber) and some of her classmates (Chace Crawford, Shannon Marie Woodward and Shanna Collins). Though there's relatively little violence in first-time director Mickey Liddell's inept chiller, its twisted portrayal of evangelical Christianity and implicit denial of free will and divine providence make it entirely unsuitable for young viewers and demand careful interpretation by adults. Troubling thematic elements, underage drinking, one use of the F-word, occasional crude language and brief skimpy costuming. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"The Haunting in Connecticut" (Lionsgate/Gold Circle)
Rated "PG-13"
Reasonably effective, allegedly fact-based chiller about a Catholic couple (Virginia Madsen and Martin Donovan) who rent a former funeral home near the hospital where their teenage son (Kyle Gallner) is being treated for cancer, only to find themselves in a specter-ridden maelstrom, eventually turning for help to a clergyman (Elias Koteas) versed in the occult. While its efforts to place these supernatural goings-on within a larger spiritual and religious context may draw mixed reactions, director Peter Cornwell's old-fashioned spook story is understated and, though at times unsettling, largely free of bloodletting. Disturbing images, including charred and gory corpses, and a couple of profanities. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

"The Heartbreak Kid" (DreamWorks)
Rated "R"
Wry, often tasteless farce about a commitment-shy bachelor (Ben Stiller) who, under pressure from his father (Jerry Stiller) and his best friend (Rob Corddry), finally takes the plunge, only to discover on his honeymoon in Mexico that his new wife (Malin Akerman) is a vulgar, whiny shrew, after which he promptly falls in love with another woman (Michelle Monaghan) who's staying at the same resort. Peter and Bobby Farrelly's remake of Elaine May's 1972 marital comedy (scripted by Neil Simon) has some genuinely funny moments, but these are more than overshadowed by scenes of outrageous coarseness. Graphic sexual activity, full-frontal and upper female nudity, grossly scatological humor, implied bestiality, drug use, comic adultery theme, pervasive rough and crude language, and occasional use of profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"The Heart of the Game" (Miramax)
Rated "PG-13"
Inspiring documentary about the relationship between a dedicated, if unconventional, Seattle high school girls' basketball coach and his players, particularly a talented and tough inner-city prodigy whose off-court circumstances threaten to derail her dreams of attending college. Filmed over a seven-year period, director Ward Serrill's "Hoop Dreams"-esque movie balances human and athletic drama in exploring race and responsibility while imparting a message about teamwork and second chances that even nonfans can appreciate. Some crude expressions and an instance of rough language, as well as mature themes, including teen pregnancy and sexual abuse, limiting its appropriateness to older adolescents and up. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents.

"Hellboy II: The Golden Army" (Universal/Relativity)
Rated "PG-13"
Lively sequel in which a domesticated demon (Ron Perlman), his incendiary girlfriend (Selma Blair), his aquatic sidekick (Doug Jones), an FBI bureaucrat (Jeffrey Tambor) and their new protoplasmic supervisor (John Alexander/James Dodd/Seth MacFarlane), together with a pale blonde princess (Anna Walton), unite to foil the schemes of the princess' power-hungry twin brother (Luke Goss). Director and co-writer Guillermo del Toro's follow-up to his 2004 film features superior special effects, bantering humor, and some superficial Christian imagery and religious subtext amid strictly standard action trappings. Premarital cohabitation and pregnancy, moderate fantasy violence, a suicide, some crass language, a few mild oaths and an instance of sexual humor. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Heights" (Sony Classics)
Rated “R”
Reasonably absorbing if not quite believable story of New York creative types -- including an actress (Glenn Close), her photographer-daughter (Elizabeth Banks) and fiance (James Marsden), an aspiring actor (Jesse Bradford) and a journalist (John Light) -- whose lives intersect during a 24-hour period. Director Chris Terrio's adaptation of a play by Amy Fox is well-acted, but the setup is contrived. Profanity, rough language, some sexual banter and foreplay, gay themes, premarital relationships, a same-sex kiss, a violent episode, some voyeuristic activity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

"The Help" (Disney)
Rated "PG-13"
This warm, deftly acted drama compellingly portrays the efforts of a rebellious white Southerner and would-be journalist (Emma Stone) to write a book documenting the lives of group of black housemaids (most prominently Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer) in her hometown of Jackson, Miss., in the early 1960s. To complete this secret and potentially dangerous project, the novice reporter braves the opposition of her good-hearted but traditionally minded mother (Allison Janney) and the wildly racist thinking of her privileged peers (personified most viciously by Bryce Dallas Howard). Writer-director Tate Taylor's adaptation of Kathryn Stockett's best-selling novel uses vivid characterizations to bring the Civil Rights-era struggle for human dignity alive. But a harsh scatological plot development marks this as off-limits for younger viewers, who might otherwise benefit from its generally uplifting story, and will even be off-putting for many adults. Graphic scatological theme, brief violence and medical gore, veiled sexual references, a half-dozen uses each of profanity and crude language, a few racial slurs. 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

"Hereafter" (Warner Bros.)
Rated "PG-13"
Ambitious drama charting the ultimately intersecting paths of three individuals seeking enlightenment about what happens to us after we die. The trio of plotlines follow a Parisian journalist (Cecile de France) whose near-death experience shakes her secular worldview, a San Francisco factory worker (Matt Damon) endowed with the ability to communicate with the dead, and a working-class London lad (George and Frankie McLaren) devastated by the loss of his twin brother. Director Clint Eastwood weaves these strands into an emotionally compelling tapestry. But, while affirming the existence of an afterlife, Peter Morgan's script steers clear of any other specific beliefs, and the exercise of Damon's gift is difficult to reconcile with the Scripture-based Christian duty to shun occult practices. Complex religious issues, an alcoholism and drug-addiction theme, fleeting upper female nudity, a nonmarital, possibly adulterous situation, at least one rough and a few crude terms. 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.

"He's Just Not That Into You" (Warner Bros.)
Rated "PG-13"
A gaggle of Baltimore yuppies portrayed by Ben Affleck, Jennifer Aniston, Drew Barrymore, Jennifer Connelly, Kevin Connolly, Bradley Cooper, Ginnifer Goodwin, Scarlett Johansson and Justin Long is schooled in the rules allegedly governing modern-day romance in this glossy ensemble comedy-drama. Director Ken Kwapis bathes his cast in a pleasing golden light but the stilted material, taken from a book penned by two "Sex and the City" writers, is too often unflattering. While traditional values are affirmed eventually, the characters regularly act in morally dubious ways that are contrary to their better natures. Frequent sexual references, some nonexplicit sexual encounters, including the adulterous and out-of-wedlock variety, a story line centered on cohabitation, frequent crude language, an instance of rough language, and a few scatological references. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Henry Poole Is Here" (Overture)
Rated "PG"
Moving little fable of a depressed loner (Luke Wilson) whose life is changed when a warmhearted Latina busybody (Adriana Barraza) discerns a miraculous image of Christ's face on his stucco wall, after which he slowly opens up to her and the other neighbors: an empathetic widow (Radha Mitchell), her sad child (Morgan Lily), a nearsighted grocery clerk (Rachel Seiferth), and the local priest (George Lopez). Despite some formulaic turns and occasional platitudinous dialogue, director Mark Pellington sustains a suspenseful, sometimes poetic, generally unsentimental mood, not without humor, solidly anchored by Wilson whose transformation from spiritual emptiness to redemption is fully believable, with themes of faith and community strong pluses for the Catholic viewer. Two instances of profanity and a few crass words. 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.

"Herbie: Fully Loaded" (Disney)
Rated "G"
Cheerful family comedy which finds the magical Volkswagen Beetle rescued from the scrapheap to help a plucky speedster (Lindsay Lohan) realize her dream of being a stock car racer, when she rides the love bug to victory against a slimy NASCAR champ (Matt Dillon) and saves her widower dad's (Michael Keaton) struggling racing team. Directed by Angela Robinson, the film manages to capture the freewheeling slapstick fun and blithe charm of the earlier films, while imparting a lighthearted message about friendship, loyalty, honesty and the bonds of family, which packs enough heart under its hood to make for a satisfyingly entertaining ride. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-I -- general patronage.

Hero
Rated "PG-13"
An enigmatic swordsman must defeat three rivals in order to bring lasting peace to a war-torn land in the visually stunning "Hero." Combining spectacular martial arts action sequences with multilayered storytelling, director Zhang Yimou has crafted a piece of epic filmmaking as dramatically involving as it is aesthetically arresting. Set in ancient China during an age known as the "Warring States Period" -- when the country was divided into a patchwork-quilt of seven feudal kingdoms -- the fable centers on the far-reaching ambitions of a determined warlord (Chen Dao Ming) obsessed with conquering the other six states and uniting them under his hegemony. The ongoing power struggle has left the land devastated by unending bloodshed; it has also made the king a constant target of assassins, in particular a notorious trio of three legendary killers: Sky (Donnie Yen) and the famed duo-of-death, Broken Sword (Tony Leung Chiu-Wai) and his lover, Snow (Maggie Cheung Man-Yuk). To anyone who can best the three would-be-assassins in mortal combat, the king has promised wealth, titles and a private audience. As it turns out, the man who finds himself sitting within spitting -- or stabbing -- distance from the grateful, but suspicious, soon-to-be first Emperor of China is an anonymous country sheriff known only as Nameless (Jet Li). Part romance, part revenge tale, "Hero" is actually told in reverse, with Nameless recounting his victories over the treacherous triad through flashbacks. Ripping a page from Akira Kurosawa's 1950 black-and-white classic, "Rashomon," the film then retraces its narrative footprints, retelling the same events from different perspectives -- each shot using a different dominant color scheme -- though until the end viewers are not sure which version is true. Coloring the truth -- literally -- "Hero" is a sumptuous symphony for the eyes, with crimson crescendos and diminuendos in hushed hues of ice blue. Yimou has already proven skillful in mastering human drama and emotional intimacy, having directed such quietly alluring films as "Raise the Red Lantern" (1992) and "To Live" (1994). But here he demonstrates that he is equally adept at action sequences, imbuing the gravity-defying sword duels with a visual elegance akin to Ang Lee's "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" (2000). The film boasts several breathtakingly beautiful martial-arts centerpieces, each more intoxicating than the last, including blade ballets in a golden grove of trees erupting in peak autumnal splendor, above a placid mountain lake and in a palace chamber amid flowing emerald banners. Beyond its cinematic bravura, "Hero" is buttressed by timeless themes of love and honor, inspired by a mix of history and myth. Despite its stylistic swordplay, the film, in extolling dovish self-sacrifice over hawkish aggression, becomes a poetic polemic against the obscenity -- and futility -- of war. Late in the film, a most unlikely pacifist asks, "Is the sword the only answer?" In posing the question, Yimou echoes the Christian call for peace, challenging viewers to reject violence. In one scene, the king studies a scroll of Broken Sword's calligraphy, hoping to turn insight into his would-be-assassin's artistry into an advantage on the battlefield. Hopefully viewers contemplating this film will, in turn, walk away similarly enlightened that the heart is mightier than the sword -- a most valuable lesson in these turbulent times. Subtitles. Due to recurring stylized martial arts violence, an implied sexual encounter and a ritual suicide, the USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"The Hidden Blade" (Tartan)
Rated "R"
Terrific 19th-century Japanese drama about an honorable samurai (Masatoshi Nagase) who is asked to hunt down and kill his friend (Yukiyoshi Ozawa) who has turned renegade, with a romantic subplot involving a former family domestic (Takako Matsu) whom the samurai rescues from an abusive family and takes into his home, but for whom he cannot declare his feelings. Director Yoji Yamada's follow-up to his equally superb "The Twilight Samurai" is a vivid picture of changing times, and the onslaught of Western-style artillery and tactics, facing down the traditional Japanese formal style and sense of honor. Making cultural allowances for such practices as hara-kiri (suicide), the film has a strong moral center and a strong anti-violence message. Subtitles. Relatively moderate violence with brief bloodshed and gore, a murder without retribution, discreet sexual themes and a couple of mild expletives. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"Hide and Seek" (20th Century Fox)
Rated “R”
Schlocky psychological unthriller about a New York psychologist (Robert De Niro) who relocates to the country with his young traumatized daughter (Dakota Fanning) after his wife commits suicide, but once there he becomes increasingly alarmed when a series of strange and terrifying events leads him to question whether his daughter's imaginary friend named "Charlie" is really make-believe or something more malevolent. Directed by John Polson, the cliche-riddled film bores more than it scores, lacking in any real suspense let alone the faintest semblance of logic, and its twist ending elicits more snickers than surprise. Recurring violence, including a graphic suicide and several murders, as well as intense scenes of menace involving a minor. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"The Hills Have Eyes" (Fox Searchlight)
Rated "R"
Grisly remake of Wes Craven's 1977 horror film about a family (headed by Ted Levine and Kathleen Quinlan) whose cross-country road trip derails into nightmare territory when they break down in the New Mexico desert and are terrorized by a clan of cannibalistic mutant miners. Director Alexandre Aja proves adept at building suspense and an unnerving sense of isolation early on, before plunging into stomach-churning brutality that escalates as it steams toward its ludicrous climax. Excessive and gratuitously graphic violence, including bloody killings and dismemberment, numerous ax attacks and shootings, a gruesome suicide, a rape, a person set on fire, cannibalism, a dog mauling, many disturbing images, much rough and crude language, as well some profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive.

"The Hills Have Eyes II" (Fox)
Rated "R"
Members of a National Guard unit training for deployment in Iraq (including soldiers played by Michael McMillian, Jessica Stroup and Daniella Alonso) fall prey to mutants on a New Mexico military base in this gruesome sequel to last year's remake of a 1977 horror film. Director Martin Weisz does a decent job of incorporating the landscape into the bloody game of survival, but it's impossible to make the gratuitous gore palatable and audience members can shut their eyes or wave a white flag of surrender at the projectionist. Excessive graphic violence, including bloody dismemberment, numerous impalings and shootings, a suicide, a rape, upper female nudity, pervasive rough and crude language, and some profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive.

"The History Boys" (Fox Searchlight)
Rated "R"
Faithful adaptation of Alan Bennett's award-winning London and Broadway play with the excellent original cast (including Frances de la Tour, Samuel Barnett and Dominic Cooper) intact about 1980s' northern England public school boys (age 18) trying out for Oxford and Cambridge under the rival tutelage of a wise if unconventional teacher (Richard Griffiths) and a young recent graduate (Stephen Campbell Moore) with more pragmatic methods. Director Nicholas Hytner has opened up the play intelligently for the screen, though it can't avoid a certain talkiness, and Bennett's themes of what we can truly know of history, the apparent randomness of life's events and how we are shaped by education are thought-provoking, while certain elements -- like the older teacher's penchant for inappropriately touching the students, which results in his dismissal, and the other's latent homosexuality -- will limit the film's appeal for many Catholics. Some rough language, innuendo and other sexual elements, implied premarital couplings and some lightly irreverent remarks. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

"A History of Violence" (New Line)
Rated "R"
Intensely suspenseful film about an upstanding family man, Tom Stall (Viggo Mortensen), who becomes a local hero after he stands up to vicious killers who hold up his diner, but then becomes the target of a threatening underworld kingpin (Ed Harris) who insists Stall had once been a gangster who scarred him years before. Director David Cronenberg's masterfully crafted film, based on a graphic novel, has overtones of those classic Westerns in which the peaceable hero is forced to resort to violence against implacable evil, features first-rate performances (including William Hurt and Ashton Holmes), but despite a redemptive ending, the violence quotient won't be to every taste. Much profanity, rough and crude language, violence with gore, including several murders, two graphic husband-wife sexual encounters, one quite brutal, drug use, and full frontal female and rear male nudity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

"High School Musical 3: Senior Year" (Disney)
Rated "G"
Breezy musical romance in which a high school basketball star (Zac Efron) and his academically gifted girlfriend (Vanessa Hudgens) join their classmates (Lucas Grabeel, Corbin Bleu and Monique Coleman among others) to rehearse a play based on their own lives, while a pampered prima donna (Ashley Tisdale) schemes to oust the girlfriend from her leading role. Director Kenny Ortega's big screen sequel to the popular made-for-television films offers energetic, family-friendly entertainment while encouraging viewers to resist divisive stereotypes. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-I -- general patronage. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is G -- general audiences. All ages admitted.

"High Tension" (Lions Gate)
Rated "R"
Gratuitously violent horror film set in rural France about two friends (Cecile de France and Maiwenn Le Besco) whose idyllic weekend studying for exams at a secluded farmhouse becomes a struggle for survival when they are terrorized by a sadistic killer (Philippe Nahon). Directed by Alexandre Aja, this poorly dubbed homage to American slasher flicks is, despite moments of suspense, little more than a stylishly executed but repellent exercise in bloody excess, full of stomach-churning gore and capped by an illogical plot twist. Mostly in French with English subtitles. The film contains excessive graphic violence, including decapitations, dismemberment, a bludgeoning and an impaling, a homoerotic theme, perverse sexual situations including necrophilia, a scene of masturbation, a voyeuristic shower sequence with frontal nudity, as well as rough and crude language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive.

"The Hitcher" (Rogue)
Rated "R"
Thriller about two college students (Sophia Bush and Zachary Knighton) menaced by a homicidal stranger (Sean Bean) to whom they offer a ride while driving through New Mexico while on spring break, subsequently finding themselves framed for the trail of murders left by the killer. Director Dave Meyers' remake of the 1986 horror-action movie starts off promising psychological suspense, but ultimately follows the original's predictable road map of bloody excess and plot implausibility, capped by a flippant act of violent retribution. Strong graphic and gratuitous violence, vigilante justice, a shower scene with partial side nudity, much rough and crude language, and an instance of profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive.

"The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" (Touchstone)
Rated "PG"
Wacky and whimsical sci-fi comedy about the space travels of an ordinary guy (Martin Freeman) who escapes an imminently exploding Earth moments before it is destroyed to make way for an interstellar highway and who travels aboard a starship to the farthest reaches of the galaxy with an extraterrestrial researcher for the eponymous guidebook (Mos Def); the buffoonish galactic president (Sam Rockwell); a chronically depressed robot (voiced by Alan Rickman); and the sole other remaining earthling (Zooey Deschanel). Based on the hugely popular 1979 sci-fi novel and BBC radio play by the late Douglas Adams, the long-in-the-works film adaptation is an entertaining, if disjointed, surrealistically silly potpourri of space adventure, absurdist philosophy and rib-tickling satire. Think "2001: A Space Odyssey" and "Independence Day" meet Monty Python. Some irreligious humor, comic violence and mildly crude language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"Hitch" (Columbia)
Rated PG-13"
Entertaining, if not totally convincing, old-fashioned romance about a highly successful "date doctor," Alex ("Hitch") Hitchens (Will Smith), who helps shy men woo the women they love but are too timid to approach, and then falls for a gossip columnist (Eva Mendes) who just happens to be on the trail of an heiress (Amber Valletta) who is dating one of Hitch's clients, the rotund and bumbling Albert (Kevin James), leading to predictable complications. Andy Tennant's film is a refreshing throwback to the lighthearted fare that Hollywood used to produce, nicely devoid of gratuitous sexual situations, possesses a good moral tone, and contains appealing performances, but the script just misses being a total success due to some implausible plot turns, while the broadness of some of the gags undermines the realistic foundation so essential to the best comedies. A few instances of profanity, rough, and crude language, one brief sexual situation, adult thematic elements. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"Hitman" (20th Century Fox)
Rated "R"
Slick but exceedingly violent action film in which an assassin (Timothy Olyphant), trained to kill from childhood, is hired to gun down the president of Russia (Ulrich Thomsen), inexplicably fails, kidnaps the president's girlfriend (Olga Kurylenko) and goes on the lam, pursued at cross purposes by an Interpol agent (Dougray Scott) and the head of the Russian secret service (Robert Knepper). Director Xavier Gens' adaptation of the titular video game is a blood-spilling, bone-crunching rampage with stops along the way for pompous dialogue and misogynistic humor. Pervasive graphic violence, rear and sustained upper-female nudity, nongraphic sexual activity, much rough and some crude language, and two uses of profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"The Hoax" (Miramax)
Rated "R"
Imaginative riff on claims by real-life author Clifford Irving (a convincing Richard Gere) to have the exclusive rights to eccentric billionaire Howard Hughes' autobiography, fooling the top brass at publisher McGraw-Hill and Life magazine, while he and co-conspirator Dick Susskind (Alfred Molina) dream up increasingly ingenious ways to prevent the truth from leaking. Director Lasse Hallstrom, working from William Wheeler's overly complex script, mixes real-life events from the early 1970s with the imaginary musings/ravings in Irving's head, resulting in a sometimes stylish, sometimes intentionally confusing take on a man whose falsehoods finally catch up with him. Considerable rough language and profanity, crude expressions, an adulterous affair, an encounter with a prostitute, and some sexual talk and innuendo. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"The Holiday" (Columbia/Universal)
Rated "PG-13"
Generally appealing romantic comedy about a wedding columnist (Kate Winslet) in the English countryside and a movie-trailer producer (Cameron Diaz) in Los Angeles whose failed romances find them swapping homes and continents over Christmas, leading to the former falling in love with a film composer (Jack Black) and the latter with the columnist's brother (Jude Law). Writer-director Nancy Meyers elicits heartfelt performances from all, and there's a strong affirmation of family and concern for the elderly, though some of today's permissive attitude, but not overt sexual content, is inherent in the script. Some rough and crude words, implied premarital relationships, light innuendo and banter, a chaste bedroom scene and mild domestic violence. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"The Holy Girl" (Fine Line)
Rated "R"
Tedious and talky Spanish-language film about a teenage girl (Maria Alche) who pursues a married doctor (Carlos Belloso) with a notion of "saving" him after he inappropriately presses up against her in a crowd, though saving in this case seems more like seducing. The doctor, meanwhile, falls for her divorcee mother (Mercedes Moran). Argentine writer-director Lucrecia Martel has stated her film is made from a Catholic perspective, with themes of "the dangers of differentiating good from evil," taking "back the reins of our own existence" and "drawing a line between live tissue and moral prosthesis," but with its sluggish narrative, unappealing characters and dreary film style, picking out the dubious Catholic underpinning seems inconsequential. Subtitles. Some fleeting rear and partial nudity, adolescent sexual musings, same-sex kissing, and a nonsexual bed scene with the best friend and her boyfriend. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive.

"Hollywoodland" (Focus)
Rated "R"
Dark speculative story about the mysterious death of George Reeves (a convincing Ben Affleck), the actor who played Superman on TV in the 1950s, as a fictional private eye (Adrien Brody) tries to determine whether the death was indeed suicide, or murder at the hands of his opportunistic starlet girlfriend (Robin Tunney), or by a studio executive with mob connections (Bob Hoskins) married to his paramour (Diane Lane). Director Allen Coulter's film (from Paul Bernbaum's fanciful script) will be of interest to fans of the "Superman" series and those intrigued by Hollywood lore, but there are no conclusive answers, and the anachronistic expletives (the f-word and s-word were not used so commonly in the 1940s and '50s), and overdone sleazy milieu will be a turnoff to many. Strong sexual themes, nongraphic sexual encounters including adultery, pervasive rough and crude language and profanity, some discreet violence with blood and partial shadowy nudity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

"A Home at the End of the World" (Warner Independent Pictures)
Rated "R"
The late Catholic theologian Father Karl Rahner once wrote, "All life is an unfinished symphony." It is precisely this pall of incompleteness and loss intrinsic to the human condition, especially as it applies to interpersonal relationships, which hangs over "A Home at the End of the World" , a mealy melodrama about a sexually ambiguous young man in love with both his gay best friend and a heterosexual woman. Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Michael Cunningham, "A Home at the End of the World" is by turns tender and trite, vacillating between literary meatiness and Hollywood superficiality. But whatever is good about the film -- including solid performances from an ensemble cast -- is eclipsed by its homoerotic elements and morally murky attempts to redefine traditional ideas of family and human sexuality in more malleable, relativistic terms. The movie covers three time periods, opening in Cleveland in 1967 where an apple-cheeked 9-year-old Bobby Morrow (Andrew Chalmers) walks in on his older hippie brother Carlton (Ryan Donowho) -- whom he idolizes -- having sex with his girlfriend. "It's just love man," Carlton explains reassuringly, promising Bobby to get him a girl of his own. "You've been a virgin too long." This scene is followed by an even more troubling tableau in a cemetery next to their house where, reclining among the tombstones, Carlton gives Bobby a child-size dose of LSD. While such misguided mentoring is reprehensible, the two scenes establish key thematic threads woven through the rest of the film: the transposing of love and sexual attraction and the ever-present specter of death. They also firmly establish a fraternal bond between Carlton and Bobby, making Carlton's untimely death in a freak accident soon after all the more traumatic for Bobby. It's a loss from which he never recovers and which haunts him for the rest of the film. Fast-forwarding several years, Bobby (played as a teen by Erik Smith) befriends the gangling Jonathan Glover (Harris Allan). The two boys become soul mates. Following the death of his parents, the Glovers take Bobby in and raise him as their son. The new living arrangement affords the teenagers ample opportunity for sexual experimentation and smoking marijuana. Bobby even invites Mrs. Glover (Sissy Spacek) to join in on the latter. Leapfrogging into the 1980s, Bobby (who has grown into Colin Farrell) moves to New York City and is reunited with Jonathan (Dallas Roberts), who has been living in Greenwich Village since attending college at New York University. Seeing Bobby reawakens old emotions in the now openly gay Jonathan, whose trolling has led to a long queue of unfulfilling one-night flings. The third player in the movie's menage is Clare (Robin Wright Penn), Jonathan's bohemian roommate, who takes an immediate liking to Bobby. They quickly become lovers. This of course makes for uncomfortable situations for all parties involved. The tug-of-war tensions increase when Clare announces that she is pregnant with Bobby's child. After much bickering they decide to go the it-takes-a-village route and raise the baby as a threesome, relocating to upstate New York and renovating a rustic farmhouse. Cast against his usual hypertestosterone type, Farrell demonstrates dexterity with his sensitive performance as the polymorphous protagonist. Maintaining much of the novel's reflective rhythms, "A Home at the End of the World" explores the various permutations of love and the vagaries of the human heart, plumbing its need for connection and communion with others. However, in wrestling with questions of loss and loneliness, the film, while maintaining the humanity of its characters, promotes a disturbing postmodern attitude that thumbs its nose at conventional mores, especially in regard to family life and sexual morality. In one scene, Clare confides to Jonathan's mother that she secretly craves a more traditional domestic arrangement, only to be told, "You're much better off not having the normal thing." Due to an ambiguous view of human sexuality, including a sympathetic portrayal of homosexual and bisexual relationships, several sexual encounters with nudity, recurring drug content involving minors, a few instances of same-sex kissing, as well as much rough and crude language, the USCCB classification is O -- morally offensive.

"The Honeymooners" (Paramount)
Rated "PG-13"
Ho-hum updating of the classic Jackie Gleason 1950s' television series with Cedric the Entertainer as Ralph Kramden, the New York bus driver, Mike Epps as Ed Norton, his sewer-working friend, and Gabrielle Union and Regina Hall as their long-suffering wives, in a contrived story about Ralph and Ed entering a mutt in a dog race to earn money to buy a suburban house for their wives, after Ralph squanders their savings on an antique subway train. John Schultz's film bears little resemblance to the much-loved series in either tone or laugh quotient, and without Gleason or sidekick Art Carney, there's little point to the endeavor. Some mild profanity, crass expressions, fleeting irreverence, crude humor and innuendo. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents.

"Hoodwinked" (Weinstein)
Rated "PG"
Intermittently amusing computer-animated comedy directed by Cory Edwards that sets out to reveal the "real story" behind the well-known nursery tale of Little Red Riding Hood, as each character -- including the scarlet-clad heroine (voiced by Anne Hathaway), her extreme sports-loving granny (voiced by Glenn Close), the wolf (voiced by Patrick Warburton) and a brawny woodsman (voiced by Jim Belushi) -- are grilled by police responding to a domestic disturbance call. Despite sporadic bursts of wit and a clever "Rashomon"-style structure, the wacky proceedings are handicapped by a laugh-lean script and unimpressive animation. Cartoon action violence and mildly crude humor. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents.

"Hoodwinked Too! Hood vs. Evil" (Weinstein)
Rated "PG"
Things have once again gone awry in the world of fairy tales in director Mike Disa's tired, substandard 3-D animated sequel to 2006's "Hoodwinked!" Hansel and Gretel (voices of Bill Hader and Amy Poehler) have been kidnapped, and the prime suspect is a witch (voice of Joan Cusack). Their rescue is clearly a job for the super-spies of the Happily Ever After Agency, led by a long-legged frog (voice of David Ogden Stiers), and including Red Riding Hood (voice of Hayden Panettiere) who must reunite with her partner, the Big Bad Wolf (voice of Patrick Warburton), and join forces with her granny (voice of Glenn Close) to make sure the villains get their just desserts -- and don't get possession of a chocolate truffle that renders the eater invincible. Mildly rude bathroom humor and some very loud action sequences. The Catholic News Service classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested.

"Hoot" (New Line)
Rated "PG"
Amiable family-friendly drama about an eighth-grader (Logan Lerman) who moves with his parents to small-town Florida, where he is caught up in the crusade of an enigmatic boy (Cody Linley) and his stepsister (Brie Larson) to save a colony of burrowing owls whose habitat is threatened by a real-estate developer hoping to bulldoze the endangered birds' nesting zone to make way for a pancake franchise. Directed by Wil Shriner and based on Carl Hiaasen's award-winning children's book, the film's warm message about friendship, respect for nature and taking a stand for what's right is handicapped somewhat by a weak script and a slow-starting plot, and the saucer-eyed critters get very little screen time. Some schoolyard bullying and a few mildly crass expressions. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-I -- general patronage.

"Hop" (Universal)
Rated "PG"
Spring is on its way, but the Easter Bunny's "hare" apparent (voice of Russell Brand) has gone AWOL in director Tim Hill's comedy of errors which -- though it seamlessly blends live action and computer animation -- is somewhat less than appropriate for its target audience. Junior, it seems, would rather be a rock star than succeed his father (voice of Hugh Laurie) as the world's most famous supplier of candy and goody baskets. So he hops away to Hollywood, where he meets a similarly disenchanted human (James Marsden). They bond and learn lessons about family and the importance of reconciliation, but not about the real meaning of Easter itself, which is never so much as mentioned. Along the way, the script's vaguely coarse humor is geared more toward adults than children, making this collection of empty cinematic calories an un-tasty morsel for the younger set. Some mildly rude humor. 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.

"Horrible Bosses" (Warner Bros.)
Rated "R"
Mean-spirited, often sordid comedy in which a trio of friends (Jason Bateman, Charlie Day and Jason Sudeikis) exasperated by the varied misbehaviors of their respective bosses (Kevin Spacey, Jennifer Aniston and Colin Farrell) plot to eliminate all three irksome employers the old-fashioned way: by murdering them. Of course the humor focuses on the normally law-abiding pals' inept attempts to execute their outlandish scheme, and they are shown to experience some appropriate moral qualms along the way. But director Seth Gordon's film treats wayward sexuality as fodder for laughs while dialogue is riddled with ribaldry. Strong sexual content, including brief but graphic images of nonmarital and group sex, masturbation, partial nudity, drug use, references to perversion, about 15 uses of profanity and pervasive rough and crude language. The Catholic News Service classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"Hostel" (Lions Gate)
Rated "R"
Nauseatingly vile horror film about a trio of lustful backpackers (Jay Hernandez, Derek Richardson and Eythor Gudjonsson) traveling through Europe, lured off the beaten path by promises of carnal pleasures to a hostel in Slovakia, where they fall easy prey to a pair of temptresses and wind up in a chamber of horrors where wealthy sadists pay top dollar for the most depraved thrills. Packaging dehumanizing brutality as entertainment, director Eli Roth serves up a steady stream of soft-core sex and shock-value gore, as pornographically gratuitous as it is mindless. Excessive grisly violence, including bloody scenes of torture and dismemberment, strong sexual situations with nudity, lurid and erotic images, drug content, a suicide, debasement of women, pervasive rough and crude language, as well as lewd humor. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive.

"Hostel: Part II" (Lionsgate)
Rated "R"
Repellently sadistic story of three American girls (Lauren German, Heather Matarazzo and Bijou Phillips) kidnapped abroad for the deviant purpose of being slaughtered by wealthy clients (including Roger Bart and Richard Burgi) at a Slovakian mansion. Eli Roth's film has a glossy look and is not without style and even a smidgen of substance, but what might have been a reasonably good horror film along more conventional lines instead becomes an empty, wince-inducing bloodbath. Pervasive violence and gore including disemboweling, castration, cannibalism, brief full male and female nudity, much rough language and profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"Hot Fuzz" (Rogue)
Rated "R"
Fast-paced, often witty sendup of police buddy films as an overachieving officer (Simon Pegg, who also co-wrote the script) is reassigned to a sleepy country town where he's confronted with a series of fatal "accidents," and how he and laid-back sidekick (Nick Frost) set out to find the culprit. Canny direction by co-writer Edgar Wright and a top-flight British cast (including Jim Broadbent, Timothy Dalton, Anne Reid, Billie Whitelaw and Edward Woodward) plays to the hilt, but some viewers may find the escalating violence and salty language offensive, even in this satiric context. Some rough and crude language, violence with bloodshed including stabbings and decapitations, some grisly images, innuendo and underage drinking. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

"Hot Rod" (Paramount)
Rated "PG-13"
Sweet-natured, occasionally surreal comedy about an aimless youth (Andy Samberg of "Saturday Night Live") who aspires to be a professional stuntman and wants nothing more than to raise enough money so his abusive stepfather can have a heart transplant -- so he can beat him up. Director Akiva Schaffer (also of "Saturday Night Live") and screenwriter Pam Brady (lately of "South Park") adorn this flimsy plot with pop-culture references and dark satire, but unless you find every twitch and utterance of Samberg screamingly funny you're likely to miss some of the humor. Much cartoonish and bloodless violence, all played for laughs, and some coarse and crass language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

"Hotel for Dogs" (Dreamworks/Nickelodeon)
Rated "PG"
Wholesomely enjoyable canine caper in which an orphaned brother and sister (Jake T. Austin and Emma Roberts) shelter their dog, along with a motley group of strays, in an abandoned hotel, outwitting their neglectful foster parents (Lisa Kudrow and Kevin Dillon) and causing complications for their genuinely caring social worker (Don Cheadle). Director Thor Freudenthal's cuddly adaptation of Lois Duncan's 1971 children's book, his feature debut, sees the affectionate siblings working together and with friends to care for their expanding pack and improvising a part-human, part-animal surrogate family. A couple of crass words. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-I -- general patronage. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.

"Hot Tub Time Machine" (MGM)
Rated "R"
Tasteless time travel comedy in which three former best friends (John Cusack, Rob Corddry and Craig Robinson) who have drifted apart over the years reunite and, with Cusack's geeky 24-year-old nephew (Clark Duke) in tow, embark on a road trip to a ski resort where a magically malfunctioning hot tub suddenly transports them back to 1986. As directed by Steve Pink, the tedious proceedings -- which see the pals reliving their supposed glory days of youthful drug- and sex-fueled hedonism, and dithering between the desire to preserve the past in order to ensure the future -- including the nephew's very existence -- and the temptation to improve their destinies by making better choices -- are at once artistically ramshackle and morally repugnant. Graphic nonmarital sexual activity, upper female and rear nudity, repeated drug use, about 10 instances of profanity, much sexual and some scatological humor, ceaseless rough and crude language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"Hounddog" (Empire)
Rated "R"
Atmospheric, well-acted, but overwrought and ultimately pointless melodrama set in 1950s Alabama about a lonely little girl (Dakota Fanning) with an Elvis Presley fixation, her mentally impaired father (David Morse), his estranged girlfriend (Robin Wright Penn), and religious zealot grandmother (Piper Laurie). Director Deborah Kampmeier gets high marks for settting the mood, but the backwoods Southern gothic story -- replete with snakes both real and symbolic, a kindly wise black neighbor (Afemo Omilami), and oh-so-cathartic blues -- fails to convince even in this allegorical context. A brief, nongraphic, underage rape, some sexual talk and a brief nongraphic adult encounter, nonsexual rear male nudity, underage drinking and a moderately jaundiced view of religion. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"House" (Roadside)
Rated "R"
Old-fashioned Southern gothic tale of two couples (Reynaldo Rosales, Heidi Dippold, J.P. Davis and Julie Ann Emery) trapped in an eerie backwoods inn where they battle both the sinister proprietors (Leslie Easterbrook, Lew Temple and Bill Moseley) and a masked intruder. Though intended as a Christian allegory, director Robby Henson's screen version of Frank Peretti and Ted Dekker's novel is too confused and labored to make its long-deferred theological payoff worth the wait. Moderate violence, an incestuous child molestation theme, a few sexual references and implied cohabitation; acceptable for older teens. 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.

"The House Bunny" (Columbia/Relativity)
Rated "PG-13"
After being exiled from the Playboy mansion, a ditzy but irrepressible model (Anna Faris) helps the awkward sisters (Emma Stone, Kat Dennings and Katharine McPhee, among others) of a failing sorority reinvent themselves as popular party girls while herself falling for a sensitive nursing home administrator (Colin Hanks). Although director Fred Wolf's comedy portrays the Playboy lifestyle as idyllic rather than exploitative -- with magazine founder Hugh Hefner appearing as himself -- it ultimately asserts the value of substance over appearance, and its central romantic relationships are quite traditional. Brief rear nudity, much sexual humor, one use of the f-word, some crude and crass language, and an out-of-wedlock pregnancy. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"House of D" (Lions Gate)
Rated "PG-13"
Parents are strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.
Contrived but touching coming-of-age story of 12-year-old Tom (Anton Yelchin) living in 1970s' Greenwich Village with his manic, pill-popping widowed mother (Tea Leoni), his friendship with a mentally challenged delivery man (Robin Williams), his first crush on a pretty schoolmate, and his unusual friendship with an unseen inmate (Erykah Badu) at the Women's House of Detention. Actor David Duchovny's directorial debut (from his own script) has a low-budget feel, but the story -- even with its shamelessly sentimental ending -- is compelling. The messages about the importance of being honest and finding your roots are admirable, if a bit platitudinous, and the performances are excellent, especially from young Yelchin, but also Duchovny as the adult Tom and Frank Langella as the clerical school principal. Tobacco and drug use, some profanity and crude language and expressions, sexual content and innuendo, suicide attempt, and a problematic euthanasia plot twist. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive.

"House of Wax" (Warner Bros.)
Rated "R"
Repulsive horror film about a group of college students (including Chad Michael Murray and Paris Hilton) who, while on a road trip, find themselves stranded in a backwater town, where they fall prey to a pair of homicidal twins (both played by Brian Van Holt) intent on turning their unsuspecting victims into wax figures that are a little too lifelike for comfort. With its formulaic plot and vapid performances, director Jaume Collet-Serra's bloody re-imagining of the 1953 Vincent Price classic quickly melts into a stomach-churning mess of slasher cliches and sadism, which packages human debasement as popcorn fare. Gratuitous gruesome violence and gore, torture images, some sexual situations and humor, including a striptease, teen smoking and drinking, as well as recurring rough and crude language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive.

"Hostage" (Miramax)
Rated "R"
Taut -- if frequently violent -- thriller about former hostage negotiator Jeff Talley (Bruce Willis), who relocates to another town and becomes a police chief after a hostage rescue attempt goes tragically awry, but then finds himself back in action when the affluent Walter Smith (Kevin Pollak) and his children are taken hostage by three teenage hoodlums, but the twist is Smith himself turns out to have criminal ties and Talley's own family is soon taken captive by unknown forces out to get Smith. Director Florent Siri keeps up the unrelenting tension, which helps obscure some plot improbabilities; Willis gives a convincingly anguished performance, Ben Foster is scarily effective as the worst of the teens, and Alexandre Desplat has supplied a pulsating background score. Much rough and crude language, gunfire, violence with attendant blood, a raging fire and flaming bodies, a sadistic villain, some suggestive gestures and drug use. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

"Hotel Rwanda" (United Artists)
Rated "PG-13"
Inspiring real-life story of Paul Rusesabagina (Don Cheadle), a hotel manager in Rwanda who, at great personal risk, saved the lives of thousands of refugees marked for death during the nightmarish days of the Rwandan genocide. He sheltered them from the slaughter occurring outside his hotel compound. Well-written, directed and acted, the emotionally riveting and profoundly moral movie deals with an extremely dark chapter of history, but it is a powerful testament to hope, courage and the nobility of the human spirit, as well as the unsung heroism of "ordinary" people. Disturbing violence and images of mass slaughter, fleeting shadowy background nudity and some brief rough language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents are strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

"House of Flying Daggers" (Sony Pictures Classics)
Rated "PG-13"
Visually dazzling martial arts love story set in ancient China about a lawman (Takeshi Kaneshiro) who finds himself entangled in a web of desire and deception when his superior (Andy Lau) assigns him to infiltrate a gang of anti-imperial insurgents by escorting a beautiful blind courtesan (Ziyi Zhang) with ties to the group to the rebels' secret forest stronghold. Part action adventure, part triangular romance, director Zhang Yimou's melodramatic sword saga of passion, betrayal and the conflict between love and duty is full of eye-popping fight sequences, but its story sometimes gets drowned out by the artistic swirl of silk and steel. Subtitles. Much stylized action violence and associated gore, attempted rape and a sexual encounter. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents are strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

"Howl's Moving Castle" (Disney)
Rated "PG"
Marvelous, hugely imaginative Japanese animated feature based on a popular novel by Diana Wynne Jones about a young girl (voiced by Emily Mortimer) transformed into an old lady (Jean Simmons) by a witch's curse (Lauren Bacall) who becomes the housekeeper to a handsome, but reclusive, wizard (Christian Bale) and his apprentice (Josh Hutcherson) and fire demon (Billy Crystal). Hayao Miyazaki's utterly absorbing film works so well on many levels that it can be equally appreciated by children and adults, and imparts beautiful messages about taking a moral stand, respect for the elderly, forgiveness and the senselessness of war. Subtitles in Japanese version. Battle scenes, some frightening images for very young children. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents.

"How About You" (Strand)
Rated "NR"
Gentle and uplifting holiday drama about a free-spirited young Irishwoman (Hayley Atwell) who takes a job at the retirement home run by her sister (Orla Brady) and changes the lives of its four most cantankerous inhabitants: an ex-screen actress (Vanessa Redgrave), a former judge (Joss Ackland), and two quarrelling sisters (Imelda Staunton and Brenda Fricker). A formidable cast lends panache to a somewhat predictable plot in director Anthony Byrne's adaptation of a short story by Maeve Binchy, though there's a benign view of drugs and some coarse language among the generally positive messages about the dignity and enduring potential of the elderly. Drug use, mature themes, some rough and crude language, and a couple of uses of profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults. Not rated by the Motion Picture Association of America.

"How Do You Know" (Columbia)
Rated "PG-13"
Cheerless romantic comedy in which a champion softball player (Reese Witherspoon), who has recently been cut from her team, worries about her future. She is also trying to decide whether she loves the good-natured but philandering major league baseball player (Owen Wilson), with whom she has been living, or a neurotic businessman (Paul Rudd) whose indictment for stock fraud threatens to land him in jail and ruin the company founded by his hard-driving dad (Jack Nicholson). With its oddly unsympathetic characters endlessly analyzing their every emotion and reaction, the few laughs and insights provided by writer-director James L. Brooks' script hardly seem worthwhile, all the more so given that subjects like womanizing and single motherhood are played for laughs. Brief nongraphic sexual activity, a nonmarital situation, promiscuity theme, an out-of-wedlock pregnancy, a birth-control reference, at least one use of profanity, a couple of rough and a few crude words. 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.

"How to Eat Fried Worms" (New Line)
Rated "PG"
Loose adaptation of Thomas Rockwell's children's book about a weak-stomached boy (Luke Benward) who, desperate to fit in as the new kid at school and silence a bully's (Adam Hicks) taunts, agrees to eat 10 worms within the span of a Saturday afternoon. With a yuck factor that may disturb some parents, director Bob Dolman's film sends a misguided message about peepressure that undermines charming performances and themes of friendship, honesty and standing up for oneself. Scattered mildly crude language and humor, some bullying and gross-out images and a scene of breaking into a shop. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents.

"How to Train Your Dragon" (DreamWorks)
Rated "PG"
Robust animated fantasy about a teenaged Viking (voiced by Jay Baruchel) who goes against his own people by befriending and domesticating the creatures his society has been battling for 300 years. Directors Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois have fashioned an engaging boy's own action-adventure, based on Cressida Cowell's book, with impressive 3-D visuals and a constructive pacifist message. While not overly taxing on brain cells or the imagination, it constitutes an above-average family-oriented ride, keeping in mind younger children may be frightened at times. Much relatively intense fantasy action, some harsh descriptions of Viking-dragon mayhem, two instances of potty language, two mildly off-color references to body parts. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.

"Howl's Moving Castle" (Disney)
Rated "PG"
Marvelous, hugely imaginative Japanese animated feature based on a popular novel by Diana Wynne Jones about a young girl (voiced by Emily Mortimer) transformed into an old lady (Jean Simmons) by a witch's curse (Lauren Bacall) who becomes the housekeeper to a handsome, but reclusive, wizard (Christian Bale) and his apprentice (Josh Hutcherson) and fire demon (Billy Crystal). Hayao Miyazaki's utterly absorbing film works so well on many levels that it can be equally appreciated by children and adults, and imparts beautiful messages about taking a moral stand, respect for the elderly, forgiveness and the senselessness of war. Subtitles in Japanese version. Battle scenes, some frightening images for very young children. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents.

"How She Move" (Paramount Vantage)
Rated "PG-13"
Buoyant musical film chronicling the struggles of a young Caribbean immigrant (Rutina Wesley) who, in the wake of her sister's death and the financial ruin of her parents (Conrad Coates and Melanie Nicholls-King), seeks comfort in "stepping," a traditional style of African-American dance and, despite the opposition of a former friend (Tre Armstrong), joins an all-male crew led by a charismatic step veteran (Dwain Murphy) to compete for prize money she hopes to use for tuition. While sequences of tightly choreographed stomping provide the entertainment high points of director Ian Iqbal Rashid's movie, the drama is also effective and the emphasis on education welcome. The film is possibly acceptable for older teens. Two uses of the f-word (one only mouthed), much crude and crass language, one use of profanity, one obscene gesture, drug references and suggestive dancing. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"The Hunting Party" (MGM/Weinstein)
Rated "R"
Interesting though uneven black comedy based on actual events, about a washed-up broadcast journalist (Richard Gere), his former cameraman (Terrence Howard) and the nerdy reporter-son (Jesse Eisenberg) of a network executive who, five years after the Bosnian war, attempt not just to interview but to capture a notorious war criminal who has thus far eluded CIA and U.N. search efforts in and around Sarajevo. Writer-director Richard Shepard's mix of drama and laughs works sometimes, but not enough of the time, and despite individual pluses and an implicitly strong indictment of governmental inaction in capturing war criminals it fails overall to convince. Much gratuitous rough language and profanity; crass expressions; rear and upper female nudity; some violence including torture; a fox hunt; sexual references; brief nongraphic scene of sexuality; and premarital situations. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Hustle & Flow" (Paramount Classics)
Rated "R"
Well-acted but problematic drama about a Memphis pimp (Terrence Howard) who tries to better his life by pursuing his dream of becoming a rap artist, aided by a former classmate (Anthony Anderson) and his supportive stable of prostitutes (Taraji P. Henson and Taryn Manning). Written and directed by first-timer Craig Brewer, the film's redemptive theme hardly justifies its moral ambivalence toward its protagonist's reprehensible -- though never glamorized -- actions, especially his degrading use of women in satisfying his uphill quest for self-fulfillment. An uncritical portrayal of prostitution, extended partial nudity, some violence, drug content, much raw sexual language and profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive.

I
"I Am David" (Lions Gate)
Rated “PG”
Life-affirming family adventure set in 1952 about a young Bulgarian boy (Ben Tibber) who escapes confinement in a brutal communist labor camp and must make his way across Europe in order to find refuge in Denmark. As directed by Paul Feig, the well-told, visually handsome tale is both engaging and edifying, and its simple, gentle message -- that life is a gift -- is full of hope. Mature themes and some brief violence. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents.

"I Am Legend" (Warner Bros.)
Rated "PG-13"
Grim but effective thriller has a brave scientist (Will Smith) as the last surviving person in New York battling ferocious animal and human mutants as he struggles to find a cure for the virus that has eliminated most of the world's population. Director Francis Lawrence's remake of Richard Matheson's 1954 novel has some eerie scenes of a decimated New York, and the computer-generated images of mutants attacking are scary enough when they come, but though Smith is a compelling presence and there are some pointed and admirable spiritual elements, the basic setup ultimately grows tiresome and more depressing than exciting. Intense if isolated violent sequences, including the killing of the creatures, and scantily clad mutants. Might be acceptable for older teens. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"I Heart Huckabees" (Fox Searchlight)
Rated "R"
Quirky comedy about an angst-ridden environmental activist (Jason Schwartzman) who hires a married team of existential detectives (Dustin Hoffman and Lily Tomlin) to unravel the mystery behind the meaning of life. As eccentrically directed by David O. Russell, the film is a madcap mix of philosophy and slapstick, resulting in a brainy farce which, while intellectually loaded, is emotionally empty. A sexual encounter and much rough and crude language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"I Love You, Beth Cooper" (Fox Atomic)
Rated "PG-13"
A nerdy high school valedictorian (Paul Rust) uses his speech to declare his love for the head cheerleader (Hayden Panettiere) after which the unlikely pair have a series of graduation night adventures in the company of his sexually conflicted best friend (Jack T. Carpenter) and her two closest pompom pals (Lauren London and Lauren Storm). In director Chris Columbus' comic misfire, adapted by Larry Doyle from his novel, a potentially charming central relationship gets lost in the shuffle of well-worn social stereotypes, harshly violent confrontations with the heroine's boyfriend (Shawn Roberts) and freewheeling sexual attitudes and behavior. Brief nongraphic, nonmarital sexual activity, an off-screen three-way encounter, benign view of group sex and homosexuality, underage drinking, drug references, much sexual and occasional irreverent humor, at least one use of the F-word, much crude language and a half-dozen uses of 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.

"I Love You, Man" (DreamWorks)
Rated "R"
A socially awkward Los Angeles realty agent (Paul Rudd) becomes engaged to his live-in girlfriend (Rashida Jones) but lacks a male friend close enough to be his best man until a chance meeting with a crudely uninhibited slacker (Jason Segal) leads to almost obsessive bonding. A morally positive wrap-up and Rudd's gift for delivering creatively contorted wordplay fail to prevent director John Hamburg's buddy comedy, which also features Andy Samberg as the realtor's gay brother, from foundering in blue language, tasteless jokes and indiscriminate sexual values. Premarital cohabitation, a promiscuous gay character, much sexual and some gross-out humor, pervasive rough and crude language, and at least one profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"I Know Who Killed Me" (TriStar/360)
Rated "R"
Perfectly dreadful thriller about a college student (Lindsay Lohan in a big career misstep) abducted and tortured by a serial killer (who amputates several of her body parts), and how, when she finds herself waking up in a hospital, she must convince everyone she is not the young woman everyone thinks she is. Chris Sivertson's direction, Jeffrey Hammond's ludicrous script, and the level of acting (by Lohan, Julia Ormond, Neal McDonough and Brian Geraghty) is as crude as a grindhouse movie of the 1970s, with heaps of trashy violence, sex and bad language. Graphic violence and torture, gore, grisly images, pervasive rough language and some profanity, upper female nudity, skimpy costuming, a graphic sex scene, drug and alcohol use, and condom use. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry" (Universal)
Rated "PG-13"
Brooklyn firefighters Chuck Levine (Adam Sandler) and Larry Valentine (Kevin James) pose as a gay couple to qualify for domestic partnership benefits in a crude exercise that makes a mockery of comedy more than matrimony. Homophobic and yet pro-gay marriage, the harsh and raunchy movie is overly long and inadequately funny, as three screenwriters and director Dennis Dugan strain to cover all the bases with lifeless and predictable tangents. Pervasive sexual content and references, frequent crude and crass language, one instance of profanity, vulgar gestures, some bathroom humor, fondling of a woman's breasts, rear male nudity, much skimpy female costuming, frequent racial, gender and homophobic slurs, a drug reference, and much violence including fisticuffs. 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.

"Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs" (Fox)
Rated "PG"
Mostly delightful animated sequel in which a mammoth couple (voices of Ray Romano and Queen Latifah), a tiger (voice of Denis Leary) and two possums (voices of Josh Peck and Seann William Scott) search for the missing sloth (voice of John Leguizamo) who rounds out their improvised herd, and discover the underworld of dinosaurs to which he has been unwillingly carried. A few touches of vaguely crude humor aside, director Carlos Saldanha's epic 3-D quest, which also features Simon Pegg voicing the adventurers' wacky weasel guide, is well calculated to charm viewers of all ages with its portrayal of loyalty and teamwork. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-I -- general patronage. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.

"Ice Age: The Meltdown" (20th Century Fox)
Rated "PG"
Inferior, but still highly entertaining, sequel to the 2002 computer-animated hit which finds the prehistoric trio -- cranky mammoth Manny (voiced by Ray Romano), sarcastic saber-toothed tiger Diego (voiced by Denis Leary) and wise-cracking sloth Sid (voiced by John Leguizamo) -- joined by a confused she-mammoth (voiced by Queen Latifah) and a tag team of prankster possums (voiced by Seann William Scott and Josh Peck) as they race to escape an impending cataclysmic flood triggered by the warming climate. Directed by Carlos Saldanha, the story and characters have thinned along with the ice, but in the thawing process the laughs and zany charm remain intact along with a gentle message about family and friendship. Some scenes of menace that may be too intense for very young children, a few crass expressions, some innuendo and a mildly crude sight-gag. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-I -- general patronage.

"The Ice Harvest" (Focus)
Rated "R"
Rancid black comedy taking place all in one night about a crooked Kansas lawyer (John Cusack) and his sleazy accomplice (Billy Bob Thornton) who embezzle $2 million from a local mob boss (Randy Quaid), but whose plans to skip town are stymied by a Christmas Eve ice storm and a series of double-crosses. Despite some pungent performances, director Harold Ramis' adaptation of Scott Phillip's mordant novel is a misanthropic mix of barbed cynicism and sordid nastiness. Recurring bloody violence, several scenes in a strip club involving partial nudity, brief pornographic images, drunken recklessness, pervasive nihilism, vulgar and irreverent humor, excessive rough and crude language, as well as some profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive.

"Ice Princess" (Disney)
Rated "G"
Standard but not uninteresting tale of a high school honor student (Michelle Trachtenberg) whose heart is secretly set on professional skating, and after working on a science project about correlation between skating and physics decides to train for the championships with former champion Tina (Kim Cattrall), over the objections of her mother (Joan Cusack), who's determined her daughter study physics at Harvard instead. Tim Fywell's modest film -- thematically similar to the 1977 ballet film "The Turning Point" -- is reasonably absorbing for all its plot predictability, the skating sequences are enjoyable, and the performances, within the one-dimensional demands of the story, are good, making this unobjectionable family entertainment, especially for young girls. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-I -- general patronage. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is G -- general audiences.

"The Ides of March" (Columbia)
Rated "R"
Savvy but raw political drama about an up-and-coming press spokesman (Ryan Gosling) whose fling with an intern (Evan Rachel Wood) during a crucial Democratic presidential primary leads him to discover that the campaign manager (Philip Seymour Hoffman) for whom he works and the candidate (George Clooney) in whom he deeply believes are not all they seem. With a sharp script and a powerful cast, Clooney, who also directed and co-wrote, turns in a slick adaptation of Beau Willimon's play, "Farragut North." While fundamentally moral in most respects, however, this study in the corrupting effects of power is studded with mature subject matter and machismo-driven vulgarities, making it inappropriate fare for all but the gamest adults. Brief semigraphic nonmarital -- and possibly underage -- sexual activity, abortion and adultery themes, a suicide, an instance of blasphemy, about a half-dozen uses of profanity and pervasive rough and crude language. 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.

"Idlewild" (Universal)
Rated "R"
Prohibition-era musical drama set mostly in a Georgia speak-easy about a timid piano player (Andre Benjamin) who falls for the club's glamorous diva (Paula Patton) and his childhood friend (Antwan A. Patton), a brash bootlegger, who, when not cheating with showgirls on his long-sufering wife (Malinda Williams), is dodging the bullets of an ambitious gangster (Terrence Howard). Director Bryan Barber injects his period piece with a contemporary hip-hop vibe, resulting in a bold, brassy film brimming with visual pizzazz and jazzy musical numbers but short on story. The film's obscenity-laden dialogue, gratuitous raunchiness and brutality, while objectionable, are offset by a redemptive ending. Pervasive rough and crude language and profanity, some strong violence, a couple of racy sexual encounters, one with shadowy nudity, adultery, an attempted suicide, risque costuming and choreography and some racial epithets. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

"If I Didn't Care" (Artistic License)
Rated "NR"
Brisk if shallow neonoir about a Hamptons househusband (Bill Sage) whose adulterous affair with a real-estate agent (Susie Misner) leads to a murder plot against his well-to-do wife (Noelle Beck), and an investigation by the dogged, philosophical local police chief (Roy Scheider). Writer-director brothers Benjamin and Orson Cummings have made an old-fashioned crime picture set in the present. Frequent rough, crude and crass language, infidelity, two off-screen shooting deaths, a very brief and nongraphic bludgeoning, a partially seen crime scene with a small amount of blood, a small amount of sexual groping and innuendo, a clothed morning-after scene and an implied sexual encounter in a car. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults. Not rated by the Motion Picture Association of America.

"Igor" (MGM)
Rated "PG"
Slight but entertaining animated horror spoof in which the titular character (voice of John Cusack), a hunchbacked assistant to an evil inventor (voice of John Cleese), aspires to become a mad scientist himself and, with the bungling help of two sidekicks, a brain in a jar (voice of Sean Hayes) and a rabbit (voice of Steve Buscemi, mistakenly creates a nice monster (voice of Molly Shannon) with theatrical ambitions. Director Tony Leondis' family comedy, which also features voice work by Jennifer Coolidge, Jay Leno and Arsenio Hall, fails to capitalize fully on the wealth of talent on tap, occasionally ventures into needless potty humor, and contains some scenes of destruction that might frighten very young viewers. However, it does offer lessons about overcoming stereotypes, pursuing dreams and freely embracing goodness. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-I -- general patronage. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.

"Illegal Tender" (Universal)
Rated "R"
The sins of a father (Manny Perez), who's been dead for 20 years, are visited on his widow (Wanda De Jesus), his son (Rick Gonzalez) and even his son's young stepbrother (Antonio Ortiz) as the gangster who once employed him (Gary Perez) pursues an apparently endless vendetta. This exhaustingly overacted and dreary melodrama, written and directed by Franc Reyes, features characters who spew platitudes and bullets with equal aplomb. Frequent rough and crude language, rear and partial upper female nudity, adulterous sexual activity, highly suggestive costuming and dancing, graphic violence with gore and suicide. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"The Illusionist" (Yari Film Group)
Rated "PG-13"
Grippingly atmospheric romantic tale set in turn-of-the-last-century Vienna about a mysterious stage magician (Edward Norton) who loves a noblewoman (Jessica Biel) unwillingly betrothed to the crown prince (Rufus Sewell) who demands the chief inspector (Paul Giamatti) prove the magician a fraud. Writer-director Neil Burger's sepia-toned adaptation of Steven Millhauser's short story, with a haunting score by Philip Glass and excellent performances, brilliantly captures the period, and beneath the compelling story, such themes as popular superstition, the rise of scientific thought and the decline of the aristocracy are unobtrusively woven. A brief sexual encounter with suggested nudity, some domestic violence, a suicide and a few crass expressions. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"Imaginary Heroes" (Sony Classics)
Rated "R"
Earnest, if uneven, domestic dysfunction drama about an upscale suburban couple (Sigourney Weaver and Jeff Daniels) trying to come to terms with the sudden suicide of their eldest child (Kip Pardue), causing marital disintegration and sending them, along with their younger teenage son (Emile Hirsch), down separate but similarly self-destructive paths of despair. As directed by Dan Harris, this somber yet ultimately redemptive meditation on guilt, grief, and forgiveness is buttressed by good performances across the board, and explores the interconnectedness of human relations and how the ripple effects of our mistakes affect the lives of others. Recurring substance abuse, including several scenes involving underaged teenagers, sexual situations among minors, one involving partial nudity, an intimate encounter between two boys, a suicide, some violence, as well as repeated rough and crude language and profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

"Imagine That" (Paramount/Nickelodeon)
Rated "PG"
A work-obsessed investment adviser (Eddie Murphy) connects with his young daughter (Yara Shahidi) after accidentally discovering that the inhabitants of an imaginary kingdom she has created give accurate financial predictions, aiding him in his competition with a pretentious but popular rival (Thomas Haden Church). Director Karey Kirkpatrick's timely and charming comic fantasy, which also features Martin Sheen as a renowned tycoon, elevates family bonds over the paper kind and, a couple of slightly crass terms aside, makes appropriate viewing for all generations. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-I -- general patronage. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.

"I'm Not There" (Weinstein)
Rated "R"
Artsy, impressionistic portrait of singer-songwriter Bob Dylan with several top actors playing different aspects of his multifaceted character over the decades: Woody Guthrie acolyte (Marcus Carl Franklin), folksinger (Christian Bale), Arthur Rimbaud admirer (Ben Whishaw), plugged-in electric singer (Cate Blanchett), actor-husband (Heath Ledger), born-again Christian (Bale), and loner and "outlaw" (Richard Gere). Since co-writer and director Todd Haynes eschews conventional biography, the film requires some knowledge of Dylan's history for full appreciation, but ultimately, despite a fine earful of Dylan songs and some interesting performances (especially from Blanchett), this emerges as an arty, cinematic curiosity. Rough language and profanity, crass expressions, brief partial male and upper-female nudity, a nongraphic sexual encounter and drug use. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"I Am Number Four" (DreamWorks)
Rated "PG-13"
Occasionally moving teen drama about a human-looking alien (Alex Pettyfer) who has come to Earth to prevent its colonization by the race of evil creatures (led by Kevin Durand) who took over his home planet, slaughtering the native population in the process. Perpetually on the run, he's protected by a guardian (Timothy Olyphant) from his own world, but his love for a fellow high school student (Dianna Agron) in his latest home town proves a potentially dangerous distraction. With its main character's sense of isolation and desire to rebel against his seemingly overzealous caretaker paralleling more mundane adolescent angst, director D.J. Caruso's adaptation of a novel by Pittacus Lore may appeal to targeted younger viewers. But, while the innocent central relationship is perfectly acceptable for them, the same cannot be said of the hyper-violent, though generally bloodless, climax toward which the proceedings build. Much intense but largely gore-free combat, a few uses of profanity, a bit of vaguely scatological humor, at least a dozen instances of crude language, about half that many crass terms. 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.

"I Don't Know How She Does It" (Weinstein)
Rated "PG-13"
Sarah Jessica Parker stars in this sentimental goo about a wife and mother struggling to succeed in high finance while juggling the needs of her husband and two young children. Director Doug McGrath and screenwriter Aline Brosh McKenna, working from the novel by Allison Pearson, create a gentle upper-crust world filled with wisecracking friends, warm parents, the occasional understanding boss and picture-postcard views of Boston and New York. A fleeting reference to abortion, frequent crude and crass language and fleeting profane language. 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.

"In Bruges" (Focus)
Rated "R"
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 and ethnic slurs. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Insidious" (FilmDistrict)
Rated "PG-13"
This mash-up of a horror homage -- which borrows liberally from older films in the genre such as "Poltergeist" and "The Amityville Horror" -- has a young boy (Ty Simpkins) trapped in a hellish netherworld known as The Further, with his feckless father (Patrick Wilson) and a medium (Lin Shaye) out to rescue him. Director James Wan and screenwriter Leigh Whannell break no new ground, relying instead on garish zombies popping out of windows, closets and walls, a fog machine, and a cackling old lady or two. Still, the use of 1960s pop phenom Tiny Tim's falsetto warbling of "Tiptoe Through the Tulips" does lend the proceedings a sort of geeky charm. Along the way, a Catholic priest (John Henry Binder) makes a brief appearance, but to no discernable purpose. Fleeting crude and profane language and intense, but nonviolent, scenes involving children. 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.

"Inception" (Warner Bros.)
Rated 'PG-13"
Ingenious sci-fi brainteaser in which, at the behest of a powerful CEO (Ken Watanabe), a corporate spy (Leonardo DiCaprio) who uses "shared dreaming" to extract secrets from the minds of sleeping executives leads a team of skilled collaborators (Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ellen Page, Tom Hardy and Dileep Rao) on a raid into the subconscious of the heir (Cillian Murphy) to a rival business. Writer-director Christopher Nolan achieves a tour de force of spectacle and suspense that eventually involves four adventures unfolding simultaneously at different levels of consciousness, though his crafty action tale is rife with explosions and gunplay and engages the imagination more than the heart. Much violence, some of it bloody, several uses of profanity, a few crude and crass terms. 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.

"Insidious" (FilmDistrict)
Rated "PG-13"
This mash-up of a horror homage -- which borrows liberally from older films in the genre such as "Poltergeist" and "The Amityville Horror" -- has a young boy (Ty Simpkins) trapped in a hellish netherworld known as The Further, with his feckless father (Patrick Wilson) and a medium (Lin Shaye) out to rescue him. Director James Wan and screenwriter Leigh Whannell break no new ground, relying instead on garish zombies popping out of windows, closets and walls, a fog machine, and a cackling old lady or two. Still, the use of 1960s pop phenom Tiny Tim's falsetto warbling of "Tiptoe Through the Tulips" does lend the proceedings a sort of geeky charm. Along the way, a Catholic priest (John Henry Binder) makes a brief appearance, but to no discernable purpose. Fleeting crude and profane language and intense, but nonviolent, scenes involving children. 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.

"Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" (Paramount)
Rated "PG-13"
Welcome return of the iconic action adventure series -- nearly 20 years after the third installment -- as the intrepid archaeologist (Harrison Ford still in fine physical fettle) sets out to find and restore a mystical head to its rightful place in Peru assisted by an old flame (Karen Allen), her motorcycle rebel son (Shia LaBeouf), a duplicitous mercenary (Ray Winstone) and a dotty professor (John Hurt), with the Russians led by an icy agent (Cate Blanchett) in hot pursuit. Director Steven Spielberg rousingly captures much of the spirit of the earlier films and, some occasional curse words and intense violence aside, the film makes generally unobjectionable viewing for older teens and up. Intense nongraphic action violence, a few crude expletives, and an implied past premarital relationship. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

"The Informant!" (Warner Bros.)
Rated "R"
Diverting fact-based comedy about an up-and-coming agribusiness executive (Matt Damon) who suddenly turns whistleblower, revealing his company's role in an international price-fixing scheme to the FBI, but his undercover collaboration with two special agents (Scott Bakula and Joel McHale) is continually complicated by his eccentric delusions and by his reluctance to tell the whole truth. Director Steven Soderbergh's offbeat adaptation of journalist Kurt Eichenwald's book recounting the case, which also features Melanie Lynskey as the mole's long-suffering wife, benefits from Damon's intense performance as a curiously sympathetic egomaniac, though its treatment of both corporate and individual misdeeds may strike some as frivolous. A few uses of profanity and some rough and crude language. 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.

"The Invasion" (Warner Bros.)
Rated "PG-13"
Effective, frequently exciting remake of the 1950s science fiction classic "Invasion of the Body Snatchers," centers on a Washington-based psychiatrist (a tense Nicole Kidman) who, aided by her doctor boyfriend (Daniel Craig), must rescue her young son (Jackson Bond) from her ex-husband (Jeremy Northam), whose body -- like that of much of the populace -- has been taken over by alien forces. Director Oliver Hirschbiegel generates considerable suspense, and the pace rarely flags, despite some continuity flaws and a rather muddled political agenda that fails to better the "red scare" McCarthy subtext of the original. A few instances of crude words and profanity, intense action violence with some blood, killings, a vicious attack by a dog on a child, and brief female disrobing but no nudity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults (though it's acceptable for older adolescents). The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

"Inkheart" (Warner Bros.)
Rated "PG"
Lavish, though sometimes awkward, fantasy adventure about a bookbinder (Brendan Fraser) who accidentally brings a fictional juggler (Paul Bettany) and a villain (Andy Serkis) to life by reading aloud to his daughter (Eliza Hope Bennett) the novel in which they are characters and who teams with the author (Jim Broadbent) to return them and retrieve his wife (Sienna Guillory), who disappeared into the story. Director Iain Softley's adaptation of Cornelia Funke's 2004 best-seller, which also features Helen Mirren as the girl's aunt, is a paean to fiction and family relationships and, though there is some moderate action violence that might frighten the very youngest viewers, is otherwise acceptable for all. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-I -- general patronage. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.

"The International" (Columbia/Relativity)
Rated "R"
Intense thriller in which a dogged Interpol agent (Clive Owen) and a New York assistant district attorney (Naomi Watts) investigate the elusive leaders (Ulrich Thomsen and Armin Mueller-Stahl, among others) of a global bank implicated in arms trading and murder. Director Tom Tykwer's sleek, skillfully crafted conspiracy yarn, which also features Brian F. O'Byrne as an assassin, veers briefly into excessive violence, but focuses most of its attention on the frustrations of operating within the law and the perils of acting outside it. Considerable moderate action violence, brief but graphic gore, vigilantism, some rough and crude language, brief sexual humor, and a couple of uses 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.

"In the Mix" (Lions Gate)
Rated "PG-13"
Lame romantic comedy about a New York disc jockey (hip-hop artist Usher) who, after taking a bullet for a mobster (Chazz Palminteri), is hired to keep a watchful eye on the Mafioso's grown daughter (Emmanuelle Chriqui), with whom he has an affair against her father's wishes. Director Ron Underwood's interracial romance is a mix of plot cliches and character stereotypes clumsily held together by a contrived script. Some violence, sexual situations and sexual humor, as well as sporadic crude language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale" (Freestyle)
Rated "PG-13"
Ludicrously overblown fantasy adventure, based on a video game, in which a peaceable farmer (Jason Statham) is victimized by an invading army of mutant dogs who are being controlled by an evil wizard (Ray Liotta) and goes off in pursuit of his kidnapped wife (Claire Forlani), eventually having to choose whether to abandon his stubborn independence and ally himself with a wise king (Burt Reynolds) and the good wizard (John Rhys-Davies) who serves him. Director Uwe Boll's banal, lumbering film offers some effective battle scenes, but virtually nothing else. Fantasy violence, an implied nonmarital sexual relationship and one crass insult. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

"In Time"

"Into the Wild" (Paramount Vantage/River Road)
Rated "R"
Episodic but absorbing road movie, based on Jon Krakauer's 1998 biography of idealistic 22-year-old Christopher McCandless (Emile Hirsch) who abandoned his home, troubled parents (Marcia Gay Harden and William Hurt) and sister (Jena Malone) after college graduation to avoid the "poison" of civilization and get back to nature, embarking on an epic two-year road trip from Atlanta to Alaska. Actor Sean Penn directed, wrote and produced the film, which gains in emotional power as it progresses, fueled by excellent performances, including those of Catherine Keener, Vince Vaughn, nonactor (one of several in the cast) Brian Dierker and especially Hal Holbrook, playing colorful characters Chris encounters on his journey, with underlying themes of family connection, individualism versus community and the primal pull of the wilderness, leading toward a moving climax of forgiveness, redemption and intense spirituality. Some rough language and profanity, upper female and brief full-frontal male nudity, the killing and then cutting up of an animal carcass, a beating, implied premarital situations and reference to a bigamous relationship. 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.

"Incantato" (Northern Arts Entertainment)
Not Rated
Handsomely designed and filmed but dramatically inert period piece about a shy, awkward 35-year-old schoolteacher falling in love for the first time with a beautiful young woman -- an incorrigible femme fatale who has recently been blinded. Set in 1920s Italy, Pupi Avati's film has the added interest of the hero's father being tailor to the pope, and indeed the film's climax takes place within the hallowed walls of Vatican City. But the main story is so ludicrous and torpidly paced that in spite of some touching moments, the intended romantic sweep is simply not there. Subtitles. Some mild sexual episodes and rear nudity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"The Incredibles" (Disney)
Rated “PG”
Amusing animated adventure about a family of superheroes -- headed by strongman Mr. Incredible (voiced by Craig T. Nelson) and his stretchable wife (voiced by Holly Hunter) -- living a "normal" suburban life as part of a witness protection program, when they are forced out of early retirement to save the world from an evil genius. Much edgier than past Pixar films, director Brad Bird's comic-book confection blurs the line between kids' and adult entertainment, which despite amazing visuals and a sharp-witted script falls slightly short of its title. Some action violence, including gunplay, a foiled suicide attempt and mature thematic elements. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents.

"The Incredible Hulk" (Universal/Marvel)
Rated "PG-13"
Intense live-action adventure about a fugitive scientist (Edward Norton) searching for a cure to the gamma poisoning that transforms him, when provoked, into a rampaging behemoth, with the help of his girlfriend and former colleague (Liv Tyler) and despite the efforts of her Army general father (William Hurt) and a British officer (Tim Roth) to capture him and exploit his powers. In between breathless chases and effective battle scenes, this latest adaptation of the popular comic, directed by Louis Leterrier, touches on serious moral issues about the use of force and the manipulation of human biology, though it squanders the initial innocence of its main characters' romance. Nongraphic premarital sexual activity, partial rear nudity, stylized violence, painful medical scenes, brief scatological humor, and occasional crude and crass language; it's possibly acceptable for older teens. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Infamous" (Warner Independent)
Rated "R"
Author Truman Capote (a bravura turn by Toby Jones) travels to Kansas with his friend, "To Kill a Mockingbird" author Nelle Harper Lee (Sandra Bullock), after the brutal murder of the wealthy Cutter family in 1959, and decides to write the nonfiction novel that became "In Cold Blood" by interviewing the townspeople, the authorities (Jeff Daniels), and the killers themselves (Daniel Craig and Lee Pace). The similarities and differences between this version (by writer-director Douglas McGrath), with more humor and greater scope, and director Bennett Miller's "Capote" (made at the same time) are interesting. It also boasts a starry supporting cast (Gwyneth Paltrow, Sigourney Weaver, Hope Davis, Isabella Rossellini and Juliet Stevenson) as his high-society friends back in New York. Some gay elements involving Capote and one of the killers, innuendo, discreet but strong re-creation of the murders, some grisly images, two hangings, rough and crude language and expressions, an irreverent remark, domestic violence, and abortion and suicide references. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

"Infernal Affairs" (Miramax)
Rated "R"
Arresting crime thriller set in Hong Kong about two double agents -- one a gangland mole (Andy Lau) embedded in the police force and the other an undercover cop (Tony Leung) who has infiltrated a crime ring, posing as a member of its inner circle -- locked in a game of cat-and-mouse to smoke each other out. As directed by Andrew Lau and Alan Mak, the stylish and intelligent film keeps its hardboiled tension on a high flame, downplaying action sequences in favor of narrative suspense and character development. Some graphic violence, drug content and moral ambiguity. Subtitles. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"In Good Company" (Universal)
Rated "PG-13"
Sharp and perceptive -- if somewhat formulaic -- comedy-drama about a sports magazine sales executive (Dennis Quaid) who finds himself working for a man almost half his age (Topher Grace) when the magazine's parent company is sold to a global conglomerate, and later learns his new boss is having an affair with his college-age daughter (Scarlett Johansson). Director/writer Paul Weitz's film is convincingly on-target about the heartlessness of the contemporary business world, and Quaid gives a particularly fine performance, but the daughter's oddly bold seduction of her father's boss in her dorm room is morally problematic and somehow rings false from a dramatic standpoint. Some crude language, fleeting rear nudity and a permissive view of premarital sex. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"In Her Shoes" (20th Century Fox)
Rated "PG-13"
Emotionally wounded sisters -- one a dowdy, inhibited lawyer (Toni Collette), the other a flashy, promiscuous alcoholic (Cameron Diaz) -- come to terms with the scars of the past when they reconnect with the grandmother (Shirley MacLaine) they never knew who is now living in a Florida retirement home. If the Jewish milieu isn't entirely convincing, Curtis Hanson's unabashedly sentimental film ultimately imparts good messages about forgiveness and reconciliation, with a touching, morally sound, feel-good conclusion. Sexual banter and situations including one rough encounter in a restroom, an irreligious remark, permissive view of premarital sex, partial nudity, suicide theme, scattered profanity, crude language and expressions. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"In the Valley of Elah" (Warner Independent)
Rated "R"
Inspired by true events, this is a powerfully understated drama about a patriotic ex-military man (Tommy Lee Jones) who, leaving his worried wife (Susan Sarandon) at home, searches for their missing son who's just returned from duty in Iraq, and who joins forces with a police detective (Charlize Theron) to break through the military's red tape, as they begin to suspect foul play. Writer-director Paul Haggis's script ultimately delivers a strong anti-war message, and cast members -- who also include Jason Patric, James Franco and Josh Brolin -- give sensitive, nuanced performances. Rough language and profanity, rear shower nudity, upper female nudity, brief gruesome war and morgue imagery and verbal descriptions, suicide, drug references and violent scuffle. 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.

"Innocence" (Leisure Time and Home Vision Entertainment)
Rated "NR"
Strange but intriguing tale set within the curious confines of an all-girls boarding school cut off from the outside world. Students arrive as small children in coffins, are quickly indoctrinated into the school's strict rules -- including those forbidding escape -- instructed in natural science and dance in preparation for bizarre performances for the school's shadowy patrons, only to be released upon reaching puberty. Directed by French filmmaker Lucile Hadzihalilovic, the visually haunting picture conveys a sense of both innocence and dread, but its laggard pacing and plotless narrative undercut its feminist-flavored pretensions of social commentary concerning the role of women in society. Subtitles. A brief sensually suggestive scene. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"Innocent Voices" ("Voces Inocentes") (BB Entertainment Marketing)
Rated "R"
Gripping true-life story of an 11-year-old boy -- who together with his mother and siblings -- is caught up in the horrors of the civil war in El Salvador in the 1980s, including a subplot involving a brave priest who tries to stand up to the brutal government troops. Luis Mandoki's film -- actually shot in Mexico -- is intensely moving, though there are lighter and even humorous moments to leaven the tragedy. The performances, especially that of Carlos Padilla as the young boy, are beautifully natural, and the overall message of the effects of war on youngsters -- with its present-day resonance -- is palpable. In Spanish, subtitles. Some rough and crude language and expressions, wartime violence and bloody bodies make this best for older adolescents and adults. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"Inside Deep Throat" (Universal)
Rated “NC” no one 17 or under admitted
Serious-minded but visually explicit documentary detailing the history and legacy of the notorious 1972 porn film -- and the cultural and legal firestorm it ignited -- via a slickly edited mosaic of archival footage, hard-core clips from the film itself, interviews with its principal players and talking-head comments from cultural pundits like Norman Mailer, Dick Cavett, Gore Vidal, Hugh Hefner and Dr. Ruth Westheimer. Directed by Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato, the documentary, while more sociocultural than salacious in tone, nevertheless tries so hard to position its subject as a rallying point for First Amendment rights that it politely glosses over (though doesn't completely ignore) the sleazy film's more sordid particulars and gives short shrift to arguments against pornography on the moral grounds that it exploits women and is degrading to the dignity of sex and the human person. Recurring graphic sexual images. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive.

"Inside Man" (Universal)
Rated "R"
Crime drama about a New York City police detective (Denzel Washington) who matches wits with a cunning armed robber (Clive Owen) holding hostages captive in a Wall Street bank, while a politically connected power broker (Jodie Foster) hired by the bank's owner (Christopher Plummer) muddies negotiations in trying to keep an incriminating secret buried in the bank's vault. Smartly written with nods to "Dog Day Afternoon" and just the right amount of humor, director Spike Lee's film puts an interesting spin on the heist genre while exploring themes of race and corruption, resulting in an intelligent caper that can be enjoyed on several levels, despite a morally ambiguous ending. Some discreet violence, violent video game images, pervasive rough and crude language, and a disturbing execution image, as well as some sexual humor, innuendo and racial epithets. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

"Insidious" (FilmDistrict)
Rated "PG-13"
This mash-up of a horror homage -- which borrows liberally from older films in the genre such as "Poltergeist" and "The Amityville Horror" -- has a young boy (Ty Simpkins) trapped in a hellish netherworld known as The Further, with his feckless father (Patrick Wilson) and a medium (Lin Shaye) out to rescue him. Director James Wan and screenwriter Leigh Whannell break no new ground, relying instead on garish zombies popping out of windows, closets and walls, a fog machine, and a cackling old lady or two. Still, the use of 1960s pop phenom Tiny Tim's falsetto warbling of "Tiptoe Through the Tulips" does lend the proceedings a sort of geeky charm. Along the way, a Catholic priest (John Henry Binder) makes a brief appearance, but to no discernable purpose. Fleeting crude and profane language and intense, but nonviolent, scenes involving children. 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.

"The International" (Columbia/Relativity)
Rated "R"
Intense thriller in which a dogged Interpol agent (Clive Owen) and a New York assistant district attorney (Naomi Watts) investigate the elusive leaders (Ulrich Thomsen and Armin Mueller-Stahl, among others) of a global bank implicated in arms trading and murder. Director Tom Tykwer's sleek, skillfully crafted conspiracy yarn, which also features Brian F. O'Byrne as an assassin, veers briefly into excessive violence, but focuses most of its attention on the frustrations of operating within the law and the perils of acting outside it. Considerable moderate action violence, brief but graphic gore, vigilantism, some rough and crude language, brief sexual humor, and a couple of uses 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.

"The Interpreter" (Universal)
Rated "PG-13"
Glossy, reasonably suspenseful tale about a Secret Service agent (Sean Penn) who investigates the claim that an African-born interpreter at the United Nations (Nicole Kidman) has overheard a plot against an African dignitary accused of genocide, and though the agent begins to suspect the interpreter may, in fact, be part of the plot, he finds himself falling in love with her. Director Sydney Pollack's international political thriller is much too complex -- not to mention improbable -- for its own good, and even with intelligent performances and sharp U.N. location shooting, this is several notches below "The Man Who Knew Too Much" and other similarly themed films. Some profanity and crude language, several instances of brief but strong violence, thematic suicide material, a scantily clad lap dancer, and a glimpse of massacred bodies. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"In Time" (Fox)
Rated "PG-13"
Though stylish, this sci-fi thriller fails to follow through on its chilling premise of a dystopian society in which everyone is genetically engineered to die at age 26 unless they can add more time to their biological clock. So time becomes the only currency. After receiving a chronological windfall, a previously impoverished factory worker (Justin Timberlake) flees the ghetto and, together with a mogul's daughter (Amanda Seyfried), attempts to redistribute wealth to the have-nots. Writer-director Andrew Niccol tries to distract the audience from analyzing the details of his intriguing scenario, but his film plays like a glossy fashion spread with a social conscience. Nongraphic action violence, including gunplay, a suicide, a glimpse of rear female nudity, several nonmarital sexual situations, at least one instance each of profanity and rough language, several crude terms, some innuendo. 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.

"Into Great Silence" (Zeitgeist)
Rated "NR"
Poetically filmed documentary about a Carthusian monastery in the French Alps, which follows the cloistered monks in their daily -- mostly silent and solitary -- routines. German filmmaker Philip Groning's respectful no-frills approach utilizes no narration or background music, but by combining alternately a painterly formality and a verite intimacy, skillfully captures the textures and rhythms of their highly structured existence, resulting in a rewarding -- and, due to the film's austerity and nearly three-hour length -- somewhat demanding cinematic and spiritual experience. In French and Latin. Subtitles. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-I -- general patronage. Not rated by the Motion Picture Association of America.

"Into the Blue" (MGM-Columbia)
Rated "PG-13" Parents are strongly cautioned
Good-looking but empty-headed underwater action film set in the Bahamas about a diving instructor (Paul Walker) and his bikini-clad girlfriend (Jessica Alba) who wind up in deep trouble when they discover a downed plane full of cocaine while searching for a storied shipwreck loaded with pirate treasure. Despite an attractive cast, director John Stockwell's flick is sunk by a flimsy plot and a B-movie script waterlogged with bad dialogue. Action violence, including shark-attack gore, some sexual situations and humor, suggested partial nudity, and recurring crude language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"The Invention of Lying" (Warner Bros.)
Rated "PG-13"
Venomous supposed comedy, set in a world where lying is unknown and every word spoken is accepted as truth, and where God does not exist until a failed documentary screenwriter (Ricky Gervais) discovers the ability to deceive and, to comfort his dying mother (Fionnula Flanagan), invents the fable of an afterlife, going on to fabricate the story of a "man in the sky" who rewards good deeds and punishes evil, all of which is eagerly accepted by the credulous masses who flock to hear his message. Along with his co-writer and co-director Matthew Robinson, Gervais launches an all-out, sneering assault on the foundations of religious faith such as has seldom if ever been seen in a mainstream film, despicably belittling core Judeo-Christian beliefs and mocking both the person and the teaching of Jesus Christ. Pervasive blasphemy, some sexual humor and references, and a few rough and crude terms. 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.

"Insidious" (FilmDistrict)
Rated "PG-13"
This mash-up of a horror homage -- which borrows liberally from older films in the genre such as "Poltergeist" and "The Amityville Horror" -- has a young boy (Ty Simpkins) trapped in a hellish netherworld known as The Further, with his feckless father (Patrick Wilson) and a medium (Lin Shaye) out to rescue him. Director James Wan and screenwriter Leigh Whannell break no new ground, relying instead on garish zombies popping out of windows, closets and walls, a fog machine, and a cackling old lady or two. Still, the use of 1960s pop phenom Tiny Tim's falsetto warbling of "Tiptoe Through the Tulips" does lend the proceedings a sort of geeky charm. Along the way, a Catholic priest (John Henry Binder) makes a brief appearance, but to no discernable purpose. Fleeting crude and profane language and intense, but nonviolent, scenes involving children. 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.
"Invictus" (Warner Bros.)
Rated "PG-13"
Uplifting sports drama, based on actual events, about South African President Nelson Mandela's (Morgan Freeman) campaign to unite his country behind the national rugby team (led by Matt Damon), once a widely hated symbol of white privilege under apartheid, as it became an unlikely contender in the 1995 World Cup competition. Adapted from John Carlin's book, "Playing the Enemy," director Clint Eastwood's account effectively chronicles how Mandela transformed the race for the championship into an opportunity to break down lingering racial prejudice and to demonstrate the generosity and openness to reconciliation of the newly empowered black majority, a salutary tale whose moral and artistic merits counterbalance the elements listed below, making it probably acceptable for mature teens. Brief scenes of violence, at least one use of the F-word, a few instances of crude and crass language and some mild sexual references. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Invincible" (Disney)
Rated "PG"
Inspirational sports drama based on the true-life story of unlikely football star Vince Papale (Mark Wahlberg), a bartender who, falling on hard luck, tries out for his hometown Philadelphia Eagles and makes the team, winning over the coach (Greg Kinnear) and eventually the entire city. Director Ericson Core follows a generic underdog formula but you'll find it hard not to cheer for this feel-good film about overcoming obstacles and having the courage to follow one's dreams. Some mildly crude language, intense football violence, and a presumed off-screen premarital situation, limiting its appropriateness to older adolescents and up. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents.

"The Invisible" (Buena Vista)
Rated "PG-13"
Ghostlike teen (Justin Chatwin) wanders ineffectively through his town after a near-death beating, unable to communicate with anyone and generally moping behind the tough girl (Margarita Levieva) who had jumped him with two henchmen. Director David S. Goyer offers unconvincing plot points, inconsistent internal logic, a somnambulistic leading man and a preposterous and muddled climax that inspires unintended laughter. A few instances of crude and crass language, a mild scene of clothed groping, an implied night of premarital sex, brief shower-related female nudity and much violence, including beatings and a scene of gunfire, though handled with relative discretion. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"Iron Man" (Paramount/Marvel)
Rated "PG-13"
Sleekly effective science-fiction tale about a devil-may-care playboy weapons manufacturer (Robert Downey Jr.) who, after being captured by an ambitious Afghanistan-based warlord (Faran Tahir) and ordered to build a replica of his most advanced product, with the help of another captive and scientist (Shaun Toub), instead constructs an impregnable suit of armor, escapes, and begins to re-evaluate his life, with the support of his loyal girl Friday (Gwyneth Paltrow) and despite the doubts of his junior partner (Jeff Bridges) and military liaison (Terrence Howard). In between the impressive special effects, executive producer-director Jon Favreau's screen adaptation of this popular comic-book series charts its main character's conversion from callous genius to dedicated defender. Nongraphic sexual activity, torture, a graphic medical procedure, sci-fi violence, occasional crude language, a brief profanity, sexual humor and innuendo. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"The Island" (DreamWorks)
Rated "PG-13"
Suspenseful, thought-provoking sci-fi thriller about two clones (Ewan McGregor and Scarlett Johansson) on the run from a private detective (Djimon Hounsou) hired by their ruthless creator (Sean Bean) who manufactures "product" for rich people needing spare body parts. Director Michael Bay's thriller has the usual mind-numbing explosions and car crashes but, together with production designer Nigel Phelps, succeeds in creating a convincing futuristic environment while conveying a positive overall message about the sanctity of life and censure of cloning. Much action violence, scattered profanity, rough and crude language, mild sexual encounter and innuendo, an irreligious comment, a birth scene and nonexplicit urination scenes. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"I Think I Love My Wife" (Fox)
Rated "R"
Director and co-writer Chris Rock plays a suburban husband tempted to stray in a comedy based on the 1972 French classic "Chloe in the Afternoon." This dubious remake offers little entertainment value, a torrent of four-letter words drowning out a few good jokes, and fails to offer any original insights into marital fidelity, boding ill for Rock's career behind the camera. Pervasive rough and sexually explicit language and an instance of profanity, sexual situations and humor, one image of pornography containing rear female nudity, brief violence. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

"It's Complicated" (Universal/Relativity)
Rated "R"
A decade after their divorce, a couple (Meryl Streep and Alec Baldwin) reconnect and have an affair, despite his second marriage to a much younger wife (Lake Bell) and her budding romance with an architect (Steve Martin). Though it highlights the lasting emotional toll exacted on children when their parents split, writer-director Nancy Meyers' aesthetically smooth-running romantic comedy is aptly titled from a Catholic moral perspective, since -- assuming their union was valid to begin with -- the pair's seeming adultery, presented as a daring feminist adventure for Streep's well-delineated character, would in fact be marital lovemaking, yet the breach of trust with the new "spouse" can hardly be excused, and adds a further twist to an ethically tangled story demanding careful evaluation by mature viewers. Complex moral issues; skewed values; implied sexual activity, some of it adulterous; off-screen masturbation; fleeting rear nudity; considerable drug use; some sexual references and humor; and a half-dozen crude or crass terms. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"I've Loved You So Long" (Sony Classics)
Rated "NR"
Moving drama about a broken woman (Kristin Scott Thomas) who has been released from prison after many years for having inexplicably murdered her 6-year-old child. She is taken in by her younger sister (Elsa Zylberstein) and wary brother-in-law (Serge Hazanavicius), where gradually, embraced by the loving atmosphere of the household, including two adopted Vietnamese nieces and a stroke-victim grandfather, she has a rebirth, coming to terms with her past and slowly learning to reconnect with the outside world. Novelist-turned-director Philippe Claudel's compassionate story demonstrates profound respect for human dignity, anchored by Thomas' extraordinary performance, beautifully matched by that of Zylberstein, as the pair re-establish a sisterly bond thought lost. In French. Subtitles. An implied nonmarital encounter, suicide, a couple of crude expressions. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults. Not rated by the Motion Picture Association of America.

J
"J. Edgar" (Warner Bros.)
Rated "R"
Clint Eastwood's polished but taxing biographical drama recounts major events in the long public career of famed FBI director J. Edgar Hoover (Leonardo DiCaprio) and attempts to reconstruct his enigmatic personal life. As scripted by Dustin Lance Black, the film informatively chronicles Hoover's rise from obscure bureaucrat to power-besotted keeper of the nation's secrets. Yet its exploration of the three main relationships in Hoover's life, with his domineering mother (Judi Dench), his girlfriend- turned-secretary (Naomi Watts) and his number two at the bureau (Armie Hammer) -- a man who was certainly Hoover's daily companion over several decades and might have been his lover -- feels sensationalized at times and will prove uncomfortable viewing even for mature audience members. Brief intense but bloodless violence, a scene of semi- graphic adultery, homosexual and transvestite themes, a same-sex kiss, at least one use of profanity, a couple of rough terms. 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.

"Jack and Jill" (Columbia)
Rated "PG"
Half-witted comedy in which Adam Sandler plays both a successful Los Angeles advertising executive and his well- meaning but irksome, Bronx-based twin sister. When Sis comes to town for her annual Thanksgiving visit, the ad man can hardly wait for her to leave again -- until, that is, she artlessly wins the heart of Al Pacino (playing himself), whom he's been trying to convince to appear in a Dunkin' Donuts commercial. Director Dennis Dugan's grab-bag of potty humor, harsh slapstick and pop-culture gags is too crude for kids and too puerile for their elders. Much violent slapstick and gross scatological humor, brief implied nudity, some sexual jokes and adult references, at least one crass term. The Catholic News Service classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.

"Jackass: Number Two" (Paramount)
Rated "R"
Johnny Knoxville and his masochistic troupe serve up a second helping of stupidity in this follow-up based on their popular -- and all too appropriately named -- MTV show. Directed as before by Jeff Tremaine, the film once again plays pain and humiliation for laughs through an outrageous series of "Candid Camera"-style pranks and reckless stunts that range from the harmlessly sophomoric to the outright sadistic and vile. Pervasive vulgar and degrading humor, including gross scatological sight gags and self-mutilation, nonstop rough and crude language and profanity, and rear and frontal nudity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive.

"Jackass 3-D" (Paramount)
Rated "R"
Repulsive, sick assemblage of violent and degrading stunts performed by Johnny Knoxville and the other denizens of the MTV television series in their third feature film. The activities range from the gross-out to the pornographic. Director Jeff Tremaine and writer (so to speak) Preston Lacy leave no excretory function unexamined, all in grotesque close-up. Repellent scatological images, frontal male nudity, constant sexual and body part references, pervasive profane, rough and crude language. The Catholic News Service classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"The Jacket" (Warner Independent)
Rated "R"
Dark and disjointed psychological thriller about an amnesiac Gulf War veteran (Adrien Brody) who is framed for the murder of a policeman and is sentenced to an asylum for the criminally insane where a psychiatrist (Kris Kristofferson) subjects him to mind-altering "treatment" -- involving being strapped into a straitjacket and locked in a morgue body drawer -- which enables him to see the future, including his own imminent death. Stylishly crafted by director John Maybury, the creepy atmospherics fail to conceal that, despite ending on a redemptive, life-affirming note, the formulaic film lacks any real emotion or logic. The film contains intense violence, including disturbing images of war, torture and a shooting; a sexual encounter with partial nudity; and recurring rough, crude and profane language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

"The Jane Austen Book Club" (Sony Classics)
Rated "PG-13"
Genteel, nicely acted "chick flick" about friends (Kathy Baker, Maria Bello and Emily Blunt) who start a book-discussion group on Jane Austen as a catharsis for their friend (Amy Brenneman) whose husband (Jimmy Smits) has announced he's leaving her, and who hope she'll fall for the young man (Hugh Dancy) who's joined the group. Writer-director Robin Swicord moves the action at too leisurely a pace, and though the story is for the most part resolved on moral lines -- with most of the characters doing the right thing, thanks to the lessons they've learned in the Austen novels -- and there are several poignant moments, the premise seems contrived, and a relatively minor lesbian subplot is morally questionable. Casual acceptance of premarital sex and divorce, nongraphic sexual encounters, an inappropriate teacher-student flirtation, same-sex attraction, adultery theme, some rough and crude words, and drug use. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Jane Eyre" (Focus)
Rated "PG-13"
Director Cary Joji Fukunaga's adaptation of Charlotte Bronte's classic novel, though faithful, nonetheless ramps up the gothic and scary elements of the plot. The orphan Jane (Mia Wasikowska) survives a childhood of abuse and religious fundamentalism to become governess at Thornfield Hall, home of the enigmatic Edward Rochester (Michael Fassbender). Jane focuses on her work, teaching a young French girl (Romy Settbon Moore) in Rochester's care, while trying to understand the eccentricities of her spiritually tormented employer. Her guide and confidante is the manse's busybody housekeeper (a scene-stealing Judi Dench). Soon Rochester's bedroom is on fire, and Jane saves his life -- and melts his heart. They make plans to marry, but fate, of course, has other things in store for these star-crossed lovers. Possibly acceptable for mature teens. Adult themes, some intense scenes of nonsexual child abuse, an artistic nude image. 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.

"Jarhead" (Universal)
Rated "R"
Intermittently arresting war movie based on Anthony Swofford's memoirs of his experiences in the first Gulf War, which follows a unit of Marines from boot camp to deployment in Iraq - seen through the eyes of a team of snipers (Jake Gyllenhaal and Peter Sarsgaard) - where they battle scorching heat, boredom and each other as airpower wins the war. Director Sam Mendes' absurdist, obscenity laced, meditation on modern warfare is by turns surreal and sardonic, but despite solid performances and some striking visuals, the film's familiar depiction of grunt life feels warmed-over, presenting a morally ambiguous view of war and its desensitizing psychological effects on combatants. Combat related violence, including disturbing images of charred bodies, a few graphic sexual encounters with partial nudity, scenes of masturbation and urination, shadowy shower nudity, excessive sexually explicit language and humor and profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

"Jennifer's Body" (Fox)
Rated "R"
A fetching but cynical high school student (Megan Fox) is mysteriously transformed into a cannibalistic demon preying on her male schoolmates, much to the distress of her timid best pal (Amanda Seyfried) whose boyfriend (Johnny Simmons) may become the next item on the monster's menu. Director Karyn Kusama's failed attempt to satirize teen female rivalry by inflating it into an occult struggle for life or death relishes gore and exploits adolescent sexuality. Frequent savage violence, cannibalism, strong sexual content, including graphic (presumably underage) sexual activity and lesbian kissing, a couple of profanities, irreverence and much rough and crude language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"Jesus Camp" (Magnolia)
Rated "PG-13"
Fascinating and frightening documentary about an evangelical summer camp where children are trained to lead the fight in "reclaiming America for Christ" through a militant Christianity which critics claim has little to do with the Gospel. Co-directors Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady give voice to both those who charge that what is being done is harmful indoctrination and those who see it as instilling passionately held religious values. While it's understandable that many of the evangelicals interviewed earnestly feel alienated by the increasingly secular, materialistic and immoral culture -- and many of those same concerns may resonate with Catholics -- the picture painted is nevertheless sobering. Some emotionally intense images and mature discussions. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents.

"Jet Li's Fearless" (Focus)
Rated "PG-13"
Action drama loosely based on the life of Chinese cultural hero Huo Yuanjia (Jet Li), an arrogant martial artist whose pursuit of street-fighting fame ends in tragedy, prompting a spiritual awakening that leads him to found a school to promote self-improvement and national pride during the foreign occupation of China at the turn of the 20th century. Director Ronny Yu's artful film delivers balletic fight choreography, elegant visuals and a solid story buttressed by Li's poignant performance and a redemptive theme about the futility of violence and revenge. Subtitles. Much stylized action violence and an instance of mildly crude language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Jindabyne" (Sony Classics)
Rated "R"
Meaty morality play, based on a Raymond Carver short story, reset in the visually stunning Australian Smoky Mountains about a weekend fisherman (Gabriel Byrne) and his three buddies who find the body of a murdered young women but fail to report the discovery immediately, leading to ostracism by his wife (Laura Linney) and community, forcing him to re-evaluate his good Samaritan duties. Beautifully realistic performances allow director Ray Lawrence to grittily explore the divide between the sexes, and unflinchingly examine the responsibility owed those outside one's own nuclear, religious and ethnic families. Murder (not shown), several disturbing images of a female cadaver with upper nudity, realistic fistfight with blood, a dead pet, rough and crude language and profanity, sexual language and groping, breast-feeding, discussion of abortion, discreetly depicted urination, alcohol use and domestic discord. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"Jiminy Glick in LaLaWood" (MGM)
Rated "R"
Lame improvised comedy about a clueless entertainment critic (a well-padded Martin Short), who is rocketed into the showbiz spotlight when he lands an exclusive one-on-one with a notoriously reclusive young megastar, while at the same time becoming involved in a Hollywood murder mystery. Despite some amusing mock interviews with real celebrities, director Vadim Jean's unnecessarily crude and mostly unfunny effort is another example of taking a TV comedy skit (Short's "Primetime Glick") and pointlessly stretching it into a feature-length film, here saddled with a silly whodunit subplot. Lewd sexual situations and humor, including a spoof lesbian love scene, brief violence and recurring rough and vulgar language and profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

"Jimmy Carter Man From Plains" (Participant)
Rated "PG"
Thoughtful, though unabashedly adulatory and overlong, documentary portrait of the 39th president as he takes a cross-country book tour to promote his controversial 2006 volume on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with some reflections on his early life and presidential administration. Versatile director Jonathan Demme's film makes the most of its subject's genuine virtues while also examining the frenzy-prone contemporary media and the ongoing search for Middle East peace. Scenes of people wounded and killed in a bombing. 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.

"Jindabyne" (Sony Classics)
Rated "R"
Meaty morality play, based on a Raymond Carver short story, reset in the visually stunning Australian Snowy Mountains about a weekend fisherman (Gabriel Byrne) and his three buddies who find the body of a murdered young women but fail to report the discovery immediately, leading to ostracism by his wife (Laura Linney) and community, forcing him to re-evaluate his good Samaritan duties. Beautifully realistic performances allow director Ray Lawrence to grittily explore the divide between the sexes, and unflinchingly examine the responsibility owed those outside one's own nuclear, religious and ethnic families. Murder (not shown), several disturbing images of a female cadaver with upper nudity, realistic fistfight with blood, a dead pet, rough and crude language and profanity, sexual language and groping, breast-feeding, discussion of abortion, discreetly depicted urination, alcohol use and domestic discord. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"Johnny English Reborn" (Universal)
Rated "PG"
Elaborately constructed spy spoof -- and cleaned-up sequel to the 2003 comedy "Johnny English" -- in which Rowan Atkinson as the titular secret agent overcomes severe odds to discover who was responsible for the assassination of the president of Mozambique. Atkinson and director Oliver Parker put Johnny -- a combination of Atkinson's Mr. Bean and Leslie Nielsen's Frank Drebin of the "Naked Gun" franchise -- through a series of droll set-pieces. One dubious, and dull, sight gag aside, they also eschew the less-than-family-friendly humor of the original. Some cartoonish violence, a single tasteless visual joke and fleeting mildly crass language. 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.

"Jonah Hex" (Warner Bros.)
Rated "PG-13"
The popular DC Comics series springs to life with a bang as the title character, a Civil War soldier turned bounty hunter and drifter, seeks revenge on the man who killed his family and left him disfigured. Jonah Hex (Josh Brolin) chases his nemesis, Quentin Turnbull (John Malkovich), across the country to prevent him from blowing up Washington and restarting the Civil War. The body count along the way is enormous, and while it is always clear that the bad guys go to hell, it's hard to condone Hex's fanatical drive for revenge. Stylized if unbloody violence, including gunfights, brawls, and explosions; implied sexual activity; occult rituals; and some profanity. 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.

"John Tucker Must Die" (20th Century Fox)
Rated "PG-13"
Lightweight comedy about a new girl at a high school (Brittany Snow) who, wanting to fit in, conspires with a spiteful trio of popular girls (Arielle Kebbel, Ashanti and Sophia Bush) to seek revenge against a girl-juggling jock (Jesse Metcalfe) after discovering that he'd been triple-timing them. Director Betty Thomas undermines the film's basically positive -- if muddled -- message about honesty and personal integrity by introducing sexually charged innuendo and situations into the get-even scheme, resulting in a movie that, though inappropriate for the obvious teen target, will be of little interest to older viewers. Some suggestive humor and sight gags, an uncritical view of premarital and teen sexual activity, and scattered crude language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"Jonas Brothers: The 3-D Concert Experience" (Disney)
Rated "G"
Upbeat concert film capturing performances during the popular boy band's 2008 "Burnin' Up" tour, interspersed with some behind-the-scenes footage of real-life siblings Kevin, Joe and Nick Jonas' life on the road and a lavish music video set in New York's Central Park. While the target audience of tween girls may be in danger of hyperventilating, accompanying adults will find director Bruce Hendricks' energetic bubblegum-rock documentary, like the group itself, reassuringly wholesome and family-friendly. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-I -- general patronage. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is G -- general audiences. All ages admitted.

"Journey to the Center of the Earth" (New Line/Walden)
Rated "PG"
Enjoyable update of Jules Verne's classic 1864 novel with a present-day geology research professor (Brendan Fraser), his late explorer brother's son (Josh Hutcherson) and their Icelandic guide (Anita Briem) finding themselves deep below the earth's surface, reliving most of the incidents from the book. Though not as memorable as the Hollywoodized 1959 version, this retread, from director Eric Brevig, provides plenty of nifty special effects -- which are especially effective in the 3-D presentation used in some theaters -- and together with personable leads and squeaky clean content make this wholesome family viewing for all but the very youngest viewers who might be frightened by some of the intense, though bloodless, action sequences. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-I -- general patronage. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.

"Joyeux Noel" ("Merry Christmas") (Sony Pictures Classics)
Rated "NR"
Intensely moving World War I tale of soldiers -- Scottish, French and German -- who spontaneously agree to a cease-fire on the Western front on Christmas Eve as they hear carols wafting from the enemy's trenches, intermingle and bond on a humanistic level, to the eventual disdain of their superiors. Writer-director Christian Carion's film, inspired by true events, is sensitively acted (by an international cast including Guillaume Canet, Daniel Bruhl and Benno Furmann) and conveys a powerful message about the senselessness of war, while there is an admirable religious underpinning in the character of a dedicated Anglican priest (Gary Lewis) who brings everyone together for a liturgy on that special night. Partially in English, partially subtitled. Battlefield violence with death, some profanity and crude language, discreet husband-wife bedroom scene. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents. Not rated by the Motion Picture Association of America.

"Joyful Noise" (Warner Bros.)
Rated "PG-13"
Vibrant, faith-driven blend of comedy, drama and music focused on the sometimes raucous but ultimately friendly rivalry between two leading members (Queen Latifah and Dolly Parton) of a small-town Georgia church choir. As the chorus competes for regional and national recognition, the free-spirited, mildly prodigal grandson (Jeremy Jordan) of Parton's character falls for the strictly reared daughter (Keke Palmer) of Latifah's. Though it gives a pass to an incidental out-of-wedlock fling, and showcases some humor and vocabulary that make it unsuitable for youngsters, writer-director Todd Graff's otherwise uplifting celebration of traditional values emphasizes trust in God and illustrates the positive effects of compassionate and forgiving behavior. A premarital situation, occasional sexual references and jokes, about a half-dozen crude expressions, some crass language. 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.

"Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer" (Relativity)
Rated "PG"
A fun-loving grade schooler's (Jordana Beatty) plans for a super summer go awry when her two best friends (Garrett Ryan and Taylar Hender) take off on adventures of their own, leaving her in the company of a timid third pal (Preston Bailey), her Bigfoot-obsessed little brother (Parris Mosteller) and the aunt (Heather Graham) who comes to babysit when her parents are suddenly called out of town. While it conveys a worthwhile lesson about adapting to circumstances, director John Schultz's screen version of Megan McDonald's best-selling series of children's books feels as meandering and ultimately pointless as the search for Sasquatch to which too much of its screen time is devoted. And, though really objectionable material is absent, a childish potty gag does get carried to briefly queasy extremes. Some scatological humor, a few mildly crass terms. 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.

"Julie & Julia" (Columbia)
Rated "PG-13"
Charming, frequently funny dramatization of passages in the lives of master chef Julia Child (a marvelous Meryl Streep) and Internet blogger Julie Powell (Amy Adams), who, 40 years after the publication of Child's 1961 blockbuster, "Mastering the Art of French Cooking," sets out to prepare every recipe in the extensive volume over the course of a year, aided by her supportive husband (Chris Messina) -- whose solicitude parallels that of Child's own spouse (Stanley Tucci) decades earlier. Writer-director Nora Ephron whips up a delicious melange of the two women's memoirs and, more significantly, details the ingredients, ranging from passion to patience, requisite for a successful marriage. Fleeting nongraphic sexual activity, a few sexual references, a suicide reference, at least one use of the F-word and about a dozen crude or crass terms. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Jumper" (Fox/Regency)
Rated "PG-13"
Chaotic science fiction thriller about a young man (Hayden Christensen) who learns he has the ability to transport himself instantly to any location around the globe, and how he teams with another Jumper (Jamie Bell) to fight an agent (Samuel Jackson) of the evil Paladin forces bent on their extermination. The premise is promising and there are some decent effects, but director Doug Liman, so adept in the action genre, can do little with a risible, underwritten script, dull plot and generally indifferent performances. Intense action violence, an instance of the f-word, crude language and profanity, implied nonmarital sexual relationship, murder and mayhem. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Jumping the Broom" (TriStar)
Rated "PG-13"
Faith-tinged family comedy about the lead-up to a Martha's Vineyard wedding between a postal worker's (Loretta Devine) son (Laz Alonso) and the daughter (Paula Patton) of a wealthy couple (Angela Bassett and Brian Stokes Mitchell). Director Salim Akil and screenwriters Elizabeth Hunter and Arlene Gibbs embrace all the familiar conventions of upscale vs. downscale. But they make poor use of a clergyman (played by real-life Bishop T.D. Jakes) who offers useful advice early on but is absent when the families have to deal with serious issues. Mature themes; fleeting, mild sexual banter; and a couple of references to masturbation. 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.

"Juno" (Fox Searchlight)
Rated "PG-13"
Smart, funny and ultimately moving comedy-drama with a strong pro-life message about an unwed teen (an outstanding Ellen Page) who decides not to have an abortion, and promises the coming baby to a childless couple (Jason Bateman and Jennifer Garner) who long to adopt. The narrative has just the right moral wrap-up; performances are tops, including J.K. Simmons and Allison Janney as the girl's supportive parents and Michael Cera as the shy classmate responsible for her condition. Jason Reitman's direction strikes just the right piquant tone, though Diablo Cody's script contains a high expletive level for its appealing but sassy heroine. Crude language and at least one instance of the f-word, some crass expressions, an irreverent remark, a nongraphic premarital teen encounter with brief partial nudity, out-of-wedlock pregnancy, sexual talk and divorce. Possibly appropriate for older teens. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Just Friends" (New Line)
Rated "PG-13"
Leaden romantic comedy about a former overweight "loser" (Ryan Reynolds) turned suave and successful ladies man, who, while waylaid in his New Jersey home town, pursues the affections of his high-school best friend and crush (Amy Smart), who back then only saw him through platonic eyes. Despite ending on an admirably sentimental note, director Roger Kumble's film is full of forced and witless humor that alternates between staggeringly unfunny and mean-spirited. Much cruel slapstick violence, some lewd sexual situations and humor, an erotic image, a crass sight gag, a brief same-sex kiss, an instance of rough language and some sexually crude remarks. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

"Just Go With It" (Columbia)
Rated "PG-13"
Very loose -- and sloppy -- remake of the classic 1969 farce "Cactus Flower" weighed down by stale writing and a seemingly endless parade of potty jokes. Adam Sandler plays a philandering plastic surgeon who escapes commitment by telling his many girlfriends he's trapped in a bad marriage. So, once he decides to settle down with a schoolteacher (Brooklyn Decker), he needs to produce a "wife" he can divorce, the start of an increasingly complicated effort at deception in which he eventually enlists not only his sensible office assistant (Jennifer Aniston) but her two precocious kids (Bailee Madison and Griffin Gluck) as well. Director Dennis Dugan and screenwriters Allan Loeb and Timothy Dowling dumb down what was originally a sweet adult romance involving an escalating series of funny complications and a modest message about being true to one's self. The resulting comedy is not only frequently distasteful, but comatose almost from the start. An implied premarital situation, considerable scatological humor, sexual banter, fleeting crude language. 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.

"Justin Bieber: Never Say Never" (Paramount)
Rated "G"
This genial 3-D profile of teen pop singer and musician Justin Bieber showcases home movies of his childhood, footage documenting his rise to stardom via social media celebrity, backstage preparations for his sold-out concert at New York's Madison Square Garden as well as musical performances recorded there and at other venues. Director Jon M. Chu's portrait of a likable young man striving to resist the temptations of sudden-onset fame is not only perfectly acceptable for audiences of any age, it also highlights his close bonds with his mother and grandparents and the Christian faith he shares with them, typified onscreen by the prayers he and his entourage recite before each show. The Catholic News Service classification is A-I -- general patronage. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is G -- general audiences.

"Just Like Heaven" (DreamWorks)
Rated "PG-13"
Charming romantic fantasy about a dedicated young doctor (Reese Witherspoon), comatose after a near-fatal car accident, whose spirit "haunts" a grieving widower (Mark Ruffalo) who has rented her former apartment. Despite a somewhat formulaic setup and an uncertain start, director Mark Waters directs with just the appropriate gossamer touch, and the highly appealing leads play with the requisite delicacy. Some sexual innuendo and banter, mild profanity, a few crass expressions, brief rear hospital nudity, mild medical procedures including incisions, some occult thematic material, and an exorcism used for comic point make this best for adults (and older adolescents). The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"Just My Luck" (20th Century Fox)
Rated "PG-13"
Lightweight if likable romantic comedy set in New York about a girl (Lindsay Lohan) with uncanny luck and a guy (Chris Pine) with none, who magically swap fortunes through a chance encounter at a masquerade ball, winding up on polar ends of the luck spectrum and falling for each other, though neither realizes the other is the cause for the karmic reversal. Directed by Donald Petrie, the fairy tale's cute conceit has the bad luck of being wrapped in a limp and predictable script, though its sweet-natured message about valuing love over success is commendable. Some crude language and innuendo, a couple of crass sight gags, a sexual gesture and a situation involving a male "escort." The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"Just Wright" (Fox Searchlight)
Rated "PG"
This appealing, seamless blend of the best elements of both romantic comedy and inspirational sports films charts the triangular love story of a hardworking physical therapist (Queen Latifah), a professional basketball star (rapper Common) and the attractive but shallow material girl (Paula Patton) who is both her "godsister" and his fiancee. Director Sanaa Hamri and screenwriter Michael Elliot use the lightest of touches to create a warm, likable environment and convey a message about relationships founded on enduring values. Probably acceptable for more mature teens. A single use of rough language, an implied premarital encounter. 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.

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"The Karate Kid" (Columbia)
Rated "PG"
Stirring, satisfying update of the 1984 hit shifts the action to modern China, where an unassuming kung fu master (Jackie Chan) teaches an undersized American boy (Jaden Smith) how to confront a bully while imparting other life lessons. Director Harald Zwart balances fealty for the crowd-pleasing original with embellishments that, aside from a manipulative musical score, enhance the appeal of the timeless underdog story. Hard-hitting and occasionally cruel but not graphic martial arts violence, including a boy being struck across the face by an adult, the use of a crass term for the human posterior, some mild toilet humor, one instance of sexual innuendo, an unnecessary kiss between pre-teens. The Catholic News Service classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.

"Keane" (Magnolia)
Rated "R"
A schizophrenic and sometimes violent man (Damian Lewis) wanders a New York bus terminal looking for the daughter he claims was abducted, and later befriends a troubled mother (Amy Ryan) and her 7-year-old daughter (Abigail Breslin) at a transient motel. Writer-director Lodge Kerrigan's grainy, cinema-verite-style film has an ugly milieu, sordid situations and tedious stretches in its first half, though the ending is intensely moving and redemptive. Lewis' performance is a tour de force, with first-class support by Ryan, Breslin and Tina Holmes. Profanity and rough language, a violent episode, an unrestrained sexual encounter, and alcohol and drug use. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

"Keeping Mum" (THINKFilm)
Rated "R"
Picturesque, nicely acted, but rather muted English film about a world-weary country vicar (Rowan Atkinson), his boy-crazy daughter (Tamsin Egerton), bullied son (Toby Parkes) and frustrated wife (Kristin Scott Thomas) who's having a dalliance with a sleazy golf instructor (Patrick Swayze), all of whose lives are altered for the better by a resourceful housekeeper with a mysterious past (a delightful Maggie Smith). Director and co-writer Niall Johnson's quirky black comedy gets better as it progresses, but overall could have been sharper. While some may view the film's central conceit -- murder without retribution -- problematic, the satirical context tempers objections. Unnecessary conversational uses of the f-word, some profanity and crude language, an adulterous affair (though not consummated), brief and distant upper female nudity, innuendo, voyeurism and nongraphic violence. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Kick-Ass" (Lionsgate)
Rated "R"
Intentionally outrageous but deeply perverse action comedy in which an ordinary high school student (Aaron Johnson) attempts to transform himself into a crusading superhero but instead becomes caught up in a feud pitting a deranged ex-police officer (Nicolas Cage) and the tween daughter (Chloe Grace Moretz) he has home-schooled as an assassin against a mob boss (Mark Strong) and his son (Christopher Mintz-Plasse), with all but the gangster assuming masked alter egos. Director and co-writer Matthew Vaughn's adaptation of Mark Millar and John S. Romita Jr.'s series of comic books fills the screen with bloody mayhem and the mouth of Moretz's blithely murderous character with cringe-inducing vulgarity. Much gory violence including torture and dismemberment, brief graphic nonmarital sexual activity and offscreen masturbation, upper female nudity, drug use, a few instances of profanity and pervasive rough and crude language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"Kicking & Screaming" (Universal)
Rated "PG"
Mostly funny, if formulaic, comedy about a timid suburban soccer dad (Will Ferrell), who seeks to redeem his unathletic childhood by coaching his 10-year-old son's last-place team and finds himself in the championship game going head-to-head with his own supercompetitive father (Robert Duvall), who coaches the league's best squad. Directed by Jesse Dylan and dominated by Ferrell's manic presence, this farce inspired by "Bad News Bears" imparts a humorous critique of our hypercompetitive culture, but deserves a penalty flag for a crass running gag which makes it questionable fare for very young viewers. Some comic violence, a minor same-sex parent theme, as well as mildly crude language and humor, including some ethnically insensitive remarks. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents.

"Kickin' It Old Skool" (Yari)
Rated "PG-13"
During a school dance contest in 1986, a 5-year-old break dancer does a wrong move, ends up in a coma, and 20 years later, he wakes up as a man (Jamie Kennedy) still thinking he is a child. Harv Glazer directs with an inconsistent tone, going from sentimental to silly slapstick in a flash, and all the actors mug shamelessly, save for the dry wit of Michael Rosenbaum. Suggestive dancing, drinking, brief male rear nudity, a comic scene of cross-dressing, numerous scatological gags, a brief reference to Internet pornography, one use of the f-word, frequent crude and crass language, an instance of profanity and mild sexual banter. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"The Kid & I" (Wheels Up)
Rated "PG-13"
Well-intentioned but clumsy buddy comedy about a down-on-his-luck actor (Tom Arnold) who, after a failed suicide attempt, is hired to write and co-star in an action film with a physically challenged teenager (Eric Gores), to be financed by the boy's wealthy father (Joe Mantegna). Despite a heartfelt, life-affirming message and a positive portrayal of disabled persons, director Penelope Spheeris' movie is saddled by inept writing and direction. Some crude language and humor, and brief drug references. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"Killers" (Lionsgate)
Rated "PG-13"
Very much the definition of mindless fun, only if you enjoy anything Ashton Kutcher says or does. Director Robert Luketic and screenwriters Bob DeRosa and Ted Griffin play explosions, gunfire and car crashes by rote in this combination of marital comedy and espionage thriller, very much derivative of "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" and others of the genre, but the comic bickering between Kutcher and co-star Kathleen Heigl is usually stale and insipid. Fleeting crass language, mild sexual banter, and all violence is played for comic effect, making this acceptable for older adolescents. The Catholic News Service classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

"Killer Elite" (Open Road)
Rated "R"
Disjointed spy-vs.-spy shoot'em-up, set in the early 1980s, involving rival assassins who eventually learn they're both being manipulated over cheap oil by a sinister group of retired British intelligence experts who call themselves "The Feather Men." Director Gary McKendry, who co-wrote with Matt Sherring, tries to make some point about targeted killings, but it's lost in a miasma of car chases. Pervasive gun and physical violence, pervasive rough and crude language and fleeting profanity. 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.

"The Kingdom" (Universal)
Rated "R"
Riveting but disturbingly violent drama in which a team of four FBI agents (Jamie Foxx, Chris Cooper, Jennifer Garner and Jason Bateman) is dispatched to Saudi Arabia to investigate a major terrorist attack on Americans living there, a hunt they must pursue under the watchful and initially suspicious eye of a Saudi colonel (Ashraf Barhom). It's hard to tell the good guys from the bad in director Peter Berg's stylish, all-too-relevant film, and it's also difficult to know whether the use of force is being glorified or denounced. Sudden, bloody violence with gore, torture and much rough, crude and profane language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"King Kong" (Universal)
Rated "PG-13"
Visually staggering remake of the 1933 classic about a giant ape smitten by a blonde-haired beauty (Naomi Watts), captured from his lost world island home by a maverick filmmaker (Jack Black) and taken in captivity to New York where, breaking free, his rampage climaxes atop the Empire State Building. Though the film runs too long, director Peter Jackson's strong storytelling masterfully blends stunning action sequences, humor and pathos-tinged emotion, paying reverent homage to the original while fleshing out the tragic story and raising the movie-magic bar to dazzling new heights. Intense action violence, some frightening and disturbing images, fleeting burlesque images and a few instances of profanity make it inappropriate for younger adolescents. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents.

"King's Ransom" (New Line)
Rated “PG-13”
Dreadful comedy about a wealthy Chicago marketing mogul (Anthony Anderson) whose plan to fake his own abduction to avoid a costly divorce settlement hits a snag when it turns out that several others -- including his gold-digging soon-to-be ex-wife (Kellita Smith), a disgruntled employee (Nicole Parker) and a sad sack slacker (Jay Mohr) -- also have plans to kidnap him. Full of raunchy, irreverent and mean-spirited humor and uniformly unappealing performances, this witless waste of 95 minutes, sloppily directed by Jeff Byrd, is a royal mess. The film contains crass language and humor, including implied sexual encounters and innuendo, as well as some comic violence and an instance of rough language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive.

"The King's Speech" (Weinstein)
Rated "R"
Stirring historical drama, set between the world wars, about the unlikely but fruitful relationship between the Duke of York (Colin Firth) -- second in line to the British crown -- and the eccentric speech therapist (Geoffrey Rush) under whose care he reluctantly places himself at the instigation of his loyal wife (Helena Bonham Carter) to overcome the stammer that hobbles his public speaking. This task becomes all the more urgent as the death of the duke's father (Michael Gambon) and the abdication of his brother (Guy Pearce) propel the unwilling heir toward the throne. Weaving together the story of one of the modern era's most successful royal marriages and the lesser-known tale of the friendship by which an unflappable commoner helped to heal the emotionally crippling childhood wounds underlying his princely client's impediment, director Tom Hooper creates a luminous tapestry reinforced by finely spun performances and marred only by the loose threads of some offensive language. Two brief but intense outbursts of vulgarity, a couple of uses of profanity, a few crass terms and a mildly irreverent joke. 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.

"Kinky Boots" (Miramax)
Rated "PG-13"
Slickly made, well-acted tale set in central England of a stodgy young man (Joel Edgerton) who, to save his inherited shoe factory from ruin and keep its workers employed, cultivates a more profitable niche market by hiring a transvestite (the versatile Chiwetel Ejiofor) to design boots sturdy enough to be worn by drag performers, despite opposition from his practical-minded girlfriend (Jemima Rooper). Director Julian Jarrold's offbeat film -- inspired by a true story -- is fun but uneven, and fits the mold of British films about ordinary folk whose unsatisfactory lives take unexpected new directions, thereby giving them purpose and transforming them into better people. Admirable lessons of tolerance aside, the cross-dressing element will not be to every taste. A few instances of profane, rough and crude language, sympathetic portrayal of a transvestite character, some vulgar gestures, sensual onstage movements, men almost kissing backstage, and an implied premarital relationship. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

"Kingdom of Heaven" (20th Century Fox)
Rated "R"
Sweeping, if bloody and somewhat revisionist, historical drama set in the time of the Crusades about a disillusioned blacksmith (Orlando Bloom) elevated to knighthood who journeys to Jerusalem in search of redemption and becomes embroiled in the power struggle between the tolerance-advocating Latin king and a war-mongering would-be usurper, who threatens to disrupt the tenuous truce between the Christian and Muslim forces. Spectacularly directed by Ridley Scott and full of grand-scale battle scenes and period detail, the epic film takes license with the facts, but overall portrays both sides as a mix of vice and virtue (though in its skewed telling of the events Christians come off as the prime villains) and imparts a timely message of peaceful coexistence, as well as a strong condemnation of violence, ideological hatred and war. Recurring intense battlefield violence and associated gore, including decapitations, hacked limbs and flaming bodies, as well as a brief adulterous sexual encounter. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

"Kinsey" (Fox Searchlight)
Rated “R”
Sober biopic about controversial sex researcher Alfred Kinsey (Liam Neeson), chronicling his life from his strict Methodist upbringing, to an obscure post teaching biology, to the publication of his landmark study on human sexual behavior in 1948 and his subsequent fall from grace during the 1950s. The movie will generate strong reactions from both those who admire Kinsey as a crusader and those who consider him a degenerate and blame him for igniting the sexual revolution by jettisoning traditional morality and redefining societal mores. Though many viewers will find much of the film offensive, writer-director Bill Condon takes a serious approach to his subject, painting Kinsey in neither overly heroic nor villainous shades. A relativistic view of sexual morality, explicit sexual images, including graphic straight and gay sexual encounters, full frontal nudity, several masturbation scenes, candid sexual discussions and recurring rough language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

"Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang" (Warner Bros.)
Rated "R"
Stylish but problematic retro-noir satire set in Los Angeles about a petty thief posing as an actor (Robert Downey Jr.) and the gay gumshoe (Val Kilmer) hired to prepare him for a role as a private eye, who become entangled in a real-life murder mystery, involving two seemingly unrelated cases. Blending the hard-boiled detective genre with black comedy, writer-director Shane Black's pulp-flavored parody is, admittedly, witty and Downey and Kilmer have good chemistry, but with its bawdy brand of humor, graphic violence and obscenity-riddled dialogue, many may choose to "kiss, kiss" it off. Recurring violence, including bloody gunplay, torture, sexual situations and humor, partial female nudity, some kinky and erotic images, a crass scene of urination, a running sight gag involving a severed finger, heavy doses of rough and crude language, as well as some profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

"Kit Kittredge: An American Girl" (Picturehouse/New Line)
Rated "G"
Charming chronicle of a 10-year-old aspiring reporter's (Abigail Breslin) experiences during the Great Depression, as her father (Chris O'Donnell) leaves home to seek work, her mother (Julia Ormond) takes in a collection of colorful boarders (Joan Cusack, Glenne Headly, Zach Mills and Colin Mochrie, among others) and she endeavors to sell articles to the local editor (Wallace Shawn) and to clear a homeless teen (Max Thieriot) accused of theft. Director Patricia Rozema's warm, pleasingly innocent adaptation of the titular children's stories presents a somewhat sanitized Waltons-style view of the era, but it fosters persistence, opposes stereotyping and will likely hit a bull's-eye with targeted tweens. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-I -- general patronage. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is G -- general audiences. All ages admitted.

"The Kite Runner" (Paramount Vantage)
Rated "PG-13"
Superb adaptation of Khaled Hosseini's best-seller about an Afghan writer (Khalid Abdalla) now living in the U.S. who recalls how as a boy (played by Zekiria Ebrahimi) in his native homeland, he failed to help and subsequently betrayed his best friend (Ahmad Khan Mahmoodzada), and now finds he has a chance to atone for that misdeed. Under Marc Forster's sensitive direction, the beautifully acted film provides a fascinating portrait of pre- and post-Taliban Afghanistan; its fine human values, strong affirmation of friendship and family, and redemptive ending should move even the most stone-hearted. In Dari and English. Partially subtitled. A single profanity and use of the f-word, a brief rape scene with no nudity involving a small boy and a bully, two discreetly worded sexual references, illegitimacy theme, a violent beating and a woman's stoning. Acceptable for older teens. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Knight and Day" (Fox)
Rated "PG-13"
This good-natured, though intermittently violent, action-and-romance combo sees an everyday woman (Cameron Diaz) unwittingly caught up in the conflict between a highly skilled but apparently rogue CIA agent (Tom Cruise) and his former colleagues (led by Viola Davis and Peter Sarsgaard) as they battle each other and an evil Spanish arms dealer (Jordi Molla) for possession of a recently invented (by young geek Paul Dano) energy source with revolutionary potential. Director and co-writer James Mangold's breezy diversion takes a largely bloodless toll on the extras while the adroitly portrayed central relationship progresses, for the most part, innocently enough. Frequent, though mostly nongraphic, action violence, at least one use of profanity and of the F-word, some crude language, a few instances of sexual humor. 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.

"Knocked Up" (Universal)
Rated "R"
Extremely raunchy romantic comedy about a slacker (Seth Rogen) and a fetching blonde (Katherine Heigl) who meet at a Los Angeles nightclub and then try to deal responsibly with the consequences. Director-writer Judd Apatow pushes the envelope on a number of fronts and while his beauty-and-the-geek story contains some genuine wit and positive sentiment, the amount of obscene material and the generally degrading tone of the discourse washes way any laudable message. Constant rough and crude language, pervasive coarse sexual and scatological humor, unmarried sex, frequent drug use and drug references, condom use, abortion discussion, rear male and upper female nudity, explicit shots of childbirth, and some ethnic slurs. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"Knowing" (Summit)
Ratedf "PG-13"
A Boston astrophysicist (Nicolas Cage) discovers that a time-capsule document buried 50 years ago at his son's (Chandler Canterbury) school accurately predicted all the major disasters of the intervening decades, and sets out to prevent the three calamities, one of them potentially global, it warns will transpire in the near future, eventually aided by the daughter (Rose Byrne) of the woman who wrote it as a schoolgirl (Lara Robinson). Director Alex Proyas' vastly ambitious, genre-melding drama begins as a horror tale but becomes, by its spectacular though sobering climax, a haunting meditation on faith, sacrifice and family unity. Disturbingly realistic catastrophe scenes, brief sexual humor and a few instances of crude language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

"Kung Fu Hustle" (Sony Classics)
Rated "R"
Stylish but unnecessarily violent martial arts movie set in China in the 1940s about a small-time crook (Stephen Chow) who transforms from street hustler to hero after one of his shakedown schemes inadvertently unleashes the wrath of a ruthless gang on the residents of a shantytown, triggering an all-out war between an army of underworld goons and the locals, several of whom are secretly kung fu masters. Written and directed by Chow as well, the film deftly combines slapstick comedy and "Matrix"-inspired fight sequences, which, though violent, are for the most part intentionally over the top and cartoonish in tone. Subtitles. Much stylized action violence with associated gore, a shooting, rear nudity, a crass scene of urination, as well as rough and crude language and humor. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

"Kung Fu Panda" (DreamWorks)
Rated "PG"
Winning animated fable about an out-of-shape, awkward bear (voice of Jack Black), the son of a humble noodle maker (James Hong) in ancient China, whose martial arts dreams come true when he is identified by the inventor of kung fu (Randall Duk Kim) as the prophesied "Dragon Warrior" but who must then transform himself under the direction of a skeptical master (Dustin Hoffman) to combat a villainous snow leopard (Ian McShane) only he can defeat. Co-directors John Stevenson and Mark Osborne's wholesome film, by turns amusing and spectacular, features impressive computer-generated special effects and promotes determination and self-confidence. Mild fantasy violence. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-I -- general patronage. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.

"Kung Fu Panda 2" (DreamWorks)
Rated "PG"
Perfunctory if unobjectionable animated sequel follows rotund martial arts warrior Po (voice of Jack Black) as he learns about his origins and confronts the power-hungry peacock (Gary Oldman) responsible for his parents' demise. Director Jennifer Yuh Nelson keeps the action moving along at a brisk pace, overseeing by-the-numbers visuals and imparting an anodyne message concerning the path toward inner peace: Move beyond the past and focus on the present. Mild fantasy violence. The Catholic News Service classification is A-I - general patronage. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG - parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.

L
"Ladder 49" (Touchstone)
Rated "PG-13"
Above average -- if overly sentimental -- action drama and paean to firefighters concerning a young fireman (Joaquin Phoenix) as he progresses over the years from rookie to seasoned professional, with the unusual feature of there being as much screen time devoted to his domestic life as to the "Towering Inferno"-like fire sequences, which are generally more enervating than truly exciting. Director Jay Russell's drama -- which also features John Travolta as the paternal fire chief -- boasts a solid, appealing and down-to-earth performance from Phoenix and an authentic-seeming portrait of firehouse life with middle-class workers (mostly Catholic, as it happens) that compensates for the more conventional aspects of the plot. A couple of instances of crude language, an implication of premarital sex and some intense firefighting scenes. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III.

"Lady Chatterley" (Kino)
Rated "NR"
Literate, well-acted French-language adaptation of the second draft (there were three in all) of D.H. Lawrence's "Lady Chatterley's Lover" concerning the young wife (Marina Hands) of a World War I paralytic mine owner (Hippolyte Girardot), and her furtive romance with the lower-class gamekeeper (Jean-Louis Coulloc'h) employed by her husband. Director and co-writer Pascale Ferran recreates the 1920s English milieu impeccably, and though she avoids sensationalism (the sexual elements are not glamorized) and underscores the class conflict at the heart of the narrative, viewers must approach with caution. Subtitles. Adultery, several sexual encounters -- most with the couple fully clothed but some with full frontal nudity -- the acceptability of divorce and a graphic description of war. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. Not rated by the Motion Picture Association of America.

"Lady in the Water" (Warner Bros.)
Rated "PG-13"
Atmospheric but unconvincing fairy tale about members of a suburban Philadelphia housing complex (Paul Giamatti, Jeffrey Wright, Bill Irwin, Bob Balaban) who -- harking back to mythic times when humans and water creatures were friends -- attempt to return a nymph (Bryce Dallas Howard) to the sea, while pursued by wolf-like beasts. Director-writer M. Night Shyamalan provides some trademark scary moments with admirably little overt violence, and the universal brotherhood theme is unarguably a noble one, but this aquatic "E.T." retread isn't terribly compelling despite skillful direction and solid performances. Some scenes of intense peril, suggested nudity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents.

"Lake City" (Sixty-Six)
Rated "R"
Atmospheric family drama in which a young man (Troy Garity) targeted by a criminal (Dave Matthews) escapes to his rural childhood home with his girlfriend's son (Colin Ford) and reconnects with his estranged mother (Sissy Spacek). Though their script contains considerable salty dialogue and deals with some gritty subjects, co-writers and directors Hunter Hill and Perry Moore craft a hopeful tale of reconciliation and rediscovered values further enhanced by skillful performances. Beatings, moderate gun violence, drug theme, implied cohabitation, a character born out of wedlock, much rough and crude language, and a few uses 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.

"The Lake House" (Warner Bros.)
Rated "PG"
Intriguing if slow-moving time-warp romance, as a doctor (Sandra Bullock) commences correspondence with an architect (Keanu Reeves) who lived in the same Illinois lakeside house she herself once occupied, but they come to realize they are existing two years apart from each other. Alejandro Agresti's fantasy is intelligently adapted by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright David Auburn from a South Korean film, "Il Mare." Though the leads are appealing, and the story of two unhappy people trying to make a connection touching if sometimes perplexing, somehow the movie never really grips. Just a couple of instances of mild profanity and a crude word, and a brief but violent traffic accident, though otherwise refreshingly free of objectionable content. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents.

"Lakeview Terrace" (Screen Gems)
Rated "PG-13"
Tensely absorbing racial drama about mixed-race newlyweds (Patrick Wilson and Kerry Washington) who move into a Southern California house next to a slyly threatening Los Angeles police officer (Samuel L. Jackson in top form) who deeply resents their union and proceeds to menace them. Director Neil LaBute slowly builds the suspense, but what starts as a fairly subtle psychological drama -- with some interesting observations on racism and stereotypes -- eventually morphs into a standard thriller. Rough and crude language, some profanity, moderate violence, murder, nongraphic sexuality, vulgar sexual allusions, birth control and drug references. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Land of the Blind" (Bauer Martinez)
Rated "R"
Disappointing and sadly misguided political satire about jailed playwright turned terrorist (Donald Sutherland), who upon release from prison assassinates the petty tyrant (Tom Hollander) of the unnamed country, and then imposes a repressive regime of his own, turning on even the idealistic military man (Ralph Fiennes) who helped pull off the coup. Writer-director Robert Edwards attempts to leaven the grim tale with some sardonic humor, and Fiennes delivers his accustomed superlative performance, but the cautionary points about the corrupting of power, with no doubt several contemporary parallels in mind, are fairly standard beneath some cinematic flash, while the nonstop expletives and occasional sexual elements seem gratuitous. Pervasive rough language and crude expressions, some profanity and irreligiosity, sexual situations and partial nudity, violence and brutality, and gratuitous scatological elements. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive.

"Land of the Dead" (Universal)
Rated "R"
Repulsively violent fourth (and let's hope final) chapter in director George A. Romero's pulp zombie saga set in an apocalyptic near-future where what is left of humanity is holed up in a in a class-divided, fortified city lorded over by a ruthless opportunist (Dennis Hopper) and besieged by an army of newly sentient undead, with only a band of mercenaries (Simon Baker and John Leguizamo) standing between survival and total zombification. While the zombies have "evolved," the campy horror franchise remains a smor-gores-bord of stomach-churning mayhem, despite pretensions of social satire. Pervasive bloody violence and gore, including graphic dismemberment and cannibalism, some sexual content with brief partial nudity, some drug content, a same-sex kiss, recurring rough and crude language, as well as some profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive.

"Land of the Lost" (Universal)
Rated "PG-13"
The innocent, mildly cheesy Saturday morning TV show from the 1970s has morphed into an overblown, special-effects-laden, but plot-thin star vehicle for comedian Will Farrell, a washed-up scientist who claims that his invention, the "tachyon amplifier," is a time machine. With a beautiful academic (Anna Friel) and a sleazy sideshow operator (Danny McBride) at his side, he opens a "space time vortex" and lands in a prehistoric world filled with menacing creatures, reptilian aliens and furry Cro-Magnon natives. What ensues is a "Wizard of Oz" adventure as the trio seeks a way home. Unfortunately, what is being marketed as this summer's "family" film is far from one. Cartoonish violence and peril; rough language; sexual banter, innuendo and encounters; partial nudity; and drug use. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Larry Crowne" (Universal)
Rated "PG-13"
Suddenly fired from his longtime job as a clerk at a chain
store, a middle-aged suburbanite (Tom Hanks) enrolls in
his local community college, joins a student scooter-iding club (led by Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Wilmer Valderrama) and falls for one of his professors (Julia Roberts). Hanks, who also directed and co-wrote the script, creates a generally genial, low-key romantic comedy with a hopeful starting-over theme. But the second chances on offer include problematic marital mulligans since Hanks' character has recently been divorced, while his instructor is still in the process of splitting from her lazy, porn-obsessed spouse (Bryan Cranston). Brief nongraphic but adulterous sexual activity, acceptability of divorce, pornography theme with fleeting suggestive images, a bit of sexual humor, at least one instance of profanity, and a couple of rough and some crass terms. 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.

"Larry the Cable Guy: Health Inspector" (Lions Gate)
Rated "PG-13"
Witless and virtually unwatchable comedy about a redneck health inspector ("Blue Collar" comedian Larry the Cable Guy) who must crack a string of mysterious food poisonings at upscale eateries in the days leading up to a big culinary competition, zeroing in on the town's sleazy mayor (Joe Pantoliano) and a duplicitous restaurateur (Joanna Cassidy). Director Trent Cooper serves up an insufferably juvenile stream of gross jokes that are unfunny no matter what color your collar, making the film's PG-13 rating misleading. Pervasive crass and sexual humor, recurring scatological sight gags, innuendo, fleeting partial rear nudity, and much crude and bawdy language, as well as profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive.

"Lars and the Real Girl" (MGM/Sidney Kimmel)
Rated "PG-13"
Poignant story of emotionally fragile delusional man (a brilliant Ryan Gosling) who -- unable to make human connection -- buys a life-size female doll whom he presents as his girlfriend, and how his brother and sister-in-law (Paul Schneider and Emily Mortimer), his office mates, fellow churchgoers and townspeople accept "her" as human out of love and compassion for him. Though suspension of disbelief is essential, director Craig Gillespie, working from Nancy Oliver's delicate script, makes this improbable tale utterly believable, while the themes of family, community, religion, forgiveness, redemption and a strong affirmation of human decency override those very few elements that might preclude younger teens. Two nonexplicit images of a porn site, mild innuendo, discreet sexual references and brief profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

"Larry Crowne" (Universal)
Rated "PG-13"
Suddenly fired from his longtime job as a clerk at a chain store, a middle-aged suburbanite (Tom Hanks) enrolls in his local community college, joins a student scooter-iding club (led by Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Wilmer Valderrama) and falls for one of his professors (Julia Roberts). Hanks, who also directed and co-wrote the script, creates a generally genial, low-key romantic comedy with a hopeful starting-over theme. But the second chances on offer include problematic marital mulligans since Hanks' character has recently been divorced, while his instructor is still in the process of splitting from her lazy, porn-obsessed spouse (Bryan Cranston). Brief nongraphic but adulterous sexual activity, acceptability of divorce, pornography theme with fleeting suggestive images, a bit of sexual humor, at least one instance of profanity, and a couple of rough and some crass terms. 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.

"The Last Airbender" (Paramount)
Rated "PG"
Strained 3-D fantasy adventure, set in an alternate world where some human beings have the power to "bend," that is, control, one of the basic elements of fire, earth, air and water, and where a brother and sister (Jackson Rathbone and Nicola Peltz) assist a child (Noah Ringer) who is the latest incarnation of a global peace-giver in his quest to restore order to society by ending the oppressive rule of a warlike, imperialist nation (led by Cliff Curtis and Aasif Mandvi). Though free of objectionable language or behavior, writer-director M. Night Shyamalan's live-action adaptation of an animated TV series -- which also features Dev Patel as a disgraced prince out to prove his mettle by capturing the boy wonder -- fails to gain dramatic traction, bogging down in stilted dialogue and endless explanations of its back story, some aspects of which suggest pantheism or nonscriptural beliefs. Potentially confusing religious themes and much nongraphic martial arts and combat violence. 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.

"Last Chance Harvey" (Overture)
Rated "PG-13"
Delicate romantic comedy about an isolated New York jingle composer (Dustin Hoffman) who travels to London for his estranged daughter's (Liane Balaban) wedding and falls for a lonely airport employee (Emma Thompson). While somewhat predictable, writer-director Joel Hopkins' skillfully wrought valentine to midlife romance -- which also features Eileen Atkins as Thompson's mother -- draws masterful performances to touching effect and shows the lingering negative consequences of both divorce and abortion as it portrays a mutually generous relationship untainted by irresponsible sexuality. Some sexual references and humor, occasional crude words, the acceptability of divorce and an abortion reference. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"The Last Exorcism" (Lionsgate)
Rated "PG-13"
Middling fright fest about an evangelical minister and self-confessed charlatan (Patrick Fabian) who brings a film crew (led by Iris Bahr) along to document his final faked exorcism. But he gets more than he bargained for when the Louisiana farm girl (Ashley Bell) whose father (Louis Herthum) summoned him shows signs of genuine possession. While the gore factor is kept comparatively low in director Daniel Stamm's gothic outing -- which toys cleverly with the modern presumption that all phenomena can be explained scientifically -- the preacher's corrosive cynicism and the occult atmosphere by which he unexpectedly finds himself surrounded make this inappropriate for all but well-grounded and judicious adult viewers. Complex treatment of religion, sacrilegious activity, some gruesome images, at least two uses of profanity, brief sexual talk, and references to incest and homosexuality. 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.

"Last Holiday" (Paramount)
Rated "PG-13"
Touching if improbable tale of dowdy spinster (Queen Latifah), who upon learning she has only a few weeks to live takes her life savings and goes to Europe where she gets a makeover and learns to live life more fully, changing the lives of a corrupt businessman (Timothy Hutton) and less-than-altruistic politicians. Wayne Wang's remake of a 1950 Alec Guinness movie which had a script by august English writer J.B. Priestley is marred by some silly slapstick, but mostly, though predictable and contrived, it's a feel-good film with the marvelously empathetic Latifah and a positive message about recognizing life's possibilities and having the courage to follow through on them. A few instances of crude language, some frank sexual talk and innuendo, and an adulterous situation in an otherwise admirably wholesome film. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"The Last Legion" (Weinstein)
Rated "PG-13"
Charming but ultimately dull sword and sandals adventure, based on the novel by Valero Manfredi, about the ancient Roman roots of King Arthur. Director Doug Lefler and screenwriters Jez Butterworth and Tom Butterworth spin a fictional epic about young Romulus Augustus, who fortunately finds the sword of Julius Caesar, named Excaliburum, and even more fortunately heads to Britain. Violence merely confined to bloodless swordfights. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

"The Last Mimzy" (New Line)
Rated "PG"
Mostly engaging science-fiction fantasy about a young brother and sister (Chris O'Neil and Rhiannon Leigh Wryn) who find a mysterious box filled with strange objects (including the titular toy rabbit) sent from the future that gradually sets them on a path that will save humanity, while their parents (Joely Richardson and Timothy Hutton) and science teacher (Rainn Wilson) marvel at the kids' newly found intelligence as well as the strange cosmic happenings that start to occur. New Line Cinema founder Bob Shaye returns to his filmmaking roots for the first time since 1990 and proves a capable director, though the narrative -- adapted from Lewis Padgett's short story -- is an odd blend of New Age mysticism and Eastern mumbo jumbo -- albeit with an admirable pro-environment message -- but will hold the interest of kids and even their parents. A single use of a crude word, some mildly crass expressions, mild innuendo and an implied premarital situation. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents.

"The Last Sin Eater" (Fox Faith)
Rated "PG"
Engaging if rather colorless adaptation of Francine Rivers' novel set in 19th-century Appalachia about a guilt-ridden girl (Liana Liberato) who, blaming herself for her younger sister's death, seeks out a mysterious mountain man (Peter Wingfield) alleged to be able to take upon himself the sins of others. Learning that Jesus is the only source of forgiveness after her meeting with a Bible-preaching stranger (Henry Thomas), she helps rid the community of its collective guilt with the help of the son (Soren Fulton) of an abusive father (Stewart Finlay-McLennan). Director Michael Landon Jr.'s film is short on period atmosphere but holds your interest despite plot improbabilities. The performances are above-average for this genre, especially the two youngsters and Louise Fletcher as a wise woman who knows something of the community's mysterious past, and along with some decent plot twists, there are fine Christian messages about redemption, reconciliation, and renewal. Some nongraphic violence, murder and domestic abuse. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents.

"Lassie" (Roadside/Samuel Goldwyn)
Rated "PG"
Handsome adaptation of Eric Knight's original novel, "Lassie Come Home," about an impoverished Yorkshire mining family (Samantha Morton, John Lynch and Jonathan Mason) in World War II that reluctantly sells its beloved dog to a rich nobleman (Peter O'Toole) who takes the dog to Scotland where the collie escapes and attempts the impossibly long trek back home. Writer-director Charles Sturridge has assembled a fine, mostly English cast, including Edward Fox, Kelly MacDonald and Jemma Redgrave, and two appealing youngsters, Mason and Hester Odgers. The scenic vistas are breathtaking and the story appealing, making this fine family viewing, though discerning adults may be bothered by a disjointed narrative, some plot turns that defy credulity, and an awkwardness in both script and direction that places it several notches below the classic 1943 MGM version. A brief sequence of Lassie being beaten with a belt, a nongraphic scene where the miners urinate to throw some hunting dogs off the scent of an escaping fox, some mildly crass language, some mild violence and the death of a dog. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-I -- general patronage.

"Last Chance Harvey" (Overture)
Rated "PG-13"
Delicate romantic comedy about an isolated New York jingle composer (Dustin Hoffman) who travels to London for his estranged daughter's (Liane Balaban) wedding and falls for a lonely airport employee (Emma Thompson). While somewhat predictable, writer-director Joel Hopkins' skillfully wrought valentine to midlife romance -- which also features Eileen Atkins as Thompson's mother -- draws masterful performances to touching effect and shows the lingering negative consequences of both divorce and abortion as it portrays a mutually generous relationship untainted by irresponsible sexuality. Some sexual references and humor, occasional crude words, the acceptability of divorce and an abortion reference. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"The Last King of Scotland" (Fox Searchlight)
Rated "R"
Morality tale set in the 1970s based on the novel by Giles Foden, about a young Scottish doctor (James McAvoy) who, in search of adventure, travels to Africa, where he becomes the personal physician and eventually the confidant of the charismatic but ruthless Ugandan dictator Idi Amin (Forest Whitaker). Initially blinded to the despot's atrocities by the seductions of power, he later opens his eyes to the heinous truth and his own complicity. Director Kevin MacDonald blends fact and fiction to mostly riveting effect, with Whitaker delivering a towering performance. Though dramatically justified, the brutality is quite gruesome at times. Intense scenes of violence including a graphic depiction of torture, brief grisly images of massacre and dismemberment, several sexual encounters with nudity, an abortion subplot, recurring rough and crude language and profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"The Last Kiss" (Paramount)
Rated "R"
Uneven drama set in Wisconsin about four friends, each at emotional crossroads as they near 30, focusing mostly on an architect (Zach Braff) with commitment jitters whose fling with a college student (Rachel Bilson) jeopardizes his relationship with his pregnant girlfriend (Jacinda Barrett), whose own parents' (Blythe Danner and Tom Wilkinson) marriage has gone sour. In holding up a mirror to postmodern love and its accompanying anxieties, director Tony Goldwyn provides some modest observations about flawed humanity -- especially the way we learn from our mistakes and how actions have consequences -- but, on a whole, the situations are contrived and the characters read as more selfish than sympathetic. Several racy sexual encounters, some with partial nudity, lesbian eroticism with partial nudity, a tacit approval of premarital living arrangements, a gay sight gag, much rough and crude language, scattered profanity, some sexual humor and brief drug content. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"The Last House on the Left" (Rogue)
Rated "R"
Glossy remake of horrormeister Wes Craven's influential, low-budget thriller from 1972 pits the parents (Tony Goldwyn and Monica Potter) of a 17-year-old girl (Sara Paxton) against the fugitive sociopaths who, hours earlier, brutally attacked their daughter and her friend. Director Dennis Iliadis applies an arty sheen to the sadistic mayhem without generating enough compensatory thematic resonance or rendering the comparatively less exploitative picture worthwhile. A litany of graphically violent acts using all manner of implements, rape, sodomy, pervasive rough and crude language, several instances of profanity, upper female nudity, groping, marijuana use and some sexual banter. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"The Last Legion" (Weinstein)
Rated "PG-13"
Charming but ultimately dull sword and sandals adventure, based on the novel by Valero Manfredi, about the ancient Roman roots of King Arthur. Director Doug Lefler and screenwriters Jez Butterworth and Tom Butterworth spin a fictional epic about young Romulus Augustus, who fortunately finds the sword of Julius Caesar, named Excaliburum, and even more fortunately heads to Britain. Violence merely confined to bloodless swordfights. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

"La Vie En Rose" (Picturehouse)
Rated "PG-13"
Superb panoramic biography of great French singer Edith Piaf, covering her life from birth to death, and hitting all the high points, including her impoverished childhood, miraculous restoration of her sight (which she credited to St. Therese of Lisieux), her early years as a street singer, her molding as an artist, theatrical triumphs in Paris and New York, tragic affair with championship boxer Marcel Cerdan, her sicknesses, and premature death. Writer-director Olivier Dahan jumps back and forth in time to different stages in her life, and superbly recreates the various times and places in Piaf's life, while Marion Cotillard, lip-synching to Piaf's recordings, gives an incredible performance as she morphs from foul-mouthed hoyden to vibrant star to frail wraith. Subtitles. Upper female nudity, brothel scenes, adultery, a lesbian kiss, sexual references, nongraphic encounter, some crude language and expressions, a violent though nongraphic car accident, child out of wedlock, substance abuse. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Law Abiding Citizen" (Overture)
Rated "R"
Brutish, blood-soaked and ultimately nonsensical revenge fantasy in which, following the murder of his wife and young daughter, an agent trained to kill terrorists (Gerard Butler) goes on an elaborately staged rampage, eventually making deals with a prosecutor (Jamie Foxx) in his search for "justice." Director F. Gary Gray and screenwriter Kurt Wimmer begin with an homage to the hyper-violent "Death Wish" films and concoct an implausible ending reminiscent of an old "Scooby-Doo" cartoon. A rape, explicit torture, gun and knife violence, explosions, rear male nudity, and pervasive rough and crass language The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"Layer Cake" (Sony Classics)
Rated "R"
Technically proficient but unpleasantly seamy story of a cocaine dealer in London (Daniel Craig) who prides himself on the efficiency of his methods, only to be caught up in the machinations of honcho Jimmy Price (Kenneth Cranham) and Price's high-powered cohort, Eddie Temple (Michael Gambon), and a stolen shipment of Ecstasy pills after which everyone is scrambling. Matthew Vaughn's thriller is too complex for its own good, with its difficult-to-follow plot (to the point of "who cares?"), tricky-to-decipher accents, flashy but empty presentation, and -- though perhaps appropriate for the underworld milieu -- more expletives per minute than any film in recent memory. One brief but graphic sex scene, nudity, brutal violence with attendant gore, pervasive rough and crude language, and drug use. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

"Leap Year" (Universal/Spyglass)
Rated "PG"
Likable romantic comedy in which a controlling Boston real estate consultant (Amy Adams) follows her commitment-shy live-in boyfriend (Adam Scott) to Ireland, where he's attending a cardiologists' convention and where she hopes to take advantage of a national tradition allowing women to propose on Leap Day, but bad weather derails her plans, forcing her to rely on a laidback rural innkeeper (Matthew Goode) to get her to Dublin in time. Though the background details are closer to 1952's "The Quiet Man" than to the post-Celtic Tiger contemporary reality, the central opposites-attract relationship in director Anand Tucker's Hibernian idyll is old-fashioned in the best sense, with physical restraint allowing room for a dexterously acted, if somewhat formulaic, portrayal of deepening emotional engagement, and helping to make this -- despite the elements described below -- probably acceptable for older teens. Implied cohabitation, some mildly sexual humor, at least two uses of profanity and one of the S-word, and a few crass terms. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.

"Leatherheads" (Universal)
Rated "PG-13"
Diverting romantic comedy, set in 1925, about a veteran professional football player (George Clooney) who hires a celebrated college star (John Krasinski) to revive his team's fortunes, only to find himself in a rivalry for the affections of a sassy, sophisticated newspaper reporter (Renee Zellweger) who's out to debunk his new teammate's heroic war record. Clooney, who also directed, evokes the tangy wit of the best screwball pairings of 1930s Hollywood and, despite a few inconsistencies in the plot and some objectionable language, creates an enjoyable period piece that thrives on the rough and tumble of the pro game's unregulated infancy. Some profanity, occasional crude and crass language, mild fistfighting, light sexual banter, innuendo. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults, though acceptable for older teens. Motion Picture Association of America rating, PG-13 -- parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

"Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole" (Warner Bros.)
Rated "PG"
3D animated adventure in which, after being kidnapped and enslaved by a force of militaristic owls led by a scheming queen (voice of Helen Mirren), a plucky owlet (voice of Jim Sturgess), accompanied by a diminutive fellow captive (voice of Emily Barclay), escapes and embarks on a quest to enlist the help of a legendary group of heroic warrior owls (voiced, among others, by Geoffrey Rush and Sam Neill) to defeat the evildoers. Director Zack Snyder's visually engaging adaptation of the first three novels in Kathryn Lasky's popular "Guardians of Ga'Hoole" series of children's books offers a sound, if somewhat bulky and not overly original, narrative of downtrodden right versus overweening might. But intense scenes of animal combat preclude endorsement for the youngest of this otherwise unobjectionable tale. Also shown in Imax. Strong, though stylized, violence, situations of peril. The Catholic News Service classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested.

"The Legend of Zorro" (Columbia)
Rated "PG"
Rip-roaring action-adventure sequel to 1998's "The Mask of Zorro." It picks up the story 10 years later as the masked swordsman (played as before by Antonio Banderas) finds himself torn between family responsibilities to his wife (Catherine Zeta-Jones) and young son, and his destiny as defender of the poor and oppressed of Old California, whose bid for statehood is threatened by the sinister plot of a secret Masonic-like fraternity. Directed by Martin Campbell, the film lacks the freshness of the original, but its swashbuckling stunt pieces -- reminiscent of old-time serials -- touches of romance and comedy, and the spirited chemistry between its leads earn it a "Z" rating for "zestfully" entertaining. Much stylized violence, peril, some mildly crude expressions and sexual innuendo. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents.

"Legion" (Screen Gems)
Rated "R"
Theologically skewed apocalyptic horror outing in which a despairing God unleashes hordes of demonic angels to destroy human civilization but, rebelling against the plan, the archangel Michael (Paul Bettany) battles to defend a remote roadside cafe (owned by Dennis Quaid and Charles S. Dutton) long enough for its pregnant waitress (Adrianne Palicki) to give birth to humanity's future savior. Director and co-writer Scott Stewart's feature debut intersperses relentless violence with metaphysical mush to create a long, grim slog that leaves viewers feeling as besieged as the characters (also including Lucas Black and Tyrese Gibson) trapped in the lonesome eatery. Convoluted religious themes; constant, though mostly nongraphic, violence; an out-of-wedlock pregnancy; a couple of uses of profanity; much rough language (including at least 25 uses of the F-word); and some crude and crass terms. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events" (Paramount)
Rated "PG"
Delightfully macabre tale of three Baudelaire orphans -- one an infant -- navigating their perilous way through various guardians into whose dubious care they've been entrusted after the death of their parents in a mysterious fire: evil Count Olaf (Jim Carrey) who has an eye on their fortune; kindly but dimwitted reptile collector Uncle Monty (Billy Connolly); and hyperphobic Aunt Josephine (Meryl Streep) who lives in a house perched high on a cliff. Director Brad Silberling's adaptation of three books by Lemony Snicket (aka Daniel Handler; here voiced by Jude Law) makes for excellent Edward Gorey-like family viewing for all but perhaps the very youngest children who might find some of the situations scary, though the action is played humorously tongue-in-cheek throughout. Some mildly intense situations and a smattering of crude language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents.

"Let Me In" (Overture)
Rated 'R"
This macabre yet strangely moving twist on vampire lore, set in 1983, sees a bullied, lonely New Mexico preteen (Kodi Smit-McPhee) developing a friendly crush on a new neighbor (Chloe Grace Moretz). He gradually discovers that she is not exactly your average girl-next-door and that the guardian he takes to be her father (Richard Jenkins) is connected to a spate of recent murders. Writer-director Matt Reeves' screen version of Swedish novelist John Ajvide Lindqvist's best-seller "Let The Right One In" -- preceded by a 2008 Swedish film adaptation -- is not a work to be easily dismissed, given its serious treatment of themes like isolation and the psychological roots of violence. But in revealing the dark identity behind its young heroine's appealing facade, this unlikely tale of first love becomes, at times, far too gruesome for endorsement. Much gory violence, a scene of voyeurism with brief graphic sexual activity and fleeting upper female nudity, about a half-dozen uses of profanity, some rough and a few crude and crass terms. The Catholic News Service classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"Letters From Iwo Jima" (Warner Bros.)
Rated "R"
Director Clint Eastwood's emotionally compelling companion to "Flags of Our Fathers," which dealt with the Battle of Iwo Jima through the eyes of American GIs, now from the Japanese perspective, illustrating our shared humanity and showing ignorance as a root of international conflict. The drama focuses on Japanese soldiers entrenched on the island including a young baker (Kazunari Ninomiya) who wants to see his new baby, a newcomer (Ryo Kase) who's looked upon with suspicion, and a former Olympic medalist (Tsuyoshi Ihara), all under the command of an honorable and patriotic lieutenant general (Ken Watanabe) as they prepare for the U.S. invasion and capture of Mount Suribachi. Several characters take their own lives, acts which though morally untenable by Christian standards must be taken in the context of traditional Japanese culture. Japanese with subtitles. Intense and graphic battlefield violence, several gruesome suicides and some crude expressions. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"Letters to God" (Vivendi)
Rated "PG"
Inspirational and touching drama, based on real events, about a faith-filled but cancer-stricken 8-year-old boy (Tanner Maguire) whose prayers and reflections are expressed in a series of letters to the Almighty, and the effect these notes have on his family -- including his widowed, overtaxed mother (Robyn Lively), his devout grandmother (Maree Cheatham) and his emotionally conflicted teen brother (Michael Christopher Bolten) -- but especially on the depressed, boozing war-vet-turned-postman (Jeffrey S. Johnson) who has recently taken over the local mail route. Though the underlying theology of director David Nixon's family-friendly tale of courage and conversion is evangelical, the basic message about the power of Gospel values to transform lives is sufficiently nondenominational to exert a strong appeal on Christian believers of every stripe. Life-threatening illness, divorce and alcoholism themes. 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.

"Letters to Juliet" (Summit)
Rated "PG"
Director Gary Winick's old-fashioned romantic comedy explores time-honored themes of love, loss, family, and destiny amid a beautifully photographed Italian travelogue as it chronicles New York-based magazine fact-checker Sophie's (Amanda Seyfried) journey to Verona -- the city of "Romeo and Juliet" -- where, left on her own by her food-obsessed chef fiance Victor (Gael Garcia Bernal), Sophie visits Juliet's house and discovers a kind of Wailing Wall for the amorous, where lovesick women leave letters seeking relationship advice. Sophie's answer to one such missive, penned 50 years before by Englishwoman Claire (Vanessa Redgrave), prompts Claire to return, with her obnoxious grandson Charlie (Christopher Egan) in tow, determined to find her long-lost idol Lorenzo. An implied premarital relationship, a brief obscene gesture. 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.

"The Libertine" (Weinstein)
Rated "R"
Dank and dark 17th-century tale of provocative real-life poet John Wilmot, the second Earl of Rochester (Johnny Depp), who has a love-hate relationship with King Charles II (John Malkovich), falling in and out of his favor, and whose womanizing ways are finally tempered by his admiration for an ambitious actress (Samantha Morton) whom he grooms for stardom. Director Laurence Dunmore's adaptation of Stephen Jeffreys' play is reasonably well acted, but slow-moving and distasteful, wallowing excessively in its protagonist's unbridled lusts and the general bawdiness of the age, despite its ostensibly redemptive ending. Much rough and crude language, vulgar sexual expressions and imagery, sexual situations, adultery, partial and rear nudity, crass scene of urination, some anticlerical remarks and violence. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive.

"License to Wed" (Warner Bros.)
Rated 'PG-13"
Woefully unfunny tale about an engaged couple (chemistry-free Mandy Moore and John Krasinski) who undertake an arduous marriage preparation course run by their local Protestant minister (Robin Williams in subpar form) before he'll agree to marry them. Director Ken Kwapis' putative comedy plays like a B-level TV sitcom, but even in this comedic context, the reverend character is far too lenient about matters such as premarital cohabitation, is tiresomely irreverent throughout, and, though ostensibly all for the good, engages in such questionable behavior as wiretapping the couple's home and grilling them about their sex lives in a way that borders on prurience. Overall irreverent tone, acceptance of premarital living arrangement, sexual banter and innuendo, crude language and mild profanity, crass expressions and scatological humor. 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.

"Life As We Know It" (Warner Bros.)
Rated "PG-13"
A womanizing television director (Josh Duhamel) and a successful cafe owner (Katherine Heigl) must overcome their long-standing mutual dislike when the happily married couple who once set them up for a disastrous blind date, and with whom they were each best friends, dies suddenly and they become joint guardians over the deceased pair's infant daughter. Though somewhat sharper-witted than the average romantic comedy, director Greg Berlanti's thoroughly predictable yarn of animosity gradually yielding to a very different emotion showcases a variety of lifestyle choices -- and of more impromptu decisions -- at variance with traditional morality. Brief nongraphic premarital sexual activity, implied casual encounters and cohabitation, an incidental gay relationship, drug use, much sexual and some scatological humor, at least one use of profanity, a couple of rough terms, frequent crude or crass language. 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.

Little Black Book (Columbia)
Rated "PG-13"
Leaden romantic comedy about an aspiring TV journalist (Brittany Murphy) who decides to snoop into her live-in boyfriend's (Ron Livingston) past love life, only to discover that the embers of some of his former flames are still burning. As directed by Nick Hurran, the lackluster film waffles between being a relationship farce and a show-biz satire, both of which fall flat. Some sexual humor and scattered rough and crude language. USCCB classification is A-III -- adults.

"Little Children" (New Line)
Rated "R"
Sharply observed suburban story of an unhappy wife (Kate Winslet, in peak form) and a stay-at-home dad (Patrick Wilson) who gradually fall in love and commence an adulterous affair after meeting at the local playground against the backdrop of a community all aflutter because a convicted sex offender (Jackie Earle Haley) has moved into his mother's (Phyllis Somerville) house there. Director and co-writer Todd Field's black comedy, with its pitch-perfect performances (including those of Noah Emmerich, Jennifer Connelly, Jane Adams and Gregg Edelman), is one of those films that illuminates the human condition, even as it presents characters whose behavior is deeply flawed, while capped by a deeply moral and redemptive ending. Some rough and crude language and expressions; profanity; several brief sexual encounters, one particularly graphic with rear male nudity; upper and rear female nudity elsewhere; adultery; some implied aberrant sexual activity; and bloody self-mutilation. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

"Little Man" (Columbia)
Rated "PG-13"
Imbecilic comedy about a diminutive jewel thief (Marlon Wayans) who poses as an abandoned baby and is taken in by a childless couple (Shawn Wayans and Kerry Washington), playing on their kindness to retrieve a stolen diamond which wound up in the wife's handbag during a botched heist getaway. What could have been a serviceable farce with a sentimental plug for parenthood is instead a one-joke blunder by director Keenen Ivory Wayans, full of infantile slapstick and crass sight gags that play to diminishing returns. Crude sexual and bathroom humor, an implied bedroom encounter, vulgar gestures, some comic violence and scattered rude expressions. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

"The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou" (Touchstone)
Rated "R"
Offbeat tragicomedy about a washed up Jacques Cousteau-like oceanographer (played in delightful deadpan by Bill Murray) who, along with his oddball crew, sets out on an open sea adventure - which he chronicles on film as part of his latest documentary - to hunt down the shark that ate his partner, while at the same time coming to terms with a new deckhand (Owen Wilson) who may, or may not, be his long-lost son. Directed by Wes Anderson, this Melvillian revenge could use more wind in its sails, but stays afloat thanks to its cleverly quirky script, imaginatively animated aquatic life and good performances from its eccentric ensemble. Some strong violence, recreational drug use, an implied sexual encounter, an instance of brief gratuitous nudity, much rough and crude language and profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"Lions for Lambs" (UA)
Rated "R"
Well-intentioned but static plea for noncomplacency as a slick senator (Tom Cruise) plants an exclusive story about a new U.S. initiative in Afghanistan with a critical TV reporter (Meryl Streep); the idealistic students (Derek Luke and Michael Pena) of a university political science professor (Robert Redford) decide to join the struggle in that country; and the professor tries to convince a disillusioned student (Andrew Garfield) to abandon his cynicism and try to make a difference in the world. Redford's usually solid directorial gifts fail to give life to an exceedingly talky, heavy-handed and artificial script, while even the action scenes in Afghanistan are murky and bland. Pervasive conversational expletives, crude expressions, some profanity and wartime battle violence. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Little Fockers" (Universal)
Rated "PG-13"
Dull, tasteless comedy -- the second spawn of 2000's amusing "Meet the Parents" -- dominated by relatively raunchy and poorly staged gags centering on Gaylord and Pam Focker (Ben Stiller and Teri Polo), their 5-year-old twins (Colin Baiocchi and Daisy Tahan) and Pam's meddlesome father (Robert De Niro). Director Paul Weitz strings together a lowest-common-denominator collection of infantile set pieces. Frequent sexual banter, including references to sex toys, condoms and masturbation; some sexual situations and profanity; much crude and crass language; toilet humor; and a bruising fistfight. 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.

"Little Manhattan" (20th Century Fox)
Rated "PG"
Warm and wonderful romantic comedy set in New York City about a 10-year-old (Josh Hutcherson) who thinks that girls are "gross" until he falls for an apple-cheeked cutie (Charlie Ray) and finds himself adrift in a befuddling sea of newfound emotions. Tenderly directed by Mark Levin, with endearing performances by its young leads, the sweet story conveys both the agony and ecstasy of first love, as well as its accompanying confusion, anxiety, awkwardness and, ultimately, its magic. Some minor thematic elements, schoolyard fisticuffs, mild rude language and an instance of vomit humor. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents.

"Little Miss Sunshine" (Fox Searchlight)
Rated "R"
Immensely likable film about an Albuquerque, N.M., couple -- gung-ho motivational speaker (Greg Kinnear) and his wife (Toni Collette) -- who, with their alienated son (Paul Dano), the wife's gay brother (Steve Carell) who's recovering from a suicide attempt, and the husband's crusty, drug-addicted father (Alan Arkin) in tow, trek to Los Angeles in a creaky van so their daughter (Abigail Breslin) can compete in a beauty pageant. Despite an unfortunately high quotient of expletives and some sexual references (mostly courtesy of the Arkin character), husband-and-wife team Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris have directed a refreshingly offbeat tale that, underneath the zaniness, comes over as an extremely positive validation of family and genuine values. Rough and occasionally profane words, sexual references, suicide element, a minor gay plot element, a sight gag involving adult magazines and brief drug use. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Limitless" (Relativity)
Rated "PG13"
This bluntly cynical thriller, based on Alan Glynn's 2001 novel "The Dark Fields," has an uninspired novelist (Bradley Cooper), aided by a secretive mind-enhancing pill, finding his focus, conquering the stock market and getting away, literally, with murder. Director Neil Burger and screenwriter Leslie Dixon trivialize their protagonist's actions as he blazes a trail of homicidal violence that entails no discernable consequences. Skewed moral values, considerable gun and knife violence, a few implied premarital situations, fleeting crude language. The Catholic News Service 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.

"The Lincoln Lawyer" (Lionsgate)
Rated "R"
Vibrant but frequently seamy thriller about a slick Los Angeles attorney (Matthew McConaughey) used to defending petty criminals who gets more than he bargained for when he takes the high-profile case of a Beverly Hills playboy (Ryan Phillippe) accused of attempted murder. Driven by McConaughey's kinetic performance, director Brad Furman's adaptation of Michael Connelly's novel -- which also features Marisa Tomei as the advocate's ex-wife -- makes for a lively drama, both inside the courtroom and beyond. But its protagonist's ethical corner-cutting and eventual resort to borderline vigilantism, his client's libertine lifestyle and -- above all -- acrid flashbacks detailing violent sexual assaults narrowly circumscribe this whodunit's appropriate audience. Considerable explicit violence, including scenes of rape, vigilantism issues, brief nongraphic marital lovemaking, fleeting rear nudity, a half-dozen uses of profanity, a few rough terms, much crude and crass language. 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.

"The Lion of Judah" (AMG)
Rated: "PG"
This 3-D animated musical re-imagines the events of the first Holy Week through the adventures of a bunch of wisecracking animals. At the center of the tale is a spunky lamb (voice of Georgina Cordova) chosen as the Passover sacrifice because he is pure and unblemished. On the way to Jerusalem, he busts out of his cage and meets a sitcom-worthy group of stable dwellers, led by a wise rat (voice of Ernest Borgnine) and a sassy rooster (voice of Alphonso McAuley). When the sheep is recaptured, and the rooster stows away in his cage, the remainder of the menagerie band together to set their friends free. Although its retelling of Christ's Passion, death and resurrection is oversimplified and often takes a back seat to some pretty lame jokes, directors Deryck Broom and Roger Hawkins' family film does provide a worthy introduction for very young children to the story of salvation and the basic tenets of Christianity. The Catholic News Service classification is A-I - general patronage. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.

"Live Free or Die Hard" (Fox)
Rated "PG-13"
Action-packed Washington-based thriller as detective John McClane (Bruce Willis in good, sardonic form) teams with a computer geek (Justin Long) to outwit a dastardly hacker (Timothy Olyphant) and deadly femme fatale cohort (Maggie Q) who intend to cripple the nation with a catastrophic computer breach. The fourth installment in the durable series starts in formulaic mode, but builds in excitement, with director Len Wiseman generating some first-rate chase sequences, but repeated profanity and one outrageously vulgar line are unfortunate detriments. Some crude and vulgar words and expressions, gratuitous profanity, a couple making out in a car, innuendo, pervasive nongraphic violence including explosions and shootings, albeit with little gore. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"The Lives of Others" ("Das Leben Der Anderen") (Sony Classics)
Rated "R"
Gripping German political thriller set in the East Berlin of 1984 -- five years before the fall of the Berlin Wall -- in which a hard-bitten interrogator for the secret police (Ulrich Muhe) wiretaps the apartment of a celebrated playwright (Sebastian Koch) and his actress companion (Martina Gedeck), and discovers his own humanity in the process. Writer-director Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck, making an auspicious feature film debut, has crafted a suspenseful and profoundly moving story that besides bringing to life the ambience of pre-glasnost Germany, vividly demonstrate the transformative power of art while elucidating the conflict between ideology and conscience. A modern classic. Subtitles. Some sexual encounters, one involving a prostitute, with rear and partial nudity; a premarital relationship; innuendo; a few crude words; drug addiction; and suicide. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"London" (Destination)
Rated "R"
Mostly repugnant story from first-time writer-director Hunter Richards involving a dissolute twentysomething New Yorker (Chris Evans) who crashes his ex-girlfriend's (Jessica Biel) bon voyage party, but takes refuge in the bathroom to avoid facing her, all the while snorting cocaine and engaging in mostly foul-mouthed discussions with an Englishman (Jason Statham) and other guests who drift in and out. Though ostensibly a cautionary look at the excesses of today's affluent youth, with some serious talk about the meaning of life and even a marginally redemptive ending, the sordid milieu, non-stop expletives, sexuality, and drugs result in a thoroughly distasteful and surprisingly dull melange. Pervasive rough and crude language, drug use, strong sexual content and perversity, partial and rear nudity, violence. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive.

"Lonesome Jim" (IFC)
Rated "R"
Depressed young man (Casey Affleck) goes back to his Indiana home to live with his overly doting mother (Mary Kay Place), distant father (Seymour Cassel) and confused brother (Kevin Corrigan), falls for a single mother (Liv Tyler) with a small son (Jack Rovello), and ultimately comes to a better understanding of himself and those around him. Director Steve Buscemi's film is sometimes slow and meandering, and its true-to-life candor won't appeal to all tastes, but the central protagonist develops as a person, and the overall message of accepting life for what it is, not what you want it to be, is a good one. Scattered instances of profanity, rough and crude language and expressions, some crass humor, rear and partial nudity, premarital relationship, sexual banter and lewd images, prostitute character, suicide theme and drug references. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

"The Longest Yard" (Paramount)
Rated “PG-13”
Revved-up remake of the 1974 sports comedy about a former pro quarterback (Adam Sandler in the Burt Reynolds role) whose recklessness lands him in a Texas state prison where the gridiron-obsessed warden (James Cromwell) blackmails him into organizing an all-inmate team to take on his semipro squad of sadistic prison guards. Despite some crowd-pleasing moments and the softening effect of Sandler's comical likability, director Peter Segal's version follows the original's lead, making vulgarity and brutality just another joke while going for a more MTV-style edge. Strong prison and playing-field violence, an instance of rough language and much crude and sexual language and humor, including an ongoing joke involving some gay inmates, racial remarks, drug references, fleeting rear nudity and a scene of drunk driving played for laughs. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

"The Longshots" (Dimension/MGM)
Rated "PG"
Fact-based sports drama in which an unemployed former high school football star (Ice Cube) living in a depressed factory town is hired by his hardworking sister-in-law (Tasha Smith) to mind his shy, bookish niece (Keke Palmer) and, discovering that the girl shares his gift for the game, becomes her trainer and gets her a tryout with a local, previously all-boys team. Director Fred Durst's upbeat, mostly unobjectionable film is a celebration of each individual's power to bring about both personal and civic renewal. Brief sexual humor, a couple of profanities, a few crass words and mild oaths. 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.

"Look at Me" (Sony Classics)
Rated "PG-13"
Finely acted French film about Etienne (Jean-Pierre Bacri), a self-centered, celebrated writer and publisher; his unhappy overweight daughter, Lolita (Marilou Berry), an aspiring classical singer attracted more to the ex-boyfriend who cares little for her than the new one who does; and Sylvia (Agnes Jaoui), the girl's singing teacher, who takes a special interest in the girl mostly to help her writer-husband Pierre (Laurent Grevill) cultivate a friendship with Etienne to advance his career. Writer-director Jaoui's perceptive film -- co-written with co-star Bacri -- says much about youthful angst, fathers and daughters, celebrities and the sycophants who surround them, all in a marvelously real way. Subtitles. A few instances of rough and crude language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"The Lookout" (Miramax/Spyglass)
Rated "R"
Unlikely crime thriller is a compelling character study about a Midwestern town's golden-boy athlete (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), brain-damaged after a car accident and guilt-wracked over the death and injury of his friends, persuaded to serve as lookout for a bank heist, with first-rate performances by Jeff Daniels, Matthew Goode and Isla Fisher. Writer and first-time director Scott Frank admirably shows us the sordid reality of criminal behavior, and offers a redemptive message of how, paradoxically, letting go of the past and forgiving yourself can help you rediscover your true self. Nongraphic premarital encounters, sexual innuendo and banter, violence including shootings and murder in self-defense, a brief violent car crash, fleeting rear nudity, skimpy female attire, drug and alcohol use, pervasive rough and crude language, crass expressions and some profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

"Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World" (Warner Independent)
Rated "PG-13"
Amiable but low-key comedy about comedian Albert Brooks sent to India on a government peace mission to determine what makes Muslims laugh, causing a contretemps with Pakistan in the process. Brooks' brand of laid-back and understated humor and the exoticism of the Delhi, India, settings make for pleasant viewing, along with his gently satiric spin on the present-day politics and conflict often arising over inconsequential misunderstandings. A few instances of profane, rough and crude words make this best for older adolescents and up. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"Lord of War" (Lions Gate)
Rated "R"
Thought-provoking, if at times contrived, morality play about an opportunistic and morally bankrupt Ukrainian emigre (Nicolas Cage) who rises from small-time gunrunner to international arms dealer, while living a double life as a respectable family man, all the while staying one step ahead of his rivals, his ruthless clients and the law, that is, until his own conscience catches up with him. By turns action drama and black comedy (neither completely successful), the film's serious social commentary and anti-violence themes are saddled with message-heavy melodrama and standard action cliches that bog down the otherwise effective narrative. Strong images of violence, sexual situations with partial nudity, recurring drug content, some racial stereotyping, and pervasive rough and crude language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

"Lords of Dogtown" (Columbia)
Rated "PG-13"
Fictionalized drama detailing the genesis of the 1970s' skateboarding counterculture in Southern California, focusing on three teenage friends -- timid Stacy Peralta (John Robinson), cocky Tony Alva (Victor Rasuk) and self-destructive Jay Adams (Emile Hirsch) -- who, through a combination of street moxie and surfer mentality, revolutionized the sport and were catapulted to rock-star celebrity. Despite fine performances from Hirsch and Rasuk and kinetic skateboarding sequences, the vapid film, directed by Catherine Hardwicke and based on Peralta's own 2003 documentary, "Dogtown & Z-Boys," never rises above a conventional study of adolescent rebelliousness, with its more interesting elements -- the characters' broken home life, the corrosive allure of fame and money -- receiving shallow treatment. Sexual situations involving minors, some violence, underage drinking and drug use, reckless and delinquent behavior, as well as recurring crude language and gestures. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"The Losers" (Warner Bros.)
Rated "PG-13"
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. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"The Lost City" (Magnolia)
Rated "R"
Wistful and deeply personal drama set in 1950s' Cuba on the eve of Castro's communist revolution about three brothers (Andy Garcia, who also directs, Enrique Murciano and Nestor Carbonell) caught in the political unrest that ultimately tears them and their island home apart. While the sprawling story needs tightening, Garcia's well-acted love letter to the country he left as a child is full of passion and gorgeously captures the beauty and energy of the island, its culture and especially its music, in exploring themes of longing and loss. Some violence, including several graphic executions, a suicide, a brief voodoo reference, and a few rough and crude expressions. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"Lottery Ticket" (Warner Bros.)
Rated "PG-13"
Broad comedy centers on a hardworking, good-natured 18-year-old (rapper Bow Wow) from an Atlanta housing project who wins the lottery but must survive a long holiday weekend before he can collect. He must evade the wiles of a menacing thug (Gbenga Akinnagbe) and a natty crime boss (Mike Epps) with the help of a retired boxer (Ice Cube) for whom he runs errands. Director Erik White's efforts to bridge materialism and spiritual growth are awkward, and viewers seeking an entertaining and perceptive social satire will be disappointed. Nongraphic nonmarital sexual activity, much profanity, at least one use of the F-word, frequent crude and crass language, numerous sexual and contraception references and some violence. 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.

"Love & Other Drugs" (Fox)
Rated "R"
Misguided romance -- based on Jamie Reidy's 2005 memoir "Hard Sell: The Evolution of a Viagra Salesman" -- in which a womanizing pharmaceuticals seller (Jake Gyllenhaal) and an artist (Anne Hathaway) afflicted with Parkinson's disease hook up for commitment-free sex, but gradually find their alley-cat relationship deepening into love. With a satire of the drug industry in the background and an excess of bare flesh to the fore, director and co-writer Edward Zwick's potentially touching story about the ennobling effects of heartfelt ardor is drowned out by discussions -- and displays -- of irresponsible sensuality, some of it aberrant. Strong sexual content, including brief graphic nonmarital activity; offscreen group sex and masturbation; fleeting pornographic images; upper female, rear and partial nudity; much sexual humor; about 15 uses of profanity; and pervasive rough and crude language. The Catholic News Service classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"The Lovely Bones" (Paramount)
Rated "PG-13"
Narrating from beyond the grave, a 14-year-old girl (Saoirse Ronan) recounts her murder at the hands of a psychopath (a squirm-provoking Stanley Tucci) and the effects of the crime on her devastated parents (Mark Wahlberg and Rachel Weisz), her boozy but sensible grandmother (Susan Sarandon) and her sensitive younger sister (Rose McIver), who eventually joins the obsessive dad in a determined hunt for redress. Director and co-writer Peter Jackson's adaptation of Alice Sebold's best-selling 2002 novel features a visually rich, though theologically vague vision of "the In-Between," a picturesque purgatory in which the youthful heroine is trapped as she works through her rage and desire for revenge, but the attempt to blend genres with a story that mixes elements of suspense, emotion-driven drama and a morality tale about the limits of human justice and the dangers of fixation eventually becomes scattershot. Themes of perversion and crime, gory images, scenes of harsh violence, brief nongraphic marital lovemaking, at least one use of profanity and of the F-word, a few crude and crass terms. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Loverboy" (THINKFilm)
Rated "R"
Well-acted if bleak story of a psychotic woman (Kyra Sedgwick) -- emotionally scarred in childhood -- who sets out to get herself pregnant and who later becomes an overly protective mother to her young son (8-year-old Dominic Scott Kay). Actor Kevin Bacon's big-screen directorial debut shows skill, and performances are fine all around (including those of Matt Dillon, Campbell Scott, Sandra Bullock and Bacon himself), but those elements are outweighed by a basically unlikable protagonist (Sedgwick's empathetic portrayal notwithstanding), deliberate pacing and a fairly predictable plot. Promiscuity, some brief sexual encounters, artificial insemination, partial rear and upper female nudity, breastfeeding, some crude language, an act of animal cruelty, suicide, and murder attempt. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

"Love's Abiding Joy" (Fox)
Rated "PG"
Fourth installment in the "Love Comes Softly" series where pioneer rancher couple (Erin Cottrell and Logan Bartholomew), circa 1885, cope with financial hardships and the sudden loss of their child. The villainous mayor (John Laughlin) makes the husband the sheriff but only to manipulate him for his dastardly purposes, while thwarting the budding romance between his own daughter (Mae Whitman) and the sheriff's adopted son (Drew Tyler Bell). Michael Landon Jr. directs the leisurely tale capably; the production design, cinematography and musical score are assets, but the script and performances are bland and often anachronistically contemporary, while the faith elements, though admirable, are heavy-handed. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-I -- general patronage.

"The Love Guru" (Paramount/Spyglass)
Rated "PG-13"
Flat comedy, only fitfully enlivened by some clever gags, about a guru (Mike Myers) enlisted by the owner of the Toronto Maple Leafs hockey team (Jessica Alba) to reunite their star player (Romany Malco) with his wife (Meagan Good) who has left him for his rival (an unrecognizably hirsute Justin Timberlake), the French-Canadian goalie for the opposing team, thereby restoring the former player's prowess on the ice. Unabashedly vulgar and tasteless despite its saccharine ending and some moderately redemptive elements, the film, directed at an often tentative pace by Marco Schnabel, feels too long by half and the jibes at celebrity and bogus Indian mysticism wear thin. Much sexual and scatological humor and innuendo, some crude language, adultery and an implied premarital relationship, drug references and comic violence. 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.

"Love Happens" (Universal)
Rated "PG-13"
Serious but overly slick romantic drama about a widowed self-help guru (Aaron Eckhart) who guides others through the grieving process but who, after returning to his wife's hometown to host a seminar and falling for a local florist (Jennifer Aniston), gradually realizes he has unfinished emotional business of his own. Despite Eckhart's complex performance, and an admirably mature central relationship, director and co-writer Brandon Camp's feature debut, a study of personal loss and recovery in a strictly secular context, is too timid to sound the spiritual depths that would make it truly memorable. A half-dozen uses of profanity, occasional crude and crass language, a few sexual jokes and an obscene gesture. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Love in the Time of Cholera" (New Line)
Rated "R"
Overlong, uneven adaptation of Nobel Prize-winner Gabriel Garcia Marquez's acclaimed 1985 epic in which a telegraph clerk (Javier Bardem) in late 19th-century Colombia at the time of a cholera epidemic continues an over-the-decades obsession with the woman (Giovanna Mezzogiorno) he courted as a young man, even though she's now married to an affluent doctor (Benjamin Bratt). Director Mike Newell's cinematic rendering of Marquez's exploration of love in its myriad forms cannot capture the emotional complexities of the book despite Ronald Harwood's intelligent adaptation, and the performances are a mixed bag. The protagonist's finding consolation in numerous sexual if loveless liaisons is morally problematic. Upper female and partial male nudity, several brief nonmarital sexual encounters, innuendo and some frank sexual talk, adultery, domestic discord and murder. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"The Lovely Bones" (Paramount)
Rated "PG-13"
Narrating from beyond the grave, a 14-year-old girl (Saoirse Ronan) recounts her murder at the hands of a psychopath (a squirm-provoking Stanley Tucci) and the effects of the crime on her devastated parents (Mark Wahlberg and Rachel Weisz), her boozy but sensible grandmother (Susan Sarandon) and her sensitive younger sister (Rose McIver), who eventually joins the obsessive dad in a determined hunt for redress. Director and co-writer Peter Jackson's adaptation of Alice Sebold's best-selling 2002 novel features a visually rich, though theologically vague vision of "the In-Between," a picturesque purgatory in which the youthful heroine is trapped as she works through her rage and desire for revenge, but the attempt to blend genres with a story that mixes elements of suspense, emotion-driven drama and a morality tale about the limits of human justice and the dangers of fixation eventually becomes scattershot. Themes of perversion and crime, gory images, scenes of harsh violence, brief nongraphic marital lovemaking, at least one use of profanity and of the F-word, a few crude and crass terms. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Love Songs" ("Les Chansons D'Amour") (IFC/Red Envelope)
Rated "NR"
Melancholy semi-musical (with 13 songs by Alex Beaupain) about a young man (Louis Garrel) grieving after the sudden death of his longtime girlfriend (Ludivine Sagnier) from cardiac arrest, who turns for comfort to the girl's loving family including her sister (Chiara Mastroanni), his coworker and sometime lover (Clotilde Hesme) and a young male student (Gregoir Leprince-Ringuet) who, improbably, develops a romantic crush on him. In style, director Christophe Honore's bears faint echoes of Jacques Demy's 1960s films like "Umbrellas of Cherbourg," but even those trifles had far more dramatic interest and charm, while the casual sexual attitudes displayed by several of the characters here are morally problematic. In French. Subtitles. Nonmarital sexual encounters including same sex couplings, though nongraphic, some frank sexual talk, occasional crude language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. Not rated by the Motion Picture Association of America.

"A Love Song for Bobby Long" (Lions Gate)
Rated "R"
Lazily paced triangular drama set in New Orleans about a wayward teenager (Scarlett Johansson) who moves into the house left her by her late, estranged mother, only to find it occupied by two of her mother's friends: a former literature professor turned drunkard (John Travolta) haunted by past sins, and his young protege (Gabriel Macht), both of whom reform their broken lives to help her reclaim her future. As directed by first-timer Shainee Gabel, the uneven film is weighed down by too much Southern schmaltz, but has some good performances and imparts an ultimately redemptive message about family and forgiveness. Alcohol abuse and recurring rough and sexually crude language and humor, as well as some profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted.

"Lucky Number Slevin" (MGM/Weinstein)
Rated "R"
Stylish but grim thriller about a remarkably easygoing young man named Slevin (Josh Hartnett) caught between two rival crime kingpins -- the Boss (Morgan Freeman) and the Rabbi (Ben Kingsley) -- each of whom claims Slevin owes thousands of dollars. Despite some suspenseful sequences, a few surprising twists, and good performances by all (including Bruce Willis as the Boss's hired assassin, Lucy Liu as Slevin's girlfriend, and Stanley Tucci as a detective on his trail), director Paul McGuigan's film is ultimately murky and formulaic, and the pervasive revenge motif -- the Boss wants Slevin to kill the Rabbi's gay son -- precludes recommendation. Considerable violence with bloodshed (though shown with quick edits), profanity and rough language, a graphic sexual encounter with a prostitute with upper female and rear male nudity, innuendo, a premarital sexual encounter, a gratuitous and highly irreligious remark, illegal betting activities. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive.

"The Lucky Ones" (Lionsgate/Roadside)
Rated “R”
Stranded at a stateside airport, three wounded Iraq War veterans (Rachel McAdams, Tim Robbins and Michael Pena) take an unplanned cross-country road trip during which they help each other work through the physical, emotional and financial problems caused by the military conflict. Director and co-writer Neil Burger's listless, sometimes implausible comic drama deals evenhandedly with political matters, but repeatedly presents casual sexuality as a subject for humor. Brief graphic sexual activity without nudity, adultery, brief pornographic images, sexual themes, much rough and crude language, and a few uses of profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Lucky You" (Warner Bros.)
Rated "PG-13"
Mellow love story set in Las Vegas about an ace poker player (an especially good Eric Bana) who puts his randy ways behind him when he meets a decent young woman (Drew Barrymore) who gently encourages him to come to terms with his estranged father (Robert Duvall), also a poker champ. Director and co-writer Curtis Hanson gets appealing performances from his cast, but the emphasis is largely on the game (familiarity a plus) with several poker champs playing cameo roles, and though there are hardly any sex, violence or language concerns, and the values espoused -- honesty, fidelity, forgiveness, filial devotion and good sportsmanship -- are commendable (gambling notwithstanding), the result is only mildly involving. Acceptable for older teens. A couple of instances of crude language, an implied premarital encounter, brief sexual references and innuendo, and brief mild violence. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"Lust, Caution" (Focus)
Rated "NC"
Superbly crafted romantic tale of a young woman (Tang Wei in an extraordinary feature film debut) who becomes a spy for the resistance during the Japanese occupation of Shanghai in the 1930s and '40s, who must seduce a married collaborator (Tony Leung) in order to lure him to his death. Director Ang Lee's glossy adaptation of revered Chinese writer Eileen Chang's short story is a meticulously detailed, beautifully designed period thriller, recalling iconic Hollywood films of that era, with exquisite performances all around, making it all the more unfortunate that Lee felt it necessary to shoot the somewhat aberrant sex scenes so explicitly -- even if just a few minutes out of a long, serious-minded film -- precluding endorsement from a moral viewpoint. Subtitles. Graphic nonmarital sexual encounters, full-frontal and rear nudity, a violent stabbing death, adultery theme, vigilante justice, and a single use of the f-word. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is NC-17 -- no one 17 and under admitted.

M
"Mr. Brooks" (MGM)
Rated "R"
Sleekly shot thriller in which a daytime executive/nighttime serial killer (a subtle Kevin Costner), being blackmailed by a blood-lusting photographer (Dane Cook), suspects his own daughter (Danielle Panabaker) of homicidal tendencies while a gritty police detective (Demi Moore) doggedly seeks to nail the guilty party. Co-writer and director Bruce A. Evans fashions a trashy but chilling melodrama enhanced by William Hurt's sly performance as the serial killer's satanic alter ego, determined to control the conscience-stricken killer. A repeated sex scene with full female nudity, some gory violence, suicide, occasional profanity and recurring rough language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Mr. Woodcock" (New Line)
Rated "PG-13"
Needlessly crass, but sporadically entertaining comedy in which a best-selling self-help writer (Seann William Scott) returns to his hometown to receive an award, only to discover that his mother (Susan Sarandon) is dating the harsh gym teacher (Billy Bob Thornton) who terrorized him in junior high school, and assisted by a former classmate (Ethan Suplee) attempts to sabotage the relationship while his hard-edged publicist (Amy Poehler) pushes him to return to his book tour. Though it too often strays beyond good taste, the film, as directed by Craig Gillespie, does have some moments of inspiration, and a few genuine insights as well. A nongraphic premarital sexual encounter, one use of the f-word, much crude and crass language, and innuendo. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Mrs. Henderson Presents" (Pathe/BBC)
Rated "R"
Patriotic true-life story of a wealthy widow (Judi Dench) who refurbishes London's dilapidated Windmill Theatre, and with the help of an artistic manager (Bob Hoskins), decides to produce topless musical revues -- with the showgirls remaining stationary by order of the Lord Chancellor (Christopher Guest) -- to entertain the troops during the blitz. Despite the seeming raciness of the theme, and several artfully posed tableaux of bare-breasted showgirls, Stephen Frears' well-made film, with a script by playwright Martin Sherman, is as decorous as a "Masterpiece Theatre" production, and features predictably fine performances by the leads. Partial female nudity throughout, and a fleeting scene of full-frontal male and female nudity, a premarital affair with tragic results, some innuendo, a smattering of profanity and rough language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"Mr. & Mrs. Smith" (20th Century Fox)
Rated "PG-13"
Excessively violent -- not to mention dull and unfunny -- action comedy about a couple (Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie) living an ordinary suburban life, each -- unbeknownst to the other -- a hired assassin working for rival organizations, and who, upon learning the truth, stop at nothing to try and kill each other. Director Doug Liman's stylized but unstylish action film is a trashy glorification of violence and ugly brutality, only fitfully watchable thanks to the attractiveness of its stars, whose onscreen chemistry is practically nil. The witless script hasn't even a smidgen of reality to ground the improbable proceedings, making for an unusually distasteful film. Relentless violence, cold-blooded murders, profanity, crude language, sexual situations and banter, suggestive costuming, implied premarital sex. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive.

"Mr. 3000" (Touchstone)
Rated "PG-13"
Crowd-pleasing baseball comedy about an aging, self-absorbed all-star (Bernie Mac) who comes out of retirement after nine years when an error discovered in the recordkeeping shows he is three base hits shy of 3,000, a career milestone without which he won't get into the Hall of Fame. Director Charles Stone III swings for the feel-good fences but comes up short of a home run; his movie's positive, but predictable, message about self-sacrifice, teamwork and second chances is weighed down by unnecessary crudeness. An implied sexual encounter, fleeting partial rear nudity and recurring coarse language and humor. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont" (Cineville)
Rated "NR"
A terrific performance by Joan Plowright is reason enough to catch this low-key British charmer about an elderly matron who moves into a shabbily genteel London hotel, and just when she's abandoned by her uncaring daughter and grandson and appears to be facing a dead-end existence, she is befriended by a handsome young writer (Rupert Friend) whom she passes off as her grandson to the inquisitive residents. For this bittersweet film, director Dan Ireland has assembled a top cast of British pros to play the hotel's loners (Anna Massey, Robert Lang, Marcia Warren, Georgina Hale and Millicent Martin) and, though improbable, the story imparts a worthy message about aging and human connection. Mild profanity and innuendo, brief instances of crude language, a brief sexual encounter with no nudity, premarital sex. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"MacGruber" (Rogue)
Rated "R"
Juvenile, tasteless action spoof in which a cocky but disastrously incompetent special agent (Will Forte) is called out of retirement by his former commander (Powers Boothe) to foil a plot by an evil arms dealer (Val Kilmer) to nuke Washington, gaining the aid of an Army lieutenant (Ryan Phillippe) and an undercover operative-turned-pop-singer (Kristen Wiig) along the way. Director and co-writer Jorma Taccone's expansion of a recurring "Saturday Night Live" skit is consistently vulgar and intermittently gruesome. Much gory violence, graphic premarital sexual activity, upper female and rear nudity, frequent sexual and scatological humor, more than a dozen uses of profanity, pervasive rough and crude language. The Catholic News Service classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"Machine Gun Preacher" (Relativity)
Rated "R"
Harrowing true story about a Pennsylvania man (Gerard Butler) who finds God and goes from drug-dealing and committing mayhem as a member of a Pennsylvania biker gang to protecting Sudanese children orphaned during a bloody civil war. Director Marc Forster glosses over the protagonist's spiritual journey, focusing instead on the action-oriented sequences and enforcing viewer suspicion that he's more of a mercenary than a humanitarian. In addition to triggering cognitive dissonance and contravening basic Catholic teachings about peace and social justice, the movie is filled with disturbing and offensive material that undercuts the salubrious aspects of the partially redemptive conversion story. Frequent graphic violence in the context of war and a crime spree-including disturbing images of child victims of burnings, mutilations, beatings, and gunplay-pervasive rough, crude and crass language, one instance of marital lovemaking and another of marital foreplay, some heroin and alcohol use, some profanity, and several racial epithets. The Catholic News Service classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"The Machinist" (Paramount Classics)
Rated “R”
Darkly arresting psychological thriller about a skeletal machine operator (Christian Bale) suffering from chronic insomnia, whose fragile psyche is edged toward madness by the presence of a menacing co-worker (John Sharian), and whose only solace is found in the companionship of a sympathetic coffee-shop waitress (Aitana Sanchez-Gijon) and a comforting call girl (Jennifer Jason Leigh). Director Brad Anderson's grimly stylish meditation on guilt and paranoia is dripping with nightmarish noir atmospherics and bleak moodiness and is highlighted by a mesmerizing performance by Bale, who lost a jaw-dropping 63 pounds for the role. Several instances of violence, including a gruesome amputation, sexual situations with nudity, as well as recurring rough and crude language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

"Madagascar" (DreamWorks)
Rated “PG”
Entertaining animated comedy about a quartet of pampered zoo animals (voiced by Chris Rock, Ben Stiller, David Schwimmer and Jada Pinkett Smith) who find themselves shipped back to the wild, where they discover that the jungle is not all its cracked up to be. Directed by Eric Darnell and Tom McGrath and imparting a positive message about friendship, the visually vibrant and at times funny film starts out well (the motley menagerie is a hoot), but its early wit gives way to cartoonish slapstick humor that stresses sight gags more than story. Mildly crass language and humor, cartoon violence, as well as some thematic elements that may be disturbing to very young children. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents.

"Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa" (DreamWorks/Paramount)
Rated "PG"
Four animal friends (voices of Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, David Schwimmer and Jada Pinkett Smith), stranded on the titular island, try to fly home to their New York City zoo, but land instead on an African savanna where they must continue to adapt to life in the wild. Though occasionally marred by slightly crass humor, this generally amiable animated comedy, co-written and directed by Eric Darnell and Tom McGrath, is visually lush and offers lessons about the need for self-confidence and the true nature of love. Also shown in Imax. Mild innuendo, a few slightly crude gags and some thematic elements that might frighten very young children. 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.

"Madea's Big Happy Family" (Lionsgate)
Rated "PG-13"
Tyler Perry -- who wrote and directed this screen adaptation of his eponymous play -- puts on the muumuu again as the always short-tempered Madea. Here, Madea's appealingly gentle niece (Loretta Devine) learns she has terminal cancer and tries to gather her three adult children (Natalie Desselle Reid, Shannon Kane and Shad "Bow Wow" Moss) at her house to tell them the bad news. But the grown siblings are all locked in dysfunctional relationships, while one - a recently released ex-con -- is also dabbling once more in the drug dealing that landed him in jail. Worthy themes of mutual respect between spouses, deference to adults on the part of youngsters and familial unity are sometimes lost amid questionable comic characterizations and a flurry of slaps upside the head. Marijuana use, some adult humor, fleeting crass language, slapstick violence. 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.

"Madison" (MGM)
Rated "PG"
Feel-good film set in small-town Indiana which tells the true story of Jim McCormick (Jim Caviezel), a local former boat-racing hero who pulls together and lifts the spirits of his down-on-its-luck town -- which lives and breathes the sport -- when he proposes they make an bid to host an annual championship cup competition. Director William Bindley's winning underdog drama more than makes up for any sentimental shortcomings with heart and a gently nostalgic message about family, wholesome values and the importance of community. Some mildly crude language and scenes of sports peril. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents. he Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested.

"Made of Honor" (Columbia)
Rated "PG-13"
A callous playboy (a charming Patrick Dempsey) comes to realize he loves his longtime best friend (Michelle Monaghan) just when she announces she's engaged to a Scottish lord (Kevin McKidd), and he agrees to be her "maid of honor" in the hopes of dissuading her from the marriage. Paul Welland's formulaic but ultimately winning film starts with some highly problematic elements having to do with the playboy's unbridled love life, but settles into a sentimental story about the hero learning the true meaning of love, while generally promoting an acceptable moral worldview. Nongraphic encounters, divorce, alcohol use, innuendo, and some crude words and expressions. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"The Man" (New Line)
Ragted "PG-13"
Minor action comedy about nerdy middle-aged dental products salesman (Eugene Levy) who's mistaken for a stolen arms dealer, and becomes the unwilling sidekick of a Detroit-based federal agent (Samuel L. Jackson), whose crooked partner has just been murdered in a sting operation against the bad guys. Director Les Mayfield's film is fitfully amusing, thanks to the chemistry of the two intentionally mismatched stars, and though there are positive underlying themes the formulaic plot construction and uninspired dialogue severely undermine what might otherwise have been a more recommendable escapade. Excessive crude language, as well as a few instances of rough language and profanity, some action violence, general vulgarity, some sexual innuendo, and ethnic humor. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

"Man of the Year" (Universal)
Rated "PG-13"
Political satire about an idealistic comedy TV talk-show host (Robin Williams) who runs for president and wins, eventually falling for a software analyst (Laura Linney) on the lam after discovering that the unlikely election results were due to a program glitch in her company's computerized voting machine. Director Barry Levinson never decides what movie he wants to make (a light farce or something darker); while Williams' performance is basically a stand-up routine and the script soft-pedals on issues of personal morality, the film make some valid observations about the increasingly blurred distinction between entertainment and news, and the alarming preference of many to be amused rather than informed. Sexually crass humor, innuendo, a mildly irreligious joke, brief violence, a use of the f-word and some crude language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

Maria Full of Grace (Fine Line)
Rated "R"
Arresting drama about a young woman from rural Colombia (Catalina Sandino Moreno) who becomes a drug "mule" -- swallowing pellets of heroin to be smuggled into the United States -- in order to support her family. Employing a style of stark realism, writer-director Joshua Marston grafts human drama onto what could have been a conventional crime-thriller premise, resulting in an emotionally affecting film about desperation, determination and hope. Subtitles. Recurring drug content, some disturbing images, as well as rough and crude language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted.

"The Marine" (20th Century Fox)
Rated "PG-13"
Empty action adventure about a Marine (wrestler John Cena) fresh from battle in the Middle East whose homecoming gets off to a rough start when he must track down the gang of cold-blooded felons (lead by Robert Patrick) who are holding his wife (Kelly Carlson) hostage. Director John Bonito piles on the explosions, chases and ammo rounds, all strung together with a B-movie script. Intense action violence, sexual situations, as well as some rough and crude language and profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Mad Hot Ballroom" (Paramount Classics)
Rated "PG"
Generally appealing documentary about ethnically diverse New York City elementary school students competing in citywide American Ballroom Theater's "Dancing Classrooms" program, focusing on the intense rehearsals leading up to the finals, which bring success and inevitably for some disappointment. Marilyn Agrelo and Amy Sewell's cinema-verite film would benefit from a glossier style, but the kids' precocious off-the-cuff remarks and growing adeptness at the rumba, tango, merengue, fox trot and swing are impressive and alternate between endearingly humorous and poignant, transcending the sometimes physical drabness of the urban public school setting. Overall positive themes of good sportsmanship and the power of the arts to improve one's life, though with some suggestive movements and mature thematic elements. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents.

"Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa" (DreamWorks/Paramount)
Rated "PG"
Four animal friends (voices of Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, David Schwimmer and Jada Pinkett Smith), stranded on the titular island, try to fly home to their New York City zoo, but land instead on an African savanna where they must continue to adapt to life in the wild. Though occasionally marred by slightly crass humor, this generally amiable animated comedy, co-written and directed by Eric Darnell and Tom McGrath, is visually lush and offers lessons about the need for self-confidence and the true nature of love. Also shown in Imax. Mild innuendo, a few slightly crude gags and some thematic elements that might frighten very young children. 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.

"Mad Money" (Overture)
Rated "PG-13"
Clever, fast-paced caper comedy about three cash-strapped women -- a middle-class housewife (Diane Keaton) whose husband (Ted Danson) has just lost his job, a single mom (Queen Latifah) with two young boys to support, and a dippy but clever young woman (Katie Holmes) -- who join forces to smuggle money out of the Federal Reserve Bank where they work. The time-honored conventions of heist films, and the lighthearted "Ocean's Eleven"-ish tone throughout outweigh elements that would be morally problematic if viewed from a strictly literal point of view. The stars make a surprisingly effective and appealing team, and there's assured direction from Callie Khouri. Some crude expletives, crass expressions, one use of profanity, mild sexual talk and innuendo, an implied nonmarital encounter and brief drug reference. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Machete" (Fox)
Rated "R"
Ultraviolent exploitation flick about a Mexican vigilante (Danny Trejo), handy with sharp objects, who exacts revenge against a drug lord and uncovers a right-wing, anti-immigration conspiracy stateside in the process. Writer-director-producer Robert Rodriguez goes out of his way to tickle and offend, yet his championing of the rights of undocumented workers lends the movie a veneer that can, in theory, be appreciated apart from its perversities -- including the sacrilegious behavior and subsequent torture of a Catholic priest. Make no mistake, though: Jocular splatter, not political satire, is the name of the game in this blunt, lurid instrument. Much gore; myriad acts of violence; sacrilegious behavior and banter; blatant sexuality, including much upper female nudity; semi-graphic encounters; pervasive rough language and profanity; considerable innuendo; torture; and vigilante justice. The Catholic News Service classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"Mamma Mia!" (Universal)
Rated "PG-13"
Lively and colorful adaptation of the popular stage musical, utilizing the songs of Abba, about a bride-to-be (Amanda Seyfried) who invites her mother's (marvelous Meryl Streep) three lovers from two decades earlier (Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth and Stellan Skarsgard) to her wedding in Greece after discovering that one of them may be her father. Original theater director Phyllida Lloyd has skillfully adapted the show, and the stars handle their songs with aplomb, but though joyful, humane and life-affirming with little visually offensive, a strong caution must be raised about the underlying "anything-goes-for-love" message and several other problematic elements. Overall freewheeling morality, light sexual references and innuendo, casual treatment of marriage, divorce and nonmarital relations, some vulgar gestures, brief rear-nudity sight gag, an anti-Catholic remark and a few crass words. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Man of the House" (Columbia)
Rated "PG-13"
Dull and unfunny story of a divorced Texas Ranger (Tommy Lee Jones) who goes undercover with five cheerleaders to protect them after they witness a murder, and before long the girls are grooming him for a date with a college professor (Anne Archer), and helping him rescue his semiestranged daughter (Shannon Marie Woodward) from the clutches of a corrupt federal agent. Stephen Herek's film is an uneasy mix of violent -- though not especially exciting -- action, and labored comedy and sentiment, and, the mushy subplot of father and daughter bonding notwithstanding, presents a demeaning view of women, with the cheerleaders distastefully portrayed as aggressive, scantily clad "babes." Crude language, suggestive costuming, lewd posturing, violence. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

March of the Penguins (Warner Independent)
Rated "G"
Exceptional nature documentary which details the annual mating migrations of emperor penguins in Antarctica, during which they endure treacherous treks across inhospitable terrain, facing sub-zero temperatures and starvation to insure the survival of the species. Beautifully directed by Luc Jacquet and narrated by Morgan Freeman, the captivating film is as emotionally gripping as it is visually spectacular, and imparts a heart-warming message about the enduring power of love. A brief predatory image and some sad moments. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-I -- general patronage.

"Margot at the Wedding" (Paramount Vantage)
Rated "R"
Well-acted though downbeat tale of neurotic short-story writer (a superb Nicole Kidman) and her teenage son (Zane Pais) on the brink of puberty who attend the wedding of her often-estranged sister (Jennifer Jason Leigh), who's about to marry an out-of-work artist (Jack Black). Writer-director Noah Baumbach's keenly observant drama (interlaced with mordantly comic moments) has much the same feel as his more autobiographical "The Squid and the Whale" about a singularly dysfunctional family, and may offer to some the same grim fascination even though the mostly unlikable characters' actions are often reprehensible. Pervasive rough language and profanity, brief partial and rear nudity, masturbation, adultery, adolescent sexuality, premarital pregnancy, drug use, some physical violence and much domestic discord. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Marie Antoinette" (Sony)
Rated "PG-13"
Visually sumptuous but dramatically inert biography of France's most celebrated queen (Kirsten Dunst), her arranged marriage to the future King Louis XVI (Jason Schwartzman), the lengthy period it took them to consummate their marriage and produce an heir, and her heedless spending and pleasure-seeking, which would infuriate the masses and help lead to the downfall of the monarchy. Director Sofia Coppola has impressively recreated the 18th-century period (albeit with some contemporary flourishes), and for the most part adheres to the historical facts, but rather disappointingly ends with the royal family's arrest and only hints at the queen's maturing transformation. The performances are sound, though the flat American accents of the leads are a detriment, as is the uninspired dialogue. Much speculation about the royal conjugal dilemma, brief partial nudity, an adulterous sexual encounter and innuendo restrict viewing to adults and older adolescents. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"Marilyn Hotchkiss Ballroom Dancing & Charm School" (Samuel Goldwyn)
Rated "PG-13"
The wish of a dying man (John Goodman) leads an emotionally scarred widower (Robert Carlyle) to a dance class where he -- and later his fellow bereavement group mates (Sean Astin, Ernie Hudson, David Paymer and Adam Arkin) -- finds fulfillment, and, in his case, love. Director and co-writer Randall Miller's compassionate film has touching moments and several redemptive situations, and is well acted by its impressive cast (Mary Steenburgen, Donnie Wahlberg, Camryn Manheim and Sonia Braga), but its jagged pace, often-stilted dialogue and washed-out color palette make the film ultimately more dreary than uplifting. A few rough and crude words and expressions, a nongraphic premarital sexual encounter, fleeting sexual banter, a car wreck and a bloody victim, a suicide theme and the dispersal of cremated remains. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"Marley & Me" (Fox/Regency)
Rated "PG"
Heartwarming, often rambling, but consistently likable true story about a journalist couple (Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston) in West Palm Beach, Fla., who adopt an unruly Labrador whose companionship sees them through the joys and vicissitudes of family life. Director David Frankel's adaptation of John Grogan's best-seller is deceptively plotless, but the leads are most engaging, the affirmation of marriage and parenthood strongly positive, actions always motivated by compassion and decency, and there's a bittersweet ending that will speak powerfully to anyone who's ever had a deep emotional connection to a pet. A few crass words and expressions, brief mild innuendo and sexual references. 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.

"Marmaduke" (Fox)
Rated "PG"
Small children might like this comedy based on the titular comic-strip Great Dane (voiced by Owen Wilson), but adults may find it about as charming as a bucket of doggie drool. Director Tom Dey has constructed a slapstick-laden story with the canine hero as a gangly and quite talky adolescent attempting to fit in with cliques at a dog park that represents high school, while a parallel plot has his human family (led by Lee Pace) attempting the same transformation after they move from Kansas to Southern California. Some mild scatological humor. The Catholic News Service classification is A-I -- general patronage. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.

"Married Life" (Sony Classics)
Rated "PG-13"
Sluggish period melodrama -- based on John Bingham's 1950s' crime novel, "Five Roundabouts to Heaven" -- in which a businessman (Chris Cooper) decides to poison his wife (Patricia Clarkson) believing (wrongly) she'll be bereft without him when he ultimately leaves her for his mistress (Rachel McAdams), not knowing the latter is being romantically pursued by his best friend (Pierce Brosnan). Though co-writer-director Ira Sachs seems to want to explore the challenges and compromises of long-term relationships, the stilted dialogue, lumbering pace and stylized old-movie artifice undercut an ostensibly suspenseful plot, solid performances and handsome production design. Adultery, murder theme, nonmarital sexual relationships, one nongraphic sexual encounter, some sexual talk and partial male nudity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Mars Needs Moms" (Disney)
Rated "PG"
Endearing but frequently scary 3D-animated adventure about a 9-year-old boy (Seth Green) who comes to appreciate the love his mother (Joan Cusack) has for him after she is kidnapped by Martians and he stows away on the rocket transporting her to the Red Planet. Once there, he learns that the aliens (led by Mindy Sterling) want to extract Mom's nurturing qualities and transplant them into the robots who raise their own young, a process that, if completed, will take her life. His rescue efforts are aided by a goofy but good-hearted human fugitive (Dan Fogler) and a free-spirited Martian rebel (Elisabeth Harnois). A few mild potty jokes aside, director and co-writer Simon Wells' technically accomplished screen version of Berkeley Breathed's children's book -- which features a ringing endorsement of the traditional family that parents will appreciate -- is suitable for all, though seeing characters run a long gauntlet of dangers may frighten the most sensitive. Considerable peril and a bit of light scatological humor. The Catholic News Service classification is A-I -- general patronage. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested.

"The Matador" (City Lights)
Rated "NR"
Profile of 24-year-old David Fandila, one of Spain's most popular matadors, as he pursues his goal of performing in 100 bullfights in a single season, cheered on by fans of the controversial spectacle, but hounded as well by protesters who regard it as primitive and brutal. Filmmakers Stephen Higgins and Nina Gilden Seavey's documentary masterfully evokes the beauty of the Spanish countryside and the athleticism of its manifestly devout subject, but how his profession can be compatible with the Christian obligation to preserve human life and avoid unnecessary suffering in animals remains unclear. Bloody violence against animals; fleeting, mostly obscured frontal male nudity; wounds; and a graphic medical procedure. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. Not rated by the Motion Picture Association of America.

"Marley & Me" (Fox/Regency)
Rated "PG"
Heartwarming, often rambling, but consistently likable true story about a journalist couple (Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston) in West Palm Beach, Fla., who adopt an unruly Labrador whose companionship sees them through the joys and vicissitudes of family life. Director David Frankel's adaptation of John Grogan's best-seller is deceptively plotless, but the leads are most engaging, the affirmation of marriage and parenthood strongly positive, actions always motivated by compassion and decency, and there's a bittersweet ending that will speak powerfully to anyone who's ever had a deep emotional connection to a pet. A few crass words and expressions, brief mild innuendo and sexual references. 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.

"Martian Child" (New Line)
Rated "PG"
Delicate, highly unusual story about widowed science fiction writer (John Cusack) who adopts a strange little boy (a perfectly cast Bobby Coleman) who insists he's come from Mars. Director Menno Meyjes sustains a slightly surreal tone throughout which keeps you guessing whether the child is simply delusional or actually an extraterrestrial being, while an outstanding Cusack's fervent sincerity helps makes the premise all the more plausible, as the poignant script underscores themes of nonconformity, loss, and the power of love. Mild profanity, innuendo, some peril. 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.

"The Matador" (Weinstein)
Rated "R"
Dark and vulgar black comedy about a mild-mannered traveling salesman (Greg Kinnear) who, while on business in Mexico, befriends a burned-out international hit man (Pierce Brosnan) who later shows up on the Denver doorstep of the former asking for help to get back his killer edge. Directed by Richard Shepard, the unconventional buddy movie's coarse tone and morally untenable ending outweigh its good performances, especially that of Brosnan, who makes his sleazy assassin more appealing than he deserves to be. A frivolous treatment of murder, strong sexual content, frontal and rear nudity, irreligious and lewd humor, and pervasive crude and rough language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive.

"Match Point" (DreamWorks)
Rated "R"
Hypnotic London-based morality tale of lower-class tennis instructor (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) who marries a young woman (Emily Mortimer) from an affluent family and commences an affair with his brother-in-law's ex-fiancee (Scarlett Johansson). Writer-director Woody Allen is at the top of his serious, as opposed to humorous, form in a superbly acted psychological drama that makes its cautionary point even though, like its protagonist, the film delineates a universe governed not by God, but by pure luck. Several discreetly filmed sexual encounters but no overt nudity, some innuendo, adultery theme, scattered profanity and crass words, a couple of violent episodes discreetly filmed, abortion discussion and nihilistic worldview. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"Material Girls" (MGM)
Rated "PG"
Leaden comedy about a pair of spoiled cosmetic heiresses (played by real-life siblings Hilary and Haylie Duff) who, investigating alleged product-related skin damage cases that threaten to sink stocks and tarnish their late father's reputation, suspect that an ambitious rival (Anjelica Huston) -- who wants to buy their company -- is the culprit. Directed by Martha Coolidge, the satirizing of celebrity and superficiality is undermined by a lame script and irritatingly ditzy performances by the sisters, while a few suggestive elements preclude recommendation for tweens. Some crude language, mildly suggestive situations and wardrobe, innuendo, and brief references to prostitution and birth control, limiting its appropriate audience to older adolescents and up. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents.

"Max Payne" (Fox)
Rated "PG-13"
Visually striking but routine revenge thriller about a cop (a stolid Mark Wahlberg) hunting through a snowy New York for the killer of his wife and child two years earlier -- with the aid of a Russian mob moll (Mila Kunis) and his old mentor on the force (Beau Bridges) -- but finds himself implicated in murder. Crisp cinematography and a sleek production design are about the only redeeming features of director John Moore's videogame adaptation, an alternately dull, predictable and frequently violent narrative, with a mythological Norse demon thrown in for good measure. Pervasive if nongraphic violence with killings and torture, crude language and profanity, drug references and brief sexuality. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

Mean Creek (Paramount)
Rated "R"
In "Mean Creek," a cruel game of payback becomes a life-altering lesson of conscience. Director Jacob Aaron Estes, working with a young cast of relative newcomers, elicits strong performances in fashioning a modest morality tale to explore themes of revenge and remorse. Set in rural Oregon, "Mean Creek" opens with the unprovoked pummeling of timid tweener Sam (Rory Culkin) by the much larger George (Josh Beck), his frequent tormentor and all-around schoolyard bully. Cooking up a get-even scheme, Sam's protective older brother, Rocky (Trevor Morgan), invites George on a boat outing, under the pretense of a birthday celebration for Sam, the comeuppance kicker being that once afloat they will strip George and make him run home naked and humiliated. But what was supposed to be a playful, albeit mean-spirited, prank takes a dark turn midstream -- literally and figuratively -- resulting in tragedy. "Mean Creek" is basically a morality tale which examines not only the physical and psychological consequences of the actions involved, but the emotional residue they leave on the human soul. The film raises questions about conscience and each individual's inescapable duty to face his sins. A sense of divine judgment hangs over the proceedings, with the young players wrestling with guilt as they ponder the possibility of absolution. One even asks, "Can we be forgiven?" Due to a disturbing boating accident, fleeting rear nudity, underage drinking while driving and smoking marijuana, as well as some rough language and lewd humor, the USCCB classification is A-III -- adults.

"Meet the Fockers" (Universal)
Rated "PG-13"
Glossy, good-natured, often intentionally tasteless sequel to "Meet the Parents" as Gaylord Focker (Ben Stiller) and his soon-to-be bride, Pam (Teri Polo), and in-laws (Robert DeNiro and Blythe Danner) drive to Florida to meet his gregarious, unconventional parents (Barbra Streisand and Dustin Hoffman) with predictably farcical results. The chief pleasure of director Jay Roach's fitfully funny film is watching the stars go through their anything-for-a-laugh paces so gamely, but though the film ultimately espouses good family values, much of the humor, language and setups are on the crude side. Sexual situations and innuendo, coarse language and brief rear nudity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

"Meet the Robinsons" (Disney)
Rated "G"
Animated feature adapted from a William Joyce children's book about a futuristically fanciful family, here decked out with a time-travel plot and a comical villain. Director and co-writer Stephen Anderson and six other screenwriters take certain elements from the book and create a yarn about a kid-genius orphan (voiced by Daniel Hansen and Jordan Fry) searching for a family. But Joyce's whimsical absurdity seems a bit silly and doesn't quite gel when forced into a feature-length narrative. Some harmless explosions, a food fight with a dinosaur and a boy thrown off a building to land harmlessly on an invisible platform. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-I -- general patronage. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is G -- general audiences. All ages admitted.

"Meet Dave" (20th Century Fox/Regency)
Rated "PG"
Whimsical comedy in which the tiny captain (Eddie Murphy) of a human-shaped alien spaceship (also Murphy) gains the help of a kindhearted young New York widow (Elizabeth Banks) and her bullied 11-year-old son (Austyn Lynd Myers) in his quest to save his home planet. Director Brian Robbins' film relies entirely on the single joke of Murphy's abject social awkwardness, but along the way celebrates generosity, human decency and the heroic potential of seemingly ordinary people. Some mild scatological humor, a sexual reference and a brief 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.

"Meet the Spartans" (20th Century Fox)
Rated PG-13"
Lame satirical comedy in which the king of ancient Sparta (Sean Maguire) leaves his realm in the care of his queen (Carmen Electra) while he leads a small band of warriors against the aggressive ruler of Persia (Ken Davitian). Directors Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer's parody of "300" takes on everything from "American Idol" to Gatorade, but its humor -- always childish and often sexual or scatological -- fizzles. Rear and partial upper and frontal female nudity, much crass and crude language, sexual and bathroom humor. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Megamind" (Paramount)
Rated "PG"
Generally endearing 3-D animated adventure about a good-hearted, perpetually inept alien villain (voice of Will Ferrell). With the aid of his trusty assistant (voice of David Cross), he finally defeats his longtime superhero rival (voice of Brad Pitt), also a visitor to Earth, only to find that mastery of the city the good guy once protected is not all he had dreamed. Though the bored scamp's scheme to create a new adversary for himself goes awry when he accidentally endows an ordinary cameraman (voice of Jonah Hill) with superhuman powers, the possibility of winning the love of the charming TV reporter (voice of Tina Fey) by whom both are smitten offers the not-so-naughty knave hope of ultimate redemption. The occasional indulgence in mild bathroom humor is outweighed, in director Tom McGrath's diverting, if not strikingly original, tale, by worthy lessons about making positive use of talents and abilities and about the dangers of allowing others to define who you are. Scenes of peril, a few touches of crude humor, a bit of slightly crass language. The Catholic News Service classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested.

"Melinda and Melinda" (Fox Searchlight)
Rated "PG-13"
Only fitfully interesting interwoven stories -- one tragic, one comic -- of a distraught divorcee (Radha Mitchell in both versions) who shows up unannounced at a dinner party, disrupting the lives of the couple and their friends (Will Ferrell, Amanda Peet, Chloe Sevigny and Jonny Lee Miller), and the men with whom she becomes involved (Chiwetel Ejiofor, Daniel Sunjata and Josh Brolin). Among the myriad problems with Woody Allen's latest disappointing film is that the comedic portions are scarcely funnier than the more dramatic ones, the dialogue is perplexingly artificial, and the back and forth between the two versions is frequently confusing, despite good performances and picturesque New York location shooting. Casual acceptance of adultery, sexual innuendo and brief sexual situations, some profanity and crude language, alcohol and drug use, and attempted suicide. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

"Memoirs of a Geisha" (Sony/Columbia)
Rated "PG-13"
Beautifully filmed and finely acted adaptation of Arthur Golden's best-seller about a girl (Ziyi Zhang) sold by her family into being a geisha in pre-World War II Japan, and her over-the-years love for a businessman (Ken Watanabe) who bought her ice cream as a child. Director Rob Marshall has crafted what is basically an unrequited romance of the kind Hollywood used to make, though one must make cultural allowances for the concept of a geisha -- strictly speaking, a woman trained to converse with and entertain men with dance and music -- but there is a discreetly portrayed sexual component to the story as related here. Some sexual banter and discreetly filmed sexual situations, including a sexual assault, and a couple of violent episodes. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"The Messengers" (Columbia)
Rated "PG-13"
Supernatural thriller about a husband (Dylan McDermott) and his wife (Penelope Ann Miller) who relocate their family from Chicago to a creepy North Dakota farmhouse haunted by ghosts of its murdered former residents visible only to the couple's toddler son and teenage daughter (Kristen Stewart), who tries to unravel the property's violent past. Directing brothers Oxide and Danny Pang bring their less-is-more Asian horror sensibilities to the standard haunted house genre, but while adroit at creating eerie visuals, they fail to generate much sustained suspense, mustering only modest chills as they navigate a predictable plot capped by a ludicrous climax. Horror images, violence, sequences of terror and menace with blood, including a disturbing but nongraphic scene of murder, an instance of mild sexual innuendo, as well as some crude language and profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"The Men Who Stare at Goats" (Overture)
Rated "R"
Fact-based satire, set during the early stages of the Iraq War, in which an eccentric military veteran (George Clooney) regales a reporter (Ewan McGregor) with the history of a secret Army unit (led by Jeff Bridges) to which he once belonged that experimented with psychic and paranormal techniques of warfare. Director Grant Heslov's mildly diverting, though disorganized adaptation of Jon Ronson's 2004 best-seller, which also features Kevin Spacey as the squad's selfish nemesis, sends up the soldierly excesses of both the Cold War era and the more recent conflict, but also showcases pantheistic New Age spirituality and implicitly condones its main characters' indulgence in some questionable high jinks. Rear and brief upper female nudity, neo-pagan religious practices, drug use, a dozen instances of profanity, frequent rough and crude language. 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.

"Miami Vice" (Universal)
Rated "R"
Dank reworking of the stylish 1980s TV show as two Miami cops (Colin Farrell and Jamie Foxx at less than their best) go undercover for the FBI to infiltrate an international drug trafficking ring from South America, though one of them falls for a glamorous drug smuggler (Gong Li), with identities becoming muddled in the process. Director Michael Mann, who produced the original series, has opted for a gritty, realistic presentation this time, while the story line is overly complex, the dialogue dull, and the elements that made the series appealing completely jettisoned. Sporadic, but ugly violence. profanity, rough and crude language, sexual encounters with partial and rear nudity, innuendo, and lots of drug dealing, capped by crime without punishment. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive.

"Michael Clayton" (Warner Bros.)
Rated "R"
Potent legal drama focusing on a few days in the complicated life of the title character (George Clooney), a "fixer" for a high-powered law firm whose managing partner (Sydney Pollack) dispatches him to deal with the apparent nervous breakdown of the firm's top litigator (Tom Wilkinson) and with its effects on a multimillion-dollar, class-action lawsuit against an agrochemical company whose chief counsel (Tilda Swinton) is prepared to protect her company's interests by whatever means necessary. Writer-director Tony Gilroy's masterfully absorbing film begins at a gallop and the pace -- driven forward by uniformly intense performances -- never slackens. Much rough and crude and some crass language, frequent use of profanity, one scene of a female character in clinging underwear. 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.

"Michael Jackson's This Is It" (Columbia)
Rated "PG"
Posthumous documentary capturing the planning and rehearsals for the titular series of comeback concerts by the controversial "king of pop," scheduled to begin in London in July, but forestalled by Jackson's untimely death at age 50 the previous month. Using footage originally intended for other purposes, director Kenny Ortega, who was one of the singer's principal collaborators in crafting the ill-fated live show, creates an energetic, largely unobjectionable tribute that, while casting little light on the eccentric -- if not inscrutable -- personality of an iconic entertainer, does provide insight into the talent, vision and discipline that lay behind his global professional success. Some skimpy costuming and suggestive dancing, and at least one vaguely crass term. 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.

"Midnight in Paris" (Sony Classics)
Rated "PG-13"
Writer-director Woody Allen's valentine to the City of Lights -- an extended travelogue filled with sumptuous scenery and pretty people -- asks the question: Would you be happier living a different life in a long-ago, mythically remembered past? A frustrated Hollywood screenwriter and would-be novelist (Owen Wilson) gets to find out during a visit to the French capital, escaping his indifferent fiancee (Rachel McAdams) and her obnoxious parents (Mimi Kennedy and Kurt Fuller), with whom he's unhappily traveling, and gaining mysterious entree to a fantasy world of 1920s Paris. There he mixes with his literary idols, including Ernest Hemingway (Corey Stoll), F. Scott Fitzgerald (Tom Hiddleston) and Gertrude Stein (Kathy Bates), while falling for Pablo Picasso's mistress (Marion Cotillard). Eventually the past offers a new perspective on the present, and he seeks a way back to the future, on his own terms. At least three uses of profanity, some sexual and drug-use references, frequent alcohol consumption 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.

"Milk" (Focus)
Rated "R"
Solid biographical drama about San Francisco supervisor and gay rights activist Harvey Milk (a fine Sean Penn), his tumultuous rise to office after three failed runs for city and state office, and his 1978 assassination by deranged fellow supervisor Dan White (Josh Brolin). Director Gus Van Sant brings an almost cinema verite style to the docudrama, while the strong cast includes James Franco, Emile Hirsch, Alison Pill, Victor Garber and Denis O'Hare. Brief scenes of homosexual activity including male kissing and nongraphic encounters, rear male nudity, murder, suicide, some rough language, crude expressions and profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"The Mist" (MGM/Dimension)
Rated "R"
Technically skillful but relentlessly pessimistic horror tale in which an unnatural fog, alive with murderous mutant animals, descends on a small Maine town, leaving a representative sampling of the locals trapped in a grocery store, where a courageous but sensible movie-poster artist (Thomas Jane), accompanied by his son (Nathan Gamble) and aided by the store's plucky manager (Toby Jones), must battle the malevolent critters while also trying to arbitrate between opposing groups led by a religious fanatic (Marcia Gay Harden) and a relentlessly skeptical lawyer (Andre Braugher). Writer-director-producer Frank Darabont's adaptation of Stephen King's novella has the makings of a diverting, old-fashioned monster movie, but -- in addition to being excessively bloody -- it instead becomes talky and meandering as it attempts to analyze social dynamics, religion and the polarities of human nature. Bloody violence and mutilation, mercy killing, pervasive rough and crude language, much crass language and profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"A Mighty Heart" (Paramount Vantage)
Rated "R"
Tense recounting of the 2002 kidnapping of and frantic search for Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl (Dan Futterman) in Karachi, Pakistan, as seen through the eyes of his pregnant wife, Mariane (Angelina Jolie), also a journalist. Director Michael Winterbottom superbly captures the tumult, and without histrionics (except for one searing outpouring of grief), deftly embodies the courageous Mariane Pearl who, after the tragic events, refused to succumb to bitterness or vengeance. Several uses of the f-word under duress, and a few other crude or crass words, fleeting newsreel footage of bombings and some dead bodies including a grim morgue image, a discreet torture scene, a brief nongraphic bedroom scene and a verbal description of Pearl's gruesome death. 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.

"The Mighty Macs" (Freestyle)
Rated "G"
Feel-good sports drama, based on the true story of women's basketball coach Cathy Rush (Carla Gugino). In 1972, at age 23, Rush took a job at Pennsylvania's Immaculata College (now University) and built its team from scratch, eventually leading the "Macs" to the national championship. In the process, she and her lady dribblers inspired the nuns of the faculty, led by a formidable mother superior (Ellen Burstyn), to join forces and save the school from closing. Director Tim Chambers' family-oriented movie offers lessons in friendship, teamwork, trust and perseverance. The Catholic News Service classification is A-I -- general patronage. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is G -- general audiences. All ages admitted.

"Milk & Honey" (Wellspring)
Rated "NR"
Low-budget drama which takes place over the course of one night about a middle-aged Manhattan couple -- both guilty of infidelity -- whose strained marriage is tested when an argument sparked by an embarrassing episode during a cocktail party drives the husband (Clint Jordan), an emotionally troubled stockbroker recovering from a recent mental meltdown, on an after-dark odyssey of soul-searching through the streets of New York, and his wife (Kirstin Russell) into the arms -- and eventually, the bed -- of a young performance artist who reminds her of a dead past love. Director Joe Maggio's meditation on human frailty illustrates how past sins can have ruinous effects in the present, but ends on a subtly hopeful note that seems to affirm the resilience of love. Several instances of full-frontal or partial nudity, including one adulterous sexual encounter, brief violence and much rough and crude language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

"The Mill & The Cross" (Kino Lorber)
Rated "NR"
Ingenious blend of art history and filmmaking, inspired by a book-length study of Pieter Bruegel's painting "The Way to Calvary," stars Rutger Hauer as the Flemish artist, Michael York as his patron, and Charlotte Rampling as the Virgin Mary. Polish director Lech Majewski re-imagines the Passion, dramatizes a dark episode in the history of the Catholic Church, experiments with pictorial representation, and issues an appeal for religious tolerance -- all without pretension or bias. Catholics won't find the movie radical from a theological standpoint, since links between the paschal mystery and social justice are integral to the faith, yet the immersion in Bruegel's masterpiece forces viewers to confront regrettable historical truths. Moderately graphic violence, including four crucifixions, several whippings and beatings, and a woman being buried alive; a few instances of groping; and brief frontal and rear female nudity. The Catholic News Service classification is A-III -- adults. Not rated by the Motion Picture Association of America.

"Millions" (Fox Searchlight)
Rated “PG”
Disarming fable about 7-year-old Damian (Alex Etel), enthralled by the lives of the saints, who finds a stash of stolen money and, believing it is from God, tries to do good with it by giving it to the poor with the help of 9-year-old brother Anthony (Lewis McGibbon), all the while keeping it a secret from their widowed father (James Nesbitt), and being hounded by the criminal (Christopher Fulford) who stole the money in the first place. Danny ("Trainspotting") Boyle's quirky little charmer features good performances all around, especially by the adorable Etel, delightful vignettes with the saints, and dramatizes its themes of the corrupting influence of money, faith in people's basic decency, and the need for societal philanthropy, without being heavy-handed, making this ideal entertainment for older adolescents and up. A couple of mildly crude expressions, some intense episodes of menace, a momentary sexual situation, religious stereotyping, slight irreverence, and a brief scene where the brothers look, with boyish curiosity, at a Web site for women's bras on a computer. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents.

"Million Dollar Baby" (Warner Bros.)
Rated "PG-13"
Dark-edged drama about an ornery old-school trainer and manager (Clint Eastwood) who finds personal redemption in molding a scrappy but determined female boxer (Hilary Swank) into a contender, only to have his efforts implode in tragedy. What starts out as a formulaic, Rockyesque fight film takes a disturbingly downbeat turn, becoming a somber meditation on assisted suicide with a morally problematic ending which, despite knockout performances by Eastwood (who also directed), Swank and Morgan Freeman as a grizzled ring rat, will leave Catholic viewers emotionally against the ropes. A guilt-wracked, but ultimately permissive, depiction of euthanasia, much bloody boxing violence, some rough and crude language and profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents are strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

"Mindhunters" (Miramax)
Rated "R"
Ludicrous thriller about FBI profilers-in-training (Jonny Lee Miller, Kathryn Morris, Christian Slater, Will Kemp, Eion Bailey and Patricia Velasquez among them) and a Philadelphia cop (LL Cool J) along for the ride, on a desolate island where they are to participate in an exercise concocted by their borderline sadistic supervisor (Val Kilmer), only to find themselves being killed off one by one for real, as in Agatha Christie's "Ten Little Indians." Director Renny Harlin's blood-splattered shocker has some isolated moments of suspense, and a few surprising jolts, but any elements of this being a respectable whodunit are undermined by the sheer improbability of the proceedings, the unrelenting violence, and the lame dialogue. Much profanity, crude language, intense menace, violence with blood and gore, decapitation, rear nudity, and a brief sexual encounter. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

"Mind the Gap" (Sky Island Films)
Rated "NR" Not Rated
Patchwork drama involving the intertwined stories of five strangers -- a crotchety Jewish widower (Alan King in his final film) on a personal quest, a single dad (Eric Schaeffer) dealing with his mortality, a street performer (Jill Sobule) with a heart condition, a North Carolina woman (Elizabeth Reaser) taking care of her dying mother, and a suicidal Arizona accountant (Charles Parnell) -- all of whose pained lives ultimately converge in New York City. Directed by Schaeffer, the film's meandering, multipronged plot starts off slow, with several of the situations shallowly developed, but, in spite of its improbable ending, the film pays some minor dividends, imparting a life-affirming message about forgiveness and the interconnectedness of all humanity. An attempted suicide, an arson, mature themes including a subplot involving artificial conception, and some rough and crude language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"Miracle at St. Anna" (Touchstone)
Rated "R"
Powerful World War II drama about a kindhearted African-American soldier (Omar Benson Miller) who, together with three others from his segregated unit (Derek Luke, Michael Ealy and Laz Alonso), becomes trapped behind enemy lines in Italy where they must rely on a sympathetic villager (Valentina Cervi) and a partisan leader (Pierfrancesco Favino) for safety, while he protects a wounded local boy (Matteo Sciabordi). The script, adapted from his own novel by writer James McBride, contains much spiritual debate and reflection and pits Catholicism, as embodied by a heroic priest, against the brutality of the occupying Nazis. Director Spike Lee's ambitious effort to blend action, mystery, pathos and social commentary -- though it sometimes leads to jarring tone shifts -- ultimately proves an ardent emotional journey. Intense combat violence with gore, nongraphic sexual activity, adultery, upper female nudity, much rough and crude language, several uses of profanity, racial slurs. 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.

"Mirrors" (Fox/Regency)
Rated "R"
Clunky, contrived horror tale in which an ex-policeman turned security guard (Kiefer Sutherland) finds himself, his estranged wife (Paula Patton) and their children (Cameron Boyce and Erica Gluck) endangered by the demons who inhabit the many mirrors of the burned-out New York department store where he works. Except for one over-the-top scene, director Alexandre Aja keeps the violence relatively subdued, but his film grows tedious quickly. Some graphic violence, brief rear and partial nudity, some rough and crude language, and occasional use of profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous" (Warner Bros.)
Rated "PG-13"
Likable follow-up to the original "Miss Congeniality" (2000) with FBI agent Gracie Hart (Sandra Bullock), this time teamed with a hostile and reluctant partner, Sam Fuller (Regina King), sidestepping her new role as celebrity front person for the agency and going back into action to discover the whereabouts of her pal, Miss United States (Heather Burns), and master of ceremonies Stan (William Shatner), both of whom have been kidnapped in Las Vegas, while Nevada agent Collins (Treat Williams) jealously attempts to block her efforts. Director John Pasquin succeeds in mixing the laughs and the action, and Bullock and King make appealing sparring partners and register genuine humanity underneath the slapstick. There's a solid message about friendship throughout. Some crass expressions, mild profanity, comedic action violence, gender cross-dressing and sexual innuendo. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents are strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

"Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day" (Focus)
Rated "PG-13"
Colorful though uneven comedy taken from Winifred Watson's 1938 English novel about a prim governess (a fine Frances McDormand) who, after being unfairly fired, blossoms as the social secretary to a flighty American actress (Amy Adams), helping her sort out the three men in her life: her musical accompanist (Lee Pace), a nightclub owner (Mark Strong) and a budding producer (Tom Payne), while herself falling for a prominent fashion designer (Ciaran Hinds). Director Bharat Nalluri's film, though more farcical than necessary and not always hitting the mark, is nonetheless well acted and plushly designed, while the story underscores the value of seizing second chances, discerning what's important in life and being true to one's finer self, with the amoral young woman ultimately making the right decision. Brief rear and partial nudity, implied nonmarital affairs, some innuendo, moderate swearing and brief profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Miss Potter" (MGM/Weinstein)
Rated "PG"
Charming, beautifully crafted story of "Peter Rabbit" author Beatrix Potter (Renee Zellweger) and her bittersweet romance with the awkward young publisher of her books (Ewan McGregor), under the disapproving eyes of her class-conscious parents (Barbara Flynn and Bill Paterson) in turn-of-the-century England. The script, music, production design and cinematography, and sensitive performances from all (including Emily Watson), under Chris Noonan's canny direction combine to make the kind of quality film that's all too rare. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-I -- general patronage.

"Mission: Impossible III" (Paramount)
Rated "PG-13"
Third installment in the franchise which finds secret-agent Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) and his team of spies (Ving Rhames, Maggie Q and Jonathan Rhys Meyers) battling a ruthless arms dealer (Philip Seymour Hoffman) who kidnaps Ethan's fiance to get back the doomsday device they snatched from him. As popcorn entertainment, director J.J. Abrams' thrill ride doesn't disappoint, piling on the action fireworks and pulse-pounding excitement, but, like the previous two films, is otherwise an empty exercise in adrenaline-charged excess. Pervasive action violence, including an intense execution scene, a few disturbing images, a suggested sexual encounter, and some crude language and profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"Mission: Impossible -- Ghost Protocol" (Paramount)
Rated "PG-13"
This dizzying roller-coaster ride of an espionage thriller propels viewers from the depths of urban sewers to the top of the world's tallest building, and throws in outer space for good measure. The leader (Tom Cruise) of a team of agents for the elite Impossible Missions Force is framed for a terrorist bombing of the Kremlin. Driven underground, and pursued by the Russian police, his associates (most prominently Paula Patton and Simon Pegg) join him in the struggle to stop the actual bomber (Michael Nyqvist) before he can unleash global nuclear war, an effort in which they're eventually joined by another operative (Jeremy Renner), whose motives are not entirely clear. In his live-action debut, established animation director Brad Bird oversees spectacular cinematography (especially in Imax), with the camera swooping and soaring with each death-defying stunt. Intense action violence, including gunplay, some rough language. 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.

"Mister Foe" (Magnolia)
Rated "R"
Offbeat but well-made and strangely affecting Scottish coming-of-age tale about a voyeuristic teen (an excellent Jamie Bell), deeply troubled after the drowning death of his mother, who leaves his father (Ciaran Hinds) and stepmother (Claire Forlaini), whom he suspects of poisoning his mother, and takes a kitchen job at an Edinburgh hotel where he falls for a personnel director (Sophia Myles) who is having an affair, as he discovers, with their married boss (Jamie Sives). Though there is ultimately forgiveness and redemption, many will be bothered by the aberrant elements of the highly improbable story -- based on Peter Jinks' novel -- and director David Mackenzie's film is best approached for its complex themes rather than its sometimes objectionable content. Some brief but strong sexual content, partial male and female nudity, adultery, nonmarital encounters, some rough language and profanity, blunt sexual talk, suicide and violence including attempted murder. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Moliere" (Sony Classics)
Rated "PG-13"
Engaging tale that speculates about what might have happened when actor and aspiring author Jean-Baptiste Poquelin (Romain Duris), who would become the playwright Moliere, disappeared from Paris in his youth, showing him enlisted by a wealthy businessman (Fabrice Luchini) to help him seduce a potential mistress, though the playwright ends up falling in love with the man's wife (Laura Morante). His farcical and ultimately morally redeeming adventures end up giving him the inspiration for his greatest plays in which comedy and moral purpose meet, allowing director and co-writer Laurent Tirard's film to give an amusing twist to the theme of art imitating life. Some crude and sexual language, some liturgical and doctrinal irreverence, as well as mild sexual scenes of a somewhat romanticized adulterous relationship. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Moneyball" (Columbia)
Rated "PG-13"
Based on the book by Michael Lewis, this enjoyable, thinking person's sports movie centers on the real-life general manager (Brad Pitt) of baseball's Oakland Athletics who, together with a young statistician (Jonah Hill), gambles on a new approach to the game and fields a team with a comparatively miniscule payroll. Director Bennett Miller, working from a script by Steven Zaillian and Aaron Sorkin, has crafted a mature, humorous and modest film that will appeal to aficionados and nonfans alike. Respectful of America's pastime yet eager to spur positive change, it relays a timeless, double-headed piece of wisdom: Money can't buy baseball pennants or happiness. Two uses of rough language, some crude and crass language, an instance of sexual banter, a few sexist remarks and a scene in which a player's religiosity is treated in a sarcastic manner. 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.

"Monster-in-Law" (New Line)
Rated "PG-13"
Lightweight comedy about a bride-to-be (Jennifer Lopez) who locks horns with her prospective mother-in-law (played intentionally over-the-top by Jane Fonda) after finding out that the latter is trying to derail her upcoming wedding to the woman's doctor-son (Michael Vartan). Directed by Robert Luketic, the film marks the first acting appearance by Fonda in 15 years, but apart from Fonda and a witty turn by Wanda Sykes as her sassy assistant, the bland acting, combined with a weak script and, at times, mean-spirited humor, makes Fonda's return trip hardly worth the wait. Sexual situations and humor, including several crude gestures, some comic violence, and sporadic crass language and profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"Monster House" (Columbia)
Rated "PG"
Macabre computer-animated fairy tale about a trio of suburban kids (voiced by Mitchel Musso, Sam Lerner and Spencer Locke) who set out to investigate the haunted happenings of an eerie old house that comes to life to terrorize their neighborhood. The film is full of wildly imaginative visuals; director Gil Kenan taps into childhood fears, crafting a smart and scary thrill ride that, though darker in tone than most children's fare and therefore inappropriate for very young tykes, is more fun than fright. Some frightening images and sequences, minor crude and suggestive humor and innuendo, theft, and mildly crude language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents.

"Monsters vs. Aliens" (Paramount)
Rated "PG"
Affable animated comedy-adventure in which a trio of kindly monsters (voices of Seth Rogen, Hugh Laurie and Will Arnett) led by a once-ordinary woman (voice of Reese Witherspoon) who became a giant after being struck by a meteor, are released from government captivity in the custody of a gung-ho general (voice of Keifer Sutherland) and commissioned by the president (voice of Stephen Colbert) to combat an evil alien (voice of Rainn Wilson) whose schemes threaten humanity. Co-directors Rob Letterman and Conrad Vernon create a lavish 3-D homage to 1950s-era sci-fi B-movies that also celebrates friendship, teamwork and the heroic potential of everyday people. Also shown in Imax. Moderate action violence and a bit of vaguely sexual and slightly crude humor. 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.

"Morning Glory" (Paramount)
Rated "PG-13"
Generally likable light comedy about an enthusiastic television producer (Rachel McAdams) who gets her shot at the big time running a struggling morning show for a national network. Tasked with lifting ratings, she must mediate between clashing co-anchors (Harrison Ford and Diane Keaton) and convince one -- a venerable reporter -- that fluff is an acceptable substitute for hard news. In the process, she learns that balance is essential in her own life, though she also makes a morally unacceptable decision to bed down with a colleague (Patrick Wilson). Director Roger Michell leans heavily on the appeal of the talented McAdams, whose infectious smile lends the film a warm glow. Nongraphic sexual activity, an off-screen encounter, several uses of profanity, two instances of rough language, much crude and crass talk, numerous scatological and sexual references, and a drug reference. 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.

"Monte Carlo" (Fox)
Rated "PG"
In this flimsy but inoffensive teen-girl romantic fantasy, director and co-writer Thomas Bezucha sets Selena Gomez, Katie Cassidy and Leighton Meester loose in Paris -- and in the principality of the title -- as a trio of small-town Texas tourists who embark on a series of comic misadventures after Gomez's character is mistaken for a British socialite (also played by Gomez). Some mild sensuality. 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.

"Must Love Dogs" (Warner Bros.)
Rated "PG-13"
Amiable but uneven comedy about a recently divorced teacher (Diane Lane) whose well-meaning family runs a personal ad on her behalf that brings her into contact with a lonely boat-builder (John Cusack) in similar straits, but the possibilities of romance are complicated by the woman's attraction to the handsome father (Dermot Mulroney) of one of her preschoolers. Writer-director Gary David Goldberg's script meanders, the plot turns are sometimes implausible, but the central characters are decent and played by likeable leads, with good support by Christopher Plummer, Elizabeth Perkins and Stockard Channing. Freewheeling attitude toward premarital sex, condom use, an instance of profanity, scattered crude language, sexual banter, and a scantily clad go-go dancer. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

"Mr. Bean's Holiday" (Universal)
Rated "G"
The perennially pleasing Mr. Bean (Rowan Atkinson) wins a trip to the French Riviera, but before reaching the beach he manages to complicate the lives of a Russian film critic (Karel Roden), the critic's young son (Max Baldry), a self-obsessed movie director (Willem Dafoe) and a charming French actress (Emma de Caunes). As directed by Steve Bendelack, the film is an unmitigated delight: gentle, ingenious and equally appealing to children and adults. Some mild scatological humor and a few slightly frightening scenes that might upset very young children. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-I -- general patronage. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is G -- general audiences. All ages admitted.

"Mr. & Mrs. Smith" (20th Century Fox)
Rated "PG-13"
Excessively violent -- not to mention dull and unfunny -- action comedy about a couple (Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie) living an ordinary suburban life, each -- unbeknownst to the other -- a hired assassin working for rival organizations, and who, upon learning the truth, stop at nothing to try and kill each other. Director Doug Liman's stylized but unstylish action film is a trashy glorification of violence and ugly brutality, only fitfully watchable thanks to the attractiveness of its stars, whose onscreen chemistry is practically nil. The witless script hasn't even a smidgen of reality to ground the improbable proceedings, making for an unusually distasteful film. Relentless violence, cold-blooded murders, profanity, crude language, sexual situations and banter, suggestive costuming, implied premarital sex. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive.

"Mrs. Henderson Presents" (Pathe/BBC)
Rated "R"
Patriotic true-life story of a wealthy widow (Judi Dench) who refurbishes London's dilapidated Windmill Theatre, and with the help of an artistic manager (Bob Hoskins), decides to produce topless musical revues -- with the showgirls remaining stationary by order of the Lord Chancellor (Christopher Guest) -- to entertain the troops during the blitz. Despite the seeming raciness of the theme, and several artfully posed tableaux of bare-breasted showgirls, Stephen Frears' well-made film, with a script by playwright Martin Sherman, is as decorous as a "Masterpiece Theatre" production, and features predictably fine performances by the leads. Partial female nudity throughout, and a fleeting scene of full-frontal male and female nudity, a premarital affair with tragic results, some innuendo, a smattering of profanity and rough language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium" (Walden/Mandate/Fox)
Rated "G"
Wholesome, well-meaning but only moderately charming tale about a magical toy store run by a 243-year-old eccentric (Dustin Hoffman), his young assistant (Natalie Portman), a 9-year-old boy (Zach Mills), and their new stuffy accountant (Jason Bateman). There are too many holes in writer-director Zach Helm's basic premise even for a fantasy, while the death of a major character and the shop's subsequent temporary transformation into funereal black may be too downbeat for the youngest viewers, while the ultimate messages about "believing in yourself" and "finding the magic within" have been done better elsewhere. An ambiguous remark about the afterlife. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-I -- general patronage. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is G -- general audiences. All ages admitted.

"Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont" (Cineville)
Rated "NR"
A terrific performance by Joan Plowright is reason enough to catch this low-key British charmer about an elderly matron who moves into a shabbily genteel London hotel, and just when she's abandoned by her uncaring daughter and grandson and appears to be facing a dead-end existence, she is befriended by a handsome young writer (Rupert Friend) whom she passes off as her grandson to the inquisitive residents. For this bittersweet film, director Dan Ireland has assembled a top cast of British pros to play the hotel's loners (Anna Massey, Robert Lang, Marcia Warren, Georgina Hale and Millicent Martin) and, though improbable, the story imparts a worthy message about aging and human connection. Mild profanity and innuendo, brief instances of crude language, a brief sexual encounter with no nudity, premarital sex. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"Mr. Popper's Penguins" (Fox)
Rated "PG"
The arrival on his doorstep of a half-dozen live penguins -- a bequest from his father, a world traveler and arctic explorer -- turns the life of a work-obsessed Manhattan real estate developer (Jim Carrey) upside down. Though their antics threaten to derail a deal (with Angela Lansbury) vital to his career, his growing bond with the unruly creatures also change his outlook, inspiring him to repair frayed ties to his ex-wife (Carla Gugino) and two young kids (Madeline Carroll and Maxwell Perry Cotton). Director Mark Waters' routine comedy -- loosely adapted from Richard and Florence Atwater's award-winning 1939 children's classic -- is gooey with guano, but otherwise unproblematic while its hopeful theme of marital reconciliation is gratifying. A mostly pleasant distraction for undemanding tots. Several scatological sight gags, a single adult reference, at least one mild oath. The Catholic News Service classification is A-I -- general patronage. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.

"The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor" (Universal)
Rated "PG-13"
Lavish but lightweight adventure sequel in which an archaeologist (Luke Ford) joins forces with his explorer father (Brendan Fraser) and scholar mother (Maria Bello) to prevent the titular resurrected ruler (Jet Li) from reviving his terracotta legions to tyrannize the world, while falling for the immortal maiden (Isabella Leong) who holds the secret to the monarch's destruction. Director Rob Cohen's breathlessly paced epic is long on special effects and battle sequences and, though short on wit or convincing emotion, does feature respectable family values and a positive image of a marital partnership. Moderate action violence, brief innuendo, some crass language and a couple of profanities. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

"Munich" (Universal)
Rated "R"
Riveting but morally fuzzy political thriller inspired by real events about a team of Israeli assassins (led by Eric Bana) assigned to hunt down and assassinate 11 Palestinians who supposedly had a hand in the slaughter of Jewish athletes at the 1972 Munich Olympics. With its problematic revenge theme, director Steven Spielberg's well-acted film walks a thin line between condemning violence and exploiting it for titillating effect by wrapping it in the pulse-pounding excitement of an espionage-action movie that belies its stated serious intent. Extremely graphic violence, including shooting and bomb-related gore, full-frontal nudity, two sexual encounters between husband and wife with partial nudity, as well as recurring rough and crude language and profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

"The Muppets" (Disney)
Rated "PG"
Jim Henson's singing, dancing, wise-cracking puppets return to the big screen in an old-fashioned and genuinely funny film, which will appeal to nostalgic baby boomers even as it introduces a new generation to the decidedly low-tech felt figures for whom charm is a strong suit. The story centers on a good-hearted small town guy (Jason Segel) and his brother (voice of Peter Linz) who, as it happens, is a Muppet. While on a trip to Los Angeles, the siblings -- accompanied by the human brother's girlfriend (Amy Adams) -- stumble upon the designs of a wicked oil baron (Chris Cooper), who wants to tear down the derelict studios where "The Muppet Show" was once taped and drill for oil. Unless, that is, $10 million can be raised in just two days. The gang locates Kermit the Frog (voice of Steve Whitmire) and persuades him to round up his former colleagues for a telethon. Under the direction of newcomer James Bobin, several catchy songs and exuberant dance numbers add to the fun for the entire family. The Catholic News Service classification is A-I -- general patronage. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.

"Music and Lyrics" (Warner Bros.)
Rated "PG-13"
Likable, if featherweight, romantic comedy about a has-been 1980s pop star (Hugh Grant) commissioned to write a song for a reigning pop diva (Haley Bennett) and discovers that his plant lady (Drew Barrymore) has a talent for lyrics, so he enlists her help, and they fall in love in the process. The two leads are effortlessly charming; there's a refreshing absence of romantic conflict and nice message about real values and believing in oneself, but for all that and despite some funny barbs about the music business, the film could have used a bit more wit. Apart from a single implied premarital encounter, writer-director Marc Lawrence's film is mostly devoid of objectionable elements making this acceptable for older adolescents. Aforementioned tryst, some skimpy costuming and gyrating moves from the pop star, brief physical scuffle, mild sexual banter and innuendo. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"My Best Friend" ("Mon Meilleur Ami) (IFC)
Rated "PG-13"
A ruthless, self-centered antiques dealer (Daniel Auteuil) must prove to his disbelieving business partner (Julie Gayet) that he has a best friend, but after learning that none of his acquaintances consider him a friend, he decides that a good-natured cab driver (Dany Boon) may fit the bill. Director and co-writer Patrice Leconte's perceptive study on the nature of friendship begins as a lightweight comedy, but builds in bittersweet profundity as it goes along, and has a nail-biting climax involving, of all things, the TV show "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?" In French, with subtitles. A few rough and crude expletives, a lesbian character and an unethical act. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"My Best Friend's Girl" (Lionsgate)
Rated "R"
A spurned lover (Jason Biggs) pays his best friend (Dane Cook) to take his ex (Kate Hudson), a seemingly conservative lawyer, on a date so traumatizing she'll flee back into his arms, but his scheme has unpredictable results. Long before its romantic and altruistic climax, director Howard Deutch's comedy detours into flagrant sexual and irreverent humor while also tacitly endorsing casual physical relationships until the right person comes along. Much nongraphic sexual activity, upper female and rear nudity, much sexual and some irreverent humor, and pervasive rough and crude language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"My Bloody Valentine 3-D" (Lionsgate)
Rated "R"
Risible, gore-saturated horror tale in which the sheriff (Kerr Smith) of a small mining town suspects his wife's (Jaime King) old flame (Jensen Ackles) of committing a series of ax murders around Valentine's Day. Director Patrick Lussier's slipshod updating of the "O"-classified 1981 film of the same title (minus the 3-D) puts current technology to questionable use, with body parts and blood flying off the screen willy-nilly. Pervasive gory violence, strong sexual content, including brief but graphic nonmarital sexual activity, one scene of extensive full female nudity, frequent rough and crass language, and some use of profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"My Blueberry Nights" (Block 2/Jet Tone/StudioCanal)
Rated "PG-13"
Noted Chinese director Wong Kar Wai's English-language debut tells of a young woman (singer Norah Jones in her movie debut) who, abandoned by her boyfriend, finds solace with an empathetic diner owner (Jude Law), after which she embarks on a cross-country odyssey of self-discovery encountering an alcoholic cop (David Straitharn), his estranged wife (Rachel Weisz), and a fearless gambler (Natalie Portman, giving the film's standout performance) along the way. Though poetically shot, generally well acted, and with characters all drawn with an underlying moral decency, the artsy film frequently drags. Some profanity and a few expletives, a couple of brief violent episodes, smoking, drinking. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"My Soul to Take 3-D" (Universal)
Rated "R"
Instantly disposable, old-school horror offering from writer-director Wes Craven ("A Nightmare on Elm Street") has seven Massachusetts teens stalked by a knife-wielding serial killer who allegedly died 16 years earlier on the night they were all born. One of the youths (Max Thieriot) is most likely to have inherited the murderous mantle and be the next bogeyman. Craven knows how to frighten audiences using low-tech means. That doesn't mean anyone need take notice of the unsavory result, especially in the superfluous 3-D format. Numerous acts of bloody violence, including a suicide and multiple stabbings and slashings; pervasive rough language and profanity; disrespectful attitudes toward religion and prayer; and a number of sexual references and banter involving teenagers. The Catholic News Service classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"My Life in Ruins" (Fox Searchlight)
Rated "PG-13"
Cotton-ball-soft romantic comedy about a travel guide in Greece (Nia Vardalos) who learns to absorb the spirit of the Greek islands in order to enjoy life and find romance with -- who else? -- a handsome Greek (Alexis Georgoulis). Director Donald Petrie and screenwriter Mike Reiss duplicate the slow, ambling formula of Vardalos' monster hit, "My Big Fat Greek Wedding," to the letter, replacing her passel of eccentric but lovable relatives with a busload of eccentric but lovable tourists. So devoid of objectionable elements, it's acceptable for older adolescents who probably will be dragged to the theater by Vardalos-adoring grandmothers. A couple of implied premarital encounters, mild sexual banter and innuendo. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

"My Sister's Keeper" (New Line)
Rated "PG-13"
Generally well-acted if sometimes soggy family drama about a strong-willed mother (Cameron Diaz excellent in a not-always-likable part), in denial about her teenage daughter's (Sofia Vassilieva) losing battle with cancer; the loving but conflicted father (Jason Patric); and sister (Abigail Breslin), who hires a lawyer (Alec Baldwin) for "medical emancipation" so she won't be forced to donate her kidney to her sister. Affecting, despite basic plot contrivances and a couple of morally questionable elements, co-writer and director Nick Cassavetes' tear-jerker ultimately presents a positive view of marriage and family. A nongraphic nonmarital sexual encounter, in vitro conception, disturbing hospital imagery, brief rough and crude language and a couple of profanities, domestic discord, some mild sexual talk and brief teenage drinking. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"My Super Ex-Girlfriend" (20th Century Fox)
Rated "PG-13"
Lovelorn New York architect (Luke Wilson) dates bespectacled art gallery assistant (Uma Thurman) who is actually super heroine G-Girl, though when the romance fizzles, she uses her powers to wreak havoc on him and his new girlfriend (Anna Faris), while an archvillain (Eddie Izzard) hopes to rid her of her superpowers. Ivan Reitman directs with the requisite light touch, and the leads are quite engaging, but too much of the dialogue is witless, and many of the gags are needlessly vulgar, with the situations less genuinely funny than they should have been. Nongraphic premarital sexual situations, brief rear nudity elsewhere, crude language, crass expressions, some profanity, mild action violence, sexist remarks. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

"My Week With Marilyn" (Weinstein)
Rated "R"
This behind-the-scenes look at the making of 1956's "The Prince and the Showgirl" -- one of Marilyn Monroe's least successful films -- offers a fascinating study of her tortured soul and of a clash of cultures in 1950s Britain. The young assistant (Eddie Redmayne) to the movie's distinguished director and leading man, Laurence Olivier (Kenneth Branagh), is smitten by Monroe (Michelle Williams) and eager to protect her from the sniping establishment, who resent her beauty and lack of classical training. Monroe, on the other hand, is desperate to be taken seriously as an actress but hampered by her dependence on pills and alcohol. When the set becomes a battleground of titans, Monroe retreats to the country with her newfound friend in tow. Directed by newcomer Simon Curtis, this screen version of Colin Clark's 1995 memoir is, for the most part, surprisingly chaste and free of exploitative intent. Fleeting rear female nudity, brief adulterous kissing, a few profane expressions, some rough language. 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.

"Mysterious Skin" (Tartan)
Rated "NR"
Powerful, at times graphic, story of how being sexually abused as youngsters altered the lives of two teenagers: one (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) becoming a hardened male hustler, the other (Brady Corbet), with no specific memory of his abuse, so traumatized he believes he may have been abducted by aliens as a child. Gregg Araki's uncompromising film -- based on a novel by Scott Heim -- is a searing indictment of the dreadful and lasting effects of child abuse, is sensitively handled, and features good performances including that of Michelle Trachtenberg as the platonic friend of one of the boys. But the sexual content is so raw, that many will find the film repellant and difficult to sit through. Rough and crude language, rear nudity, sordid sexual situations including violent rape, prostitution and drug use. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive.

N
"9" (Focus/Relativity)
Rated "PG-13"
Artistically accomplished but intellectually problematic animated fantasy in which the doll-like titular creature (voice of Elijah Wood) leads a band of similar beings (voiced by, among others, Christopher Plummer, Martin Landau, John C. Reilly and Jennifer Connelly) -- each also identified by a number -- as they battle giant mechanical monsters amid the ruins of a post-apocalyptic world. Director Shane Acker's feature debut, an expansion of his 2004 short of the same title, implicitly contrasts a naysaying version of religious faith with enlightening science, a false dichotomy that, despite some eventual modifications, requires mature deliberation by spiritually well-grounded viewers. Complex religious themes, moderate action violence and frequent menace. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"The Namesake" (Fox Searchlight)
Rated "PG-13"
Superb, beautifully acted over-the-years saga about Indian newlyweds (Tabu and Irrfan Khan) who emigrate to New York to start their life, and the joys and vicissitudes which follow, including the son (Kal Penn) who grows away from them. Director Mira Nair's adaptation of Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jhumpa Lahiri's acclaimed novel holds your interest right up to its two-hankie conclusion, and though there are a few uses of the "s" word, and some low-keyed bedroom scenes with brief rear nudity in one of them, this is highly recommendable for upper teens and up, for its poignant affirmation of family, respect for one's parents, and embracing one's heritage with pride. Partially subtitled. A few crude words, brief teenage drug use, brief sexual encounters -- a couple without nudity, one a premarital situation with rear nudity -- adultery, fleeting images of dead and injured after a train wreck. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"Nancy Drew" (Warner Bros.)
Rated "PG"
Reasonably involving, though strictly formulaic, yarn about a plucky teenage detective (Emma Roberts) who, despite her father's (Tate Donovan) admonition to stop "sleuthing" when they move from a small town to Los Angeles, can't resist the urge to unravel the mystery behind a Hollywood actress's death years ago, with the aid of a 12-year-old admirer (Josh Flitter) and her shy boyfriend from back home (Max Thieriot) while she holds her own with the bratty girls in high school who disparage her geeky ways. Director and co-writer Andrew Fleming puts a contemporary spin on the enduring heroine (created in 1930), which Drew aficionados may decry, but despite Nancy's aforementioned secretive snooping and a few other elements which follow keeps an overall innocent -- if savvy -- spirit, and allows her to operate with integrity. A character presumably born out of wedlock, light violence, mild innuendo and mild disobedience of parental authority. 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.

"The Nanny Diaries" (MGM/Weinstein)
Rated "PG-13"
When a recent college graduate (Scarlett Johansson) turns her back on Wall Street only to be accidentally hired by a wealthy couple (Laura Linney and Paul Giamatti) as a nanny for their son (Nicholas Resse Art), she must conceal the situation from her ambitious mother (Donna Murphy) and, as the stress of her new job becomes overwhelming, can only rely on the support of two close friends (Alicia Keys and Nathan Corddry) and on the sympathy of the handsome preppy who lives upstairs (Chris Evans). Writer-directors Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini's adaptation of the best-selling novel aspires to be a comedy of manners, but is hobbled by a simplistic message (rich is bad, working class is good) and characters who are, with few exceptions, walking stick figures. One use of the f-word, some crude and crass language, occasional profanity, partially concealed sexual activity, sexual advances, implied adultery and premarital sex, brief gay references, brief female disrobing without nudity, and implied divorce. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Nanny McPhee Returns" (Universal)
Rated "PG"
The eerie but magically effective matron of the title (Emma Thompson) transports herself to wartime Britain, where she comes to the rescue of a frazzled rural mother (Maggie Gyllenhaal). With her husband (Ewan McGregor) away at the front, she is failing spectacularly to cope with the raucous squabbling between her three children (Asa Butterfield, Lil Woods and Oscar Steer) and a duo of snobbish London cousins (Rosie Taylor-Ritson and Eros Vlahos). The cousins are freshly arrived evacuees whose parents have sent them to the countryside for safety. Further straining mom's nerves are the efforts of her scheming brother-in-law (Rhys Ifans) to pressure her, for reasons of his own, into signing away the family farm in dad's absence. As written by Thompson and directed by Susanna White, this second screen adventure based on Christianna Brand's "Nurse Matilda" series of children's books tells a sweetly nostalgic tale underpinned by lessons about cooperation, sharing, courage and the need to believe in happy endings, with only some mildly gross barnyard humor and slapstick violence to give parents pause. The Catholic News Service classification is A-I -- general patronage. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.

"Napoleon Dynamite" (Fox Searchlight)
Rated "PG"
Offbeat, low-budget comedy set in rural Idaho about the high school misadventures of an oddball, wooly-haired misfit (Jon Heder) who lives with his slacker older brother (Aaron Ruell) and cheesy uncle (Jon Gries), and who befriends a shy Mexican student (Efren Ramirez) running for class president against the school's reigning queen bee (Haylie Duff). First-time director Jared Hess' quirky film is light on plot, but Heder's deadpan performance makes this tender ode to eccentricity curiously amusing, if not wholly satisfying. Some comic violence, and a few instances of mildly crude language and sexual humor. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested.

"National Lampoon's Gold Diggers" (Voyage Entertainment)
Rated "PG-13" Parents are strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.
Atrociously unfunny comedy about two twenty-something numskulls (Will Friedle and Chris Owen) who scheme to wed a pair of elderly sisters (Louise Lasser and Renee Taylor), then kill them for their inheritance. What they don't realize is that the geriatric heiresses are actually broke and are only marrying the greedy gigolos so they can knock them off and collect on the life insurance. Full of vulgar sight gags, this witless and woefully directed clunker by Gary Preisler should be declared a "National" disaster. Recurring lewd sexual situations and humor, sporadic violence, drug content, as well as some crass language and profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive.

"National Treasure" (Touchstone)
Rated “PG”
Unevenly entertaining action adventure about a fortune hunter (Nicolas Cage), who steals the Declaration of Independence, which he believes holds the key to unlocking a 200-year-old mystery surrounding a fabled treasure hidden by America's Founding Fathers. Combining Indiana Jones-inspired action sequences with "Da Vinci Code" intrigues involving secret societies like the Freemasons, director Jon Turteltaub has crafted a fun but forgettable popcorn film. Recurring action violence and some frightening images. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents.

"National Treasure: Book of Secrets" (Disney)
Rated "PG"
Diverting, though paper-thin adventure sequel in which a treasure hunter (Nicolas Cage), helped by his technologically gifted but hapless partner (Justin Bartha), his estranged parents (Jon Voight and Helen Mirren) and his archivist girlfriend (Diane Kruger), sets out to vindicate an ancestor accused of conspiring in the Lincoln assassination and to find a legendary city of gold while being shadowed by the descendant of a Confederate officer (Ed Harris) who has his own agenda and by an FBI agent (Harvey Keitel) who always seems to be one step behind. Director John Turteltaub's overlong film will not bear much scrutiny, but those willing to go along for the ride will be rewarded with car chases, journeys through underground passages and an alternative version of U.S. history. Some intense action sequences and a couple of bathroom gags. 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.

"The Nativity Story" (New Line)
Rated "PG"
Dramatization of the New Testament birth narratives from the Annunciation to the birth of Jesus, focusing on the relationship between Mary (Keisha Castle-Hughes) and Joseph (Oscar Isaac) and their arduous trek from Nazareth to Bethlehem, with subplots tracking the journey of the three Magi and the efforts of King Herod (Ciaran Hinds) to prevent the prophecy of a messiah from coming to pass. A composite of the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, embroidered with apocryphal traditions and the imagination of the filmmaker, the Bible story gets the prestige treatment in director Catherine Hardwicke's artful, reverent and affecting retelling, with soulful performances from an excellent international cast -- including Shohreh Aghdashloo as Elizabeth -- and impressive production design. Mike Rich's screenplay manages to flesh out Mary and Joseph while remaining faithful to Scripture, poignantly suggesting the humanity beneath the halos. Some violent images. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-I -- general patronage.

"Nearing Grace" (Whitewater)
Rated "R"
Melancholy coming-of-age drama set in 1979 about an 18-year-old (Gregory Smith) trying to cope after the recent death of his mother -- his despairing father (David Morse) numbs the pain with booze and his older brother (David Moscow) retreats into mind-altering drugs -- while torn between lust for a sexually aggressive high school seductress (Jordana Brewster) and his affections for his soul mate and best friend (Ashley Johnson). Director Rick Rosenthal's adaptation of Scott Sommer's novel touches on themes of love, loss and death, and, despite the amorality of its characters in navigating their brokenness and grief, ultimately endorses a deeper appreciation of life and others. Sexual situations, teen smoking and drinking, drug content, an attempted suicide, rear nudity, a vulgar gesture, an irreligious dispersal of ashes, as well as rough, crude and sexually blunt language and profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

"New in Town" (Lionsgate/Gold Circle)
Rated "PG"
Quirky, low-key but ultimately endearing romantic comedy about an ambitious Miami-based executive (Renee Zellweger) sent to downsize a food manufacturing plant in New Ulm, Minn., who learns to adjust her values from the eccentric locals and a good-looking union rep (Harry Connick Jr.). Danish director Jonas Elmer helms an engaging cast, which also includes J.K. Simmons, Siobhan Fallon Hogan and Frances Conroy, in this refreshing departure from the usual Hollywood gloss; though more amiable than outright funny, the script nicely stresses the fundamental decency of this overtly Christian community. A few crude and crass words and a single 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.

"The New World" (New Line)
Rated "PG-13"
Visually exquisite, but listless and long-winded telling of the semi-legendary love affair between English explorer Captain John Smith (Colin Farrell) and his Native American paramour, Pocahontas (Q'Orianka Kilcher), who saves his life in 1607 Virginia, with their star-crossed romance playing out against mounting tensions between their two peoples. Directed by Terrence Malick, the textured film is basically a series of tableaux -- meticulous in their attention to period detail -- held together by the largely embellished love story, which is saddled with pretentious voiceover narration and underdeveloped characters. Intense battle violence. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"New Year's Eve" (Warner Bros.)
Rated "PG-13"
Painfully forced romantic comedy tracking the sometimes intersecting paths of, among others, the executive (Hilary Swank) in charge of the titular holiday's iconic celebration in New York's Times Square, the rock star (Jon Bon Jovi) headlining the evening's entertainment there, the up-and-coming caterer (Katherine Heigl) to whom the rocker was once engaged, and one of his backup singers (Lea Michele) who finds herself trapped in an elevator for hours with a New Year's-averse slacker (Ashton Kutcher). Also thrown into the ensemble are Robert De Niro as a dying hospital patient, Halle Berry as his faithful nurse, Michelle Pfeiffer as an inhibited middle aged office worker out for adventure and Zac Efron as the bike messenger she enlists to help her find it. Reuniting for a follow-up to 2010's "Valentine's Day," director Garry Marshall and screenwriter Katherine Fugate weave a web of love stories largely free of the moral tangles that marred their earlier collaboration. A few one-liners aside, though, the humor falls flat, while the script's strained effort to transform Dec. 31 into a kind of secular High Holy Day is simply irritating. Some sexual references and humor, at least one use of the F-word, occasional crude language and crass slang. 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.

"Never Back Down" (Summit Entertainment)
Rated "PG-13"
Pointless celebration of violent machismo in which a high school student (Sean Faris) moves to Florida with his widowed mother (Leslie Hope) and tennis champ brother (Wyatt Smith) where he turns to a fight coach (Djimon Hounsou) to train him in the technique of mixed martial arts after being beaten unconscious by the obnoxious boyfriend (Cam Gigandet) of the girl for whom he's fallen (Amber Heard). Director Jeff Wadlow's film, despite some high sounding phrases in the script, glamorizes brutal physical combat. Bloody fighting, a brief scene of same-sex kissing, underage drinking, frequent crude and crass language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"New in Town" (Lionsgate/Gold Circle)
Rated "PG"
Quirky, low-key but ultimately endearing romantic comedy about an ambitious Miami-based executive (Renee Zellweger) sent to downsize a food manufacturing plant in New Ulm, Minn., who learns to adjust her values from the eccentric locals and a good-looking union rep (Harry Connick Jr.). Danish director Jonas Elmer helms an engaging cast, which also includes J.K. Simmons, Siobhan Fallon Hogan and Frances Conroy, in this refreshing departure from the usual Hollywood gloss; though more amiable than outright funny, the script nicely stresses the fundamental decency of this overtly Christian community. A few crude and crass words and a single 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.

"Next" (Paramount)
Rated "PG-13"
Taut, atmospheric thriller about a Las Vegas magician (Nicolas Cage), with the power of seeing into the near future, who flees both a hard-nosed FBI agent (Julianne Moore) who wants to use his precognitive power to detect where a nuclear weapon is about to be deployed, as well as the would-be perpetrators who want him killed, all the while trying to keep the young teacher (Jessica Biel) with whom he's in love out of harm's way. Director Lee Tamahori's adaptation of a Philip K. Dick sci-fi story requires some suspension of disbelief, but the likable leads, along with stylish design, special effects and cinematography are compelling with relatively little objectionable content. Action violence with shootings and killings, a premarital situation, some crude words and profanity, mild innuendo and a fistfight. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"Next Day Air" (Summit)
Rated "R"
Brisk, low-budget brew of violence, street language and stoner comedy mixing dimwitted criminals with a Mexican drug lord as a pot-smoking overnight-delivery driver (Donald Faison from TV's "Scrubs") accidentally takes a package containing 10 kilos of cocaine to the wrong apartment, which just happens to contain misfit criminals (Mike Epps and Wood Harris) who plan to sell the drugs and start new lives. Director Benny Boom keeps these one-dimensional characters and the stale, predictable plot clattering along for just 84 minutes, but the only surprising twist is who survives the close-range brutality at the finish. Nonstop crude and profane language, drug use, brief upper female nudity, knife violence, the occasional fistfight, a slow-motion gun battle, racial stereotypes and an utter lack of redemptive behavior by any character. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally objectionable. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"The Next Three Days" (Lionsgate)
Rated "PG-13"
Implausible, ethically dubious thriller about a Pittsburgh college professor (Russell Crowe) who decides to spring his wife (Elizabeth Banks) from a prison where she's serving time for murder. Writer-director Paul Haggis embeds faulty moral logic inside his far-fetched premise. Together with certain plot contrivances, its endorsement of seriously flawed behavior -- a laudable belief in his spouse cannot excuse some of the choices Crowe's character makes -- renders this otherwise well-made movie difficult to enjoy. One instance of rough language, a smattering of profanity and crass terms, some gunplay and other nongraphic violence, an off-screen suicide attempt, drug dealing, brief sexual banter. 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.

"Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist" (Columbia/Mandate)
Rated "PG-13"
Clever but morally indulgent romantic comedy set in New York in which the straight teen guitarist (Michael Cera) in a gay underground rock band, dumped by his girlfriend (Alexis Dziena), falls for one of his fans (Kat Dennings) as they search for the secret location of their favorite group's next concert and try to retrieve her alcoholic best friend (Ari Graynor) who's missing. Director Peter Sollett's film features much understated humor skillfully handled by its leads, but takes a permissive view of underage drinking and of various types of sexual expression. Some sexual content including a brief nongraphic premarital encounter, sexual and scatological humor, brief irreverent humor, one use of the F-word, much crude language and a few uses of profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Night at the Museum" (Fox)
Rated "PG"
Lightweight but diverting comedy-fantasy about a perennial loser (Ben Stiller) who takes a job as night watchman at New York's Museum of Natural History only to learn that the dinosaur bones, stuffed animals, mummies and diorama characters (played by Robin Williams, Owen Wilson, Steve Coogan and others) all come to life after closing time, leading him on a whirlwind adventure of slapstick and mayhem, and eventually allowing him to earn back the respect of his young son. Director Shawn Levy's film could be much funnier, but the effects are terrific, Stiller is appealing, and old-timers like Mickey Rooney, Dick Van Dyke, Bill Cobbs and Stiller's mom, Anne Meara, add to the fun of this entertaining family film. There is the standard, but always worthy, message about proving yourself. Light slapstick violence. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-I -- general patronage.

"Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian" (Fox)
Rated "PG"
Enjoyable sequel, again directed by Shawn Levy, has the ex-Museum of Natural History night guard (Ben Stiller) traveling to Washington to rescue his formerly inanimate friends -- the museum's display figures (Owen Wilson, Robin Williams, Steve Coogan) -- from being archived in the Smithsonian. With the help of Amelia Earhart (Amy Adams) and General Custer (Bill Hader), they must ward off Egyptian pharaoh Kahmunrah (funny Hank Azaria), Ivan the Terrible (Christopher Guest), Napoleon Bonaparte (Alain Chabat) and Al Capone (Jon Bernthal). Kids will love the gags (the humor stays clean) and excellent special effects, and adults will appreciate the wit of some of the D.C. museum's most iconic paintings and sculptures springing to life. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-I -- general patronage. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.

"A Nightmare on Elm Street" (Warner Bros.)
Rated "R"
Crazed killer Freddy Krueger (now played by Jackie Earle Haley) and his fatal fingers return to prey on the dreams -- and real lives -- of a new generation of small-town teens (including Rooney Mara, Kyle Gallner, Katie Cassidy and Kellan Lutz). Veteran music video director Samuel Bayer's unwelcome reboot of the 1980s slasher franchise -- his feature debut -- relies on the tried and trite recipe of sending interchangeable insomniacs to a gory doom. Intense bloody violence; gruesome imagery; a pedophilia theme; an implied nonmarital relationship; a couple uses of profanity; at least a dozen instances of the F-word; and some crude language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"Nights in Rodanthe" (Warner Bros.)
Rated "PG-13"
Sensitively played but synthetic tale of a betrayed wife (Diane Lane), mulling her errant husband's (Christopher Meloni) surprising request to return to her, and a troubled plastic surgeon (Richard Gere), coming to terms with the death of a patient, who connect at a North Carolina waterfront inn, offer each other comfort and, of course, fall in love. Stage director George C. Wolfe makes his feature-film debut with this gauzy adaptation of Nicholas Sparks' best-seller which, though it has little overtly objectionable content in terms of graphic sex or language, romanticizes an objectively adulterous affair. A few expletives including one use of the F-word, mild innuendo, a nongraphic sexual encounter, and the acceptance of nonmarital sexual relationships and divorce. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Night Watch" ("Nochnoi Dozor") (Fox Searchlight)
Rated "R"
Visually splashy but violent adaptation of book one of Russian author Sergei Lukyanenko's best-selling fantasy trilogy set in modern Moscow, about a young man (Konstantin Khabensky) drawn into a battle between the forces of light and darkness, whose uneasy millennial truce is threatened by a prophesied child (Dima Martynov) who, in choosing sides, will tip the balance of power forever and usher in the apocalypse. Director Timur Bekmambetov's supernatural smorgasbord incorporates familiar themes of good versus evil, but the surprising pro-life sentiment implicit in several scenes is undercut by the overall gory mayhem and convoluted plot. Much strong but stylized bloody violence, a bathing scene involving brief top female nudity, sorcery and assorted supernatural elements, as well as scattered rough and crude language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

"Nights in Rodanthe" (Warner Bros.)
Rated "PG-13"
Sensitively played but synthetic tale of a betrayed wife (Diane Lane), mulling her errant husband's (Christopher Meloni) surprising request to return to her, and a troubled plastic surgeon (Richard Gere), coming to terms with the death of a patient, who connect at a North Carolina waterfront inn, offer each other comfort and, of course, fall in love. Stage director George C. Wolfe makes his feature-film debut with this gauzy adaptation of Nicholas Sparks' best-seller which, though it has little overtly objectionable content in terms of graphic sex or language, romanticizes an objectively adulterous affair. A few expletives including one use of the F-word, mild innuendo, a nongraphic sexual encounter, and the acceptance of nonmarital sexual relationships and divorce. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Nim's Island" (Fox/Walden)
Rated "PG"
Winning yarn set on a solitary South Pacific island where an 11-year-old girl (Abigail Breslin) e-mails a heroic adventurer for help when her widowed marine biologist father (Gerard Butler) fails to return from a two-day research expedition, not realizing that her hero is actually a highly phobic fiction writer (Jodie Foster in a rare comic turn) living in San Francisco. Directors Mark Levin and Jennifer Flackett deftly combine the adventurous, humorous, sentimental and fantastical aspects of Wendy Orr's novel, and the three stars are engaging, making this recommendable family fare. Mild action violence. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-I -- general patronage. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.

"Nine" (Weinstein)
Rated "PG-13"
Glossy but morally shallow musical drama -- set in 1965 Italy and based on the life of Federico Fellini -- in which a celebrated film director (Daniel Day-Lewis) suffers a creative and personal crisis, scrambling to conceal the fact that his latest work, about to go into production, has no script, and struggling to maintain his relationships with his wife (Marion Cotillard), his mistress (Penelope Cruz), his favorite actress and muse (Nicole Kidman) and his costume designer confidante (Judi Dench). Director Rob Marshall's adaptation of Arthur L. Kopit and Maury Yeston's 1982 Broadway hit, itself an homage to Fellini's "8 1/2," treats adultery as a symptom of sophistication, and present the Catholic Church as, by turns, irrelevant, repressive and hypocritical. Pervasive negative portrayal of Catholicism, brief nongraphic adulterous sexual activity, recurrent adultery theme, partial upper female and rear nudity, a couple of uses of profanity, a few crass terms. 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.

"The Ninth Day" (Kino International)
Rated "NR"
Quietly compelling drama about a Catholic priest (Ulrich Matthes) temporarily released from a concentration camp and returned to his native Luxembourg, where a young SS officer (August Diehl) informs him that he has nine days to convince the staunchly anti-Nazi bishop to sign a letter supporting Hitler, leading to a battle of wills in which the priest must choose between survival and the dictates of his conscience. Loosely based on the prison diaries of real-life Luxembourg priest Father Jean Bernard, and intelligently directed by Jesuit-educated German filmmaker Volker Schlondorff, the picture is an emotionally forceful and morally complex meditation on faith, redemption and the cost of true discipleship. Subtitles. Several images of sadistic violence, including a crucifixion, as well as some crude language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"Nacho Libre" (Paramount)
Rated "PG"
Infantile and dull comedy about a Mexican friar (Jack Black), working as a cook in a boys' orphanage, who secretly takes up "lucha libre" wrestling against the rules of his order, while hoping to earn the admiration of a pretty young nun (Ana de la Reguera). Director and co-writer Jared Hess's unfunny follow-up to "Napoleon Dynamite" is utterly lacking in charm, wit or taste and, apart from the pervasive crude humor, the inappropriate puppy-love relationship of its protagonists, both in religious orders -- whether or not they've taken "final vows" -- precludes recommendation. Pervasive irreverence, slapstick violence in and out of the ring, including an impaling, innuendo, crude humor including flatulence, vulgar costuming, partial nudity and heedless thievery. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive.

"The Night Listener" (Miramax)
Rated "R"
Adaptation of Armistead Maupin novel -- "inspired by true events" -- about a gay radio host (Robin Williams) who develops a paternal phone friendship with a young fan (Rory Culkin) who has AIDS and was sexually abused as a child, but then begins to doubt the boy's existence, and wonders if he's not actually speaking with the teenager's blind adoptive mother (Toni Collette). Director and co-writer Patrick Stettner's gloomy but suspenseful film is part psychological drama, part mystery in the M. Night Shyamalan manner, but though the performances are solid and there are some chills, the result is, on the whole, unconvincing. Profanity, rough and crude language, sexual elements including brief footage of an orgy with partial nudity, innuendo, some violence. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

"The Nightmare Before Christmas" (Touchstone)
Rated "PG"
Rerelease in 3-D of the minor fantasy of the macabre with puppet animation telling the tale of Halloweentown's skeleton king replacing the kidnapped Santa Claus to spread Christmas fear with scary toys until stopped by a missile, then returning home to free Santa in time to make his accustomed rounds. Producer Tim Burton's story centers on the dark world of hobgoblins and monsters suddenly intruding on the bright expectations of St. Nick's annual visit, but the narrative proves tiresome in padding out the thin concept, despite all its stylish puppetry and ghoulish humor. Considerable menace and threatening atmosphere. 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.

"The Nines" (Newmarket)
Rated "R"
This complex and challenging but ultimately flawed film tells three interlocking stories, all featuring one male protagonist (Ryan Reynolds) and two female protagonists (Melissa McCarthy and Hope Davis) who struggle to guide him in opposite directions, as well as a recurring cast of witnesses to the struggle (Elle Fanning, David Denman and Octavia Spenser). Writer-director John August's film, a prolonged exploration of the nature of creativity, both human and divine, elicits some outstanding performances, though the script eventually gets bogged down in its own metaphysical woolgathering. Sexual activity, some of it adulterous; much rough, crude and crass language; two instances of profanity; irresponsible drinking; drug use; prostitution; and irreverent speech and behavior. 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.

"Nine Lives" (Magnolia)
Rated "R"
Finely acted nine-part anthology with a central female character in each segment: prison inmate Sandra (Elpidia Carrillo); pregnant Diana (Robin Wright Penn) reconnecting with her old flame in the supermarket; powder keg Holly (Lisa Gay Hamilton) seething with serious stepfather issues; Sonia (Holly Hunter), with a troubled relationship below the surface; teenage Samantha (Amanda Seyfried), caught between sparring parents; Lorna (Amy Brenneman), meeting her ex-husband at his wife's funeral; married Ruth (Sissy Spacek), checking into a motel with her would-be lover; Camille (Kathy Baker), facing a mastectomy; and Maggie (Glenn Close) and daughter Maria (Dakota Fanning) visiting a grave. Writer-director Rodrigo Garcia has fashioned a thoughtful -- often sad -- reflection on mankind's interconnection, with extraordinarily natural-sounding dialogue, which together with the performances, surmount some slow patches. Profanity and rough language, premarital sex, some sexual talk and a nongraphic sexual encounter, attempted suicide and murder, and an abortion discussion. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

"Ninja Assassin" (Warner Bros.)
Rated "R"
Hyperactive, contrived and excessively violent comeback for the martial-arts genre with a thin plot, a heavily ramped-up spatter factor and soulful Korean pop star Rain (aka Jeong Ji Hoon) playing a stone-cold ninja fighter, trained from childhood to become an assassin, who breaks with his gang in time to stop a string of murders in Germany, save the agent (Naomie Harris) investigating them and wreak revenge on his former comrades. Pervasive violence, with mutilation, stabbings and gunplay, frequent bloody and grisly images and some rough and crude language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"Nobel Son" (Freestyle)
Rated "R"
Convoluted and gritty thriller in which the slacker son (Bryan Greenberg) of an arrogant chemistry professor (Alan Rickman) and a forensic psychologist (Mary Steenburgen) is kidnapped by a psychopath (Shawn Hatosy) and held to ransom for his father's recently won Nobel Prize money. Though the initial twists of director and co-writer Randall Miller's harsh drama sustain interest, and Rickman is in his element as a villainous academic, the wildly dysfunctional family dynamics, a vengeance theme and pungent scenes of violence will deter even many adults well before the muddled conclusion. Strong sexual content, including brief and graphic adulterous sexual activity, rear nudity, mutilation with gore, beatings, much rough and crude language, a couple of uses of profanity and brief scatological humor. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"No Country for Old Men" (Miramax/Paramount Vantage)
Rated "R"
Spellbinding, richly detailed thriller based on Cormac McCarthy's 2003 novel set in the Texas borderlands as a cold-blooded, psychopathic killer (Javier Bardem) ruthlessly pursues a welder (Josh Brolin) who's taken a suitcase of loot after stumbling across a brutal drug slaying, while a philosophical small-town sheriff (Tommy Lee Jones) pursues them both hoping to avert tragedy. Co-directors and writers Joel and Ethan Coen create an atmosphere of almost unbearably quiet tension, with powerful performances by a masterful cast (including Woody Harrelson and Kelly MacDonald), underscored by themes of the struggle between good and evil, the changing ethos of the West, temptation, honor and sacrifice. Strong violence and multiple killings with blood, occasional rough language and profanity, and brief partial nudity. 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.

"No Impact Man" (Oscilloscope)
Rated "NR"
Thought-provoking documentary charting a yearlong experiment by a New York City couple, author Colin Beavan and his journalist wife, Michelle Conlin, during which they gradually give up every aspect of their lifestyle that could cause a negative environmental effect, a formidable list of sacrifices that eventually includes all motorized transport, even elevators, all food not grown locally, disposable diapers for their toddler daughter, air conditioning, heating and electric lights. While their undertaking obviously carries conscientiousness to an extreme unlikely to be imitated by many, as captured by filmmakers Laura Gabbert and Justin Schein, the pioneering experience does have its potentially inspiring rewards in the form of increased exercise, improved diet and intensified family life, though the incidental portrait of a real-life marriage mixes mutual commitment with sometimes misguided reproductive values. Some rough and crude language, a half-dozen crass terms and birth control references. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults. Not rated by the Motion Picture Association of America.

"No Reservations" (Warner Bros.)
Rated "PG"
Sweet story, adapted from the 2001 German film "Mostly Martha," now set in New York, about a work-obsessed master chef (Catherine Zeta-Jones) who takes in her orphaned 9-year-old niece (Abigail Breslin) and her subsequent rivalry with and then growing admiration for the restaurant's happy-go-lucky sous-chef (Aaron Eckhart) who helps open her up to life. Despite formulaic and overly sentimental moments, director Scott Hicks' excellent adaptation maintains a sensible tone, and allows the engaging story to unfold at an unhurried pace, while the performances are immensely appealing. Apart from a handful of expletives and crass expressions, including an instance of profanity and some remarks that imply the acceptability of premarital living arrangements, and one such implied encounter, the film may be acceptable for older adolescents. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.

"No Strings Attached" (Paramount)
Rated "R"
Morally unmoored relationship comedy about a commitment-averse doctor (Natalie Portman) and a romantically disillusioned TV producer (Ashton Kutcher) who agree to an emotionless sexual arrangement, only to find their feelings for each other getting in the way after all. As charted by director Ivan Reitman, the predictable arc of their ascent from the freedom of the barnyard to something resembling responsible human interaction is punctuated by such crude humor as that entailed when his immature father (Kevin Kline) turns out to be shacking up with his son's ditzy ex-girlfriend (Ophelia Lovibond). Strong sexual content, including graphic nonmarital and homosexual activity, brief rear and partial nudity, drug use, pervasive bedroom humor, at least one instance of profanity, much rough and crude language. The Catholic News Service classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"Norbit" (DreamWorks)
Rated "PG-13"
Mild-mannered nebbish (a sweet Eddie Murphy), raised in the Golden Wonton Restaurant Orphanage by an eccentric-but-caring Asian man (also Murphy), is later browbeaten into marrying an abusive and monstrously large battleaxe (Murphy again), but reunites with his childhood sweetheart (Thandie Newton) who comes back to town engaged to an unscrupulous con artist (Cuba Gooding Jr.). Director Brian Robbins -- working from a script by co-written by Murphy -- keeps the fitfully amusing gags coming, and Murphy's versatility is undeniably impressive but the script often sags, and vulgarity is rampant. How much compensation one finds in the heart beneath the bawdiness will depend on a willingness to look beyond the flagged elements listed below that in less skillful hands would be even more offensive. Much low humor including some brief irreverence, crude language and expressions and some profanity, farcical adultery, brief rear male nudity, suggestive costuming, two "ex-pimp" characters, innuendo, some ethnic stereotyping. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"Noel" (Red Rose)
Rated "PG"
Life-affirming holiday drama about five people struggling with personal pain -- including a lonely, middle-aged divorcee (Susan Sarandon) taking care of her ailing mother and a hotheaded cop (Mike Walker) whose uncontrollable jealous fits have driven a wedge between him and his beautiful fiancee (Penelope Cruz) -- as their lives intersect and are forever changed on Christmas Eve. Director Chazz Palminteri manages to elicit good performances from his ensemble cast and strikes the right balance between the stories' sweet-and-sour elements. But the film, though falling short of its Capraesque pretensions, imparts an uplifting message about faith, forgiveness and finding the miraculous in our everyday lives. An implied sexual encounter, some sexual comments and a few crude expressions. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"North Country" (Warner Bros.)
Rated "R"
Compelling drama set in northern Minnesota about a struggling single mother of two (Charlize Theron), who takes a job at a local mine, and encounters hostility and abuse from the predominantly male ranks. With the help of a sympathetic lawyer (Woody Harrelson), she eventually stands up for herself and her female co-workers (including Frances McDormand) by filing a landmark sexual harassment lawsuit against the mining company. Buttressed by an emotionally forceful performance by Theron, director Niki Caro's film avoids melodrama while touching on issues of gender discrimination, justice, family, community and human dignity. Scenes of workplace harassment including lewd comments and humor plus obscene graffiti, groping and assorted other malicious mischief involving scatological and sex gags, implied spousal abuse, a suggested rape, and recurring rough and crude language and profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

The Notebook (New Line)
Rated "PG-13" Parents are strongly cautioned.
Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13. Based on the bestselling novel by Nicholas Sparks, "The Notebook" is an old-fashioned tearjerker gushing with gilded romance and florid sentimentality. Right from its honey-toned opening credit sequence the message is clear: Heartstrings, prepare to be plucked. James Garner plays Duke, a resident at a lakeside nursing home. Duke describes himself through voice-over narration as a "common man" who's "led a common life," but who takes comfort in the fact that he has "loved another" with all his "heart and soul." Viewers are led to surmise that the object of his affection is Allie (Gena Rowlands), an Alzheimer's patient at the facility. Duke spends each day reading aloud to Allie from the eponymous diary that chronicles the saga of a pair of young, star-crossed lovers in North Carolina during the 1940s. The notebook serves as a bridge between past and present, as the tale recounted in its pages takes center stage. The story-within-a-story involves a prep school debutante, also named Allie (Rachel McAdams), who, while vacationing with her well-to-do parents, falls for Noah (Ryan Gosling), a dashing mill worker from the wrong side of the tracks. As soon as he sets eyes on Allie, Noah is smitten, certain that they are destined to be together -- a sure sign that their hearts are in for a bumpy ride. Their passionate summer fling is chilled by the wintry disapproval of Allie's class-conscious mother (Joan Allen) and ends in a teary-eyed breakup. Life goes on. Noah ships off to fight the Nazis. Allie gets engaged to a soldier (James Marsden) of acceptable pedigree she met while volunteering in a GI hospital. But, as fate would have it, their paths cross several years later, both still madly in love with each other. Director Nick Cassavetes shuttles back and forth between past and present, as it becomes abundantly clear that the old couple's story is somehow linked to that of the young lovers. If truth be told, any of the geezers at the home could see where this one's heading -- even without their glasses. "The Notebook" is the kind of film that will generate strong reactions. Some will undoubtedly be turned off, quickly dismissing it as mawkish melodrama. Others less cynical will see this valentine for what it is, a wonderful, old-time love story replete with glowing photography, unabashed ardor and rapturous rain-soaked reunions -- full of Hallmark heavy-handedness -- but ultimately heartfelt. Sure, it could use more understatement and less syrupy shots of swans, but as Dean Martin would say, "That's amore!" (Viewer warning: If your tear ducts have not swelled by the film's end, you may need to call an ophthalmologist.) McAdams is radiant as the spirited Southern belle; Gosling is soulfully appealing. Together they exude youthful energy and passion. Likewise, old pros Garner and Rowlands bring an autumnal dignity to their roles. The film's underlying message -- that true love cannot only overcome all adversity but can in fact work miracles -- should resonate with Christian viewers. And while one scene in particular is a bit racy, overall the film is a tender and touching portrait of marital fidelity, as witnessed by Duke's unwavering dedication to Allie. This is nowhere more beautifully illustrated than during the picture's three-hanky final scene. A word to the wise: Bring plenty of tissues. Due to a few sexual encounters with shadowy nudity and recurring profanity, the USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"Notes on a Scandal" (Fox Searchlight/DNA)
Rated "R"
Lurid but skillful melodrama set in England about a lonely history teacher (Judi Dench) whose unhealthy interest in an attractive younger art teacher (Cate Blanchett) leads her to help conceal the latter's reprehensible affair with a determined 15-year-old student (Andrew Simpson) in the hope of fostering the woman's dependence on her. Richard Eyre directs playwright Patrick Marber's adaptation of Zoe Heller's award-winning book with Hitchcockian flair, while taking care not to glamorize the seamier plot elements. Though Dench is a manipulative villain, she skillfully delineates her character's sense of isolation. The themes may rule out the film for many, but for those who approach the plot as the astute psychological thriller it is, they'll appreciate two actresses at the top of their game. Some rough, crude and profane language, domestic violence, adulterous affair with underage boy including some kissing, innuendo and obsession. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

"Nothing Like the Holidays" (Overture)
Rated "PG-13"
A wounded Iraq War vet (Freddy Rodriguez) returns to his Puerto Rican neighborhood in Chicago for Christmas where he pursues an old flame (Melonie Diaz) as his parents (Alfred Molina and Elizabeth Pena) announce they're divorcing, and his siblings -- an aspiring Hollywood actress (Vanessa Ferlito) and an up-and-coming lawyer (John Leguizamo) married to a career-focused banker (Debra Messing) -- grapple with their own problems. The ensemble cast adds Latin zest to a familiar story in director Alfredo De Villa's frequently humorous drama, and there's a strong emphasis on family unity and the permanence of marriage, but the Catholic atmosphere, though pervasive, is marred by the appearance of a gluttonous, ineffectual priest. Frequent sexual humor, much crude and crass language, and a few uses of profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Notorious" (Fox Searchlight)
Rated "R"
Gritty but powerful biography of rapper Christopher Wallace, aka Notorious BIG (gifted newcomer Jamal Woolard) from his working-class childhood under the care of his stern but devoted mother (Angela Bassett) and his sudden rise from streetwise drug dealer to musical star, to his tangled personal life and the events leading up to his murder at age 24. Director George Tillman Jr.'s warts-and-all portrait shows the excesses of its subject's lifestyle, but also his efforts to become a responsible father and to reconcile with friend turned violent rival Tupac Shakur (Anthony Mackie). Strong sexual content, including brief but graphic nonmarital sexual activity, adultery, full female nudity, drug use, pervasive rough and crude language, and at least one profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"The Notorious Bettie Page" (Picturehouse)
Rated "R"
Biographical drama about the 1950s' fetish pinup icon (Gretchen Mol) who, raised in a strict Christian home in rural Tennessee, escaped abuse by her father and then her first husband to pursue an acting career in New York, where, after failing at that, she began modeling -- sometimes nude -- for men's magazines. Eventually she made her name posing in bondage-themed photos before abandoning modeling for religion. Mol is a dead ringer for Page, but director Mary Harron's movie -- shot mostly in black and white -- lacks form and depth, not offering more than a superficial treatment of Page's religious convictions and conflicted attitude toward pornography, and its subject matter will obviously limit its appeal. Full-frontal and rear female nudity, recurring sexually aberrant poses, the suggested sexual abuse of a minor, an implied gang rape, an instance of rough language and profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive.

"The Number 23" (New Line)
Rated "R"
Psychological thriller about a man (Jim Carrey) whose reading of a curious novel -- in which the hard-boiled detective-protagonist's story eerily mirrors elements of his own life -- leads him to increasing paranoia and madness, as he, like his fictional counterpart, becomes obsessed with the "23 enigma," the theory that the number 23 holds a numerological significance in nature and world events. Despite an intriguing premise, director Joel Schumacher's dreary neonoir tale is all style and little suspense, with a muddled plot and a contrived twist payoff. Recurring violence and disturbing bloody images, including several suicides, and sexual encounters, some involving kinky behavior, as well as rough and crude language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

O
"127 Hours" (Fox Searchlight)
Rated "R"
This fact-based survival yarn about a self-centered, negligent mountain climber (James Franco) who becomes trapped in an isolated Utah canyon, with an 800-pound boulder crushing his right arm, is as straight up about moral consequences as any Sunday school lesson. Intelligently made and exciting, if also, at times, difficult to watch, director Danny Boyle's drama -- adapted from Aron Ralston's 2004 memoir "Between a Rock and a Hard Place" -- is unflinching in its portrayal of the devastating, yet personally transformative results of its central character's irresponsible behavior. Possibly acceptable for mature adolescents. A harrowing scene of amputation, a nonmarital situation, fleeting rough and crude language. 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.

"Observe and Report" (Warner Bros.)
Rated "R"
A self-important mall security officer and would-be policeman (Seth Rogen) runs afoul of a real cop (Ray Liotta) in his blundering pursuit of an exhibitionist and a thief while romancing a cosmetics shop girl (Anna Faris). In writer-director Jody Hill's brooding dark comedy a few oddly poignant moments are overwhelmed by nonstop vulgarity, sadistic violence and wayward sexual humor. Graphic nonmarital sexual activity, full nudity, drug and alcohol use, pervasive rough and crude language, and a few profanities. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"Obsessed" (Screen Gems)
Rated "PG-13"
Competent but forgettable suspense yarn in which a temporary office worker (Ali Larter) becomes fixated on a happily married executive (Idris Elba) eventually causing his wife (Beyonce Knowles) to suspect an affair. Director Steve Shill's feature debut, essentially a rickety star vehicle for Knowles, showcases marital fidelity, but dallies with vigilantism as the police -- led by Christine Lahti as a detective -- prove helpless. Moderate action violence, brief nongraphic sexual activity, a suicide attempt, some crude and crass language, a few sexual references and half a dozen uses of profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Oceans" (Disneynature)
Rated "G"
Surprisingly philosophical nature documentary offers stunning images of sea life from around the globe while conveying a positive message about mankind's connection to the ocean and the need for environmental conservation. Actor Pierce Brosnan intones pleasing narration for co-directors and writers Jacque Perrin and Jacque Cluzaud, whose film, though it lacks a solid narrative structure and occasionally suffers from a dearth of explanatory detail, nonetheless constitutes a visual feast, and their avoidance of graphic images of predatory behavior makes this eye-catching spectacle suitable for viewers of all ages. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-I -- general patronage. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is G -- general audiences. All ages admitted.

"Ocean's Twelve" (Warner Bros.)
Rated "PG-13"
So-so caper film, in the vein of its predecessor, "Ocean's Eleven," with much the same star-studded cast as before (George Clooney, Julia Roberts, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon), joined here by Catherine Zeta-Jones and a couple of unbilled surprise cameos, this time with picturesque European locales. The larcenous crew, which has tried to go straight, must pay back entrepreneur Terry Benedict (Andy Garcia) from whose Vegas casino they stole $160 million in the first film. They set after a Faberge egg, while outwitting a master jewel thief (Vincent Cassel). Steven Soderbergh's sequel is agreeable rather than grippingly suspenseful, and the script, by George Nolfi, more genial than truly witty, though there are some mildly surprising twists and turns along the way. Tongue-in-cheek glamorization of robbery, some crude language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"Ocean's Thirteen" (Warner Bros.)
Rated "PG-13"
After a convoluted European sojourn in "Ocean's Twelve," the third film in the stylish caper franchise returns to its entertaining if morally questionable Las Vegas roots as Danny Ocean (George Clooney) and company -- motivated by loyalty to their cohort Reuben (Elliott Gould) -- target an egotistical hotel mogul (Al Pacino). The buildup is more exciting than the payoff, but director Steven Soderbergh makes it easy to watch all the moving parts in this elaborate and of course improbable job. Some glorification of crime, crude language and profanity, sexual innuendo, one extended if nongraphic scene of sensuality. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Of Gods and Men" (Sony Pictures Classics)
Rated "PG-13"
Brilliant dramatization of real events, recounting the fate of a small community of French Trappists (led by Lambert Wilson and including Michael Lonsdale ) living in Algeria during that nation's civil war in the 1990s. Targeted by violent Muslim extremists, the monks must decide whether to continue their medical and social work for the local population or abandon them by fleeing to safety. Using the tools of the monastic life itself, director Xavier Beauvois finds a path to the heart of the Gospel through simplicity, a compassionate sense of brotherhood and an atmosphere of prayer enriched by sacred music and potent silence. The result, a profound mediation on the cost of discipleship, is a viewing experience from which every adult as well as many mature teens can expect to profit. In French. Subtitles. Brief gory violence, some unsettling images and a single instance each of rough and crass language. 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.

"Off the Map" (Holedigger)
Rated "PG-13"
Leisurely paced but ultimately affecting story (based on a play by Joan Ackermann) of the unconventional Groden family living in virtual isolation in New Mexico -- a husband (Sam Elliott) suffering from such depression he barely speaks; a mother (Joan Allen) who sometimes gardens in the nude; a precocious 11-year-old daughter (Valentina De Angelis) with a mind of her own; and the Internal Revenue Service agent (Jim True-Frost) who comes to see them about unpaid back taxes and who is so charmed by their bohemian lifestyle he decides to stay. Peculiar as the synopsis may sound, actor Campbell Scott's second solo directorial stint is actually a rather sweet story with a positive message about the value of family and love, and features solid performances all around, including that of J.K. Simmons as the husband's best friend. Fleeting, shadowy nudity, some crass language and brief sensuality. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"Old Dogs" (Disney)
Rated "PG"
Passable comedy in which a sports marketing executive (Robin Williams) learns, seven years after the fact, that his quickly annulled second marriage produced fraternal twins (Conner Rayburn and Ella Bleu Travolta) whose mother (Kelly Preston), on the eve of being imprisoned briefly for an environmental protest, entrusts the kids to his care, distracting him from work on a major business deal, much to the annoyance of his longtime partner and best friend (John Travolta). Its morally murky back story aside, director Walt Becker's dizzy dad escapade is mostly harmless, though a talented cast can do little with David Diamond and David Weissman's thin, derivative script. A drunken wedding, a few instances of vaguely sexual and mildly scatological humor, some rough slapstick. 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.

"Oliver Twist" (TriStar)
Rated "PG-13"
Fine and handsome new version of Charles Dickens' oft-filmed classic about an orphan boy who gets involved with a gang of thieves headed by the elderly Jewish ringleader Fagin (Ben Kingsley), and the efforts of a kindly gentleman to rescue him from their clutches. Director Roman Polanski and screenwriter Ronald Harwood have streamlined the complex novel, as most versions have done, but the essentials are all there, and beautifully performed by a top-notch cast, bolstered by lavish production design and an evocative score. A brief violent episode, a few scenes of menace and a hanging make this recommended entertainment for all but the youngest children. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents.

"The Omen" (20th Century Fox)
Rated "R"
Effective remake of the 1976 supernatural thriller about an American diplomat (Liev Schreiber) and his wife (Julia Stiles) whose adopted son (Seamus Davey-Fitzpatrick) turns out to be the Antichrist. Slickly crafted and well-acted with a fair amount of suspense, director John Moore's virtual scene-by-scene update is a hodgepodge of Christian symbolism, biblical prophecies, nonscriptural inventions and occult mumbo jumbo, resulting in the sort of silly pop-religious junk food that should not be taken too seriously. Some disturbing scenes of violence, including an impaling, a decapitation, a dog mauling, a hanging suicide and a person getting hit by an automobile; a misrepresentation of Catholic doctrine; an instance of rough language and profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

"On a Clear Day" (Focus)
Rated "PG-13"
Poignant story of middle-aged Glasgow shipbuilder (Peter Mullan), laid off from his job, who finds solace is swimming, decides to cross the English Channel and, with the help of his mates (Billy Boyd, Ron Cook, Benedict Wong and Sean McGinley), trains for the 20-miles-plus stint, unbeknown to his wife (Brenda Blethyn), who's secretly hoping to be a bus driver, (Brenda Blethyn) and grown son (Jamie Sives) who mistakenly believes his father blames him for the death of his sibling when they were children. Director Gaby Dellal's film is finely acted, wonderfully photographed by David Johnson who favors revealing close-ups, and conveys positive messages about forgiveness, taking chances, conquering fears, following your heart, and standing up for your beliefs. A few instances of conversational profanity, rough, and crude language, partial locker-room nudity, precluding viewing by the youngest adolescents. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"Once" (Fox Searchlight)
Rated "R"
Gritty, award-winning Irish independent film about two struggling musicians (Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova) who, through a shared love of music, forge a friendship that leads to the creation of a band, making a demo recording. The two leads are so harmonious in their acting and in their music that the bittersweet resolution is both sad and uplifting, while writer-director John Carney's love for the craft of creating music shows in every frame. Alcohol use, a minor street scuffle and recurring rough language and mild profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"One Day" (Focus)
Rated "PG-13"
Turgid screen version of the best-selling romance novel scripted by the book's author, David Nicholls, and directed in a plodding style by Lone Scherfig. Ill-assorted Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturgess -- she a prim children's writer, he a whiny, boorish TV host -- are shown in a series of 20 annual episodes, beginning with their college graduation in 1988, as they progress from awkward friends to something more. Though their relationship is mature and broadly, if not always straightforwardly, moral, viewers' interest is likely to be fatally depleted by the excessively wordy dialogue of Nicholls' verbose script well before the five-hanky ending. A shadowy glimpse of female frontal nudity, brief rear nudity, implied cohabitation, a single instance of rough language. 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.

"One Missed Call" (Warner Bros.)
Rated "PG-13"
By-the-numbers (literally) remake of the 2003 Japanese film "Chakushin Ari," without either the satire or the gore of the original, involving an evil spirit that leaves messages for its victims on their cell phones. Director Eric Valette and screenwriter Andrew Klavan transfer the action to an American college town, where plucky coed Shannyn Sossamon and inept police detective Edward Burns try to figure out why ring tones are becoming death knells. Rough and profane language, a half-dozen deaths involving varying degrees of violence, scenes of intense terror, an instance of nonexplicit mother-daughter child abuse, another instance of a little girl physically abusing her sister, a couple of gory corpses, and a sacrilegious image of a leering crucifix during an attempted exorcism by a nondenominational evangelist. 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.

"One Night With the King" (Gener8Xion Entertainment)
Rated "PG"
Biblical drama that tepidly recounts the Old Testament story of Esther (Tiffany DuPont), a devout Jewish maiden who becomes a queen when she is chosen as the bride of the powerful Persian King Xerxes (Luke Goss), and who uses her station to save her people from extermination by dissuading her husband from ordering the slaughter urged by a vengeful court adviser (James Callis). Based on Tommy Tenney's novel "Hadassah," the film has impressive production value and cameos by Oscar-pedigreed actors like Omar Sharif and Peter O'Toole, but it's handicapped by an inferior screenplay by Stephan Blinn -- which makes some changes to the story -- and awkward, if earnest, direction by Michael Sajbel. Still, the power of the tale's enduring theme of faithful witness in the face of persecution isn't completely diminished by the filmmaker's uninspired telling. Some discreet violence and sensuality and mature thematic elements. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents.

"Ong Bak: The Thai Warrior" (Magnolia)
Rated "R"
Above-average martial arts action movie set in Thailand about a local scrapper (Tony Jaa) -- trained in an ancient fighting system -- who volunteers to retrieve a sacred Buddha statue revered by the locals which was stolen from the village temple by a ruthless crime boss (Sukhaaw Phongwilai) looking to sell it on the black market. Director Prachya Pinkaew dresses up the film's generic chop-socky premise with hyperkinetic fight sequences -- as balletic as they are brutal and all done without special effects -- which show off the athleticism of Jaa, who combines the acrobatic daredeviling of Jackie Chan and the lethal limbs of Bruce Lee. Much strong action violence, drug content, an aborted sexual encounter, fleeting rear nudity and sporadic rough and crude language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

"Opal Dream" (Strand)
Rated "PG"
Gently charming tale set in an Australian opal mining colony about an 8-year-old girl (Sapphire Boyce) heartsick over the disappearance of her two imaginary friends, the search for whom causes unintended consequences resulting in the locals turning against her father (Vince Colosimo), until the supportive efforts of her 11-year-old brother (Christian Byers) -- concerned about his sister's deteriorating emotional and physical condition -- win over the town. Director Peter Cattaneo's adaptation of the Ben Rice novel "Pobby and Dingan" celebrates themes of family, community and the value of childlike faith in a way that's genuinely sweet while avoiding excess sentimentality, with tender performances by Boyce and Byers. A lovely little film. Brief violence, some crude expressions and a fleeting instance of profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents.

"Open Season" (Columbia)
Rated "PG"
Wacky, warm and reasonably witty computer-animated comedy about a domesticated grizzly bear (Martin Lawrence) who, trying to find his way back to comfortable civilization after being released into the wild, befriends a runty, motor-mouthed mule deer (Ashton Kutcher) and bands together with a motley menagerie of woodland creatures to run some hunters out of the forest. Directed by Jill Culton and Roger Allers (with a co-director credit to Anthony Stacchi), the film's thin plot is padded with slapstick, but vibrant visuals, nutty gags, a playful tone, and an amiable messge about friendship make this entertaining fare for all but the youngest viewers. Some mildly rude language and humor, a few scenes of hunting menace, some innuendo and comic action. 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.

"Open Water" (Lions Gate)
Rated "R"
Hair-raising deep-sea thriller about a career-consumed couple (Blanchard Ryan and Daniel Travis) whose island vacation turns into a fight for survival when a mix-up during a scuba-diving excursion leaves them stranded in the middle of the ocean in shark-infested waters. Inspired by true events and made on a shoestring budget by the husband-and-wife team of Chris Kentis and Laura Lau, the movie follows a simple formula for primal-fear success: Take two actors, put them in the water with real sharks and, voila, you have one of the most truly terrifying films in years. Sustained suspense, brief frontal nudity, and scattered rough and crude language. USCCB classification is A-III -- adults.

"Orphan" (Warner Bros./Dark Castle)
Rated "R"
Atmospheric but ultimately exploitative chiller about a couple (Peter Sarsgaard and Vera Farmiga) who adopt a 9-year-old Russian-born girl (Isabelle Fuhrman) from a Catholic orphanage, only to find that her inexplicable, manipulative behavior is tearing their marriage apart, and may pose a physical threat to their two other children (Jimmy Bennett and Aryana Engineer). Director Jaume Collet-Serra's horror outing begins promisingly enough by relying on Fuhrman's ability to unsettle the audience, but interludes of excessive violence and distasteful psychosexual complications soon take hold, leading to a conclusion that plays on viewers' most visceral emotions. A few scenes of gory violence, brief graphic sexual activity, fleeting images of upper female and rear nudity, some rough and crass language, and a couple of uses of profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"The Other Boleyn Girl" (Columbia/Focus)
Rated "PG-13"
Fresh telling of the oft-dramatized liaison of Anne Boleyn (Natalie Portman) and King Henry VIII (Eric Bana), including the monarch's break with the Catholic Church so he could divorce his first wife, Catherine of Aragon (Ana Torrent), with an emphasis on Anne's younger sister, Mary (Scarlett Johansson), who was the first Boleyn to win the monarch's favor. This adaptation of Philippa Gregory's best-seller from director Justin Chadwick keeps the story admirably intimate, and features surprisingly authentic performances by its non-British leads with predictably solid supporting work from Kristin Scott Thomas, David Morrissey and Mark Rylance. Royal bedroom intrigue with nongraphic sexual encounters including a rape, incest reference, adultery, divorce, light sexual banter and innuendo, and discreetly filmed beheadings. Acceptable for older teens. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"The Other Guys" (Columbia)
Rated "PG-13"
This occasionally amusing but excessively vulgar action comedy follows the odd-couple antics of an eccentric, paperwork-loving police accountant (Will Ferrell) and his frustrated perforce partner (Mark Wahlberg) -- a former street cop unwillingly desk-bound after making a high-profile mistake -- as they investigate the financial shenanigans of a British-born banker (Steve Coogan). Director and co-writer Adam McKay's parody of genre conventions handcuffs its talented cast with relentlessly foul-mouthed dialogue and tiresome bedroom jokes. Considerable, though bloodless, action violence; much sexual humor; a couple of uses of profanity; and pervasive crude and crass language. The Catholic News Service 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.

"One Day" (Focus)
Rated "PG-13"
Turgid screen version of the best-selling romance novel scripted by the book's author, David Nicholls, and directed in a plodding style by Lone Scherfig. Ill-assorted Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturgess -- she a prim children's writer, he a whiny, boorish TV host -- are shown in a series of 20 annual episodes, beginning with their college graduation in 1988, as they progress from awkward friends to something more. Though their relationship is mature and broadly, if not always straightforwardly, moral, viewers' interest is likely to be fatally depleted by the excessively wordy dialogue of Nicholls' verbose script well before the five-hanky ending. A shadowy glimpse of female frontal nudity, brief rear nudity, implied cohabitation, a single instance of rough language. 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.

"Our Family Wedding" (Fox Searchlight)
Rated "PG-13"
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. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Our Idiot Brother" (Weinstein)
Rated "R"
Occasionally effective, but sexually errant, satire about a ridiculously naive produce farmer (Paul Rudd) who emerges from a stint in prison after selling marijuana to a uniformed police officer only to find that his selfish live-in girlfriend (Kathryn Hahn) has taken up with someone new (T.J. Miller). Homeless and broke, he seeks shelter with his mother (Shirley Knight) before lodging, in succession, with each of his tightly wound sisters (Emily Mortimer, Elizabeth Banks and Zooey Deschanel). But his habit of guileless truth-telling complicates the driven lives of all three. Though director Jesse Peretz's underplayed comedy scores a few hits on modern mores, its use of nudity and sexual situations to elicit laughs, as well as its mainstreaming of one sibling's lesbian relationship, make it inappropriate for all. Strong sexual content, including graphic aberrant sexual activity, adultery, partial frontal, upper female and rear nudity, implicit acceptance of homosexual behavior, a narcotics theme, about a dozen uses of profanity, much rough and crude language. The Catholic News Service classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"Over Her Dead Body" (New Line)
Rated "PG-13"
Bland romantic comedy about a psychic (Lake Bell) who falls in love with her reluctant client (Paul Rudd), grieving for his fiancee who died on their wedding day a year earlier, and how the ghost of the intended bride (Eva Longoria Parker) jealously tries to sabotage the budding romance. Writer and first-time director Jeff Lowell's formulaic script is amiably pleasant at best, but never as funny or touching as it aspires to be, though, refreshingly, graphic sexual material typical of this genre is minimal, and there's even a reasonably positive priest character. Some instances of profanity and crass language, passing sexual and gay references, a nongraphic nonmarital sexual encounter, some crude humor and brief partial female nudity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Over the Hedge" (DreamWorks)
Rated "PG"
Computer-animated comedy about a rascally raccoon (voiced by Bruce Willis) who offers to "help" a group of woodland creatures (humorously voiced by Steve Carell, Wanda Sykes, Garry Shandling, William Shatner and Eugene Levy, among others) stockpile food for the coming winter by raiding the suburban housing development that has sprung up on their forest doorstep, but not telling them that he intends to use the purloined provisions to save his own fur. Based on a comic strip, directors Tim Johnson and Karey Kirkpatrick's good-naturedly entertaining and visually cheery fable relies on nutty sight gags over story, but imparts a commendable message about family and acting unselfishly, while offering some funny commentary on our consumer society. Some mildly crude humor, a few rude expressions and innuendo, and recurring comic action violence. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-I -- general patronage.

P
"P2" (Summit)
Rated "R"
Distasteful horror film about a young woman (Rachel Nichols) who, after working late, is anxious to join her family's Christmas celebration, but a psychotic parking attendant (Wes Bentley) has other ideas. Director Franck Khalfoun, who co-wrote the generic script, has only managed to serve up an offensively dull Christmas pudding with dispiriting violence, only a few frights and predictable plot turns. Significant violence and gore including the killing of a dog, frequent rough language and profanity, and two scenes of brief groping. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"P.S." (Newmarket)
Rated "R"
Lightweight romantic comedy about a recently divorced college admissions director (Laura Linney) who becomes involved in a passionate May-December romance with a young artist (Topher Grace) bearing an uncanny resemblance to her dead high school sweetheart. Dealing with issues of longing, loneliness and lost opportunities -- as well as some mystical musings on reincarnation -- the modest Manhattan love story directed by Dylan Kidd has all the elements of a good independent film, including a smart script and a top-notch ensemble, headed by Linney, Marcia Gay Harden and Gabriel Byrne. Yet taken as a whole, the film somehow adds up to less than the sum of its proficient parts. A sexual encounter and a few implied encounters, as well as recurring rough and crude language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"P.S. I Love You" (Warner Bros.)
Rated "PG-13"
Uneven but ultimately touching and well acted love story about a woman (Hilary Swank) who loses her Irish husband (Gerard Butler) to a brain tumor, but is guided through the stages of grief by letters he wrote for her before he died, and arranged to have periodically delivered. Writer-director Richard LaGravenese's film seems contrived at first, but slowly builds in interest as its heroine goes through her healing journey, helped by her girlfriends (Lisa Kudrow and Gina Gershon) and two men who take a romantic interest in her (Harry Connick Jr. and Jeffrey Dean Morgan). Moderate conversational expletives and crass expressions, one nonmarital and a couple of marital nongraphic bedroom scenes and casual acceptance of the former, some sexual banter and passing homosexual references, and brief rear male nudity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"The Pacifier" (Disney)
Rated "PG"
Embarrassingly unfunny comedy directed by Adam Shankman about a tough-guy Navy SEAL (Vin Diesel) assigned to baby-sit the five children of an assassinated government scientist while simultaneously searching their suburban home for their late father's top-secret computer program, with the fate of the free world -- and the Girl Scout cookie drive -- hanging in the balance. Clumsily acted and directed, this laugh-free riff on "Kindergarten Cop" reeks more than the many diapers its brooding star changes throughout the film. Some action violence, recurring crude and potty humor, occasional mild rude language, and several sequences of children in peril. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents.

"The Painted Veil" (Warner Independent)
Rated "PG-13"
Excellent film adaptation of W. Somerset Maugham novel set in the 1920s about an English bacteriologist (Edward Norton) who, after he learns of his bored socialite wife's (Naomi Watts) infidelity, vengefully insists she accompany him to a remote Chinese village during a dangerous cholera epidemic there, and how, over time, they establish a deep and abiding love, with the wife even volunteering to minister to the sick at the local hospital run by nuns. Lushly photographed on location, the film -- under John Curran's direction -- unfolds at a leisurely pace, but the intelligent love story at its core, and the spiritual journey and ultimate redemption for its heroine, are movingly conveyed, with impressive, nuanced performances by the leads, as well as by Diana Rigg, Liev Schreiber and Toby Jones. A brief scene of lovemaking with shadowy nudity, a flash of rear nudity, innuendo, adultery, images of the sick and dying, drug use and a few crass expressions. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"Palindromes" (Wellspring)
Rated "NR"
Intriguing but, at times, highly disturbing film about a 13-year-old girl (alternately played by seven different actors of varying ages, races and genders, including Jennifer Jason Leigh) determined to have a baby, who, after her mother (Ellen Barkin) forces her to have an abortion, runs away from home and eventually winds up in a household of disabled children run by a cheery evangelical Christian (Debra Monk). Director Todd Solondz's bleak "comedy" mocks both sides of the abortion debate in equal measure without making their representative characters wholly unsympathetic, but the inclusion of candid depictions of what amounts to statutory rape and under-age sex are unsettling and egregiously unwarranted. Explicit though nongraphic sexual content, including pedophilia and sex between minors, brief violence and some rough and crude language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. Not rated by the Motion Picture Association of America.

"Pandorum" (Overture)
Rated "R"
Complex and deeply cliched sci-fi horror excursion in which two astronauts (Dennis Quaid and Ben Foster) awaken from an eight-year hypersleep to learn that their spacecraft, a sort of Noah's Ark designed to keep life from Earth in existence, has a balky power plant and a violent past. Director Christian Alvart serves up a heaping helping of pesky mutants with ninja skills, but the largely routine proceedings are somewhat redeemed by a surprisingly upbeat double-twist ending. At least one rough term, occasional profane and crass language, and some martial arts and knife violence. 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.

"Pan's Labyrinth" (Picturehouse)
Rated "R"
Cinematically stunning adult tale set in 1944 Spain about an unhappy 11-year-old girl's (Ivana Baquero) emotional escape into a maze -- either real or imagined -- overseen by a faun (Doug Jones) attended by insect-fairies that help her cope with the horrors of the marriage of her ailing pregnant mother (Ariadna Gil) to a vicious fascist officer (Sergei Lopez) assigned to root out resistance fighters who are secretly aided by his housekeeper (Maribel Verdu) and physician (Alex Angulo). Though the main story outline is familiar in its classic structure, it is given new life by director Guillermo Del Toro's deft balancing of the harsh real world with the girl's mysterious parallel universe which sheds light on the former, and there are poignant elements of sacrifice and redemption. Subtitles. Rough and crude language and some profanity, several brutally violent episodes, torture, several murders, a nongraphic amputation, a mercy killing, occult plot aspects and graphic childbirth scenes. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"Paparazzi" (20th Century Fox)
Rated "PG-13"
     Problematic revenge thriller about a rising action star (Cole Hauser) who exacts retribution on the sleazy tabloid photographers (led by Tom Sizemore) responsible for causing a Princess Diana-type car accident which nearly killed his wife (Robin Tunney) and young son. As directed by Paul Abascal, the subtly sadistic film seems more concerned with its sensationalized "Death Wish"-like premise, than with actually saying anything of substance about the public's obscene fascination with celebrities' private lives. The movie's underlying twisted sense of justice is only compounded by its morally troublesome ending. Vigilante violence, murder without consequence and a scene in a strip club, as well as scattered crude language and humor. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive.

"Paradise Now" (Warner Independent)
Rated "PG-13"
Compelling drama about two Palestinian childhood friends (Kais Nashef and Ali Suliman) recruited for a suicide bombing in Tel Aviv, Israel, following them through the tense final hours leading up to the mission, during which their conflicted consciences cause them to waffle in their resolve to carry out their plans. Soberly directed by Hany Abu-Assad, the quietly terrifying film strives to understand the characters' actions without justifying them, while articulating the futility of violence. Subtitles. Mature thematic elements and brief rough language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"Paranormal Activity" (Paramount)
Rated "R"
Cohabiting San Diego yuppies (Katie Featherston and Micah Sloat) use a video camera to record disturbing phenomena they fear is being caused by a demonic spirit that has pursued the young woman since childhood. Writer-director Oren Peli's ostensibly fact-based feature debut is mostly gore-free, playing instead -- subtly and quite effectively -- on viewers' primal fears of the unseen, but his script fails to show the same restraint with regard to language and sexual topics. Some sexual content, including a premarital situation, an off-screen encounter and a few jokes and references, a half-dozen uses of profanity, pervasive rough and crude terms, and at least two obscene gestures. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Paranormal Activity 2" (Paramount)
Rated "R"
Efficiently unnerving skin-crawler in which a prosperous California couple (Sprague Grayden and Brian Boland) and the husband's teenage daughter by a previous marriage (Molly Ephraim) try to protect the latest addition to the family, a 1-year-old boy, from the malignant designs of a demon. Using the device of a set of security cameras the parents have installed after an initial incident they take for a break-in by vandals, director Tod Williams extends the franchise that began with 2009's "Paranormal Activity" by telling a related story that, like its predecessor, avoids gratuitous gore but that also tones down the original's excess of sexual themes and vulgar language. Occasional intense but stylized violence, a few uses of profanity, some rough and crude language, a handful of mild sexual references. 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.

"Paranormal Activity 3" (Paramount)
Rated "R"
In 1988 California, a videographer (Chris Smith) records the ominous doings of a malevolent spirit that has taken up residence in the house he shares with his new wife (Lauren Bittner) and two stepdaughters (Chloe Csengery and Jessica Brown). Directors Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman's horror sequel follows a tried and true formula to deliver mostly gore-free jolts. But the satanic elements of the plot that eventually come to the fore will make many want to steer clear. Occult theme, brief harsh violence, drug use, some nongraphic marital lovemaking, a couple of uses of profanity, several sexual references, considerable rough and crude language. 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.

"The Passion Recut" (Newmarket)
Rated "NR"
Toned-down, yet still brutal, re-editing of Mel Gibson's unflinching, at times profoundly moving, dramatization of the final agonizing hours of Jesus' earthly life -- as portrayed by Jim Caviezel -- from arrest to crucifixion and resurrection. The slightly tamer revision is missing roughly six minutes of the movie's bloodiest scenes -- specifically the scourging and crucifixion sequences -- softening the film's graphic nature a bit without eviscerating its emotional and spiritual poignancy. Even with the cuts, however, the cumulative effect is still too intense for young children and those sensitive to violence, though perhaps some parents may now feel it appropriate for older adolescents. Subtitles. Gory scenes of torture and crucifixion, a suicide and some frightening images. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults. Not rated by the Motion Picture Association of America. A full review of "The Passion of the Christ" can be found on the Web at: www.usccb.org/movies/index.htm, by clicking on "Archived Movie Reviews," or at: www.catholicnews.com/data/movies/04mv276.htm.

"Pathfinder" (Fox)
Rated "R"
Relentlessly violent tale about a shipwrecked Viking lad taken in and raised by a Native American tribe, until 15 years later when now as an adult he (Karl Urban) sets out, virtually single-handedly, to exact revenge on returning Vikings who have slaughtered his adopted tribe and are bent on killing every other tribe in their path so as to lay claim to the land. Director Marcus Nispel's video gamelike movie eschews character development as well as narrative logic in a drawn-out series of brutal beheadings, impalements and eviscerations that overwhelm the intriguing premise of the legendary Norsemen arriving on American shores many centuries before Columbus. Excessive violence and gore. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive.

"Paul" (Universal)
Rated "R"
Aggressively, though illogically, anti-religious satire from director Greg Mottola in which two sci-fi-loving British visitors to the United States (Simon Pegg and Nick Frost) help the alien of the title (voice of Seth Rogen) escape government custody. The trio then embark on a road trip to the spot where his fellow extraterrestrials can rescue him. They're joined, along the way, by a fundamentalist Christian (Kristen Wiig) whose entire worldview is instantly shattered by the spaceman's very existence, freeing her to swear, smoke dope and fornicate at will, since there is no God and therefore no sin. In penning the script for this otherwise routine buddy comedy, Pegg and Frost prove themselves as unfamiliar with Judeo-Christian beliefs as they are contemptuous of them, since they assume that scriptural faith would be fatally undermined by the presence of intelligent life on other planets. Explicit rejection of Christian faith and morals, endorsement of homosexual acts, nonmarital sexual activity and petty theft, benign view of drug use, occasional gory violence, a few uses of profanity, pervasive rough and crude language. The Catholic News Service classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"The Perfect Game" (IndustryWorks)
Rated "PG"
Rousing, faith-infused sports drama, based on real events, recounting the unlikely odyssey of a ragtag boys baseball team from Monterrey, Mexico, who, under the spiritual guidance of a devout but down-to-earth priest (Cheech Marin) and the leadership of a hard-driving coach (Clifton Collins Jr.) travel to the U.S. to compete in the 1957 Little League championship tournament, achieving a string of unexpected victories against far more advantaged teams. As directed by William Dear, W. William Winokur's script unambiguously presents the young players' Catholicism as the inspiration not only for their winning streak, but for their persistent refusal to allow either their impoverished circumstances or the disdainful prejudice they frequently encounter north of the border to deprive them of their dream, though a brief scene of Marin's otherwise estimable character celebrating a Tridentine Mass presents an image of worship so sloppy and repetitive as to approach unintentional parody. Racial tensions, ethnic slurs and a few mildly earthy insults. 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.

"The Perfect Man" (Universal)
Rated "PG"
Breezy but forgettable romantic comedy about a high school student (Hilary Duff) who, tired of being uprooted every time her lovelorn, single mom (Heather Locklear) gets her heart broken, invents an imaginary suitor for her -- writing secret admirer e-mails and sending her flowers -- based on the romance advice of a charming restaurateur (Chris Noth) with predictable complications. Directed by Mark Rosman, the film, despite a sweet pro-family message, is pretty much fluff and is weighed down by an anemic script that not even Duff's buoyant charm can keep afloat. Some mildly suggestive content and thematic elements. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents.

"Perfect Stranger" (Revolution)
Rated "R"
Trashy, utterly nonsensical thriller about an investigative reporter (Halle Berry) who, with the help of a sleazy computer-savvy colleague (Giovanni Ribisi), sets out to expose the big-shot advertising executive (Bruce Willis) who may have murdered her childhood friend after an adulterous affair. The ill-conceived script -- peppered with so many gratuitous uses of the f-word it's almost risible -- strains credulity at every turn, and most of the seamy sexual elements have little dramatic justification, though we'll credit director James Foley with bringing some visual flair. Nonstop rough and crude language and some profanity, heavy sexual content including a graphic premarital encounter without nudity, brief pornographic images, adultery, child abuse, some violent encounters including a bloody stabbing and a bludgeoning, and a gruesome morgue image. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive.

"Paris, Je T'Aime" (First Look)
Rated "R"
A kaleidoscopic anthology of 18 vignettes, each directed by a top-name filmmaker (Gus Van Sant, Walter Salles, the Coen Brothers, Wes Craven, etc.) and featuring a host of international stars (including Natalie Portman, Bob Hoskins, Elijah Wood, Juliette Binoche, Gena Rowlands, Steve Buscemi and Nick Nolte), set in various neighborhoods in the City of Light. The stories concern love, relationships, racial tension, loneliness, sickness, death and the other ingredients of life, and range in tone from funny, sad and poignant to the supernatural. Though not all are gems, they feel very much of a piece and provide a thought-provoking smorgasbord. In French and English. Subtitles. Rough language, innuendo, drug dealing and use, a stabbing death, brief sexual encounters, a sex emporium scene with a scantily clad dancer, a vampire sequence with blood and divorce. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

"Passengers" (Sony)
Rated "PG-13"
Low-key, somewhat muddled thriller in which an uptight therapist (Anne Hathaway) counsels the few survivors of a major plane crash, investigating why their memories of the accident conflict with the airline's account. As some of them start to disappear, one, an extroverted passenger (Patrick Wilson), initiates a romance. Despite appealing performances from its leads and a welcome subplot about family reconciliation and the enduring influence of loved ones, director Rodrigo Garcia's drama mostly fails to engage. Nongraphic premarital sexual activity, brief partial rear nudity, occasional crude and crass language, some innuendo and disturbing accident scenes; acceptable for older teens. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Paul Blart: Mall Cop" (Columbia)
Rated "PG"
Largely good-natured slapstick comedy relies on the physicality of Kevin James, who, in addition to co-writing the script, portrays the titular plus-size security guard defending a New Jersey mall from a pack of acrobatic thieves on the busiest shopping day of the year. Because the loveably hapless hero embodies numerous qualities infrequently championed on-screen nowadays -- including chivalry, diligence and honesty -- any moderately untoward moments in director Steve Carr's effort are eclipsed by a positive message concerning respect for those not usually deemed successful or attractive, particularly those who don't fit the ideal body mold in our looks-conscious society. Frequent violence of a slapstick nature, some suggestive humor, several instances of crude and crass language, and one sequence involving alcohol use. 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.

"Peacework: Prayer, Resistance, Community," by Father Henri Nouwen with foreword by Father John Dear
SJ. Orbis Books (Maryknoll, N.Y., 2005) 127 pp.
$16
   Some of us likely have had the strange experience of spotting, in the course of our daily business, one of the yellow-and-black fallout shelter signs that popped up during the Cold War and still linger. The black circle with the three inverted yellow triangles seemed to burn itself into the national consciousness, both capturing and evoking the nation's dread of a massive nuclear war.
   This is the specter that haunts Father Henri Nouwen's "Peacework: Prayer, Resistance, Community," a collection of some of the Dutch spiritual writer's work from the 1980s compiled by Jesuit priest and anti-war activist Father John Dear (who also wrote the book's foreword).
   "Peacework" represents Father Nouwen's vision of a spirituality of peace, which is based on the premise that being a peacemaker is a fundamental part of the Christian vocation. This obligation is not lessened, in his view, by the lamentable fact that the person who advocates peace is inevitably labeled a naive dreamer.
   With its focus on the would-be peacemaker's need for inner conversion, however, the book is as much about Father Nouwen's spiritual wrestling match with himself as it is about his opposition to nuclear weapons. One also detects a certain existential angst in lines like "Men and women work in offices under neon lights, sitting behind metal desks, drinking instant coffee from paper cups, eating their lunch out of a paper bag, and often wondering if they make any contribution at all."
   Thus, despite Father Nouwen's often beautiful writing, "Peacework" seems at times in danger of collapsing under its own ominous weight. That aside, the book serves as a reminder that though the arms race may be over the world now faces the daunting challenge of reducing nuclear stockpiles -- something that continues to prove remarkably difficult.

"Penelope" (Summit Entertainment)
Rated "PG"
Likable romantic fairy tale about an otherwise beautiful London heiress (Christina Ricci) who, as the result of an ancestral curse, was born with a pig's snout and who, with the help of her domineering mother (Catherine O'Hara) and diffident father (Richard E. Grant) must avoid exposure by a tabloid reporter (Peter Dinklage) while searching for the man whose love can lift the spell, the two main candidates being an upper-class twit (Simon Woods) and a warm-hearted musician (James McAvoy) with a gambling problem. Director Mark Palansky's film establishes its unlikely premise quite successfully and offers some valuable observations about skin-deep beauty and self-acceptance, but the plot lags in places and the groundwork for a convincing central relationship is never really completed. Occasional crass language and innuendo, and suicide and adultery references. 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.

"The Perfect Game" (IndustryWorks)
Rated "PG"
Rousing, faith-infused sports drama, based on real events, recounting the unlikely odyssey of a ragtag boys baseball team from Monterrey, Mexico, who, under the spiritual guidance of a devout but down-to-earth priest (Cheech Marin) and the leadership of a hard-driving coach (Clifton Collins Jr.) travel to the U.S. to compete in the 1957 Little League championship tournament, achieving a string of unexpected victories against far more advantaged teams. As directed by William Dear, W. William Winokur's script unambiguously presents the young players' Catholicism as the inspiration not only for their winning streak, but for their persistent refusal to allow either their impoverished circumstances or the disdainful prejudice they frequently encounter north of the border to deprive them of their dream, though a brief scene of Marin's otherwise estimable character celebrating a Tridentine Mass presents an image of worship so sloppy and repetitive as to approach unintentional parody. Racial tensions, ethnic slurs and a few mildly earthy insults. 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.

"A Perfect Getaway" (Rogue)
Rated "R"
Newlyweds (Steve Zahn and Milla Jovovich) on a hiking honeymoon in a remote area of Hawaii fear that an unwed couple they've befriended (Timothy Olyphant and Kiele Sanchez) may be serial killers on the lam. After a reasonably intriguing central twist, though one that fails to jibe entirely with what has gone before, director David Twohy's thriller becomes overwrought and excessively violent. Considerable action violence, some of it gory, cohabitation, drug use, rear and partial nudity, a half-dozen uses of profanity, and much rough and crude language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"The Perfect Holiday" (Yari)
Rated "PG"
Amiable romantic comedy, narrated by "Mrs. Christmas" (Queen Latifah), in which a divorced mother of three (Gabrielle Union) must cope with the machinations of her egotistical rap star ex-husband (Charles Q. Murphy) and the resistance of her 10-year-old son (Malik Hammond) as she gradually falls, with the help of her daughter (Khail Bryant), for a songwriter and shopping-mall Santa (Morris Chestnut) who's posing as an office supply salesman. Most of the humorous complications of director Lance Rivera's film work well enough, though the end product falls well short of its titular adjective. Implied premarital sex, divorce, some crass expressions and one 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.

"Perfume: The Story of a Murderer"
(Paramount/DreamWorks)
Rated "R"
Deeply disturbing but hypnotic story set in 18th-century France about an orphan (Ben Wishaw) -- impoverished and abused but gifted with an extraordinary sense of smell -- who apprentices to a perfumer (Dustin Hoffman), after which -- incapable of normal love -- he becomes a serial killer in his quest to capture the scents of his young female victims, ultimately targeting the virginal daughter (Rachel Hurd-Wood) of a wealthy merchant (Alan Rickman) desperate to protect her. Director Tom Tykwer's artful adaptation of Patrick Suskind's 1985 best-seller shows sensitivity in telling a story which could be utterly repellent in other hands, and without justifying the terrible deeds, succeeds in illuminating the protagonist's strange motivation with Christian compassion. Reasonably restrained in its violence, the film will clearly not be to every taste and should be approached with caution. Aberrant violence including murder and bloodshed, partial nudity, an unflattering ecclesiastical character, and a climax involving mass eroticism with long-shot nudity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

"Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief" (Fox)
Rated "PG"
A mildly troubled New York high school student (Logan Lerman) discovers his true identity as a demigod -- offspring of the Greek sea god Poseidon (Kevin McKidd) and a human mother (Catherine Keener) -- and embarks on a quest to prevent a war among the deities of Mount Olympus, assisted by a semi-divine teen girl warrior (Alexandra Daddario) and a courageous but untested adolescent satyr (Brandon T. Jackson). Director Chris Columbus' glossy but shallow screen version of the first in novelist Rick Riordan's best-selling series of children's novels relies on some slick special effects to keep the adventure moving forward, though the titular hero's transformation from a 12- to a 17-year-old introduces elements unsuitable for some of the book's younger fans, while parents who see the tale's mythological premise as more than a literary device will hesitate to allow impressionable youngsters to view it. Pagan themes, brief domestic discord, a few instances of sexual innuendo, a couple of crass terms. 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.

"Persepolis" (Sony Classics)
Rated "PG-13"
Unusual animated film for adults about the coming of age of a feisty young girl (voice of Chiara Mastroianni) in Tehran, Iran, in the troubled years after the fall of the shah's regime; amid the ensuing fundamentalist repression and the violence of the war with Iraq, her politically savvy parents (Catherine Deneuve and Sean Penn) and grandmother (Gena Rowlands) send her to school in Vienna, Austria, for safety, where she feels like an outsider. Marjane Satrapi (on whose life the film is based) and Vincent Paronnaud's absorbing, mostly black-and-white feature gives a valuable historical overview of the social and political situation, but what stays with the viewer is the powerful sense of family. Excellent English edition of the French original. Some rough and crude language and profanity, some brief violent imagery including torture and executions, sexual references, a couple of nonmarital relationships, the acceptability of divorce and brief drug use; acceptable for mature teens. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"The Phantom of the Opera" (Warner Bros.)
Rated "PG-13"
Opulent film version of Andrew Lloyd Webber's long-running musical about the disfigured madman in an 1870 opera house in Paris, the young soprano whom he coaches from behind her dressing room mirror, and the young count who loves her. Joel Schumacher's film is visually magnificent, and the lush soundtrack offers a fine earful, but the Phantom (Gerard Butler) is portrayed as too much the handsome Byronic hero to be truly terrifying, Christine (Emmy Rossum) is beautiful but dolefully impassive, and Raoul (Patrick Wilson) bland, with unconvincing lip-syncing that detracts from the drama. Miranda Richardson, Minnie Driver, Simon Callow and Ciaran Hinds excel in supporting roles. Fleeting rear nudity by a background extra, a few coarse words and some violence. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents.

"Phat Girlz" (Fox Searchlight)
Rated "PG-13"
Romantic comedy about an aspiring plus-size fashion designer (Mo'Nique) riddled with insecurities, who wins a trip to Palm Springs, Calif., where she -- accompanied by her skinny cousin (Joyful Drake) and plump best friend (Kendra C. Johnson) -- is wooed by an attractive Nigerian doctor (Jimmy Jean-Louis), who explains that in his homeland ladies of her size are the ideal of beauty. Written and directed by Nnegest Likke and with a vivacious performance by Mo'Nique, the sporadically entertaining film encourages self-esteem and self-acceptance, but this positive message is somewhat sullied by its freewheeling attitude toward premarital sex and its bawdy tone. Recurring sexual banter and lewd humor, including an erotic dream sequence, several sexual encounters, suggestive costumes, pervasive crass language and a few instances of profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

"Pierrepoint: The Last Hangman" (IFC)
Rated "R"
Well-made British film argues against capital punishment by telling the true story of one of England's most prolific executioners, Albert I. Pierrepoint, staunchly portrayed by talented character actor Timothy Spall. Director Adrian Shergold generally avoids sensationalism when depicting Pierrepoint's grim stock in trade, but the morally correct treatment becomes somewhat heavy-handed when the narrative takes an unbelievable turn that solidifies Pierrepoint's growing disillusionment with his duties. Numerous nongraphic hangings, a mostly clothed adulterous encounter, full frontal female and rear male nudity involving corpses, a few instances of crass language. 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.

"Pineapple Express" (Columbia/Relativity)
Rated "R"
A pot-smoking process server (Seth Rogen) and his pusher (James Franco) go on the lam after he accidentally witnesses a rub-out by a drug lord (Gary Cole) and a corrupt policewoman (Rosie Perez) and leaves a joint of the rare titular breed of marijuana at the scene. A muted anti-drug message and an over-the-top celebration of friendship fail to redeem director David Gordon Green's frenzied, vulgar and excessively violent action comedy. Graphic mayhem, including mutilation, drug use, sexual humor, pervasive rough and crude language, and several profanities. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"The Pink Panther 2" (MGM-Columbia)
Rated "PG"
Modestly amusing sequel in which bumbling, but ultimately brilliant Inspector Clouseau (Steve Martin) joins an international dream team of detectives (Alfred Molina, Andy Garcia, Yuki Matsuzaki and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan) to solve the theft of various national treasures, a pursuit aided by his loyal assistant (Jean Reno) and his secretly beloved secretary (Emily Mortimer). Despite a lavishly talented cast, which also includes John Cleese and Lily Tomlin, director Harald Zwart's addition to the decades-old franchise has little more to offer than some effectively chaotic slapstick, though the humor in comic scenes featuring a kindly fictional pope is at Clouseau's expense, not the church's. An implied premarital encounter and some sexual and mildly irreverent humor. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.

"Piranha 3D" (Dimension)
Rated "R"
In this schlocky horror flick, ultra-decadent spring-break festivities on an Arizona lake turn deadly after seismic activity unleashes prehistoric fish with an appetite for slatternly coeds and the otherwise ethically challenged. The local sheriff (Elisabeth Shue) must try to save her teenage son (Steven R. McQueen) and his two younger siblings (Sage Ryan and Brooklynn Proulx). The predatory fish have nothing on director Alexandre Aja's voyeuristic camera, which takes as much prurient delight in watching gyrating bodies in party mode as it does in showing them get shredded and dismembered. Intense graphic violence, including a decapitation, numerous severed torsos, and other mutilated and dismembered bodies and body parts; full frontal female nudity; much groping and kissing, some of it same-sex; frequent profane, rough and crude language; repeated scenes of underage drinking; and an instance of drug use. The Catholic News Service classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" (Disney)
Rated "PG-13"
In the adequate fourth movie inspired by the amusement park ride, Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) leads various seafarers -- his nemesis Captain Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush), an old flame (Penelope Cruz) and the evil pirate Blackbeard (Ian McShane) -- to the Fountain of Youth. Applying a Broadway musical sensibility, director Rob Marshall ("Chicago") cannot dispel the feeling that the franchise has grown long in the tooth. Although admirably straightforward, the picture lacks visual grandeur and the jolly, swashbuckling energy that has made the series so popular. Recurring action-adventure violence and peril, including nongraphic knife play and swordplay; some lightly suggestive humor and innuendo; several scary sequences; one rude expression; and frequent alcohol consumption. The Catholic News Service classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

"Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" (Disney)
Rated "PG-13"
Cockeyed pirate Capt. Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp), Will Turner (Orlando Bloom) and Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley) batten down the hatches for another round of high-sea hijinks -- involving a villainous British bureaucrat (Tom Hollander), sea monsters, comical cannibals, a ghost ship and a quest to find the locker of fabled Davy Jones (Bill Nighy) -- in this highly entertaining, if slightly darker, sequel to the 2003 sleeper hit based on the Disney theme-park ride. Director Gore Verbinski delivers more of the same rip-roaring fun as in the original, the film's skeletal plot kept afloat by the deftly executed swashbuckling slapstick, imaginative visuals and Depp's show-stealing performance. Recurring action-adventure violence and peril, including a nongraphic throat cutting and off-screen executions, a fleeting gruesome image, some intense sequences and frightening supernatural effects, voodoo hokum, lightly suggestive humor and innuendo, and a mildly rude expression. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents.

"Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" (Disney)
Rated "PG-13"
Generally listless third leg of blockbuster voyage has Elizabeth (Keira Knightley), Will (Orlando Bloom) and Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush) bringing Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) back from the dead before leading a rainbow coalition of pirates against the tyrannical forces of the East India Company. Evidently director Gore Verbinski and crew ran out of cinematic provisions while making this talky, mirth-free installment; its splintered story line and lack of swashbuckling action suggest fatigue, which allowed the creative equivalent of scurvy to set in. Recurring action-adventure violence and peril, including hangings and characters run through with swords; fondling and kissing of a bare female leg; suggestive humor and innuendo; voodoo incantations; and a crude expression. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

"The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything: A VeggieTales Movie" (Universal)
Rated "G"
Breezy computer-animated children's adventure in which a trio of self-doubting anthropomorphized vegetables (one voiced by Mike Nawrocki, the others by Phil Vischer) who work at a pirate-themed dinner theater get the chance to prove their mettle when they're transported back in time and given the chance to save a prince (Yuri Lowenthal) and princess (Laura Gerow) from the nefarious designs of their power-hungry uncle (Cam Clarke). Nawrocki, who also directed, creates a wholesome, thoroughly enjoyable film which, despite some technical limitations, manages to convey its message about the real nature of heroism quite effectively. Some mild bathroom references. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-I -- general patronage. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is G -- general audiences. All ages admitted.

"Pirate Radio" (Focus)
Rated "R"
Energetic but sexually freewheeling ensemble comedy, set in mid-1960s Britain, in which a rebellious teen (Tom Sturridge) is sent by his mother (January Jones) to live on an oil tanker that has been converted into an offshore radio station (led by Bill Nighy) where a team of eccentric disc jockeys (most prominently Philip Seymour Hoffman and Rhys Ifans) broadcast the rock 'n' roll music that the government-sponsored BBC will not. As they battle a bureaucrat's (Kenneth Branagh) efforts to shut them down, he pursues romance with a shipboard visitor (Talulah Riley). Written and directed by Richard Curtis, this fact-based frolic's potentially buoyant celebration of music and camaraderie is torpedoed by its implicit acceptance of all manner of bedroom shenanigans. Benign view of casual, group and gay sex and of drug and condom use, brief rear nudity, a pornographic image, some irreverent and sexual humor, a couple of profanities, at least 20 uses of the F-word. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"Planet 51" (TriStar)
Rated "PG"
Delightful animated comedy based in a galaxy far, far away where little green aliens live in a 1950s "Happy Days"-style suburbia, complete with white picket fences, backyard barbecues and monster movies playing at the drive in. When a real alien, in the shape of a human astronaut (voice of "The Rock," Dwayne Johnson), drops from the sky, all heck breaks loose as this E.T. tries to return home with the help of a gaggle of teens led by a shy would-be astronomer (voice of Justin Long). Some mildly suggestive humor aside, co-directors Jorge Blanco, Javier Abad and Marcos Martinez's generally wholesome film, which features positive life lessons about friendship, loyalty, and acceptance of others, offers fun for all ages. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-I -- general patronage. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.

"Planet 51" (TriStar)
Rated "PG"
Delightful animated comedy based in a galaxy far, far away where little green aliens live in a 1950s "Happy Days"-style suburbia, complete with white picket fences, backyard barbecues and monster movies playing at the drive in. When a real alien, in the shape of a human astronaut (voice of "The Rock," Dwayne Johnson), drops from the sky, all heck breaks loose as this E.T. tries to return home with the help of a gaggle of teens led by a shy would-be astronomer (voice of Justin Long). Some mildly suggestive humor aside, co-directors Jorge Blanco, Javier Abad and Marcos Martinez's generally wholesome film, which features positive life lessons about friendship, loyalty, and acceptance of others, offers fun for all ages. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-I -- general patronage. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.

"A Plumm Summer" (Home Team/Fairplay)
Rated "PG"
Gentle and winning fact-based coming-of-age tale, set in 1968, in which a 13-year-old aspiring detective (Chris J. Kelly) and his girlfriend (Morgan Flynn) search their small Montana hometown for the TV puppet with whom his kid brother (Owen Pearce) is obsessed and who has made the show's host (Henry Winkler) a local star, while he also supports his mother's (Lisa Guerrero) struggles with his father's (William Baldwin) alcoholism. Director Caroline Zelder's nostalgic first feature, narrated by Jeff Daniels, gleams with innocence and affection, and takes full advantage of its magnificent rural setting. 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.

"The Polar Express" (Warner Bros)
Rated “G”
Visually captivating animated fantasy -- in which Tom Hanks plays five separate roles -- about a doubting young boy who is whisked away on Christmas Eve aboard a magic train bound for Santa's village in the North Pole. Based on the children's novel by Chris Van Allsburg, director Rob Zemeckis' hauntingly beautiful fairy tale celebrates childlike wonder and -- though secular in tone -- imparts a profoundly faith-friendly message about the importance of believing in things that can't be seen. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-I -- general patronage.

"Ponyo" (Disney)
Rated "G"
Enchanting English-language version of a Japanese animated fable about a determined goldfish (voice of Noah Cyrus) who escapes from the underwater realm of her domineering wizard father (voice of Liam Neeson) to explore the world beyond, and comes under the protection of a plucky, affectionate 5-year-old boy (voice of Frankie Jonas), whose love for her is tested both before and after her mysterious transformation into a little girl. Originally written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki, the mythic tale, inspired by Hans Christian Anderson's "The Little Mermaid," uses masterful artistry to recapture the innocence and wonder of childhood, while deftly delivering a warning against environmental carelessness. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-I -- general patronage. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is G -- general audiences. All ages admitted.

"Pooh's Heffalump Movie" (Disney)
Rated "G"
Delightfully sunny animated feature in which Winnie the Pooh (voiced by Jim Cummings) and his pals -- Tigger, Piglet, Eeyore, Rabbit and Roo -- set out to capture a Heffalump, a much-feared creature who has invaded their home in the Hundred Acre Wood, and wind up learning a valuable lesson about treating those who are different with kindness. Director Frank Nissen stays true to the gentle spirit of A.A. Milne's beloved storybook tales, combining traditional hand-drawn animation with a buoyant score -- including songs by Carly Simon -- to create a heartwarming parable about friendship and acceptance, which is as welcome as a tummy full of honey. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-I -- general patronage.

"Poseidon" (Warner Bros.)
Rated "PG-13"
Reasonably effective but inferior remake of 1972's luxury-liner disaster film, as a tidal wave capsizes the vessel, and a sparring father (Kurt Russell) and daughter (Emmy Rossum), her boyfriend (Mike Vogel), a professional gambler (Josh Lucas), a single mother (Jacinda Barrett) and child, and a Latina stowaway (Mia Maestro) attempt to flee through the bottom of the boat. The character setup is dispatched within minutes, and once disaster strikes director Wolfgang Petersen keeps the action going, with above-average special effects and decent performances. A few instances of profanity and crass expressions, intense but not gruesome disaster violence, brief veiled sexual exchange, gambling and a suicide attempt. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents.

"Post Grad" (Fox Atomic)
Rated "PG-13"
After failing to secure her dream job, a recent college graduate (Alexis Bledel) is forced to return home to her eccentric parents (Jane Lynch and Michael Keaton) and feisty grandmother (Carol Burnett) whose antics distract her from her employment search and from her efforts to choose between her longtime boyfriend (Zach Gilford) and a Brazilian-born ladies' man (Rodrigo Santoro). A talented cast is becalmed, in veteran animation director Vicky Jenson's live-action debut, by a listless script which, though it boosts family solidarity, also features a passionate encounter between characters who have barely met and repeatedly refers to the importance of condom use. Brief nongraphic, nonmarital sexual activity, occasional sexual references, a half-dozen uses of profanity, at least one use of the F-word, and some crude and crass language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"The Power of Faith" (2005)
Earnest tribute to Pope John Paul II by producer Robert Evans ("The Godfather"). Originally made in 1988 as a private gift to the late pontiff, the music-video-style montage celebrates the life of John Paul from his youth in Poland, through the war years under Nazi occupation, to his election as pope and the attempt on his life by Turkish gunman Mehmet Ali Agca. Told completely through images -- with a score by Yanni and occasional subtitles but no narration -- the one-hour program is not so much a traditional documentary as it is a musical collage of archival photos and film from the late pope's childhood and world travels. Rare footage of the pope's reconciliatory visit to his would-be assassin's prison cell is particularly touching. But while Pope John Paul's charisma and compassion shine through, the reverent and well-intentioned program is handicapped by its dated look and production quality, though those with a special devotion to John Paul (and they are legion) will especially be moved. The DVD includes a Spanish version with an introduction by Ricardo Montalban. (Prelude Worldwide Ministries; www.thepopemovie.com)

"Predators" (Fox)
Rated "R"
Dreary sci-fi sequel in which a random collection of human warriors and criminals (most prominently Adrien Brody, Alice Braga and Topher Grace) find themselves unwillingly and mysteriously parachuted into a jungle by the invisibility-cloaked aliens of the title who then hunt them for sport. Despite a half-hearted last-reel lesson about the need to maintain civilized values, director Nimrod Antal's addition to the thriller franchise that began with 1987's "Predator" is mostly a survey of nasty ways to die, while Alex Litvak's script is chockablock with obscenities. Frequent graphic violence, some of it gruesome, a few uses of profanity, pervasive rough and crude language. The Catholic News Service classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"The Prestige" (Touchstone/Warner Bros.)
Rated "PG-13"
Convoluted thriller about rival magicians (Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman) in Victorian England who stop at nothing to sabotage (and steal the trade secrets of) the other after the accidental death of the latter's wife during a theatrical stunt. Director Christopher Nolan's adaptation of Christopher Priest's novel is, thanks to the self-serving characters, more unpleasant than intriguing and all the double-dealing grows tiresome, despite the flair of the two leads and the estimable support of Michael Caine as a retired conjurer and Scarlett Johansson as the romantic love interest of both. Some violence, including drownings, a suicide and a hanging, and some crass words. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

"Pretty Persuasion" (Samuel Goldwyn)
Rated "NR"
Dark-edged satire about a maliciously manipulative 15-year-old (Evan Rachel Wood) who recruits two classmates (Elisabeth Harnois and Adi Schnall) in accusing one of their high school teachers (Ron Livingston) of sexual misconduct, entangling all involved in a web of deceit that has tragic consequences. Despite an impressive performance by his Lolitaish lead, director Marcos Siega's cynical, mean-spirited and unjustifiably raunchy revenge tale has pretensions of social commentary but lacks any sympathetic characters and seems content to shock rather than offer any real insights on the issues explored. Recurring sexual situations, including suggested sodomy and oral sex between minors, and, in one case, between a teenage girl and an adult woman; masturbation; a suicide; brief drug content; same-sex kissing; excessive explicit sexual language; and some profanity, ethnic slurs and lewd humor. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive.

"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.

"Priest" (Screen Gems)
Rated "PG-13"
This malign futuristic horror exercise, set after an apocalyptic war in which a distorted version of the Catholic Church helped humanity to defeat a race of vampires, sees the consecrated warrior of the title (Paul Bettany) defying his dictatorial religious superiors (led by Christopher Plummer) -- who now hold Big Brother-style sway over society -- to go in quest of his niece (Lily Collins), abducted during a fresh outbreak of bloodsuckerviolence. Allying himself with the girl's boyfriend (Cam Gigandet), he also gains the help of a disenchanted priestess (Maggie Q) as together they battle to thwart the ambitions of a new, seemingly invincible chieftain of the undead (Karl Urban). Director Scott Stewart's adaptation of Min-Woo Hyung's series of graphic novels depicts sacramental practice in a borderline blasphemous way, appropriates cherished Christian symbols to its own, often violent ends, and presents the church as a corrupt, evil force against which its hero is honor-bound to rebel. Pervasive anti-Catholicism, sometimes approaching sacrilege; much morbid, occasionally bloody violence; at least one use of profanity and of the F-word; and a few crude and crass terms. The Catholic News Service 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.

"The Princess and the Frog" (Disney)
Rated "G"
Enchanting animated musical, set in 1920s New Orleans, in which a voodoo sorcerer (voice of Keith David) casts a spell that complicates the lives of a visiting prince (voice of Bruno Campos), the headstrong heiress he hopes to marry (voice of Jennifer Cody) and her industrious working-class best friend (voice of Anika Noni Rose). As directed and co-written by John Musker and Ron Clements, the lavish hand-drawn romance, which also features delightful voice work by Michael-Leon Wooley as a jazz-loving alligator and Jim Cummings as a Cajun firefly, emphasizes the value of love over material wealth and provides quality entertainment for all ages, though images of fire-breathing masks and evil sprites may scare some tots. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-I -- general patronage. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is G -- general audiences. All ages admitted.

"The Price of Sugar" (Uncommon)
Rated "NR"
Worthy documentary that recounts the struggle of a Catholic missionary to gain basic social and economic rights for Haitian workers exploited by the sugar industry in the Dominican Republic. Directed by Bill Haney and narrated by Paul Newman, the film provides a harrowing and unsettling look at slavery-like labor conditions in the contemporary Caribbean, but also celebrates the good that can spring from one individual's deep religious commitment and from well organized, nonviolent methods of mass resistance. Graphic depictions of disease, children and adolescents bathing. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents. Not rated by the Motion Picture Association of America.

"Pride" (Lionsgate)
Rated "PG"
Inspirational true-life tale, circa 1971, about a coach (Terrence Howard) who forms a swim team at a dilapidated Philadelphia community house, demonstrating to the African-American youths that, despite the poverty and crime around them, they can compete with privileged teens both in the pool and in the world. The emotion-tugging efficiency of director Sunu Gonera, a veteran of Coca-Cola and Nike commercials, serves this period piece well, briskly hitting all its marks about hope, teamwork, believing in oneself and overcoming adversity. A small amount of crude and crass language (including two instances of the n-word), a couple of scuffles and some vague threats of violence. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents.

"Pride and Glory" (Warner Bros.)
Rated "R"
Powerful but often brutal drama of a family of New York police officers (Edward Norton, Colin Farrell, Noah Emmerich and Jon Voight, all solid) torn apart by a major corruption scandal. Though director and co-writer Gavin O'Connor's absorbing drama starts out noisily frenetic as a drug bust goes fatally awry, the family elements eventually come to the fore, taking on the dimensions of genuine tragedy, with that age-old conflict between right and wrong in vivid play. Strong violence with bloodshed, pervasive rough language and profanity, some crude sexual expressions, drug use and suicide. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Pride & Prejudice" (Focus)
Rated "PG"
Fine new version of Jane Austen's evergreen classic concerning the five unmarried Bennet girls whose mother (Brenda Blethyn) is strenuously determined to marry them off in 18th-century England, and the crossed-signals romance between Elizabeth (Keira Knightley) and the wealthy Darcy (Matthew Macfadyen) whose apparent dislike for each other -- because of his arrogance and her judgmental attitude -- masks a profound attraction. Director Joe Wright makes the settings more realistically rough-hewn than usual, but even so the film is visually stunning and its top-flight supporting players - Donald Sutherland, Judi Dench, Penelope Wilton and Tom Hollander among them -- make this highly recommendable for all ages. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-I -- general patronage.

"Prime" (Universal)
Rated "PG-13"
Amusing, if morally problematic, New York-based story of a 37-year-old divorcee (Uma Thurman) who falls in love with a 23-year-old Jewish aspiring artist (Bryan Greenberg). Neither aware that he is the son of her psychiatrist (Meryl Streep) -- who is determined her son will marry within his faith, but finds herself with the ethical dilemma of helping her client or protecting her son. Ben Younger's directorial debut is well-acted, and has moments of charm, but is far too casual about the premarital affair, though the affair is at least grounded by real love and affection, and the ending is admirably realistic. Scattered profanity, crude language and expressions, frank sexual talk, several nonexplicit sex scenes, strongly permissive view of premarital sex, and infidelity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

"Primer" (ThinkFilm)
Rated "PG-13"
Writer-director Shane Carruth's low-budget sci-fi mindbender about a pair of young brainiacs (Carruth and David Sullivan), who -- while working out of their garage, trying to come up with the next "big" thing -- discover that the gizmo they invented can be used as a time machine, which they exploit to their advantage, leading to unforeseen consequences. Despite an intriguing conceit and edgy, no-frills look, the film is weighed down by its indecipherable plot and cryptic techno-babble dialogue which will leave many viewers scratching their heads. Some crude language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents are strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

"Primeval" (Hollywood Pictures)
Rated "R"
Bloody action thriller about an American television news crew (Dominic Purcell, Brooke Langton and Orlando Jones) dispatched to a civil-war ravaged African nation to report on a giant crocodile terrorizing the locals and to bring the beast back alive with the help of a seasoned hunter (Jurgen Prochnow) and an Australian reptile expert (Gideon Emery). Allegedly inspired by true events, director Michael Katleman's mostly suspense-free "Jaws" rip-off is undone by schlocky effects and a script that tries to wedge social-conscience commentary into its B-movie plot. Much gory violence, grisly images, recurring rough and crude language and some sexual humor. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

"The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement" (Disney)
Rated "G"
     Once upon a time, director Garry Marshall set out to make a sequel to his mildly charming 2001 romantic teen comedy, "The Princess Diaries."
     And so a decree went out to all the girl-power cliches in the land, summoning them to his script, the result being the sweet but schmaltzy "The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement."
     For those who missed the first film, Anne Hathaway plays Mia, a nerdy American teenager who learned that she is next in line for the throne of Genovia, a Monaco-like realm somewhere in Europe whose national anthem sounds surprisingly similar to that of Freedonia's in the Marx Brothers' "Duck Soup."
     In the original, Mia -- under the tutelage of her regal grandmother, Queen Clarisse (Julie Andrews) -- was transformed from the proverbial ugly duckling into a graceful royal swan.
     Now five years and one Princeton degree later, Mia is turning 21 and, with her grandma stepping down, is ready to assume her role as ruler of Genovia. But there is one major speed bump on the way to the castle: Genovian law forbids an unmarried woman to be crowned queen; the same stricture does not apply to male heirs.
     Faced with the coronation conundrum, Genovia's parliament is left with two options: Either Mia finds a suitable monarchical mate in 30 days, or the crown passes to her royal rival, Lord Nicholas Devereaux (Chris Pine), a dashing homegrown prince whose claim is championed by his Machiavellian uncle (John Rhys-Davies).
     In the quest for a groom, it is arranged for Mia to marry Lord Andrew Jacoby (Callum Blue), a handsome young British blueblood. The only problem is she finds herself falling for Devereaux.
     Will Mia choose true love or duty? Or, will she have her royal wedding cake and eat it too?
     As in the first "Diaries," the mediocre material is elevated somewhat by the buoyant and beautiful Hathaway, whose sunny smile could light up a small kingdom or two. As always, Andrews adds a touch of elegance to an otherwise graceless and clumsy affair. Also returning are Heather Matarazzo as Mia's old high school gal-pal, Lilly, and Hector Elizondo as Queen Clarisse's head of security.
     At least the original film had a cute Pygmalion premise with Andrews playing Prof. Higgins to Hathaway's goofy Eliza Doolittle. This time around, the derivative humor is spread thin and much more forced. The film also lacks the freshness of the first installment, a common malady among sequels -- unless, of course, the protagonist is a green ogre, spins webs or has the surname Corleone.
     Pre-pubescent princess-wannabes will undoubtedly find the Cinderella-like ball gowns and tiaras enchanting, but older viewers may find themselves pulling a Sleeping Beauty for much of the film.
     "The Princess Diaries 2" is the most recent example of an emerging subgenre, the feminist fairy tale. Along with other recent wish-fulfillment fantasies like "The Prince & Me" and "Ella Enchanted" (which also starred Hathaway), "Diaries 2" freights the traditional storybook formula with preachy dollops of gender politics pap.
     With Hollywood serving up a steady stream of toxically violent and hypersexualized fare, you would think that it would be easy to give a G-rated film -- with recognizable stars, glossy production values and a name director -- an enthusiastic thumbs-up. Sadly, that is not the case. Still, in this day and age, Marshall deserves credit for making a movie that eschews "edginess" in favor of a more wholesome tone and has a positive, family-friendly message.
     For that reason alone, this is one "Engagement" you may want to keep.
     In spite of some thematic elements and a few brief kissing scenes, the USCCB classification is A-I -- general patronage.

"Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time" (Disney)
Rated "PG-13"
Plodding adaptation of the eponymous videogame series pits a heroic orphan (Jake Gyllenhaal) against his adopted royal uncle (Ben Kingsley) as he helps a princess (Gemma Arterton) safeguard a time-altering dagger that has the potential to destroy humankind. Hyperactive camerawork and frenetic special effects squash any authentically human elements that director Mike Newell might have brought to the loud, flashy proceedings, while the script's presentation of religion involves an uneasy mix of pagan mythology and vague monotheism. Frequent, moderately intense violence, a number of frightening images, some sexual innuendo. The Catholic News Service classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

"The Pink Panther" (MGM-Columbia)
Rated "PG"
Amusing update of the Blake Edwards comedy series with Steve Martin successfully assuming Peter Sellers' mantle as the impossibly inept Inspector Clouseau who, this time, must solve the murder of a soccer coach, with the assistance of a resourceful secretary (Emily Mortimer) and an unflappable aide (Jean Reno), hired by the duplicitous police chief (Kevin Kline) who hopes to solve the case himself and win the Medal of Honor. Shawn Levy directs with a sure comic touch (a few comic misfires notwithstanding), and despite some off-color humor and knockabout slapstick, the film is relatively devoid of objectionable elements. Some sexual humor and innuendo, some suggestive costuming, crass expressions and humor, and slapstick violence, making this most suitable for older adolescents and up. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"Premonition" (MGM/Hyde Park/TriStar)
Rated "PG-13"
Effective time-warp thriller about wife (Sandra Bullock) who learns her husband (Julian McMahon) has died in a car accident, only to wake up and discover he's still alive and the dreadful event will happen a few days later. Serious suspension of disbelief is required on the viewer's part, but director Mennan Yapo directs with skill, Bullock is riveting as she gradually pieces together the mystifying events around her, and there's even that rare occurrence -- a fairly positive priest character -- all in all making this unobjectionable for older teens and up, despite the flagged elements below. A few instances of profanity and expletives, a horrific car collision and a couple of minor accidents involving blood, mild innuendo, suggestion of adultery. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"Pride" (Lionsgate)
Rated "PG"
Inspirational true-life tale, circa 1971, about a coach (Terrence Howard) who forms a swim team at a dilapidated Philadelphia community house, demonstrating to the African-American youths that, despite the poverty and crime around them, they can compete with privileged teens both in the pool and in the world. The emotion-tugging efficiency of director Sunu Gonera, a veteran of Coca-Cola and Nike commercials, serves this period piece well, briskly hitting all its marks about hope, teamwork, believing in oneself and overcoming adversity. A small amount of crude and crass language (including two instances of the n-word), a couple of scuffles and some vague threats of violence. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents.

"Pride and Glory" (Warner Bros.)
Rated "R"
Powerful but often brutal drama of a family of New York police officers (Edward Norton, Colin Farrell, Noah Emmerich and Jon Voight, all solid) torn apart by a major corruption scandal. Though director and co-writer Gavin O'Connor's absorbing drama starts out noisily frenetic as a drug bust goes fatally awry, the family elements eventually come to the fore, taking on the dimensions of genuine tragedy, with that age-old conflict between right and wrong in vivid play. Strong violence with bloodshed, pervasive rough language and profanity, some crude sexual expressions, drug use and suicide. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Private Fears in Public Places" ("Coeurs") (IFC First Take)
Rated "NR"
Master French filmmaker Alain Resnais' superb adaptation of British playwright Alan Ayckbourn's bittersweet comedy about six lonely characters: a real estate agent (Andre Dussollier), his lovelorn sister (Isabelle Carre), his religiously minded secretary (Sabine Azema), a widowed bartender (Pierre Arditi), an alcoholic ex-military man (Lambert Wilson) and his frustrated girlfriend (Laura Morante). A humorous stage piece with a serious undertone here becomes a breathtaking study of loneliness and alienation thanks to sensitive performances, evocative music and rich production design. Though Azema's character has proclivities wildly at odds with her pious demeanor, her imperfections pointedly represent the human flaws in all of us, while her faith is shown to be completely genuine. Subtitles. Brief suggestion of pornographic images, some rough and crude language, alcohol use, some domestic discord, premarital situations and implied sexual activity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults. Not rated by the Motion Picture Association of America.

"The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio" (DreamWorks)
Rated "PG-13"
Appealing true-life story of a 1950s' Midwestern housewife (Julianne Moore in top form) with a knack for winning jingle-writing contests which help support her large family (10 kids) and alcoholic husband (a touching Woody Harrelson). Writer-director Jane Anderson's candy-colored film is a whimsical evocation of that decade, filled with kitschy visuals, but the story delivers a strong emotional punch, and a resounding affirmation of the primacy of family and the importance of forgiveness. Brief negative portrayal of a priest, alcoholism theme, brief bloody aftermath of a car crash, and mild domestic violence, including an episode involving blood. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents.

"The Producers" (Universal/Columbia)
Rated "PG-13"
First-rate filming of Mel Brooks' Broadway megahit about a losing-streak producer (Nathan Lane) and a stage-struck accountant (Matthew Broderick) who hatch a scheme to bankroll a show that's doomed to failure -- an Adolf Hitler musical -- and walk away with the investment. Director Susan Stroman makes an auspicious film debut, faithfully re-creating her original staging, while members of the Broadway cast are joined by a funny Will Ferrell and Uma Thurman in this throwback to 1950s-era movie musicals. Some bawdy and outrageous humor including gay stereotypes, cross-dressing, sexual innuendo, suggestive costuming and dancing, some crude language and comic violence. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"Prom" (Disney)
Rated "PG"
Wholesome but ho-hum high school-set romantic comedy in which a variety of teen couples (principally clean-cut class president Aimee Teegarden and mild bad boy Thomas McDonell) discover, renew or lose love in the buildup to the big dance. Though it gathers some emotional momentum as it proceeds, director Joe Nussbaum's low-key, carefully choreographed social square dance is realistic enough that the characters' problems seem relatively trivial but sufficiently romanticized that a goodhearted, nerdy underclassman (Nolan Sotillo) gets a shot at besting the captain of the varsity lacrosse team (De'Vaughn Nixon) as they compete for the affections of a fetching sophomore (Danielle Campbell). Appropriate and agreeable -- if not especially enthralling -- entertainment for all. The Catholic News Service classification is A-I -- general patronage. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested.

"The Promise" (Warner Independent)
Rated "PG-13"
Fantasy romance set in China's mythic past about a beautiful princess (Cecilia Cheung) whose childhood pact with a goddess to forsake true love for worldly comfort reaps fateful consequences for her and the three rivals vying for her affections: a renowned general (Hiroyuki Sanada), his loyal, supernaturally swift slave (Jang Dong-Gun) and a villainous duke (Nicholas Tse). Director Chen Kaige's epic tale of desire and destiny explores universal themes of honor, self-sacrifice and free will, but sacrifices character development and narrative clarity in favor of sumptuous visuals and effects-heavy martial arts sequences. Much stylized action violence, images of battlefield carnage, a massacre scene, a flaming body and a sexual encounter, as well as suggested bathing nudity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"Prom Night" (Screen Gems)
Rated "PG-13"
Leaden, formulaic slasher film in which an obsessed former teacher (Johnathon Schaech) escapes from a mental hospital and returns to stalk a high school student (Brittany Snow) whose family he killed three years earlier, pursuing her through the swanky hotel where she and her boyfriend (Scott Porter) are attending the titular event and staying a step ahead of the police detective (Idris Elba) who is trying to protect her. Director Nelson McCormick's homage to the 1980 movie of the same name displays more restraint than many examples of the genre, but the final corpse count is still high. Some graphic violence with gore, underage drinking, two uses of the s-word, occasional crass language, some profanity, brief sexual talk and innuendo. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"The Proposal" (Touchstone)
Rated "PG-13"
To avoid being deported back to Canada, a hard-driving New York book editor (Sandra Bullock) coerces her brow-beaten executive assistant (Ryan Reynolds) into getting engaged, but the hostility underlying their charade of love mellows during a visit to his parents' (Mary Steenburgen and Craig T. Nelson) Alaska home for his grandmother's (Betty White) 90th birthday. Brief interludes of questionable humor and a largely predictable plot aside, director Anne Fletcher's effervescent romantic comedy is mostly a valentine to family affection and against-the-odds ardor. Implied premarital sexual activity, fleeting nudity, some sexual humor, a couple of crude and a dozen crass words, at least two uses of profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Proof" (Miramax)
Rated "PG-13"
Absorbing adaptation of David Auburn's award-winning Broadway play concerning a young woman (Gwyneth Paltrow) coping with the mental illness -- and subsequent death -- of her genius mathematician father (Anthony Hopkins), and fearing that she may have inherited his madness. Director John Madden has sensibly opened up the play for the screen, and with strong performances by Paltrow, Hope Davis as her uptight sister, and Jake Gyllenhaal as her father's ex-student, the play's theme that some things -- like love and trust -- can never be "proven" in a mathematical or scientific sense and must be verified in less concrete terms resonates as well as ever. Scattered instances of profanity, rough and crude language and expressions, a nongraphic premarital sexual encounter, other brief sexual references, and drug use make this best for older adolescents and up. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"The Proposal" (Touchstone)
Rated "PG-13"
To avoid being deported back to Canada, a hard-driving New York book editor (Sandra Bullock) coerces her brow-beaten executive assistant (Ryan Reynolds) into getting engaged, but the hostility underlying their charade of love mellows during a visit to his parents' (Mary Steenburgen and Craig T. Nelson) Alaska home for his grandmother's (Betty White) 90th birthday. Brief interludes of questionable humor and a largely predictable plot aside, director Anne Fletcher's effervescent romantic comedy is mostly a valentine to family affection and against-the-odds ardor. Implied premarital sexual activity, fleeting nudity, some sexual humor, a couple of crude and a dozen crass words, at least two uses of profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"The Proposition" (First Look)
Rated "R"
Artful but unsparing 1880s-era Australian outback Western in which a British law enforcement officer (Ray Winstone) gives a gang member (Guy Pearce) the chance to save his jailed kid brother's life, provided he finds and kills his vicious older brother (Danny Huston). Director John Hillcoat's uneven film from a Nick Cave script is well acted, including those by Emily Watson as the officer's delicate wife and John Hurt as a drunken bounty hunter, and is not without moral complexity, but the violence and bloodshed are exceedingly hard to take. Pervasive brutality and violence, beatings, murder, rough language, a nongraphic but disturbing rape. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

"P2" (Summit)
Rated "R"
Distasteful horror film about a young woman (Rachel Nichols) who, after working late, is anxious to join her family's Christmas celebration, but a psychotic parking attendant (Wes Bentley) has other ideas. Director Franck Khalfoun, who co-wrote the generic script, has only managed to serve up an offensively dull Christmas pudding with dispiriting violence, only a few frights and predictable plot turns. Significant violence and gore including the killing of a dog, frequent rough language and profanity, and two scenes of brief groping. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"Public Enemies" (Universal/Relativity)
Rated "R"
Polished dramatization of the last months of famed Depression-era gangster John Dillinger (a commanding Johnny Depp) as he orchestrates prison breaks, continues his bank-robbing spree across the Midwest, repeatedly eludes capture by special agent Melvin Purvis (Christian Bale) of the nascent FBI, and romances Chicago coat-check girl Billie Frechette (Marion Cotillard). Though the bullets fly in director and co-writer Michael Mann's sleek adaptation of journalist Bryan Burrough's 2004 history, the violence never becomes excessive, and the focus remains on Dillinger's complex personality, his perverse popularity and the moral limits circumscribing law enforcement. Considerable action violence, brief torture, cohabitation, brief nongraphic premarital sexual activity, at least one use of the F-word, and occasional crude and profane language. 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.

"Pulse" (Dimension)
Rated "PG-13"
Horror film about a college student (Kristen Bell) who, in trying to get to the bottom of the suicide of her computer whiz boyfriend (Jonathan Tucker), discovers -- together with her fellow dorm residents (Christina Milian and Rick Gonzalez) and an off-campus techie (Ian Somerhalder) -- that before taking his life he had inadvertently activated a computer virus that opened a portal between the living and the dead, enabling the departed to cross over through computers or cell phones, with menacing, global consequences. Director Jim Sonzero's bleak and listless remake follows the blueprint of the 2001 Japanese original, but despite some creepy effects, provides too few frights throughout its incoherent plot and lacks the hauntingly understated eeriness of the Asian version. Some scary and suspenseful sequences, a couple of suggested sexual encounters, a suicide, some crude language and humor, as well as a few instances of rough language and profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"Push" (Summit)
Rated "PG-13"
Dreary action adventure tale about a telekinetic American (Chris Evans) living in Hong Kong who teams with his similarly paranormal ex-girlfriend (Camilla Belle) and a tough-talking psychic 13-year-old girl (Dakota Fanning) to thwart the mind-controlling agent (Djimon Hounsou) of a secret and sinister government department. Director Paul McGuigan's wearingly overcomplicated film traces its main character's transformation from loner to protector, but otherwise meanders from one armed confrontation to the next. Considerable action violence, implied premarital sexual activity, underage drinking, at least one use of the F-word, half a dozen crude terms and a couple of uses of profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"The Pursuit of Happyness" (Columbia)
Rated "PG-13"
Feel-good tale based on the true story of a selfless medical supply salesman (an ever-appealing Will Smith) who, after his wife (Thandie Newton) walks out, raises his 5-year-old son (Jaden Christopher Syre Smith) on his own while pursuing a new career path as a stockbroker in an unpaid internship while enduring financial struggles, homelessness and other vicissitudes. A bit long and occasionally repetitive, but there's a lump-in-the-throat payoff, and director Gabriele Muccino's film scores high on the inspirational message scale, with Smith's character doing all he can to nurture his son under trying circumstances and projecting admirable decency throughout. A few instances of crude language and marital discord. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents.

"Puss in Boots" (DreamWorks)
Rated "PG"
Screenwriter Tom Wheeler's exceptionally intelligent and energetic script for this 3-D animated "Shrek" spinoff has the title character (voice of Antonio Banderas) -- accompanied by his childhood friend Humpty Dumpty (voice of Zach Galifianakis) and newfound feline love interest (voice of Salma Hayek) -- going in quest of the goose that lays golden eggs. Director Chris Miller's kid-friendly adventure combines imagery from fairy tales with a story line that makes Puss a mischievous, Zorro-like bandit to present a valuable lesson about the perils of greed and dishonesty. Parents of young children should know in advance, however, that one of the principal characters dies. Intense action sequences. The Catholic News Service classification is A-I -- general patronage. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested.

Q
"The Queen" (Miramax)
Rated "PG-13"
Absorbing British drama about the days following the death of Princess Diana, as new Prime Minister Tony Blair (Michael Sheen) tries to convince Queen Elizabeth (Helen Mirren) to express public remorse about her former daughter-in-law, as public grief reaches fever proportions. Stephen Frears directs beautifully, and even if Peter Morgan's script is mostly speculative, what we see on-screen plays convincingly, with a fine cast (including Alex Jennings, Helen McCrory and Roger Allam) and Mirren whose crusty yet vulnerable impersonation softens the anti-monarchist tone of the screenplay. A couple of instances of mild profanity and a few crass expressions. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents.

"Quantum of Solace" (Columbia)
Rated "PG-13"
Rapid-fire spy thriller in which iconic British intelligence agent James Bond (Daniel Craig) battles a seemingly respectable businessman (Mathieu Amalric) intent on monopolizing worldwide natural resources. Bond is aided by the executive's girlfriend (Olga Kurylenko) but hampered at times by his own boss (Judi Dench). Director Marc Forster's globe-trotting addition to the franchise features more chases and gunfights than real drama, though a high level of violence and Bond's sexual pleasure-seeking are somewhat offset by a story line contrasting vengeance with forgiveness. Strong action violence, a nongraphic scene of rape, brief graphic nonmarital sexual activity, partial upper female and rear nudity, occasional crude and crass language, a couple of uses of profanity and a few sexual references. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Quarantine" (Screen Gems)
Rated "R"
Frenzied, intense and thoroughly silly horror film about an L.A. reality TV reporter (Jennifer Carpenter) and her cameraman (Steve Harris) -- through whose jerky lens all the action is viewed -- who, while filming a routine profile of the local firefighters' night shift (Jay Hernandez and Johnathon Schaech), find themselves sealed in an apartment building with mysteriously rabid tenants whose voracious bites can kill and all external communication blocked. Writer-director John Erick Dowdle works up an increasing lather as the infection and body count spread, with the cocky reporter eventually reduced to a state of mounting hysteria. Considerable violence and gore, though shown in quick shots; killings; sporadic rough language and profanity; some crude expressions; and mad dogs, rats, children and old ladies. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Quinceanera" (Sony Classics)
Rated "R"
Beautifully crafted coming-of-age drama about good-hearted Los Angeles teenager (Emily Rios) who finds herself unaccountably pregnant, and her sexually confused cousin (Jesse Garcia) who are taken in by their gentle uncle (Chalo Gonzalez) after their families reject them. Writer-directors Richard Glatzer and Wash Westmoreland's colorful Sundance Film Festival winner with its moving themes of tolerance, redemption and forgiveness overcomes some plot elements that may not be to every taste. Brief violence, some rough and crude language, sexual banter, premarital sex, a couple of nongraphic homosexual encounters, and drug use. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.
R
"Race to Witch Mountain" (Disney)
Rated "PG"
Engaging sci-fi adventure about a Las Vegas cab driver (Dwayne Johnson) and a UFO expert (Carla Gugino) who try to help two alien children (AnnaSophia Robb and Alexander Ludwig) find their spaceship and return home to head off an alien invasion of earth, while relentlessly pursued by a federal UFO investigator (Ciaran Hinds). Director Andy Fickman's reimagining of the 1975 "Escape to Witch Mountain" moves at a fast clip with likable lead performances and elaborate special effects making this recommendable family fare for all but young children who might be bothered by some scary moments. Generally mild action violence with explosions and gunshots. 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.

"Rachel Getting Married" (Sony Classics)
Rated "R"
Tumultuous drama about a young woman (a fine Anne Hathaway) who is released from a drug rehabilitation center for a weekend to attend her sister's (Rosemarie DeWitt) interracial wedding, resulting in a volatile reunion with friends and relatives, including her divorced parents (Bill Irwin and Debra Winger), and the groom's (Tunde Adebimpe) African-American family. Directed by Jonathan Demme in almost documentary style with lengthy set pieces, the film -- from a screenplay by Jenny Lumet (daughter of director Sidney Lumet) -- ultimately presents a strong affirmation of marriage and family despite some bitter conflicts and long-festering resentments that rise to the surface, and there are excellent performances from the ensemble cast. Much conversational rough and crude language and some profanity, a fleeting but graphic nonmarital sexual encounter, a brief scene of strong domestic violence, drug references, pregnancy out of wedlock and divorced characters. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Rails & Ties" (Warner Bros.)
Rated "PG-13"
Intimate, moving drama in which a terminally ill woman (Marcia Gay Harden) and her emotionally repressed railroad engineer husband (Kevin Bacon) find their failing relationship revived when they surreptitiously shelter a boy (Miles Heizer) whose mentally ill single mother (Bonnie Root) committed suicide by parking in front of the husband's train. Director Alison Eastwood, in her first feature, balances a plot that tugs shamelessly at every heartstring with an understated approach that generally forestalls sentimentality. Problematic religious elements, upper female nudity, tense accident scene, one use of the f-word, two crude words, one crass term and one use of profanity. Acceptable for older teens. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Raise Your Voice" (New Line)
Rated "PG"
Uplifting 'tween drama about a small-town girl (Hilary Duff) who must overcome self-doubts when she is accepted into an ultracompetitive summer music program at a prestigious conservatory in Los Angeles. Directed by Sean McNamara, the film makes up for a lack of originality with its positive, heartfelt message and appealing performance by Duff. A fatal car crash, an instance of drunkenness and some mildly crude language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents.

"Rambo" (Lionsgate)
Rated "R"
Toxically violent action flick in which the titular character (Sylvester Stallone), now operating a Thai longboat, reluctantly ferries a group of Christian missionaries, led by a married couple (Julie Benz and Paul Schulze), into Burma, then returns with a band of mercenaries under the direction of a foulmouthed Brit (Graham McTavish) to liberate them from brutal captivity at the hands of Burmese troops. Stallone, who also co-wrote and directed, once again creates barbarous villains simply to justify the vengeful mayhem his character proceeds to wreak on them. Extremely graphic violence, including dismemberment, torture, rape and beatings; rear and upper female nudity; pervasive rough, much crude and some crass language; and four uses of profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"Rango" (Paramount)
Rated "PG"
Sophisticated, comparatively edgy animated riff on Westerns during which a lonely chameleon (voiced by Johnny Depp) stumbles upon a Mojave Desert town where water and heroism are in short supply. Reteaming with the star of his "Pirates of the Caribbean" series, director Gore Verbinski oversees a visually striking, quite literate movie whose darker, existential ambitions would befuddle and bore kids, when not scaring them, and whose passing, but ill-advised foray into religious humor will jar on the sensibilities of many grownups. Some fairly intense cartoon violence, brief irreverent and frequent toilet humor, occasional innuendo and sexual references, an inaudible crude term and at least one instance of crass language. The Catholic News Service classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.

"The Rape of Europa" (Menemsha)
Rated "NR"
Gripping documentary narrated by actress Joan Allen about Adolf Hitler's plunder and destruction of thousands of Europe's most famous artworks during World War II, and the subsequent efforts to find those which survived and restore them. Based on the book by Lynn H. Nicholas (who also appears), the film, written and directed by Richard Berge, Bonni Cohen and Nicole Newnham, tells a fascinating story as compelling as any dramatic film, and poignantly demonstrates the lengths to which ordinary people were willing to go to save these masterpieces, regardless of the danger to their physical well-being. Some disturbing war imagery. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents. Not rated by the Motion Picture Association of America.

"Ratatouille" (Disney/Pixar)
Rated "G"
Delectable animated tale of a cute rat (voiced by Patton Oswalt) who, inspired by the spirit of a famous late chef (Brad Garrett), develops his improbable passion for cooking by becoming the secret adviser to an esteemed Paris restaurant's hapless garbage boy (Lou Romano), turning the latter into a star chef, while the eatery's jealous head chef (Ian Holm) contrives to uncover the secret of the boy's success. Writer-director Brad Bird's gorgeously animated production has a rare sophistication that should entertain adults as much as their children, while the messages of teamwork, honesty and following one's dreams are strongly conveyed. Subtle implication of a character born out of wedlock. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-I -- general patronage. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is G -- general audiences. All ages admitted.

"Ray" (Universal)
Rated "PG-13"
Jamie Foxx gives a bravura performance as Ray Charles, in this superior biographical film which traces the legendary singer's life, from childhood and early blindness in rural Florida to his rise from obscure pianist to chart-topping superstar, as he battles heroin addiction and navigates his solid home life with romantic liaisons on the road. Foxx's impersonation is amazingly accurate, but the entire cast is first-rate, and Taylor Hackford's direction seamlessly melds the satisfying, often exciting, musical numbers with the solid dramatic aspects of the story, which ends on an inspirational note in 1966 with Charles conquering his drug dependence. A handful of crude and profane words, sexual innuendo, racial epithets, drug use and discreet sexual situations. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"Racing Stripes" (Warner Bros.)
Rated "PG-13"
Delightful family comedy about an underdog zebra (voiced by Frankie Muniz) who grows up believing that he is a racehorse and proves he has the heart of a champion by finding his inner thoroughbred and -- with a little help from a former horse trainer (Bruce Greenwood), his young daughter (Hayden Panettierre) and some barnyard buddies (voiced by Whoopi Goldberg and Dustin Hoffman, among others) -- competing for top racing honors in a prestigious derby. Directed by Frederik Du Chau, this lively crowd-pleaser combines live action and computer-generated talking animal effects -- think "Seabiscuit" meets "Babe" -- and imparts a charming feel-good message about acceptance and overcoming challenges by believing in yourself. Ethnic stereotyping and some mildly crude language and humor. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents.

"Rails & Ties" (Warner Bros.)
Rated "PG-13"
Intimate, moving drama in which a terminally ill woman (Marcia Gay Harden) and her emotionally repressed railroad engineer husband (Kevin Bacon) find their failing relationship revived when they surreptitiously shelter a boy (Miles Heizer) whose mentally ill single mother (Bonnie Root) committed suicide by parking in front of the husband's train. Director Alison Eastwood, in her first feature, balances a plot that tugs shamelessly at every heartstring with an understated approach that generally forestalls sentimentality. Problematic religious elements, upper female nudity, tense accident scene, one use of the f-word, two crude words, one crass term and one use of profanity. Acceptable for older teens. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Ramona and Beezus" (Fox)
Rated "G"
Gentle, winning comedy about a good-hearted but accident-prone 9-year-old (Joey King) whose antics annoy her more conventional teen sister (Selena Gomez) as their happy existence in an idyllic Portland, Ore., suburb is temporarily overshadowed by their accountant dad's (John Corbett) loss of his job, and the resulting mild tensions between him and their mom (Bridget Moynahan), but brightened again by the rekindled romance between a favorite aunt (Ginnifer Goodwin) and her high school sweetheart (Josh Duhamel). Traditional values and close-knit family relationships reign in director Elizabeth Allen's squeaky-clean, nostalgia-tinted adaptation of Beverly Cleary's best-selling series of children's books and, though nothing very momentous happens, what does take place transpires in the nicest possible way. The Catholic News Service classification is A-I -- general patronage. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is G -- general audiences. All ages admitted.

"The Reader" (Weinstein)
Rated "R"
Necessarily bleak but well-played and directed (by Stephen Daldry) adaptation of Bernhard Schlink's controversial best-seller set in postwar Germany about the morally complex relationship between a lawyer (Ralph Fiennes) and the older woman (superb Kate Winslet) with whom he had an affair when he was a teenager (18-year-old David Kross), and to whom he would read the great works of literature. Though that early liaison is morally unacceptable, it serves as a metaphor for Germany's collective guilt and its impact on later generations, gingerly suggesting the possibility of emotional reconciliation. Underage sexual relationship including several encounters, nudity, divorce, suicide, disturbing Holocaust material. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Real Steel" (Disney)
Rated "PG-13"
Director Shawn Levy delivers an action-packed drama -- driven by computer-generated special effects and set in the not-too-distant future -- about robots who box and the dysfunctional humans who train and fix them. One of the latter (Hugh Jackman) is a washed-up fighter who finds his world turned upside down by the arrival of his estranged 11-year-old son (Dakota Goyo). Before long, the two bond over an unusual 'bot named Atom, a pugilistic underdog who, rather predictably, gets his shot at challenging the champ. Probably acceptable for older adolescents. Cartoonish action violence, references to an out-of-wedlock pregnancy, a bit of crude language and some mild oaths. 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.

"The Reaping" (Warner Bros.)
Rated "R"
Former minister (Hilary Swank) whose family was killed several years before while doing missionary work in Africa is now a nonbelieving university professor called upon to investigate strange happenings mirroring biblical plagues in the Louisiana swamplands, after a river turns to blood and a strange child (AnnaSophia Robb) is blamed for her brother's horrific death. A first-rate locust attack and some creepy river sequences notwithstanding, director Stephen Hopkins' horror fest is more silly than scary, with a disjointed plot and choppy camerawork, while the putative religious elements, including discussions about faith and a priest (Stephen Rea) who tries to warn the professor that she's (gasp) "in danger," are hardly inspirational. Some intense horror effects, killings, blood, images of sick and dead people, a nongraphic sexual encounter, mild innuendo and facts-of-life discussion, a few rough and crude expletives and brief profanity, and many deceased cows and frogs. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"Rebound" (20th Century Fox)
Rated "PG"
Diverting, if formulaic, comedy about a hotheaded, big-time college basketball coach (Martin Lawrence) who, after being banned from coaching on the collegiate level, finds redemption by turning a hapless junior high school hoop squad into winners and leading them to the state championship. Directed by Steve Carr, the warmed-over "Bad News Bears"-flavored premise has been done before (and much better), but Lawrence scores some points in his first family-friendly role, as does the film's feel-good message about teamwork, sportsmanship and believing in yourself. Some mildly crude language and humor and minor comic violence. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents.

"RED" (Summit)
Rated "PG-13"
Witty but mayhem-packed spy caper in which a retired CIA agent (Bruce Willis) and his newfound girlfriend (Mary-Louise Parker) take to the road after being targeted for death by a high-level government and business cabal. Their efforts to unravel the conspiracy -- and to evade the hit man (Karl Urban) tasked with eliminating them -- are aided by a trio of the operative's old associates (Morgan Freeman, John Malkovich and Helen Mirren). They are allies who range from the reliable (Freeman) to the entertainingly flaky (Malkovich). Director Robert Schwentke's amusingly executed adaptation of Warren Ellis and Cully Hamner's graphic novel features a refreshingly chaste central romance. But its succession of gunfights and explosions, though mostly stylized, restrict its appropriate audience. Frequent, largely bloodless violence, brief gruesome imagery, a couple of uses of profanity, at least one use of the F-word, some crude language. 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.

"Redline" (Chicago Pictures)
Rated "PG-13"
Over-the-top action movie about illegal road racing in which a war hero (Nathan Philips) avenges the racing death of his brother (Jesse Johnson) and rescues a race-car driver (Nadja Bjorlin) from his shady high-rolling uncle (Angus Macfadyen). Director Andy Cheng's style is halfway between a music video and a video game, and the tone is a regrettable celebration of material excess. Some crude and crass language; mild sexual innuendo; an excessive amount of skimpily dressed women, though no nudity; some bloodless fight scenes; shots fired and explosions; and two killings. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"Red Riding Hood" (Warner Bros.)
Rated "PG-13"
This uninvolving update of the classic fairy tale, set in an imaginary medieval village, finds the maiden of the title (Amanda Seyfried) pursued by the youth she has loved since childhood (Shiloh Fernandez), by the scion (Max Irons) of the richest family in town -- to whom her parents (Virginia Madsen and Billy Burke) have betrothed her -- and, to a different end, by the local werewolf. A priest (Gary Oldman) renowned for laying lycanthropes low arrives, but turns out to be a cynical, sensual inquisitor. As directed by Catherine Hardwicke, the glum proceedings are low on entertainment value or emotional impact, while the off-kilter portrayal of the church makes this "Twilight" wannabe totally unsuitable for targeted teen audiences. Skewed treatment of Catholicism, brief nongraphic premarital sexual activity, moderate but sometimes gory violence. 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.

"Reign Over Me" (Columbia)
Rated "R"
Singularly offbeat, albeit poignantly etched, buddy film about a successful dentist (Don Cheadle) who meets up with and tries to rehabilitate his college roommate (Adam Sandler), once a dentist himself and now sadly childlike, suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of his wife and children perishing Sept. 11, 2001, and in the process comes to terms with some of his own emotional issues. Writer/director Mike Binder's drama is well-intentioned, and Sandler pulls off a difficult part with distinction, but the script is paradoxically original yet formulaic with often implausible character motivation, though the 9/11 theme and Sandler's heart-wrenching character tug at the emotions. Pervasive rough and crude language and occasional profanity, some forthright and crass sexual discussion, and emotional outbursts. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

"Religulous" (Lionsgate)
Rated “R”
Comedian and TV host Bill Maher attacks spiritual beliefs and religion by traveling the globe interviewing officials and adherents of various faiths -- Christian, Jewish, Muslim and Mormon, among them -- subjecting all to ridicule. Ignoring both the good done by religious people and institutions and the millions murdered by militantly atheist regimes in the past century, he seeks out a parade of people who make all-too-easy targets, but does not grapple with the answers the great religions offer to the serious questions people face. His sneering dismissal of all religious beliefs as mere superstition makes director Larry Charles' documentary blatantly irreverent and journalistically spurious. A consistently irreligious, sometimes blasphemous, tone; rough language; crass expressions and some profanity; brief sexual references and imagery; and upper female nudity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"Remember Me" (Summit)
Rated "PG-13"
Less than memorable romantic drama about the relationship between an angst-ridden twentysomething New York bohemian (Robert Pattinson) and the university student (Emilie de Ravin) he initially dates as a practical joke to get back at her policeman father (Chris Cooper) for roughing him up and arresting him, but for whom he eventually falls in earnest. Director Allen Coulter's young sophisticates play cutesy when not dwelling on the losses -- his brother's early death and her mother's murder -- that help them bond. Along with glamorizing the couple's premature sexual union, as well as their eventual shacking up, Will Fetters' script moves toward a climax related to real-life events that many will find distastefully manipulative. Cohabitation, passionate, but nongraphic premarital sexual activity, a couple of uses of profanity, some sexual references and jokes, including a promiscuous character, frequent smoking, at least one drug reference, a few rough and numerous crude terms. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Renaissance" (Miramax)
Rated "R"
Interesting animated film set in the Paris of 2054 about a kidnapped scientist (Romola Garai), the former protege of a renowned geneticist (Ian Holm), who works for a sinister megacompany promising eternal youth and beauty, and the cop (voiced by Daniel Craig) assigned to rescue her, assisted by the woman's older sister (Catherine McCormack), who fends off the sinister forces of the company's vice president (Jonathan Pryce) with his own motives for finding her first. Director Christian Volckman's debut feature film -- basically a graphic novel come to life -- has a sometimes overly complex plot that, in its essentials, we've seen before, but the striking black-and-white design and committed acting by the prestigious voice talent hold your interest. Action violence, scenes of peril, murder, a brief nongraphic sexual scene, partial nudity elsewhere, some innuendo, and rough and crude language. 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.

"Rendition" (New Line)
Rated "R"
Quietly intense thriller about a wife's (Reese Witherspoon) efforts to discover the whereabouts of her Egyptian-born husband (Omar Metwally) who has been abducted by the U.S. government upon returning to the States from a business trip, and taken to an unspecified North African country where he is tortured and interrogated as a suspected terrorist, while a novice CIA analyst (Jake Gyllenhaal) is given the task of monitoring the case. Director Gavin Hood raises valid questions about the government's use of this abduction procedure called "extraordinary rendition" in combating terrorism, yet the ambiguity about the Egyptian character is frustrating, and a time twist at the end seems rather pointless, but the film is absorbing throughout, and Meryl Streep has a good role as the CIA honcho who orders the arrest. Torture, shadowy partial and rear nudity, a nonmarital relationship, brief profanity, and a suicide bombing with bloodshed. 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.

"Reno 911!: Miami" (Fox/Paramount)
Rated "R"
Ultraraunchy, big-screen version of the Comedy Central cable-TV series has the bumbling deputy sheriffs from Reno (Robert Ben Garant, Thomas Lennon and Kerri Kenney-Silver) traveling to Miami for a police convention. Due to an act of bioterrorism that confines all the real cops to the meeting hall, the eight hapless officers are forced to patrol Miami's sun-drenched streets and must deal with a beached whale, a drug kingpin and their own perverse sexual tendencies. Amazingly, they save the day; yet watching the warped crudity on parade is too high a price to pay for justice in director and co-writer Garant's putative comedy. Pervasive vulgar language, nudity, sex acts, masturbation, scatological humor, episodes of cartoonish violence and drug use. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive.

"Rent" (Revolution)
Rated "PG-13"
Imaginative expansion of the late Jonathan Larson's long-running Broadway musical -- an updating of "La Boheme" -- about the lives and loves of New York's East Village artists, several of them HIV-positive. Director Chris Columbus has remained largely faithful to the original -- and many of the original cast members reprise their roles here -- while the dissolute lifestyles of some of the characters take second place to the overriding themes of love, connection and fellowship, and the film encapsulates a significant cultural era. Implied drug use, same-sex relationships, suggestive dancing and movement, some rough and crude language and an anti-establishment outlook. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

"Repo Men" (Universal)
Rated "R"
Extremely violent futuristic thriller about two men (Jude Law and Forest Whitaker) whose job is to repossess artificial human organs when the recipient falls behind on exorbitant interest payments owed to a malevolent corporation. Despite a major twist involving virtual technology, there's scant evidence that director Miguel Sapochink wants to spin a profound science-fiction yarn, let alone offer a serious cautionary tale or insightful social satire; with no redeeming qualities to offset the butchery and degradation, it counts instead among the most distasteful and morally barren movies to appear in recent years. Unrelenting brutal, graphic violence; grisly images of surgical incisions and operations; instances of drug use; fleeting glimpses of bystanders engaged in sex acts; several implied or simulated nonmarital sexual encounters between the leading male and female characters; partial rear nudity; and pervasive rough, crude and profane language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"Requiem" (IFC)
Rated "NR"
Truth-inspired, but fictionalized, drama set in Germany about a sheltered, devoutly Catholic, epileptic college student (Sandra Huller) who suffers increasingly severe episodes and comes to believe that she is possessed by demons, prompting conflicting responses from her religious parents (Burghart Klaussner and Imogen Kogge), parish priests (Walter Schmidinger and Jens Harzer) and secular-minded students (Nicholas Reinke and Anna Blomeier). Loosely based on the same 1976 case as "The Exorcism of Emily Rose," director Hans-Christian Schmid's deliberately paced consideration of faith, psychology and suffering avoids sensationalism and horror cliches for sober realism. Schmid maintains respectful impartiality in presenting the various points of view -- taking the family's beliefs seriously -- and though the film would seem to suggest a scientific, rather than a supernatural, explanation, it ultimately remains inconclusive on the central question. Subtitles. Disturbing scenes of mental affliction or possible demonic possession, an implied sexual encounter and some crude language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"Reservation Road" (Focus/Random House)
Rated "R"
Riveting drama about the efforts of an increasingly obsessive father (Joaquin Phoenix) to identify the driver (Mark Ruffalo) who killed his son in a hit-and-run accident, while the guilt-racked offender, a father with a boy the same age, struggles to do the right thing. Director and co-writer Terry George's film -- from co-writer John Burnham Schwartz's 1998 novel -- has considerably more moral complexity than your standard revenge melodrama, while Phoenix and Ruffalo are each superb in difficult roles. A violent though nongraphic car accident; some profanity, rough language and crude expressions; and domestic discord. Acceptable for older teens. 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.

"Resident Evil: Extinction" (Screen Gems)
Rated "R"
When an international conglomerate unleashes a virus on the world, most people are turned into flesh-eating zombies and the earth into a desert, leaving a band of survivors, led by two men (Oded Fehr and Mike Epps) and two women (Ali Larter and Ashanti), to form a convoy in search of other uninfected people, their travels at length bringing them into contact with a superwoman (Milla Jovovich) who is out to fight the evil doctor (Iain Glen) who experimented on her and who still hopes to turn the virus to the corporation's advantage. Watching director Russell Mulcahy's gorefest may be the cinematic equivalent of combat: moments of jarring fear are interspersed with long periods of abject tedium. Nearly constant blood, gore and mutilation, cannibalism, brief frontal and upper female nudity, drug use, and much crude and some crass language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"Resident Evil: Afterlife" (Screen Gems)
Rated "R"
Fourth entry in the gory series based on the video game has only 3-D to commend it this time around, which makes it moderately more interesting, if not less of a completely dull waste of time. Writer-director Paul W.S. Anderson puts Milla Jovovich as Alice back into the black tights to fight off virus-infected, flesh-eating zombies in post-apocalyptic Los Angeles. Fleeting rough, crude and profane language, flying knives, gun violence, abundant splattering zombie heads. 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.

"Rescue Dawn" (MGM)
Rated "PG-13"
Uplifting film salutes the valor of rank-and-file military personnel by chronicling the real-life ordeal of German-born U.S. Navy pilot Dieter Dengler (Christian Bale), who was shot down over Laos in 1966 and taken prisoner by soldiers allied with the North Vietnamese. Without hyperbole of any kind, German writer-director Werner Herzog presents a vivid, lyrical portrait of a courageous and compassionate man whose dream of becoming an aviator led him to America and then to the forbidding jungles of war-torn Southeast Asia. Powerful but nongraphic scenes of violence and torture, some crude language and profanity, some locker-room-style banter and scatological references appropriate to the context. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

"Resurrecting the Champ" (Yari Film Group)
Rated "PG-13"
Compelling film, based on true events, about the evolving friendship between a young sportswriter (Josh Hartnett) and a homeless former boxing champ (Samuel L. Jackson) which forces the writer to take a fresh look at himself and to reevaluate his basic relationships, including those with his wife (Kathryn Morris) and son (Dakota Goyo), and the troubling memory of his deceased father. Director Rod Lurie's deeply moving -- as well as moral -- film features morally complex characters who experience redemption, an excellent script, and outstanding performances, though the boxing sequences may prove disturbing to those with a low tolerance for the sport. Occasional vulgarity and profanity, boxing violence including one sequence with blood, skimpy costuming and suggestive movements, public urination and images of a disturbing body scar. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults (though it's probably acceptable for most older teens). The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

"The Return" (Rogue)
Rated "PG-13"
Bland supernatural thriller about a young woman (Sarah Michelle Gellar) who returns home to Texas where she is tormented by fragmented memories of a brutal crime that took place years earlier. It involved a town loner's (Peter O'Brien) murdered wife with whose restless spirit she is somehow connected. Director Asif Kapadia neatly ties up all the loose ends, but the payoff isn't worth the slog through the dragging and muddled plot that lacks much suspense. Some violence, brief blurred sexual images, suggested self-mutilation, one use of the f-word, a few crude expressions and instances of profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"Righteous Kill" (Overture)
Rated "R"
Ludicrous police drama involving longtime partner cops (Robert DeNiro and Al Pacino) who, amid growing suspicion that the killer may be someone within the force, are on the trail of a serial killer who's bumping off felons who have eluded just punishment. Fans of the charismatic stars may welcome this chance to see them working in tandem, and they are both in characteristic form, but Jon Avnet's flashy but muddled direction, the wildly implausible plot, uninspired dialogue, intentionally choppy editing, and an easy-to-guess denouement are serious detriments. Much rough language and crude talk, some profanity, moderately strong violence and sexual content, vigilante justice, a reference to a pedophile priest and brief drug use. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Religulous" (Lionsgate)
Rated “R”
Comedian and TV host Bill Maher attacks spiritual beliefs and religion by traveling the globe interviewing officials and adherents of various faiths -- Christian, Jewish, Muslim and Mormon, among them -- subjecting all to ridicule. Ignoring both the good done by religious people and institutions and the millions murdered by militantly atheist regimes in the past century, he seeks out a parade of people who make all-too-easy targets, but does not grapple with the answers the great religions offer to the serious questions people face. His sneering dismissal of all religious beliefs as mere superstition makes director Larry Charles' documentary blatantly irreverent and journalistically spurious. A consistently irreligious, sometimes blasphemous, tone; rough language; crass expressions and some profanity; brief sexual references and imagery; and upper female nudity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"Revolutionary Road" (Paramount Vantage)
Rated "R"
Impeccably filmed and acted adaptation of Richard Yates' greatly lauded 1961 novel about an unhappy suburban Connecticut couple (Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet) torn between middle-class inertia and fulfilling their youthful aspirations by uprooting to Paris. Director Sam Mendes takes a strikingly stylized approach to the repressed 1950s milieu, and the story speaks powerfully to the restrictive conformity of that era, but the thematic material -- including adultery and abortion -- and sporadically strong language may not be to every taste. Extreme domestic discord, rough language and profanity, adultery, brief upper female nudity, abortion references, two nongraphic sexual encounters and heavy smoking. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"The Ringer" (Fox Searchlight)
Rated "PG-13"
Audacious but surprisingly sweet comedy about an office worker (Johnny Knoxville) who reluctantly conspires with his sleazy uncle (Brian Cox) to "fix" the Special Olympics by posing as a mentally challenged athlete in order to pay the medical expenses of an injured man he was forced to fire. Though some may find its premise distasteful, director Barry W. Blaustein's satire sensitively walks a fine line between indelicate and uplifting, ultimately imparting a feel-good message about looking beyond stereotypes and acknowledging the dignity and humanity we all share. Considerable off-color humor, an irreverent sight gag, some crude language and an instance of rough language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"The Ring Two" (DreamWorks)
Rated "PG-13"
Stylish and scary, but less than satisfying, sequel to the 2002 sleeper horror hit, which finds investigative reporter Rachel Keller (Naomi Watts) and her young son, Aidan (David Dorfman), relocating from Seattle to a coastal Oregon community only to have their hopes of a fresh start shattered when a "cursed" videotape -- which, causes certain death seven days after being viewed -- forces Rachel to plumb deeper into the mystery surrounding Samara, a murdered child whose vengeful spirit is set on Aidan. Directed by Hideo Nakata -- who also directed the Japanese fright films on which these American remakes are based -- this one relies less on psychological suspense than special-effect centerpieces, and, despite visual creepiness and some goose bumps, lacks the overall sharpness and originality of the first. Recurring frightening images, some disturbing violence involving child peril, an instance of rough language, and some crude and profane expressions. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III --- adults.

"Rio" (Fox)
Rated "G"
Buoyant animated adventure with music about a Brazilian-born macaw (voice of Jesse Eisenberg) raised as a cosseted pet in Minnesota. Informed by an eccentric Rio-based scientist (voice of Rodrigo Santoro) that her feathery friend is the last male of his species, his devoted owner (voice of Leslie Mann) reluctantly brings him back to his native land so that he can mate with his sole remaining female counterpart (voice of Anne Hathaway). But the potential lovebirds get caught up in the illegal avian trade. Lessons about environmental stewardship and love-inspired loyalty are decked out in kaleidoscopic colors and delivered in an overwhelmingly child-friendly tone in director Carlos Saldanha's 3-D flight of fancy. A few nursery-level bathroom references, a fleeting double entendre. The Catholic News Service classification is A-I -- general patronage. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is G -- general audiences.

"Rise of the Planet of the Apes" (Fox)
Rated "PG-13"
This iteration of the successful screen franchise based on the science fiction of French novelist Pierre Boulle is a prequel set in modern-day San Francisco. James Franco plays a master geneticist who believes he's found the cure for Alzheimer's disease using primate test subjects. When the apes run amok, however, the project is canceled and the animals are put down. Yet one chimp survives, with ultimately disastrous consequences for mankind. While this is primarily a special effects-driven action film, as directed by Rupert Wyatt, it's also a cautionary tale about human hubris and misguided science out to achieve a good end through morally unmoored means. As such, its real-life resonance is all too easy to recognize. Intense and bloody action violence, including animal attacks, gunplay, and moments of terror, implied premarital sexual activity. 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.

"The Rite" (Warner Bros.)
Rated "PG-13"
Religiously honorable, but aesthetically tentative drama, based on real events, about a skeptical seminarian (Colin O'Donoghue) who has pursued priestly studies mainly to get a free education and avoid following in the footsteps of his undertaker father (Rutger Hauer). To forestall his dropping out, a superior (Toby Jones) dispatches him to Rome to complete a Vatican-sponsored course in exorcism. There, he shares his ongoing doubts with a reporter (Alice Braga) who has enrolled in the class for research purposes. But inexplicable experiences during his apprenticeship with a veteran demon fighter (Anthony Hopkins) challenge the young cleric's secular certainties. Though shaky on a few details, director Mikael Hafstrom's conversion tale resoundingly affirms faith and the value of priestly ministry. Yet the effort to showcase the main character's spiritual journey as an old-fashioned chillfest weakens its ultimate impact. Possibly acceptable for mature teens. Incest and suicide themes, some gruesome imagery, incidental irreverence, a couple of uses of profanity, a few rough and crude terms. 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.

"Robin Hood" (Universal)
Rated "PG-13"
Thematically ambitious yet enervating version of the much-filmed legend concerning the 13th-century English outlaw (Russell Crowe) who, in this serious reworking awash in political intrigue and salubrious civics lessons, goes from common archer on King Richard's Crusade to the valiant unifier of a downtrodden, suffering nation. Director Ridley Scott drains the tale of energy and emotion without offering action thrills that would ingratiate a new generation of viewers. Though hovering on the edge of bawdiness, and despite jabs at the cold-hearted, oppressive church leaders of the period, the movie may be acceptable for some mature teenagers. Much -- mostly bloodless -- battle violence, a nongraphic sexual situation with fleeting rear nudity, an attempted rape, callous clergy, some innuendo and anatomical references, one instance each of crude and crass language. 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.

"The Road" (Dimension)
Rated "R"
This moving but relentlessly grim drama, set in the wake of an unspecified apocalypse, follows the desperate journey of a father (Viggo Mortensen, mesmerizing) and son (fine newcomer Kodi Smit-McPhee) as they travel through a devastated America encountering cannibals, thieves and shell-shocked survivors (notably Robert Duvall) on their way to what they hope will be a marginally better life along the coast. Occupying the pitted no-man's-land between a Samuel Beckett play and "The Road Warrior," director John Hillcoat's adaptation of Cormac McCarthy's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel is a stark examination of one man's efforts to preserve, and pass on, humane values, refreshed only by the instinctive goodness of his youthful companion, though his quasi-idolatrous view of the boy, like the borderline-blasphemous sentiments expressed by other characters, would be unacceptable in a less extreme context. Complex moral and theological issues, grisly images, cannibalism and suicide themes, rear and brief partial nudity, a few uses of profanity, occasional rough and crude language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Robots" (20th Century Fox)
Rated "PG"
Technically dazzling but disappointingly formulaic animated feature about would-be inventor robot Rodney's (Ewan McGregor) coming of age, as he leaves his parents to make his mark in far-off Robot City and joins forces with master inventor Bigweld (Mel Brooks) and some misfit robot friends to help defeat the evil Madame Gasket (Jim Broadbent) and her power-hungry son, Ratchet (Greg Kinnear), who are consigning "outmoded" robots to the scrap heap rather than equipping them with new parts. Chris Wedge's overly busy follow-up to "Ice Age" is further undermined by a merely serviceable script that substitutes some needlessly vulgar humor and a pat follow-your-dream sentiment for true wit and originality. Despite the all-star voice cast, including Halle Berry, Drew Carey and Amanda Bynes, the "bots" fail to have really distinct personalities -- their mechanized body parts allowing only limited expression -- and even Robin Williams seems subpar in this setting. Some questionable humor and innuendo and crass expressions. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-I -- general patronage.

"The Rocker" (Fox Atomic)
Rated "PG-13"
Musical adventures of a likable lunkhead (Rainn Wilson) who, 20 years after being dumped by his band mates just before they catapulted to stardom, gets a second chance at fame when he joins a group made up of his socially challenged nephew (Josh Gad), a too-cool-to-smile guitarist (Emma Stone) and an angst-ridden singer-songwriter (Teddy Geiger), his bond with the last being strained by a budding romance with the lad's mother (Christina Applegate). Director Peter Cattaneo's sporadically funny comedy touches on themes of maturity and reconciliation and, though its values are somewhat hedonistic, this is largely a matter of talk, since Mom goes on tour as chaperone. Brief rear nudity, nonmarital cohabitation, sexual and scatological humor, one use of the f-word and some crass language, and drug and venereal disease references. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Rocket Science" (Picturehouse)
Rated "R"
Quirky and sublime first-love dramedy about a stuttering young high-school boy (Reece Daniel Thompson) and the driven debating champ (Anna Kendrick) who to his surprise wants him as her debate-partner protege. Writer-director Jeffrey Blitz, without being preachy or obvious, shows us how family can come through when you least expect it, and how sometimes we can become better by going through what seems like the absolute worst. One instance each of rough language and profanity, several instances of crude and crass language, three scenes of young teens smoking or drinking, rude gestures, brief nudity in classical-art drawings, some pubescent sex talk, much debate-club discussion of abstinence policies and one instance each of implied sexual groping and off-camera sex sounds, both by adult characters. 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.

"Rocky Balboa" (MGM)
Rated "PG"
Sixth and ostensibly final round in the "Rocky" saga, in which former heavyweight champ Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone), now a widower, estranged from his son (Milo Ventimiglia) and running a restaurant, comes out of retirement, stepping into the ring against the current champ (Antonio Tarver) to prove he has plenty of heart left in his aging body. Written and directed by Stallone, this new chapter is arguably the best in the series since the 1976 original, emphasizing character and emotional drama over fight action, while imparting an inspirational message about perseverance and giving it your all, win or lose. Some bloody boxing violence and a few mildly crude expressions. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents.

"Role Models" (Universal)
Rated "R"
A carefree salesman (Seann William Scott) and his caustic partner (Paul Rudd), sentenced to community service, ineptly mentor a tough-talking fifth-grader (Bobb'e J. Thompson) and a socially awkward teen (Christopher Mintz-Plasse). Despite a redemptive story line and some solid performances, director and co-writer David Wain's buddy comedy -- which also features Jane Lynch as the mentoring program's manic director -- goes awry mining laughs from casual sex and an expletive-spouting, sexually precocious child. Strong sexual content, including frontal-male, upper-female and rear nudity and nongraphic, nonmarital sexual activity; cohabitation; much sexual humor; pervasive rough and crude language; the occasional use of profanity; and drug use. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"Roll Bounce" (Fox Searchlight)
Rated "PG-13"
Cute but contrived coming-of age comedy set in Chicago during the roller-disco craze of the 1970s about a roller-skating obsessed teen (Bow Wow) who, together with his buddies, enters a skating contest against their crosstown rivals, while dealing with unresolved emotions over the recent loss of his mother and strained relationship with his dad (Chi McBride), who is struggling to raise his children alone. Directed by Malcolm D. Lee, the movie has heart, but its sentimental themes of parental loss and family love are saddled with a formulaic, albeit feel-good, narrative and occasional -- and most unnecessary -- crassness. Some sexual humor, as well as scattered crude language and gestures, making it most suitable for older adolescents and up. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"The Rocker" (Fox Atomic)
Rated "PG-13"
Musical adventures of a likable lunkhead (Rainn Wilson) who, 20 years after being dumped by his band mates just before they catapulted to stardom, gets a second chance at fame when he joins a group made up of his socially challenged nephew (Josh Gad), a too-cool-to-smile guitarist (Emma Stone) and an angst-ridden singer-songwriter (Teddy Geiger), his bond with the last being strained by a budding romance with the lad's mother (Christina Applegate). Director Peter Cattaneo's sporadically funny comedy touches on themes of maturity and reconciliation and, though its values are somewhat hedonistic, this is largely a matter of talk, since Mom goes on tour as chaperone. Brief rear nudity, nonmarital cohabitation, sexual and scatological humor, one use of the f-word and some crass language, and drug and venereal disease references. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Roman de Gare" (Samuel Goldwyn)
Rated "NR"
Impeccably crafted suspense tale from great director Claude Lelouch in which a young woman (Audrey Dana) abandoned at a gas station after a fierce argument with her fiance accepts a lift from an ominous stranger (Dominique Pinon) who agrees to drive her to her parents' farm and pose as her fiance. Stunningly acted by all -- including Fanny Ardant as a best-selling author whose story, along with that of a woman (Michele Bernier) whose husband has suddenly gone missing, eventually intersects with the main one -- and cleverly written to keep you guessing right up to the end, the film is keenly observant about human nature, the creative process and love. Sporadic rough language and crude expressions, brief frank sexual dialogue and suicide. In French. Subtitles. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults. Not yet rated by the Motion Picture Association of America.

Romance & Cigarettes" (United Artists/Icon)
Rated "R"
Disjointed, extremely raunchy blue-collar comedy-drama, with songs, about an adulterous construction worker (James Gandolfini) torn between his wife (Susan Sarandon) and foul-mouthed mistress (Kate Winslet). Writer-director John Turturro has assembled a blue-chip cast (also including Christopher Walken, Mandy Moore, Steve Buscemi, Mary-Louise Parker, Eddie Izzard and Elaine Stritch) but their good performances, a solidly moral resolution and even some positive church elements are far outweighed by the relentless crude humor and vulgarity. Strong gratuitous sexual content, including a graphic encounter without nudity, adultery, some profanity, rough language, scatological elements, much domestic discord and a fistfight with blood. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"Rory O'Shea Was Here" (Focus)
Rated "R"
Elevating drama set in Ireland about a young resident at a home for the disabled (Steven Robertson) suffering from severe cerebral palsy whose life is changed when he befriends a rebellious new arrival (James McAvoy) -- also confined to a wheelchair -- who teaches him about friendship, love and independence and instills in him a zest for living. Superbly crafted by director Damien O'Donnell, this well-acted, life-affirming gem is alternately funny, moving and uplifting and imparts an impassioned message that life is full of possibilities, even when it seems otherwise. Frequent rough and crude language and some sexual innuendo. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted.

"Rumor Has It..." (Warner Bros.)
Rated "PG-13"
Good cast wasted in mostly distasteful story of woman (Jennifer Aniston) who believes the 1967 film "The Graduate" was modeled on her family, and tracks down the man (Kevin Costner) once involved with both her late mother and her grandmother (Shirley MacLaine), and then falls for him herself. Director Rob Reiner gets decent performances from his actors, including Mark Ruffalo and Richard Jenkins, and the basic premise is mildly amusing, but the sentimental pro-family ending fails to eradicate the squishy morality throughout. Vaguely incestuous theme, permissive view of premarital sex, sexual situations, some profanity, crude language and expressions, drug references, condom reference and partial nudity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

"The Ruins" (DreamWorks)
Rated "R"
Dreary, gruesome horror tale in which four young American tourists in Mexico (Jonathan Tucker, Jena Malone, Shawn Ashmore and Laura Ramsey) join up with a German visitor (Joe Anderson) to explore a little-known ancient temple, are trapped there by a group of armed locals, and gradually discover what it is their captors fear about the place. Along with some gratuitous nudity, director Carter Smith's film subjects its audience to several noisome scenes of jarringly painful medical procedures carried out in the most primitive circumstances. Gory scenes of murder, amputation and mutilation, partial frontal, upper female and rear nudity, implied nonmarital sex, frequent rough and occasional crude and crass language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"The Rum Diary" (FilmDistrict)
Rated "R"
Smoke, drink, be hung over, repeat is the lusty refrain of this film memoir, set in 1960 Puerto Rico and based on gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson's roman a clef about his early years in the business. Writer-director Bruce Robinson and star Johnny Depp, who plays Thompson's alter ego, don't try to glamorize the abundant substance abuse. Rather, they highlight the origins of Thompson's well-known rages against injustice, corrupt politicians and corporate greed. Still, although sweetly nostalgic at times, this material is strictly for mature adults prepared for its portrayal of drunkenness and drug addiction. Implied premarital sexual encounters, brief partial female nudity, drug and abusive alcohol use, pervasive rough and fleeting profane language. 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.

"Run Fatboy Run" (Picturehouse)
Rated "PG-13"
Quirky romantic comedy in which a likeable British twit (Simon Pegg), despite being out of shape, must complete a marathon in order to regain the respect of his ex-fiancee (Thandie Newton), thwart her obnoxious boyfriend (Hank Azaria), vindicate the confidence shown by his trusting landlord (Harish Patel) and safeguard a friend who has rashly bet on him (Dylan Moran). Despite some errant, occasionally outrageous humor and a familiar story arc, actor David Schwimmer's directorial debut has enough sparkle and eccentricity to make it past the finish line. Two scenes of rear nudity, implied premarital sex, one use of the f-word, some crude and crass language, one profanity, obscene gestures, sexual and scatological humor, a violent fight and a transsexual character. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

Running Scared" (New Line)
Rated "R"
Excessively brutal crime drama about a low-level member of New Jersey Mafia crew (Paul Walker) whose ill-fated decision not to dispose of an incriminating gun has disastrous consequences when his son's best friend (Cameron Bright) steals it, touching off a frantic search for the weapon and setting in motion a cycle of escalating violence involving Italian mobsters, Russian gangsters, a corrupt cop (Chazz Palminteri) and pedophile predators. Beyond its visual slickness, writer-director Wayne Kramer's after-hours tour of Jersey's sleazy underbelly is an obscenity-soaked, one-note symphony of bloody mayhem that assaults viewers unrelentingly from its gratuitously grisly opening gunfight to its equally over-the-top climax. Pervasive strong and graphic violence, including gory shootings and beatings, scenes of child and spousal abuse, suggested pedophilia, a vulgar simulation of oral sex involving shadowy, partial, frontal female nudity and brief rear male nudity, full-frontal female strip-club nudity, drug content and nonstop rough and crude language, as well as profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive.

"Running With Scissors" (TriStar)
Rated "R"
Author Augusten Burroughs' best-selling memoirs about his wildly unconventional adolescence during which his mentally fragile mother (Annette Bening), estranged from her husband (Alec Baldwin), sent the boy (Joseph Cross) to be raised by her quack psychiatrist (Brian Cox) and his extremely dysfunctional family (Jill Clayburgh, Gwyneth Paltrow, Evan Rachel Wood, Joseph Fiennes). Director Ryan Murphy's episodic adaptation -- which may puzzle those unfamiliar with the book -- handles the provocative material with sensitivity, toning down the racier elements. Though some of the situations are, in themselves, morally objectionable (making the film unpalatable for many), the overall tone and resolution have a distinctly moral center. Pervasive rough language and profanity, a couple of discreetly handled same-sex relationships including a disturbing age-inappropriate one, other sexual themes and innuendo, scatological humor, drug use, domestic violence, an irreverent remark, discussion of suicide. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

"Rush Hour 3" (New Line)
Rated "PG-13"
The third installment of the action comedy franchise puts the dour Jackie Chan and frantic, wisecracking Chris Tucker in Paris on the trail of a secret crime syndicate called the Triads. Director Brett Ratner and screenwriter Jeff Nathanson, who both made "Rush Hour 2," keep the car chases taut and lovingly choreograph the swordplay, gunplay and martial arts, but the rapport between the two leads is forced, and the best of the comedy seems borrowed from the "Naked Gun" spoofs. Nearly bloodless violence, crude and crass language, skimpy female costuming, implied female nudity, implied sexual activity and mild sexual banter. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"RV" (Columbia)
Rated "PG"
Intermittently funny road comedy about an overworked executive (Robin Williams) who, for job-related reasons, cancels a long-planned family holiday in Hawaii and instead loads his wife (Cheryl Hines) and kids (Joanna "JoJo" Levesque and Josh Hutcherson) into a malfunctioning motor home and drives from Los Angeles to Colorado, with much comic mayhem along the way. Directed by Barry Sonnenfeld and with a subdued Williams in top jester form, this knockoff of "National Lampoon's Vacation" is full of silly slapstick and broad, if harmless, humor and imparts a warm message about family bonding. Some mildly crude humor, including a gross-out scatological sight gag, sexual innuendo, and scattered crass language and light profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents.
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"17 Again" (New Line)
Rated "PG-13"
Pleasant, though unremarkable romantic comedy about a dissatisfied middle-aged man (Matthew Perry) who gets his wish to be a high-school student (Zac Efron) again and, with the help of his lifelong best friend (Thomas Lennon), uses the opportunity to guide his teenage son (Sterling Knight) and daughter (Michelle Trachtenberg) and to revive his failing relationship with his wife (Leslie Mann). Director Burr Steers' formulaic star vehicle sees its protagonist standing up for the underdog and promoting sexual restraint but thematic elements make it best for mature teens and up. Premarital sexual situations, some sexual humor and references, about a dozen crass terms and at least one use of profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Sahara" (Paramount)
Rated “PG-13”
Lackluster and, at times, absurdly silly action adventure about a roguish treasure hunter (Matthew McConaughey), who, along with his sidekick (Steve Zahn), help a U.N. doctor (Penelope Cruz) investigate a mysterious plague outbreak in a war-torn African nation which they think may be somehow linked to their search for a long-lost Civil War battleship. Directed by Breck Eisner and based on the novel by Clive Cussler, the humor-laced film, though intermittently entertaining as escapist fare, is weighed down by vapid performances, a mediocre script, risible dialogue and an overemphasis on tedious action sequences over character and story. Recurring action violence and minimal rude expressions. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"Saint of 9/11" (IFC)
Rated "NR"
Sir Ian McKellen narrates this moving tribute to Franciscan Father Mychal Judge, the New York fire chaplain who was the first official casualty of the World Trade Center terror attack of Sept. 11, 2001. Director Glenn Holsten's sentimental documentary features heartfelt testimonials from those whose lives he touched: firemen, alcoholics, the homeless, gays and AIDS patients, along all too little footage of Father Judge himself. Father Judge's homosexual orientation and status as a recovered alcoholic are not avoided, but there's an unfortunate inference in the film that in ministering to those groups he was being more compassionate than the church itself. Some disturbing images of the World Trade Center, reference to his gay orientation and former alcohol abuse, and remarks offering questionable criticisms of the church. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults. Not rated by the Motion Picture Association of America.

"Saint Ralph" (Samuel Goldwyn)
Rated "PG-13"
Fanciful but extraordinarily moving film about a 14-year-old boy (Adam Butcher) who believes only a miracle can bring his hospitalized mother out of her coma, so with no prior experience in running he decides his miracle will be winning the Boston Marathon and trains with one of his teachers, former runner Father Hibbert (Campbell Scott), all to the consternation of stern Father Fitzpatrick (Gordon Pinsent), the school's principal who believes talk of miracles is blasphemous. Some of writer-director Michael McGowan's dialogue has a not-quite-natural quality though this is clearly meant to be a fable, while certain elements of the story -- the boy's admitted habits of "self-abuse," a scene of a naked woman in a locker room, a portrayal of church authority as unduly restrictive -- complicate what might otherwise be ideal entertainment for all ages, and limit the film's appropriateness to adults and older adolescents. Profanity, rear nudity, a nonexplicit masturbation scene, underage drinking and smoking. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"Salt" (Columbia/Relativity)
Rated "PG-13"
Well-acted but thoroughly violent action thriller in which, after being accused by a Russian intelligence officer (Daniel Olbrychski) of being a double agent, a highly skilled CIA operative (Angelina Jolie) goes on the run, leaving her colleagues (principally Liev Schreiber and Chiwetel Ejiofor) scrambling to uncover whether she is friend or foe, even as they try to track her down. As directed by Phillip Noyce, Jolie makes a weak script reasonably compelling, and her character displays strong marital loyalty; yet, as an all-but-superhuman killing machine, her path is littered with corpses. Frequent violence, some of it bloody, at least 10 uses of profanity, one instance of the F-word, six crude terms. 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.

"Sanctum" (Universal)
Rated "R"
Shallow, morbid and profane action entry about a disastrous cave-diving expedition in the South Pacific led by a seasoned explorer (Richard Roxburgh) and including his teenage son (Rhys Wakefield) and the billionaire (Ioan Gruffudd) financing the operation. Director Alister Grierson not only fails to create any visual fireworks or project an uplifting spirit of adventure, as scripted by John Garvin and Andrew Wight, his project represents an unholy contribution to the cult -- and culture -- of death. Implicit endorsement of euthanasia; skewed values; some gore; brief irreverence; fleeting rear male nudity; a cascade of rough, crude and crass language; occasional sexual banter and toilet humor; and an obscene gesture. The Catholic News Service classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause " (Disney)
Rated "G"
Lame third go-round in which an overwhelmed Santa (Tim Allen) must balance family responsibilities -- including a pregnant Mrs. C (Elizabeth Mitchell) and visiting in-laws (Ann-Margret and Alan Arkin) -- and his stressful seasonal duties, while a jealous Jack Frost (Martin Short) tries to usurp Santa by sabotaging his North Pole operations and tricking him into giving up the red suit. The movie's sweet message about the importance of family and the power of love, unfortunately, comes wrapped in a slapdash script clumsily directed by Michael Lembeck, who, in rightly criticizing the crass commercialization of Christmas, forwards a secular view of the holiday that ignores its religious underpinning. Brief mildly rude humor and a minor divorce theme. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-I -- general patronage.

Saraband" (Sony Pictures Classics)
Rated "R"
Somber but intelligent film -- divided into 10 "chapters" -- about a lawyer (Liv Ullmann) who pays a surprise visit to the husband (Erland Josephson) she divorced 32 years ago, becoming embroiled in the tensions between the man and his estranged conductor son (Borje Ahlstedt) and aspiring cellist granddaughter (Julia Dufvenius). Master Ingmar Bergman's austere sequel to his groundbreaking "Scenes from a Marriage" of 1973, and his announced filmmaking swan song, features predictably superb performances from his actors, but even with the serious moral themes at work here, the talky film is heavy going and there's even a vaguely incestuous relationship between father and daughter. Subtitles. Profanity and crude language, brief domestic violence, attempted suicide, brief full-frontal nudity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

"Sarah Landon and the Paranormal Hour" (Freestyle)
Rated "PG"
Cheaply made rip-off of the R.L. Stine "Goosebumps" formula of ghost stories for preteens. The plot involves a plucky 17-year-old (newcomer Rissa Walters), who, visiting Pine Valley, Calif., tries to help an older boy (Brian Comrie, son of the directors-screenwriters) who is haunted by a ghost (Rusty Hanes) who has threatened to kill him on his 21st birthday because the boy's mother (Nicole Des Coteaux) accidentally killed his nephew (Ben Comrie). Incompetently written and directed by the husband and wife team John and Lisa Comrie, and clumsily acted, with only a couple of "hells," fleeting images of ghosts and some spooky music to preclude the youngest viewers. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-I -- general patronage. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.

"The Savages" (Fox Searchlight)
Rated "R"
Strongly acted, perceptive study of middle-aged brother and sister (Philip Seymour Hoffman and Laura Linney) called upon to care for their emotionally and geographically distant father (Philip Bosco) who has had a stroke. Writer and director Tamara Jenkins accurately etches all the minutiae of dealing with an ailing parent, though the somber situation is leavened with humor and the film ultimately emphasizes the familial bond between the siblings while the conclusion is poignantly life-affirming. Conversational rough language and profanity, adulterous and nonmarital relationships, scatological details, sexual encounters without nudity, drug use and much domestic discord. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Saving Shiloh" (New Dog)
Rated "PG"
Gentle boy-and-his-dog tale completing the trilogy based on Phyllis Reynolds Naylor's Newbery Award winning children's books. Here the titular beagle's young owner (Jason Dolley) reaches out to befriend the pooch's ornery previous owner (Scott Wilson), whose attempts to amend his mean-spirited ways are met with suspicion by the rest of the townspeople, who suspect him of involvement in a murder mystery. Despite modest production values, director Sandy Tung's disarming film wins you over with a touching performance by Wilson and an earnest, redemptive message about opening your heart to others. Some mild menace and peril involving children and a homicide subplot. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-I -- general patronage.

"Saw" (Lions Gate)
Rated "R"
Gory thriller about two strangers (Cary Elwes and Leigh Whannell) who awake to find themselves chained in a subterranean chamber and learn that their imprisonment is part of a serial killer's macabre mind game. Directed by James Wan, the film starts off well, but after an intriguing first 20 minutes, any hopes of suspense are dashed by a stomach-churning barrage of stylized sadism parading as entertainment, which nosedives from lurid to laughable in the final reel. Much graphic violence and recurring rough and crude language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive.

"Saw II" (Lions Gate)
Rated "R"
Repellent follow-up to 2004's "Saw," this time involving a hard-nosed police detective (Donnie Wahlberg) whose estranged teenage son (Erik Knudsen) -- along with eight other victims -- becomes the newest pawn in a sadistic game elaborately engineered by the homicidal mastermind known as "Jigsaw" (Tobin Bell). Directed by Darren Lynn Bousman, the sequel follows the original's lead in conceiving ever more twisted ways to kill and maim while packaging torturous cruelty as shock entertainment. Pervasive bloody violence and gore, including bodily mutilation and a scene of someone burned alive, brief drug content, much rough and crude language and profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive.

"Saw III" (Lionsgate)
Rated "R"
Homicidal mastermind Jigsaw (Tobin Bell) -- now on his deathbed and aided by a young apprentice (Shawnee Smith) -- is at it again, devising depraved games for his two latest pawns: a father (Angus Macfadyen) grieving the death of his son, and a melancholy doctor (Bahar Soomekh) who is kidnapped and brought to Jigsaw alive. New players, same sadism, as director Darren Lynn Bousman piles on the gore in inventing more grisly ways to shock audiences increasingly desensitized to brutality. Graphic and gratuitous violence, including cruel scenes of torture and self-mutilation, a bloody surgical procedure, shadowy full frontal nudity, as well as much rough and crude language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive.

"Saw IV" (Lionsgate)
Rated "R"
The fourth installment of this blood-saturated horror franchise offers more of the same mayhem, even though psychopath Jigsaw (Tobin Bell) is dead. Having lost their antihero and much of the shock value, director Darren Lynn Bousman and company delve into Jigsaw's past, providing a routine backstory to explain what turned the talented engineer into an executioner and self-styled moral tutor. The furious editing technique used to link all the deadly moving parts can't mask terrible dialogue and acting; it's time for these killing games to cease. Pervasive bloody violence and gore, including bodily mutilations, much rough language and profanity, images depicting rape, frontal male nudity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"Saw V" (Lionsgate)
Rated "R"
Sordid horror sequel in which an FBI agent (Scott Patterson) suspects a police detective (Costas Mandylor) of aiding a sadistic maniac (Tobin Bell) in torturing and killing wrongdoers who have evaded the law. Director David Hackl's film intersperses justifications of twisted morality with graphic scenes of ghastly mayhem. Frequent bloody violence, including torture and mutilation, much rough and some crude language, and a few uses of profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"Saw VI" (Lionsgate)
Rated "R"
The blood flood continues in this predictably gruesome horror sequel as the sadistic life-or-death games initiated by the now-deceased psychopath Jigsaw (Tobin Bell, seen in flashbacks) are secretly carried on by a police detective (Costas Mandylor) even as he pretends to investigate the crimes, his principal current victim being a coldhearted health insurance executive (Peter Outerbridge). Neither its attempts at social relevance nor its twisted moral mutterings can disguise the fact that director Kevin Greutert's needless extension of a noisome franchise is simply a 90-minute descent into gratuitous cruelty. Pervasive gory violence, including graphic torture and mutilation, a half-dozen profanities, at least 40 uses of the F-word, and some crude and crass language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"Saw 3-D" (Lionsgate)
Rated "R"
Agony awaits -- for characters and audiences alike -- as an ex-police officer (Costas Mandylor) carries on the twisted work of the late, unlamented Jigsaw (Tobin Bell, who puts in a cameo) by subjecting racist skinheads, an assortment of ordinary folk and, most prominently, a self-proclaimed Jigsaw survivor (Sean Patrick Flanery) to a series of sadistic life-or-death games. Warning that director Kevin Greutert's seventh entry in a franchise that began in 2004 is gruesome, dehumanizing and -- despite its title -- very much one-dimensional torture porn seems as redundant, by now, as this unwelcome sequel itself. Pervasive gory violence, with multiple scenes of torture, mutilation and disembowelment, a few uses of profanity, relentless rough and crude language. The Catholic News Service classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"A Scanner Darkly" (Warner Independent)
Rated "R"
Bleak, cautionary tale of futuristic investigator (Keanu Reeves) who goes undercover to investigate drug users (Robert Downey Jr., Woody Harrelson, Winona Ryder and Rory Cochrane), only to discover that he's also spying on himself. Performances are a plus in writer-director Richard Linklater's faithful version of Philip K. Dick's hallucinatory 1977 science-fiction novel, but the results are surprisingly talky and dull. The milieu is almost unremittingly sordid and unpleasant -- some humorous dialogue notwithstanding -- and the use of animated rotoscoping over the live action only adds to the already confusing narrative. Pervasive substance abuse, much profanity, rough and crude language, partial nudity, premarital sexual encounters, disturbing imagery, suicide attempt. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

"Scary Movie 4" (Weinstein)
Rated "PG-13"
Crude comedy is once again the name of the game in this consistently unfunny sendup of recent horror and sci-fi films -- including "Saw," "War of the Worlds" and "The Grudge" -- and, like the three earlier installments, consists of little more than lame spoofs strung together by a vacant plot, here involving a home health care worker (Anna Faris) who battles Japanese ghost children and alien invaders while finding romance with the guy next door (Craig Bierko). Director David Zucker serves up the mindless slapstick and gross-out jokes, somewhat tamer this time around, but still vulgar. Pervasive crude humor, scatological and sexual sight gags including a gay-themed parody, comic violence, brief rear nudity, an irreverent joke, same-sex kissing, recurring crude language and profanity and an instance of rough language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive.

"The Science of Sleep" (Warner Independent)
Rated "R"
Visually clever but unsatisfying drama set in Paris about an imaginative, if dysfunctional, young man (Gael Garcia Bernal) whose timid budding romance with his kindred-spirit neighbor (Charlotte Gainsbourg) is complicated by his chronic confusing of reality and dreams. Writer-director Michel Gondry ("Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind") charms with inventive flights of fancy -- by turns sweet and surreal -- but the film is sabotaged by Gondry's affection for dreamlike images over coherence. In English, French and Spanish with subtitles. Recurring rough and crude language, some sexual images and lewd humor, and a few instances of brief, partial, nonsexual nudity. 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.

"School for Scoundrels" (Weinstein)
Rated "PG-13"
Dreary and contrived comedy about an all-around loser parking-meter cop (Jon Heder) who, to win the heart of his pretty neighbor (Jacinda Barrett), takes a confidence-boosting course with an unconventional teacher (Billy Bob Thornton) who then pursues her as well. Director and co-writer Todd Phillips' film is almost completely devoid of laughs, indifferently paced, and inconsistent in its character delineation, while its one-upmanship rivalry between student and mentor never ignites. Much profanity, rough and crude language and humor, a brief implication of premarital sex, sexist banter and innuendo, adultery and some violence. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Scoop" (Focus)
Rated "PG-13"
After being tipped off by the ghost of an investigative reporter (Ian McShane), a young American journalism student (Scarlett Johansson) and a second-rate magician (Woody Allen), who poses as her father, join forces to discover if the wealthy son (Hugh Jackman) of a British lord might be a serial killer. Director-writer Allen returns to something approaching his early comic form, though this comedy-mystery has some strong parallels to his other London-based film, "Match Point." A few instances of profanity, a promiscuous heroine, premarital situations, and a minor prostitution theme. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"Scott Pilgrim vs. the World" (Universal)
Rated "PG-13"
Wildly violent, sexually freewheeling action comedy in which an angst-ridden Toronto twentysomething (Michael Cera) dumps a 17-year-old high schooler (Ellen Wong) to romance the aloof girl of his dreams (Mary Elizabeth Winstead). He must then battle a succession of her "evil exes" (including Satya Bhabha, Chris Evans and Brandon Routh) in bone-crunching, video-game-style combat. In adapting Bryan Lee O'Malley's series of graphic novels, director and co-writer Edgar Wright cleverly contrasts the title character's mundane real-life existence with the hyperbole of his pop culture-inspired imagination. But, in addition to the relentless throwdowns, the script also features subplots portraying gay relationships and group sex as perfectly acceptable. Pervasive harsh, though bloodless violence, frivolous treatment of aberrant sexuality, brief nongraphic nonmarital sexual activity, a same-sex kiss, several bleeped and one audible use of the F-word, some crude and much crass language. The Catholic News Service 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.

"Scream 4" (Weinstein)
Rated "R"
The latest installment in director Wes Craven's slasher franchise, begun in 1996, wallows in the same mindless havoc that characterized its predecessors. Trouble brews anew when the survivor of the first three rampages (Neve Campbell) returns home to Woodsboro while promoting her new book about the highly publicized saga. Alongside other returning characters -- such as Courtney Cox's journalist and David Arquette's sheriff -- the next generation of potential victims is using new-media tools to absorb and recycle the formulaic mayhem wrought by the killer known as "Ghostface." The line "sick is the new sane" aptly summarizes the profanity-riddled, blood-soaked proceedings of this deeply cynical -- if admittedly well-constructed -- horror flick. Excessive gory violence; pervasive rough, crude and crass language; some profanity and sexual banter; and two scenes of underage drinking. The Catholic News Service classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

Screen Door Jesus" (Indican)
Rated "R"
Unfocused ensemble piece about the residents of a small Texas town -- including a local seductress (Scarlett McAlister), her philosophizing boyfriend (Mark Dalton), the lustful mayor (Richard Dillard), a guilt-wracked banker (Cliff Stevens), and a Pentecostal grandma (Anjanette Comer) -- whose disparate lives are affected by a "miraculous" image of Christ that appears on the front-porch screen door of one of the townsfolk (Cynthia Dorn). Directed by Kirk Davis, the uneven film -- which unfairly stereotypes a majority of the characters as intolerant rubes -- explores themes of faith, ecumenism, hypocrisy and racism resulting in a meandering collage that waffles between drama and dark comedy while passing an ambiguous verdict on religious belief. Sexual situations and discussions, shadowy suggested nudity, brief violence, an attempted suicide, a few anti-Catholic remarks and racial slurs, some irreverent and irreligious humor, as well as recurring rough and crude language and gestures and an instance of profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

"Season of the Witch" (Relativity)
Rated "PG-13"
Baleful and boring medieval adventure in which two warriors (Nicolas Cage and Ron Perlman), disenchanted with the church-sponsored slaughter of the Crusades, go AWOL but find the plague ravaging the territories through which they pass on their way home. Identified as deserters, they face incarceration unless they agree to escort a young prisoner (Claire Foy) to a distant abbey so she can stand trial as a witch whose black magic has given rise to the fatal pest. Conflating history and dredging up hoary cliches about the period, director Dominic Sena presents a relentlessly negative picture of its Catholicism as a superstitious, oppressive force against which his main characters nobly rebel. Pervasive anti-Catholic bias, occult themes, brief partial nudity, much -- mostly bloodless -- violence, some gruesome images, at least one use of the S-word and a few crass terms. The Catholic News Service 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.

"The Sea Inside" (Fine Line)
Rated "PG-13"
True-life drama about Spanish poet Ramon Sampedro (Javier Bardem), tragically paralyzed in a freak diving accident, who fought a losing 30-year legal battle for the right to end his own life, focusing on his relationships with three women: a terminally ill lawyer (Belen Rueda) hired to help with his case, his dedicated sister-in-law and caretaker (Mabel Rivera), and a lonely single mother (Lola Duenas) with whom he bonds. Soberly crafted by director Alejandro Amenabar, with a tour-de-force performance by Bardem, dreamlike visuals and sprinkles of humor, the complex film raises profound moral questions concerning death, dignity, the sanctity of human life and personal autonomy, and provides an impassioned voice for both sides of the issue, allowing viewers to decide. Many will undoubtedly see the movie as little more than a gilded defense of assisted suicide, especially given its morally problematic ending. A sympathetic view of euthanasia, and some brief mild sensuality. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents are strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

"Secretariat" (Disney)
Rated "PG"
The true story of the 1973 Triple Crown winner, arguably the greatest racehorse of all time, comes to the big screen in a film that is both thrilling sports adventure and moving family drama. Secretariat's owner (Diane Lane) is a housewife who returns to her horse farm roots and gambles everything on the big red equine. As she makes her mark in an all-male world, she battles prejudice and the skepticism of her family, but she never loses hope in her dream. At her side are a bossy assistant (Margo Martindale), an even more domineering trainer (John Malkovich) and a gentle-hearted groom (Nelsan Ellis) whose spiritual nature provides a moving undercurrent. Unencumbered by any really objectionable elements, this exuberant and inspirational cinematic champ can be cheered on by a wide audience. Some tense emotional moments and heated arguments. 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.

"The Secret Life of Bees" (Fox Searchlight)
Rated "PG-13"
Beautifully produced adaptation of Sue Monk Kidd's best-seller set in South Carolina about a spiritual beekeeper (Queen Latifah) and her sisters (Alicia Keys and Sophie Okonedo) who take in a 14-year-old runaway (Dakota Fanning) and her caretaker (Jennifer Hudson) fleeing the girl's abusive father (Paul Bettany). Writer-director Gina Prince-Bythewood elicits well-judged performances from the cast, with Latifah and Dakota outstanding, and the compassionate -- albeit melodramatic -- story includes elements of forgiveness and redemption. Some profanity and crude language, racial epithets and violence, nonsexual child abuse, light underage sensuality, murder and suicide; acceptable for older teens. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Seed of Chucky" (Rogue Pictures)
Rated “R”
Schlocky fifth installment of the "Child's Play" campy horror franchise, in which foulmouthed, killer doll Chucky (voiced by Brad Dourif) and his bloodthirsty bride (voiced by Jennifer Tilly) are resurrected by their gender-confused offspring (voiced by Billy Boyd), setting the stage for another murderous rampage. Directed by Don Mancini, the formulaic gorefest sinks to new lows by saddling this go-round's mindless mayhem with an irreverent subplot involving the virgin birth. Gratuitous gore and violence, sacrilegious and sexual humor, including a masturbation scene, brief shower nudity and rough and crude language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive.

"The Seeker" (Fox Walden)
Rated "PG"
Slight but entertaining fantasy about a 14-year-old American boy (Alexander Ludwig) living in England with his parents (John Benjamin Hickey and Wendy Crewson), his sister (Emma Lockhart) and four brothers (Gregory Smith, Drew Tyler Bell, Edmund Entin and Gary Entin), who learns that he is "The Seeker," the last in a succession of supernatural warriors known as the Old Ones. With the assistance of four of his elders in this hearty band (Ian McShane, Frances Conroy, James Cosmo and Jim Piddock) he must undertake to fulfill an ancient prophecy by gathering together six magical signs, all the while battling the forces of darkness embodied by a malevolent equestrian (Christopher Eccleston) and fighting off the distraction posed by an attractive local girl (Amelia Warner) one of his brothers is dating. The film, as directed by David L. Cunningham, makes up for a thin plot with an evocative atmosphere, fun special effects and positive moral values. Passing references to puberty and a few scenes that may frighten very young children. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-I -- general patronage. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.

"Semi-Pro" (New Line)
Rated "R"
Outlandish, only sporadically funny sports comedy, set in 1976, about a one-hit singer (Will Ferrell) who becomes the owner and playing coach of a Midwest ABA basketball team and who must work with a new player (Woody Harrelson) and the team's established star (Andre Benjamin) to ensure his franchise's survival after their league's merger with the NBA. Executive producer and director Kent Alterman's feature debut has a few scenes of well-choreographed chaos and some sly period references, but mostly the film lumbers along with the cast strictly on autopilot. Brief sexual activity with partial nudity, pervasive rough and crude language, some uttered by a priest, some profanity and much sexual and scatological humor. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"The Sentinel" (20th Century Fox) *
Rated "PG-13"
Fast-paced political thriller about a veteran Secret Service agent (Michael Douglas) who, framed in a plot to assassinate the president, must clear his name while on the run, with his former protege (Kiefer Sutherland) and a rookie agent (Eva Longoria) in pursuit. Despite holes in the script, director Clark Johnson's engaging conspiracy yarn strikes a nice balance between being a smart mystery and a conventional action film, anchored by solid performances by Douglas and Sutherland. Recurring action violence, including several shootings, an implied adulterous affair and scattered crude language and profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"Seven Pounds" (Columbia/Relativity)
Rated "PG-13"
Far-fetched and overlong drama about a guilt-ridden loner (Will Smith) intent on atoning for a terrible sin by giving life-altering assistance to seven needy strangers, including a blind pianist (Woody Harrelson), a Latina mother (Elpidia Carrillo) being physically abused by her boyfriend, and an artistic printer (Rosario Dawson) suffering from heart disease, for whom he falls. Director Gabriele Muccino's snail's-pace exploration of altruistic and romantic love includes the endorsement of an unwise and sinful choice driven by confused idealism, and requires careful interpretation by mature viewers. Suicide theme, nongraphic premarital sexual activity, a few sexual references, occasional crude and crass language, and a couple of uses of profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"Sex and the City" (New Line/HBO)
Rated "R"
Frothy but morally flawed romantic comedy tracing the amorous ups and downs of a columnist turned author (Sarah Jessica Parker) and her three closest friends (Kim Cattrall, Kristin Davis and Cynthia Nixon) after she and her longtime boyfriend (Chris Noth) purchase an apartment together. Conscientious themes of forgiveness and reconciliation as well as a generally positive view of marriage are swamped, in writer-director Michael Patrick King's adaptation of the popular cable-TV series, by errant materialism and an approach to human sexuality at once immature and indiscreet. Graphic sexual activity (some of it nonmarital and aberrant); rear, upper-female and partial nudity; sexual and scatological humor; two same-sex kisses; some rough and crude language; and two uses of profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"Sex and the City 2" (New Line)
Rated "R"
Romantic-comedy sequel, based on a long-running cable-TV series, recounting the further adventures of a New York-based columnist turned author (Sarah Jessica Parker), her husband (Chris Noth) and her three best friends (Kim Cattrall, Kristin Davis and Cynthia Nixon) as they confront the challenges of married life, parenthood and career changes, pressures only temporarily relieved, for the quartet of pals, by a luxurious vacation in Abu Dhabi. Writer-director Michael Patrick King's morally unmoored follow-up to his 2008 feature confuses promiscuity with feminist empowerment, caricatures Muslims and showcases an extended celebration of same-sex marriage. Graphic nonmarital sexual activity with nudity, benign view of casual sex and homosexual acts, adultery theme, constant sexual humor and references, some rough and crude language. The Catholic News Service classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"Sex Drive" (Summit)
Rated "R"
A hapless teen (Josh Zuckerman) purloins his bullying brother's (James Marsden) classic sports car and, accompanied by his two best friends (Amanda Crew and Clark Duke), embarks on a cross-country road trip hoping to lose his virginity with an alluring woman (Katrina Bowden) he met over the Internet. Though romance eventually wins at least a partial victory over random lust in director and co-writer Sean Anders' occasionally witty comedy, the sexual and scatological detours along the way make this a generally unrewarding journey. Strong sexual content including graphic nonmarital sexual activity, partial male frontal and upper female nudity, pervasive rough and crude language, much sexual and scatological humor, and underage drinking. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"September Dawn" (Black Diamond)
Rated "R"
Standard-style Western but with a provocative theme as the love story of a Mormon boy (Trent Ford) and pioneer girl (Tamara Hope) unfolds against a backdrop of the Mountain Meadows Massacre of 1857, in which 120 men, women and children from Arkansas were slaughtered as their wagon train journeyed through Utah en route to California. Director and co-writer Chris Cain (with Carole Whang Schutter) purports that church leader Brigham Young gave the order and that Mormon extremists (Jon Voight plays a fictional elder here) incited the Indians to help them annihilate the party as revenge for the killing of prophet John Smith. Much violence during the slaughter, shots of dead and wounded, polygamy, brief sexual reference and fratricide. 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.

"Seraphim Falls" (Samuel Goldwyn/Destination)
Rated "R"
Downbeat, post-Civil War chase film with surrealistic flourishes, as bedraggled ex-soldier (Pierce Brosnan in an impressively gritty change of pace) flees relentless pursuer (Liam Neeson) and posse, while enduring bitter cold, raging waterfalls, gunshot wounds and other vicissitudes before the film climaxes with a redemptive confrontation in the desert. Director and co-writer David Von Ancken pays homage to iconic Westerns of the past, but his script is disappointingly routine, and much of what's here feels merely like an uninspired retread. Though the leads are solid, there's an enjoyable cameo by Angelica Huston, and the resolution is admirably moral, there's a tiresomely contrived air to the whole enterprise. Sporadic brutal if reasonably restrained violence, a mercy killing, a gruesome bullet removal and some crude language and profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"Serenity" (Universal)
Rated "PG-13" Parents are strongly cautioned
Offbeat sci-fi fantasy based on the short-lived television series "Firefly" set 500 years in the future about a crew of space smugglers (captained by Nathan Fillion) hotly pursued by an operative (Chiwetel Ejiofor) of an oppressive interplanetary government intent on recapturing a fugitive doctor (Sean Maher) and his telepath sister (Summer Glau) whom the renegades rescued. Written and directed by series creator Joss Whedon, the film -- which plays like an extended episode of the TV series -- weds the science fiction and Western genres resulting in a sly, offbeat and witty hybrid. Stylized and bloody action violence, some sexual humor, minimal crude language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.

"Sex Drive" (Summit)
Rated "R"
A hapless teen (Josh Zuckerman) purloins his bullying brother's (James Marsden) classic sports car and, accompanied by his two best friends (Amanda Crew and Clark Duke), embarks on a cross-country road trip hoping to lose his virginity with an alluring woman (Katrina Bowden) he met over the Internet. Though romance eventually wins at least a partial victory over random lust in director and co-writer Sean Anders' occasionally witty comedy, the sexual and scatological detours along the way make this a generally unrewarding journey. Strong sexual content including graphic nonmarital sexual activity, partial male frontal and upper female nudity, pervasive rough and crude language, much sexual and scatological humor, and underage drinking. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"Seven Pounds" (Columbia/Relativity)
Rated "PG-13"
Far-fetched and overlong drama about a guilt-ridden loner (Will Smith) intent on atoning for a terrible sin by giving life-altering assistance to seven needy strangers, including a blind pianist (Woody Harrelson), a Latina mother (Elpidia Carrillo) being physically abused by her boyfriend, and an artistic printer (Rosario Dawson) suffering from heart disease, for whom he falls. Director Gabriele Muccino's snail's-pace exploration of altruistic and romantic love includes the endorsement of an unwise and sinful choice driven by confused idealism, and requires careful interpretation by mature viewers. Suicide theme, nongraphic premarital sexual activity, a few sexual references, occasional crude and crass language, and a couple of uses of profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

"The Shaggy Dog" (Disney)
Rated "PG"
Lame reworking of the 1959 Disney comedy, incorporating elements of its 1976 follow-up, about a workaholic Los Angeles deputy district attorney (Tim Allen) who, while trying a case involving a sinister scientist (Robert Downey Jr.), is bitten by a mutt and soon finds himself turning into one, leading to nutty canine complications with his neglected wife (Kristin Davis) and two teenage children. Directed by Brian Robbins; even Allen's comic dexterity can't make this dog of a film hunt, resulting in slapstick silliness that is strictly for the pups. Some mildly crude humor and comic violence. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-I -- general patronage.

"Shall We Dance?" (Miramax)
Rated "PG-13"
Delightful remake of 1996 Japanese film, now set in Chicago, about a lawyer (Richard Gere) in a rut with his loving but preoccupied wife (Susan Sarandon) and two teenage kids, whose life is transformed when he secretly enrolls in a ballroom dancing school, after he observes a beautiful and sad woman (Jennifer Lopez) looking out of the school's window. Director Peter Chelsom directs Gere in one of his best roles, Sarandon is appealing as the wife wondering at her husband's late nights, and Lopez has an ideal part as the emotionally damaged dance instructor with whom the