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OCTOBER 19, 2005 at 1:31 PM
Posted by GERI
Source: CBBC Newsround
The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) has given
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire a 12A rating in the UK. The rating means that children under 12 can go and see it but only if they are with a parent or guardian. According to the BBFC the rating was given because the movie is "scarier and darker" than the others.
In an interview with CBBC Newsround, Helen Pang of the BBFC discusses the process in deciding the ratings and the reason why GoF received the rating it did:
The latest Harry Potter film is much darker and scarier than the previous three, which were all classified PG (Parental Guidance, suitable for people aged around 8 or older).
So Examiners decided that the 12A was the most suitable category, as younger or more sensitive viewers could be frightened by some of the more intense scenes (which I can't reveal as you'd get upset with me!).
The ending was a shock too, although maybe if you have read the books, you'll be expecting it anyway.
At 12A, we allow moderate level violence, but without focus on injuries or blood. We also allow scenes of threat and horror, but only if there is little 'gore'.
The UK rating seems similar to the one in the U.S., which was released back in August.
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Auror
Points: 2559
TonksUSA says:
well I'm glad that the UK and the US are on the same page.
Posted Oct 19, 2005 at 7:15 PM EST
Sirius's Veil Thrower
Points: 4655
SiriusBlacksGodDaughter says:
I agree with you juliebug04, some younger kids will be scared. I'm glad that they did do this, but I'm going to be mad if what we envisioned (given that it's a PG-13 rated movie) is all wrong and there's nothing that scary about it. It'll just ruin the movie for everyone, and believe me we don't want that! Now, do we? I know I don't!
Posted Oct 19, 2005 at 7:17 PM EST
Professor
Points: 1013
hpotter_gweasley says:
It's good that UK and US have the same rating, although not surprising though.
Posted Oct 19, 2005 at 7:19 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2682
hplovergurl says:
I think it is good that America and the UK are rating their movies about the same. I hope it is a little scary, because the book is a bit scarier than the other ones!
Posted Oct 19, 2005 at 7:22 PM EST
Prefect
Points: 341
lik3_wh0a says:
That's not a surprise at all..I mean we've already heard of the PG13 rating, so the 12A rating is perfectly reasonable...Nothing new
Posted Oct 19, 2005 at 7:38 PM EST
Witch
Points: 739
Morgan Evans says:
I knew it would be!! It was only a matter of time!! This one is much too scary for the littler kids!!
Posted Oct 19, 2005 at 7:44 PM EST
Squib
Points: 108
XxX-hp superfan-XxX says:
It's good to be rated like that, but I CAN'T WAIT FOR THE MOVIE ONLY 29 DAYS!! ( why is so long?)
Posted Oct 19, 2005 at 7:52 PM EST
The Chosen One
Points: 9942
Gryffindor Dude says:
That kind of sucks for the younger kids. I am glad that I am 15 and I can get into the PG-13 movies here. The movies better never get rated R...
Posted Oct 19, 2005 at 7:57 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1375
'Arry + Hermy says:
Wow, 12A! Holy, that is way higher than what I expected! This is the highest ratings Harrp Potter has every recieved, I can just imagine what the HBP will get.
Posted Oct 19, 2005 at 8:07 PM EST
Princess of Erised
Points: 3635
Chrystalball says:
The first ones were more kid orientated, but now the kids are getting older, more adult themes are coming out. It is appropriate!
Posted Oct 19, 2005 at 8:25 PM EST
Crookshanks Caretaker
Points: 3836
hermionefan1 says:
Not a real surprise since ares is PG-13 in the US. I figured as much. I just hope it doesn't loose its younger fan base because of the ratings.
Posted Oct 19, 2005 at 8:29 PM EST
Singularly Gifted Witch
Points: 5157
Medea says:
Hearing 12A makes it seem less dark than I anticipated (even though I know it's PG-13). Of course I wouldn't want to bar the younger fans, but I would also love it if it were deserving of a more mature rating ... hopefully we'll see that by HBP time
Posted Oct 19, 2005 at 8:50 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2079
kermittounette says:
I thought that it was going to be something like that... I'm older than that so... yes!
Posted Oct 19, 2005 at 8:51 PM EST
Prefect
Points: 399
pixichik118 says:
oh, it's going to stay that way, right?
What's the next hightest rating? I mean it's not that bad..
Posted Oct 19, 2005 at 9:04 PM EST
Student
Points: 245
Black Illusions says:
I think it's fine. I have read the books and it makes sence.
Posted Oct 19, 2005 at 9:14 PM EST
Prof. of Cultural Literacy
Points: 4469
PowerGranger says:
It'll be interesting to see what the younger fans think of this "darker, scarier" film when they see it, since they've read the books already and know what's going to happen. Some people find reading things more scary than seeing them acted out (me), while others get really creeped out seeing things happen. At any rate, if it is as scary as the ratings reflect, then Newell is on the right track for GoF!
Posted Oct 19, 2005 at 9:27 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 2nd Class
Points: 1780
TheOtherMinister says:
I hope this means the movie's darker than POA, because the actors kept saying last year that POA was the darkest ever. This also means I won't have to have kids around during the 2 1/2 hours.
Posted Oct 19, 2005 at 9:35 PM EST
Professor
Points: 1090
Octavian Petronius says:
Yeah, I would say that rating is just about the same as the one in the States. They have good reason to believe that parents should decide for younger viewers because some people are more impressionable than others and can be affected by little things.
Posted Oct 19, 2005 at 9:39 PM EST
Wind Made Solid
Points: 2579
GryffindorGrad99 says:
Gosh, it's been such a long time since I've had to think about movie ratings! But obviously this is a sign that the movie has really been stepped up a notch and will be more action filled and realistic.
Posted Oct 19, 2005 at 9:55 PM EST
Witch
Points: 978
Jaclyn Potter says:
That sounds about right. I am so excited for the movie I honestly can't wait another second. This rating makes the movie seem even more exciting!
Posted Oct 19, 2005 at 10:05 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2465
undisputed760 says:
So its basically the same as PG-13 cause kids 12 and under cant see those without the parent either. I think that is a good rating.
Posted Oct 19, 2005 at 10:09 PM EST
Professor
Points: 1126
Dumbledore's girl 4 ever says:
12 is not that bad, at the U.S. we have the 13 !! So I think that in the U.K. seems to be better for younger kids who want to see the movie!!
Posted Oct 19, 2005 at 10:13 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1448
Wulfric_Brian says:
I actually think the higher ratings are a good thing. As the books get progressively darker and more serious, it would be terrible to censor the movies and deprive them of a lot of the meaning. The fourth book is especially dark and the fifth and sixth books just get more eerie. I don't think there should be that much violence in a movie rated for younger kids.
Posted Oct 19, 2005 at 10:13 PM EST
Seer
Points: 15207
Brittany Radcliffe says:
its pretty much the same as a PG-13 rating over here in the US.
i knew it was going to end up like this anways. no surprise there.
although here they dont really care if you're 13 or not, you can sneak in anyways. believe me, i know ;o)
Posted Oct 19, 2005 at 10:24 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1217
mahaliah says:
I think it's an appropriate rating. The books get darker as they go along.
Posted Oct 19, 2005 at 10:37 PM EST
Mage of Celestial Melody
Points: 3324
Telos says:
Childern should be able to go. If they go with their parents or guardian it would be better so they won't have nightmares, which is common. Harry Potter is much darker but PG-13 is a little high for my taste.
Posted Oct 19, 2005 at 10:55 PM EST
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