Film It Age Rating

Alright, gather 'round, folks. I've got a tale to tell about something that's been keeping us all up at night, or at least making us squint at the small print on Netflix. I'm talking about those magical, mystical symbols we see before every movie - the age ratings. You know, the ones that decide whether you're old enough to watch a film or if you're still stuck with the animated classics.

When Did This Madness Begin?

Let's rewind the clock to a time when life was simpler, and the only thing we had to worry about was whether our VCRs could handle the newfangled 'letterbox' format. That's right, I'm talking about the 1980s, when the Motion Picture Association (MPA) decided to give us a helping hand with their handy-dandy rating system. They thought, "Hey, let's make it easy for parents to know if their little darlings are about to watch something that'll give them nightmares or just teach them about the birds and the bees." And so, the G, PG, PG-13, R, and NC-17 ratings were born.

Now, I'm not saying the MPA was wrong - heaven forbid I upset the Hollywood bigwigs - but let's face it, they've got a sense of humor that's about as dry as the Sahara. I mean, who decided that 'Parental Guidance Suggested' was a good idea? It's like they were daring us to ask, "Well, what if we don't want parental guidance?"

But Wait, There's More!

You'd think that would be enough, right? Wrong! Oh, so wrong. Because then the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) decided to join the party. And they brought their own unique brand of fun, with ratings like 'U' (for 'Universal', not the galaxy), 'PG', '12', '15', and '18'. And just to keep things interesting, they threw in a '12A' rating, which is basically a '12' but with a warning that you might need an adult to help you understand the plot. Because, you know, 12-year-olds are notorious for their inability to grasp complex narratives.

But here's where things get really wild. In some countries, they've got their own ratings systems. In Australia, they've got an 'M' rating, which stands for 'Mature'. But don't worry, it's not as scary as it sounds. It just means the film has 'moderate impact'. Which, let's face it, is a bit like saying, "It's not that bad, but you might want to keep the volume down so the neighbors don't hear you laughing at the silly accents."

Film Classification Of Various Countries – HQRU

Surprising Facts That'll Blow Your Mind

Now, I know what you're thinking. "This is all well and good, but what about those films that push the boundaries? The ones that make us question our very existence?" Well, hold onto your hats, folks, because I've got some surprising facts that'll blow your mind.

Did you know that the film with the most swear words in history is... wait for it... Monty Python and the Holy Grail? That's right, the British comedy classic has a whopping 47 'fuck' words. And that's not even the most surprising part. The most surprising part is that it's rated 'PG' in the UK. I mean, I've heard 12-year-olds use that word more creatively than that!

Sarah Brown As media : Film classification

And how about this one - the film with the most violence in history is... drumroll please... Bambi? Yep, you read that right. That cute little deer movie has more violent deaths than Saving Private Ryan. I mean, think about it. Bambi's mom gets shot, Thumper's mom gets eaten by a hunter, and then there's that whole forest fire thing. It's like a Disney version of The Revenant.

So, What's the Moral of the Story?

Well, folks, I think the moral of the story is that age ratings are a bit like marmite. You either love them or you hate them. But either way, they're here to stay. So, the next time you're scrolling through Netflix, take a moment to appreciate the little symbol that's guiding your viewing choices. It might not be perfect, but it's certainly... well, it's certainly something.

And who knows? Maybe one day, they'll come up with a rating that's just right for all of us. A rating that says, "This film is perfect for you. It's not too violent, not too sexual, and it won't give you nightmares. But it might make you laugh, it might make you think, and it might just make your evening a little bit better." Until then, we'll just have to make do with 'PG-13' and our own best judgment.