The ratings system is a total crock of shit and should be dumped. it's done nothing but censor the products and killed any chance of expanding the art.
The SCOTUS hands Pr0n lovers a huge victory
- Thread starter msbae
- Start date
The ratings system is a total crock of shit and should be dumped. it's done nothing but censor the products and killed any chance of expanding the art.
I don't think there should be anything... Censorship is wrong, and should be fought in all forms...
However if there does have to be a system, I'd be in favor of the movie studios going to the TV Parental Guidelines system and telling the MPAA to Fuck Off.
It's not wildly removed from the video game and CD "Parental Advisory" ratings. The reality comes down to zealous busybody do-gooders who think if THEY don't "protect you from yourself", you're doomed to burn in the Lake of Fire.
The same attitude brought about the Hays Code which was governmentally administered but eventually led to the industry's agreement to "self-police" with the MPAA ratings.
IOW, SOME form of censorship has been there since the '30s...it's not likely to just go away any time soon.
The same attitude brought about the Hays Code which was governmentally administered but eventually led to the industry's agreement to "self-police" with the MPAA ratings.
IOW, SOME form of censorship has been there since the '30s...it's not likely to just go away any time soon.
Captain X
Rear Admiral
Well there is a chasm of difference between self regulation and something instituted, even partially, by the government. Video games are totally self regulated and every state that passed legislation to the contrary had a bad day in court a few months later. And as long as the government isn't the one doing the regulation, I can't say I really have a problem with it. Especially given the new ways we now have for content distribution. And those channels are only going to grow.
I have no problem with labeling. It helps me know if I'm going to get some nudity or not. 
I have no problem with labeling. It helps me know if I'm going to get some nudity or not.
I don't see a problem with a ratings marker myself - as long as their are ratings markers to cover all films, and none are 'rated' as too high and not sold at all (ie genuinely censored for adults). It is giving information about the product, and its potential suitability.
Our system is:
E (Exempt, usually for non-fictional content such as Planet Earth)
Uc (Universal, particularly suitable for small children)
U (Universal - everybody)
PG (Parental Guidance)
12 (12 years+)
15 (15 years+)
18 (18 years+)
The last three are enforceable in terms of DVD/video sales and cinema tickets. However, in a cinema, the rating '12A' is used in place of '12' and means an adult may take an under-12 to see it, but the kid couldn't buy a ticket alone.
There's nothing illegal about an under-age person viewing a DVD bought by someone over the age, so if you really want your 6 year old to see Saw, you can buy it for them.
What's useful is that they've started adding details to the ratings. So if it's "Rated R For Violence," I can say, "Meh," and if it's "Rated R For Nudity," I can say "Okayyyy."
It's also amusing how they've started to characterize the details, like "Rated R For Sci Fi Adventure Violence" or "Rated R For Zombie Mayhem" or something.
It's also amusing how they've started to characterize the details, like "Rated R For Sci Fi Adventure Violence" or "Rated R For Zombie Mayhem" or something.
What's useful is that they've started adding details to the ratings. So if it's "Rated R For Violence," I can say, "Meh," and if it's "Rated R For Nudity," I can say "Okayyyy."
It's also amusing how they've started to characterize the details, like "Rated R For Sci Fi Adventure Violence" or "Rated R For Zombie Mayhem" or something.
Lol I love reading those labels. "Contains mild peril", "Contains pirate mayhem"
My favourite to date: "Contains one instance of language"
Pretty artsy film, that - bit like Hush taken to a new level.
Heh. They should put that label on Mel Brooks' Silent Movie.
There's probably a web site that lists all those labels. I should take a look....
There's probably a web site that lists all those labels. I should take a look....
"Contains a French mime saying 'Non!'" would be about it for dialogue on that one.Heh. They should put that label on Mel Brooks' Silent Movie.
I don't see anything wrong with a ratings system. It isn't true censorship because you can film anything you want and sell it. You just can't sell it everywhere.
Most theaters won't touch a NC-17 movie because most people don't want to go see movies like that.
It isn't even the NC-17 rating, but the fact that a movie has to be submitted for a rating or it won't get any play in anything but small, art house, independent theaters. I'm against the MPAA above all. It's why I like the TV Parental Guidelines system, where the ratings are purely voluntary and are applied by the, if the movies used them, the studio.
Captain X
Rear Admiral
No, actually it's because of controversy from the Ellen Lovelaces of the world whining about it. And really the fact theaters would refuse to show anything above an R rating is a form of censorship, much in the same way say Walmart could refuse to sell any CDs with a "Parental Advisory" sticker on them or games with an M or AO rating. Limiting access to adults in this case would be a form of censorship, because if someone can't find it in any stores, then the effect is the same if it was out and out banned.
^ If I understand your system correctly there is no censorship or compulsory rating system on DVD at all though? And unrated DVDs are very easy to get?
I don't personally have a problem with the theatrical age rating system we have that is similar to yours, the difference is though that there is no issue with cinemas refusing to carry an 18 rated movie. That would be economic suicide for them in fact since a lot of films get an 18 rating. Glancing at my DVD collection about half of them are 18 rated, and those would all have had the same rating in the cinema.
The studios sometimes try and avoid that rating purely for the economic restrictions it places on who can go and see it, but it's not a movie killer like the NC-17 rating is.
The BBFC does still occasionally demand a few cuts to make a theatrical 18 rating though, which is censorship, but they are few and far between these days. I wouldlike to see their powers to demand cuts to make an 18 rating removed entirely though so they are just a regulatory body for age ratings.
I don't personally have a problem with the theatrical age rating system we have that is similar to yours, the difference is though that there is no issue with cinemas refusing to carry an 18 rated movie. That would be economic suicide for them in fact since a lot of films get an 18 rating. Glancing at my DVD collection about half of them are 18 rated, and those would all have had the same rating in the cinema.
The studios sometimes try and avoid that rating purely for the economic restrictions it places on who can go and see it, but it's not a movie killer like the NC-17 rating is.
The BBFC does still occasionally demand a few cuts to make a theatrical 18 rating though, which is censorship, but they are few and far between these days. I wouldlike to see their powers to demand cuts to make an 18 rating removed entirely though so they are just a regulatory body for age ratings.
Captain X
Rear Admiral
It's getting better as far as being able to find DVDs, and unrated versions are becoming more popular, though usually it's for the slasher horror films, which I find ironic to say the least. Apparently seeing someone die in a horrible and graphic way is better than seeing somenoe naked. 
Personally I don't have a problem with either one, but it always amuses me the way some people see the world.
Personally I don't have a problem with either one, but it always amuses me the way some people see the world.
It's getting better as far as being able to find DVDs, and unrated versions are becoming more popular, though usually it's for the slasher horror films, which I find ironic to say the least. Apparently seeing someone die in a horrible and graphic way is better than seeing somenoe naked.
Yes, I've often found it interesting how society is so much more prudish and prone to censorship when it comes to nudity and sex, things most to all adults will do in their lifetime, but is much more lenient when it comes to the portrayal of graphic, bloody violence and sadism.
bizarre
It says a lot about our society when we're more comfortable seeing men walking around holding guns than holding hands.