The Ratings Game
June 9th 2010 02:17
It sometimes confuses me how movies are rated, and it's hard to tell by commercials which movies are really appropriate for your kids (looking at you, Shrek!). The MPAA rating system (G, PG, PG-13, R, NC-17) has very broad definitions of what constitutes each rating level, and they often overlap. Their website has explanations of the different rating levels, including what levels of profanity, violence, and nudity are allowed in each. I was surprised to find out that brief nudity is allowed in PG movies...I always wondered how Airplane got a PG rating when there was a topless woman jumping across the screen in it. PG-13 can have more than brief nudity as long as it's not “sexually oriented” (think of the drawing scene in Titanic...I guess that qualifies!) Anyway, a G rating is generally pretty safe...minimal violence and no nudity, drug use, etc...though they do specify on the MPAA website that “The G rating is not a "certificate of approval," nor does it signify a "children’s" motion picture.” So even then, you may get more than you expected!
If you want to know exactly what's in the movie you're taking your kids to, I'd recommend the website www.kids-in-mind.com. They rate movies on a one-to-ten scale in three categories: sex and nudity, violence and gore, and profanity. They also give a pretty specific run-down of the different scenes where each of those take place. Yes, it may be a bit of a spoiler, but at least there won't be any surprises when you're in the theater or awkward questions from the kids afterwards!
I know that people are getting a lot more loose with what they take their kids to see (I've known ten year olds that have seen movies like Starship Troopers, which I definitely wouldn't show to a kid). That's obviously a parental choice...I'm certainly not as strict about things as my parents were. I recommend you read through the MPAA rules on ratings, it's actually kind of interesting to find out exactly what's allowed in each. And if you're curious about any specific movie and want to know for sure what your kids are going to see, try the Kids in Mind website!
If you want to know exactly what's in the movie you're taking your kids to, I'd recommend the website www.kids-in-mind.com. They rate movies on a one-to-ten scale in three categories: sex and nudity, violence and gore, and profanity. They also give a pretty specific run-down of the different scenes where each of those take place. Yes, it may be a bit of a spoiler, but at least there won't be any surprises when you're in the theater or awkward questions from the kids afterwards!
I know that people are getting a lot more loose with what they take their kids to see (I've known ten year olds that have seen movies like Starship Troopers, which I definitely wouldn't show to a kid). That's obviously a parental choice...I'm certainly not as strict about things as my parents were. I recommend you read through the MPAA rules on ratings, it's actually kind of interesting to find out exactly what's allowed in each. And if you're curious about any specific movie and want to know for sure what your kids are going to see, try the Kids in Mind website!
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