U stands for 'Universal', meaning the film, video or DVD is suitable for anyone. Examples include Nanny McPhee & the Big Bang and The Princess & the Frog.
PG stands for 'Parental Guidance', which means that some parts of the film might not be ideal for younger children. Parents ought to think carefully before letting them watch. Examples of PG films are How to Train Your Dragon and Tooth Fairy.
12 is now only ever seen on videos and DVDs. As with the 12A, it tells parents that the content is best suited for those aged 12 and above. Examples, both of which were certified 12A for cinema, includeIron Man 2 and Avatar.
12A is only for films released at the cinema. It tells parents that the film is best suited for those aged 12 and above. Parents can take along under 12s if they choose, so long as they go with them! Examples include Iron Man 2 and Avatar.
15 means that the film, video or DVD is really only suitable for those aged 15 or above. Only people aged 15 or older are allowed to view a 15 rated film at the cinema or buy or rent a 15 rated DVD, video or game.
18 means that the film, video or DVD is only suitable for adults (people aged eighteen or over). Only adults are allowed to view an 18 rated film at the cinema or rent or buy an 18 rated video, DVD or game.
Manny and Ellie are expectant parents and Sid wishes for a family of his own. When he finds three eggs in an ice cave and hatches them, he is only mother for a day before their dinosaur mother returns and takes them all back, including poor Sid.
'Ice Age 3 - Dawn Of The Dinosaurs' is an animated comedy sequel about a gang of prehistoric creatures. The film contains scenes of threat, mild comic violence and innuendo.
During the characters' journey into the dinosaur world, the characters encounter threat in the form of rock falls, dangerous rope swings, fierce dinosaurs, flesh eating plants and laughing gas. In the strongest sequence, Sid is marooned in a lava stream hurtling towards a lava fall, while pregnant Ellie is menaced by several predatory dinosaurs while in labour. Both characters are rescued by their friends, in a moderately intense 10 minute action sequence.
The new character of Buck introduces some mild innuendo and toilet humour, including the character reminiscing about 'the time I used a clam shell to turn a T-Rex into a T-Rachel.'
The same character has an emblematic knife, made from a dinosaur tooth. He uses the knife to introduce himself and to free the largest characters from a flesh eating plant. While the dinosaur tooth is used as a knife, it is clearly not a realistic or accessible weapon.
Comedy moments are interspersed throughout the film and the longest action sequence cuts between several characters, resolving the tensions with comedy and sound and visual effects that reference aerobatics. The outcome of the film is reassuring and stresses group inclusiveness, non discrimination and team work.
'U' stands for Universal, which means that we think the film is suitable for audiences aged four or older.
