Just like last year, Hollywood is reinventing the summer season, starting its motors early with the release of "Speed Racer" on May 9th. Animated stars include dim-sum chomping panda bears, a caped crusader and robots with personality aplenty. The humans are represented by the likes of a Wild Child and a senior citizen, from Brendan Fraser to, er, Brendan Fraser.

And the monsters, demons and dragons? As usual, summer is their favorite season for hanging out at the multiplex. For the discerning parents picking their way through the precipitous path of PG's vs. PG-13's, far better than a shield, a sword or a helmet, this Summer Movie Preview may prove to be an effective defense.

May 9
SPEED RACER
Starring: Emile Hirsch, Christina Ricci, John Goodman, Susan Sarandon, Matthew Fox
MPAA Rating: PG (for sequences of action, some violence and language)

Plot: Racing cars is in Speed Racer's blood. Literally—his family's always been in the racing business. Haunted by the death of his older brother Rex, who'd lost his life during a grueling race called The Crucible, Speed is determined to win that same race to honor his brother's memory. Adding to the new high-tech look of live action inside a video game, there's corrupt corporate bad guys, Susan Sarandon and John Goodman as Speed's parents, a goofy sidekick kid and his chimpanzee buddy, the mysterious Racer X who might help our hero succeed, plus the writing/directing team from "The Matrix Trilogy." Bumper-to-bumper traffic has never looked so exciting.

Concerns: Younger teenagers clamoring to drive will be wooed by the daredevil action behind the wheel. However, a deceased older sibling may be sobering enough to counterbalance the glamour. Still, parents might want to address the concept of responsible driving.

May 16
THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: PRINCE CASPIAN
Starring: Georgie Henley, Skandar Keynes, William Moseley, Anna Popplewell, Ben Barnes
MPAA Rating: Predicted: PG (for battle sequences and frightening moments)

Plot: One year later, the four Pevensie children are transported back to Narnia via an underground train station. But one year equals 1300 in Narnia time, now under the rule of evil King Miraz, who's forced the rightful heir Prince Caspian into hiding. With the help of new animal characters Reepicheep the talking mouse and Trufflehunter the badger, as well as an encore appearance by the powerful lion king Aslan, the Pevensies engage in battle with Prince Caspian to rightfully recapture the land.

Concerns: The filmmakers state that while action was tacked on to the end of the first film, this movie is far more epic in its battle scenes. Which means more violence with teams of armies clashing head-to-head, swordplay and medieval weaponry (rapiers, crossbows, daggers). Bloodthirsty King Miraz has every intention of murdering the young Prince Caspian. Ornate faceplate helmets could prove disturbing to younger viewers.

May 23
INDIANA JONES AND THE KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL
Starring: Harrison Ford, Shia LaBeouf, Cate Blanchett, Karen Allen
MPAA Rating—Predicted: PG for intense adventure action

Plot: It's 1957. Nineteen years after his last adventure, Dr. Indiana Jones is taking it easy. But before long, the renowned archaeologist is racing from New Mexico to the jungles of Peru to find the Crystal Skull before those Cold War Russians beat him to the punch. Prior flame Marian Ravenwood (Karen Allen) is back, while new characters include Cate Blanchett as the dark-wigged, Soviet Agent Spalko and teen favorite Shia LaBeouf (star of last summer’s “Transformers”).

Concerns: Given that Paramount's President of Worldwide Marketing states that this latest installment is targeting moviegoers "from 8 to 80," the concerns are minimal. Less disturbing than #2 ("Temple of Doom"), less comical than #3 (the Sean Connery co-starring "Last Crusade"), the filmmakers are hearkening back to the mode of the original, with its old-fashioned, Saturday matinee format, believing that an exciting plot and the enduring character of Indy can carry the day.

June 6
KUNG FU PANDA
Starring: Voices of Jack Black, Dustin Hoffman, Angelina Jolie, Lucy Liu, Ian McShane
MPAA Rating: PG for sequences of martial arts action.

Plot: Overweight panda Po is an apprentice noodle maker who daydreams of fighting with the Kung Fu stars, the "Furious Five." However, the only things that are great about him are his size (260 pounds, 6'2" tall) and his voracious appetite. Yet fate has decreed Po as "The Chosen One" who must save the land from the vicious snow leopard Tai Lung. Can training Master Shifu help Po use his dubious talents to become the greatest Kung Fu fighter of all?

Concerns: Being that this is a high-definition, CGI film, visual aspects such as gleaming, flying daggers, elongated claws and frightening fangs are heightened. Though the fight scenes are exaggerated for animation, they're still fierce, based on true martial arts combat moves. But since the movie relies on its comedic, often slapstick appeal, whatever discomfort younger viewers might feel will soon be forgotten by the one-two punch of Jack Black's humor and Po's roly-poly demeanor.

June 13
THE INCREDIBLE HULK
Starring: Edward Norton, Liv Tyler, Tim Roth, William Hurt
MPAA Rating—Predicted: PG-13

Plot: Edward Norton's Dr. Bruce Banner hunts for a cure to the gamma radiation that poisoned his cells, creating the monster within called The Hulk. Cut off from his past life and his ladylove, Banner is on the run from army bigwigs intent on exploiting him to create their own super-soldier. Enter the DNA-created second hulk, an evil twin called The Abomination. Only one of them can survive.

Concerns: Most kids are familiar with the green-skinned, super-sized bodybuilder physique of The Hulk. But The Abomination is another matter: as big as The Hulk, he wears his skeletal structure on the outside. His elbows are sharp as knives, his tongue and heels look grotesque, and even his spine is a weapon. Between the gigantic size and nightmarish face, The Abomination is just that. The final battle between the two lasts for 26 minutes, with green blood oozing on the city streets below, spilling on innocent bystanders who become unwitting victims.

June 27
WALL-E
Starring: Voices of Fred Willard, Jeff Garlin
MPAA Rating—Predicted: G

Plot: Pixar Animation introduces a robot named WALL•E (short for "Waste Allocation Load Lifter Earth-Class"), who has spent 700 years on planet Earth cleaning up the mess that mankind has left behind. A collector of knick-knacks, he finds something completely new when he stumbles upon a modern search robot named EVE. When she realizes that WALL•E has accidentally discovered the key to Earth's future, she sends back a message to the humans, who've been hoping to return home. Now that he's met EVE, the lovesick robot is on a mission to track her down, even if it means chasing her across the heavens. Which is exactly what he does.

Concerns: None. The filmmakers at Pixar (the studio behind "Finding Nemo," "Monsters, Inc." and "Toy Story") have an impeccable record when it comes to family fare. The lack of dialogue may surprise some audience members at first, but adjustment should be rapid.

July 2
KIT KITTREDGE: AN AMERICAN GIRL
Starring: Abigail Breslin, Stanley Tucci, Glenne Headly, Jane Krakowski, Joan Cusack
MPAA Rating: G

Plot: Set in Cincinnati in the time of the Great Depression, nine-year-old Kit Kittredge's happy childhood suddenly changes when her father loses his car dealership and has to leave town in order to find work. Kit's mother takes in boarders, including a magician (Stanley Tucci), a man-hungry dance instructor (Jane Krakowski) and a wacky librarian (Joan Cusack). When a crime spree spreads through her town and her hobo friends are accused, Kit enlists her friends to help her track down the true thieves.

Concerns: This G-rated film, based on the popular American Girl series of historical books and dolls, is peopled with eccentric characters, little girls and a basset hound. Other than the fact that the heroine's father has to leave home and the pressing economic issues of the time (the homeless, the threatened loss of Kit's house), no other factors look to be a concern.

July 11
JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH 3D
Starring: Brendan Fraser, Josh Hutcherson, Anita Briem
MPAA Rating: PG for intense adventure action and some scary moments.

Plot: On an expedition in Iceland, bumbling science professor Trevor (Brendan Fraser), his nephew, played by Josh Hutcherson (“Bridge to Terabithia”) and their mountain guide (Anita Briem) accidentally stumble and fall miles below the earth's surface to subterranean worlds . They explore the fantastical subscape, meeting up with strange new creatures. Both the director and producer, coming from the special effects field, utilize state-of-art 3-D cameras called “photorealistic 3-D technology.”

Concerns: Scary flying fish, monsters, dinosaurs and snakes on steroids. Particularly due to this latest version of "real" 3-D, the viewers will feel as if they are in the scene, making the subtropic monsters all the more threatening. The creatures will appear close enough to touch, sometimes seeming to jump directly at the audience for effect. All of which could easily frighten the dino-phobic.

July 18
THE DARK KNIGHT
Starring: Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Gary Oldman, Michael Caine, Aaron Eckhart
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for intense violent content

Plot: As the sequel to "Batman Begins," Christian Bale once again stars as Batman, intent on destroying crime in Gotham City with help from new D.A. Harvey Dent. The villain at large is lunatic mastermind Joker (Heath Ledger's last role). Can our hero rescue his city and vanquish villainy without becoming a villain himself?

Concerns: The filmmakers state that this sequel is far more intense than the first. The Joker's face, with his blackened eyes and a smeared red gash of a mouth looking like a freshly-bloodied wound, borders on grotesque. His menacing, high-pitched cackle sounds repeatedly. The director calls Ledger's portrayal "terrifying" and "amazing." (The fact that Ledger died earlier this year could add to the overall disturbing impression.) Handsome D.A. Harvey Dent is victimized by acid; by film's end, half of his face is distorted by massive scarring, leading to the next sequel in which he stars as the villain Two-Face.

August 1
THE MUMMY: TOMB OF THE DRAGON EMPIRE
Starring: Brendan Fraser, Jet Li, Maria Bello, Michelle Yeoh
MPAA Rating—Predicted: PG-13

Plot: Explorer Rick O'Connell (Brendan Fraser) is back, this time with his family in tow. From China to the Himalayas, the O'Connells' mission is to stop a newly-awakened mummy who's out to create mayhem and worse. There's also a double-crossing sorceress, a ruthless Dragon Emperor and 10,000 mummified warriors who just might wake up. Thank heavens Rick can turn to his own "mummy" and daddy to help save the world from the undead.

Concerns: Prior "Mummy" movies have never been shy about going for the bloodthirsty, and it looks like this one follows suit. Legions of weapon-wielding ghost warriors share screen time with Jet Li's extreme martial arts skills, mummified monsters—even Yeti, the Abominable Snowman, makes an appearance. A 25-minute battle scene toward the end between the sorceress' undead armies clashing with the Emperor's terracotta men, replete with 400 visual effects shots, should prove to be fairly gruesome.

August 15
STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS
Starring: Voice cast to be announced
MPAA Rating—Predicted: G or PG at most

Plot: The first animated project from George Lucas, "The Clone Wars" makes its debut as a feature before continuing in the fall as a television series on Cartoon Network, followed by airings on TNT. Favorite characters, including Yoda, R2D2, Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Padmé Amidala, are on the front lines of an intergalactic struggle between good and evil, along with new heroes and villains. Per George Lucas: “I felt there were a lot more ‘Star Wars’ stories left to tell. I was eager to start telling some of them through animation and, at the same time, push the art of animation forward.”

Concerns: Given the worldwide familiarity with the “Star Wars” sagas, the lightsabers, exploding starships and ongoing battles are an expected tradition. Particularly since this project is positioned as a prelude to a series for the kid-friendly Cartoon Network, any objectionable violence will be within the realm of fantasy, with style over substance.

August 15
WILD CHILD
Starring: Emma Roberts, Natasha Richardson, Shirley Henderson, Aidan Quinn
MPAA Rating: PG-13

Plot: Ever since her mother's death five years ago, 16-year-old Poppy (Emma Roberts, star of last summer's "Nancy Drew") has been out of control. She lives a self-obsessed, pampered high life along with her Malibu clique of girlfriends. But unlike her credit cards, her father has limits—and when she pulls one prank too many, he ships her off to an English boarding school, replete with curfews, stern teachers, mandatory lacrosse and a group of British girls who refuse to tolerate her behavior. They rein her in; in turn, she teaches them to how to let loose.

Concerns: The ratings board has classified this picture as PG-13 for crude sexual content, language and teenage drinking. However, the character learns redeeming lessons and by movie's end, has turned from "wild" to "mild." As a thinly-disguised morality tale, it may prove beneficial, especially to the legions of young girls who are avid Emma Roberts fans.

August 22
FLY ME TO THE MOON
Starring: Voices of Tim Curry, Kelly Ripa, Nicollette Sheridan, Christopher Lloyd, Ed Begley Jr.
MPAA Rating: G

Plot: It's 1969, and the world is abuzz with the upcoming Apollo 11 flight to the moon—including three young flies, buzzing more than most. Particularly Nat, who relishes his family's story about how Grandpa stowed away on Amelia Earhart's plane, ultimately rescuing her. Inspired to become a true flyboy, Nat and his buddies secretly hop aboard the first manned rocket ship to the moon. Shot in 3-D, the film's visuals are based on NASA's original 1969 blueprints and transcripts.

Concerns: There's some tense moments regarding the spaceship's safe landing, due to a zealous Russian fly who's trying to destroy the mission. But all-in-all, the project is designed to be a fun family film with an educational twist, introducing a whole new generation to the concept of space travel via high-end 3-D animation. Given the added bonus that this movie is the first one created solely for 3-D release, it looks to be a winner.