Handpicked by Our Editors

Curious George: A Very Monkey Christmas
Age 3+
3

Curious George: A Very Monkey Christmas

Why We Recommend It

When loveable George and the Man in the Yellow Hat search for Christmas gifts for each other, hijinks ensue.

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Movies New in Theaters

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The Private Lives of Pippa Lee (2009, Rated R)
Parents Need to Know...

that although this indie drama features Gossip Girl star Blake Lively, it’s not age-appropriate for tweens and younger teens. The subject matter gets pretty intense -- the movi explores everything from drug addiction to neglectful ... read more

Age 16+
The Private Lives of Pippa Lee
4
princess_and_the_frog.jpg
The Princess and the Frog (2009, Rated G)
Parents Need to Know...

that The Princess and the Frog is Disney's first movie first to feature an African-American heroine, Princess Tiana. The New Orleans-set story is a spin on the classic fairy tale about the princess who finds true love when she kisses an ... read more

Age 6+
The Princess and the Frog
3
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Old Dogs (2009, Rated PG)
Parents Need to Know...

that this Robin Williams/John Travolta family comedy from the director of Wild Hogs includes lots of sight gags and physical humor, as well as jokey references to relationships and the "birds and the bees," but it's generally ... read more

Age 8+
Old Dogs
2
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The Road (2009, Rated R)
Parents Need to Know...

that The Road (based on the 2007 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Cormac McCarthy) is a relentlessly grim, gray portrait of a future in which an unnamed disaster has wiped most living things from the Earth, food is scarce, and people have ... read more

Age 15+
The Road
3
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Ninja Assassin (2009, Rated R)
Parents Need to Know...

that Ninja Assassin is a fast-paced action movie with tons of extreme martial arts violence and gallons of blood, though its cartoonish tone may be more likely to inspire laughter than shock among teens. The story is about a man who takes ... read more

Age 16+
Ninja Assassin
3
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Me and Orson Welles (2009, Rated PG-13)
Parents Need to Know...

that this 1937-set Zac Efron showbiz dramedy from Dazed and Confused director Richard Linklater is a world away from High School Musical (though Efron does sing). It tackles mature themes -- including infidelity and opportunism -- that ... read more

Age 14+
Me and Orson Welles
3
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Planet 51 (2009, Rated PG)
Parents Need to Know...

that this animated alien comedy earns its PG rating with a fair bit of sexualized humor -- including jokes about anal probing and penises which may go over younger kids' head (though middle schoolers won't be duped -- in fact, they'll ... read more

Age 7+
Planet 51
2
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Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans (2009, Rated R)
Parents Need to Know...

that Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans (an unofficial remake of 1992's Bad Lieutenant), is far too dark and depraved for kids, even most teens. It centers on a post-Katrina New Orleans police lieutenant/junkie (Nicolas Cage) who ... read more

No Kids
Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans
4
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The Twilight Saga: New Moon (2009, Rated PG-13)
Parents Need to Know...

that the second installment in the hugely popular Twilight saga is darker and a bit more violent than the first movie, but not enough to make it inappropriate for teens, especially those who've read the books. That said, the relationship ... read more

Age 13+
The Twilight Saga: New Moon
3
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Broken Embraces (2009, Rated R)
Parents Need to Know...

that this drama -- like Spanish director Pedro Almodovar's other movies -- is a complex, engrossing story with themes that are too mature for even most older teens, including infidelity and spousal abuse. Expect frank sexual discussion ... read more

No Kids
Broken Embraces
3
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The Blind Side (2009, Rated PG-13)
Parents Need to Know...

that this formulaic but uplifting family sports drama -- which is based on the true story of football player Michael Oher -- centers on messages about inclusion, the benefits of hard work, and the importance of family. That said, it ... read more

Age 12+
The Blind Side
3
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Red Cliff (2009, Rated R)
Parents Need to Know...

that director John Woo's rousing battle epic based on Chinese history definitely has plenty of violence (spraying blood, martial arts, etc.) and other war-related themes, as well as one notable sex scene. But there are also strong ... read more

Age 15+
Red Cliff
5
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2012 (2009, Rated PG-13)
Parents Need to Know...

that director Roland Emmerich's 2012 is an intense, violent disaster movie, with billions of anonymous characters getting killed during massive scenes of destruction (earthquakes, tsunamis, and more). Although the tone is mainly exciting, ... read more

Age 13+
2012
2
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Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009, Rated PG)
Parents Need to Know...

that director Wes Anderson's dry, offbeat adaptation of Roald Dahl's classic children's story Fantastic Mr. Fox is fine for most grade-schoolers but also has some themes and humor that will go over kids' head. The story features a lot of ... read more

Age 7+
Fantastic Mr. Fox
4
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Pirate Radio (2009, Rated R)
Parents Need to Know...

that, though Pirate Radio is about rebellion of every stripe, it's ultimately a good-natured film filled with good-hearted characters who will appeal to mature teens (as well as parents who cherish rock 'n' roll). The movie's events are ... read more

Age 16+
Pirate Radio
3
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The Messenger (2009, Rated R)
Parents Need to Know...

that The Messenger is an intense but thoughtful drama about a wounded Iraq War veteran who's been assigned the very difficult task of informing people of their loved ones' deaths. It's a grim subject that certainly won't appeal to ... read more

Age 17+
The Messenger
4
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Uncertainty (2009, Rated NR)
Parents Need to Know...

that this indie movie -- part thriller, part drama -- may prove too offbeat and experimental for teens, even though it stars (500) Days of Summer's Joseph Gordon-Levitt. It asks some big questions about family and relationships but ... read more

Age 15+
Uncertainty
2
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Disney's A Christmas Carol (2009, Rated PG)
Parents Need to Know...

that, unlike The Polar Express, this Robert Zemeckis adaptation of a classic holiday tale is too intense both visually and in content for families with very young children. At its heart, Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol is a ghost ... read more

Age 8+
Disney's A Christmas Carol
3
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The Fourth Kind (2009, Rated PG-13)
Parents Need to Know...

that this sci-fi thriller from director Olatunde Osunsanmi mixes supposedly real footage of alien abductees with re-creations played out by actors (including Milla Jovovich and Will Patton). That mix makes it hard to know what to believe, ... read more

Age 14+
The Fourth Kind
2
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The Box (2009, Rated PG-13)
Parents Need to Know...

that this Cameron Diaz thriller from the director of Donnie Darko is based on a macabre premise: that human beings would rather win money than protect a stranger's life. It's too confusing and intense for tweens and young teens, and, in ... read more

Age 13+
The Box
1
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Gentlemen Broncos (2009, Rated PG-13)
Parents Need to Know...

that although this comedy from the folks behind Napoleon Dynamite -- which co-stars Flight of the Conchords' Jemaine Clement -- is pretty light on sexuality and swearing (particularly for a PG-13 movie), it's quite uncomfortable to watch. ... read more

Age 12+
Gentlemen Broncos
1
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New on DVD

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The Dog Who Saved Christmas (2009, Rated PG)
Parents Need to Know...

that this heartwarming holiday tale has strong messages about the importance of seeing past first impressions to judge a person's (or dog's) true character. There’s lots of emotion in the dog’s pleas (audible only to viewers’ ears, ... read more

Age 6+
The Dog Who Saved Christmas
4
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Ben 10: Alien Swarm (2009, Rated NR)
Parents Need to Know...

that this live-action film based on the popular Ben 10 animated series follows the adventures of a secret team that combats evil alien invaders. Hero Ben Tennyson is older here than in the last live-action Ben 10 movie, but Alien Swarm is ... read more

Age 9+
Ben 10: Alien Swarm
3
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Holly and Hal Moose: Our Uplifting Christmas Adventure (2009, Rated NR)
Parents Need to Know...

that this sweet, kid-friendly holiday tale focuses on a lovable pair of moose siblings who have their differences but always support and stick up for each other -- so there are good lessons here for kids about getting along with brothers ... read more

Age 4+
Holly and Hal Moose: Our Uplifting Christmas Adventure
4
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Angels & Demons (2009, Rated PG-13)
Parents Need to Know...

that this adaptation of Dan Brown's pre-Da Vinci Code novel about ancient religious conspiracy theories and a secret society has more deaths than the first movie. The action starts with a gruesome murder and theft, and the violence ... read more

Age 14+
Angels & Demons
2
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Funny People (2009, Rated R)
Parents Need to Know...

that director Judd Apatow's latest comedy is loaded with the strong language (from "f--k" to "p---y" and then some), adult behavior, and sexualized material (including lots of penis jokes and one scene with naked ... read more

Age 16+
Funny People
4
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Yogi's First Christmas (2009, Rated NR)
Parents Need to Know...

that this musical cartoon from 1980 (re-released for the 2009 holiday rush) is a fun one for kids and adults (unlike more recent kids-only My Little Pony and Mickey Mouse fare). Yogi does have an ardent admirer in the form of Cindy Bear, ... read more

Age 4+
Yogi's First Christmas
4
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Santa Buddies (2009, Rated G)
Parents Need to Know...

that this holiday movie is generally worry free. A puppy disobeys his father and ventures out on his own, where he gets into trouble and needs to be rescued. Several scenes occur in a dog pound where dogs are in cages and sometimes sad. ... read more

Age 5+
Santa Buddies
3
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Four Christmases (2009, Rated PG-13)
Parents Need to Know...

that this romantic comedy is riddled with gags centering on major family dysfunction. And there's real bite underneath the laughs: The central couple (played by teen favorites Reese Witherspoon and Vince Vaughn) finds out soon enough that ... read more

Age 13+
Four Christmases
3
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Shorts (2009, Rated PG)
Parents Need to Know...

that this fantasy adventure from Spy Kids director Robert Rodriguez is sure to appeal to kids and tweens. Expect some mild insults -- like "lunkhead" and "this sucks" -- and potty humor, mostly regarding a booger (one ... read more

Age 7+
Shorts
4
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Expired (2009, Rated NR)
Parents Need to Know...

that this mature indie dramedy revolves around a tentative, troubled romance between adults and probably won't have too much appeal for kids, or even many teens. It's fairly explicit about sex, with one main character using Internet ... read more

Age 16+
Expired
3
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Gone with the Wind (2009, Rated NR)
Parents Need to Know...

that this epic drama, which is widely considered one of the top movies of all time, would never be rated G by today's standards. The film centers around the Civil War-torn South and includes several scenes of war-related violence, such as ... read more

Age 10+
Gone with the Wind
5
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Star Trek (2009, Rated PG-13)
Parents Need to Know...

that although this slick, upbeat sci-fi adventure isn't much more violent than the earlier Star Trek movies, there's a heightened feel that gives it a little bit more edge. While the action is (mostly) bloodless, it's also intense; expect ... read more

Age 12+
Star Trek
4
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My Sister's Keeper (2009, Rated PG-13)
Parents Need to Know...

that this tearjerking drama explores some heavy themes that younger audiences may find difficult to process without guidance. A teenager is terminally ill, and her march to the end is painful: She vomits after chemo, her hair ... read more

Age 14+
My Sister's Keeper
3
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Bruno (2009, Rated R)
Parents Need to Know...

that this mockumentary from comedian Sacha Baron Cohen is even edgier and more sexually explicit than his previous outing, Borat. It's full of intentionally shocking material, including a startling amount of nudity (both male and female ... read more

No Kids
Bruno
3
up.jpg
Up (2009, Rated PG)
Parents Need to Know...

that this is the second Pixar movie (after The Incredibles) to receive a PG rating, mostly due to a few potentially frightening scenes involving a band of trained talking dogs trying to get rid of the protagonists, some moments where ... read more

Age 6+
Up
5
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The Ugly Truth (2009, Rated R)
Parents Need to Know...

that this R-rated comedy is much crasser than star Katherine Heigl's last romcom, 27 Dresses. It's heavy on sexual references and scenarios (Jell-O wrestling, vibrating underwear, etc.) and light on sweetness. The characters are ... read more

Age 15+
The Ugly Truth
2
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The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard (2009, Rated R)
Parents Need to Know...

that this raunchy comedy is packed with over-the-top, crude language and sexual jokes/innuendo from beginning to end. No bodily function is left unreported; no serious issue is safe from the lowest forms of humor. Expect a constant stream ... read more

Age 16+
The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard
3
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Spread (2009, Rated R)
Parents Need to Know...

that this mature Ashton Kutcher dramedy is an interesting take on beautiful L.A. and all its associated ugliness -- but it's definitely not for kids. Expect lots of fairly graphic sex scenes (including naked breasts and buttocks), some ... read more

No Kids
Spread
2
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My One and Only (2009, Rated PG-13)
Parents Need to Know...

that although this 1950s-set comedy starring Renee Zellweger is fairly light and frothy in tone, it takes on mature themes like adultery, single parenthood, and divorce's effects on children. In addition to plenty of irresponsible ... read more

Age 14+
My One and Only
3
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A Martian Christmas (2009, Rated NR)
Parents Need to Know...

that there are several images of violence that appear throughout this animated holiday movie. Some are distanced by appearing on a watched TV -- such as images of war, hockey fights, and a gun shooting -- and some are enacted by main ... read more

Age 5+
A Martian Christmas
2
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The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 (2009, Rated R)
Parents Need to Know...

that this action-packed remake of the gritty, same-named 1970s thriller is intense and violent and not meant for young kids. The fast-paced story is accompanied by heaping doses of realistic, bloody (expect lots of gunplay ... and ... read more

Age 16+
The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3
3
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