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Friday, February 13, 2004
Movie caps

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The following are movie reveiws of "Catch That Kid," "The Dreamers," "Miracle," and "You Got Served."

These moviews recently were reviewed by the Office for Film & Broadcasting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

"Catch That Kid" (20th Century Fox)
Cleverly conceived but morally misguided kiddie caper about a 12-year-old girl (Kristen Stewart) and her two best friends, rival suitors (Max Thieriot and Corbin Bleu) who decide to break into a high-security bank in order to steal enough money to pay for her dad's costly, life-saving surgery. Despite a smart script and a fresh-faced cast that gives the flick's shopworn heist plot a youthful twist, director Bart Freundlich uses an end-justifies-the-means attitude to rationalize his improbable premise, which, though ultimately discredited, makes it difficult to wholeheartedly applaud this otherwise entertaining movie. An ambiguous attitude toward larceny, minimal mildly-crude humor and some action 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.

"The Dreamers" (Fox Searchlight)
Insufferably pretentious and gratuitously explicit film about a quiet American student (Michael Pitt) studying in Paris, whose love of old movies leads to an unwholesome triangular relationship with a brother (Louis Garrel) and sister (Eva Green) left alone to turn their apartment into a sexual playground while their parents are away on holiday during the tumultuous summer of 1968. Based on the ironically titled novel "Holy Innocents" by Gilbert Adair, director Bernardo Bertolucci's soft-core erotic tale, though clearly the product of a man in love with movies, says about as much about sex and politics as his controversial "Last Tango in Paris" said about sex and alienation -- which is absolutely nothing. Graphic sexual encounters with extended full frontal nudity, an incestuous relationship, an attempted suicide, some mob violence, 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 NC-17 -- no one 17 and under admitted.

"Miracle" (Disney)
Inspirational crowd-pleaser which tells the real-life Cinderella story of the U.S. Olympic hockey team's against-all-odds victory over their much-vaunted Russian rivals at the 1980 Winter Games in Lake Placid, N.Y., and the coach (Kurt Russell) whose uncompromisingly winning attitude helped lift the sagging patriotism of a nation and give it something to believe in. Director Gavin O'Connor scores a cinematic hat trick, with good writing, good acting and good direction, resulting in a movie that transcends sports and should take home box-office gold. Minimal mildly crude language and some rough sports action. 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.

"You Got Served" (Screen Gems)
Slight hip-hop musical that follows a dancing crew led by two friends (Omari Grandberry and Marques Houston) who must put aside their recent feuding to triumph at the biggest dance competition of the year. High-energy, acrobatic dance scenes and all-the-rage pop singers may attract a young crowd, but the boilerplate script and the shoddy direction of Christopher B. Stokes misses a step and falls flat. A few crude dance moves, minor drug content, brief violence and some crass words. 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.



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