"Taking Lives" (Warner Bros.)
Smart and stylish thriller about an FBI profiler (Angelina Jolie) called in by Canadian authorities to help solve a string of grisly unsolved murders stretching back 20 years and who becomes emotionally involved with a witness (Ethan Hawke) in danger of becoming the serial killer's next victim. Despite a formulaic cat-and-mouse premise and cookie-cutter creepiness, director D.J. Caruso keeps the action briskly paced and viewers on the edge of their seats, crafting a suspenseful screamer which, though not without some graphically disturbing images, shows restraint in depicting the lurid crimes. Recurring gory violence and associated autopsy images, a sexual encounter with partial nudity, frequent rough and crude language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted.

"Taking Sides" (New Yorker)
Failed drama set in post-World War II Berlin about the prosecution of famed German symphony conductor Wilhelm Furtwangler (Stellan Skarsgard) by an American officer (Harvey Keitel). Despite lush, atmospheric settings, director Istvan Szabo's film, which is based on a true story, lacks dramatic tension as it poorly attempts to convey the difficult choice between artistic freedom and political responsibility. Horrific depictions of mass graves and some rough language, profanity and crass expressions. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults. Not rated by the Motion Picture Association of America.

"Talk to Me" (Focus)
Formulaic but still touching and inspiring biographical drama of a prominent Washington radio personality and activist (a fine Don Cheadle) from the Vietnam-Watergate era to his death in 1984. Director Kasi Lemmons uses the redemptive power of friendship and strong performances by a cast including Chiwetel Ejiofor as a radio-station executive, Martin Sheen, Vondie Curtis-Hall and Cedric the Entertainer) to create an evocative period piece about second chances. Pervasive rough, crude and crass language and several instances of profanity, sexual encounters with partial nudity, innuendo, alcohol abuse, rioting, infidelity, domestic discord and assorted fighting. 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.

"Taxi" (20th Century Fox)
High-octane, low-wattage buddy comedy about a bumbling New York City cop (Jimmy Fallon) who enlists the aid of a speed-demon cab driver (Queen Latifah) to help him catch a gang of beautiful but deadly female bank robbers (led by Gisele Bundchen). Directed by Tim Story, this revved-up remake of a 1998 French film has a full tank of high-speed car chases, but is running on fumes when it comes to laughs. Recurring vehicular violence, two robberies, a sexually suggestive frisk sequence, crude language and an instance of 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.

"Teacher's Pet" (Disney)
Wacky and witty animated musical about a dog (voiced by Nathan Lane) whose quest to become a real boy leads him and his master (voiced by Shaun Fleming) to the lab of a mad scientist (voiced by Kelsey Grammer) who claims he can transform animals into humans, yielding unintended and comic results. It is based on the popular TV series; director Timothy Bjorklund's canine take on the Pinocchio story offers something for everyone, peppering it throughout with zany sight gags, whip-smart zingers, classic film references and even an educational musical number, all while smuggling under the cover of laughter a message about friendship and the dangers of science overstepping its boundaries. Brief, mildly crude humor. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-I -- general patronage. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested.

"Team America: World Police" (Paramount)
Intentionally outrageous adventure-comedy, with songs, by the "South Park" creators, featuring surprisingly lifelike marionettes (strings and all), about a governmental police team out to thwart global terrorists in Paris, the Mideast and Korea. A Broadway actor is drafted to help the squad take on the nefarious Korean dictator, Kim Jong II, who with the help of Chechen and Middle Eastern terrorists is planning to unleash weapons of mass destruction upon the world. Dexterous puppetry and eye-catching production design -- and yes, some humorous moments -- in Trey Parker's follow-up to "South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut," but puppets and humorous intent or not, the sexual content, overall vulgarity and frequent violence go way over the top. Sexual activity both straight and gay, extreme violence, including dismemberment and blood, ethnic stereotypes, crude and profane language, albeit all done by puppets. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted.

"Tenacious D in the Pick of Destiny" (New Line)
Big screen expansion of the HBO sketch comedy shorts starring Jack Black and Kyle Gass (playing themselves) fictitiously chronicling the founding of their real-life band "Tenacious D" in which the misfit musicians embark on a quest to become the greatest rock band on earth by swiping a mythical guitar pick -- of satanic origin -- from a heavily guarded museum and ultimately challenging the devil to a "rock off." Directed by Liam Lynch, this sophomoric semi-rock opera's "message" about friendship and following one's dreams is overpowered by a cacophony of vulgarity, irreverence and raunchy lyrics. Pervasive rough and sexually crude language and humor, including an opening scene in which a 10-year-old boy taunts his Christian parents by interrupting dinnertime grace with an obscene ballad, lewd sight gags, recurring drug usage and brief rear nudity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 req
uires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"The Terminal" (DreamWorks)
Disappointing romantic comedy about an Eastern European traveler (Tom Hanks) who, after his homeland's government is overthrown by a coup while he is en route to the United States, is denied access to American soil and forced to live in an airport terminal where he befriends several members of the maintenance staff and finds love with a lonely flight attendant (Catherine Zeta-Jones). Loosely based on real-life events, the lackluster movie, directed by Steven Spielberg, though full of political pretensions, never really offers any insights into the immigrant experience but instead keeps viewers' attention in a holding pattern of manufactured emotion. Brief crude language and some drug references. 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.

"Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines" (Warner Bros.)
Lavishly violent sci-fi actioner has Arnold Schwarzenegger returning as the cyborg stud from the future sent to protect soon-to-be-savior-of-mankind John Connor (Nick Stahl) from yet another terminator upgrade (Kristanna Loken). Despite a steroid-sized special effects budget, director Jonathan Mostov's film flexes little muscle beyond its smash-and-crash sequences, resulting in an adrenalin-heavy, plot-light reboot of the two earlier films. Excessive, graphic sci-fi violence, some rough language and profanity, as well as fleeting rear nudity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted.

"The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" (New Line)
Revolting splatterfest about a vanload of teen slackers (including Jessica Biel and Eric Balfour) who find themselves marooned in rural Texas and hunted by a chainsaw-wielding maniac. Director Marcus Nispel's formulaic slasher flick treats mutilation and mayhem as entertainment, assaulting viewers with unabated gratuitous gore fueled by a dehumanizing sadism and objectification of women. Excessive violence including a graphic suicide, an instance of drug abuse, pervasive rough and crude language, as well as profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted.

"Thérèse" (Luke Films)
Earnest but mawkish period piece which reverently dramatizes the life of St. Thérèse of Lisieux (Lindsay Younce), known affectionately as the "Little Flower." Based on her posthumously published autobiography, "The Story of a Soul," and directed by Leonardo Defilippis, the film is not so much a textured spiritual portrait of the young French nun considered by Pope Pius X "the greatest saint of modern times," but a stilted series of hagiographic tableaus which, though edifying to devotees, may limit the movie's appeal to mainstream viewers. Nevertheless, the beauty of Thérèse's inspirational life and words still shines through the film's artistic shortcomings. Thematic elements involving parental death and a criminal execution. 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.

"Thirteen" (Fox Searchlight)
Unflinching drama about a clean-scrubbed seventh-grader (Rachel Evan Wood) who is led astray by her charismatic but out-of-control classmate, plunging headlong down the slippery-slope of teen peer-pressure. While its raw unfiltered depictions of self-destructive behavior, including drugs and casual sex, are at times difficult to watch, director Catherine Hardwicke's film strikes a cautionary rather than exploitive tone, effectively exposing the hypersexual, materialistic pressure cooker in which many young girls find themselves, especially when lacking parental vigilance. Several sexual encounters, recurring self-destructive violence and drug abuse, an instance of same-sex kissing, a scene involving full-frontal nudity, as well as much rough and explicit language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-IV -- adults, with reservations. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted.

"Three" (Fox)
Pedestrian thriller about a seminary student (Marc Blucas) being stalked by a serial killer who's targeted him as retribution for some dark secret buried in their shared past, while a police psychologist (Justine Waddell), whose brother was also a victim, races to crack the case. Director Robby Henson's adaptation of author Ted Dekker's spiritually accented novel scores points for not indulging in the exploitative lurid excess common to this genre, yet despite a twist ending, the movie's flat writing, competent but colorless performances and overall made-for-TV vibe generate only low-grade suspense. Some violence, including several explosions and a shooting, mildly disturbing images and a few mildly crude expressions. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

"Thunderbirds" (Universal)
Thunderously disappointing action adventure set in 2065 about a family-run global rescue squad (headed by Bill Paxton) whose only hope of stopping a criminal mastermind (Ben Kingsley) from using their fleet of fantastic vehicles for his own dastardly designs rests on the untested shoulders of the team's youngest member. Based on the cult 1960s' British TV series and directed by Jonathan Frakes, the film's clumsily strung-together action sequences do little to hide the limp script and sketchy characterizations, resulting in little more than an 87-minute commercial for the line of toys the movie will undoubtedly spawn. Recurring action violence and some crude language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested.

"Timeline" (Paramount)
Stale sci-fi actioner based on Michael Crichton's novel about a team of student archeologists (including Paul Walker and Gerard Butler) who must travel back in time to rescue their professor trapped in the 14th century. Despite an intriguing premise, director Richard Donner's medieval adventure is hampered by a hackneyed script, lame dialogue and wooden performances, resulting in a film that proves about as entertaining as a turn on the rack. Intense battle 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.

"TMNT" (Warner Bros.) 
Computer-animated feature revives the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle franchise, as four brothers set out to defeat a villain poised to unleash 13 monsters on New York. Writer-director Kevin Munroe navigates a rather overly complicated plot with aplomb, successfully balancing action and humor while enforcing the values of solidarity and atonement. Cartoon-level combat and swordplay, a subtle acceptance of a premarital living situation, two instances of belching and some disrespectful banter, and a mild instance of profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.

"Together" (United Artists)
Touching story about a young violin prodigy (Tang Yun) and his father (Liu Peiqi), who, having traveled from a rural Chinese town to big-city Beijing, find themselves torn between two violin instructors, one passionate about music, the other promising fame. Weaving larger cultural issues into the father-son plot, director Chen Kaige hits all the right notes in composing a modest yet eloquently poetic coming-of-age symphony. Subtitles. Emotionally complex relationships. 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.

"Torque" (Warner Bros.)
Sleek but vacuous action flick in which a heartthrob biker (Martin Henderson) is framed for murdering the brother of a motorcycle gang leader (Ice Cube) by a ruthless drug dealer (Matt Schulze) from whom he stole several motorcycles stuffed with drugs. Director Joseph Kahn's tightly choreographed fight scenes and outrageous, far-fetched biker stunts are devoid of spontaneity and only thinly veil a forced narrative bloated with artificial dialogue and good-looking actors who mainly pose and pout, but fail to convince on any level. Several scenes of stylized violence, some sexual references and sensuality, drug content, sporadic crass 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.

"The Tracker" (ArtMattan Productions)
Starkly engrossing tale set in the 1922 Australian Outback where a blatantly racist official (Gary Sweet) accompanied by an old-timer and a raw recruit as they hunt down a convicted native murderer discover the aboriginal tracker (David Gulpilil) leading them is far from a servile, ignorant hired hand. Writer-director Rolf de Heer's keenly acted and visually striking moral fable slowly builds suspense while exploring themes of racism and vigilante justice. Some violence, brief rough language and fleeting ethnographic nudity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults. Not rated by the Motion Picture Association of America.

"The Triplets of Belleville" (Sony Classics)
Surreal animated tale about a club-footed grandmother who, along with her faithful slobbering hound and a trio of ex-music hall crones, must rescue her cyclist grandson after he is kidnapped by French mobsters during the Tour de France. Told virtually without any dialogue, director Sylvian Chomet's visionary adult cartoon, though laced with risque images, is a feast for the eyes, alternating between unhinged humor and tenderheartedness, while using simple pantomime to achieve emotional nuance rarely attained in live-action fare. Stylized violence, fleeting cartoon nudity and minimal mildly crude humor. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested.

"Transformers" (Dreamworks/Paramount)
Engineered to appeal to a wide cross section of the public, this lumbering, mindless summertime entertainment -- based on the Hasbro action toys from the 1980s -- follows a teenager (Shia LaBeouf) embroiled in a battle between two factions of shape-shifting alien robots, with the fate of mankind and the universe hanging in the balance. Director Michael Bay has evidently benefited from working with executive producer Steven Spielberg, because humanistic themes offset Bay's propensity to fetishize weaponry and explosions, but not the movie's large amount of gratuitous material inappropriate for children and teens. Numerous sexual references, some crude language, a vulgar gesture, disrespectful racial jokes, drug references and some moderately violent action sequences. 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.

"Troy" (Warner Bros.)
Epic-scale rendering of the Trojan War, loosely based on Homer's "The Iliad," which chronicles the siege and eventual sack of Troy by an invading Greek army, beginning with Paris (Orlando Bloom) spiriting away Helen (Diana Kruger) from her husband, King Menelaus of Sparta (Brendan Gleeson), and culminating in the Greeks using the infamous wooden horse to seal the fate of the doomed city. While crowded with clashing armies, director Wolfgang Petersen's demythologized retelling of the ancient tale is, at its core, an intimate story of two soldiers, the near-invincible Achilles (Brad Pitt) and his valiant Trojan counterpart, Hector (Eric Bana), which, though set amid sweeping sword-and-sandal spectacle, remains grounded in human drama. Much intense battlefield violence and several implied sexual encounters with partial nudity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted.

"Turtles Can Fly" (IFC)
Quietly powerful drama set in Kurdistan on the eve of the U.S. invasion of Iraq, which follows the shattered lives of three orphaned children: a hustling street urchin (Soran Ebrahim) who runs a business installing satellite dishes and clearing fields of land mines, an armless boy (Hirsh Feyssal) who may be clairvoyant, and his sad-eyed sister (a haunting Avaz Latif), traumatized by an unspeakable crime which robbed her of her innocence and will to live. Putting a human face on "collateral damage," director Bahman Ghobadi elicits strong performances from his three nonprofessional leads, and the film, shot entirely in a refugee camp on the Turkish-Iraqi border, serves as a grim but compelling meditation on the obscenity of war, told through the eyes of its most vulnerable victims. Subtitles. War violence, an implied rape of a minor, a murder of a child (with extenuating circumstances), a suicide, and recurring disturbing images of maimed children. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. Not rated by the Motion Picture Association of America.

"Twisted" (Paramount)
Abysmally bad thriller about a newly promoted homicide detective (Ashley Judd) with a tortured past who becomes the prime suspect in a serial murder case she is investigating with her partner (Andy Garcia). Director Philip Kaufman unskillfully navigates a minefield of ridiculous cop cliches and laughable dialogue to craft one of the funniest movies in recent memory; the only problem is it's not supposed to be a comedy. Several sexual encounters with fleeting rear nudity, recurring images of crime scene gore, some brief violence, as well as frequent rough and crude language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted.

"Two Brothers" (Universal)
Captivating family drama set in Southeast Asia about a pair of tiger cubs, separated by fate, whose lives ultimately cross paths when they are reunited in a fighting arena and pitted against each other as forced enemies. Director Jean-Jacques Annaud earns his stripes, combining stunning wildlife photography with tenderhearted storytelling from the animals' point of view to craft a remarkable fable about family bonds and the healing power of love. Some minor violence and ongoing menace to the animals. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-I -- general patronage. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested.