Weekly Movie Ratings

(CU) Completely Unacceptable

- Film contains levels of Sex, Violence, Profane Language and/or other objectionable content that are gratuitous to the degree that the film has absolutely no redeeming value either as a work of social commentary or as an entertaining diversion.

Examples: Fatal Attraction, Basic Instinct, Eyes Wide Shut, Eddie Murphy: Raw

(RU) Rather Unacceptable

- Film contains levels of Sex, Violence, Profane Language and/or other objectionable content that are extreme. As such only through extreme rationalization could someone consider the film fit for consumption. The only reason to see it would be as a study of the current state of Western culture.

Examples: American Beauty

(SA) Somewhat Acceptable

- Aspects of objectionable Sex, Violence and Profane Language and/or other questionable content exist, but either a) Not in a gratuitous manner, b) Not in great frequency or c) With specific redeeming intent. But be very careful.

Examples: Malcolm X, American History X, The Matrix

(RA) Rather Acceptable

- Overall, the film is suitable for general consumption with some concerns over thematic issues or minor objectionable content. But be on the lookout for more subtle Western themes that are of concern to Muslims such as romance and dating.

Examples: Shrek, Atlantis

(CA) Completely Acceptable

- Film content is either tame or fully socially redeeming in nature.

Examples: Jinnah, The Battle of Algiers, Bambi

Die Another Day (RU-Adult)

James Bond is back in 'Die Another Day'.

Summary: Super-spy James Bond is back for his twentieth film adventure in Die Another Day. Long gone are the days of Sean Connery’s portrayals of the British secret agent, and audiences now have to put up with Pierce Brosnan playing the character that so many have come to like.

Die Another Day is a typical Bond flick. There are fast cars, explosions, tech gadgets and witty one-liners. And of course, there is a super evil villain for Bond to confront. This time around, the megalomaniac is named Gustav Graves. Holed up in a fortress constructed entirely from ice in the appropriately named country of Iceland, Graves possesses a weapon of untold power, which the world fears he will use. Bond is dispatched to dispense with him.

The venues are exotic, the camera work panoramic and the stunts spectacular – everything one would expect from a James Bond film.

Unfortunately, as most people are aware, that most unsavory of Bond’s activities – his womanizing – is front and center in this film as well. It seems that producers can’t make a Bond flick without tossing in a healthy dose of sexuality. Because of this, as well as some of the over-the-top violence, Die Another Day cannot be recommended.

Friday After Next (CU-Adult)

Summary: Who said rapper-turned-actor Ice Cube lacks depth? Fresh on the heels of the blockbuster Barbershop, in which he played a streetwise barber, Ice Cube doubles back for the holiday season in Friday After Next in which he plays … a streetwise security guard. Oh well, so much for depth.

Friday After Next is the third in the series of “Friday” movies in which Ice Cube brings the whimsical side of life in the ghettos of South Central Los Angeles to the big screen. This time around, Craig (Ice Cube) and Day-Day (Mike Epps) find themselves down and out during the holidays after a thief disguised as Santa Claus burglarizes their apartment. Needing to pay rent and scrape together money for the holidays, the comedic pair takes jobs as security guards where they encounter many a strange and quirky character while trying to track down the thief.

Like the other Friday movies, this one contains quite a bit of unacceptable content. In addition to a great deal of foul language, Friday After Next also contains scenes that glorify drug use and instances of sexuality. Therefore, despite the comedic value the film might have, it cannot be recommended.

The Emperor’s Club (RU-Adult)

Summary: The logical question with regard to this film is: Hasn’t this film already been made. Indeed the similarities to past films such as The Dead Poet’s Society cannot be avoided. Both take place in the cushy confines of New England preparatory school life. Both feature teachers trying their best to provide a positive impact and influence in students’ lives.

To be fair, though, The Emperor’s Club is a film that is unique unto itself in many ways. It tells the story of a teacher, played by Kevin Kline, who acts as a mentor to a student over the course of 30 years. The student, played by Emile Hirsch, struggles to step out of the shadow of his father, a U.S. Senator who has high expectations for his son.

The overall theme of this film – that teachers play an integral role in the lives of our youth – is commendable. This is punctuated by showing the long-term relationship that can develop between student and teacher, transcending the mere educational environment.

There is some sexual content in this film, however, which really works to ruin an otherwise entirely worthwhile film.