WASHINGTON (August 4, 2000) -- Space Cowboys, with colorful visuals, heads the Catholic Communication Campaign 1-800 movie review list for the week August 4-August 10.

The movie line number is 1-800-311-4CCC. Movies are evaluated according to artistic merit and moral suitability by the U.S. Bishops' Office for Film and Broadcasting. The list includes the following theater releases and their classifications:

• Space Cowboys -- Because of brief menace with intermittent crass language and some profanity, the U.S. Catholic Conference classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents are strongly cautioned that some material may be inappropriate for children under 13. Space Cowboys is an enjoyable action-adventure flick about four retired pilots played by Clint Eastwood, Tommy Lee Jones, James Garner and Donald Sutherland sent into space forty years past their prime to stop a malfunctioning Russian satellite from smashing into Earth. Despite lacking a plausible plot, the casually paced film maintains interest with colorful characters and impressive visual effects as well as an unexpected finale.
  
  
• What Lies Beneath -- Because of some violence, sexual situations with implied adultery, occasional profanity and an instance of rough language, 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. What Lies Beneath is a plodding ghost story in which wife Michelle Pfeiffer feels haunted by a menacing spirit who turns out to have been involved with her geneticist husband Harrison Ford. The sleek-looking attempt to generate Hitchcock-like suspense falls short with glaring plot holes and an abundance of thriller cliches.
  
  
• Nutty Professor II: The Klumps -- Because of frequent sexual references, crude toilet humor, fleeting violence and instances of crass language, 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. Nutty Professor II: The Klumps is a sluggish sequel in which a gentle, overweight professor's (Eddie Murphy) marriage to a beautiful colleague (Janet Jackson) is threatened by his obnoxious alter ego who is after the professor's miraculous youth serum. Few laughs materialize from Murphy's multiple roles as unnecessary subplots, tasteless body-function jokes and ho-hum special effects clutter the comedy.
  
  
• X-Men -- Because of some sci-fi violence and a few instances of crass language, the U.S. Catholic Conference classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents are strongly cautioned that some material may be inappropriate for children under 13. X-Men is an entertaining sci-fi thriller that pits outcast humans, whose genetic mutations give them super powers, against evil mutants intent on ruling over humanity. Based on the Marvel comic book series, the live-action movie has an absorbing, multi-layered narrative, sharp editing and imaginative special effects -- but some sketchy characterizations.
  
  
• Hollow Man -- Because of much gory violence, a few implied sexual encounters, some nudity and incessant rough language and profanity, the U.S. Catholic Conference classification is A-IV -- adults, with reservations. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Hollow Man is an uneven sci-fi thriller in which Kevin Bacon plays a rogue military scientist who tests his invisibility formula on himself and is then unable to reverse the procedure. Despite amazing visual effects and an intriguing premise, the film lurches forward trading suspense for explosions while minimally exploring the psychological ramifications of a man without societal constraints.
  
  
• Coyote Ugly -- Because of sexual promiscuity, brief crass language and mild bar brawling violence, the U.S. Catholic Conference classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents are strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13. Coyote Ugly is a forgettable romantic drama in which a young woman, played by Piper Perabo, with songwriting aspirations is sidetracked by her job as a sexy barmaid in New York City's hottest watering hole. Pitifully trite dialogue and a formulaic narrative mark this tiresome film which lacks both dramatic credibility and noteworthy characters.
  
  Family video of the week:
  
  
• The Baby-Sitter's Club -- The U.S. Catholic Conference classification is A-I -- general patronage. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested. In The Baby-Sitter's Club, seven enterprising pre-teen girls run a backyard day camp for neighborhood children while one of them copes with the secret return of her father to the area. Based on a popular series of children's books, the lightweight summer camp story is underdeveloped and has some mild menace, though it depicts resourceful, hard-working youngsters cheerfully providing emotional support for each other.

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