DVD/VIDEO REVIEWS week of August 10, 2009
This week's DVD and Blu-ray releases
The following are capsule reviews of new and recent DVD and Blu-ray releases from the Office for Film & Broadcasting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. Theatrical movies have a USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification and Motion Picture Association of America rating. These classifications refer only to the theatrical version of the films below, and do not take into account the discs' extra content.
Barney: Sharing is Caring
Two half-hour episodes of the popular TV series for preschoolers, featuring the ever-chipper purple dinosaur. In the first, Barney and his friends participate in a toy drive for needy children and teach lessons, via songs and storytelling, about the importance of sharing and taking turns. The second episode celebrates friendship, and encourages young viewers to be open about their feelings. Along the way, Barney also promotes outdoor exercise and healthy snacking. Future Disney stars Demi Lovato and Selena Gomez play Barney's pals, Angela and Gianna. The full screen DVD also features two educational games. Formative fun for youngsters. Spanish language option. (Lionsgate/HIT Entertainment) 2009
The Class
Thoughtful docudrama re-creating the experiences of an idealistic French literature teacher (Francois Begaudeau) over the course of an academic year, as he tries to connect with a class of ethnically mixed students in a depressed Paris neighborhood. Director and co-writer Laurent Cantet's innovative approach -- using actual students, and combining their stories with incidents recounted in real-life instructor Begaudeau's fact-based novel to shape the script -- yields an engrossing meditation on social and class divisions and on the possibilities, and limits, of an educator's vocation. In French. Subtitles. Probably acceptable for older teens. Some rough and crude language, sexual references and at least one use of profanity. Spanish language and titles options. A-III --adults. (PG-13)
(Sony Pictures Home Entertainment; also available on Blu-ray) 2008
17 Again
Pleasant, though unremarkable romantic comedy about a dissatisfied middle-aged man (Matthew Perry) who gets his wish to be a high-school student (Zac Efron) again and, with the help of his lifelong best friend (Thomas Lennon), uses the opportunity to guide his teenage son (Sterling Knight) and daughter (Michelle Trachtenberg) and to revive his failing relationship with his wife (Leslie Mann). Director Burr Steers' formulaic star vehicle sees its protagonist standing up for the underdog and promoting sexual restraint but thematic elements make it best for mature teens and up. Premarital sexual situations, some sexual humor and references, about a dozen crass terms and at least one use of profanity. Spanish titles option.
A-III -- adults. (PG-13) (Warner Home Video)
2009
Movies have been evaluated by the U.S. Conference of Catholic
Bishop's Office for Film and Broadcasting according to artistic
merit and moral suitability. The reviews include the USCCB rating,
the Motion Picture Association of America rating, and a brief
synopsis of the movie.
The classifications are as follows:
- A-I -- general patronage;
- A-II -- adults and adolescents;
- A-III -- adults;
- A-IV**
- L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. L replaces the previous classification, A-IV.
- O -- morally offensive.
** Discontinued classification. All archived movies that were originally in the A-IV category are now classified as L.