BY Jeremy Wiggins, AFA media editor

June 2011 – I love movies – sit in a comfy chair, maybe add some popcorn, kick my feet up and hope I'll be entertained for the next hour and a half.

Another thing I hope for: that I’m not going to see something on the screen that offends my values. For a family these days, watching movies has gone from being able to let your guard down and be entertained, to having to be constantly vigilant, guarding yourself from whatever may come up next.

The Bible says, “Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable” (Philippians 4:8). Unfortunately, what movie makers try to pass off as entertainment these days definitely does not fall into the pure category.

For me as a dad, I’ve had to learn not to trust movie ratings. I have three children, all under 10 years old. I would like to be able to trust Hollywood to do the right thing when it comes to being family friendly, but I often find myself disappointed with what makes its way onto the big screen. The rating of a movie doesn’t necessarily give parents much insight into what they could be viewing.

The Motion Picture Association of America provides content ratings – G, PG, PG-13, R, NC-17. Sounds simple, but consider the following rating descriptions taken directly from the MPAA Web site.

MPAA: G – The G rating is not a “certificate of approval,” nor does it signify a “children’s” motion picture. Some snippets of language may go beyond polite conversation, but they are common everyday expressions. Depictions of violence are minimal.

Me: I thought G-rated films were children’s films, but apparently that isn’t always the case. And remember that you are letting others decide what exactly is an “everyday expression,” and they may not be as particular as to what their children hear as you are about yours.

MPAA: PG – The PG rating indicates, in the view of the Rating Board, that parents may consider some material unsuitable for their children, and parents should make that decision. There may be some profanity and some depictions of violence or brief nudity. But these elements are not deemed so intense as to require that parents be strongly cautioned beyond the suggestion of parental guidance.

Me: A PG movie may contain nudity and profanity, with some depictions of violence. But lets be honest, how many parents think a PG rating is “safe” for their family?

MPAA: PG-13 – A PG-13 motion picture may go beyond the PG rating in theme, violence, nudity, sensuality, language, adult activities or other elements, but does not reach the restricted R category. More than brief nudity will require at least a PG-13 rating, but such nudity in a PG-13 rated motion picture generally will not be sexually orientated.

Me: I get it. The board may deem a film to be PG-13, even if under other circumstances it would be rated R. What makes them think it is good for any 13-year-old to be exposed to profanity, obscenity and nudity?

MPAA: R – An R-rated motion picture may include adult themes, adult activity, hard language, intense or persistent violence, sexually-orientated nudity, drug abuse or other elements, so that parents are counseled to take this rating very seriously.

NC-17 – The rating simply signals that the content is appropriate for only an adult audience. An NC-17 rating can be based on violence, sex, aberrational behavior, drug abuse or any other element that most parents would consider too strong and therefore off-limits for viewing by their children.

Me: What’s the point? Here’s my point: Why even have the middle grade ratings? Why bother with PG, PG-13 and R? A movie is either appropriate for children or it isn’t. And another thing: Is it even appropriate for anyone? Can we as parents justify to our children that something we might find entertaining is not appropriate for them?

Realistically it’s either biblically appropriate or not. Jesus said, “[I]f your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the Kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell” (Mark 9:47). We parents should all keep both eyes wide open and well-focused on what Hollywood is offering to us and our children.   

Family friendly films a dad would like – most available at afastore.net, 800-326-4543, option 3

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Sue Thomas: FBEye AFA Journal  article 02/2004
The Potential Inside AFA Journal review 04/2011