Movie Ratings are Buyer Beware
By Teresa Ambord
Are movie ratings useless? Maybe. They may even create more problems than they solve. The rating system that was initiated back in 1968 was intended as a tool for parents to monitor what their children saw. Moviemakers wanted to uphold their obligation to parents by providing heads-up information. That admirable "it takes a village" attitude has all but vanished, overcome by Hollywood's profit-hunger. The theory now seems to be "buyer beware."
Still, unreliable ratings are only part of the problem. Movie theatres are not required to keep your kids out of R rated movies, though 65% do refuse to sell such tickets to kids under 17. So in most theatres, your underage kids can't get into R rated movies, right?
Beating the System
More and more, teenagers admit that beating the rating system is a cakewalk. Even the theaters that are diligent about checking the age of teenagers before selling them tickets to R rated movies pose little problem to determined underage kids. Most theatre employees are too busy and some, too indifferent, to keep a close eye on your teens. So after your 13 year-old presents his ticket to "Finding Nemo", it's a simple matter of ducking into the bathroom first, then choosing whichever theater he wants. Sometimes it doesn't even take that much effort.
Kid's Stuff
Some teenagers will tell you that the R rating may be more of a lure than the movie itself. It's like waving the proverbial flag in front of the bull. Even kids who would actually rather see the PG-13 movie playing in the next theatre are lured by the more exclusive adult rating. The PG-13 rating is like a neon sign shouting "Kid's stuff!" Meanwhile, breaking into the R rated movie is a badge of honor.
But Is PG-13 Really Better Anyway?
Even if you successfully keep your kids out of R rated movies until they are 17, many parents have noticed that movies bearing a PG-13 rating have a great deal of objectionable material, maybe more than some R movies. One trick moviemakers use is a lot of overt sex talk and suggestive gestures, without showing much flesh. If parents think their young teens don't understand the lingo, they should think again.
Other times, after seeing a movie with an R rating, parents leave the theater saying that the film was far less offensive than some PG-13 movies they've seen.
A Better Way
If you think your kids are theater hopping, it could be that the only way to prevent it is to accompany them. Because the likelihood of theaters improving their security policies is pretty slim.
But if you want good advance information about what material is actually in a movie, there are a couple of options. The Hollywood Uplink is a newsletter put out by The Dove Foundation in Grand Rapids, Michigan, a non-profit organization. The Dove Foundation keeps an eagle eye on what the profiteers in Hollywood are passing as acceptable to your children. The newsletter reviews each newly released movie separately, evaluating each for profanity, violence, and nudity.
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