Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

A guide to movies from a family perspective:

"The Twilight Saga: New Moon"

-- Rated: PG-13.

-- Suitable for: Mature tweens and up.

-- What you should know: This is the second movie based on Stephenie Meyer's best seller about a human girl, her vampire boyfriend and, now, a werewolf rival.

-- Language: About nine stronger versions of "heck" or "darn."

A guide to movies from a family perspective:

"2012"

-- Rated: PG-13.

-- Suitable for: Middle-schoolers and up.

-- What you should know: The world is in peril and then destroyed, by earthquakes, floods, fires, volcanic eruptions, toppling buildings, ash clouds and other disasters, in this movie that runs 2-1/2 hours.

Poisoning caused by binge drinking -- drinking excessively within a short period. For men, that's five standard-sized alcoholic beverages within two hours. For women, it's four or more standard-sized drinks, which is defined as a 12-ounce beer, a 5-ounce glass of wine or a mixed drink with one shot.

A guide to movies from a family perspective:

"A Christmas Carol"

-- Rated: PG.

-- Suitable for: Children 6 or 7 and up, keeping younger in mind. It will help if they're familiar with the story and know it will end happily.

A guide to movies from a family perspective:

"This Is It"

-- Rated: PG.

-- Suitable for: School-age children who can sit attentively through a 112-minute movie and appreciate its subject matter.

"The Lucky 13"

1. Yves Saint Laurent ($350 million)

2. Richard Rodgers/Oscar Hammerstein ($235 million)

3. Michael Jackson ($90 million)

4. Elvis Presley ($55 million)

5. J.R.R. Tolkien ($50 million)

6. Charles M. Schulz ($35 million)

7. John Lennon ($15 million)

8. Theodor Geisel (Dr. Seuss) ($15 million)

A guide to movies from a family perspective:

"Astro Boy"

-- Rated: PG.

-- Suitable for: First-graders and up.

-- What you should know: Set in the future, this is an animated story about a scientist who creates Astro Boy to replace the son, Toby, who has died. He has Toby's memories, plus superpowers.

A guide to movies from a family perspective:

"Where the Wild Things Are"

-- Rated: PG.

-- Suitable for: First- or second-graders and up, keeping your child and the following in mind.

-- What you should know: This was inspired by Max Sendak's popular book, and while there is no single scene that will make you want to shield your child's eyes, it's dark overall.

One of fall's biggest communal parties is Oktoberfest. Celebrate your German roots or simply fill that hungry tummy with this hearty ethnic dish. The warm potato salad has a nice tang that offsets the rich sausages. Serve with a lightly dressed cucumber salad.

1 pound unpeeled red potatoes, cut into 1-inch pieces

Salt to taste

4 large precooked bratwurst sausages

FRUITY CHICKEN KEBABS

Grapes are a natural for kebabs, but any firm-fleshed fruit would work just fine.

8 ounces roasted deli chicken or turkey, sliced 3/4-inch thick

8 8-ounce wooden skewers

16 green grapes

12 strawberries, cut in half lengthwise