Remember when you were 8 and your dad took you to see "Raiders of the Lost Ark," and you thought it was totally awesome, exc
ept for that part at the end where the dude's face melted and you got REALLY freaked out?
It's possible the same thing could happen to your kid if you take him/her to see the new Indiana Jones movie. Granted, the latest chapter is no "Raiders," but there is plenty of freaky-deaky supernatural stuff that could haunt the dreams of an impressionable child.
With that in mind, here is the traffic-cop breakdown on Indy. Please that note a few of the items could be seen as spoilers. If you want to remain totally clueless when you see the movie, read on with caution:
Summer Movie Traffic Violations in "Kingdom of the Crystal Skull":
--Characters who often brandish both guns and knives.
--A major explosion caused by nuclear weapons testing.
--Some intense action sequences that involve car crashes, fist fighting and other classic action-movie fare.
--The dropping of a few s-bombs, courtesy of Shia "Disturbia" LaBeouf
--Lots of creepy-crawly stuff, including a particularly gross, possibly disturbing sequence that revolves around deadly ants.
--Spooky stuff with corpses, skulls and aliens.
Reasons to Let Indy Off With a Warning:
--The underlying themes are about embracing family.
--The movie is all in good fun and may not be taken terribly seriously by less sensitive, media-savvy kids.
--Some of the action sequences, including a car chase in the Amazon, are thrilling.
--Even when he is in so-so or downright bad (see "Temple of Doom") movies, Indiana Jones is still a stallion.
Final Ruling:
This is a PG-13 and there is enough potentially upsetting material here to more than justify that rating. If your child has a tendency to get eeked out by otherworldly themes, then proceed very carefully.
A Red Light for Kids 7 and Younger
A Yellow Light for 8 and 9 and (Depending on the Disposition) Possibly Even 10-Year-Olds
A Green Light for Most Kids 11 and Older
Photo: Paramount Pictures via telegraph.co.uk
