I've recently had the time to check out some of the new movies this year and that's left me with some questions regarding movie ratings. Like most guys, I enjoy a good horror movie or comedy that has at least one good bathroom humor joke. However, I'm concerned with how linient ratings have gotten with regards to movies containing frightening scenes, violence, and even nudity! One of this year's biggest movies was The Exorcism of Emily Rose. I don't know but I think the PG-13 rating was just a little too lax for some of the subject matter this movie delt with. Another movie, Boogeyman (which personally I thought sucked) got a PG rating, which means young childern can freely enter. I think some of the nudity and frightening scenes in this movie was a bit mature for 10 year olds. Another horror movie out this year, Cry Wolf, also got a PG rating? Does anyone else think that standards with regards to what kids are exposed to are slipping? Since violent video games have come under recent scrutany with regards to kids and violence, I think it's time we took another look at what kids are watchign in theatres. Parents should not rely on the MPAA to sensor what their children see. In fact, I think if parents sat through one of these so-called "PG" movies, they would be shocked at some of the content. Even the recent blockbuster hit Shrek 2, rated G, contained several references to drugs and sexual innuendo.

For information on what content to expect in movies, check out the MPAA website or www.movieratings.com Although they dont get into much detail about criteria used per film, they do list general content per rating.

Regards

   

Movie ratings are just a guide, it is ultimately up to the parents to enforce behaviour. If you don't want your kid seeing a certain kind of movie, lay down the law. Sure they might go anyway, but kids know more than we give them credit for. Besides, if you find out you get some extra work out of them as "punishment" for disobeying you. Win-win.

   

Differences in rating standards vary greatly between Canada and the US and also from province to province. It's always been that way. Ratings in Canada are always one below what they are in the US.

Masta's right in that it's ultimately up to the parents to decide what their kids can and can't see. Personally, the innuendo in Shrek 2 is what makes it so great. Kids won't get the jokes until they're older while the parents get them right away. Personally I would never take a kid to a horror movie regardless of the rating.

If you'll allow me to make a generalization for a moment....Canadians, by and large, are more tolerant of nudity and "adult situations". I remember when the video for Radiohead's Paranoid Andriod came out and MM discussed how teh Canadian and US edits were different. In the US one, the topless mermaids were taken out but the guy dismembering himself was left in. In Canada, it was vice-versa.