See....this is what confuses me. First, the MPAA explanation of PG:Ziola wrote:Unfortunately, sometimes these forays off topic also get slightly "off-color" and inappropriate and since we are constantly being reminded that there are younger children coming here and that this is a PG/PG-13 they try to keep things moderately clean(ish).
This is a film which clearly needs to be examined by parents before they let their children attend. The label PG plainly states parents may consider some material unsuitable for their children, but leaves the parent to 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. However, these elements are not considered 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 some disagreement. As long as parents know they must exercise parental responsibility, the rating serves as a meaningful guide and as a warning.
and then the MPAA explanation of PG13:
PG-13 is thus a sterner warning to parents, particularly when deciding which movies are not suitable for younger children. 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 must 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 and moviegoing. The voluntary rating system is not a surrogate parent, nor should it be. It cannot, and should not, insert itself in family decisions that only parents can make. Its purpose is to give pre-screened informational warnings, so that parents can form their own judgments. PG-13 is designed to make parental decisions easier for films between PG and R.
Now, in both of these instances, these are things you would not want kids to see without supervision, according to the MPAA. So, it's not like something you'd read aloud in church (Well, you might in mine if you so desired...but that's a different story).
But, let's be realistic and look at the lonelygirl videos. We've got the use of epogen for someone who doesn't have a prescription and probably doesn't need it. Even though that is not a normal illicit drug, it could be considered drug use. It might get an R rating.
Next, we have instances of people killing each other. We have an order hunting down people, kidnapping them, killing them, loading the bodies into the trunk...this is all pretty violent stuff.
So, it's ok to be violent and spend your time obsessing over who is killing who...but then it's wrong to talk about sex? Talk about hunting someone down, setting their building on fire and killing them....but for god's sake, don't talk about having sex with your girlfriend over the nice bonfire!
I'm not complaining...I'm just saying it's pretty twisted that somehow violence, abuse and grief is more approved for children than sex, love and enjoyment.
