The Motion Picture Association of America ratings board has provided plenty of fodder for mockery just for the ratings it gives movies. But the reasons for those ratings can be even funnier. ---

Since the early 1990s, the MPAA has included a sentence in its film ratings providing reasons for those ratings. This week's new release Alice in Wonderland provided a great example for some of the weird rationales included over the years: “Rated PG for fantasy action/violence involving scary images and situations, and for a smoking caterpillar.” That's right, your children need to be protected from smoking caterpillars.

In honor of this goofiness, here are some classic MPAA ratings from the last two decades:

The Indian in the Cupboard (1995): “Rated PG for mild language and brief video images of violence and sexy dancing.”

Jefferson in Paris (1995): “Rated PG-13 for mature theme, some images of violence and a bawdy puppet show.”

The Skateboard Kid II (1995): “Rated PG for brief mild language and an adolescent punch in the nose.”

Team America: World Police (2004): “Rated R for graphic crude and sexual humor, violent images and strong language - all involving puppets.”

Mother’s Boys (1994): “Rated R for language and for a mother's sociopathic behavior.”

Alien vs. Predator (2004): “Rated PG-13 for violence, language, horror images, slime and gore.”

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005): “Rated PG for quirky situations, action and mild language.”

Batman Returns (1992): “Rated PG-13 for brooding, dark violence.”

Dead Alive (1993): “Rated R for an abundance of outrageous gore.”

And of course, the all-time Hall of Fame howler:

Twister (1996): “Rated PG-13 for intense depiction of very bad weather.”