Posted by Isis at d6103.dialup.cornell.edu on May 14, 2000 at 17:36:56:
In Reply to: I'm entertained. How bout you? posted by Erik! on May 14, 2000 at 09:39:29:
But only said it ONCE...would I get a PG rating?
: Now onto the ratings system. Basically, it doesn't have so much with the content itself as it does how much of the content is presented. Swearing, sex, and violence become more "wrong" the younger you go. Now, an R isn't saying that Clerks' language and Gladiator's violence are in the same ballpark, they just both feature high levels of "the bad stuff." So there you go.
But it's such a differing level...doesn't it sort of make an "R" rating meaningless if it covers such a range from graphic, upclose & bloody continual violence to a couple of "fucks"?
: From what I've heard, there aren't any guidelines. (Although I think you're upgraded from PG-13 to R if you use the word 'fuck' more than once... that seems to be the only thing even sort of consistent that I've noticed just by watching... and I could be wrong.)
Well hell...is that not a really cheesy way to get around the charge of prior censorship or am I just imagining things? For any practical purpose, it seems that the system is voluntary only to those who don't care if their film makes any money, which is nobody (unless Bill Gates suddenly decides to switch careers). So basically anybody looking to make a movie that will be seen by any significant audience is forced to complete the project not knowing what rating it will get, then submit it to a select board of people before it can even be judged by actual community standards. That just sucks. And makes me even more curious as to who views & rates the flicks.
: (And to answer one of the Kev questions, I'm pretty sure Clerks miraculously skated from NC-17 to R with no cutting.)
Thanks for the info, that is pretty amazing. Wonder how all that went down. And I also wonder if that sets any kind of precedent for the MPAA, I mean is it now decided that excessive crude language can be within the bounds of an "R" rating, or is each movie always rated on its own merits without comparison to previous similar cases (as is my impression)? And how can there possibly be any sense of standards by which to rate movies if they are not compared to ones that have come before?
: -Erik!
: Art Askew magnate in a ton of pain
Ouch! Are you okay? Anything I can do for you? Kiss it and make it better? (Oh man...I hope you don't have a rectal condition or I'm going to regret that offer.)