This Film Is Not Yet Rated - A documentary on the MPAA

I just posted this in the Last Film thread but I think the topic could sustain a thread of its own.

I've just watched This Film Is Not Yet Rated. Very interesting.

I didn't realise that the American cut of Eyes Wide Shut had shadows and people superimposed into scenes in order to hide things that the MPAA didn't like.

What strikes me as the most strawberry floated up thing is the stigma that NC-17 films attract from the industry itself (well, the studios), to the point where receiving an NC-17 rating effectively means the film won't be released, thanks to reduced marketing budgets, massively limited releases, etc. John Waters said that (at the time the doc was made) Walmart don't stock NC-17 DVDs. strawberry floating mental. NC-17 is no different to an 18 BBFC rating. It's the same strawberry floating thing. No one 17 or younger can see the film in a cinema. That's all it means in theory.

The disparity between gay and straight sex scenes is amazing. Two identical scenes in two different movies, dissimilar only in the sex of one of the onscreen characters, can be the difference between an R rating and an NC-17.

MPAA... Shadier than the strawberry floating CIA, all to protect children from having to see Maria Bello's pubic hair.

Very good documentary, it's on Netflix. If you like watching films, you should watch this.

I always liked the segment where they tail the members who vote on each film, showing how enormously unsuited to the role they are (how one person's children are now adults, how some have a proven connection to the Church). Laughable.

The problem with the NC-17 rating is, it was bought in to replace the 'X' rating. X being synonymous with porn.

Highest profile NC-17 film released by a major studio Showgirls, which unfortunately tanked at the box office. (Although it did make 100 million in video rentals). If that had done well, maybe the NC-17 rating wouldn't be seen as poison.

Banjo wrote:I always liked the segment where they tail the members who vote on each film, showing how enormously unsuited to the role they are (how one person's children are now adults, how some have a proven connection to the Church). Laughable.

Ordinary Americans.

I found it amazing that Jack Valenti actively didn't want anyone with any expertise on the ratings board. Because an expert in child behavioral psychology on a board whose mandate it is to vet what films would be suitable for children would obviously be a bad thing.

I watched this a while ago, its a really interesting look at just how bias the rating board is and how many hoops film makers have to jump through.

Glad it's on Netfix, will have to give it a watch

Yea, I remember the saga of poor Maria Bello's pubic hair.

It's truly weird though, American ratings. What would get an 18 for violence here is an R, but NC-17 rated nudity over here barely scrapes a 15.

strawberry floating backwards ass morals if you ask me. You can watch a dude literally get ripped apart by a chainsaw, but a consensual sex scene between loving adults is taboo.

Mental.

I can't remember who it was, maybe Kevin Smith, who said that violence itself is also seen in a backwards fashion. If a guy shoots seven people in a single take and no blood or actual injury is seen, then this gets PG-13. Smith sees this as fantasy violence, suitable only for adults who understand that when you shoot a guy in the gut, he doesn't just collapse over the side railing without ruining his pristine white shirt.

Watched this based on your recommendation, Igor. A great watch. Really interesting.

I saw this years ago. I don't like that the MPAA seems to be very biased towards certain film companies and essentially passes out the ratings they want, while other studios and indie film makers really struggle.

Skarjo wrote:Yea, I remember the saga of poor Maria Bello's pubic hair.

It's truly weird though, American ratings. What would get an 18 for violence here is an R, but NC-17 rated nudity over here barely scrapes a 15.

strawberry floating backwards ass morals if you ask me. You can watch a dude literally get ripped apart by a chainsaw, but a consensual sex scene between loving adults is taboo.

Mental.

And don't even start on their views on swearing.

This Film Is Not Yet Rated - A documentary on the MPAA

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