MIB International, Crawl, Blinded By the Light and More in This Week's MPAA Ratings Bulletin

By Chris Kavan - 05/22/19 at 10:45 AM CT

Oh man, this is the kind of update that makes me happy. A nice, long list and a well-rounded three new major films earning their ratings. This time around we join the Men in Black once again, for an overseas adventure we get the next man vs. nature horror film and we get a coming-of-age tale set across the pond but rooted in the music of Bruce Springsteen. Overall, not complaints from me this week - it's the perfect balance and I should be so lucky every week.

MPAA Official Logo

It has been awhile (seven years to be exact) since we last had an adventure with the Men in Black - defenders of the Earth against the scum of the universe. Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones ushered in an era of the heroes the world, nay, the universe needed - even if they remained ever in the shadows, erasing minds of those who managed to come across them. Now, I admit, the sequels never matched up to the original - but now we'll see if time is what we needed, as well as a change of characters. You see, Men in Black: International changes things up first, by taking place in England instead of America and second, introducing us to an all-new cast. Smith and Jones are out - this time around it's Tessa Thompson and Chris Hemsworth teaming up (a Thor reunion!) with Emma Thompson portraying their boss - Rebecca Ferguson, Liam Neeson, Kumail Nanjiani, Rafe Spall and Jess Radomska round out the cast. The film also has a change in director with F. Gary Gray taking over from Barry Sonnenfeld. I mean, the trailers make this look like a hoot - fun and aliens and big guns - all that and Thompson looks like she's having a blast as the first true woman in black main character. If it can capture the spirit of the original while still standing out, I don't see why it won't succeed. Rated PG-13 for sci-fi action, some language and suggestive material.

There is something about man vs. nature that just makes audiences happy. From sharks to bears to dinosaurs - putting people in peril against mother nature's greatest killing machines is just fun to watch. While Lake Placid has done it before, we're getting another shot of gator madness in Crawl. This time around Kaya Scodelario (probably known to most as her role in the Maze Runner series) is searching for her father (Barry Pepper) as a Class 5 Hurricane bears down. But the weather isn't the biggest problem she faces - as the rapidly-rising water traps her in house - along with several hunger alligators. And if this premise sound ridiculous - remember that Blake Lively survived a shark attack in shallow water to the tune of $55 million in The Shallows. I have no idea if this will approach that mark, but it's coming out in a prime summer slot - which may hurt or help it in equal measure depending on what it comes up against. Still, if you like watching normal people being tortured by nature's deadliest, this one's for you. Rated R for bloody creature violence, and brief language.

Lastly we have the story of a UK teen trying to find his place in the world during Thatcher's reign (circa 1987) as he learns to understand himself, his family and find his own voice - all set against the music of The Boss, Bruce Springsteen in Blinded by the Light. That, of course, is a Springsteen song though most well known as the cover version sung by Manfred Mann's Earth Band (a UK band themselves). The film is based on a memoir by Sarfraz Manzoor and thus boasts a diverse cast including Viveik Kalra, Kulvinder Ghir, Meera Ganatra, Aaron Phagura, Nikita Mehta and Tara Divina all leading the way. The film also stars Hayley Atwell, Rob Brydon, Dean-Charles Chapman, Nell Williams and Frankie Fox. The film doesn't just feature music by Springsteen - it's a musical so the songs really shine and, based on the reception at Sundance, it's going to make a lot of people happy. Rated PG-13 for thematic material and language including some ethnic slurs.

Those are the three big films getting their love from the MPAA Ratings Bulletin this week, but be sure to check out the full list below:

AFTER THE WEDDING

Rated PG-13 for thematic material and some strong language.


BETHANY HAMILTON: UNSTOPPABLE

Rated PG for some thematic elements.


BLINDED BY THE LIGHT

Rated PG-13 for thematic material and language including some ethnic slurs.


BOTTOM OF THE 9TH

Rated R for language throughout and some violence.


CRAWL

Rated R for bloody creature violence, and brief language.


ECHO IN THE CANYON

Rated PG-13 for drug references and some suggestive content.


I AM THAT MAN

Rated R for language throughout, some violence and drug use.


IN VINO

Rated R for language.


MAYDAY

Rated R for language.


MEN IN BLACK: INTERNATIONAL

Rated PG-13 for sci-fi action, some language and suggestive material.


THE PEANUT BUTTER FALCON

Rated PG-13 for thematic content, language throughout, some violence and smoking.


THE RACE

Rated PG for some thematic elements.


REMEMBER AMNESIA

Rated PG-13 for brief thematic content/images.


ROGUE WARFARE: DEATH OF A NATION

Rated R for violence and language..


SONGS TO SING IN THE DARK

Rated G


STARGIRL

Rated PG for mild thematic elements.


ZENITH

Rated PG for mild thematic elements.

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