Check ratings
New movies are being released almost daily. How would you know if they are suitable for your family? MDA has a database of films and videos whose content has been rated to allow you to choose suitable viewing material for your family. So before you choose a movie to go and see or buy a video, remember to check its ratings. The Film Classification database can be accessed here. Read on to see how one mother uses ratings to guide her media choices.
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THESE days, 36-year old housewife, Lily Raja, makes the film database her first stop before bringing her young child to the movies.
She found the extra nuggets of information, provided by the Board of Film Censors, particularly useful for “Clash of the Titans”, a Greek mythological film starring Liam Neeson and Ralph Fiennes.
“Though rated PG, the film had some intense fighting scenes, where Perseus, the son of Zeus, is locked in fierce battles and he cuts off Medusa’s head. Such scenes can frighten children, but at least I was mentally prepared for what to expect, and knew how to explain to Joyce what was happening onscreen.”
If not for the information gathered at a single convenient source, the busy housewife would otherwise have to scour different sources to get the information she needed. |
Since 1 Feb 2010, MDA has enhanced its online film classification database to include additional details about each film. The aim is to provide a better service to parents, adults and members of the public to help them make informed choices. All new films in the database now include a brief synopsis, as well as the rationale for classification. The Film Classification database can be accessed here.
Ratings for films and videos are as follows:
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General
Entertainment that is suitable for the whole family |
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Parental Guidance
Suitable for most, but not all ages. Parents should guide their young as some scenes may be disturbing to children. |
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Parental Guidance 13
Advisable for those aged 13 and above. Some content may be unsuitable for young children. |
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No children under 16
Not appropriate for those below 16 years of age, as films may contain more explicit scenes. |
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Mature 18
For viewers aged 18 and above, these films may contain mature themes which are more suitable for young adults. |
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Restricted 21
For viewers aged 21 and above. These films may contain adult issues, themes and more explicit scenes. |
Become aware
The most important thing is for parents and guardians to be aware and be involved in your children’s choice of media consumption. Click here for some simple tips for parents and guardians to being pro-active and managing the media content their children have access to.
To understand how a movie is rated read MDA’s flims and videos classification process.
Learn more about ratings and consumer advice for the various media