CAPSULES
By
Catholic News Service
NEW YORK (CNS) -- The
following are capsule reviews of movies recently reviewed by Catholic
News Service.
Iron Man 2
(Paramount/Marvel)
Stylish sci-fi followup
charting the further adventures of a freewheeling weapons manufacturer
(Robert Downey Jr.) -- whose high-tech suit of armor transforms him at
will into the titular hero -- as he battles a gifted but warped Russian
scientist (Mickey Rourke) and competes against a smarmy rival
industrialist (Sam Rockwell) with the on-again, off-again help of his
former military liaison (Don Cheadle) and the steady support of his
frequently exasperated executive assistant (Gwyneth Paltrow). In his
second adaptation of a popular comic-book series that originated in
1963, director Jon Favreau crafts an almost entirely gore-free, though
steadily clash-laden, cautionary tale about the two-edged potential of
modern munitions. Considerable, though virtually bloodless, action
violence; some sexual humor and references; at least one instance of
profanity; a bleeped use of the F-word; a couple of crude expressions;
and occasional crass language. The Catholic News Service 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.
A
Nightmare on Elm Street (Warner Bros.)
Crazed killer Freddy Krueger
(now played by Jackie Earle Haley) and his fatal fingers return to prey
on the dreams -- and real lives -- of a new generation of small-town
teens (including Rooney Mara, Kyle Gallner, Katie Cassidy and Kellan
Lutz). Veteran music video director Samuel Bayer's unwelcome reboot of
the 1980s slasher franchise -- his feature debut -- relies on the tried
and trite recipe of sending interchangeable insomniacs to a gory doom.
Intense bloody violence; gruesome imagery; a pedophilia theme; an
implied nonmarital relationship; a couple uses of profanity; at least a
dozen instances of the F-word; and some crude language. The Catholic
News Service classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion
Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17
requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
Copyright
(c) 2010 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops