MPAA Ratings

I do not believe in MPAA ratings. Growing up my mother made a family rule; no PG-13 or R-rated movies. For the most part I followed that rule... at least when I was at home. :) I am glad she laid down rules on what type of entertainment was appropriate and what was not for us as children. it never ceases to amaze me how some parents let their kids just watch whatever.

I did see a few PG-13 movies at my friends homes while growing up, but the first PG-13 movie I ever saw in the theater was 'Pirates of the Caribbea' when I was a Senior in high school. Looking back that might seem like I was sheltered... and maybe I was, but I like to think my mind might have been more pure and innocent...

Today I rented a movie that was PG-13 in the theaters but NOT RATED for its DVD release. I wanted to watch it though and so was a little worried I would have to turn it off, but to my surprise I found the movie to be fairly clean; no cursing, no sex scene, and no bloody violence.

This summer I saw an R-rated movie that was not edited for the first time and was surprised to find that it was not this horrible, satanic, pornographic, super-bloody movie, but a fairly clean movie with a great message. My whole life I had been taught that R-rated movies are, essentially, "of the devil," yet I have found that while some R-rated movies may be inappropriate for any age - it really depends on what movie it is!

There are a lot of great R-rated movies that have good messages and stories in them and a heck of a lot PG and PG-13 movies that are kind of raunchy. So yes I will continue to be selective of the entertainment I choose to watch, but throw the ratings out the window. Who rates them anyway? What are those people's values? And if they rate every movie from G to NC-17, who says they have a clear mind to rate a movie appropriately?