"Hairspray" (New Line)
Highly enjoyable adaptation of the hit Broadway musical based on a 1988 film of the same title about an overweight 1960s Baltimore girl (Nikki Blonsky) whose parents (Christopher Walken and John Travolta, the latter in a cross-dressing role) support her dreams of competing on a racially segregated local dance program which the girl helps integrate. Director Adam Shankman keeps the pace moving and strikes a sensible balance between heightened realism and more fanciful elements. There are entertaining performances from a well-chosen cast, including Michelle Pfeiffer, Queen Latifah, Zac Efron and James Marsden, and strong messages about racial tolerance and self-respect. Some crass expressions, innuendo, mild sexual banter and irreverence, and brief teen smoking make this best for older adolescents. 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.

"Happily N'Ever After" (Lionsgate)
Computer-animated adventure set in a storybook realm where a wicked stepmother (voiced by Sigourney Weaver) swipes a wizard's magic staff, which enables her to rewrite classic fairy tales so they have unhappy endings, leaving it up to Cinderella (Sarah Michelle Gellar) -- here called "Ella" -- to set things right, while finding herself torn between her vainglorious Prince Charming (Patrick Warburton) and his beleaguered but brave manservant (Freddie Prinze Jr.). Though produced by John H. Williams, who also produced the "Shrek" movies, director Paul J. Bolger's parody falls well short of those films' sharp wit, superior animation and charm, but its lively tone, colorful look and cute premise nevertheless prove modestly entertaining as family fare. Some mildly crude humor and expressions. 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.

"Happy Feet" (Warner Bros.)
Computer-animated fable set in the Antarctic about a young emperor penguin (voiced by Elijah Wood) whose inability to carry a tune and propensity for tap dancing gets him banished by the puritanical elders who blame him for the colony's dwindling fish supply, prompting the misfit to prove them wrong, get to the bottom of the food shortage, and hopefully discover his "heartsong," the mating call unique to each penguin that will help him find true love. Director George Miller combines terrific animation and voice talent (that also includes Robin Williams, Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman) but packs too many themes -- tolerance, conformity, environmental responsibility -- into the sweet yet slender story. There are some dark and intense moments laced throughout and an unflattering view of religious authority, but the broader themes of love and self-worth should melt most objections. Some mildly rude humor and innuendo, as well as some menace and two frightening sequences that may upset very young viewers, but probably OK for older children. 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.

"The Hard Word" (Lions Gate)
Hard-boiled drama about three Aussie brothers (Guy Pearce, Damien Richardson and Joel Edgerton) recently paroled, who are conned into one last heist job by their crooked attorney (Robert Taylor). While director Scott Roberts injects some fresh down-under spice into a shopworn genre, the film, which boasts a better-than-average script and some nuanced performances, is undermined by its smug, wrongful assertion that crime does pay. Much graphic violence, recurring rough language and profanities, two instances of fleeting nudity, as well as an implied sexual encounter. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted.

"Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle" (New Line)
Mindless buddy comedy about two roommates (John Cho and Kal Penn), who as the self-summarizing title suggests embark on a marijuana-induced quest for fast-food nirvana through the wilds of New Jersey, experiencing many mishaps along the way. Chuck full of gross-out gags and vulgar frat-house humor, director Danny Leiner's road picture makes pretensions of social commentary concerning race and identity, but the only race it seems to care about is a race to the bottom, shamelessly finding humor in a story built around getting high while behind the wheel of a car. Recurring drug use, two instances of frontal nudity, much rough and crude language, as well as strong sexual and bathroom humor. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted.


"Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" (Warner Bros.)
 Fourth film in the series based on J.K. Rowling's fantasy novels, in which Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) competes against students from two rival schools in a perilous wizard's tournament that ends up being sabotaged by the evil Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes), who uses it to ensnare Potter. Director Mike Newell continues the darker tone set by 2004's "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban," and though this go-round feels a tad long, it still conjures enough movie magic to cast a satisfying spell over audiences. Frightening images, scenes of intense menace and some sexual 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.


"Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" (Warner Bros.)
Richly textured fantasy in which the young wizard (Daniel Radcliffe), aided by his two best friends (Emma Watson and Rupert Grint), seeks out a violent escapee (Gary Oldman) accused of killing his parents -- who also is suspected of plotting to murder Harry. Director Alfonso Cuaron's adaptation of J.K. Rowling's third Harry Potter novel covers darker emotional territory in masterful cinematic fashion, blending fantastical images with Harry's need to reconcile past familial tragedy and a mounting desire for vengeance. Some frightening images and scenes of intense menace. 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.

"Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" (Warner Bros.)
Teenage wizard Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) and his intrepid Hogwarts chums (Emma Watson and Rupert Grint) face an unexpected obstacle in their ongoing struggle with the malevolent Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes): a repressive teacher (Imelda Staunton) from the Ministry of Magic who won't allow the practice of hocus-pocus that they need to defend themselves against the evil forces. With director David Yates at the helm, this fifth installment is arguably the best yet with its excellent performances, superior special effects, coherent narrative and sensible balance between action sequences and human drama, not to mention a meaningful subtext about the power of love and personal choice in doing good versus evil. Some scenes of peril, moderate fantasy violence and scary imagery may preclude very young viewers. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

"The Haunted Mansion" (Disney)
Unimaginative scary movie in which a workaholic real estate agent (Eddie Murphy) hopes to land a big account when he takes his wife and kids to check out a creepy mansion, but soon discovers that the house is cursed, the owner is a ghost and his whole family is trapped. Despite a few worn lessons about putting family first and standing up to one's fears, director Rob Minkoff's poorly written film delves into dicey territory with its ghouls in the "afterlife," making this uninspired spooky spoof a unworthy choice. Some frightening scenes, brief violence and a few instances of 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.

"He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not" (Goldwyn)
French love story turned thriller in which a besotted art student (Audrey Tautou) pursues a married cardiologist (Samuel Le Bihan), taking drastic action when he seemingly rejects her. Writer-director Laetitia Colombani presents rather unsympathetic characters but is clever in initially deceiving the audience until the intriguing story comes full circle when repeated from a separate perspective. Subtitles. Some violence and sexual situations. A-III -- adults. (Not rated by the Motion Picture Association of America.)

"Head in the Clouds" (Sony Classics)
Glossy but unwieldy over-the-years romance between free-spirited photographer Gilda (Charlize Theron) and Cambridge graduate Guy (Stuart Townsend) set in England, France, and Spain during the 1930s and '40s. Writer-director John Duigan's story also involves their unorthodox relationship with a Spanish-born model named Mia (Penelope Cruz) with whom they form a cohabitating threesome, until the Spanish Civil War and the Nazi occupation of France rip their lives asunder. Overall freewheeling attitude toward sex, a fleeting orgy tableau, intense sexual encounters, some rough and crude language, nudity, sadomasochism, torture, a gory shooting and a crude episode of urination. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted.

"The Heart of Me" (Thinkfilm)
Emotionally complex period melodrama about a strait-laced Englishman (Paul Bettany) enmeshed in a love triangle with his repressed socialite wife (Olivia Williams) and her bohemian sister (Helena Bonham Carter). Despite nuanced performances, the film, directed by Thaddeus O'Sullivan, is weakened by a pervasive ambivalence regarding the immoral conduct of its characters, remedied somewhat by its underlying theme of forgiveness. Several sexual encounters with nudity and an ambivalent attitude toward adultery. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-IV -- adults, with reservations. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted.

"Heights" (Sony Classics)
Reasonably absorbing if not quite believable story of New York creative types -- including an actress (Glenn Close), her photographer-daughter (Elizabeth Banks) and fiance (James Marsden), an aspiring actor (Jesse Bradford) and a journalist (John Light) -- whose lives intersect during a 24-hour period. Director Chris Terrio's adaptation of a play by Amy Fox is well-acted, but the setup is contrived. Profanity, rough language, some sexual banter and foreplay, gay themes, premarital relationships, a same-sex kiss, a violent episode, some voyeuristic activity. 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.

"Hellboy" (Revolution)
Unconventional superhero story about a cigar-chomping demon (Ron Perlman), who uses his hell-spawned powers for good by trying to stop a necromancer from opening a portal that will unleash dark forces upon the world. Despite moody Gothic atmospherics and a devilishly droll performance by its Luciferian lead, director Guillermo del Toro's film, based on the popular comic book series, leaves a lot to be desired in the way of plot, which, for the most part, doesn't make much sense. Abundant comic-book violence, recurring occult elements and some 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.

"Hero" (Miramax)
Visually stunning, historically inspired tale set in war-torn ancient China and told from various points of view -- each shot in a different dominant color -- about an enigmatic swordsman (Jet Li), who defeats three deadly assassins determined to kill an ambitious warlord (Chen Dao Ming) obsessed with uniting the divided land by conquest and becoming its first emperor. Combining spectacular martial arts action sequences with multilayered storytelling, director Zhang Yimou has masterfully crafted a piece of epic filmmaking as dramatically involving as it is aesthetically arresting, which, in spite of all its swordplay, imparts an overwhelmingly anti-violence message. Recurring stylized martial arts violence, an implied sexual encounter and a ritual suicide. Subtitles. 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.

"Hidalgo" (Disney)
Fact-based crowd-pleaser set in the late 19th century about a guilt-ridden cowboy (Viggo Mortensen), who enters a grueling 3,000-mile race across the Arabian Desert, during which he and his little-horse-that-could, Hidalgo, must endure sandstorms, brain-baking heat and desert raiders. Part old-fashioned boys' adventure yarn, part redemption parable, director Joe Johnston's film weds sweeping visuals and a strong narrative to craft a winning tale of friendship, fate, forgiveness and the indomitable spirit of man. Recurring adventure violence and some mild sexual 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.

"Hide and Seek" (20th Century Fox)
Schlocky psychological unthriller about a New York psychologist (Robert De Niro) who relocates to the country with his young traumatized daughter (Dakota Fanning) after his wife commits suicide, but once there he becomes increasingly alarmed when a series of strange and terrifying events leads him to question whether his daughter's imaginary friend named "Charlie" is really make-believe or something more malevolent. Directed by John Polson, the cliche-riddled film bores more than it scores, lacking in any real suspense let alone the faintest semblance of logic, and its twist ending elicits more snickers than surprise. Recurring violence, including a graphic suicide and several murders, as well as intense scenes of menace involving a minor. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted.

"High School Musical 3: Senior Year" (Disney)
Breezy musical romance in which a high school basketball star (Zac Efron) and his academically gifted girlfriend (Vanessa Hudgens) join their classmates (Lucas Grabeel, Corbin Bleu and Monique Coleman among others) to rehearse a play based on their own lives, while a pampered prima donna (Ashley Tisdale) schemes to oust the girlfriend from her leading role. Director Kenny Ortega's big screen sequel to the popular made-for-television films offers energetic, family-friendly entertainment while encouraging viewers to resist divisive stereotypes. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-I -- general patronage.

"High Tension" (Lions Gate)
Gratuitously violent horror film set in rural France about two friends (Cecile de France and Maiwenn Le Besco) whose idyllic weekend studying for exams at a secluded farmhouse becomes a struggle for survival when they are terrorized by a sadistic killer (Philippe Nahon). Directed by Alexandre Aja, this poorly dubbed homage to American slasher flicks is, despite moments of suspense, little more than a stylishly executed but repellent exercise in bloody excess, full of stomach-churning gore and capped by an illogical plot twist. Mostly in French with English subtitles. The film contains excessive graphic violence, including decapitations, dismemberment, a bludgeoning and an impaling, a homoerotic theme, perverse sexual situations including necrophilia, a scene of masturbation, a voyeuristic shower sequence with frontal nudity, as well as rough and crude language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted.

"The History Boys" (Fox Searchlight)
Faithful adaptation of Alan Bennett's award-winning London and Broadway play with the excellent original cast (including Frances de la Tour, Samuel Barnett and Dominic Cooper) intact about 1980s' northern England public school boys (age 18) trying out for Oxford and Cambridge under the rival tutelage of a wise if unconventional teacher (Richard Griffiths) and a young recent graduate (Stephen Campbell Moore) with more pragmatic methods. Director Nicholas Hytner has opened up the play intelligently for the screen, though it can't avoid a certain talkiness, and Bennett's themes of what we can truly know of history, the apparent randomness of life's events and how we are shaped by education are thought-provoking, while certain elements -- like the older teacher's penchant for inappropriately touching the students, which results in his dismissal, and the other's latent homosexuality -- will limit the film's appeal for many Catholics. Some rough language, innuendo and other sexual elements, implied premarital coupl
ings and some lightly irreverent remarks. 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.

"The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" (Touchstone)
Wacky and whimsical sci-fi comedy about the space travels of an ordinary guy (Martin Freeman) who escapes an imminently exploding Earth moments before it is destroyed to make way for an interstellar highway and who travels aboard a starship to the farthest reaches of the galaxy with an extraterrestrial researcher for the eponymous guidebook (Mos Def); the buffoonish galactic president (Sam Rockwell); a chronically depressed robot (voiced by Alan Rickman); and the sole other remaining earthling (Zooey Deschanel). Based on the hugely popular 1979 sci-fi novel and BBC radio play by the late Douglas Adams, the long-in-the-works film adaptation is an entertaining, if disjointed, surrealistically silly potpourri of space adventure, absurdist philosophy and rib-tickling satire. Think "2001: A Space Odyssey" and "Independence Day" meet Monty Python. Some irreligious humor, comic violence and mildly crude language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested.

"Holes" (Disney)
An innocent youngster (Shia LaBeouf) is sent to a desert reform camp where the teens are forced to dig hundreds of holes, but with the help of a runaway pal (Khleo Thomas), he outsmarts the snarly camp owner (Sigourney Weaver) and mean overseer (Jon Voight). Based on Louis Sachar's adventure-packed novel, the film uses flashbacks to detail a century-old family curse. Director Andrew Davis offers abundant plotting and nifty visuals, offset by some undernourished characterizations. Brief violence and a crass expression. 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.

"The Holiday" (Columbia/Universal)
Generally appealing romantic comedy about a wedding columnist (Kate Winslet) in the English countryside and a movie-trailer producer (Cameron Diaz) in Los Angeles whose failed romances find them swapping homes and continents over Christmas, leading to the former falling in love with a film composer (Jack Black) and the latter with the columnist's brother (Jude Law). Writer-director Nancy Meyers elicits heartfelt performances from all, and there's a strong affirmation of family and concern for the elderly, though some of today's permissive attitude, but not overt sexual content, is inherent in the script. Some rough and crude words, implied premarital relationships, light innuendo and banter, a chaste bedroom scene and mild domestic violence. 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.

"Hollywood Homicide" (Columbia)
Jumbled pastiche of an buddy-cop action movie in which two moonlighting Los Angeles detectives (Harrison Ford and Josh Hartnett) juggle solving a quadruple murder in the hip-hop world while pursuing real estate deals and acting opportunities. Co-writer-director Ron Shelton glosses over character development and coherent story line in a mad rush to highlight lame comic dialogue, drawn-out chases and extended shoot-'em-ups. Intermittent violence, implied casual affairs, a few racial epithets, frequent profanity and an instance of rough language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-IV -- adults, with reservations. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents are strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

"The Holy Girl" (Fine Line)
Tedious and talky Spanish-language film about a teenage girl (Maria Alche) who pursues a married doctor (Carlos Belloso) with a notion of "saving" him after he inappropriately presses up against her in a crowd, though saving in this case seems more like seducing. The doctor, meanwhile, falls for her divorcee mother (Mercedes Moran). Argentine writer-director Lucrecia Martel has stated her film is made from a Catholic perspective, with themes of "the dangers of differentiating good from evil," taking "back the reins of our own existence" and "drawing a line between live tissue and moral prosthesis," but with its sluggish narrative, unappealing characters and dreary film style, picking out the dubious Catholic underpinning seems inconsequential. Subtitles. Some fleeting rear and partial nudity, adolescent sexual musings, same-sex kissing, and a nonsexual bed scene with the best friend and her boyfriend. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted.

"The Holy Land" (Cavu)
Coarse drama set in Jerusalem in which a young rabbinical student (Oren Rehany) leaves his Orthodox family to explore the secular world of the sacred city where he falls for a prostitute (Tchelet Semel) while working at a seedy bar owned by a loud-mouthed American (Saul Stein) whom he befriends. Although writer-director Eitan Gorlin's film subtly underscores the complex cultural and religious conflicts in Jerusalem, its exploitative scenes and plodding pace detract from the coming-of-age story line that ultimately fails to engage. A few explicit sexual encounters, full frontal nudity, some drug use, and intermittent rough language with minimal profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. Not rated by the Motion Picture Association of America.

"A Home at the End of the World" (Warner Independent Pictures)
Bland adaptation of Michael Cunningham's novel about an unconventional triangular romance about a bisexual (Colin Farrell) who is in love with both his gay best friend (Dallas Roberts) and their bohemian female roommate (Robin Wright Penn). Directed by Michael Mayer and laced with homoerotic images, the tenderly told film explores the human heart's need for love; however, in doing so, it promotes a radical re-defining of traditional ideas concerning family and sexuality. An ambiguous view of human sexuality, including a sympathetic portrayal of homosexual and bisexual relationships, several sexual encounters with nudity, recurring drug content involving minors, a few instances of same-sex kissing, as well as much rough and crude language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted.

"Home on the Range" (Disney)
Family-friendly animated adventure about a trio of cows (voiced by Roseanne Barr, Jennifer Tilly and Judi Dench) who decide to capture a notorious desperado for the reward money to save their beloved dairy farm from the auction block. Writers-directors Will Finn and John Sanford turn the traditional western on its horns in telling a rip-roaring cowboy yarn about teamwork and camaraderie, resulting in a barnyard full of fun for moo-viegoers of all ages. Some brief mild rude humor and innuendo, as well as some 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.

"Honey" (Universal)
Superficial music drama about a young hip-hop dancer (Jessica Alba) from the Bronx who finds success in the music video world but must struggle to stay on top after she refuses the advances of a video mogul (David Moscow). Despite energetic dance scenes and a spirited score, director Billie Woodruff's film remains firmly grounded with cookie-cutter characters and a tired, predictable rags-to-riches story held together with scotch tape. A few fleeting sexual references, a crude gesture, intermittent crass language and fleeting drug content. 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.

"The Honeymooners" (Paramount)
Ho-hum updating of the classic Jackie Gleason 1950s' television series with Cedric the Entertainer as Ralph Kramden, the New York bus driver, Mike Epps as Ed Norton, his sewer-working friend, and Gabrielle Union and Regina Hall as their long-suffering wives, in a contrived story about Ralph and Ed entering a mutt in a dog race to earn money to buy a suburban house for their wives, after Ralph squanders their savings on an antique subway train. John Schultz's film bears little resemblance to the much-loved series in either tone or laugh quotient, and without Gleason or sidekick Art Carney, there's little point to the endeavor. Some mild profanity, crass expressions, fleeting irreverence, crude humor and 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.

"Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears a Who" (20th Century Fox)
Enchanting animated adaptation of the classic children's book about a warmhearted elephant (voice of Jim Carrey) who discovers that a speck of dust is home to the microscopic town of Who-ville, led by a slightly eccentric mayor (Steve Carell), and who must find the particle a safe resting place despite the opposition of a closed-minded kangaroo (Carol Burnett) and a wicked but dim eagle (Will Arnett). The film, co-directed by Jimmy Hayward and Steve Martino, promotes excellent values and the script, performances and animation all match the high quality of the original source material. 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.

"Hostage" (Miramax)
Taut -- if frequently violent -- thriller about former hostage negotiator Jeff Talley (Bruce Willis), who relocates to another town and becomes a police chief after a hostage rescue attempt goes tragically awry, but then finds himself back in action when the affluent Walter Smith (Kevin Pollak) and his children are taken hostage by three teenage hoodlums, but the twist is Smith himself turns out to have criminal ties and Talley's own family is soon taken captive by unknown forces out to get Smith. Director Florent Siri keeps up the unrelenting tension, which helps obscure some plot improbabilities; Willis gives a convincingly anguished performance, Ben Foster is scarily effective as the worst of the teens, and Alexandre Desplat has supplied a pulsating background score. Much rough and crude language, gunfire, violence with attendant blood, a raging fire and flaming bodies, a sadistic villain, some suggestive gestures and 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.

"Hot Rod" (Paramount)
Sweet-natured, occasionally surreal comedy about an aimless youth (Andy Samberg of "Saturday Night Live") who aspires to be a professional stuntman and wants nothing more than to raise enough money so his abusive stepfather can have a heart transplant -- so he can beat him up. Director Akiva Schaffer (also of "Saturday Night Live") and screenwriter Pam Brady (lately of "South Park") adorn this flimsy plot with pop-culture references and dark satire, but unless you find every twitch and utterance of Samberg screamingly funny you're likely to miss some of the humor. Much cartoonish and bloodless violence, all played for laughs, and some coarse and 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 strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

"Hotel" (Innovation)
Execrable experimental black comedy about an avant-garde film crew (including David Schwimmer and Salma Hayek) who are shooting a movie in Venice at a hotel staffed by cannibals. Director Mike Figgis awkwardly interweaves four simultaneous story lines in this pretentious, convoluted and pointless exercise in self-indulgence, displaying a zealous contempt for narrative coherence in favor of technical manipulation. Sexual encounters with full frontal nudity, instances of same-sex kissing, recurring gory violence, as well as much rough language and profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. Not rated by the Motion Picture Association of America.

"Hotel Rwanda" (United Artists)
Inspiring real-life story of Paul Rusesabagina (Don Cheadle), a hotel manager in Rwanda who, at great personal risk, saved the lives of thousands of refugees marked for death during the nightmarish days of the Rwandan genocide. He sheltered them from the slaughter occurring outside his hotel compound. Well-written, directed and acted, the emotionally riveting and profoundly moral movie deals with an extremely dark chapter of history, but it is a powerful testament to hope, courage and the nobility of the human spirit, as well as the unsung heroism of "ordinary" people. Disturbing violence and images of mass slaughter, fleeting shadowy background nudity and some brief 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.

"House of D" (Lions Gate)
Contrived but touching coming-of-age story of 12-year-old Tom (Anton Yelchin) living in 1970s' Greenwich Village in New York with his manic, pill-popping widowed mother (Tea Leoni), his friendship with a mentally challenged delivery man (Robin Williams), his first crush on a pretty schoolmate, and his unusual friendship with an unseen inmate (Erykah Badu) at the Women's House of Detention. Actor David Duchovny's directorial debut (from his own script) has a low-budget feel, but the story -- even with its shamelessly sentimental ending -- is compelling. The messages about the importance of being honest and finding your roots are admirable, if a bit platitudinous, and the performances are excellent, especially from young Yelchin, but also Duchovny as the adult Tom and Frank Langella as the clerical school principal. Tobacco and drug use, some profanity and crude language and expressions, sexual content and innuendo, suicide attempt, and a problematic euthanasia plot twist. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents are strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

"House of Flying Daggers" (Sony Pictures Classics)
Visually dazzling martial arts love story set in ancient China about a lawman (Takeshi Kaneshiro) who finds himself entangled in a web of desire and deception when his superior (Andy Lau) assigns him to infiltrate a gang of anti-imperial insurgents by escorting a beautiful blind courtesan (Ziyi Zhang) with ties to the group to the rebels' secret forest stronghold. Part action adventure, part triangular romance, director Zhang Yimou's melodramatic sword saga of passion, betrayal and the conflict between love and duty is full of eye-popping fight sequences, but its story sometimes gets drowned out by the artistic swirl of silk and steel. Subtitles. Much stylized action violence and associated gore, attempted rape and a sexual encounter. 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.

"House of Fools" (Paramount Classics)
Sentimental anti-war tale set in a besieged mental hospital where the residents are left to fend for themselves when Chechen soldiers occupy it and Russian troops attack. Director Andrei Konchalovsky shows much compassion for his fragile characters as well as a measure of whimsy in suggesting they are more sane than those who wage war. Subtitles. Wartime violence, brief nudity and some rough language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted.

"House of Sand and Fog" (Dreamworks)
Grim drama about an exiled Iranian colonel (Ben Kingsley) who buys a foreclosed house in California at an auction, but the previous owner, a recovering addict (Jennifer Connelly), refuses to give it up and enlists the help of a married cop (Ron Eldard) who has become her lover to coerce the colonel into selling the house back to her. Despite its flaws, debut director Vadim Perelman's tragic tale about the consequences of actions, both thoughtless and well-meaning, reveals the frailty of the human condition, but the film's crushing sadness is draining, as is the bleak ending. An extramarital affair, some sexual encounters with shadowy nudity, brief but intense violence and intermittent 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.

"House of the Dead" (Artisan)
Relentlessly ridiculous gorefest about a group of party-seeking college coeds trapped on an island infested with flesh-eating zombies and, luckily for them, stockpiled with lots of ammo. It is based on a popular video game. Director Ewe Boll ignores plot altogether in favor of protracted, ultraviolent scenes, as tedious as they are gratuitous. Excessive graphic carnage, extended topless nudity, lewd humor, pervasive rough and crude language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted.

"House of Wax" (Warner Bros.)
Repulsive horror film about a group of college students (including Chad Michael Murray and Paris Hilton) who, while on a road trip, find themselves stranded in a backwater town, where they fall prey to a pair of homicidal twins (both played by Brian Van Holt) intent on turning their unsuspecting victims into wax figures that are a little too lifelike for comfort. With its formulaic plot and vapid performances, director Jaume Collet-Serra's bloody re-imagining of the 1953 Vincent Price classic quickly melts into a stomach-churning mess of slasher cliches and sadism, which packages human debasement as popcorn fare. Gratuitous gruesome violence and gore, torture images, some sexual situations and humor, including a striptease, teen smoking and drinking, as well as recurring rough and crude language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted.

"How to Deal" (New Line)
Lame coming-of-age clunker about a cynical teen-ager (Mandy Moore) who renounces romance only to fall in love with a close friend (Trent Ford). With gag-inducing dialogue and vanilla performances, director Claire Kilner's vacuous ode to adolescent angst and puppy love is for the dogs. An implied sexual encounter, brief sensuality, drug abuse, as well as an instance of rough language and some 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.

"Howl's Moving Castle" (Disney)
Marvelous, hugely imaginative Japanese animated feature based on a popular novel by Diana Wynne Jones about a young girl (voiced by Emily Mortimer) transformed into an old lady (Jean Simmons) by a witch's curse (Lauren Bacall) who becomes the housekeeper to a handsome, but reclusive, wizard (Christian Bale) and his apprentice (Josh Hutcherson) and fire demon (Billy Crystal). Hayao Miyazaki's utterly absorbing film works so well on many levels that it can be equally appreciated by children and adults, and imparts beautiful messages about taking a moral stand, respect for the elderly, forgiveness and the senselessness of war. Subtitles in Japanese version. Battle scenes, some frightening images for very young children. 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.

"The Hulk" (Universal)
Sci-fi adventure based on the Marvel Comics character which follows a mild-mannered scientist (Eric Bana) who, after being pelted with gamma rays, finds his anger transforms him into a giant green monster soothed only by his ex-girlfriend (Jennifer Connelly). Initially captivating, director Ang Lee's well-crafted film boasts grand special effects as the digitally created green-skinned being bounds across the screen, but the film's indulgent length cannot maintain momentum as the last half sloppily unravels, leading to an anti-climactic ending. Sporadic mayhem, violence and destruction, some disturbing images, minimal crass language and profanity and a flash of rear nudity. 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 Human Stain" (Miramax)
 Affecting drama based on the Philip Roth novel in which an aging, newly widowed professor (Anthony Hopkins) quits his job in disgrace over an unintended racial slight and becomes involved in an affair with a tragedy-scarred divorcee (Nicole Kidman) half his age who is being stalked by her ex-husband (Ed Harris). Director Robert Benton explores the flawed humanity of an academic who has long lived a lie but who seeks redemption in caring for a brittle but vulnerable woman searching for escape through mindless sexual encounters. Sexual affairs, brief full female nudity, much rough language, boxing ring violence, a racial epithet and minimal profanity and crass expressions. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-IV -- adults, with reservations. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted.

"I Am Legend" (Warner Bros.)
Grim but effective thriller has a brave scientist (Will Smith) as the last surviving person in New York battling ferocious animal and human mutants as he struggles to find a cure for the virus that has eliminated most of the world's population. Director Francis Lawrence's remake of Richard Matheson's 1954 novel has some eerie scenes of a decimated New York, and the computer-generated images of mutants attacking are scary enough when they come, but though Smith is a compelling presence and there are some pointed and admirable spiritual elements, the basic setup ultimately grows tiresome and more depressing than exciting. Intense if isolated violent sequences, including the killing of the creatures, and scantily clad mutants. Might be acceptable for older teens. 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.

"I Know Who Killed Me" (TriStar/360)
Perfectly dreadful thriller about a college student (Lindsay Lohan in a big career misstep) abducted and tortured by a serial killer (who amputates several of her body parts), and how, when she finds herself waking up in a hospital, she must convince everyone she is not the young woman everyone thinks she is. Chris Sivertson's direction, Jeffrey Hammond's ludicrous script, and the level of acting (by Lohan, Julia Ormond, Neal McDonough and Brian Geraghty) is as crude as a grindhouse movie of the 1970s, with heaps of trashy violence, sex and bad language. Graphic violence and torture, gore, grisly images, pervasive rough language and some profanity, upper female nudity, skimpy costuming, a graphic sex scene, drug and alcohol use, and condom use. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry" (Universal)
Brooklyn firefighters Chuck Levine (Adam Sandler) and Larry Valentine (Kevin James) pose as a gay couple to qualify for domestic partnership benefits in a crude exercise that makes a mockery of comedy more than matrimony. Homophobic and yet pro-gay marriage, the harsh and raunchy movie is overly long and inadequately funny, as three screenwriters and director Dennis Dugan strain to cover all the bases with lifeless and predictable tangents. Pervasive sexual content and references, frequent crude and crass language, one instance of profanity, vulgar gestures, some bathroom humor, fondling of a woman's breasts, rear male nudity, much skimpy female costuming, frequent racial, gender and homophobic slurs, a drug reference, and much violence including fisticuffs. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

"I, Robot" (20th Century Fox)
Science fiction thriller set in 2035 about a technophobic Chicago cop (Will Smith) whose investigation into the apparent suicide of a renowned scientist leads him to suspect that the dead visionary was actually murdered by a member of the swelling robot population he helped create and which is supposed to be programmed to serve and protect mankind. Inspired by the short works of Isaac Asimov, director Alex Proyas underpins dazzling special-effects sequences with philosophical musings about artificial intelligence, our relationship to technology and what constitutes a soul. Intense action violence, two brief shower scenes with shadowy profile nudity and recurring 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.

"I Am David" (Lions Gate)
Life-affirming family adventure set in 1952 about a young Bulgarian boy (Ben Tibber) who escapes confinement in a brutal communist labor camp and must make his way across Europe in order to find refuge in Denmark. As directed by Paul Feig, the well-told, visually handsome tale is both engaging and edifying, and its simple, gentle message -- that life is a gift -- is full of hope. Mature themes and some brief 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.

"I Heart Huckabees" (Fox Searchlight)
Quirky comedy about an angst-ridden environmental activist (Jason Schwartzman) who hires a married team of existential detectives (Dustin Hoffman and Lily Tomlin) to unravel the mystery behind the meaning of life. As eccentrically directed by David O. Russell, the film is a madcap mix of philosophy and slapstick, resulting in a brainy farce which, while intellectually loaded, is emotionally empty. A sexual encounter and much rough and crude language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted.

"I'll Sleep When I'm Dead" (Paramount Classics)
Atmospheric suspense film set among the seedy London underworld in which a reformed underworld killer (Clive Owen) sets out to uncover the reasons behind his younger brother's (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) unaccountable suicide. Top-flight British cast and skillful direction by Mike Hodges make this an absorbing film, even if the script ultimately turns banal. A discreetly brief rape scene, fleeting rear nudity, some recreational drug abuse, a crass scene involving urination and some 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.

"I'm Not Scared" (Miramax)
Enthralling thriller about a 10-year-old boy (Giuseppe Cristiano) living in a remote Sicilian village whose innocence is shattered when he makes a shocking discovery in an abandoned farmhouse and learns that the terrible truth behind it leads him closer to home than he ever would imagine. Masterfully told through the eyes of a child, director Gabriele Salvatores combines suspenseful storytelling with hauntingly beautiful visuals of sprawling, sun-baked Italian vistas to craft an intimate coming-of-age tale of courage and compassion. Subtitles. Some violence, recurring rough and crude language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted.

"Ice Princess" (Disney)
Standard but not uninteresting tale of a high school honor student (Michelle Trachtenberg) whose heart is secretly set on professional skating, and after working on a science project about correlation between skating and physics decides to train for the championships with former champion Tina (Kim Cattrall), over the objections of her mother (Joan Cusack), who's determined her daughter study physics at Harvard instead. Tim Fywell's modest film -- thematically similar to the 1977 ballet film "The Turning Point" -- is reasonably absorbing for all its plot predictability, the skating sequences are enjoyable, and the performances, within the one-dimensional demands of the story, are good, making this unobjectionable family entertainment, especially for young girls. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-I -- general patronage. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is G -- general audiences.

"Identity" (Columbia)
Absurd horror flick in which a raging storm traps random individuals (including John Cusack, Ray Liotta and Amanda Peet) in a seedy motel where one by one they are being murdered. Director James Mangold's hoary, derivative tale features assorted gruesome deaths before inventing a pathetically ridiculous solution to the gory whodunit. Frequent violence, brief sexual innuendo, recurring profanity and much 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.

"Imaginary Heroes" (Sony Classics)
Earnest, if uneven, domestic dysfunction drama about an upscale suburban couple (Sigourney Weaver and Jeff Daniels) trying to come to terms with the sudden suicide of their eldest child (Kip Pardue), causing marital disintegration and sending them, along with their younger teenage son (Emile Hirsch), down separate but similarly self-destructive paths of despair. As directed by Dan Harris, this somber yet ultimately redemptive meditation on guilt, grief, and forgiveness is buttressed by good performances across the board, and explores the interconnectedness of human relations and how the ripple effects of our mistakes affect the lives of others. Recurring substance abuse, including several scenes involving underaged teenagers, sexual situations among minors, one involving partial nudity, an intimate encounter between two boys, a suicide, some violence, as well as repeated rough and 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 R -- restricted.

"In the Valley of Elah" (Warner Independent)
Inspired by true events, this is a powerfully understated drama about a patriotic ex-military man (Tommy Lee Jones) who, leaving his worried wife (Susan Sarandon) at home, searches for their missing son who's just returned from duty in Iraq, and who joins forces with a police detective (Charlize Theron) to break through the military's red tape, as they begin to suspect foul play. Writer-director Paul Haggis's script ultimately delivers a strong anti-war message, and cast members -- who also include Jason Patric, James Franco and Josh Brolin -- give sensitive, nuanced performances. Rough language and profanity, rear shower nudity, upper female nudity, brief gruesome war and morgue imagery and verbal descriptions, suicide, drug references and violent scuffle. 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.

"In America" (Fox Searchlight)
Inspiring, largely autobiographical tale of grieving Irish parents (Paddy Considine and Samantha Morton) who arrive impoverished in 1980s' New York City with two little daughters (Sarah Bolger and Emma Bolger) whose friendship with a volatile African-American artist (Djimon Hounsou) helps the troubled family to survive. Co-writer/director Jim Sheridan elicits superb performances and beautifully conveys themes of loss, human dignity, love and redemption in this immigrant experience story. A shadowy married sexual encounter with momentary nudity, fleeting violence and drug references, minimal 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.

"In the Cut" (Screen Gems)
Dull erotic thriller about a creative writing teacher (Meg Ryan) who becomes entangled in a sexually charged relationship with a New York City homicide detective (Mark Ruffalo) investigating a string of grisly serial murders. Mistaking sleaze for substance, director Jane Campion tries to justify the film's lewd banality under the false pretense of weightiness, disguising the poverty of its unremittingly cheerless script with raunchy sex scenes and pretentious dialogue. Recurring explicit sexual encounters with extended full nudity, including depictions of oral sex and masturbation, several instances of gory violence, much rough and sexually 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.

"In the Face of Evil: Reagan's War in Word and Deed" (Non-Fiction)
Stephen Bannon’s documentary is less a biography of former President Ronald Reagan than a look at his impact on world events over a four-decade span. Reagan is portrayed as a man of intelligence and uncompromising vision who led the free world’s takedown of communism. While the film may be detested by Democrats (they are not shown in the best light), “In the Face of Evil” is still an intriguing look at a time of American history that many have glossed over and that will likely fascinate the under-30 crowd that barely knew life in the Cold War. Images of war violence. -Bill Howard. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting has not classified this film. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13, parents are strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

"In Good Company" (Universal)
Sharp and perceptive -- if somewhat formulaic -- comedy-drama about a sports magazine sales executive (Dennis Quaid) who finds himself working for a man almost half his age (Topher Grace) when the magazine's parent company is sold to a global conglomerate, and later learns his new boss is having an affair with his college-age daughter (Scarlett Johansson). Director/writer Paul Weitz's film is convincingly on-target about the heartlessness of the contemporary business world, and Quaid gives a particularly fine performance, but the daughter's oddly bold seduction of her father's boss in her dorm room is morally problematic and somehow rings false from a dramatic standpoint. Some crude language, fleeting rear nudity and a permissive view of premarital sex. 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 In-Laws" (Warner Bros.)
Leaden comedy about a mild-mannered podiatrist (Albert Brooks) who, while trying to plan his daughter's wedding, is shanghaied into an international arms deal by the groom's father (Michael Douglas), who happens to work for the CIA. Director Andrew Fleming's stale remake of the 1979 laugher is sabotaged by forced humor, a scatterbrained plot and mismatched casting. Some profanities, crass humor with occasional homosexual innuendoes and brief violence. 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.

"Incantato" (Northern Arts Entertainment)
Handsomely designed and filmed but dramatically inert period piece about a shy, awkward 35-year-old schoolteacher falling in love for the first time with a beautiful young woman -- an incorrigible femme fatale who has recently been blinded. Set in 1920s Italy, Pupi Avati's film has the added interest of the hero's father being tailor to the pope, and indeed the film's climax takes place within the hallowed walls of Vatican City. But the main story is so ludicrous and torpidly paced that in spite of some touching moments, the intended romantic sweep is simply not there. Subtitles. Some mild sexual episodes and rear nudity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults. Not rated by the Motion Picture Association of America.

"The Incredible Hulk" (Universal/Marvel)
Intense live-action adventure about a fugitive scientist (Edward Norton) searching for a cure to the gamma poisoning that transforms him, when provoked, into a rampaging behemoth, with the help of his girlfriend and former colleague (Liv Tyler) and despite the efforts of her Army general father (William Hurt) and a British officer (Tim Roth) to capture him and exploit his powers. In between breathless chases and effective battle scenes, this latest adaptation of the popular comic, directed by Louis Leterrier, touches on serious moral issues about the use of force and the manipulation of human biology, though it squanders the initial innocence of its main characters' romance. Nongraphic premarital sexual activity, partial rear nudity, stylized violence, painful medical scenes, brief scatological humor, and occasional crude and crass language; it's possibly acceptable for older teens. 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.

"Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" (Paramount)
Welcome return of the iconic action adventure series -- nearly 20 years after the third installment -- as the intrepid archaeologist (Harrison Ford still in fine physical fettle) sets out to find and restore a mystical head to its rightful place in Peru assisted by an old flame (Karen Allen), her motorcycle rebel son (Shia LaBeouf), a duplicitous mercenary (Ray Winstone) and a dotty professor (John Hurt), with the Russians led by an icy agent (Cate Blanchett) in hot pursuit. Director Steven Spielberg rousingly captures much of the spirit of the earlier films and, some occasional curse words and intense violence aside, the film makes generally unobjectionable viewing for older teens and up. Intense nongraphic action violence, a few crude expletives, and an implied past premarital relationship. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13. 

"Infernal Affairs" (Miramax)
Arresting crime thriller set in Hong Kong about two double agents -- one a gangland mole (Andy Lau) embedded in the police force and the other an undercover cop (Tony Leung) who has infiltrated a crime ring, posing as a member of its inner circle -- locked in a game of cat-and-mouse to smoke each other out. As directed by Andrew Lau and Alan Mak, the stylish and intelligent film keeps its hardboiled tension on a high flame, downplaying action sequences in favor of narrative suspense and character development. Some graphic violence, drug content and moral ambiguity. Subtitles. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted.

"Inside Deep Throat" (Universal)
Serious-minded but visually explicit documentary detailing the history and legacy of the notorious 1972 porn film -- and the cultural and legal firestorm it ignited -- via a slickly edited mosaic of archival footage, hard-core clips from the film itself, interviews with its principal players and talking-head comments from cultural pundits like Norman Mailer, Dick Cavett, Gore Vidal, Hugh Hefner and Dr. Ruth Westheimer. Directed by Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato, the documentary, while more sociocultural than salacious in tone, nevertheless tries so hard to position its subject as a rallying point for First Amendment rights that it politely glosses over (though doesn't completely ignore) the sleazy film's more sordid particulars and gives short shrift to arguments against pornography on the moral grounds that it exploits women and is degrading to the dignity of sex and the human person. Recurring graphic sexual images. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is NC-17 -- no one 17 or under admitted.

"The Interpreter" (Universal)
Glossy, reasonably suspenseful tale about a Secret Service agent (Sean Penn) who investigates the claim that an African-born interpreter at the United Nations (Nicole Kidman) has overheard a plot against an African dignitary accused of genocide, and though the agent begins to suspect the interpreter may, in fact, be part of the plot, he finds himself falling in love with her. Director Sydney Pollack's international political thriller is much too complex -- not to mention improbable -- for its own good, and even with intelligent performances and sharp U.N. location shooting, this is several notches below "The Man Who Knew Too Much" and other similarly themed films. Some profanity and crude language, several instances of brief but strong violence, thematic suicide material, a scantily clad lap dancer, and a glimpse of massacred bodies. 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.

"Into the Wild" (Paramount Vantage/River Road)
Episodic but absorbing road movie, based on Jon Krakauer's 1998 biography of idealistic 22-year-old Christopher McCandless (Emile Hirsch) who abandoned his home, troubled parents (Marcia Gay Harden and William Hurt) and sister (Jena Malone) after college graduation to avoid the "poison" of civilization and get back to nature, embarking on an epic two-year road trip from Atlanta to Alaska. Actor Sean Penn directed, wrote and produced the film, which gains in emotional power as it progresses, fueled by excellent performances, including those of Catherine Keener, Vince Vaughn, nonactor (one of several in the cast) Brian Dierker and especially Hal Holbrook, playing colorful characters Chris encounters on his journey, with underlying themes of family connection, individualism versus community and the primal pull of the wilderness, leading toward a moving climax of forgiveness, redemption and intense spirituality. Some rough language and profanity, upper female and brief full-frontal male nudity, the killing and then cutting up of an animal carcass, a beating, implied premarital situations and reference to a bigamous relationship. 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.

"Intimate Strangers" (Paramount Classics)
Talky but compelling film about a woman who enters into a doctor-patient relationship with a tax accountant whom she mistakes for a psychiatrist. An impeccably acted character study of two misfits -- a lonely bureaucrat and an unhappy wife -- reaching out to each becomes a little tedious toward the end. A few nongratuitous instances of crude language, an air of perversity in the central relationship, a couple of implied instances of voyeurism, and a casual depiction of an unconventional marriage. 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.

"Intolerable Cruelty" (Universal)
Screwball romantic comedy about a gold-digging divorcee (Catherine Zeta-Jones) seeking revenge on the slick Beverly Hills divorce attorney (George Clooney) who got her philandering millionaire husband off the hook scot-free, only to end up falling in love with him. Full of dark humor, whip-smart repartee and eccentric characters, Joel and Ethan Coen's zany romp through the legal land mines of modern matrimony uses the paddle of satire to navigate cynical thematic waters in order to arrive at its conclusion that love is nonnegotiable and that marriage is based on trust, not contractual agreements. A comedic view of divorce, some sexual humor, brief violence, an instance of rough language, as well as sporadic crude language and profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-IV -- adults, with reservations. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents are strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

"The Invisible" (Buena Vista)
Ghostlike teen (Justin Chatwin) wanders ineffectively through his town after a near-death beating, unable to communicate with anyone and generally moping behind the tough girl (Margarita Levieva) who had jumped him with two henchmen. Director David S. Goyer offers unconvincing plot points, inconsistent internal logic, a somnambulistic leading man and a preposterous and muddled climax that inspires unintended laughter. A few instances of crude and crass language, a mild scene of clothed groping, an implied night of premarital sex, brief shower-related female nudity and much violence, including beatings and a scene of gunfire, though handled with relative discretion. 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.


"It Runs in the Family" (MGM)
Pleasantly affecting serio-comedy about three dysfunctional generations of fathers and sons exploring the foibles and follies of life, love and parenting. Directed by Fred Schepisi, the on-screen chemistry of Tinseltown father-son combo Kirk and Michael Douglas facilitates the theme of reconciliation and family unity to emerge with emotional honesty despite the at times schmaltzy sentimentality of the narrative. Recurring drug abuse and sexual situations, as well as minimal vulgarities 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.

"The Italian Job" (Paramount)
High-octane caper flick about a gang of professional thieves (including Mark Wahlberg and Edward Norton) who must track down and outfox one of their own who double-crosses them after they steal millions in Italian gold and makes off to Los Angeles with the loot. A formulaic revamping of the Michael Caine-Noel Coward 1969 heist classic, director F. Gary Gray's film scores points with deftly orchestrated action sequences, but flounders with a predictable premise and threadbare characters. A benign portrayal of theft, an implied sexual encounter, an instance of rough language, some profanities and brief instances of violence. 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.