Can parents rely on MPAA's R or PG-13 ratings as a guide whether to let their kids watch a movie?
No, according to David Chen of More Than Fine blog. He picked 5 movies released in 2007 to illustrate how the MPAA movie rating system is broken. Take, for instance, the gory animated movie Beowulf:
2. Beowulf
What it was rated: PG-13
What it should have been rated: R
Comments: Despite being animated, this movie features an Angelina Jolie that’s basically naked, a hideous monster that murders - often brutally - dozens of townspeople (for example, he tore one in two and chewed off another one's head, slowly), several impalings, a graphic dislocation of an arm, a graphic severing of an arm, and lots of gore in the slaying of the monsters featured. One character's family is burned alive, although this is only implied off screen. I went to see it in IMAX 3d (a great experience, by any stretch of the imagination) but was disappointed to find out that several families had brought infants in with them to see the film. As I saw Grendel's horrific visage barrel onto the screen, a prelude to his murderous rampage, I myself was on the edge of my seat and just a little frightened. I can't imagine the mental scars that these kids in the audience would have to bear. Beowulf 3D is what little kids' nightmares are made of.
As to -13 vs. R ratings, my only concern is the nightmare issue. Both boys recently watched the Lord of The Rings set with me, and there were no problems. My ex, however, took them to see I Am Legend, and my 8 y.o. got the heebies.
With movies as with mature video games, I just think kids should not be exposed too soon: innocence is so easily lost and can never be recovered.
peach y'all
Also, I think in general film companies will allow a lot more violence if it is in a historical context, because somehow that makes it okay. Saving Private Ryan was probably the most brutal and traumatic films I've seen in terms of impact, yet it was only a 15. I've seen quite a few 18s which aren't half as bad as some "historical" 15s. I don't think that an eduational context makes something less traumatic (in fact because it actually happened it could be argued that it's MORE traumatic).
Maybe there should be a system like there is on DVD cases (don't know if you have this in America) where the content of the film is explained (violent content, sex/nudity, language etc.) for cinemas too. It's a lot more helpful than a blanket age limit.
Also ratings for games should be rethought out too. They're usually wrong, and the PEGI ratings don't count for much either.