The ratings for Ontario are as such (sourced from Wikipedia):
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| Movie Rating Symbols |
- G – General Audience – Suitable for all ages.
- PG – Parental Guidance – Parental guidance advised. There is no age restriction but some material may not be suitable for all children.
- 14A – 14 Accompaniment – Persons under 14 years of age must be accompanied by an adult.
- 18A – 18 Accompaniment – Persons under 18 years of age must be accompanied by an adult. In the Maritimes & Manitoba, children under the age of 14 are prohibited from viewing the film.
- R – Restricted – Admittance restricted to people 18 years of age or older.
These ratings I feel are important to have and reflect modern society. In the United States, the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) has tried to re-define their ratings. As modern movies have more gore and obscene language in them, it is important to keep the audience watching these movies at an appropriate age.
Five movies which I will be rating include:
Gladiator (2000)
This movie was originally rated 18A in Ontario, mainly due to the blood and gore depicted in the battle sequences. I feel that this rating today is far too high as while there are a few instances where profanity is used, it is mainly gore that most people would be accustomed to today just by viewing television or playing modern video games.
Star Trek Into Darkness (2013)
This movie is rated PG in Canada mainly due to science fiction action and some violence. There are also a few instanced where profanity is used. I feel that this is an appropriate rating for this move as it does not depict any gore, has no vulgar profanity and no sex or nudity that would not be otherwise appropriate for television. This is a classic sci-fi action movie appropriate for anyone who is not frightened by the action scenes.
Mean Girls (2004)
This movie is rated 14A for the Canadian market. This rating is mainly due to the sexual content, language and teen partying depicted in the film. I feel that a 14A rating is appropriate as the events depicted in the film occur in secondary school. While the basic premise is appropriate for all ages, the content depicted (vulgarity, usage of alcohol) is not suitable for anyone not old enough to understand that type of humour, which is usually those not already in secondary school over the age of 14.
Frozen (2013)
This movie is rated G in Canada because while it does contain some action and mild crude humour, for the most part it is a children's animated story. There may be some scenes that some would consider frightening to younger audiences, but for the most part, it is overall a movie appropriate for all ages. Oddly, it is rated PG in the United States.
Saving Private Ryan (1998)
This movie varies in rating from province to province. In Quebec, it is appropriate for audiences as young as 13, while in British Columbia, it is rated 18A. In Ontario, it is 14A. The problem with this movie and ratings is it has to do with a combination of gore from the battle scenes and the vulgarity used throughout the film. I feel that because of the content of the movie in relation to modern approaches to television and movies made since then that the Ontario 14A rating is appropriate. Many of the modern video games have taken an approach in their storytelling based on this film, and other games have much more graphic content and vulgarity than this does.