Date: Fri, 19 Dec 1997 02:46:47 GMT Server: CONNECTnet[welp3]/1.0 Connection: close Content-Type: text/html Last-Modified: Thu, 30 Oct 1997 00:52:26 GMT ETag: "8fc07-3262-3457da4a" Content-Length: 12898 Accept-Ranges: bytes Ernie Defines the Ratings

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

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.

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.

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.

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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