Film Ratings

Importance of specific ratings?• Film ratings are extremely important for the protection of young children.

Some films show explicit content that a child should not be allowed to see due to legal reasons. Often movies might fall into the wrong age rating, such as Juno as previously mentioned but the importance of film ratings as a whole is still not questioned.

• Films such as Spiderman and The Dark Knight, both fall into the 12 category and questions might be raised as to whether this is right? There is considerable violence in the two films and they both suggest that violence is the answer to the cities problems, which might be sending out the wrong message. However, the lack of strong language, drug references and so on mean that the movie falls into the 12 age range category.

12 & or 12A

• 12 is for video’, DVD’ and Blu-ray where as 12A is for the cinema only.

• children under the age of 12 must be ‘accompanied’ by an adult to the cinema to see a particular film.

• Must not have a dark or unsettling tone.

• Must be infrequent use of strong language. (no discriminatory terms)

• Sex may be discreetly portrayed. (usually implied with showing it)

• Imitable behavior must not be dwelled upon.

• Some horror films can be passed.

Juno (Case study) – 12A

• Was originally submitted to BBFC with requested rating of PG.

• The film employs, infrequent strong language (not directed at anyone), moderate sex references, brief sight of gory scene and sex scene (implied, not actually shown).

• Received critical acclaim – trailer, which showed comic sex references, passing mention of hard drugs and one character giving another the ‘finger’ angered parents as it was played before children's films.

Films that have fallen into the wrong category?