Here is the interview:

PW: What was your main inspiration to write “Ranger’s Apprentice?”

John Flanagan: I just wanted to be a story teller. I’ve wanted to do that all my life.

PW: Who is your favorite character in “Ranger’s Apprentice,” and why?

John Flanagan: I really like them all. It varies form time to time who I like best. At the moment, I’m quite fond of Tug and Horace.

PW: How many more Ranger’s Apprentice do you think you will write?

John Flanagan: I’m planning on 12 books in all. Book 12 will finish the story so I’m in no rush to write it. (just in case I think of something else I want to add). I’m beginning a new series – with different characters and no rangers – next year.

Ranger’s Apprentice is available online and in bookstores, It is thrilling, well written, and the characters are amazing and have sweet relationships.

I would recommend it to ages 13 and up (Adults will like it too). The series feature some minor suggestive comments (in the later part of the series), very mild language, and peril. As a parent you may want to preview it first.

On the good side though, it was a lot more family friendly then the original, it had its little laughs, and there were messages of respect, compassion and other good values thrown in. Go for the fun of it. It’s plot is a little holey, but its still a pretty fun movie. Parents Guide below.

Parents Guide:

Sexual Content: 12 year old’s share a rather long kiss. Dre’s mom briefly talks about accidentally going into the men’s restroom. When Dre and his girlfriend play a dance game, his girlfriend dances suggestively.  They dance to the songs “Poker Face” by Lady Gaga and “Low” by Flo Rida.

Language: Dre says “ass”  about 4 times in a row, but is corrected by Mr. Han. One use of d–mit. God’s name is used improperly a few times.

Violence: It has constant Kung Fu Violence. Lots of hitting, kicking, punching, throwing, pushing and flipping, and a lot of it is done by 12-14 year old’s. Dre is beat up in 6 against 1 fights. The violence is bloodless, but enough to make you wince. A Character get a black eye, cracked ribs, and bad leg injuries. One character smashes his car with an ax like tool. A certain  Kung Fu class is taught to give no mercy to their opponents.

Drinking and Smoking: Mr. Han gets drunk on the anniversary of a death.

Other Negatives: Dre lies to his mother once or twice. Dre has trouble getting used to living in China and vents angrily to his mother.

The Karate Kid releases this week on the 11th.

Parental Guide:

Violence: This is a dark tale, and could certainly frighten anyone under 9 or 10 depending on your child. Alice falls through a dark hole rapidly, (enhanced greatly in the 3D) and hits the floor hard. Three different monsters appear in various scenes. The first one is has ugly hairy teeth, and chases Alice and the creatures of wonderland, eventually making an ugly scratch on her arm. The scene can be startling, because the monster pops up rather unexpectedly. The second monster is more of a bird like monster, who carries little people away. He is not so ugly, but could frighten the younger group. The last and most terrifying of the monsters is the Jabberwocky. Ugly and dragon like, breathing different colored flames. All of these monsters may be more startling because of the realism of the 3D.

Alice crosses a moat full of bloated decapitated heads. A main character is positioned on a stage to be  beheaded (by a creepy looking executioner) and the scene is very uncomfortable, but (spoiler alert) the character lives.

A frog is lead away to be executed. An angry man nearly kills a women with his sword in an act of rage. Battles prepare for war. A great monster is decapitated, and his blood (its purple blood) is placed in a bottle to drink. One monster has his eyeball plucked out by a mouse’s sword, then the eyeball is carried around by the mouse until someone returns it.

Sexual Content: A married man is caught cheating on his young wife, they are only seen making out, (clothed and standing). Alice’s dress shrinks and stretches frequently. Once it stretches so much that it looks like an old fashioned bathing suit. In one seen it is suggested that she is naked, but she is hiding behind large bushes, and only her bare shoulders are seen. The hatter accidentally finds Alice naked when he looks into the teapot she’s hiding in, but we don’t see her, and he quickly puts the top back on and apologizes, and fashions her a more sizable dress. The White Queen shows a little bit of cleavage.

Language: Name calling such as “idiot, “stupid”, “bighead”, “imbeciles”, “lunatics”, and “fat”.

Smoking and drinking: A caterpillar smokes.

Thanks to Narniaweb.com, and Narniafan.com for the update

Parental Guide: This G rated movie really should have been PG

Violence: None

Sexual Content: One scene is extremely suggestive. An unmarried couple meet in a private room for dinner, throw around some suggestive jokes, sing a suggestive song, kiss, and get very close.  In a play, many women are seen in their night gowns, and even bra and underwear. Fanny plays a joke and pretends to be a women getting married that is assumed to be pregnant out of wedlock.  Fanny wears dresses that show a lot of cleavage.

Language: One or two D word’s and a couple of “hell’s” during an argument.

Drinking and other negative behavior: Fanny’s husband gambles constantly. Drinks are served and cigarettes are smoked. A man gets in trouble for “under the table” dealings.