With Kit Kittredge: An American Girl finally opening in limited release on Wednesday, it seemed like a good time to take a look at other films girls in the same age demographic might also enjoy. As a mother of three daughters, I like to seek out films that have strong female characters. So many of the roles for females in Hollywood either fall into blatant stereotypes or position young girls and women as existing on this planet primarily for the pleasures of the male half of the species, and I don't want my girls growing up believing the images of women they're exposed to through the media. Of course, everything in life doesn't have to have a political agenda -- what fun would that be? So some of these are just films my own daughters very much enjoy, that the girl in your life might like also.

Here are seven great films for fans of American Girl books and movies ... let me know what others I've missed that you like; with only seven slots to work with, I had to leave out a lot of films I otherwise would have included ...

Just when you thought it couldn't get worse for Lindsay Lohan, Nikki Finke's Deadline Hollywood Daily reports that Lohan has been dropped from the true-life crime flick, Manson's Girls. According to DHD, "people associated with the movie told agents that Lohan quickly became more of a deficit than an asset when they discovered that they couldn't find any name actresses who wanted to co-star with her. (And even some name actors...) So now Lindsay is off the pic."

Ouch, that can't be good for her self-esteem, although the gossip gal in me would have liked to hear the names of some of those "name actors".

Entertainment Tonight reports that Lindsay Lohan will star in the true life crime film Manson's Girls. Lohan will play Nancy Pitman, a pampered surfer girl who fell under the thrall of Charlie Manson's "charms". News of Lohan's casting hit when the film's producer, Brad Wyman, spilled the beans to ET. (I guess she has a thing for 'celebrity murderers'; I mean she's already in a film about John Lennon's murderer (Chapter 27), and now the granddaddy of all wackos?)

On August 8th, 1969, Charles Manson directed four members of his 'Family' to the home of an absent Roman Polanski and his pregnant girlfriend Sharon Tate. By the morning, Manson's followers had brutally murdered five people (including Tate). Pitman never took part in the brutal murders of Tate and four other people that night. But, she was eventually charged with being an accessory after the fact and served 18 months. There were even rumors that she returned to the Tate house with Manson after the murders to help plant false evidence.

So far, there isn't much info about the film, but since the title is Manson's Girls, I can only assume that they are going to need to hire a few more gals to fill out the cast. Likely, to take on the roles of Manson devotees Susan Atkins, Patricia Krenwinkel, and Linda Kasabian. Not to mention who is going to play the head loon himself, Charlie. So while Girls might have the potential to be a half decent movie, the whole thing leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Especially if Manson's Girls turns into some horrible hybrid of Helter Skelter and I Know Who Killed Me.

Do you want to see a film about the Manson girls? And shouldn't it be called Manson Girls Gone Wild?

The most annoying thing about following movie news and patronizing film festivals is the pesky waiting. You hear about a film, you get excited, and then you wait. And then you wait more. Once you hit that 365-day mark, it's no longer just an exercise of patience, but trying to come to terms with the fact that you might never see the movie at all, or might never see the movie again. It seemed that this is what would happen with Chapter 27, which premiered back in January of 2007, but now, finally, the film is going into limited release this week.

To refresh your memory: this is the film about John Lennon's killer, Mark David Chapman, and details the days that lead up to the infamous day. It's got Lindsay Lohan pre-clean up, and Jared Leto all body-morphed. In an interview with New York Daily News, Leto talks about morphing into the pudgy killer, and his take on the role.

Um, no, not that Lohan. As if Disney would ever take a chance on a gal fresh out of rehab. BUT, they might take a chance on Lohan's little sister, Ali. Oh yes, E! reports that Ali Lohan (Lindsay's 14-year-old sister) is auditioning for a part in High School Musical 3. Word has it she might take on the role of a spoiled little princess; E! says to "think of her as a Sharpay (Ashley Tisdale) in training." For this third installment in the ultra-popular Disney franchise, Troy (Zac Efron) and Gabriella (Vanessa Hudgens) will reunite as high school seniors preparing for college. If you thought there was plenty of singing and dancing before, wait till you get these kids as seniors -- the possibilities are endless!

Thankfully, Ali Lohan is no stranger to singing. Back in 2006, she released her debut album full of Christmas tunes, Lohan Holiday. I tell ya, after hearing about this girl's older sister for the past several months, I'm about ready to take a Lohan holiday too. A part in High School Musical 3 would almost guarantee the minor Lohan a future career in front of the camera (assuming she doesn't hit 18 and go absolutely nutty on us). How do you fans of HSM feel about a Lohan sibling joining the party? Does it pump you up for the new film, or leave a sour taste in your mouth?

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If someone came to me and asked, "Erik, if you could pick any two actors to appear opposite one another on screen, who would it be?" -- I'd probably tell them Kermit the Frog and Javier Bardem. But my second choice would most certainly be Lindsay Lohan and Jack Black. E! News reports that Lohan has decided to get back to work, and she'll do so by starring in the comedy Ye Olde Times, opposite everyone's favorite slightly overweight funnyman, Jack Black. The film follows "two rival Renaissance Faire troupes as they make their way through the competitive circuit." Currently, there's no word on whether Lohan will be competing with Black or against him, but regardless this film just hit my "Must See When Intoxicated" list.

Lohan, who recently left rehab to shoot the tango flick Dare to Love Me, seems keen to hop right back into the spotlight. Earlier in the week, her nude photo spread for New York Magazine was revealed, and while I'm not sure which step on the 12-step program includes nude photos for a prominent magazine, I'm sure it's probably toward the latter end. Ye Olde Times, which will be directed by R.A. White, also stars Cary Elwes, Matthew Lillard, David Arquette and Orlando Jones. The film will most likely hit at some point this year.