My kids, at five and nine, certainly aren’t going to be munching popcorn and tossing back Raisinets while watching this film any time soon. Parents might be tempted to bring kids used to a certain amount of violence on TV and video games to a movie like this. However, Angels and Demons is a movie for older kids, 16 and up. Reviews have been mixed on this movie and we’d have to agree that it’s only so-so, especially in relationship to the earlier Da Vinci Code, which successfully brought the blockbuster book to life. In Angels and Demons, Professor Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks) goes deep into the world of the Illuminati, an underground organization that threatens the Catholic church....

Ghost Town is a very funny movie. If you like Ricky Gervais’ brand of dry, self-deprecating humor (he was the original Michael Scott in the British version of “The Office”), you’re bound to enjoy his character. This is the the story of a socially awkward dentist who has a near-death experience that allows him to act as a bridge between the living and the dead. Just the fact that he can see many people around us who are actually dead creates a lot of confusion and funny situations, as does the fact that they are dressed (or undressed) as they were at the time of their death. Also starring Greg Kinnear and Tea Leoni, Ghost Town has an upbeat hopeful story line, despite the...

For some reason, perhaps because of the title, I thought Eagle Eye was a simple film about a drone surveillance airplane gone mad. There is a drone plane or two, but the movie is so much more than that. Directed by D. J. Caruso from a story by Steven Spielberg, and starring Shia Laboeuf (Transformers) and Michelle Monaghan (Mission Impossible 3), Eagle Eye is a high tech conspiracy movie that plays on your worst fears about how computers track our everyday move. It pits two unwitting innocents against the Department of Homeland Security when they are set up to be the agents of an assassination plot. Without giving too much away, this movie draws on the best of 2001, The Parallax View, and War...

We introduced our eight year old early to musical and romantic comedies and she quickly replaced Disney with great directors like William Wyler, Vincente Minnelli, and George Cukor. We may be creating an incurable romantic, but these movies have the big advantage of having no profanity and in general, very few “questionable” situations.” And if they do, they are usually so subtle, that kids don’t even notice them. Two of her favorites, Roman Holiday and Sabrina, just came out in new DVD “Roman Holiday – The Centennial Collection” (William Wyler) “Sabrina – The Centennial Collection” (Billy Wilder)

If you’re a suburban dad, maybe those two ideas sounds familiar. This new shows sounds like they’ve been spying on my life. Two different minds, one body. So which one of these two personalities leads the more complicated life: the covert operative and contract killer who speaks 13 languages, runs a four-minute mile and is trained to kill with his bare hands, or the efficiency expert who lives a humdrum life in the suburbs with a devoted wife, two kids, a dog and a minivan?[From Suburban dad and spy: Christian Slater stars as both]

Nim’s Island is out on DVD and it’s a good movie for dads and kids. With some interesting graphics and a fantastical series of events, kids and dads should stay entertained throughout this 90 minute adventure. Abigail Breslin, from Definitely, Maybe, plays 11 year old Nim. She is trapped on a South Pacific island when her scientist father leaves her for two days and then runs into a massive storm. Her only lifeline is an agorophobic adventure story writer (Jody Foster) living in San Francisco. When her island comes under siege from a cruise ship itching to spoil her deserted island, she calls her for help. The story then follows their parallel adventures as Nim fights off the tourists...

Spiderwick Chronicles is out on DVD and a surprise hit in our household. When this movie came out last year, I thought it looked a little goofy and it seemed to be in and out of theatres in short order. Seeing it at home was the first time for us, and it was a happy surprise for both me and my eight year-old. We both enjoyed the story, the action sequences and the funny parts. The story is an imaginative tale of a single mom and her three kids who go to live in a mansion they soon find to be under attack by goblins out to get a book that details the world of creatures ordinary people can’t see. While the movie has scenes that make it a bit too scary for little kids (7 and under), my slightly...

My four year old son loves The Transformers and has been hopping around doing action poses since we got this DVD. He loves the action sequences and the clear line between good and evil. He also likes the frenetic pace and anxiety-producing sound effects. This is definitely entertainment for the on-the-edge-of-the-seat viewer. While all these things make it a hit for him, my wife and I would prefer he watches quieter fare, which also seems to entertain him. I also think this is one cartoon that is probably better for older kids, maybe eight years plus. The action sequences are pretty violent and action-packed, and you’ll have to decide for yourself whether the fact that the action is between...

The Jungle Book 2 (Special Edition) is out and a hit with little kids. This is one movie both my four year and eight year old can enjoy together without too much fighting. They both loved the classic original Jungle Book with those great songs by Louis Prima. This one includes the same characters and a reprise of the song “The Bare necessities,” as well as the modern hit, “I Want to be Like You” by Smash Mouth. With the voices of John Goodman and Haley Joel Osment, Jungle Book 2 is a good movie for young kids. Though there are some scary parts, even two-year-olds can watch this movie without too much anxiety. As an adult, I didn’t enjoy this one as much the original,...