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2. Universal means suitable
for all ages.
PG means parental
guidance.
12 means suitable for age 12 to
view, 12A means suitable for 12
year olds when the film is being
released in the cinema.
Suitable for age 15 and over.
Suitable for age 18 and over.
R18 Adults viewing for
licensed premises only.

3. G- General.
All ages admitted.
PG- Parental guidance suggested.
Not all material is suitable for children.
PG-13:- Parents strongly cautioned.
Parents are strongly cautioned some material not suitable for
children under the age of 13.
R- Restricted.
People under the age of 17 can enter if
accompanied by an adult.
NC-17:- No one under the age of 17
is admitted.
The same as a 18 rating in the UK.

4. The British Board of Film Censors was established in 1912 by the film industry
when local authorities started to impose their own, widely varying, censorship
standards on films.
The BBFC was set up in order to bring a degree of uniformity to those standards.
The object was to create a body which could make judgements that were acceptable
nationally. To this end the BBFC has needed to earn the trust of the local
authorities, Parliament, the press and the public. It must not only be independent,
but be seen to be so, taking care, for example, that the film industry does not
influence its decisions, and that, similarly, pressure groups and the media do not
determine its standards.
Statutory powers on film remain with the local councils, which may overrule any of
the BBFC’s decisions on appeal, passing films we reject, banning films we have
passed, and even waiving cuts, instituting new ones, or altering categories for films
exhibited under their own licensing jurisdiction. However, by the mid-1920s it had
become general practice for local authorities to accept the decisions of the BBFC.

5.  The public became aware of the issues and controversy concerning
film classification was in 1989 with the release of Tim
Burton’s Batman. The BBFC had just brought into existence the new
12 certificate and Batman was the first cinema release in the UK to be
awarded the rating.
There was a fantastic buzz at school the week of Batman’s release as
this was the first time that we could see a movie that was deemed
unsuitable for our younger brothers and sisters.
At the time it was felt by the BBFC that the gap between films rated
PG and Cert 15 was becoming too wide, and as a result the average
12-year old was missing out on a whole series of action and adventure
films that they could easily digest without any social repercussions. Of
course at the same time there were also groups who strongly
condemned the new rating, believing young teenagers would be at risk
to scenes and themes of an unsuitable nature.