Saturday, March 25, 2017

Movie Rating Systems: Do they protect audiences?

In the United States, a movie rating system is used to inform people, particularly parents, on the content of movies so they can make informed decisions on what their children should watch. Such ratings are influenced by the movie's content including drugs, violence, and language. The ratings include G, PG, PG-13, R, and, NC-17. Personally, I think the ratings can give me a general idea on what might be appropriate for my kids, but each person's value system or tolerance for certain content can be influenced by personal background, religion, or family beliefs. In fact, there are some movies that are considered appropriate for teenagers that I find offensive, so the rating system might not be as useful.

So, what about in your countries? Are movies rated in any way to inform audiences of the content? If so, describe the system and then tell whether you think it is an effective method of protecting children from harmful material.

Randall

77 comments:

  1. Hi, my name is Robin and I live in Taiwan. When it comes to the movie rating system, we set the three categories for rating movies. One is for everyone, another requires parents to accompany, the other is for adults above 18. Generally, the system creates a standard based on what most of people (out of the 60,70,80 percent, maybe) would feel right about. However, the drawback could grab chances for some others to see movies they love. Censorship could block the communication between filmmakers and audience. Though some make it in the name of protecting people from mind-polluting materials, others think it's just the other way to make things under control.

    ReplyDelete
  2. My name's Ivan, I' from Russia. In Russia there is no such system and if it exists it doesn't work. I'll be short - any system is better than nothing, of course if it works.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I'm Bill.
    I'm from Taiwan.

    We have four rating
    1. general
    2. under 18 can't see
    3. under 12 can't see
    4. under 6 can't see

    Do they protect audiences? No.

    Movie Rating System is not very useful.
    People still can rent or buy PG-13 and NC-17
    movie DVD.

    Children still can
    watch drugs, violence, sex scene on movie DVD.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hi, my name is Gerrard and i live in south korea. In my opinion, it's ture that the rating systems protected us who not required age to see the movie that have violence and murder etc.
    because our countrys need to identification which requires to appropriate age and name to see movie.

    ReplyDelete
  5. As I know, Korea has 3 grades rating system. "For everyone", "For over fifteen", "For over eighteen".

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hi. my name is Kate. I am from Russia. In our country we have not got so hard the moving rating system as in England. But some directors of movies notice about violence in their movies. But it dose not work in our country, becouse children has access to internet and they can watch what they want.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hi,my name is Sandy,I'm from Taiwan,in my opinion, although the current movie rating system can't avoid children watching about drugs,sex,and violence,in a fact,internet is also too popular to prevent children from unallowable website,it still provide the standard to public,at least let we know what movie is appropriate for children.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hi ,my English name is George.In my country we don't have any problems about movies.Actually in my country televetion is under control of government,so everybody in each range of age can watch T.V,and about rating movie is the same.There is no categore for that.Of course everybody can rent every move illigaly or watch it by internet.In this case there isn't any control on it.

    ReplyDelete
  9. In Japan, there is also the system which prohibits people from watching movies because of their age. However, I feel it is not working. Children can rent movies which they cannot rent them legal.Unfortunately, movies restricted by age tend to fascionate many children.So in my opinion, its up to each child's conscience.

    ReplyDelete
  10. In Taiwan, there are four levels in the scale. Fist, General level; second, Kids under 6 can't watch and parents need to accompany kids aged 6-12; third, kids under 12 are prohibited and parents need to be side of chids aged 12-18; the last one level prohibits childs under 18 to watch.
    Generally speaking, I think the rating system still has its value. It provides general information for parents to make the decusion of whether it's a family movie or not. Although the Internet makes people download the movie easily without any prohibition, we still can't deny the value of movie rating systwm. I think we should develop another rating system in the Internet and also devide websites into different age level to protect our kids.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Hello!My name is Irina and I'm from Russsia. As Ivan said in our country if there is such system, it doesn't work normally. Of course there is age limit (for example - to watch porno movies):
    for children and for adults (above 18).

    ReplyDelete
  12. Hi, my name Duong and I live in Vietnam.In my country ,there isn't the movie rating system, but have a control board censors films that play in VN. Anyway, I think it's not useful to protect audiences because everybody of every age can buy unauthorized DVDs easily.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Hi,my name is Linda and i am a chinese young girl.In china, there has strict movie system.china is a traditional country and goverment constitute a lot of rules to restrict the movie rating system.some kind of movie can be showed in cinema everyone, such as Horror, Comedies,Love,Foreign films.but if you want to watch x-film or the movie which only for adults above 18,you can to rent from personal owner or to purchase the DVD by yourself.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Hi! My name is Marisol and I'm mexican! In the case of Mexico, we use A B C or D to denominate a movie.
    A is for all the family
    B is for teenagers and adults
    C is for adults
    D is for adults with a content of violence, sex and whatever strong content.
    I'm not sure if this way is good, because sometimes doesn't matter if the movie is B some parents permit that their children watch the movie, and sometimes this children dont have a good age.
    I think that is important that the parents check the content of the movies that their children watch because I consider that this way is massive and sometimes can help but also can affect.

    ReplyDelete
  15. I really don't know what rating system in China though I'm a movies buff.the country film management department have very strictly control before every film coming on.So,in cinema,you just can watch the film which have been clipped a lot.about how to pick up some film for kits,my experiences is pick it up after yourself have been watched it in China.and I'm very enjoy it because I'm a film crazy man.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Hi my name is Jin and I live in Japan. Well there are some ratings on each vedio cases but i dont really think it works.They are telling people content of the vedio by showing the certain age for the certain people like following:
    1.全年齢(which means for all ages)
    2.15歳以上(which means 15 years old above)
    3.18歳以上(which means 18 years old above)
    And there is a sigh before the door says 18 over means that you are not allowed to get in unless you are over 18. I think sometimes it is really vague and not responsible to just inform them of it indirectly but tell them directly. Because you will never know whether the kids has looked at the inappropriate potential viedo.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Hi ... My name is abdussalam ... I'm from suadia arabia
    In my country we have Islamic protection system ... no sex scene,no Ironically religion(( Islam-Christians-Jewish))

    ReplyDelete
  18. I agree that Movie rating systems are protect young men against the violence of influence. i am sure violence and sexual movies have bad effect on young men.

    lee eun won in korea

    ReplyDelete
  19. I'm from Colombia. In my country there are a clasification depending the ages range.
    general (all ages)
    Under 12 years can't see
    plus 18 years can see

    It's a good systems. Sometimes it's difficult to enforce it, overall with teenagers near to eighteen years old.

    ReplyDelete
  20. My name is Russell from Taiwan. There are three movie ratings in my country, and the movie rating system works well there. In my opinion, we do need a faultless movie rating systems to protect children, and even websites and TV programs need to be filtered by these kind of rating systems.

    ReplyDelete
  21. I live in HK, and we have the movie ratings including I, II and III.
    I- for everyone
    II- for everyone but including harmful material
    III-for 18 or above

    this rating of course cannot make children avoiding the drugs, violence and sex materials. Although in cinemas you may dhow your identity cards but not very restricted. On the other hand, children can choose what they like without parental guidelines and check and overlook the the rating.
    Honestly, nowadays children can easily accese to the harmful material in internet.
    Therfore, the rating is just for reference. If government want to restrict children to watch movies involving the harmful material, then must enhance check system and manpower. But it work only in cinema and insignificance for children to touch these material in other chances.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Movie rating systems can't protect audiences. These days, there are many illegal websites that spread lots of X-rated movies. Children have easy access to those movies.
    Therefore, in my opinion, censorship is a efficient way to protect audiences.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Hello, nice to meet you. I'm June from China. In our country, movie rating is not existed. That is because we have a department to check movies that have been produced whether they can be published or not. So movies with too much violence or other bad things are forbidden.

    ReplyDelete
  24. hi,my name is zainab,and I am from Iran.I am sure that rating system is useful for audience and protect them,but im my country,we dont have such a this system.Actually no body fallow the copy right.most of the pepole have writer,and write the CDs.so getting the CDs is easy.

    ReplyDelete
  25. adelino a duarteMay 6, 2009 at 4:40 AM

    I am Adelino, from Brasil. In my country the movies are rated by ages. I think it is very good for children and teenagers cause to prevent bad behavior ou not good exemples. We need to fight to send good messages especially to our children.

    ReplyDelete
  26. hey,i didnt really had any idea about the rating movie system here in philippines ,so i searched and figured it out..somehow:D
    in the philippines motion pictures are rated by the'movie and television review and classification board.there are the rating currently used:
    GP
    PG-13(parental giudance for age under 13)
    R-restricted for persons below 17
    R-13
    R-18
    X(not for public view)

    i guess this whole rating thing is somehow useful,i mean there are thousands of movies out there that are not appropriate for all of us.and also preventing somebody from watching a movie that is not ok for him,AINT GONNA KILL HIM right?

    ReplyDelete
  27. In my country,we have the same rated movies, but not in detail. There are only three types:G,P,and R.Personally, I think the parents take children to see a movie, easily finding suitable film. They don't need to see a movie in advance.To be honest,the children,under adult's age,are not enough ability to confirm better or worse movies. Actually,I agree that movie rating system should protect audiences except resisting the systems.

    ReplyDelete
  28. In my country,we have the same rated movies, but not in detail. There are only three types:G,P,and R.Personally, I think the parents take children to see a movie, easily finding suitable film. They don't need to see a movie in advance.To be honest,the children,under adult's age,are not enough ability to confirm better or worse movies. Actually,I agree that movie rating system should protect audiences except resisting the systems.(amy)

    ReplyDelete
  29. Hello my name is Joel and I live in Ecuador. Here we have three rating movies. The general that can see everybody, the other nneds to be with parents, and the last one is only for 18 years above.
    I think that this is a very good idea because the childrens cannot see some movies that have violence or other bad things.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Hi, I live in Ecuador and is similar for example in the cinema the movies are grade with ages but a kid can enter to whatever movie I f is with a old person.

    ReplyDelete
  31. In my Country ECUADOR there are some trailers that explain to people how the movies that will be in movies centers, will content into it. So people often look to trailers first. Another way is that cinemas clasifield the movies so children minor than x age can see a movie snd they do the same in the rest of ages.

    ReplyDelete
  32. HI MY NAME IS MELONI!! IN MY COUNTRY THE MOVI RATING IS IN THE CINEMA DOWN THE EACH MOVIE SAYS IF IT GENERALLY FOR 12 OR MORE..16 O MORE.. 18 O MORE.. OR JUST ADULTS!!! WHEN YOU want to see a movie for 18 or adults you haveto present you IDCARD!!!

    ReplyDelete
  33. Hi, My name is Zain and I live in Karachi,Pakistan. I study in Fast university and we are using your website to improve our english listening skills.

    I agree that that the current rating system prevalent does not protect youngsters in our country.
    We have about two or three good cinemas in our city. These cinemas are visited only by rich and respectable families. Even they allow young kids into PG-18 movies.
    so there should be more thorough checking at the cinemas.

    ReplyDelete
  34. My name is Hasan.I live in karachi,Pakistan.
    In my country the movies are not rated by ages. I think it is very bad for children and teenagers to prevent bad behavior and set good exemples. We need to start an awareness campaign to prevent children from violence related movies.

    ReplyDelete
  35. hi my name is Juanid Saeed and i live in Pakistan. As i live in Pakistan,a muslim country,where rating system is strict and this really help to catagorized the movies . The rating system protects audience in sense that restrict certain audience to watch it . it obvious protect the audience .

    ReplyDelete
  36. Hi!! My name is Jorge and I from Colombia. In Colombia today is common see again people go to the cinema because the new technology 3-D Digital is exciting. although, there are another people preffers to see pirated dvd movies (illegal copies)at home.

    ReplyDelete
  37. Hi, my name is Nadia, I'm from Brazil. In my country the rating system is simmilar to others. The television rates just show the appropriateness age for an specific movie or soap opera, but it's like an advice to the parents. The most part of the children whatches them. In the other hand, movies forbid the entrance of kids, depends on the movie rate. I think we should have the right to choose.

    ReplyDelete
  38. Hi, my name is Karen I'm from Colombia,about the movie rating systems well i think that it depends on the person age; we can see a sort of type of movie but also the ugly true can help us to see the world as it is and we can't change it.

    There are some movies which terms are so boring and silly that they don't provoke to see them, althougth another movies which message is so important and mean something and you can follow in your normal life.

    ReplyDelete
  39. Hi, my name is Raphaëlle and I live in France. I think that this movie rating system is good because it indicate to parents if their children can see a film or not. In France, in film theater, people know the approximative age to have to see a movie. On television, four signals indicate that a film is forbidden to a children under such an age. They advise against wildly scenes or scenes which contain sex acts. This signalling permit to parents to decide knowingly. Parents keep clear of to allow their children to see a film or not. They able to adapt a situation to their chilren.

    ReplyDelete
  40. Hi, my name is soo. when it comes to the movie rating system, we should have been more carefully to people who are teenager or less than 18years old. In my country, many parents would be allowed to see movies to their children but, they strongly fouse on age. What I mean is that here's system is seperated into 3rates. first, everyone can see it, limiting teenagers of view and last one is above 18. People should keep on this rules. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  41. Hi, my name is Hanna from Korea.
    I don't really remember about Movie Rating Systems in Korea.
    But the movie theather checked customer's I.D seriously. It's a big deal rating movie by age, so it makes some movies cut off some sceans for getting appropriate rating.(it means for getting more visitors)It could be sure it's quite controversial issue in Korea.

    ReplyDelete
  42. Hi
    my name is Amal,I'm from Saudi Arabia,specifically from Qassem state.Actually,in my country there is no system for renting movies.It is just spicializing shops rents any kind of movies except pornographic one.

    ReplyDelete
  43. Hi, my name is A-Tse and live in Taiwan. In Taiwan, the movie rating system sets up four ratings according to the movies’ content. In my opion, although the movies have been rating, but the audience always don’t want to follow the rating standards to chose movies that they can watch. Besides, the theater owners and movie shop keepers don’t sell tickets or rent DVDs to people according to the rating standards. When all people don’t want to follow the ratings, the system can’t work as its purposes.

    ReplyDelete
  44. Hi! I from Russia too (like Ivan and Irina). And I fully agree with both. In my opinion parents have to make such rating for their kids. Only family can protect a child from probable influence of some harmful movies.

    ReplyDelete
  45. Hi
    I am from Cote d ivoire.
    I may think movies rating is usefull as far as it is applied to all medias. Most of childrens watch National TV where is no such policy. Actually, i am not suprised to held a conversatin about LOVE,DEATH,GUNS with my 8 years old's nephew. We had better to set a similar policy for TV in my country.

    Best Regards

    ReplyDelete
  46. I don't remember the movie rating system in Taiwan. Frankly speaking, I don't pay much attention to it. Now the internet survice and PC are so popular here that government censorship may not work well. I do agree the movies involved violence, sex, and drugs are not suitable for the children. Parents should be responsible for the children and choose good movies for them.

    ReplyDelete
  47. Hello, I'm Anna.

    to be honest in Russia we have no very strict system of renting moovie. I mean anyone can come and rent any movie he wants. Of course we have some limits - for example notes on DVD - under 14, under 18. But as I told even little child can come and rent movie (under 14) for money. I don't like this system and I think it would be better if our shop-assistance were more responsible!

    from russia.

    ReplyDelete
  48. Hi, my name is Serkan and I live in Turkey.Firstly i want to tell you that,child who are able to access to the internet can easly download movies what he/she wants.They don't prefer to buy DVD or CD movie because of the priceses.Secondly altough there is a catogory about TV Series and programs but it is not included for the movides that is being sold.
    However Adults and parents are not giving enough attention for this problem and childs is growing like a sting on a river.I mean The river send him what the situtation is.Of course We must make a set do deliver it to the right point

    ReplyDelete
  49. Hi, Randell, I am Japanese.
    In Japan, I think we have restriction for under 18.(R-18)

    I did't know U.S. have so many restrictions.

    I think those restrictions are nessessary especially for kids.

    ReplyDelete
  50. Many people like to watch move to have fun and enjoy their time , I advise you to do same thing.

    thank you mis windy for lesson.
    Good buy....

    ReplyDelete
  51. control world said:

    Hie mis windy I wrote another comment because I afraid I will not do it by good way so my comment is ; first I think many people like to watch move because it is make them happy and also they enjoy their time so,I advise who read this comment to have fun to ..... thank you for read.

    ReplyDelete
  52. control world said :
    hi mis wendy I think many pepole like to watch movie because it's make us happy and enjoy our time so I advice to go and take fun time .
    thank you for reading my comment.

    ReplyDelete
  53. Hi, my name is sun and I live in south korea. In my country, there are 4 rating system that includes 7,12,15,19. Such rating system is helpful. But the great part, watching is personal choice.

    ReplyDelete
  54. I think that the European movie rating system is straightforward. It indicates the age under which children are not allowed to watch the film, and it indicates whether the film contains horror, violence, and so on. Now, it is just a matter of knowing if parents do comply with the movie rating system.

    ReplyDelete
  55. Hi, Im from Japan.

    Based on the rating system, we have two kind of movies that you have to be over certain age to see them. One is that, which contains so many erotic scenes which I really appreciate!, and the other one is that, which consists of so many violent and gory scenes. Those kind of movies have a special mark; for example on the package of the movies, therefore, people can see it easilly that the movies are appropriate for their kids or not. It could protect many audience. Sometimes the rating system is not perfect, still, at least it gives people a general idea of the movies.

    thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  56. Hi everybody!
    In my country the movies are divided into three categories: for children (to 12, for teenagers and adults.
    I don't find this rating is useful. We live in a country where everything can be faked, so everybody has a copy of the movie at home and most of times, children or teenagers can watch it without parental supervising.

    ReplyDelete
  57. Hi, I'm Hochang, Korean, but I live in New York now.
    It's hard to answer exactly. Because we have to consider both of movie producer and audiences. And any systems couldn't protect all bad things. But what we have to know is the fact that we need some systems for protecting audiences.

    ReplyDelete
  58. Hello, my name is Eriko. Where I live, in Japan, I do not often see the wovie with such restriction. Personally I think there are less films with the age restriction. The possible reason is, I guess, that a film which is under rating system in other countries is not considered as one that should be restricted in Japan.

    ReplyDelete
  59. Hi,My name is Liza and I live in Philippines,we have a government agency called MTRCB and they are responsible for rating movies.
    here it goes;
    * G or GP - General patronage. All ages admitted.
    * PG-13 - Parental Guidance. Children under 13 must be accompanied by an adult.
    * R - Restricted. Children under 17 must be accompanied by an adult aged 18 or older.
    * R-13 - Strictly for persons 13 years and over
    * R-18 - Strictly for adults
    * X - Not for public viewing

    * The PG-7 (between GP and PG-13), parental guidance for children below seven years old was phased out.

    ReplyDelete
  60. I'm Miguel from Spain.
    I don't know really wich are the exact grades to allow or not the displaying of a film in my country. I know there is a system and a range but I ignore all about it.
    In my opinion, this system is necessary but, on the other hand, I think is not usefull. Obviously, children can see whatever movie that they want to watch. Furthermore, there are a lot of video-games with an upper grade of violence than the more violent movies. In most of them, the protagonist (the child) becomes an assasin or terrorist. For those games exist the same system to allow or not depending the age, but who can play this games whether the children?

    ReplyDelete
  61. Hi, My name is Julianna and a live in Brazil. Here, usually, the movies informed about the suittable age for wacht each movie. But, we have many soap operas, that make the same thing and the many children watches.

    ReplyDelete
  62. Hi, I´m Laura. I often take a look in the comments before renting a movie. It helps me a lot.

    ReplyDelete
  63. Hi, my name is Danil, i am from Russia.
    My country does not have strong rating protection for children, who are watching movies. I think, the only thing that can protect children from viewing prohibited content is their parents, education and sport.

    Best Regards

    ReplyDelete
  64. My country does not have strong protect rated system.
    The only thing can protect children from viewing prohibited content is their parents, education and sport.

    Best Regards

    ReplyDelete
  65. Hey my name is hossam
    from Egypt

    The Rating Moving system in Egypt
    basically there is no rating movie system in my country
    anyone can enter any movie that he likes

    ReplyDelete
  66. I can love or hate horror movies it depends of the topic, if it is about a serial killer or vampires, zombies I love them; if it is about devil or ghosts I hate them because I cant sleep for months

    ReplyDelete
  67. In my country Mexico, are some categories or rating system to make people's expects what they could watch in the movie, but I think this system is broken because in some cinemas the personal allows the underage can enter in to watch the movies, without request them their ID. That's the big problem and the root of all.

    ReplyDelete
  68. Hello, I am from VietNam. In my country, Internet is so popular. So everyone can see any kind of film they want with no prohibition. I think everyone has a freedom.But in my country, children usually is under control by their parent, this is a good thing.

    ReplyDelete
  69. unfortunatley in my country anyone can enter any movie he likes without any observation or censorship and this reason of destroys millions of kids in my country and around the world

    ReplyDelete
  70. Where I live, Brazil, the most popular kind of rating is the schedule.When people wake up and go to watch TV, they will see news and some kids programs.During afternoon, the variety of programs is the biggest as possible.The most problem is at night, when you can see films or TV shows that may not have respect with children.
    So, If you are in brazil, the warning is to pay attention at the night's programs, because you can see things that you would not like see.
    One more thing: at night, there are good programs too!

    ReplyDelete
  71. In my point of view, if i want to watch a movie, i will watch that trailer and read reviews of that film. So i can choose the right movie for my self. If you are parents, i think that a good way for you to decide which film is appropriate for your family and your child.

    ReplyDelete
  72. I'm from Nicaragua, Although we have some categories for movies such as PG13, PG, Pg 16, R, UR an so on. Many of the movies theater here don't care about them, therefore if you are 15 or 16 years old and you want to see Fifty Shadows of Grey you can go and almost all the cinemas are going to sell the ticket and allow you to watch it.

    On the other hand if you don't want to risk yourself to have an embarrassed moment you can go with a friend or familiar who is 18 or older and you'll always get your ticket.

    ReplyDelete
  73. Well, there is a movie rating system in our country such as PG-13, PG-18 and more. However, the thing is, it is really easy to go to the cinema to go to watch an movie without knowing how old you are!. Recently, one of my friends went to the cinema about a horror movie and even the workers did ask her about her age, she still can lied and go through to that movie room!

    ReplyDelete
  74. Well, here, in Brazil, the ratings are good. I mean, at the afternoon it's a superb time for watching funny movies, action ones, drama, etc. However, in the night the movies are more appropriate for adults despite kids watch this kinda movie all the time. In fact, I believe it's the parents fault, who let their kids watch this stuff

    ReplyDelete
  75. Recently, In Russia all movies are rated, for example 0+, 6+, 16+ etc.Where number means minimum age of audiences of the content. I have not estimated this system yet. Sometimes it looks as useful, sometimes as useless.

    ReplyDelete
  76. I think the restrictions in USA are very good G, PG, PG-13, R, and, NC-17 give us idea about the film

    ReplyDelete
  77. hello everybody, in turkey all movies are rated I think it is so necessary for children so that parents can make decisions on what their children should watch.

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for posting a comment. I appreciate your interesting in sharing your ideas.

Best,

Randall

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.