Should movies be given an R rating if a character in it smokes?

[Brian]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040310/ap_on_en_mo/film_hollywood_smoking_7


LOS ANGELES - If Nicolas Cage (news) lights a cigarette in a movie, Hollywood's ratings board should respond as if he used a profanity, according to authors of a new study that criticizes glamorous images of smoking in movies rated for children under 17.




Nearly 80 percent of movies rated PG-13 feature some form of tobacco use, while 50 percent of G and PG rated films depict smoking, said Stanton Glantz, co-author of the study, which examined 775 U.S. movies over the past five years.


"No one is saying there should never be any smoking in the movies," Glantz, a professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, said Tuesday at a press conference at Hollywood High School. "What we're simply asking for is that smoking be treated by Hollywood as seriously as it treats offensive language."


He'd like to see more PG-13 movies that feature smoking — like "Matchstick Men," "Seabiscuit" and the Oscar-winning "Chicago" — get slapped with an R rating.


Since R-rated films typically earn less money because they are not open to most teenagers, Glantz said he hoped such a policy would discourage filmmakers from depicting unnecessary smoking, such as the nicotine-addicted worm aliens in "Men in Black."


The proposal includes an exception for historical figures who actually smoked as part of their public life, Glantz added. "For example, if they wanted to make a movie about Winston Churchill, they could show him with a cigar without triggering an R-rating, but the number of movies where that actually happens is very small."


The study was funded by the charitable foundation The Richard and Rhoda Goldman Fund and the National Cancer Institute (news - web sites).


Glantz singled out The Walt Disney Co. for smoking in the PG-rated "Holes" and G-rated "102 Dalmatians," Time Warner for its PG "Secondhand Lions" and "What a Girl Wants" and Sony Pictures Entertainment for its PG "Master of Disguise."


Sony spokesman Steve Elzer said: "We are aware of the health hazards posed by smoking and while we do not advocate our filmmakers to use smoking in our films, we can not endorse guidelines that promote censorship or restrict creative freedom,"


Disney declined to comment, and Time Warner did not immediately return a call for comment.


The Motion Picture Association of America, which rates films, refused to comment directly on whether it would consider changing its ratings system.


But the group denied that its studio members were trying to promote cigarettes.


"We are not in the business of advertising," read a statement from Vans Stevenson, senior vice president of the MPAA. "We are in the enterprise of creative storytelling. All elements in motion picture storytelling are determined by the creative artists involved."


_______________________


What do you guys think? I'll post my opinion later when I give it more thought.

[EricIdlefan]

What about films promoting drinking and drugs?? They are much more worse than smoking!! No they shouldn't have films that do that be R but that is the most riduculous thing ever has been heard!!

[Mijada]

No. Maybe PG-13 but not R.

[EricIdlefan]

Yeah more like PG-13!! Good ideal!!

[Ewan's My Man]

That's dumb, people are subjected to smokers daily...stupid....

We're too prude...

[TJL]

I know when I saw those tiny aliens smoking in "Men In Black" I knew I wanted to go right out and light up.

I see no problem limiting smoking in G or PG films where more youngsters might watch, but leave the R rated flicks alone.

After all, only adults are allowed to view R rated movies.

Right?

;)

[Stuck In The '70's]

Thats stupid. Are they going to give all the Hollywood movies of the 30's and 40's an R rating because someone in the picture smokes?

[Dutabi84]

Might as well make it illegal for kids to be in public or make it illegal to smoke in public with that logic.

[EricIdlefan]

Originally posted by Dutabi84
Might as well make it illegal for kids to be in public or make it illegal to smoke in public with that logic.

Not just smoke but drinking and drugs are much more dangerous.

[Kazza]

They smoked on I Love Lucy and it was a family show that it's still around. I think that's stupid! Kids these days are more aware of what I was aware when I was a kid. I had my dad smoking around me and seen people smoke all the time and never had smoked myself. There are worse things to worry about than that

[Eddie Haskell]

Should be rated "S" for smoking. This freakin' world has become way too politically correct. And you know what? It isn't working......people are still screwing things up. It isn't so much TV and the movies fault as it is parents that don't take the time to teach their kids the right things in life. IMO :wave:

[Janice]

PG-13 maybe, but I don't think a movie should get hit with an R rating simply because of smoking. Imagine a 15 year old needing to be accompanied by a parent or guardian to see Seabiscuit or Chicago.

[Eddie Haskell]

Originally posted by Janice
Imagine a 15 year old needing to be accompanied by a parent or guardian to see Seabiscuit or Chicago.

I hear Seabiscuit was up to a pack a day when he quit running. :D

[Janice]

Originally posted by Eddie Haskell
I hear Seabiscuit was up to a pack a day when he quit running. :D
Now that's funny. :lol: :lol:

[Ewan's My Man]

Originally posted by Dutabi84
Might as well make it illegal for kids to be in public or make it illegal to smoke in public with that logic.

Yea, I agree, and some with I dunno who mentioned it but movies that involve drinking kids shouldn't see...well...I've been seeing my parents have drinks since I was...little.

The way I see it, and I'm treading on soft grounds here, but parents can't blame a movie for a kids use of cigarettes. My ex-uncle smoked when I was growing up, I've seen movies with smoking in it since I was little, my favorite actor smokes, most of my older relatives have smoked. But my parents (who have NEVER touched a cigarette) have taught me that it's wrong. So I don't do it. My "grandmother" just DIED of lung cancer. I KNOW not to smoke, but just b/c they're doing it in movies, doesn't mean that I'm gonna go out and light up. I mean, come on, just b/c they cut it out of movies doesn't mean that kids are going to STOP. And the peer pressure factor is a lot higher then seeing it going on in movies. I think that kinda goes back to the whole "jumping off a bridge thing". If you see someone in a movie jump off a bridge, it's very unlikely that everyone's gonna flock to the nearest bridge. An R rating for a movie with smoking is ridiculous. Maybe minimize it, or have those "truth" signs in the background. But people know what smoking is at an early age. I knew what it was years before I even knew what cussing was. I mean, come on, on ONE hand they have a movie with a smoker in it, on the OTHER hand they have a movie with pushing-it sex scenes and lots of cussing. I think that's insane to give the cigarette one an R rating and a sex scene one getting by with a PG-13 rating. Usually in movies, it's usually adults smoking, and ya know, they're the legal age, they're not breaking any laws, they are smoking and are old enough...sure it shows them smoking, but at least they're of age. Movies that have teenagers smoking, usually say that on rating (the words under the rating that say why it's rated that) Parents should be the ones who decide based on their children's maturity if they can see that then. Not Hollywood. And many teens CAN'T get into R rated movies. If they rate movies with cigarettes in them R, their profit isn't gonna be too great.

Ok, my fingers hurt and I doubt anyone is actually gonna sit there and read this long rant so I'm going to shut up now.

[Ewan's My Man]

Originally posted by Eddie Haskell
I hear Seabiscuit was up to a pack a day when he quit running. :D

:rofl:

[webuster]

No way should smoking get a film an R-rating. It's really silly, just by adding R-ratings to it now doesn't mean the kids will forget entirely about smoking, and, films do get video releases. The damageis done anyway- and besides, it's a very prudish thing to do. Everyone's exposed to smokers constantly- even anti-smoking ads still bring up smoking for everyone to see.

[TJL]

Originally posted by Ewan's My Man

Ok, my fingers hurt and I doubt anyone is actually gonna sit there and read this long rant so I'm going to shut up now.

I read your rant and I thought it was great. You made some great points, especially "Parents should be the ones who decide based on their children's maturity if they can see that then. Not Hollywood."



:thumbsup:

;)

[Rhiannon]

Why would a movie be rated R just because someone smokes? That's like saying kids should stay at home until they're 17.



Vote for me in the second primary! (http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showthread.php?threadid=102687)

[ConservativeBalla]

I say slap an "R" on a movie even if there's minimal sex/nudity before we even get to smoking. I'm not sure I'd like this smoking thing though, it just means more government control and another step toward socialism. Because like someone earlier said, "What are we gonna do? Make it illegal for kids to see smoking on the street?", and after a while, that will be a real question because of this movie thing if it's passed. And that will REALLY require government control which I'm dead-set against.

[Ewan's My Man]

Originally posted by TJL
I read your rant and I thought it was great. You made some great points, especially "Parents should be the ones who decide based on their children's maturity if they can see that then. Not Hollywood."



:thumbsup:

;)

:D WOOHOO! You read it!!


THANK YOU THANK YOU *bows*

;)

[LucyCompanyPhan]

Thats crazy. When I was under 13 I saw people smoking everyday, the movies doesn't make it any different so why not let a 13 see a movie with someone who smokes? I'm not saying im for smoking because im definately not but jeez. overboard here.

[Brian]

I have to agree with the majority. A movie should be rated based on content like sex, drugs, violence, and other sensitive stuff but smoking? I don't think so.

[Brian]

Originally posted by ConservativeBaller
I say slap an "R" on a movie even if there's minimal sex/nudity before we even get to smoking. I'm not sure I'd like this smoking thing though, it just means more government control and another step toward socialism. Because like someone earlier said, "What are we gonna do? Make it illegal for kids to see smoking on the street?", and after a while, that will be a real question because of this movie thing if it's passed. And that will REALLY require government control which I'm dead-set against.


For once in my life I actually agree with you on something.

[dandelion wine]

Originally posted by Eddie Haskell
Should be rated "S" for smoking. This freakin' world has become way too politically correct. And you know what? It isn't working......people are still screwing things up. It isn't so much TV and the movies fault as it is parents that don't take the time to teach their kids the right things in life. IMO :wave:

:yeahthat:

I'm in compete agreement with you, especially about the PC thing. Enough already!

[Eddie Haskell]

I saw someone murdered once and that's not illegal...........oh wait a minute.......nevermind. :crazy:

[crystals]

Originally posted by LucyCompanyPhan
Thats crazy. When I was under 13 I saw people smoking everyday, the movies doesn't make it any different so why not let a 13 see a movie with someone who smokes? I'm not saying im for smoking because im definately not but jeez. overboard here.

Exactly. My dad has been smoking since I was about five years old, but that didn't make me want to take up the bad habit. I've got good morals for a young person. I have never smoked and don't plan to ever smoke in my entire life. No stupid film showing people smoking is going to make me decide otherwise. I mean, what's going to happen if a young person sees a film with people smoking? Are they gonna say, "Oh cool, man! Smoking is so rad! We should light up sometime!" ?

I don't think so. :rolleyes:

[lockdown06]

all i can say is censorship ****ing sucks...everything in life is censored...in most cases the people smoking in movies and tv shows arent "good" guys anyway...as in Daredevil Micheal Clarke Duncan as Kingpin is always smoking a cigar...he is also a crimelord.......in matchstick men Nicholas Cage is a Con Artist

i think this is ridiculous