Many critics say Hollywood's movie-rating system doesn't adequately warn parents about the amount of sex and violence in films. Moreover, the Federal Trade Commission says the system sometimes fails because some theaters don't enforce the age restrictions, allowing unaccompanied minors to watch restricted movies. Critics also fault the system for “ratings creep,” which lets behavior or language that once warranted an R or NC-17 rating slip into the lucrative PG-13 category. But Hollywood executives say the system enables parents to make informed decisions about their kids' movie choices while protecting filmmakers' First Amendment artistic freedom. Meanwhile, with the 2004 elections drawing closer, some politicians are once again attacking Hollywood for undermining “traditional family values.”

Brian Hansen, a freelance writer in Boulder, Colo., specializes in educational and environmental issues. He previously was a staff writer for The Researcher and a reporter for the Colorado Daily in Boulder and Environment News Service in Washington. His awards include the Scripps Howard Foundation award for public service reporting and the Education Writers Association award for investigative reporting. He holds a B.A. in political science and an M.A. in education from the University of Colorado.