SCREEN-L Archives

December 2000, Week 4

SCREEN-L@LISTSERV.UA.EDU

Options: Use Monospaced Font
Show Text Part by Default
Condense Mail Headers

Message: [<< First] [< Prev] [Next >] [Last >>]
Topic: [<< First] [< Prev] [Next >] [Last >>]
Author: [<< First] [< Prev] [Next >] [Last >>]

Print Reply
Content-Transfer-Encoding:
8bit
Sender:
Film and TV Studies Discussion List <[log in to unmask]>
Subject:
From:
Date:
Sat, 23 Dec 2000 12:35:24 EST
Content-Type:
text/plain; charset="ISO-8859-1"
MIME-Version:
1.0
Reply-To:
Film and TV Studies Discussion List <[log in to unmask]>
Parts/Attachments:
text/plain (181 lines)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE       CONTACT: Arthur Taussig, 949-645-3825,
[log in to unmask]

FILMVALUES.COM ANNOUNCES TOP TEN FAMILY-FRIENDLY FILMS FOR 2000

Costa Mesa, CA - Congratulations to all the studios, directors, writers,
producers and the hundreds of others who this year made the best
family-friendly films. Below is a list of the winners: the Top 10
Family-Friendly Films from America's fastest growing parenting website
www.FilmValues.com.

"Picking ten films was tough," says Taussig the driving force behind
FilmValues.com,. "Unlike what most film critics say about Hollywood, there
were a large number of films with good messages for children. Of course,
these often have to be weighed against bad messages. The films were selected
by balancing the good and the bad, the overall entertainment value, and the
breadth of the age group that could watch the films. While we consider
artistic merit, it is not of prime importance."

The pickings were so good, in fact, that Taussig has posted a Top 20 list on
his website, www.FilmValues.com. Rest assured that Dr. Taussig has identified
the messages these films send to children, despite the rather eclectic nature
of the list.

Dr. H. Arthur Taussig, Ph.D., invites parents to read the complete reviews on
his website. "I realize parents are busy," he says, "so the reviews are short
and easy to read, with lots of the information about sexuality, violence,
language, blood, etc., in easy-to-read tables."

On his popular (over 2 million visits), multiple award winning website,
www.FilmValues.com, Taussig offers almost 1000 evaluations of current and
classic films appearing on the big screen, network TV, cable, and video
rental. The reviews are without political, religious or social bias. With
this information parents can now make sensible decisions about what their
kids should and should not be watching. Parents will find films for kids of
all ages from Barney, Pippi, and Thomas all they way to Pulp Fiction, Matrix,
and There's Something About Mary.

Dr. H. Arthur Taussig, Ph.D., personally evaluates each film in over twenty
content categories of concern to parents including: Age Recommendations, Plot
Summary, Substance Use, Violence/Scariness, Morals, Issues & Values, Crimes
(and whether they are punished or not), Sexuality and Gender Issues,
Alternate Film Recommendations, Nudity, Sexuality, Physical Violence,
Emotional Stress, Blood or Gore, Language and Profanity, Immorality, Degree
of Parental Guidance, Watchability for Adults, and an overall Rating for Kids
of the Appropriate Age. Films from books are marked to encourage kids to
read. He also distinguishes between profanity and vulgarity.

With this information, according to Dr. Taussig, parents can decide with
confidence what is appropriate for their children. "Each family is different
and, as every parent knows, so is every child," says Taussig, "thus the usual
G, PG and PG-13 ratings are not very helpful. Rather than depending on some
outside organization, parents can now get the information they need to make
decisions for their own families."

These reviews do not replace newspaper and magazine reviews, but supplement
them.  "Everyone should read both," says Taussig. "Newspaper and magazine
reviews deal with a film's artistic merits while I point out the messages -
good and bad - kids get from films. Parents need to know about both before
deciding what to see."

In addition to the excellent reviews, www.FilmValues.com offers many unique
features:

·   Taussig focuses on what most popular reviewers avoid: moral and ethical
issues, gender issues, religious messages, means of conflict resolution, and
other messages parents really care about.

·   His reviews contain "spoilers," that is, twists and surprise endings,
because these often contain issues that are of great concern to parents.

·   Since kids see more films on TV than on the big screen, the site contains
hundreds of films playing on cable and TV. There is even a handy daily TV
movie guide of reviewed films with often 50 to 60 listings per day.

·   The website contains many reviews of Made-for-TV and Direct-to-Video
films. In addition, Taussig is one of the few reviewers who evaluates Anime -
the often violent and sex-filled Japanese animation so popular with teens and
college students.

·   To help parents decide on video rentals, Taussig is particularly proud of
what he calls a "negative search engine." "Parents often ask if I know which
films have the least violence or sex, or whatever. Now, with
www.FilmValues.com, parents can choose the type of film they are looking for,
fill in the age of their child and then indicate what they want the LEAST of
in a film - sex, violence, language, immorality, etc. - and get several
useful recommendations." Parents can also request specific children's films
to be reviewed.

·   FilmValues.com takes no advertising since today almost every potential
advertiser is somehow connected to the movie business. Free subscriptions
deliver new reviews by e-mail.

The author, Dr. H. Arthur Taussig, PhD, prepares each review. A recognized
expert on the psychology and sociology of popular film, he has had over 200
articles published internationally. Dr. Taussig is Professor of Film and
Photography and Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa, CA; teaches for the
University of California, Irvine; and is Adjunct Curator of Film at the
Orange County Museum of Art. He holds degrees from UC Berkeley and UCLA. He
has taught contemporary film for over twenty years and conducted many film
workshops for parents. He is the author of the highly acclaimed "Film
Values/Family Values - A Parents' Guide to Children's Films."

This year's list (in order of age range, not quality) is:

CHICKEN RUN (* * * * *)  5 and up. Animated Adventure.
GOOD: Spectacular animation. Parable for the importance of personal freedom
and self-reliance. Shows the best qualities of human beings.    BAD: The film
becomes rather dark at times. (Aardman Animations, Allied Filmmakers, Dream
Works SKG, Written & Directed by Peter Lord and Nick Park, Produced by Jake
Eberts, Michael Rose, and Jeffrey Katzenberg.)

DR. SEUSS' HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS (* * * *) 5 and up. Christmas
Fantasy.    GOOD: Anti-materialism, spirituality of Christmas, family
cooperation, non-violent problem solving.   BAD: The Grinch might
occasionally scare the very young. (Imagine Entertainment, MCA/Universal
Pictures, Directed by Ron Howard, Written by Jeffrey Price & Peter S. Seaman,
Produced by Brian Grazer, Todd Hallowell, and Ron Howard.)

FANTASIA 2000 (* * * *) 5 and up. Musical Animation.    GOOD: Beautiful
animation and music. Overcoming physical handicaps. Great entertainment.
BAD: Donald Duck in a bible story. (Walt Disney Pictures, Directed by James
Algar, Gaëtan Brizzi, Paul Brizzi, Hendel Butoy, Francis Glebas, Eric
Goldberg, Don Hahn, and Pixote Hunt, Written by Han Christian Andersen, Carl
Fallberg, Irene Mecchi, Perce Pearce, and David Reynolds, Produced by Roy
Edward Disney and Donald W. Ernst.)

THE EMPEROR'S NEW GROOVE (* * * *)  5 and up. Animated Adventure Comedy.
GOOD: Friendship and self-sacrifice are rewarded. Egotism can be overcome.
Very entertaining.  BAD: Meso-American locale but no Meso-American culture.
(Walt Disney Pictures, Directed by Mark Dindal, Written by Roger Allers, Mark
Dindal, Matthew Jacobs, David Reynolds, Chris Williams, Produced by Randy
Fullmer and Don Hahn.)

FLINTSTONES IN VIVA ROCK VEGAS, THE (* * * *)   5 and up. Comedy Fantasy.
GOOD: A loving relation as a life goal; generosity to others; strong
friendships. Great fantasy.     BAD: Momentary addiction to gambling.
Senility used for laughs.

FAERIES (* * * *)   5 to 10. Animated Fantasy.
GOOD: Honesty, duty, responsibility and friendship solve problems; visually
inventive; traditional fairy tale ideas.    BAD: Kidnapping as part of the
solution. (Walt Disney Pictures,

DINOSAUR (* * * *)  6 and up. Animated adventure.
GOOD: Adoption. Cooperation among young and old emphasized over survival of
the fittest. Promotes racial tolerance, compassion, perseverance, and
forgiveness BAD: Intense but short fights. Realistic disaster. Racial
intolerance (of carnivores). Directed by Eric Leighton and Ralph Zondag,
Written by Walon Green, Thom Enriquez, John Harrison, Robert Nelson Jacobs,
Ralph Zondag, and Rob Gibbs, Produced by Baker Bloodworth and Pam Marsden.)

MY DOG SKIP (* * * *)   8 and up. Animal Drama.
GOOD: Boy learns self-confidence and responsibility. Learning to be an adult.
BAD: The dog dies. (Alcon Entertainment and Warner Bros., Directed by Jay
Russell, Written by Willie Morris and Gail Gilchriest, Produced by Marty P.
Ewing and Jay Russell.)

FREQUENCY (* * * *)     13 and up. Science Fiction Drama.
GOOD: Healing of father/son relations. One can better one's life. Father
quits smoking and lives longer. Altruistic police, nurses, and firemen.
BAD: Death of parents. Several intense violent confrontations. (New Line
Cinema, Directed by Gregory Hoblit, Written by Toby Emmerich, Produced by
Richard Saperstein and Robert Shaye).

MEN OF HONOR (* * * *)  15 and up. Drama/Biography.
GOOD: Overcoming handicaps and racism. Achieving goals. Shows importance of
education, persistence and honor. Problem solving without violence. BAD:
Considerable bad language. A man's leg is amputated. Military leaders are
prejudiced. R-rating. (Fox 2000 Pictures, Directed by George Tillman Jr.,
Written by Scott Marshall Smith, Produced by Bill Cosby and Stan Robertson.)

Here are the runners-up:
Remember The Titans, Pay it Forward, Rugrats In Paris, Thomas And The Magic
Railroad, 28 Days, Almost Famous, Bicentennial Man, Disney's The Kid, Erin
Brockovich, The Tigger Movie. For details, check out www.FilmValues.com.

----
To sign off Screen-L, e-mail [log in to unmask] and put SIGNOFF Screen-L
in the message.  Problems?  Contact [log in to unmask]

ATOM RSS1 RSS2