In KUNG FU PANDA 2, Po the chubby panda must look to his past and uncover the secrets of his mysterious origins in order to defeat an evil peacock trying to destroy kung fu and oppress all of China. KUNG FU PANDA 2 is hilarious, action-packed and heartwarming, but it has a mixed worldview with Chinese pagan/humanist Taoism combined with some moral, redemptive elements, so caution is advised for older pre-teen children.

RUNAWAY BRIDE, the re-teaming of Julia Roberts and Richard Gere, is a triumph. Shockingly clean by Hollywood standards, there are only 2 mild obscenities and some off-color humor, but no nudity or sexual immorality. In a movie about a woman who keeps running the wrong way down the aisle, this movie resists the temptation to salt the scenes with sex and instead relies on the story to keep the audience hooked. The movie received a PG rating because there are a couple of slightly off-color jokes.

RANGO is a unique animated movie with a unique hero, a pet chameleon who fancies himself a great actor and must use his talents to save a western desert town full of crazy critters. RANGO is a delightful mix of western adventure, comedy, wit, and general kookiness, but it’s designed for older children, with some brief foul language and some scary villains, so caution is warranted.

CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF MEATBALLS is a very clever, funny and exciting animated tale about an inventor whose new machine changing water into food almost destroys his town. It is a delicious feast for the eyes and the funny bone as well as the heart and mind with a very strong moral worldview that speaks out strongly against gluttony and extols positive family relationships, courage, temperance or self-control, discipline, hard work, and sacrifice.

LETTERS TO JULIET is a surprisingly chaste, entertaining movie about Sophie who writes a response letter to a fifty-year-old “letter to Juliet” from Claire at a sort of “wailing wall” in Verona, Italy, that draws Claire back to Italy in search of the long-lost heartthrob. LETTERS TO JULIET has a Romantic worldview with Christian aesthetic signs, marred by exclamatory profanities and a few paintings and statues (some nude) representing mild sexual liaisons, but it strongly affirms marriage.

THE PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS, starring Will Smith and his real-life son, is based on the true life and struggles of Chris Gardner as he attempts to create a better life for himself and his young son. One of the most inspirational movies of the year, the movie puts forth a strong message about a parent’s commitment to their child and that with hard work and a belief in one’s self, great things can be accomplished.

Based loosely on the famous ballet, Disney’s THE NUTCRACKER AND THE FOUR REALMS is about a teenage girl named Clara who must go into another world to return a stolen key to help the people of that world. THE NUTCRACKER AND THE FOUR REALMS has a strong Christian, redemptive, biblical, moral worldview with very little questionable content, though younger children may get scared.

SKY HIGH tells the story of a teenager named Will Stronghold, whose parents are famous superheroes and who must save the world when his parents are attacked by a super villain. SKY HIGH is the first fun, funny comic book movie of 2005. It teaches many virtues while greatly entertaining the audience.

EDDIE THE EAGLE is the true story of Eddie Edwards, a young British man who overcame severe athletic ineptitude, the scorn of other athletes and lack of support from his own father to become a national hero in the 1988 Olympics. EDDIE THE EAGLE is a delightful movie about redemption and overcoming obstacles, with a very strong moral worldview, but there is some drunkenness and mild, very brief suggestive content. So, caution is advised for older children.

SANDS OF IWO JIMA stars John Wayne in one of his most iconic roles:  Sergeant John Stryker, a tough drill sergeant during World War II who whips the young men into shape. Sgt. Stryker has to deal with a rebellious recruit with a chip on his shoulder, Private Peter Conway played by John Agar. What Conway doesn’t realize is that Stryker’s methods may seem harsh but they are absolutely necessary for the infantry soldiers under his command if they are going to have the best chance to survive. The ending to this movie is a brilliant example of sacrifice and duty, with Private Conway picking up the mantle that Stryker has bequeathed to him and the other men. As Stryker is wont to order the men during the movie, “Saddle up!”

THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING, part one of THE LORD OF THE RINGS, opens in a small village in the Shire in Middle Earth, where a young Hobbit named Frodo has been entrusted with an ancient evil ring and must embark on an Epic quest to the Crack of Doom to destroy it. With dazzling effects and a great moral story, Part One of THE LORD OF THE RINGS is a must for fantasy fans, with a caution to parents of older children for strong sword-type violence and a brief occult element not in the book.

RETURN OF THE KING, the final chapter of LORD OF THE RINGS, tells what further trials Frodo, Sam, and their friends must face in order to defeat the demonic forces led by Sauron. RETURN OF THE KING is one of the great movie masterpieces that weaves many biblical principles and allegorical Christian metaphors into a magnificent story, but it is too scary and intense for younger children.