Age ratings for films, do they make sense?

U, PG, 12A, 15 and 18; it's a hotly debated topic at my work (I do more than one thing but cleaning my local cinema is an essential part of my income), and I've no idea what the public makes of it. U is obvious, a U movie is deemed suitable for a child of four. PG, well I bust the rules slightly and took my daughter when she was four to Jurassic Park, PG is considered safe viewing for 8 and over, as did many others. No problems and I think most small children would not fear rampaging dinosaurs on screen because they have no lived experience of encountering dinos. After that anything goes.The modern production of A Streetcar named Desire was rated 12A. I know the rape happened offstage but both Blanche and her neighbour were victims of domestic violence, and at the end Blanche unravels mentally and is taken off to hospital in a van by guys in white coats. This is distressing stuff. Adults have to accompany children under 12 to a 12A. 15, well I saw Riot Club and wished I hadn't, I knew it was about arrogant posh gits at Oxford Uni but I hoped there would be some comedy in their drinking, partying and making a-holes of themselves. Wrong and it was needlessly violent. It is fairly obvious at a certain point when someone is smashing another person's face in...15 and 18 proof of age is essential.

I would never not see a film because of the age rating, I would go if I felt the film was likely to my interest. Generally speaking I like 'big picture' films that use the whole screen in a good way. I'm less keen on movies where I feel for two hours that I am confined inside a theatre or in someone's sitting room. Considering I go for free as a work perk maybe I am moaning too much but I think we had a clearer picture of what we were getting when we hadthe old ratings U, A and X.