Last updated 07/23/2010 1:46 AM

National and World News

Movie Review Capsules

By Catholic News Service

NEW YORK (CNS) -- The following are capsule reviews of movies recently reviewed by the Office for Film & Broadcasting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. (Click here for more reviews)

"Ramona and Beezus" (Fox)

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.

From last week:

"Inception" (Warner Bros.)

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.

"The Sorcerer's Apprentice" (Disney)

Generally inoffensive but routine fantasy adventure about an ordinary New York City college student (Jay Baruchel) who discovers he is the long-prophesied heir to legendary magician Merlin's wonderworking skills, powers he struggles to master under the supervision of a good wizard (Nicolas Cage) so he can aid in the fight against an evil sorcerer (Alfred Molina), though his pursuit of the gal (Teresa Palmer) he has loved since childhood proves a constant distraction. As directed by Jon Turteltaub, the special effects-driven proceedings -- which include unbloody battle scenes too intense for tots -- fall well short of movie magic. Extensive stylized violence, brief scatological 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.

"Despicable Me" (Universal)

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.

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