In “Hackers,” two remarkably beautiful, remarkably cool New York high school students and their fellow hackers get into big trouble with their laptops, and Secret Service men with guns drawn are soon bursting into their homes to arrest them. The real villain, however, turns out to be a greedy adult who has created a computer virus that could cause ecological disaster. The hackers organize to save the planet. As far as violence, some furniture is attacked with a baseball bat. And the arrests, with all those guns pointing at terrified teenagers, are pretty frightening. The film is on the side of morality. It’s the villain who says: “There is no right or wrong. There is only fun or boring.” The film is not really for children 5-12, but the computer effects are fast and colorful, and the hero is a brilliant 11-year-old in the first scenes. But it would be hard to be a teenager and not enjoy this film when so many teenagers are empowered and so many adults get their comeuppance. It’s rated PG-13.
– “A Month by the Lake” (PG) is a British romantic comedy about middle-aged love at a lakeside villa that’s nearly derailed by a flirty American. Witty, well-acted and touching, it’s a charming, light period piece–but mostly for adults.
“The Amazing Panda Adventure” (PG)–An American boy, a Chinese girl and a wise old guide try to return a lost baby panda to its mom. Along the way, the kids and cub fall off a high hanging bridge, are carried along by a boiling current and emerge unscathed. The kids scuffle with poachers and learn lessons about friendship, tolerance and themselves.
“Angus” (PG)–The ingredients are familiar: Alienated, overweight teen dreams of dating the cheerleader queen but is constantly bullied by her boyfriend. The movie is sincere, and it refuses to treat teen problems with condescension, but it’s one long parade of cliches, including typical locker-room humor.
“Apollo 13” (PG)–With its account of astronauts facing disaster on a thwarted 1970 space mission, this superbly crafted film should inspire young viewers. But the movie’s length and scientific jargon might prove too cumbersome for the youngest members of the family. The rating is for strong language and dramatic intensity.
“Babe” (G)–This sheep-herding talking-pig tale is plenty sweet, but it refuses to sugarcoat life on a farm where, for most, the butcher’s knife always looms. Great special effects, and the little guy conveys subtle lessons about overcoming prejudice and fulfilling ambitions.
“The Baby-Sitters Club” (PG)–Cynical teens may think they’ll be bored by the sweetness, but there are enough rough edges to keep them interested. And the kid book series’ legions of fans won’t be disappointed.
“Batman Forever” (PG-13)–A look at the legend’s bright side. And despite comic-strip violence, parental deaths and sexual innuendo, there’s little that kids can’t handle.
“The Big Green” (PG)–This is an amiable, if amateurish, rehash of Disney’s own “Mighty Ducks,” with a soccer ball instead of a hockey puck. Mildly coarse language from the mouths of children and a couple of light sexual innuendoes are the only objectionable elements of the film. There are some fleeting lessons in sportsmanship, pride and teamwork, but they’re outweighed by gross jokes that depend on bodily functions and below-the-belt punchlines. Soccer fans will be pleased to see their favorite sport on the big screen, but a pickup game would be much more fun.
“The Bridges of Madison County” (PG-13)–Clint Eastwood’s risky adaptation of the best seller will be a revelation for the book’s adult fans–as well as its foes–but the turtle-speed tempo makes this anything but a kid flick.
“Bushwhacked” (PG-13)–A brief appearance by a training bra, a Playboy and a goofy Barbie doll-enhanced description of the birds and bees by star Daniel Stern (“Home Alone,” “City Slickers”) are exceptions to the rule in this mild Scout adventure.
“Casper” (PG)–It has quick reflex laughs and lots of gooey, marshmallow-type special effects. But impressionable tots could be saddened by the realization that Casper is the lonely ghost of a 12-year-old boy. The film has broad slapstick comedy, mildly blue language and much talk of death and the afterlife.
“Clueless” (PG-13)–This high school comedy tries very hard to be hip fun, so it’s full of colorful, wisecracking teenagers–and it’s the adults who are clueless. There’s no violence (unless you count the movie’s depiction of consumer culture), but sexual innuendo abounds.
“Congo” (PG-13)–On the one (hairy) hand, there’s no trace of sexual content (unless you want to count the relationship between the hero and his ape). On the other paw, the movie brims with violence, nearly all of which occurs between men and animals.
“Country Life” (PG-13)–This pastoral comedy moves Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya to the Australian outback. Its most receptive audience among youngsters will be teens who are budding theater students.
“Dr. Jekyll and Ms. Hyde” (PG-13)–Unfunny, predictable comic update in which Dr. Jekyll’s great-grandson adds estrogen to the ancient potion and turns into a predatory female. The slapstick is broad and painful, and the gender jokes may go over some kids’ heads.
“First Knight” (PG-13)–This revisionist retelling of the Camelot legend focuses on a chaste romantic triangle. The battle scenes, which account for the rating, are well choreographed–and not as explicit as those in “Braveheart.”
“Free Willy 2: The Adventure Home” (PG)–This sequel plainly wants to be a wholesome adventure for the entire family. So language is mild, and violence is almost non-existent and never bloody. Love flares between our adolescent hero and a shipmate, but it never goes beyond a kiss and a sex talk with foster dad.
“The Indian in the Cupboard” (PG)–The film version of the kids’ book is a delightful, moving story about small people in a big world. Through Little Bear, a 3-inch-tall plastic Indian who comes to life through magic, a young boy learns about life. Mild violence.
“A Kid in King Arthur’s Court” (PG)–This live-action tale of a teen sucked into Camelot is mostly a vehicle for its adolescent star, Thomas Ian Nicholas, to run around in tight baseball pants and make time-warp jokes. Though the moral is to not be afraid to take a swing at things, what kids will really learn is how to hit stuff.
“Last of the Dogmen” (PG)–Sentimental comedy-romance set in the Montana wilderness gets its rating for mildly raunchy language and for adventure violence, but the mayhem is handled with an eye to family entertainment.
“Magic in the Water” (PG)–Young kids might be temporarily intrigued by this movie about a divorced dad and his two precocious children who are brought closer by their encounter with a magic sea serpent. But after a while, viewers of all ages will wish they were watching “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.”
“Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie” (PG)–This TV import will probably feed the debate about media violence because the Power Rangers entertain kids the old-fashioned way: with lots of fights and exploding monsters.
“Mortal Kombat” (PG-13)–Targeted at the audience that made the computer-arcade game such a hit, “Mortal Kombat” presents a challenge for parents. It’s a violent film, functioning as a series of fights to the death. On the other hand, the violence is so absurdist that the movie has the feel of a kung-fu Roadrunner cartoon.
“The Net” (PG-13)–The story of a lonely computer analyst who accidentally gains access to government secrets could intrigue young viewers who are having their first encounters with computers. Others will be bored by the plot contrivances. The film contains some language, suggested sexuality and mild violence.
“Nine Months” (PG-13)–Despite star Hugh Grant’s awfully embarrassing adventure, this slapstick comedy will lure both parents and kids. There’s some comic violence and adult talk, but the broad humor crosses age barriers.
“Operation Dumbo Drop” (PG)–The fictionalized account of a Green Beret mission to transport a 4-ton pachyderm to a Vietnam mountain village drew its rating for war action, potty humor and language.
“Pocahontas” (G)–The kids’ movie event of the summer sports superb forest and animal animation, but the humans lack the usual Disney creativity. Cautious parents may be surprised at the heroine’s voluptuous curves, as well as the way her minidresses cling as she runs provocatively through the New World.
“Steal Big Steal Little” (PG-13)–This wannabe whimsical comedy-drama works as a sleeping pill for most audiences. But kids especially won’t sit still for its rambling plot of identical twins (both played by Andy Garcia) in an inheritance tussle.
“The Stars Fell on Henrietta” (PG)–Story of oil drilling in Depression-era Texas emphasizes family closeness but moves much too slowly to ingratiate itself to young viewers. A nifty cat does salvage some scenes, though.
“Unstrung Heroes” (PG)–Diane Keaton’s directorial debut has a warm spirit and occasionally rambunctious humor, and should be embraced by older teens. The plot spins around the inevitable death of Steven’s mother and his being sent to live with two eccentric uncles during her fight with cancer and his father’s emotional desolation. The mother-son relationship is loving but realistic, and the footage devoted to the death of a beloved parent could upset smaller children.
“To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar” (PG-13)–Drag-queen fable’s message of tolerance and individuality is useful for teens, who often are unsympathetic to nonconformists. The three transvestite heroes are openly gay, but the screenplay doesn’t dwell on their sexual orientation. The film includes a scene of wife-battering, but the oppressive husband definitely gets his comeuppance.
“A Walk in the Clouds” (PG-13)–This stunning, old-fashioned love story starring Keanu Reeves has little for kids but a lot for moms, grandmothers and aunts. The rating is for Reeves’ war flashbacks and the film’s vivid but fairly inexplicit sensual nature.
“While You Were Sleeping” (PG)–This old-fashioned romantic comedy has a sharp contemporary edge and should appeal to middle-school students and older. It contains mildly risque language and sexual innuendo.
