Do we really need the G and R Ratings in movies anymore?

[8777BB5]

It seems like these days that most kids films do everything they can to get a PG rating while most R Rated films only get it because people use the word "fuck" more than four times. It would seem that studios (and some audience members) would prefer there be only two ratings: PG for kids and PG-13 for everyone else. Would this work or are we eventually going to go back to the point where movies are given R ratings for actually deserving R ratings.

 

[Fek]

That would depend entirely on if there's ever a more profitable reason to create R movies. I can't really comment on what the deal with with G vs PG movies, because I haven't had a reason to see (or even give much thought to) a G-rated movie in a very long time.

The movie industry, like any business, wants your money (even at the cost of creative freedom). PG-13 movies make more money than R movies. There's a reason very, very few of the cash-printing superhero movies ended up rated R, and even then - one of those (Deadpool) got a PG-13 cut after the fact anyway. A prime example: the lead actor on Logan willingly took a pay cut in order to ensure the movie could release with an R rating.

Why bother having any integrity in your work (and/or show a pair of tits..not necessarily mutually exclusive) if it's gonna make your product's profits suffer? And when I say "your," I really mean the movie industry as a whole. I'd imagine there are plenty of cast/crew out there that would love to have the freedom to create what they see fit, yet get kneecapped by execs at every turn.

I'm sure that's not the only reason for the PG/PG-13 shift, but I'd imagine it's the only one that really matters. I've heard others mention that there's been some drift in what is acceptable under each rating over time, but I can't really comment on that topic. Maybe another Kiwi knows about it?

 

[Sperglord Dante]

Cinema is a dying business as it is, it absolutely needs to pander to the lowest common denominator and that is synonymous with "family friendly".

 

[Vic Viper T301]

You'd think with the advent of high definition TVs/home theaters and streaming content pushing a decline in people going to the theater to see movies, we'd have a revolution of stuff that wasn't afraid to buck the PG-13 trend. But including titties, gore and drug use in movies is now seen as 'problematic toxic male pandering' by woke Hollywood morons, so it's still niche.

 

[Gordon Cole]

Do we really need movies anymore?

FTFY.

 

[Otis Boi]

You'd think with the advent of high definition TVs/home theaters and streaming content pushing a decline in people going to the theater to see movies, we'd have a revolution of stuff that wasn't afraid to buck the PG-13 trend. But including titties, gore and drug use in movies is now seen as 'problematic toxic male pandering' by woke Hollywood morons, so it's still niche.

I still don't understand why Hollywood hasn't tried revamp the Rating system like you are saying Netflix pretty much has all this (and other streaming services). If anything they should relax for blood and gore. I mean an average video game has more blood and peoples heads exploding then most R rated movies today. Then again from what i heard the MPAA rating system is weird in the fact that it judged by a community of moral busy bodies (Stay at home moms,Preachers, ect) its not like you are getting anything unbiased from those types.

 

[Vic Viper T301]

I still don't understand why Hollywood hasn't tried revamp the Rating system like you are saying Netflix pretty much has all this (and other streaming services). If anything they should relax for blood and gore. I mean an average video game has more blood and peoples heads exploding then most R rated movies today. Then again from what i heard the MPAA rating system is weird in the fact that it judged by a community of moral busy bodies (Stay at home moms,Preachers, ect) its not like you are getting anything unbiased from those types.

Good point on the MPAA, forget what it's called but I saw a documentary on how they operate and it seems they will just straight up hold movies hostage if they don't like it or the people making it aren't in their clique.

 

[Ebonic Tutor]

Good point on the MPAA, forget what it's called but I saw a documentary on how they operate and it seems they will just straight up hold movies hostage if they don't like it or the people making it aren't in their clique.

You're talking about This Film is Not Yet Rated.

 

[Exigent Circumcisions]

Yeah, we still do.

Gay
&
Re tarded

 

[Kari Kamiya]

The MPAA is in desperate need of reformation, but even then, I'm thinking the rating system only exists nowadays for legal reasons or something. Like the only reason the PG-13 rating exists is because of mortified parents raising a big stink over how "inappropriate" Gremlins is for kids--but it still kept the PG rating. (Most films from that era still keep the PG rating to this day, oddly enough.) Movie theaters make it a big deal to point out the rating system to moviegoers and practically beg parents to be parents and read what's in the box (they even increased the font for this purpose), although it doesn't stop anyone from taking their kids to see an R-rated flick with them.

I personally don't care anymore, but there's kinda something charming about seeing a big "G" printed on the back of a VHS/DVD/Blu-Ray on older films that would nowadays be slapped with a "PG" on it like this is fucking Canada. Pretty funny to see what it was you could get away with back in the day (I remember thinking as a kid how shocking it was to hear "Damn!" be spouted out in a G-rated film like Secret of NIMH or even The Last Unicorn in older copies).

 

[PL 001]

I think it's ridiculous that people are trying to soften movies anymore instead of just being a relatively intelligent person and just not watching what might offend you instead of ruining it for everyone else...but then again I rarely watch newer movies. I've probably been to the theater 3 times in about a decade so my opinion is kinda moot.

It really doesn't surprise me though. Hollywood is so creatively bankrupt anymore it would be impressive if it weren't so pathetic.

 

[Idiotron]

I don't think that you could give a PG-13 to something made by Gaspar Noe, Harmony Korine or Lars von Tier.

 

[Faket0Fake]

I don't really think ratings are necessary except in the cases of things like pornography. Most movies aren't very explicit and the ones that are bordering on soft porn should probably be intended only for adults but for the stuff you generally see at the cinema? No need.

Just include a warning to parents about the content and let them make a conscious decision on what their kids are allowed to see. We need to stop dumbing things down for lazy parents and pandering to offended culture. People need to take responsibility for the choice to see or not see a movie. I regularly had my parents rent R rated movies from the video store and they could decide if I should or should not see the movie. I don't think there were many cases they drew the line but I was a pretty mature kid. Every case would be individual.

 

[WhoBusTank69]

Ratings used to be representative of content, which is an admirable attempt at keeping dumbasses from being shocked that something called "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" was, in fact, not appropriate for children.
Now it's more for filmmakers themselves to decide whether or not they have to sacrifice their vision to get the most buck for their bang.

When they realize that there are a shitload of adults with free time today(they almost did after Deadpool's success) they'll stop pushing for PG-13 movies.

 

[Gordon Cole]

Movie theaters make it a big deal to point out the rating system to moviegoers and practically beg parents to be parents and read what's in the box (they even increased the font for this purpose), although it doesn't stop anyone from taking their kids to see an R-rated flick with them.

As someone who has worked in movie theaters, we didn't give a solitary iota of a fuck what you saw or how old you were as long as you paid and/or weren't sneaking in. Out of all the times that I've been carded at a theater, only one was for actually seeing a movie, and the rest was when I wanted a beer or something.

And I've never understood the NC-17 section on those rating guide posters considering 1.) They're rarely made at all and 2.) They never play in commercial movie theaters at that.

 

[WhoBusTank69]

And I've never understood the NC-17 section on those rating guide posters considering 1.) They're rarely made at all and 2.) They never play in commercial movie theaters at that.

It's only there because it exists and directors have been threatened with it for years. Your two points are a good reason why it's considered such a black mark on a movie.

 

[ProgKing of the North]

Good point on the MPAA, forget what it's called but I saw a documentary on how they operate and it seems they will just straight up hold movies hostage if they don't like it or the people making it aren't in their clique.

The stories of Trey Parker and Matt Stone openly fucking with them because they kept trying to get them to change stuff in the South Park movie are hilarious. They really do seem like a group of old busybodies that need their fainting couches every time they hear the word “shit”

As someone who has worked in movie theaters, we didn't give a solitary iota of a fuck what you saw or how old you were as long as you paid and/or weren't sneaking in. Out of all the times that I've been carded at a theater, only one was for actually seeing a movie, and the rest was when I wanted a beer or something.

I’ve never been carded at a theater, but I have been carded buying an R-rated dvd at Walmart

 

[Gordon Cole]

The stories of Trey Parker and Matt Stone openly fucking with them because they kept trying to get them to change stuff in the South Park movie are hilarious. They really do seem like a group of old busybodies that need their fainting couches every time they hear the word “shit”

The MPAA also has it out for indie movies, considering that Orgazmo got an NC-17 with no notes, while South Park and Team America, which were released by Paramount, had very detailed notes. There's also the fact that they're still autistic when it comes to stuff like nudity or same sex content in movies, considering that Rocketman is one of the tamest R-rated movies that I've ever seen, and Midsommar came close to an NC-17 just for hanging dong.

 

[Babyspackle]

I feel like you could probably say ratings systems in general are bullshit / hopefully soon to be a thing of the past. The MPAA, the Oscars, but also Rotten Tomatoes, Yelp, Metacritic. All these are fuckin trash.
I feel like right now your best bet is to find a few critics that think like you and see what they've said about something. That's still P shit tho

 

[Kari Kamiya]

As someone who has worked in movie theaters, we didn't give a solitary iota of a fuck what you saw or how old you were as long as you paid and/or weren't sneaking in. Out of all the times that I've been carded at a theater, only one was for actually seeing a movie, and the rest was when I wanted a beer or something.

It probably depends on where you live, then. Where I'm from and from what my brothers told me when they worked at the theater, movie theaters were pretty much policing/shaming parents who were bringing their young kids to Sausage Party ("Because all animated films are for kids!") and Deadpool ("It's a Marvel superhero film!"). One theater even put up a notice on the doors about it. Was pretty nuts.

The "check the box" adverts I'm sure are by parent groups, but I noticed a few years ago the rating boxes got bigger in trailers, so unless it's just a local thing, I'm assuming it's nationwide.

The MPAA also has it out for indie movies, considering that Orgazmo got an NC-17 with no notes, while South Park and Team America, which were released by Paramount, had very detailed notes. There's also the fact that they're still autistic when it comes to stuff like nudity or same sex content in movies, considering that Rocketman is one of the tamest R-rated movies that I've ever seen, and Midsommar came close to an NC-17 just for hanging dong.

Rocketman being distributed by Paramount may have something to do with it, unless they left some scenes on the cutting room floor just to get that R-rating (aren't they slightly harsher on gay males than lesbians or am I misremembering things?). 50 Shades apparently had a rule or something to not show (as much) penis to be able to squeak by with an R-rating--but also, Universal may have pulled strings. I only saw This Film is Not Yet Rated once and that was years ago, but one thing that still sticks out to me about it was that although they're not as strict on hetero sex like they are on homo sex (and that they rate sex scenes based on thrust count), if there's so much as a shot of pubic hair in a sex scene, they slap it with an NC-17 rating. Can't remember the movie they talked about in it where they mentioned it (I believe it had Alec Baldwin in it), but I think the producers fought the MPAA over that. That rule might've been lifted in recent years as a result or something.