Movie ratings that actually work

 

INAPPROPRIATE ADS

» Advertising can be obnoxious, intrusive and offensive; indeed, many ads that appear on our site are obnoxious, intrusive and offensive, and we cannot blame any of our readers for being upset when they see an ad they consider inappropriate. However, please understand that we have very little control over our advertising: Like most websites we belong to ad agencies that serve ads automatically, and while we have a standing order that should prevent explicit and provocative ads, many inappropriate ads do sneak in. Since we don't choose our advertisers, we don't know what sort of ads will show up and manually previewing ads is an impossibility because of the sheer number we carry every day. When you see a particularly egregious ad please let us know and we'll do our best to track it down and ban it, but it's not always easy or quick. We appreciate tremendously the financial support provided by the subscribers to our premium.kids-in-mind.com, but unfortunately ads remain necessary for the survival of the site. More details here.


MEMBER LOGIN

 

Become a member



HUH? WHAT IS THIS?

We enable adults to determine whether a movie is appropriate for them or their children, according to their own criteria. Unlike the MPAA we do not assign an inscrutable rating based on age, but 3 objective ratings for SEX/NUDITY, VIOLENCE/GORE & PROFANITY on a scale of 0 to 10. We also explain in detail why a film rates high or low in a specific category, and we include instances of SUBSTANCE USE, a list of DISCUSSION TOPICS that may elicit questions from kids and MESSAGES the film conveys. Again, unlike the MPAA, we do not make age-specific recommendations. Since our system is based on objective standards, not the viewer's age or the artistic merits of a film, we enable adults to determine whether a movie is appropriate for their children according to their own criteria. As we never tire pointing out, we make no judgments about what is good or bad or anything else. We do not "condemn," "critique" or "criticize" movies. And we don't "praise" or "recommend" movies either...

 [more »]


NEW REVIEWS - 


WE NEED YOUR HELP!

Although kids-in-mind.com remains very popular the current economic climate has reduced our ad revenues, and as if that wasn't enough, our site was attacked last month by hackers bent on destroying it. We were forced to move to a much more secure -- and expensive -- server and we need your help more than ever. If you think what we do is worthwhile and helpful, please become a member and make sure we continue to publish.


A Christmas Carol - 1.3.3

Animated Disney remake of the Dickens classic: Ebenezer Scrooge (with the voice of Jim Carrey) is shown various stages of his life by ghosts that bring the miser's life and indifference to those... [1:36 - PG]

[complete content analysis]


The Fourth Kind - 2.6.4

Based on 40 years of alleged UFO sightings, radar anomolies and unexplained human disappearances in northern Alaska, this film follows a psychotherapist (Milla Jojovich) as she... [1:38 - PG-13]

[complete content analysis]


A Serious Man - 7.4.7

Michael Stuhlbarg stars as a 1960s Minnesota physics professor, whose wife (Sari Lennick) leaves him for one of his arrogant friends (Fred Malemed). The split is blamed on his gambling... [1:45 - R]

[complete content analysis]


An Education - 6.1.4

Set in London in 1961, this coming-of-age story involves a sixteen-year-old schoolgirl (Carey Mulligan) who is seduced by a charming thirtyish playboy (Peter Sarsgaard) and learns... [1:40 - PG-13]

[complete content analysis]


Motherhood - 5.2.5

A day in the life of a harried Manhattan mother (Uma Thurman) who desperately tries to raise her two young children, as well as keep alive her dreams of doing something more with... [1:30 - PG-13]

[complete content analysis]


Good Hair - 5.3.5

Documentary with Chris Rock looking at all aspects of the African-American hair care industry: He speaks with celebrities and interviews customers, stylists, and owners of barbershops and beauty... [1:35 - PG-13]

[complete content analysis]


The Men Who Stare at Goats - N/A

The studio did not provide us with an advance screening for this film and therefore we were not able to review it. We will have a review as soon as possible.

[complete content analysis]


The Box - N/A

The studio did not provide us with an advance screening for this film and therefore we were not able to review it. We will have a review as soon as possible.

[complete content analysis]


the listings continue below...


NOW PLAYING IN THEATERS


Michael Jackson: This Is It - 3.3.1

Documentary of rehearsals prior to the late Michael Jackson's long awaited return to the stage. Also with Daniel Celebre, Shannon Holtzapffel and Charles Klapow. Directed by Kenny Ortega. [1:51 - PG]

[complete content analysis]


Saw VI - 1.10.8

The sixth installment in the "Saw" torture film series, finds Detective Hoffman (Costas Mandylor) as the unchallenged successor to the Jigsaw Killer's legacy. More bloody mayhem ensues. Also with Tobin Bell, Shawnee Smith and Peter Outerbridge. Directed by Kevin Greutert. [1:30 - R]

[complete content analysis]


Amelia - 4.3.3

Biopic with Hilary Swank staring as the renowned mid-20th century aviator, Amelia Earhart, who made the first solo flight across the Atlantic and endeavored to circumnavigate the globe... [1:51 - PG]

[complete content analysis]


Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant - 4.7.4

Film adaptation of the young adult fiction series "The Saga of Darren Shan": a young man (Chris Massoglia) finds himself in a difficult situation since he has to become a half-vampire to save... [1:48 - PG-13]

[complete content analysis]


Astro Boy - 1.4.1

A brilliant scientist, who has developed a robot technology that he envisions being used to help humanity, is convinced to share his creation with a power-hungry politician who wants to use robots... [1:34 - PG]

[complete content analysis]


Where the Wild Things Are  - 1.4.1

In this adaptation of Maurice Sendak's children's classic, a rambunctious boy (Max Record), feeling misunderstood at home, lashes out against his mother (Catherine Kenner)... [1:34 - PG]

[complete content analysis]


The Stepfather - 5.7.5

A divorced woman (Sela Ward) meets a man (Dylan Walsh) in a grocery store who appears to be considerate and is immediately smitten. After becoming engaged and moving... [1:41 - PG-13]

[complete content analysis]


Law Abiding Citizen - 6.9.9

A man (Gerard Butler) watches his wife and young daughter murdered by intruders, and then watches as the justice system frees the culprit. Unable to handle the injustice... [2:02 - R]

[complete content analysis]


The Stepfather - N/A

The studio did not provide us with an advance screening for this film and therefore we were not able to review it. We will have a review as soon as possible.

[complete content analysis]


Paranormal Activity - 4.6.8

A couple (Katie Featherston and Micah Sloat) living together discover that something that has been haunting the woman since she was eight is back and seems to be getting angrier... [1:39 - R]

[complete content analysis]


Couples Retreat - 6.4.4

Four couples take a long-awaited vacation on a tropical island, but soon realize that the highly acclaimed resort is not what they expected: One couple is there to work on improving... [1:47 - PG-13]

[complete content analysis]


I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell - 8.5.10

A man insists on taking his friend out of town to a strip club for his bachelor party, against the wishes of the bride-to-be. However, he ends up abandoning him and being uninvited... [1:45 - R]

[complete content analysis]


The Boys Are Back - 4.4.4

After his wife dies unexpectedly, a man (Clive Owen) must quickly shift into the role of sole caregiver to his six-year old son. When his teenage son from a previous marriage shows... [1:44 - PG-13]

[complete content analysis]


Zombieland - 4.8.8

After the planet has been overrun by a virus that turns people into flesh-eating zombies, there are just a handful of uninfected humans left (Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg... [1:21 - R]

[complete content analysis]


The Invention of Lying - 5.3.5

In an alternate reality where people are unable to lie, life is hard for an unattractive, unsuccessful man (Ricky Gervais). However, when he realizes he's the only person who has the ability... [1:39 - PG-13]

[complete content analysis]


Whip It - 5.6.4

A high school girl (Ellen Paige) finds herself drawn to the bruising and bashing of Roller Derby, rather than the gowns and crowns her beauty-pageant obsessed mother... [1:51 - PG-13]

[complete content analysis]


Capitalism: A Love Story - 0.4.5

Michael Moore documentary outlining the infatuation the American people have with capitalism, and how large corporations and the banking industry are controlling the government and making... [2:07 - R]

[complete content analysis]


Bright Star - 3.2.2

In 1818 23-year-old English poet John Keats (Ben Whishaw), meets a fashion student (Abbie Cornish) and although they seem very different -- he misunderstands high fashion... [1:59 - PG]

[complete content analysis]


Amreeka - 2.4.5

A single mother (Nisreen Faour), who leaves occupied Palestine with her teenage son (Melkar Muallem), dreams of a new future in America. After settling in suburban Illinois the two struggle... [1:37 - PG-13]

[complete content analysis]


Coco Before Chanel - 5.2.4

French biopic detailing the humble beginnings of legendary fashion designer, Coco Chanel (Audrey Tautou), revealing her journey from orphan to cultural icon. Also with Benoit Poelvoorde... [1:50 - PG-13]

[complete content analysis]


Surrogates - 4.7.4

After humans create robotic surrogates to represent themselves and are thus able to live in near-isolation in the safety of their own homes an FBI agent (Bruce Willis) has to shed his own robot... [1:44 - PG-13]

[complete content analysis]


Fame - 4.2.4

This remake of the 1980 film and subsequent TV series follows the stories of victory and sorrow in the lives of a group of teens who hope to eventually star on Broadway and television... [1:47 - PG]

[complete content analysis]


Pandorum - 2.8.8

After awaking in a space station after a long period of time, an astronaut (Ben Foster) tries to piece together what might have happened while he was asleep. He finds a few survivors... [1:48 - R]

[complete content analysis]


Jennifer's Body - 7.9.7

A young woman (Megan Fox) makes the fateful choice to join the members of a rock band for a ride in their van, and when young men in her small town begin dying in gruesome ways... [1:42 - R]

[complete content analysis]


This website was selected as one of
"TIME magazine's 50 Coolest Websites."





HOW TO SUPPORT KIDS-IN-MIND

1. 

Become a member: You can subscribe for as little as $1 per month and gain access to our premium site, which contains no ads whatsoever. Think about it: You'll be helping support our site and guarantee that we will continue to publish, and you will be able to browse without any commercial interruptions.

2. 

Tell all your friends: Please recommend kids-in-mind.com to your friends and acquaintances; you'll be helping them by letting them know how useful our site is, while helping us by increasing our readership. Since we do not advertise, the best and most reliable way to spread the word is by word-of-mouth.

3. 

Alert local & national media: Let major media know why you trust our ratings. Call or e-mail a local newspaper, radio station or TV channel and encourage them to do a story about our site. Since we do not have a PR firm working for us, you can be our media ambassadors.



"This is an excellent resource for families. Merits two thumbs up...[Finally] movie ratings that actually work"

- Cincinnati Enquirer Editorial    


Copyright © 1992- Critics. All rights reserved. "Kids-In-Mind™" and "Movie Ratings That Actually Work™" are Service Marks of Critics. For legal queries please see our Terms of Use; for comments or questions see our contact page.