MPAA chief says film ratings fair, help parents Motion Picture of Association of America of Chief Executive Chris Dodd speaks during his C...

MPAA chief says film ratings fair, help parents

Motion Picture of Association of America of Chief Executive Chris Dodd speaks during his CinemaCon State of the Industry address, Tuesday, April 24, 2012, in Las Vegas. Dodd said Tuesday that movie studios must embrace new technologies to appeal to consumers who value convenience and affordability over the traditional movie-viewing experience. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

The head of the Motion Picture Association of America says its rating system is fair despite ongoing complaints from some film leaders who claim the ratings are too conservative.

MPAA chief executive Chris Dodd said Tuesday that movie ratings help parents determine whether a film is appropriate for their children. Still, he says the ratings system could be more transparent.

His remarks came at CinemaCon, a Las Vegas convention for theater owners.

Dodd says the U.S. represents diverse values, with parents outside Los Angeles and New York tending to be more conservative. But critics claim the rating system is outdated.

The debate intensified recently after the MPAA initially gave the film "Bully" an R rating for language. The documentary features five children over the course of a school year.