It's Christmas time and with all these holiday movies how do we choose what’s good?  Here’s the run-down on the Top 10 movies set for release over December 2012 and January 2013. Some are great pieces of historic literature, humorous Disney animations and epic adventures! While others, you’re going to want to avoid.

For the kids:

Rise of the Guardians – out now PG
The Christmas Movie for 2012 – see’s lonely Jack Frost discover his purpose and join The Easter Bunny, Santa, The Tooth Fairy and the Sandman to save children’s hopes and dreams everywhere from being destroyed by the Boogieman. Full of magical/spiritual content, it had some good things to say about sacrifice and heroism but with some very scary moments, it lacks any connection to the real meaning of Christmas.

Wreck-it Ralph – out now PG
Last week’s review about bad guy Wreck-it Ralph from an arcade game, who longs to be the good guy.  Unique, exciting and heart-felt, I’m highly recommending this to families with younger kids as it has a solid story, pretty clean language, great animation and all right memory cards to entertain the kids.

Life of Pi – New Years Day PG
A slight mystery, The Life of Pi follows the story of a boy travelling with his Zoo animals across the ocean when a storm destroys the boat. He awakens to an epic journey of adventure and discovery. While marooned on a lifeboat, he forms an amazing connection with the ship's only other survivor - a fearsome tiger. Visually astounding, with critical success - This could have real potential or potentially leave you feeling let down.  

Paranorman – 10^th Jan 2013 PG
The name should ring your radar bells already! An animated story about a boy who see’s Ghosts; Paranorman follows a child as he attempts to save his town from an Evil Witch about to resurrect herself and a stack of Zombies. This is a horror story for children and I’m NOT recommending it.

For the teens:

Pitch Perfect – out now M
A Musical Comedy, it may appear a story about a bunch of college girls all forming a unique bond while performing incredible a cappella, but loaded with sexual content, language, drug and alcohol references and borderline crudity I’m not recommending it for kids. Mum’s this is NOT suitable for your daughter’s under 15.  

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey – Boxing Day M
Running for just over 2hrs, LOTR fans will enjoy this prequel to the trilogy written by Christian Author J.R.R Tolkin. Seeing many of the beloved LOTR characters return for this - the first Baggins adventure, a younger Bilbo begins his first quest to help the Dwarves recapture the Lonely Mountain overtaken by a Dragon. Parents can expect the usual epic fantasy battles, violence, drinking scenes, scary trolls, wizards and sorcery.  

Here comes The Boom – December 18^th 2012 M
When teacher of the year (10 years ago) decides to save his school and students from suffering large budget cuts. No one expects that he’ll join a cage fighting competition to earn the cash. Sure to include some laughs, inappropriate jokes and language, audiences will have mixed responses to the many booming hits and kicks & violence while others might appreciate that fighting in this movie is really just a metaphor for the obstacles that we face in life.

Les Miserables – Boxing Day M
Perhaps the most anticipated film of the season. The world’s longest running musical comes to the big screen set against the backdrop of 19th century France. Les Mis tells an enthralling story of on the run ex prisoner Jean and his decision to help a factory workers daughter. Starring the likes of Anne Hathaway, Amanda Seyfried, Helena Bonham Carter, High Jackman and Russel Crowe this is not for the light hearted as broken dreams, unrequited love, passion, sacrifice and a redemption which testifies to the survival of the human spirit take us away to a time long forgot. (Only 5 words in the whole movie). A MUST for Musical Lovers.  

Jack Reacher - Jan 3^rd 2013 M
A military investigator – Jack Reacher digs deeper into a case involving a trained military sniper who shot five random victims. But did he? Reminiscent of the likes of Mission Impossible and most of Tom Cruises films, parents you can lots of guns, violence, sexual content, language and a good mystery.

The Impossible – 24^th January 2013
Namoi Watts and Ewan McGregor retell the true story of a family who survived the 2004 Tsunami which struck South East Asia in Thailand on Boxing Day. This year’s disaster movie it shed’s real light on the tragic events surrounding that fateful day in a dignified and touching way. A film about the depth of human compassion and strength – it’s sure to be a real tear jerker and one I wouldn’t recommend for children as it’s content may scare them.

For the full details and parental content advisory on each of these films visit Focus on the Families pluggedin.com.

Movie Review by Richelle Wilkins.