The movie ratings system
The average movie patron faces an uphill battle in understanding film ratings, thanks largely to the U.S. influence. The marketing machine that is Hollywood bombards us via social media, television, posters, previews, etc., all of which prominently include the American rating. Unfortunately, the American ratings are quite different than the Canadian ratings.
Typically, each province has its own ratings board, which are supposedly in place to reflect the differences in our community standards across this large nation. In theory that might appeal to some and may on the surface sound noble and endearing — but in practice it can be a real pain. I should point out that the rating system is enforceable by law here in Alberta (unlike the volunteer self-policing in the U.S.). Persistent and repeated infractions can deliver fines and/or suspensions!
Nobody truly wants the government to mandate who can or cannot see certain films (aside from obvious objectionable material). One would hope that parents would be wise enough to be able to escort their children to material that might be more adult — the key being that they be escorted and not allowed to run wild while others are trying to enjoy the picture. At our theatre, we take ratings enforcement seriously and follow it to the letter of the law (and, considering the potential penalties, will continue to do so). This does not always please all patrons, as they point out that they are let in at other theatres, that they have access to anything on DVD and that it is available online — all without restrictions. Our only response to this is to acknowledge their concerns but point out the legislation and potential consequences to noncompliance.
The onus is truly on the consumer to be informed, and with all the tools available online, there really should be no reason to be surprised at content in any given film. For your information, here is our current rating system:
General (G) Suitable for viewing by all ages.
Parental Guidance (PG) Parental guidance is advised. Theme or content may not be suitable for all children.
(14A) Suitable for viewing by persons 14 years of age or older. Persons under 14 must be accompanied by an adult. May contain violence, coarse language, and/or sexually suggestive scenes.
(18A) Suitable for viewing by persons 18 years of age or older. Persons under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. May contain explicit violence, frequent coarse language, sexual activity and/or horror.
Restricted (R) Admittance restricted to persons 18 years of age and older. Content not suitable for minors. Contains frequent sexual activity, brutal/ graphic violence, intense horror and/or other disturbing content.
Please feel free to contact me with your comments or feedback — even an idea for an article — len@moviemill.com. Hope to see you at the movies!