‘Megamind’

Rating: PG for action and some language What it’s about: A supervillain discovers life isn’t all that after he finally foils his superhero foe. The kid attractor factor: Animation in the chatty, wacky Dreamworks style Good lessons/bad lessons: “As long as there’s evil, good will rise up against it.” Violence: Cartoonish. Because it’s a cartoon. Language: A famous AC/DC song about a certain highway is played, but otherwise… Sex: Nope Drugs: None Parents’ advisory: A Dreamworks kids’ comedy that’s Disney/Pixar clean. Suitable for all ages.

‘For Colored Girls’

Rating: R for some disturbing violence including a rape, sexual content and language. What it’s about: Black women of varying ages cope with love, betrayal, violence and poverty in this film of Ntozake Shange’s famous play. The kid attractor factor: You’re going to read the very poetic play in high school, might as well catch the movie. Good lessons/bad lessons: Straight talk about birth control, domestic violence. Violence: A sexual assault Language: Some profanity Sex: Discussed, frankly, but mostly kept off camera Drugs: Alcohol, here and there Parents’ advisory: Suitable for more mature teens, 16-and-up.

‘Hereafter’

Rating: PG-13 for mature thematic elements including disturbing disaster and accident images, and for brief strong language. What it’s about: People who have lost loved ones or have been through near-death experiences are drawn to a man who can actually talk to the dead — reluctantly. The kid attractor factor: Matt Damon, an epic tsunami and visions of the afterlife. Good lessons/bad lessons: Go to the light. Or don’t, if you want to hang around to tell the tale. Violence: A vivid drowning, a deadly car accident. Language: Bits of profanity. Sex: Flirtation, rather overt. Drugs: Wine is consumed. Parents’ advisory: A bit over the heads of small children, but perhaps of some comfort to tweens and teens. OK for 10 and older.

‘Secretariat’

Rating: PG for brief mild language. What it’s about: In the early ’70s, a woman breaks into the elite ranks of America’s horse breeders with that one-in-a-million thoroughbred, Secretariat. The kid attractor factor: Horses, horse racing and that wacky John Malkovich. Good lessons/bad lessons: “Run your race.” Violence: None. Language: Disney clean. Sex: None. Drugs: None. Parents’ advisory: Not as sentimental, sweet or funny as “Seabiscuit” but still family-friendly and suitable for all ages.

‘Legend of the Guardians: The Owls Of Ga’hoole

Rating: PG for some sequences of scary action. What it’s about: Heroic owls are summoned to save victim owls from the predations of evil, enslaving owls. The kid attractor factor: It’s based on a popular series of novels about cute but fearsome birds that battle for the soul of the owl worlds. Good lessons/bad lessons: Jealousy and resentment cloud your ability to see right from wrong. Violence: Owl fights, owl brainwashing. Language: Profanity-free Australian accents. Sex: Not a hint. Drugs: None. Parents’ advisory: This dense children’s fantasy may test the patience of very young moviegoers. Suitable for 8 and older.

The Family Movie Guide should be used along with the Motion Picture Association of America rating system for selecting movies suitable for children. Only films rated G, PG or PG-13 are included in this weekly listing, along with occasional R-rated films that may have entertainment value or educational value for older children with parental guidance.