Family film guide

"Beauty and the Beast" 3-D

Rating: G.

What it's about: A callous prince living under a spell as a "beast" must win the love of the fair Belle to break that spell.

The kid attractor factor: A plucky heroine, funny characters, great sight gags. Perhaps the greatest children's cartoon ever.

Good lessons/bad lessons: Don't let others determine who you will be in life.

Violence: A brawl, a wolf attack and a beast hunt.

Drugs: Flagons of ale are consumed in mass quantities.

Parents' advisory: Perfect for all ages.

"Joyful Noise"

Rating: PG-13 for some language including a sexual reference.

What it's about: Two singers have differing visions of how their church choir should sound as it competes for a big prize.

The kid attractor factor: Teens in love, Queen Latifah, gospel music and Dolly Parton.

Good lessons/bad lessons: "God gives you girls so your mama can say 'I told you so.'"

Violence: A fist fight between teenagers.

Language: Quite a bit of profanity, considering the subject.

Sex: Joked about, with teens-on-the-make at the heart of the story.

Drugs: One nightclub scene.

Parents' advisory: The peppering of profanity rules out the very young, but this is still suitable for 10-and-up.

Associated Press