With the Memorial Day Weekend Summer is once upon us and it means reviving our weekly feature we bring you each weekend of the summer of reviews of the Top Ten Movies of the week as rated by the National Conference of Catholic Bishops so you can check the moralometer before plopping down hard-earned money for something. If it's worthwhile, the Bishops will let you know.
As you'll see with each review there is almost always something objectionable about each movie so go in with an open mind and keep in mind the best advice before you plunk down your hard-earned money at the box-office: Would Jesus and His Mother Mary watch it with you? If not, think twice about seeing it.
To the right are the top ten for this last week with the Bishops' reviews. Reviews are categorized by A-I -- general patronage; A-II -- adults and adolescents; A-III -- adults;
A-IV -- adults, with reservations (an A-IV classification designates problematic films that, while not
morally offensive in themselves, require caution and some analysis and explanation as a safeguard
against wrong interpretations and false conclusions); and finally, ones no one should see:
O -- morally offensive.
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TOP TEN MOVIES FOR FINAL WEEK OF MAY
1. STAR WARS: EPISODE ONE - THE PHANTOM MENACE $105.7 million in first week:
Because of sci-fi swordfights and
battle sequences, the U.S. Catholic Conference classification of Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace is A-II - adults and
adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental
guidance suggested. The Phantom Menace is a disappointing prequel to the "Star
Wars" trilogy in which two Jedi knights (played by Liam Neeson and Ewan McGregor)
intent on saving the planet Naboo from Federation invaders enlist the help of a young
boy who will eventually become the evil Darth Vader. By emphasizing fantastical
creatures and myriad special effects, writer-director George Lucas loses much of the
movie's human dimension and ends up achieving mostly visual spectacle. May 1999
2. THE MUMMY
$100.2 million in three weeks:
Because of recurring stylized violence and fleeting partial nudity, the
U.S. Catholic Conference classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association
of America rating is PG-13 -- parents are strongly cautioned that some material may be
inappropriate for children under 13. The Mummy is a spirited horror adventure set in
1920's Egypt where a treasure hunting Yank (played by Brendan Fraser) is confronted
by a revived 3,000 year-old mummy whose evil powers seemingly know no bounds.
The lavishly shot action movie is stuffed with spooky special effects and comical
moments that downplay horror in favor of rousing, old-fashioned entertainment. May
1999
3. ENTRAPMENT $49.9 million in four weeks
Because of a romanticized view of crime, fleeting violence and a few
instances of rough language and profanity, the U.S. Catholic Conference classification
is A-IV, adults, with reservations. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is
PG-13 -- parents are strongly cautioned that some material may be inappropriate for
children under 13. Entrapment is a mindless escapist caper in which a wily insurance
investigator (played by Catherine Zeta-Jones) appears to join forces with the world's
craftiest art thief (played by Sean Connery) to nail him red-handed. The glossy fantasy
of double-crossing daredevils is sluggishly directed which limits the suspense. April
1999
4. THE MATRIX $149.5 million in eight weeks
Because of excessive violence and recurring profanity, the U.S. Catholic
Conference classification, O -- morally offensive. Motion Picture Association of America
rating, R -- restricted The Matrix is a convoluted sci-fi tale in which a tiny band of
cyber rebels led by Keanu Reeves and Laurence Fishburne do battle with virtually
indestructible humanoid killers from the 22nd centry. The action movie's violence is
glorified, glamorized and made to look exciting with a dazzling array of eyepopping
special effects. April 1999
5. THE LOVE LETTER $2.7 million in one week
Because of an off-screen affair, references to a same-sex
relationship, fleeting nudity and a few instances of rough language, the U.S. Catholic
Conference classification is A-IV, adults, with reservations. The Motion Picture
Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents are strongly cautioned that some
material may be inappropriate for children under 13. The Love Letter is a lightweight
tale set in a New England village where romantic complications ensue among the
residents (including Kate Capshaw, Tom Selleck, Tom Everett Scott and Ellen
DeGeneres) when several of them believe they are the intended recipient of an
anonymous love letter. The comedy's charms are minor and its resolution weakly
dramatized. May 1999
6. A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM $8.2 million in two weeks
Because of romantic
complications and, fleeting nudity, the U.S. Catholic Conference classification is A-III --
adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents are strongly
cautioned that some material may be inappropriate for children under 13. William
Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream is an uneven adaptation of the
Bard's comedy in which forest fairy Puck causes all manner of romantic upheaval
overnight by casting spells on a quartet of mismatched young lovers, a hammy actor
(played by Kevin Kline) and fairy queen Michelle Pfeiffer. Not all the cast excel in
articulating Shakespearean dialogue but the fanciful and luminous visuals look sprinkled
with, fairy dust. May 1999
7. NEVER BEEN KISSED $46.2 million in seven weeks
Because of implied affairs and sexual references, a
sex-education scene involving condoms and occasional profanity, the U.S. Catholic
Conference classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America
rating is PG-13 -- parents are strongly cautioned that some material may be
inappropriate for children under 13. Never Been Kissed is a bogus romantic comedy
in which 25-year old rookie reporter Drew Barrymore goes undercover as a high school
senior to write about teen life and ends up reliving her adolescent insecurities before
winning the heart of her English teacher. Movie cliches and stereotypes abound, and
Barrymore's clunky performance further sinks the contrived coming-of-age tale. April
1999
8. BLACK MASK $7.3 million in two weeks
Because of excessive violence with gore, a rough-sex encounter,
much rough language and an instance of profanity, the U.S. Catholic Conference
classification is 0 morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is
R -- restricted. In Black Mask, set in Hong Kong, a genetically enhanced human (played
by Jet Li) joins forces with a cop to battle super criminals intent on world domination.
The martial-arts slugfest seems intent only on cataloging myriad ways to maiza and
slaughter opponents. May 1999
9. LIFE $57.5 million in six weeks
Because of some violence, mild sexual innuendo, intermittent profanity and
recurring rough language, the U.S. Catholic Conference classification is A-III -- adults.
The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. In Life, Eddie Murphy
and Martin Lawrence spend six cantankerous decades stuck together on a Mississippi
prison farm after being wrongly convicted of murder. The foul-mouthed comedians
display some chemistry together but the bittersweet tale is often shapeless in its
scattershot focus on racism and injustice. April 1999
10. ELECTION $9.2 million in five weeks
Because of several sexual situations, fleeting nudity, crude sex references,
recurring rough language and an instance of profanity, the U.S. Catholic Conference
classification is A-IV, adults, with reservations. The Motion Picture Association of
America rating is R -- restricted. Election is a biting satire in which idealistic but flawed
teacher Matthew Broderick goes overboard in trying to prevent scheming senior Reese
Witherspoon from being elected president of the student council. The sharply observed
comedy examines with ironic, sometimes nasty wit such human foibles as sexual
obsession, hypocrisy and rationalization of such behavior. April 1999
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