Men in Black II

This topic contains:

• details about Men in Black II’s classification and consumer advice lines
• extract from the Office of Film and Literature Classification (OFLC) decision about classification
• a review of Men in Black II completed by Young Media Australia (YMA) on 13 July 2002.

About the movie

This section contains details about the movie, including its classification by the Office of Film and Literature Classification (OFLC) and the associated consumer advice lines.

Extract from the OFLC decision about classification

Synopsis

Serleena, an evil tentacle like monster disguised as a sexy model, forces Jay to bring Kay out of retirement to combat her evil plot.

Reasons for the decision

When making this classification decision the Classification Board (the Board) followed the procedure set out in the Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Act 1995 (the Act). The Board also applied the National Classification Code and the Classification Guidelines, while taking into account matters set out in Section 11 of the Act.

The National Classification Code (the Code) Table 6 states that:

Films (except RC films, X films, R films, MA films and M films) that cannot be recommended for viewing by persons who are under the age of 15 years without the guidance of their parents or adult guardians will be classified PG.

In the Board’s view this film can be accommodated within the PG classification. It contains depictions or references which could be confusing or upsetting to children without adult guidance, however the material in this film will not be harmful or disturbing to children.

The film consists of a multitude of aliens who have entered Earth and are supervised by the Men in Black. One of these is Serleena who appears as an attractive model but is really a multi tentacled monster with a fiendish and destructive plot. She has a two headed companion and a host of other creations appear in various forms, such as the talking pug who is also an agent. There is also some violence, such as when, at 5 minutes approximately, a potential mugger holds a knife to Serleena, says “you taste pretty good” as he drags her off screen. Any impact is lost when she is heard to say, “You do too” and returns licking her lips. The plot is slapstick comedy which also lessens the impact of the classifiable elements. The Board is of the view that any classifiable elements can best be subsumed under the consumer advice of supernatural themes.

Some parents may chose to preview this material or watch it with their children. For others it may be sufficient to be accessible during or after the viewing to discuss the content.

Section 11 of the Act, states:

The matters to be taken into account in making a decision on the classification of a publication, film or computer game include:

a) the standards of morality, decency and propriety generally accepted by reasonable adults; and

b) the literary, artistic or educational merit (if any), of the publication, film or computer game; and

c) the general character of the publication, film or computer game, including whether it is of a medical, legal or scientific character; and

d) the persons or class of persons to or amongst whom it is published or is intended or likely to be published.

YMA review

This review of the movie Men in Black II contains the following information:

• a synopsis of the story
• use of violence and material that may scare children
• nudity and sexual activity
• coarse language and use of alcohol and other drugs
• the movie’s message
• overall comments.

A synopsis of the story

The Men in Black team are back in action protecting the Earth from extraterrestrial activity. The movie starts with a file video showing an event that “didn’t” occur 25 years ago when the Zorthans gave the Light of Zortha to the Men in Black for safe keeping and to protect it from the wicked Serleena. We then fast forward to the present when Serleena lands on earth intent on finding the Light of Zortha. This will give her power over the Universe which could mean the imminent destruction of Earth. The MIB team are headed by Agent Jay who is in trouble for neuralising his latest partner for not being up to the job. He is then assigned Frank the Pug as his partner with hilarious results. However, the arrival of Serleena necessitates new tactics. The only person with the knowledge of the whereabouts of the Light of Zortha is Agent Kay now happily working as the efficient controller of a local post office. Agent Kay is enticed by Jay to return to MIB headquarters where he is deneuralised and regains his former position and much of his memory. It requires the use of well placed clues however to find the Light, encountering many alien situations along the way. After much adventure and mayhem, Agents Kay and Jay, with the help of Frank the Pug, manage to return the Light to Zortha and save the Earth once again.

Use of violence and material that may scare children

Under seven

There is a fair bit of violence in this film and although it is mainly cartoon style with no-one actually getting hurt it could frighten younger children.

Some of the more violent scenes include:

• Man flies through the air and crashes through a train window landing inside the train
• Kay punches Jay in the face
• Kay repeatedly kicks Serleena in the face

There are a lot of visual images of aliens and physical transformations in this film that would scare young children, for example:

• Serleena transforming into a creature with many snake like tentacles coming out of her wide open mouth and fingers
• When Agent Kay is being ‘deneuralised’ he is seated in a chair which sends electric currents through his body and he appears to be in pain
• Agents Kay and Jay get flushed through a water pipe and it looks like they are being sucked into a toilet
• Serleena attacks another alien with her snake like tentacles and slices the man in half who then falls on the floor like a deflated being and is trodden on by one of her men.
• Man gets sucked into the steering wheel of a car
• Alien man gets his head blown off which then grows back again

There is also loud dramatic music at the start which might scare younger children.

Seven to twelve years

Near the start of the film when Serleena lands on earth, a large bald man sneaks up behind her and threatens her by putting a large knife to her throat and then drags her into the bushes.

Nudity and sexual activity

Early in the film Serleena is dragged into the bushes by the large bald man at knifepoint. She reappears with a swollen pregnant naked belly which implies that she might have been raped but most young people would know pregnancy isn’t an instant occurrence. She then goes behind the bushes and reappears normal. This scene doesn’t bear much significance to the film unless one is meant to believe that she has left behind lots of baby Serleenas.

Serleena comes to Earth disguised as a lingerie model and thus appears throughout the film in skimpy black underwear showing much cleave.

Coarse language and use of alcohol and other drugs

There is no coarse language in this film and no use of alcohol and other drugs.

The movie’s message

There is really no take home message in this film—it is just an entertaining science fiction movie, with no moral or values placed in it.

Overall comments

The quick wit and funny lines by Smith and Jones are very entertaining and the part played by Frank the pug is funny. The quality of acting by Smith and Jones as well as Lara Flynn Boyle is very good. The visual effects are very good and the alien images very well done.

Children under 5
Based on violence, scary content and sexual references this film would not be suitable for children under five years of age.

Children aged 5–7
Might be able to see this with parental guidance and according to the parents’ interpretation of the violence.

Children aged 8–12
Should be able to see this with parental guidance.

Children over the age of 12
Could see this with or without parental guidance.