The MPAA - Stay or Go?

[DjfunkmasterG]

There has been so much debate recently about the MPAA here in the USA, particularly having to do with the R and NC-17 ratings. A lot of filmmakers are beginning to complain about their films being slapped with NC-17's but then another film with equal amounts of violence, sex etc etc gets marked with an R. Some family groups are up in arms that movies are becoming more hard core and the R rating isn't covering all the aspects of these films nor is it keeping children from seeing these films as most theaters aren't asking for ID. The MPAA wants to start using the NC-17 moniker more frequently, but they screwed up the marketing of that rating so bad that it is as bad as the X rating. 80% of newspapers and TV stations in the USA will not run advertising for NC-17 films because the NC-17 rating is usually slapped onto films with very explicit sex, but the MPAA board has been trying to hand it out more frequently to violent horror films. The MPAA wants to compromise by coming up with the R-17 rating to replace NC-17. The new R-17 rating would have the same guidelines as the NC-17, but the MPAA states it will remove the stigma of the NC-17. How is all I ask? How can you change NC-17 to R-17 and expect everything to be different, especially when you clearly state the guidelines will be the same. You know this means that media outlets will still refuse to advertise films because now they know R-17 is the new NC-17. I think we should do away witht he rating system, because it is what it was designed to be which is a guide systems for parents. It has become the axis of censorship in the US film industry. So, cast your vote ont he poll and leave us your thoughts on the EVIL MPAA. (Apologies for my poor use of spell check in the poll questions)

[bassman]

I had to go with "Frankly DJ, I don't give a damn". With the use of DVD's these days, even if a film is edited for theater, we get the unrated deal only about 3 months later. It doesn't really bother me all that much, but I do see the MPAA going down in the future.

[Terran]

Did you watch This Film is Not Yet Rated.....those people rating films are villians!

[capncnut]

As Bass said, the unrated DVD is out a few months later so why care? I could slag off the BBFC (British Board of Film Classification) but since they now allow hardcore porn, I don't think I'll bother.

[Terran]

As Bass said, the unrated DVD is out a few months later so why care? Well why care?....some movies never get made or get budgets to be made well because of the MPAA.... I think thats a reason to care

[Danny]

if there anything like the bbfc ove rhere, which weve been studying at college lately (but not this week adn next since its half term, boooong! ), and those kinda ratings are necessary in most cases, granted youve allready gotta be tweaked for a movie to "make you kill" but the difference between an 18 and a u is certain points, all of which in my opinion are valid, though the c word (whch as a gentlemanly slob-hermit i never use ) has been lowered to a 15 classification, there there for a reason and theres 100 different people from all ethnic backgrounds to judge them to make sure a 6 year old isnt watching audtition or something, if its the same over there i say yes, only for the gudielines they suggest, better than having to screen every film yourself before you let it get near the reach of a toddler. my parents didnt and im still having flashbacks to fritz the cat

[bassman]

Well why care?....some movies never get made or get budgets to be made well because of the MPAA.... I think thats a reason to care With the use of DVDs these days.....I doubt that's a problem anymore.

[coma]

Did you watch This Film is Not Yet Rated.....those people rating films are villians! It shouldnt be some big secret and the church should have no say at all. The board should change and not be a bunch of old bags. And it IS defacto censorship, making them change stuff which being all coy and vague to the filmmaker. It is way less restrictive than it used to be , but its lack of independence from the major studios is a probelm leading to bias and JAck Valente is a total dickhole.

[EvilNed]

The MPAA are censorship dicks. I want them gone on principle alone, even IF DVDs get released unrated a few months later. Conservative religious nuts with nuclear family values and morals who blame everything on media. They've got to be so damn dumb thinking media causes any kind of violence. People were killing each other before the Lumiére brothers were even born. Also they are much stricter on horror films than they are on any other kind of films. Take Saving Private Ryan. Rated R. If that was a horror flick, they would NEVER get away showing that much gore.

[MinionZombie]

I said guidelines, but I'm kinda bordering on disbanding them too... Basically, they need proper people behind it (also saw that "This Film Is Not Yet Rated" doc, and man ... what a bunch of dicks the MPAA are...) Anyway, an entirely new staff, this whole idea of it being 'parents' behind it is dodgy from the start, and they don't even stick to it like they say (as seen in that doc). The films should be analysed by professionals in the industry. Also, the puritanical stance against sex has to go. The BBFC (the British equivalent) used to be a complete bunch of dicks, but since 1999 when they had a major shake-up, they've been on the up and up and have really chilled out and let some major milestone films through. Films like Baise Moi, Irreversible and 9 Songs would have been banned out-right from the off and would have remained that way infinitely. After the 1999 shake-up there was an onslaught of previously banned films being released at long last (like A Clockwork Orange, The Exorcist and Texas Chainsaw Massacre) - did we all go mad? Nope, we enjoyed finally being able to see these films, the works of fiction. You guys seriously need a proper high-end rating too, I always thought that the R rating was stupid, kids shouldn't be getting brought into theatres to see adult movies, mainly because of the kid factor, it's just annoying. If they still wanna see them - save it for TV or DVD. Here in the UK we have the "18" rating, and thats for those of that age and older and nothing else, films still do business, obviously less than your average family flick - but that's hardly surprising is it? The idea of letting kids in to see an R flick just to make extra cash is a load of wank to me. If I wanna go watch a slasher flick I wanna be watching it with fellow adults, not a bunch of necking teens throwing popcorn around and acting like ADD-addled, like we always see in movies with a scene in a cinema (do American audiences really act like that?! ) British audiences are so reserved by comparison, they're polite and only erupt when everybody else is doing so, we're very respectful that way. On a different note though, I remember going to see Fantastic Four, and yeah, it's technically a family movie, but some family brought along their BABY ... yes, to a cinema with REALLY LOUD NOISES!!! How is a baby going to appreciate the film?! It's too young for it - much like a bunch of kids are too young to properly appreciate/understand many R rated films. Anyway, it was crying and crying and all this sh*t until one of the parents took it outside - at last. They were obviously there for their son (but this was like 9pm kick off on a school night! ), but clearly the sensible thing would be pick a weekend matinee and just take the boy, leave the baby with one of the 'rents or a babysitter, GEEZ! Anyway, the MPAA are retarded, at the very least they need a major shake up and slap about the face with the common sense glove, at most they need replacing with a proper panel of industry insiders.

[EvilNed]

I remember going to see Fantastic Four Now why did you go and do something like that?

[MinionZombie]

Now why did you go and do something like that? To gawp at Jessica Alba of course ... doi! I mean, dude ... come on...

[DjfunkmasterG]

I just watched, This Film has Not Been Rated, and to be honest I will never submit another film to the MPAA again. Deadlands 2 will never be submitted, it ain't worth the bullsh!t.

[Terran]

I just watched, This Film has Not Been Rated, and to be honest I will never submit another film to the MPAA again. Deadlands 2 will never be submitted, it ain't worth the bullsh!t. They must be destroyed!

[coma]

They must be destroyed! Call out the Smog Monster!