USCCB - (Office of Media Relations) - The Adventures of Milo and Otis is This Week's Family Video Pick

The Adventures of Milo and Otis is This Week's Family Video Pick

WASHINGTON (September 17, 1999) -- The 1-800-311-4CCC movie line reviews A Dog of Flanders for the week of September 17-23. Also included on the toll-free line is a review of The Adventures of Milo and Otis, this week's suggested home video for family viewing.

The 800 movie review line is a project of the Catholic Communication Campaign (CCC).

The September 17-23 list includes the following theater releases and their classifications according to moral suitability. Movies are evaluated according to artistic merit and moral suitability by the U.S. Bishops' Office for Film and Broadcasting.

A Dog of Flanders -- Because of stylized violence, some intense menace, an implied sexual encounter and a few cuss words, the U.S. Catholic Conference classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested. A Dog of Flanders is an engrossing version of the Ouida novel in which an orphaned 19th century Flemish boy, encouraged by local painter Jon Voight to become a great artist, gives up after losing a painting contest and is accused of arson, then faces death in a snow storm until a miracle gives him a second chance. The movie richly evokes the period in exploring the poor lad's problems and prospects, his love of his deceased mom and his yearning for his unknown father.
Dudley Do-Right -- Because of comic violence, much menace and assorted vulgarities, the U.S. Catholic Conference classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested. Dudley Do-Right is a thin live-action comedy based on the TV cartoon series in which the hopelessly square Canadian Mountie of the title (played by Brendan Fraser) gets some help from his faithful horse in saving his dim sweetheart (Sarah Jessica Parker) from a villain (Alfred Molina) who's using a fake gold rush to fleece novice prospectors. There are more easy laughs than genuine humor in the corny dialogue, weak sight gags and frantic slapstick action.
Stigmata -- Because of its exploitative use of religion with an anti-Catholic flavor, frequent violence involving the stigmata and demonic attacks, a shadowy sexual encounter, occasional profanity and rough language, the U.S. Catholic Conference classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Stigmata is a schlocky horror tale in which a priest (played by Gabriel Bryne) sent by the Vatican to investigate reports of stigmata-like wounds on the wrists of Pittsburgh hairdresser Patricia Arquette turns to protecting her from demonic forces and a psychotic Cardinal behind a Vatican plot to suppress a supposed "lost Gospel" that would undermine the revelancy of the Catholic Church. The nonsensical plot juggles sexual innuendo as the priest is drawn to the young woman with violent scenes confusing the stigmata with demonic possession as well as the absurd conspiracy plot that a misleading epilogue suggests is truth rather than fiction.
Chill Factor -- Because of intermittent violence, profanity and rough language, the U.S. Catholic Conference classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. In Chill Factor, two strangers (played by Cuba Gooding Jr. and Skeet Ulrich) are pursued by murderous terrorists and the law as they struggle to deliver a volatile chemical capable of killing millions to a safe destination. The formula buddy-action movie is run-of-the-mill escapist fare with over-the-top Gooding attempting to add a dash of humor.
For Love of the Game -- Because of an implicit sexual affair, angry outbursts, some course language 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. For Love of the Game follows aging pitcher Kevin Costner on the mound at the close of the baseball season as he confronts not only the batters but himself, pondering his future with the club, his all-consuming passion to excel in the sport, and the loss of the woman he loves (played by Kelly Preston) because she feels unneeded. The pitcher's thoughts are shown in flashbacks which mirror mounting tension in the stadium as batter after batter is retired along the way to a possible perfect game -- with equally satisfying results for both baseball fans and romantics.
Stir of Echoes -- Because of some violence, a shadowy sexual encounter, brief nudity and recurring profanity and rough language, the U.S. Catholic Conference classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Stir of Echoes is a ghost story in which a family man Kevin Bacon starts having violent hallucinations about a vanished teen and becomes obsessed with locating her body on his property. While Bacon's character is sympathetic the villains are obvious in this minimally suspenseful thriller.

The family video of the week is The Adventures of Milo and Otis -- The U.S. Catholic Conference classification is A-I -- general patronage. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is G-- general audiences. The Adventures of Milo and Otis is a fine live-action movie about a mischievous farm kitten named Milo and his puppy pal, Otis, who get lost in the autumn wilderness but return in the spring with their own mates and families. For youngsters the movie is filled with the wonders of nature and the cycle of life, including brief shots of the birth of a kitten and puppy. There is mild tension in a few scenes involving wild animals, but otherwise it is a welcome, gentle experience for the young and adults who enjoy nature's beauty.

The classifications are 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); O - morally offensive.

The movie reviews are produced by the U.S. Catholic Conference (USCC) Office for Film and Broadcasting, which each week provides full length movie reviews, brief capsules and film classifications of new theater releases.

Reviewers include Henry Herx, Director, and Gerri Pare, Associate Director, of the Film and Broadcasting Office, which is funded by the CCC.

The capsule reviews are available on the World Wide Web. They can be found on two sites: http://www.usccb.org and http://www.CatholicDigest.org/stops/movies/index.html.

Full-length reviews of the above and other movies are available through America Online at the Catholic News Service site on AOL, and can be accessed by AOL members using the keyword, "CNS."