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Hey
folks out there in cyberspace here is the answer
to that nagging question... "What exactly is
PG-13, or R?" I have dug through the
information superhighway and I have gotten these
definitions directly from the MPAA (Motion
Picture Association of America). I hope this can
clear up some confusion and restore some
semblance of order to your movie going lifestyle. P.S. Get
your night cap on some of these definitions can
get pretty boring. -Ernie
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 General
Audiences-all ages admitted.
This is a film which
contains nothing in theme, language, nudity
and sex, violence, etc. which would, in the
view of the Rating Board, be offensive to
parents whose younger children view the film.
The G rating is not a "certificate of
approval," nor does it signify a
children's film.
Some snippets of language may go beyond
polite conversation, but they are common
everyday expressions. No stronger words are
present in G-rated films. The violence is at
a minimum. Nudity and sex scenes are not
present; nor is there any drug use content.
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 Parental
Guidance Suggested; some material may not be
suitable for children.
This is a film which
clearly needs to be examined or inquired
about by parents before they let their
children attend. The label PG plainly states
that parents may consider some material
unsuitable for their children, but parents
must make the decision.
Parents are warned against sending their
children, unseen and without inquiry, to
PG-rated movies.
The theme of a PG-rated film may itself call
for parental guidance. There may be some
profanity in these films. There may be some
violence or brief nudity. But these elements
are not deemed so intense as to require that
parents be strongly cautioned beyond the
suggestion of parental guidance. There is no
drug use content in a PG-rated film.
The PG-rating, suggesting parental guidance,
is thus an alert for examination of a film by
parents before deciding on its viewing by
their children.
Obviously, such a line is difficult to draw.
In our pluralistic society, it is not easy to
make judgments without incurring one
disagreement. So long as parents know they
must exercise parental responsibility, the
rating serves as a meaningful guide and as a
warning.
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 Parents
strongly cautioned. Some material may be
inappropriate for children under 13.
PG-13 is thus a sterner
warning to parents to determine for
themselves the attendance in particular of
their younger children as they might consider
some material not suited for them. Parents,
by the rating, are alerted to be very careful
about the attendance of their under-teenage
children.
A PG-13 film is one which, in the view of the
Rating Board, leaps beyond the boundaries of
the PG rating in theme, violence, nudity,
sensuality, language, or other contents, but
does not quite fit within the restricted R
category. Any drug use content will initially
require at least a PG-13 rating. In effect,
the PG-13 cautions parents with more
stringency than usual to give special
attention to this film before they allow
their 12-year olds and younger to attend.
If nudity is sexually oriented, the film will
generally not be found in the PG-13 category.
If violence is too rough or persistent, the
film goes into the R (restricted) rating. A
film's single use of one of the harsher
sexually-derived words, though only as an
expletive, shall initially require the Rating
Board to issue that film at least a PG-13
rating. More than one such expletive must
lead the Rating Board to issue a film an R
rating, as much even one of these words used
in a sexual context. These films can be rated
less severely, however, if by a special vote,
the Rating Board feels that a lesser rating
would more responsibly reflect the opinion of
American parents.
PG-13 places larger responsibilities on
parents for their children's moviegoing. The
voluntary rating system is not a surrogate
parent, nor should it be. It cannot, and
should not, insert itself in family decision
that only parents can, and should, make. Its
purpose is to give prescreening advance
informational warnings, so that parents can
form their own judgements. PG-13 is designed
to make these parental decision easier for
films between PG and R.
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 Restricted
under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult
guardian.
In the opinion of the
Rating Board, this film definitely contains
some adult material. Parents are strongly
urged to find out more about this film before
they allow their children to accompany them.
An R-rated film may include hard language, or
tough violence, or nudity within sensual
scenes, or drug abuse or other elements, or a
combination of some of the above, so that
parents are counseled, in advance, to take
this advisory rating very seriously. Parents
must find out more about an R-rated movie
before they allow their teenagers to go.
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