'The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian'
Rating: PG with epic battle action and violence.
What it's about: The Pevensie children return to Narnia for a new war against a new evil and are aided by the dashing Prince Caspian.
The kid attractor factor: A dream world filled with fantastical creatures is explored by wide-eyed child-warriors.
Good lessons/bad lessons: For good to triumph over evil, Aslan helps those who help themselves. And those who arm themselves.
Violence: Almost constant, with two set battle pieces, slashings, impalings, killings aplenty and at least one beheading.
Language: Disney clean.
Sex: A serious teen smooch.
Drugs: None.
Parents' advisory: Being a Christian allegory does not excuse the MPAA for giving this one a free ride in the violence department. Generally bloodless, but it's still the most violent PG film in ages.
'Son of Rambow'
Rating: PG-13 for some violence and reckless behavior.
What it's about: British boys too young to see “First Blood” are so taken with it that they resolve to film their own “Rambo” movie.
The kid attractor factor: Kids playing dress-up, doing their own stunts (eek) and shooting their own action movie.
Good lessons/bad lessons: “Make movies, not war.” Making movies is a quick way to make yourself popular in school.
Violence: “Real” and kid-faked for the camera, it's more than maybe you'd like to see.
Language: Reasonably mild for a 1980s movie about young boys.
Sex: The first hint of hormones from a French exchange student, nothing more.
Drugs: None.
Parents' advisory: More a movie-lovers' movie than a film for kids, it still has comic appeal for ages 12 and up.
