Monday 28 March 2011

*CENSORED* Ratings In The UK vs USA

Hey guys Josh here raising a good point about censoring and the different ways we censor things in 2 of the main countries.


Here in the UK we have several ratings for movies that are clearly stated.But is censorship becoming that much of an issue nowadays? I mean I've overheard kids in the street who aren't even teenagers talking about how their going to play COD when they get home. Now obviously the parents buy the game and see the rating but they don't care because it keeps the kid quiet for a good few hours but its clear why the rating is there. Guns, Violence, Swearing and all that amazing shit. But with films i don't think Ratings are even an object anymore. In the UK we have the following ratings

U - Universal basically means anybody can watch this movie. even aliens apparently

PG - Now the PG rating is seen almost everywhere in the UK and is used on a lot of Disney movies because of some of the dark moments they have in their movies and other undertones. The PG rating is there to state yeah your kid can watch this but it may be a bit scary or have some jokes they wont understand till they're 18.

12A - Now this is the most recent ratings that we have in the UK. 12A means you must be 12 to see this film on your own. But if you have an adult with you then you can see it. Personally i think this should be the case with all films. Have a general age but have an override where if the kid wants to see Freddy Kruger slash some dumb big titted teen then they can. But their parents have to sit there and so their child be scarred. This would make parents more responsible because its their fault if the kid sees the film and they chose to over rule the rating. The blame is solely based on them so they will have the same responsibility they have when they buy little Timmy GTA and question why hes asking what the nice lady on the corner of the street wants. They will have to be honest and say "I'm  a bad parent".

15 - The 15 means you must be 15 or over. Basic yet effective. but i feel most 15's could easily be 12A's nothing is too drastic where the children who get to see a 12A would have seen.


18 - The highest rating which says to most teenage boys "YOUR A MAN NOW. SEE SOME TITS AND VIOLENCE" Yeah i have to admit i saw my first 18 at the age of 5 due to my parents showing me films like "I.T", "Exorcist" (which i laughed at) and "Poltergeist". Now they knew i was aware of all the scary shit but i saw it and ill admit as a kid i had a few nightmares but you grow up and warm to the horror and by the time i was 18 the classic horror films just seemed silly and childish.

Now for you Americans reading this i haven't forgot about you. I'm now going to make sense of your rating system. the same system that gave "Sucker Punch" a film about rape murder sexy outfits and mindless action a PG13. Yet give "The Kings Speech" a film about a guy standing in a booth talking an R rating. They also give films with consensual sex in them an R rating because its realistic and graphic. Yet give rape scene movies a PG13 because its much less realistic and kids aren't going to go raping than have consensual sex.

Now in America you have a few more ratings that are a bit more vivid yet I'm sure kids up and down the nation are being rejected because they don't look old enough. (same story for us) Onto the ratings.

G - General This means that the film can be seen by anybody. But apparently not beings from other planets.

PG - Is pretty much the same as in the UK adults must be with the kids if they want to see this film.

PG13 - now the PG13 has always confused me. Now the official description says "Some content may be inappropriate for children under 13" So why not just make it PG? ( I have the same issue with the 12A i just feel its easier to rant on this rating)

R -The R rating is something i haven't encountered. hell i haven't been turned down for any film because of my age but still i know how notorious it is over the pond. Now this rating means that if the person is under 17 they need an adult. But isn't that just a PG13? AMERICANS WHY YOU NO HAVE ONE GIANT RATING?!

NC-17 - Now this is a new rating to me. i haven't heard of any film getting this rating and i don't want to search because i know if you have to be 18 to see shit in America. Its going to be graphic.

So there you have it. all the ratings in the UK and US of A and what they mean. Personally i think there should be 2 ratings PG and 18A. This rounds things up nice and evenly. If your not an adult GTFO and stick to Disney and Pixar and other PG films. But if your parent want to pay for you to see all the sex and violence you want they have to sit through it with you and take full responsibility for your twisted actions.

What do you think about the ratings system? Comments in the box below.

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