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VIDEO AND DVD PREVIOUSLY
REVIEWED
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Here is a list of videocassette releases of theatrical movies
that the Office for Film & Broadcasting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic
Bishops has rated on the basis of moral suitability.
These classifications do not take into account DVD releases, whose extra
content has not been reviewed.
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
“Abraham and Mary Lincoln: A House
Divided" (2003)
Writer-director David Grubin offers an intimate portrait of the frontier
farmer's son as well as his aristocratic wife in the comprehensive and
compelling three-part series, which originally aired on PBS' "The American
Experience" series. The first episode entertains with its presentation of
personal details. Although Mary, a learned woman, was an incredible flirt, she
waited a year and a half for Lincoln to propose a second time, after he had
callously broken off their initial engagement. She saw in him the dogged
ambition that would lead him to be president, and she wanted to be by his side
when it happened. From his first term as president, the bloody Civil War and the
Emancipation Proclamation through Lincoln's re-election and assassination, the
next two episodes emphasize the human story behind the historical facts.
Archival photos and lively dramatizations as well as scenes shot in the Mary
Todd Lincoln House in Kentucky and the Lincoln Home National Historic Site in
Illinois are interspersed with historians and biographers' commentary. Narrated
by David McCullough. Parents should be aware that the documentary contains
gruesome images of Civil War victims unsuitable for younger viewers. However,
the program is a thorough and engaging presentation that could serve as a
psychological history lesson for adolescents.
"The Abyss"
(1989)
Derivative sea adventure tracking
the attempt to rescue a U.S. nuclear
submarine which has sunk in waters
inhabited by mysterious, benign
alien creatures. Writer-director
James Cameron drowns the fantasy in
a sea of dopey interpersonal
distractions and technological
razzle-dazzle. Intense underwater
action with drownings,
resuscitations and locker-room
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. (20th Century
Fox Home Entertainment)
"Across the Universe"
(Deluxe Edition) (2007)
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. (Sony Pictures
Home Entertainment)
"A Dennis the Menace
Christmas" (2007)
Innocent but mostly unfunny holiday outing in which the titular terror (Maxwell
Perry Cotton) wreaks havoc on his grouchy neighbor, Mr. Wilson (Robert Wagner),
and his kindly wife (Louise Fletcher), thus causing damages that threaten to
ruin his parents (Kim Schraner and George Newbern) financially, a problem that
only the intervention of an angel (Godfrey) may be able to resolve. Director Ron
Oliver's comedy, when not ripping off Dickens or Frank Capra, indulges in the
most predictable kind of destructive slapstick, though along the way it does
manage to promote some positive values. One mild oath and a sight gag involving
a brassiere. Added features on the DVD include a behind-the-scenes look at the
making of the film, brief blooper and outtake reels, an audio commentary with
Oliver and Wagner, a picture-in-picture video commentary by Cotton, and Spanish
and Portuguese dubbing and subtitle options. 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.
(Warner Home Video)
"The
Adventures of Mark Twain" (1986)
Combining elements of the author's life and times with excerpts from his
writings, this animated fantasy will engage youngsters while providing
older viewers with some insights into Twain's complex character. Will
Vinton's use of clay animation, with fully modeled characters in
imaginative sets, is a visual treat. Several scenes may be frightening
for the very young but otherwise it's unusually fine family
entertainment. The no-frills DVD issue offers a good-looking
anamorphic (offering maximum resolution) widescreen image. 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. (Sony Pictures Home Entertainment)
"The
Adventures of the Little Prince: The Greatest Gift"
(1983)
Three episodes from the gentle 1980s Nickelodeon series -- endorsed
by the National Education Association -- inspired by the character
created by Antoine de Saint-Exupery about the wise child who rules
the distant asteroid B-612, and in this series comes to earth for
various adventures, learning (and imparting to young viewers)
various life lessons in the process. The DVD includes three
22-minute episodes. In the titular story, the Little Prince wants to
see what Christmas is all about but lands on a tropical isle where a
self-centered rich man, reminded of his own lost child, wants to
adopt him, caring little for anyone else until the Prince teaches
him about generosity and the true meaning of season. "Too Big for
This World" and "The Winning Ride," concerning a giant and a jockey,
respectively, follow the same pattern. All in all, these are very
nice stories for preschoolers, and if the animation is simplistic,
it does capture some of the spirit of Saint-Exupery's beloved work.
Print quality is a little soft, but colorful enough for the kids.
Five other DVDs in the series are available, along with a boxed set
of the entire series (Koch Vision).
"The Adventures of Sharkboy & Lavagirl in 3-D"
(2005)
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 and blasts off on a mission to save a distant world from the
sinister machinations of Mr. Electric (George Lopez). Directed by Robert
Rodriguez, 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. The Motion Picture Association of America rating
is PG -- parental guidance suggested. (Buena Vista)
"The Adventures of Ociee Nash"
(2004)
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 to live with an aunt (Mare Winningham) set on teaching
her to become a "proper young lady." Along the way, she rubs elbows with
such historical personalities as President McKinley and the Wright
brothers. Directed by Kristen McGary from 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 DVD includes both wide- and
full-screen versions, though trailers and TV spots are the only
significant extras on a good-looking DVD. The USCCB Office for Film &
Broadcasting classification is A-I -- general patronage. The Motion
Picture Association of America rating is G -- general audiences. (Fox)
"An Affair
to Remember: 50th Anniversary
Edition" (1957)
Lush sentimental melodrama begins as
light comedy with a shipboard
romance between a wealthy bachelor
(Cary Grant) and a former nightclub
singer (Deborah Kerr), then plunges
into heavyweight soap opera when
their rendezvous in New York is
prevented by an accident. Director
Leo McCarey's remake of his 1939
"Love Affair" manages to keep the
lumbering romance afloat with an
old-fashioned mix of smiles and
tears, a charming cast and plush
settings. Starry-eyed romance. The
USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting
classification is A-II -- adults and
adolescents. Not rated by the Motion
Picture Association of America.
(20th Century Fox Home
Entertainment)
"After
Hours"
(1985)
A
bored
yuppie
(Griffin
Dunne)
from
Manhattan's
fashionable
East
Side
ventures
into
a
dangerous
part
of
town
to
meet
an
eccentric
date
(Rosanna Arquette)
only
to
encounter
a
series
of
life-threatening
misadventures
before
escaping
back
to
the
safety
of
his
own
turf
in
the
dawn's
early
light.
Director
Martin
Scorsese's
black
comedy
lacks
satiric
bite,
preferring
instead
to
wring
laughs
out
of
mental
instability
and
bizarre
sexual
practices.
Sophomoric
nihilism
and
some
brief
nudity.
The USCCB
Office
for
Film
&
Broadcasting
classification
is
A-IV
--
adults,
with
reservations.
The
Motion
Picture
Association
of
America
rating
is
R
--
restricted.
(Warner
Bros.)
"After the Sunset"
(2004)
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 Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents
are strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under
13. (New Line)
"Against the Ropes"
(2004)
Leaden drama about a brassy female fight
fan (Meg Ryan) who tosses her hat and her hopes
into the ring when she decides to manage a
promising young boxer (Omar Epps). Based loosely
on the life of boxing manager Jackie Kallen, the
film, directed by Charles S. Dutton, has little
chance of scoring a knockout at the box office
thanks to lightweight performances and a script
that doesn't pack much of a punch. Boxing action,
brief violence and drug content, and recurring
crude sexual language and 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. (Paramount)
"Air Buddies" (2006)
Straight-to-video fifth installment in the live-action "Air Bud"
series in which the sports-playing golden retriever, Air Bud,
and his mate are dognapped by a flamboyant animal dealer,
leaving it up to their litter of five "talking" puppies to
undertake a rescue mission, while evading capture themselves by
the poacher's bungling henchmen. The pups are adorable, but
director Robert Vince's lightweight effort is padded with
frivolous slapstick that may keep very young children adequately
amused, but have older kids pawing for the remote. Don't be
fooled by the DVD's cover art; there's hardly any of the
doggy-sports antics of the previous four films. And while you
could do worse for clean, family-friendly entertainment, if
you're expecting "101 Dalmatians" -- which this movie references
-- you're barking up the wrong tree. Bonus features include a
cute "interview" with the pooch stars, an instructive segment on
how to train your dog, and more. 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 (Disney Home Entertainment).
"Akeelah
and the Bee" (2006)
Irresistible story about a South Los Angeles 11-year-old loner (Keke
Palmer) who reluctantly competes in a national spelling bee under the
tutelage of an emotionally fragile English professor (Laurence Fishburne)
and against the initial wishes of her hard-working mother (Angela
Bassett). Writer-director Doug Atchison handles Akeelah's journey of
self-discovery deftly and builds suspense along the way to a satisfying
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 film has been given the deluxe
anamorphic DVD treatment with seven brief but enjoyable deleted scenes,
three lively featurettes and more. Highly recommended. 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 (Lions Gate
Home Video).
"A Knight's Tale"
(Extended Cut) (2001)
Rollicking action adventure story about a young squire (Heath Ledger) in
14th-century France who assumes his deceased master's identity and works
his way up the jousting circuit to foil a nasty villain (Rufus Sewell).
Inspired by Chaucer's "Canterbury Tales," director Brian Helgeland
deftly blends contemporary attitudes, dialogue and rock music into an
entertaining period piece, although the movie's length is a bit
indulgent. Intermittent action violence, some rear nudity and fleeting
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 are strongly cautioned. Some material
may be inappropriate for children under 13. (Columbia/TriStar)
"Aladdin"
(1992)
Vibrant
animated
"Arabian
Nights"
tale
of
a
genie
(voice
of
Robin
Williams),
a
commoner
in
love
with
a
princess
and
an
evil
vizier
who
connives
to
capture
the
genie
and
marry
the
princess.
Directed
by
John
Musker
and
Ron
Clements,
the
Disney
production
has
a
sweet
story
and
delightful
animation,
and
Williams'
wisecracks
wedded
to
lightning-fast
sight
gags
should
hold
adult
interest.
The
USCCB
Office
for
Film
&
Broadcasting
classification
is
A-I
--
general
patronage.
The
Motion
Picture
Association
of
America
rating
is
G
--
general
audiences.
(Buena
Vista)
"The
Alamo"
(2004)
Sweeping
historical
drama
set
in
1836
about
the
famous
last
stand
of
a
handful
of
Texans
--
led
by
Jim
Bowie
(Jason
Patric)
and
Davy
Crockett
(Billy
Bob
Thornton)
--
who,
though
overwhelmingly
outnumbered,
valiantly
held
the
besieged
fort
for
13
days
before
falling
to
the
Mexican
army
under
the
command
of
Gen.
Santa
Anna
(Emilio
Echevarria),
rallying
the
cause
of
Texan
independence.
Despite
its
sweeping
scope,
the
film,
as
directed
by
John
Lee
Hancock,
is
less
concerned
with
bloody
battles
and
flag-waving
patriotism
than
it
is
with
the
relationships
of
the
men
involved,
resulting
in
an
intimate,
character-driven
tale
about
courage
and
sacrifice.
Extended
battlefield
violence
and
some
crude
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.
(Buena
Vista)
"All Dogs Go to Heaven 1 & 2" (Double Feature) (1989 and 1996)
The two Don Bluth animated features are repackaged in two slim-line DVD
cases, full screen, and with no extras. Adequate print quality on both.
(Sony)
"All
Dogs Go To Heaven 1"
(1989)
Dark, disappointing animated feature, set in 1930s Louisiana, charts the
death and redemption of a rogue German shepherd (voice of Burt Reynolds)
who, after being bumped off by a crooked business partner, cons his way
from heaven back to earth where he is reformed by his love for an
adorable orphan (voice of Judith Barsi). The orphan proves the only
shining light in director Don Bluth's predictable, derivative fantasy
with forgettable music and unappealing lead characters. Some cartoon
menace and intense moments of mortal danger. 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.
"All
Dogs Go To Heaven 2" (1996)
Animated musical sequel in which two canine angels (voices of Charlie
Sheen and Dom DeLuise) in San Francisco to retrieve Gabriel's horn help
a runaway boy return home while outwitting a devilish duo. Directed by
Paul Sabella and Larry Leker, the result features some sprightly songs
but the busy animation often looks washed out. 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.
"All Dogs Go to Heaven: The Series"
(1996-1999)
Canine guardian angel Charlie and his scrappy sidekick, Itchy, are back,
getting into all sorts of mutt mischief while trying to earn their wings
and halos by helping out people and dogs in need here below. Originally
airing on cable's Fox (now ABC) Family Channel 1996-99, the animated
series features the voices of Steven Weber, Dom DeLuise, Sheena Easton,
Ernest Borgnine, Charles Nelson Reilly, and Bebe Neuwirth as Anabelle,
the pair's celestial handler who keeps them on a short leash. Each of
the two discs (sold separately) contains four episodes grouped according
to themes, and each pooch parable imparts a life lesson. Volume 1,
"Friends to the Rescue," is comprised of stories dealing with
friendship: "Field Trip," "Cyrano De Barkinac," "Mutts Ado About
Nothing" and "Heaventh Inning Stretch." Volume 2, "Dogs Undercover,"
contains a quartet of adventures: "La Doggie Vita," "Magical Misery
Tour," "Fearless Fido," and the "The Big Fetch." With their teaching
story lines, lively animation and positive messages, these collections,
while pleasing parents, should keep the pups wagging their tails. (Sony)
"Almost Heroes" (1998)
Comedy clunker about inept explorers Chris Farley and Matthew Perry
starting out from St. Louis in 1804 to beat the Lewis and Clark
expedition to the Pacific Ocean. It's a one-joke comedy whose witless
wilderness proceedings go from crude to cruder. Slapstick violence,
sexual innuendo, outhouse humor and profanity. 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.
(Warner Bros.)
"Alexander" (2004)
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 rough-hewn
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 that 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 adults would find troubling. The Motion Picture Association of America
rating is R -- restricted. (Warner Bros.)
"Alfie"
(2004)
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 anti-hero -- 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. (Paramount)
"Alice
Doesn't
Live
Here
Anymore"
(1975)
A
widow
(Ellen
Burstyn)
takes
her
young
son
(Alfred
Lutter)
on
a
sojourn
across
the
Southwest
trying
to
pursue
her
dream
of
a
singing
career
but
winds
up
as
a
waitress
in
a
greasy
spoon
where
she
is
courted
by
a
local
rancher
(Kris
Kristofferson).
Director
Martin
Scorsese's
somewhat
ambiguous
picture
of
a
single
parent
in
contemporary
America
also
offers
some
interesting
insights
on
the
condition
of
women
in
a
male
chauvinistic
society.
Several
sordid
situations
and
rough
language.
The
USCCB
Office
for
Film
&
Broadcasting
classification
is
A-IV
--
adults,
with
reservations.
The
Motion
Picture
Association
of
America
rating
is
PG
--
parental
guidance
suggested.
(Warner
Bros.)
"Alice in
Wonderland" (1985)
Lavish two-part television adaptation of Lewis Carroll's evergreen
children's story with an incredible all-star cast including Red
Buttons (the White Rabbit), Sammy Davis Jr. (the Caterpillar), Roddy
McDowell (the March Hare), Robert Morley (the King of Hearts),
Anthony Newley (the Mad Hatter), Donald O'Connor (the Lory Bird),
Martha Raye (the Duchess), Shelley Winters (the Dodo Bird) , Carol
Channing (the White Queen), Ernest Borgnine (the Lion), Karl Malden
(the Walrus), and Ringo Starr (the Mock Turtle), plus many more.
Irwin ("The Poseidon Adventure") Allen produced, and Harry Harris
directed Paul Zindel's reasonably faithful adaptation for which
Steve Allen (who also appears) provided some pleasant songs, and the
accents are mostly American, including cute Natalie Gregory as
Alice. The DVD features a fullscreen image, and the color quality
of the film is excellent. Kids should love it, while adults will
appreciate the parade of stars (Sony Home Entertainment).
"Alien vs. Predator"
(2004)
Sci-fi actioner about a team of scientists (including Sanaa Lathan) hired by a
wealthy industrialist (Lance Henriksen) to explore a mysterious ancient pyramid
discovered beneath the Antarctic who become live bait in a battle royal between
the two space species of the title slugging it out for bragging rights in the
galaxy. Cross-pollinating two popular franchises, the extraterrestrial face-off,
directed by Paul W.S. Anderson, while peppered with some mild shivers and creepy
atmospherics, is devoid of substance or style, its repellent cavalcade of slimy
special effects drowning out any real suspense and testing the boundaries of its
PG-13 rating. Gory action violence, an instance of rough language and scattered
crude 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. Some material may be inappropriate for children
under 13. (Fox)
"All the King's Men" (2006)
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 inappropriate for
children under 13 (Sony Pictures).
"All the
President's Men" (1976)
The investigation by two Washington Post reporters (Dustin Hoffman and
Robert Redford) of the facts behind the 1974 Watergate break-in has been
dramatized with restraint and objectivity. Director Alan Pakula's
deliberately low-keyed, well-acted and comprehensive account of a
political scandal emphasizes the painstaking work involved in
investigative journalism. Though it uses a few coarse words in a
realistic context, the movie is one that older teenagers would benefit
from seeing. 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. (Warner Bros.)
"Almost Famous"
(2000)
Poignant drama set in the 1970s about an aspiring rock journalist (Patrick
Fugit) who lands a freelance assignment at age 15 with Rolling Stone magazine to
interview a hot new rock band (led by Billy Crudup) as they tour the United
States. Director Cameron Crowe's semiautobiographical coming-of-age story
skillfully reflects the era, yet remains on a largely superficial level. Implied
sexual encounters, fleeting nudity, an extramarital affair, some drug use
including an overdose and intermittent rough language. The USCCB Office for Film
& Broadcasting classification is A-IV -- adults, with reservations. The Motion
Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. (DreamWorks)
"Along
Came
Polly
"
(2004)
Stale
romantic
comedy
about
a
tightly
wound
New
York
insurance
risk
assessor
(Ben
Stiller)
who,
after
being
jilted
by
his
newlywed
bride
(Debra
Messing)
on
their
honeymoon,
has
his
play-it-safe
lifestyle
turned
topsy-turvy
when
he
falls
for
a
bohemian
former
high
school
classmate
(Jennifer
Aniston).
In
lieu
of
a
smart,
witty
farce
about
the
emotional
perils
of
modern
mating,
director
John
Hamburg
has
strung
together
a
series
of
crude
bathroom
sight-gags
and
stock
sex
skits
which
are
made
more
painful
by
his
love-shy
leads'
total
lack
of
on-screen
chemistry.
A
few
sexual
encounters,
much
crass
humor,
some
rear
nudity,
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.
The
Motion
Picture
Association
of
America
rating
is
PG-13
--
parents
are
strongly
cautioned.
Some
material
may
be
inappropriate
for
children
under
13.
(Universal)
"A Mighty Heart"
(2007)
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.
"Amazing Grace" (2007)
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 and 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 DVD includes commentary by Apted and Gruffudd, a making-of
documentary with much historical detail, a tour of the National Underground
Railroad Freedom Center in Cincinnati, a music video of the title song with
Chris Tomlin, and various interactive study guides. 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. (Twentieth Century Fox Home
Entertainment)
"American Dreamz" (2006)
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 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, sexual and crass expressions,
an implied premarital coupling and a suicide. The anamorphic DVD
includes about 12 minutes of deleted scenes, commentary by Weitz
and Golzari, and a couple of lightweight featurettes. 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 (Universal).
"America's Heart and Soul" (2004)
Captivating documentary in which filmmaker Louis Schwartzberg traverses the
country interviewing a colorful assortment of folks who are passionate about
what they do, including a blind mountain climber, a musically inclined dairy
farmer, an aerobatic pilot and cliff dancers, to name only a few. Combined with
breathtaking, panoramic cinematography, the film's personal vignettes are as
emotionally involving as the documentary is spiritually uplifting in celebrating
individual diversity and the love of liberty that Americans share. The USCCB
Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-I -- general patronage. The
Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance
suggested. (Columbia/TriStar)
"An
American
Werewolf
in
London"
(1981)
Trashy,
sardonically
muddled
horror
show
by
writer-director
John
Landis
attempts
to
combine
comedy
and
fright
with
a
dash
of
steamy
sex.
The
result
is
a
squalid
mess.
Contains
violence
and
explicit
sex.
The
USCCB
Office
for
Film
&
Broadcasting
classification
is
O
--
morally
offensive.
The
Motion
Picture
Association
of
America
rating
is
R
--
restricted.
(Universal)
"A Mighty Heart"
(2007)
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 good-looking DVD includes a
30-minute making-of documentary, and short pieces on the
Daniel Pearl Foundation and the Committee to Protect
Journalists. 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.
(Paramount Home Entertainment)
"Annapolis"
(2006)
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).
However, director Justin Lin's "An Officer and a Gentleman" retread is
hollow and formulaic. Brutal boxing sequences, an attempted suicide,
some sexually crude language and humor, as well as profanity. The
anamorphic DVD includes seven deleted scenes with audio commentary; a
"making of" featurette; and another on the boxing sequences. Audio
commentary by Lin and others from the creative team. 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
(Touchstone Home Entertainment).
"An
Awfully Big Adventure"
(1995)
Dark, muddled tale of backstage romances set in
1947 Liverpool where
a dramatic troupe, headed by a cruelly arrogant director (Hugh Grant), is joined
by a starry-eyed adolescent (Georgina Cates) who's seduced by the lead actor
(Alan Rickman), with devastating consequences. Directed by Mike Newell, the
unappealing story of manipulative adults and vulnerable adolescents offers a
poorly focused mix of strained drama and mean-spirited comedy. Brief bedroom
scenes with nudity, frequent sexual innuendo, fleeting violence and an instance
of 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.
"Amistad"
(1997)
Uneven
dramatization of the 1839 legal battle over the fate of 53 Africans who massacre
the crew of a Spanish slave ship, then are captured by an American naval vessel
and put on trial for murder and piracy in a case that ultimately reaches the
Supreme Court, where former President John Quincy Adams (Anthony Hopkins)
defends their right to freedom. Director Steven Spielberg's ambitious attempt to
re-examine the contradictions of a society which proclaimed the equality of all
and yet accepted slavery succeeds in dramatizing the obvious injustices done the
enslaved Africans (led by Djimon Hounsou), but the legal and political issues
argued in the lengthy case are treated in stiff historical tableaus. Some gory
violence, brutalizing conditions of slavery and brief frontal nudity. The USCCB
Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion
Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. (DreamWorks)
|
"An American Haunting: Unrated
Edition" (2006)
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, the questioning of God's
existence and omnipotence, and subtle sexual revelations of
an adult nature. The anamorphic DVD contains more than
the usual number of deleted scenes, including several
versions of a spectacular horse and carriage crash, and four
lengthy alternate versions of the ending, which bring the
aforementioned revelations into sharper focus and
crystallize the adult nature of the story; interviews with
Spacek and Solomon; and on-screen feature-length commentary
by Solomon. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting
classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture
Association of America theatrical rating is PG-13 -- parents
strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for
children under 13. The DVD, however, is unrated (Lions Gate
Home Entertainment). |
|
|
"Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy"
(2004)
lame spoof set in the era of 1970s'
male-dominated TV newscasts in which a pompous San Diego anchorman (Will
Ferrell) loses his heart and then his job to a more competent blonde newcomer
(Christina Applegate) set on becoming a network anchor. Writer-director Adam
McKay's underperforming comedy mocks chauvinist behavior but the slack script's
exaggerated stereotypes are dopey without being funny. 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. The Motion Picture Association of America
rating is PG-13 -- parents are strongly cautioned. Some material may be
inappropriate for children under 13. (DreamWorks)
"Anna
Karenina"
(1997)
Opulent
adaptation
of
Leo
Tolstoy's
19th-century
novel
of
czarist
Russia
contrasts
the
hard-won
love
story
of
an
eventually
happy
couple
(Alfred
Molina
and
Mia
Kirshner)
with
the
doomed
romance
of
a
married
woman
(Sophie
Morceau)
who
forsakes
husband
and
child
to
run
off
with
a
wealthy
officer
(Sean
Bean).
Screenwriter-director
Bernard
Rose's
elaborate
period
piece
is
visually
lush
in
portraying
the
hypocrisy
of
class
distinctions
and
exploring
characters
who
question
the
morality
of
their
actions.
Brief
violence,
fleeting
bedroom
scene
and
a
suicidal
character's
drug
dependency.
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.
(WGBH)
"Angels
in
America"
(2003)
An
ambitious,
compelling
and
stirring
television
adaptation
of
Tony
Kushner's
award-winning
theatrical
production,
originally
on
Broadway
in
1993
and
1994.
Well-written,
timely
and
poignant,
the
play
hit
upon
many
controversial
themes
as
the
new
millennium
approached:
the
gay
lifestyle
and
the
advent
of
AIDS
in
America,
the
Reagan
era,
apocalyptic
fears,
religion
and
a
time-worn
human
quest
to
define
heaven
while
grappling
with
mortality.
Directed
by
Mike
Nichols,
the
television
film
is
true
to
the
play,
with
excellent
production
values
and
a
superb
cast.:
Patrick
Wilson,
Mary-Louise
Parker,
Justin
Kirk,
Al
Pacino,
Emma
Thompson,
Meryl
Streep
and
Jeffrey
Wright.
One
cannot
write
off
a
play
that
presents
such
affecting
physical
and
spiritual
anguish,
yet
"Angels
in
America"
has
flaws
and
numerous
troubling
aspects
that
would
make
many
Catholic
viewers
unable
to
endure
it.
An
unqualified
recommendation
is
therefore
difficult,
but
there
is
value
in
such
a
spectacularly
mounted
production
that
presents
much
thought-provoking
fodder.
(HBO)
"Annie
Get
Your
Gun"
(1950)
Big
and
brassy
version
of
the
Irving
Berlin
musical
in
which
rustic
Annie
Oakley
(Betty
Hutton)
gets
some
polish
working
with
Frank
Butler
(Howard
Keel)
in
a
sharpshooting
act,
then
finds
fame
and
finally
gets
her
man
(Butler)
after
Buffalo
Bill
(Louis
Calhern)
makes
her
a
star
in
his
Wild
West
Show.
Directed
by
George
Sidney,
this
show
has
lots
of
stunt
riding,
staged
Indian
attacks
and
shoot-outs
which
make
a
suitable
backdrop
for
Hutton's
overcharged
performance,
with
the
result
memorable
chiefly
for
its
songs
ranging
from
the
romantic
"The
Girl
That
I
Marry"
to
the
comedic
"Doing
What
Comes
Naturally"
and
"Anything
You
Can
Do,"
and
the
signature
tune,
"There's
No
Business
Like
Show
Business."
Romantic
complications.
The
USCCB
Office
for
Film
&
Broadcasting
classification
is
A-II
--
adults
and
adolescents.
Not
rated
by
the
Motion
Picture
Association
of
America.
(Warner
Bros.)
|
"The Ant Bully" (2006)
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.
The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental
guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children
(Warner Bros.). |
"Antwone Fisher"
(2002)
Inspirational true-life story of a troubled naval recruit (Derek Luke) who with
the help of a Navy psychiatrist (Denzel Washington) learns to cope with the
emotional devastation wreaked by childhood rejection and physical abuse. Despite
a sometimes predictable narrative, Washington's directorial debut is a moving
account of strength and survival, as well as a testament to the nobility of
spirit inherent in every person. Some violence including depictions of child
abuse, an implied sexual encounter and minimal rough language and profanity. 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. (Fox)
"Antz"
(1998)
Computer-animated
tale
of
an
ant
colony
in
which
a
whiny
worker
ant
(voice
of
Woody
Allen)
sets
his
sights
on
the
ant
queen's
sassy
daughter
(voice
of
Sharon
Stone)
and
defies
his
lowly
status
by
becoming
a
warrior
ant
out
to
save
the
colony
from
the
machinations
of
its
dictatorial
General
(voice
of
Gene
Hackman).
Directors
Eric
Darnell
and
Tim
Johnson
provide
the
animation
with
a
three-dimensional
look,
but
the
story
about
following
one's
dreams
is
on
the
bland
side.
Some
crude
expressions
and
fleeting
cartoon
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.
(Universal)
"Antwone
Fisher"
(2002)
Inspirational
true-life
story
of
a
troubled
naval
recruit
(Derek
Luke)
who
with
the
help
of
a
Navy
psychiatrist
(Denzel
Washington)
learns
to
cope
with
the
emotional
devastation
wreaked
by
childhood
rejection
and
physical
abuse.
Despite
a
sometimes
predictable
narrative,
Washington's
directorial
debut
is
a
moving
account
of
strength
and
survival,
as
well
as
a
testament
to
the
nobility
of
spirit
inherent
in
every
person.
Some
violence
including
depictions
of
child
abuse,
an
implied
sexual
encounter
and
minimal
rough
language
and
profanity.
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.
(Fox)
"Anything But Love"
(2003)
Modestly charming tale of a struggling cabaret singer (co-writer Isabel Rose)
torn between her corporate lawyer fiance (Cameron Bancroft) and a destitute
musician (Andrew McCarthy) who shares her love of a bygone musical era.
Co-written and directed by Robert Cary, the film's romantic predictability is
balanced by its low-budget plucky spirit, colorful production design and
appealing follow-your-dream theme. Occasional profanity and fleeting homosexual
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. (Wellspring)
"Anything Else"
(2003)
Romantic comedy about an aspiring New York writer's (Jason Biggs)
rocky love affair with a sexually free-spirited ingenue (Christina Ricci).
Though frequently funny, the film, written and directed by Woody Allen (who also
appears in a supporting role), retreads material from many of Allen's earlier
movies, and its observations about interpersonal relationships are undermined by
the filmmaker's angry, fatalistic cynicism. A nihilistic view of morality,
several sexual encounters, recurring sexually crude and religiously irreverent
humor, an instance of drug abuse, as well as a few instances of profanity. The
USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-IV -- adults, with
reservations. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R --
restricted. (Universal)
"Anything Goes"
(1956)
So-so musical in which a veteran performer (Bing Crosby) agrees to team
with a rising newcomer (Donald O'Connor), then each signs a different
leading lady (Mitzi Gaynor and Jeanmaire, respectively) while
vacationing in Europe, but they resolve the mix-up on the voyage home.
Directed by Robert Lewis from Sidney Sheldon's leaden adaptation of the
Broadway classic, the result lumbers along with stilted production
numbers, surprisingly few laughs and even the few Cole Porter songs from
the original seem flat. Romantic complications and some sexual innuendo.
The DVD features a terrific looking letterboxed print, but no extras.
Strangely, there are no chapter stops for the musical numbers, only for
the dramatic scenes. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting
classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents. Not rated by the
Motion Picture Association of America. (Paramount)
"Apollo 13 (Imax Format)"
(2002)
The
rerelease of the 1995 Academy Award-winning movie is changed only in that the
screen image is up to eight stories high, allowing for some startling vistas and
close-ups, although panning shots look momentarily blurry. The original capsule
review follows: Fact-based story of the April 1970 moon launch aborted on its
third day in space after an incapacitating problem diminished the oxygen, power
and computer systems, making the safe return of the three astronauts (Tom Hanks,
Bill Paxton, Kevin Bacon) an almost insurmountable problem for Houston Mission
Control. Director Ron Howard keeps emotional tensions taut and suspense levels
high throughout this salute to the courage and perseverance of all involved in
the dicey rescue mission. Fleeting sexual innuendo and minor 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. (Universal)
"Apocalypto"
(2006)
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 sharp DVD has good-natured,
interesting commentary by Gibson and writer and co-producer Farhad Safinia, an informative 25-minute making-of documentary,
and a brief deleted scene (though "snippet" would be more
accurate). 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 (Touchstone
Home Entertainment).
"Apostolic Fathers: Handing On
the Faith" (2007)
Energetic 90-minute examination
of the lives, teachings and
ultimate martyrdoms of five of
the earliest Fathers of the
Church. Born into the first or
second generation to receive the
Gospel message, the so-called
"Apostolic Fathers" learned the
faith from the apostles
themselves, bore witness to it
in their writings -- many of
which survive -- and offered the
ultimate sacrifice for it by
laying down their lives under
pagan persecution. Affable,
anything-for-a-laugh host Steven
Ray (given to pratfalls and
silly hats), whose own
conversion to the Catholic faith
was heavily influenced by the
writings of the fathers, takes
viewers on a journey around the
Mediterranean, from the Holy
Land through Turkey to Italy and
southern France. As he tells the
stories of Sts. Clement,
Ignatius, Polycarp, Irenaeus and
Justin Martyr, the documentary
journeys to the ruins of the
Roman world in which these holy
men lived, enters the arenas
where they were executed, and
visits their tombs in ancient
churches. It is one installment
of a 10-part video series
entitled "The Footprints of God:
The Story of Salvation From
Abraham to Augustine." DVD
extras include excerpts from an
interview with spiritual writer
Father Benedict Groeschel, a
Franciscan Friar of the Renewal,
a 25-minute making-of film and a
brief blooper reel. Also
included is a print study guide.
Spanish subtitles. (Ignatius
Press/St. Joseph Productions) (www.ignatius.com)
"Aquamarine" (2006)
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 widescreen DVD contains deleted scenes and three "making
of" featurettes, as well as audio commentary by the director and cast
members. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II
- adults and adolescents. Motion Picture Association of America rating,
PG -- parental guidance suggested (Fox Home Entertainment).
"Are We There
Yet?" (2005)
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 Brian
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. The
Motion Picture Association of
America rating is PG -- parental guidance
suggested. (Columbia/TriStar)
"Arguing the World''
(1998)
Feature documentary on the life and times of writers Irving Kristol, Nathan
Glazer, Daniel Bell and the late Irving Howe, all of whom attended New York's
City College during the 1930s, then
went their different ways in the political ferment of postwar America.
Writer-director Joseph Dorman uses vintage newsreel footage as well as
interviews with the writers and others in providing a nostalgic look at the
urban culture from which they came as well as a lively chronicle of how their
views grew increasingly conservative over the years. Deals with matters beyond
the experience of youngsters. The DVD release includes an interview with Dorman.
The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and
adolescents. Not rated by the Motion Picture Association of America. (First Run
Features)
"The Aristocats:
Special Edition"
(1970)
Animated Disney feature
directed by Wolfgang
Reitherman follows the
adventures of a family
of felines after they
inherit the estate of
their millionaire
mistress, then are
catnapped and ditched in
the country but then
rescued by a pair of
bumbling hounds, a
couple of giggling
geese, a rodent named
Roquefort and an alley
cat named O'Malley.
Enhanced by the voices
of Eva Gabor, Phil
Harris, Hermione
Baddeley and Sterling
Holloway, with four
songs thrown in for good
measure, the result,
while not purr-fect, is
plentifully pleasing.
DVD extras include "The
Great Cat Family,"
hosted by Walt Disney
from his old TV show in
1956; a piece on the
Sherman brothers, Disney
tunesmiths who wrote the
film's amiable songs; a
scrapbook you can
navigate with the
remote; and the cartoon
short "Bath Day."
There's also a charming
deleted song introduced
by Richard Sherman (and
sung by Baddeley), an
option to play the
film's four songs only,
and kid-friendly games
and activities.
Spanish language option.
The Motion Picture
Association of America
rating is G -- general
audiences. All ages
admitted. The USCCB
Office for Film &
Broadcasting
classification is A-I --
general patronage.
(Buena Vista Home
Entertainment)
"Around the Bend"
(2004)
Offbeat but appealing story of intergenerational bonding as ex-con grandfather
(Christopher Walken), single dad (Josh Lucas), and young son (Jonah Bobo) travel
to Albuquerque spreading the ashes of great-grandfather Henry (Michael Caine).
Though writer-director Jordan Roberts's film -- which, at its core, is all about
reconciliation and forgiveness -- is not without its flaws, he has fashioned a
winning film with excellent performances, touching sentiment, considerable
humor, an eclectic soundtrack and pretty scenery to counterbalance what could
otherwise have been a downbeat story. Some rough and crude language, brief
bloody images, and an irreligious dispersal of ashes. The USCCB Office for Film
& Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association
of America rating is R -- restricted. (Warner Bros.)
"Around
the
World
in
80
Days"
(2004)
Entertaining
extravaganza
set
in
Victorian
times
about
an
eccentric
English
inventor
(Steve
Coogan)
who,
along
with
his
trusty,
chop-socky
valet
(Jackie
Chan),
embarks
on
a
globetrotting
steam-age
adventure
in
order
to
win
an
outrageous
wager
that
they
can
do
what
the
title
says.
Based
on
the
classic
yarn
by
Jules
Verne,
the
film,
directed
by
Frank
Coraci,
combines
lavish
action
sequences,
romance
and
madcap
comedy
in
serving
up
a
family-friendly
spectacle
that
is
both
campy
and
clever
--
and,
as
an
added
attraction,
quite
fun
for
all
but
the
youngest
viewers.
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.
The
Motion
Picture
Association
of
America
rating
is
PG
--
parental
guidance
suggested.
(Buena
Vista)
"Arthur 2: On the Rocks"
(1988)
Comedy
sequel about the perpetually drunk millionaire wastrel (Dudley Moore) whose
marriage to a perky waitress-shoplifter (Liza Minnelli) is threatened by a
tycoon (Stephen Elliott) and his daughter (Cynthia Sikes). Though director Bud
Yorkin adds some weight with a subplot about the couple's adoption of a baby,
alcoholism is no laughing matter. Some vulgar language. The USCCB Office for
Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture
Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested. (Warner
Bros.)
"The Astaire and Rogers Collection: Volume One"
Long-awaited collection of Fred and Ginger's best films, featuring sparkling
prints of arguably their best films, cogent feature-length commentary on three
of them, and a vintage musical short, a cartoon and a featurette for each, with
everything beautifully restored and packaged. Excellent family viewing. (Warner
Bros.)
The collection includes:
"The Barclays of Broadway" (1949)
When
illness forced Judy Garland out of this MGM Charles Walters-directed film,
Astaire teamed with old partner Rogers after 10 years. It was the last one
they'd make together (and the only one in color), playing a married musical
comedy team, with the wife having aspirations to break up the act and be a
"tragic" dramatic actress. Entertaining musical numbers, though not the equal of
their earlier work at RKO. No commentary. The USCCB Office for Film &
Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents. Not rated by the
Motion Picture Association of America.
"Follow the Fleet" (1936)
Sturdy musical about an easygoing sailor (Astaire) trying to win back his former
hoofing partner (Rogers) while her schoolteacher sister (Harriet Hilliard) pines
for his shipboard buddy (Randolph Scott). Directed by Mark Sandrich; the
appealing characters make the thin plot worth following, helped by some wry
humor, delightful dance routines and lively Irving Berlin songs. Romantic
complications. No commentary. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting
classification is A-I -- general patronage. Not rated by the Motion Picture
Association of America.
"Shall We Dance" (1937)
Thin
musical about ballet dancer (Astaire) and musical revue star (Rogers) who team for a Broadway show, then get
married in name only to avoid a scandal, but true love predictably wins out in
the end. Directed by Mark Sandrich, the story creaks with contrived
complications but the song-and-dance numbers are first-rate. Commentary by
pianist Kevin Cole and Tin Pan Alley tunesmith Hugh Martin. The USCCB Office for
Film & Broadcasting classification is A-I -- general patronage. Not rated by the
Motion Picture Association of America.
"Swing Time" (1936)
Down-on-his-luck hoofer (Astaire) rides the rails to New York, teams with a
comely dance instructor (Rogers) and they score as the town's top dancing duo in
such numbers as "Waltz in Swing Time" and Astaire's solo showstopper, "Bojangles
of Harlem." Director George Stevens keeps the pair's romantic misunderstandings
light and lively, gets strong comic relief from Victor Moore and Helen
Broderick, and effortlessly stages such songs as "A Fine Romance" and "The Way
You Look Tonight." Elegant entertainment. Commentary by Astaire expert John
Mueller and a featurette. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting
classification is A-I -- general patronage. Not rated by the Motion Picture
Association of America.
"Top Hat" (1935)
Stylish musical romance between a hoofer (Astaire) and a socialite (Rogers)
starts with comic misunderstandings in London, then goes on to ever more zany encounters in
Venice. Director Mark Sandrich keeps the lightweight
proceedings on the boil, with the dance routines and Irving Berlin songs
providing substance. Sexual innuendo and frivolous treatment of marriage. The
DVD has interesting commentary by Astaire's daughter, Ava Astaire McKenzie, and
dance film historian Larry Billman, plus a featurette, a Bob Hope short and the
cartoon "Page Miss Glory." The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting
classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents. Not rated by the Motion
Picture Association of America.
"Astaire
& Rogers Collection: Volume 2"
(1933-1939)
The screen's all-time greatest dance team -- Fred Astaire
and Ginger Rogers -- get their second boxed set, bringing their complete output
to DVD. Each title includes shorts and animated material, and as
each of the films is classified either A-I -- general patronage or A-II --
adults and adolescents, they make good family viewing, despite some occasional
innuendo, which is mild by today's standards. Beautiful print quality for
all, including some of the early Technicolor shorts. None have been rated by the
Motion Picture Association of America. The set was released by Warner Home
Video.
"Carefree" (1938)
Wacky musical comedy about a psychiatrist (Astaire) whose
best friend (Ralph Bellamy) asks him to treat his
marriage-shy girlfriend (Rogers) but matters get complicated
when the patient falls for the doctor. Directed by Mark
Sandrich, the thin plot takes some very giddy turns, with
the added bonus of appealing Irving Berlin tunes, including
"I Used to Be Color Blind" danced in slow motion by Rogers
and Astaire, as well as Astaire's standout syncopated solo
on the golf links (A-I).
"Flying Down to Rio"
(1933)
Wacky musical comedy in which a bandleader (Gene Raymond)
takes a job in Rio de Janeiro where he unknowingly romances
the fiancee (Dolores Del Rio) of a pal (singer Raul Roulien).
Directed by Thornton Freeland, the proceedings are dominated
by a genial pair of hoofers (Astaire and Rogers) who stage
the show-stopping finale with showgirls performing on the
wings of biplanes. Stylized violence, romantic complications
and innuendo (A-II).
"The Gay Divorcee"
(1934)
Comic misunderstandings abound in this dated musical fluff
about an American (Rogers) whose lawyer (Edward Everett
Horton) hires a professional co-respondent to obtain a
divorce in England, then mistakes an unwanted admirer (Astaire)
for the unseen hireling. Director Mark Sandrich turns the
farcical situation into a lighthearted musical comedy with
charming songs and dances, notably "The Continental," and
creaky comic routines. Comic treatment of the war between
the sexes with divorce as a plot device (A-II).
"Roberta" (1935)
Adaptation of composer Jerome Kern's Broadway hit, here
starring Irene Dunne and Randolph Scott as a Russian
princess and an American football player who inherits a
Parisian fashion business. William A. Seiter directs, and
look closely and you'll spot a blonde Lucille Ball as a
model. Songs include "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" and "I Won't
Dance," and though Astaire and Rogers have only supporting
roles they steal the picture (A-I).
"The Story of Vernon and Irene
Castle" (1939)
Nostalgic musical biography of a vaudevillian (Astaire) and
his bride (Rogers) who in 1911 team as ballroom dancers and
become international favorites before Vernon's tragic death
as an aviator in World War I. Director H.C. Potter's warm
portrait of a loving couple is paced by elegant dance
numbers, period songs and occasional comic relief (Edna May
Oliver, Walter Brennan and Lew Fields). Old-fashioned family
fare (A-I).
"Arctic Tale"
(2007)
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 DVD edition includes
both a making-of featurette, and another
kid-friendly one on polar bear spotting.
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.
(Paramount Home Entertainment)
"Art School Confidential" (2006)
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. The Motion
Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17
requires accompanying parent or adult guardian (Sony Pictures Home
Entertainment).
"The Assassination
Bureau"
(1969)
Tongue-in-cheek British comedy set in the
early 1900s about an international organization of
killers-for-hire that is commissioned by a
neophyte reporter (Diana Rigg) to kill their own
leader (Oliver Reed). Good cast, marvelous
settings but Basil Dearden's direction is rather
uncertain in its mixture of slapstick and satire.
Comic violence. The USCCB Office for Film &
Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults.
The Motion Picture Association of America rating
was M -- parental guidance suggested, but all ages
admitted. (Paramount)
"The Assassination of Jesse
James by the Coward Robert
Ford" (2007)
Unusual and compelling
Western dramatizing the
circumstances that lead up
to the shooting of notorious
outlaw Jesse James (Brad
Pitt) by Robert Ford
(Oscar-nominated 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
standard DVD contains no
extras but the picture
quality is fine, while the
HD/DVD combo edition
contains a 30-minute
documentary. Spanish titles
available. 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. (Warner Home
Video)
"Assault on
Precinct 13"
(2005)
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. The
Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. (Universal)
"Assisted
Living" (2005)
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) who is
suffering from the early stages of Alzheimer's disease and 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. Not rated by the Motion Picture
Association of America. (Hart Sharp)
"August
Rush" (2007)
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. 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
double-sided DVD (widescreen and
full-screen) includes additional
worthy scenes (though one
contains an additional
profanity). Spanish-language,
subtitle options. 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. (Warner Home Video;
also available on Blu-ray)
"Aurora Borealis"
(2006)
Unmotivated Minnesota man (an appealing Joshua Jackson) 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). 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. 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 good-looking anamorphic DVD
includes interviews with the actors, writer Brent Boyd, Burke and
the producers. 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 (Liberation
Entertainment/Regent Releasing).
"Autumn Spring"
(2003)
Tender, bittersweet comedy about an old man (famed Czech actor Vlastimil
Brodsky) who invents various colorful personalities in order to come to terms
with his own mortality. Despite its at times heavy-handed fatalism, director
Vladimir Michalek elicits virtuoso performances from his cast in this minor gem,
resulting in a |