US Ratings and HP swears (was Re: Help from UK viewers/readers? language)

[caliburncy at yahoo.com]

--- In HPFGU-Movie at y..., Joanne0012 at a... wrote:
> --- In HPFGU-Movie at y..., Eliza Duke <goofygirl22_2000 at y...> wrote:
> 
> > Thiswas not a children's film, a children's film is G
> > or PG13.  This was a PG film, I am not shocked that an
> > 11 year old said this.  
> > --- dawncad1 at y... wrote:
> 
> It's my understanding that PG comes between "G" and PG-13 in the
> ratings hierarchy.  Films that are rated PG-13 are not recommended
> for kids under 13.  So HPSS's PG rating means that it's not
> appropriate for the youngest kids, but is OK for kids under 13.

Yes, this is correct.  The MPAA ratings system used in the United 
States works as follows, for any international folks unfamiliar with 
it and interested:

***

G -- General Audiences -- All Ages Admitted

PG -- Parental Guidance Suggested -- Some Material May Not Be 
Suitable for Children

PG-13 -- Parents Strongly Cautioned -- Some Material May Be 
Inappropriate for Children Under 13

R -- Restricted -- Under 17 Requires Accompanying Parent or Adult 
Guardian

NC-17 -- No One 17 and Under Admitted

***

(Also, you can visit www.mpaa.org for more info if you're *really* 
interested, though I can't imagine why you would be.)

In any case, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone is pretty much 
in keeping with typical PG movies these days in terms of 
objectionable content.  Despite popular belief to the contrary, there 
is no concrete "system" by which the MPAA makes its ratings' 
decisions (i.e. no particular number of swear words or particular 
types of swear words or that sort of thing).  There are definitely 
certain *guidelines* and *conventions* along these lines, but the 
final call is made by a board comprised of 8-13 members and based on 
the opinions of those members in a very abstract sense, not a 
checklist or other sort of system, at least according to the MPAA.

So, anyway, parents may object to the use of mild profanity in 
Philosopher's Stone, but they probably shouldn't be particularly 
surprised by it either, because it's relatively consistent with the 
PG rating.

As for the *logic* of Ron saying "bloody" in front of an extremely 
strict teacher without her reacting in turn--that's another matter 
entirely.  I can't really comment on how offensive Prof. McGonagall 
would find this (if at all), because I am not British.

"Arse" on the other hand seems, logically speaking, a reasonable 
enough thing for our dear friend Mr. Draco Malfoy to say when he 
doesn't feel in danger of being overheard.  On the one hand, I 
thought it was a pretty weak piece of dialogue on the whole, but then 
again, despite his continual delusions to the contrary, Mr. Draco 
Malfoy is not a truly witty fellow in general.

-Luke