Film Ratings

         Wanting to watch movies by yourself or with other peers. "Oh, I wish i was older so I can watch movies like that." You know, the scary movies, funny but graphic films... etc. You know the rest. But in Canada the ratings are pretty low. Is this a good thing? Yes? No? Well as a teenager we can watch all of these different kinds of movies without even bring our parents along. Do these low ratings affect teenagers who view these films?

          What was the point of film ratings in the first place? What do R, G, PG, PG13 and NC-17 mean? Well the point of having ratings for films are that some scenes of the movie show irresponsible, silly, or even graphic scenes. G rated films represent "Guidance Audience" which also means that nothing out of the ordinary would offend parents for children watching. PG rated films represent "Parental Guidance Suggested" which means that some material may not be likes by parents that may be shown to young children. PG13 rated films means "Parents Strongly Cautioned". This means it should be meant for older audiences and maybe inappropriate for pre-teens. R rated films represent a "Restricted Film" which often means its for adults and also means you need an adult for you to enter this movie. And finally NC-17 or 18A which is not really common stands for "NO ONE 17 AND UNDER ADMITTED" this film will probably contain extremely graphic scenes which in the most part probably not be made.

          Are film ratings even worth while? Around the world film ratings are lower or higher. In certain provinces in Canada, the rating system has come under criticism as being too lenient. For example, in British Columbia, the film Scary Movie was given an 18A rating, but was rerated because of the Motion Picture and Liquor Appeal Board to a 14A. This resulted in a record number of complaints to the British Columbia Film Classification Office from parents who felt the film should have been rated 18A. Many parents wrote letters to their local newspaper warning others that the film may be inappropriate for their fourteen-year-olds. Theatre owners complained about the inappropriate rating as well.

         Pros and cons about lowered film ratings. The pros are that weather you are ages 12, 13, 14 you can watch movies that are rated say R in the United States. Or say as you grow older you want to watch movies by yourself or with other peers without having your parents around telling you what to watch and what not to watch. Cons. Well watching movies that is rated for an older age can affect the way a person can act or on what they say. They can learn new words that can be considered a swear word but will not be there fault because they thought it was "funny" or "cool" because they heard it from a movie. Well film ratings have there ups and downs but film ratings can be important weather you like it or not. Weather its boring or interesting.

By:  Benjie Balanon