Movie Reviews

The following are capsule reviews of movies recently reviewed by Catholic News Service.

Chasing Mavericks (Fox)
Compelling fact-based portrait of Jay Moriarity, a gifted California surfer who, at the tender age of 15, took on the Mavericks, a famously formidable Golden State coastal spot where some of the largest waves in the world are found. Jay enlists his surfer-dude neighbor as his trainer, while trying to help his alcoholic mother rebuild her life, and working to win the heart of the prettiest girl in his high school. The film offers viewers — particularly teens — a refreshingly positive role model in the person of a young man who, despite a mountain of obstacles, inspires others with his inherent sense of goodness, perseverance, and self-discipline. Intense sports scenes and some emotionally challenging moments. (A-II, PG)

Cloud Atlas (Warner Bros.)
A sweeping screen version of David Mitchell's 2004 novel interweaves six connected stories set at different times between the 19th and 24th centuries which send mostly positive (if sometimes ponderously expressed) messages about the bonds uniting all human beings and the courage required to do the right thing on behalf of others. But one of the central relationships is a sympathetically portrayed romance between two men. An incidental extramarital affair, moreover, is treated as essentially harmless. Another plotline involves the debunking of a fictional faith that may or may not be intended as an attack on real-life religion, and the script at least hints that some of the characters may be reincarnations of people in the earlier sections of the vast chronology. Considerable gory violence, including torture and a suicide, a benign view of homosexual acts and adultery, graphic premarital and nongraphic adulterous sexual activity, upper female and rear nudity, a same-sex kiss, a few uses of profanity, at least 20 rough terms, occasional crude language. (O, R)

Fun Size (Paramount)
In this Halloween-themed youth comedy, some enjoyable humor and a pleasingly innocent central romance are drowned out by discordant notes that bar endorsement for the targeted age group. These include the revelation that one of the geeks has been raised by a lesbian couple as well as the pass given to an off-screen sexual encounter between two teens. Frivolous treatment of homosexuality, adult cohabitation, implied nonmarital — and possibly underage — sexual activity, obscured rear and partial nudity, some sexual and scatological humor, at least one use of profanity, a few crude and crass terms. (A-III, PG-13)

Hellbound? (Area23a)
Thought-provoking documentary showcasing a variety of viewpoints on the topic of hell. Filmmaker Kevin Miller interviews writers, theologians, ministers and even some heavy-metal rock musicians, asking questions about the existence of the inferno, its nature and its duration. While the focus is mostly on the debate about this subject within the evangelical community, the Catholic standpoint is ably, albeit briefly, presented by Boston College professor — and celebrated apologist — Peter Kreeft. Both he and Orthodox Archbishop Lazar Puhalo of Ottawa, Ontario, come across as more reflective and humane in their outlook than some of the hard-line Protestant fundamentalists with whom Miller talks — and with whom he clearly disagrees. Along with the obvious issue of its potentially upsetting theme, some less than kid-friendly images and words make this intelligent exploration of a weighty subject suitable for grown-ups only. A brief act of blasphemy, a few rough and crude terms. (A-III, no MPAAn rating)

Paranormal Activity 4 (Paramount)
This extension of the durable horror franchise shifts the focus to a teen couple whose lives are disrupted in increasingly eerie ways after the girl’s parents take in her little brother's weird playmate because his reclusive single mother has been hospitalized. The comparatively restrained mayhem that has made this series more commendable than many of its genre competitors endures, though the young leads often express their shock or amazement via expletives and indulge in some sexual banter as well. A few scenes of harsh but bloodless violence, some sexual and scatological humor, a few uses of profanity, about 20 rough and crude terms, references to occult hokum. (A-III, R)

Catholic News Service classifications: A-I — general patronage; A-II — adults and adolescents; A-III — adults; L — limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling; O — morally offensive. Full-length reviews: www.catholicnews.com/movies.htm.