The MPAA’s main purpose is to allow viewers an idea of what they are subjecting themselves and/or their children to when they go to see a movie. Movie viewers should not judge a movie strictly by the movie’s ratings (G, PG, PG-13, R, NC-17), because these ratings are not clear cut. It is up to viewers to investigate movies to see if it fits their standards. The information is out there; potential viewers can read reviews and ratings from multiple sources.
The Matrix and Hostel II are both rated R. In my opinion the Matrix and Hostel II demand potential audiences to investigate the reasons behind the R rating because the movies are so different:
1. Hostile II MPAA Rating: “Rated R for brutal scenes of torture and violence, strong sexual content, language and drug use.” (http://www.mpaa.org/FlmRat_SrchReslts.asp)
2. The Matrix MPAA Rating: “Rated R for sci-fi violence and brief language” (http://www.mpaa.org/FlmRat_SrchReslts.asp)
Movies have such a wide range of content that a simple R rating does not define the movie. In this situation, a parent needs to do their research before watching an R movie with their child (under the age of 17). If they research the two movies, they may come to the conclusion that The Matrix is on the lower end of the R spectrum near PG-13, while Hostel II is closer to NC-17. It is the parent’s responsibility to know what they are seeing and showing their children. If a parent is responsible, the movie’s rating should not entirely affect its marketability.
According to Kirby Dick in This Film is Not Yet Rated, the rating system has a bias in which violence is more tolerable than sex. Whether or not you agree with this standard does not affect the movies that you choose to see. If a person wishes to see a sexually explicit movie, I’m pretty sure an NC-17 or X rating would not factor into their decision to see the film. In Leff's Dame in the Kimono it is stated that, “Civil libertarians contend that MPAA’s voluntary rating system effectively impedes access to controversial screen material and erodes first amendment freedoms.” The rating system is simply there as a warning, not a commandment.
The opponents of the MPAA contend that the rating system forces producers to cut scenes in order to obtain an appealing rating. In Leff’s essay he gives a specific example of filmmakers having to cut scenes from American Pie in order to obtain an R rating. People that wish to see the cut material can see everything in the uncut or unrated versions that come out on DVD.
In a CNN interview with Kirby Dick, Dick states, “I think it’s up to parents around the country to decide whether they want their children… what kind of films they want their children to see and not ten anonymous parents living is Los Angeles.” Well Dick, it is up to parents to determine “what kind of films they want their children to see” and the “ten anonymous parents living in Los Angeles” don’t force people to see or not to see films. The MPAA simply gives their opinion on what is acceptable for American families but it is up to those families to choose what is acceptable.
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You made a very valid point about how parents have to research rated R movies to see how explicit they really are. Since the "R" tag is so diverse, it is impossible what to expect from a "R" movie. Also, I love how you pointed out the fact that the MPAA rating is just an opinion not a fact.
ReplyDeleteDaniel, you did a very good job with determining the wide range of rated R movies. There is a huge leap of violence from The Matrix to Hostel. It is for this reason that my parents allowed me to see the Matrix when I was around 13, after they already viewed it of course, and i guess I turned out alright? Another way to look at it is that many rated R movies are able to be seen on T.V. channels such as TBS or USA by the network simply editing out some cuss words or taking out some scenes. I can't see Hostel being played Sunday morning on TBS any time soon.
ReplyDeleteDaniel I like how you mentioned that one movie might have an “R” rating and another movie might have a “PG-13” rating and the “R” movie might be better and more understandable that the “PG-13”. To show how movie ratings are based. You say that “the rating system is simply there as a warning, not a commandment. I think by saying this it helped you because when a person goes to watch a movie the rating doesn’t affect it and the evidence you used with the interview also helped and supported what you said. In the interview Dick said that “I think it’s up to parents around the country to decide whether they want their children… what kind of films they want their children to see and not ten anonymous parents living is Los Angeles.”
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