A Discussion of the MPAA Rating System

[Jack1000]

Guys,

I would like to open this thread to a discussion of the MPAA rating system. For those who weren't around when it was first introduced this system, which was created in 1968, set out to do two things:

1. Determine the General Content of a film

2. Determine whether or not it was ok for the kids to see it.

The original rating system at that time was:

G: General Audiences No objectionable content,children's film

GP: General Audiences, family fare

PG: Parental Guidence Suggested: Some objectionable material

R: Restricted: Under 17 regired parent or adult guardian

X: No one under 18 admitted.

The "G" rating was symbolic with children's film. The GP rating ment that it was appropriate for all family members, but the movie wasn't "geared exclusively towards children" About 3 years later, the GP rating was dropped

In those days, Movie theatres were very strict about under-age kids getting into movies. Managment used to check ID's for R-rated and X-rated movies. Over time the "G" rating became more and more synonimous with "kiddie film" and began to only be used associated with "Disney movies." Anything got a PG or higher to attract business.

In 1984, the MPAA adapted a PG-13 rating, which specifically said that parents were strongly cautioned against children under 13 seeing the movie. I always found this rating to be ambiguous. What determines a PG, from a PG-13, or even for that matter a "Soft R?" In 1979, I was about 13, and saw "The Jerk" with my friend. It was rated "R" for the name of Navin's dog and some of the sexually explicit dialoge with the "motercycle lady", but there was nothing THAT bad in the film. The R-rating prevented a lot of young kids who were Steve Martin fans, from seeing a classic comody flick! That movie, could have been a PG-13 for language had that rating existed back then.

In later years, the X rating was dropped. Acording to sources, this was the only rating that was not coywrighted by the MPAA. The X-rating, was associated with porno flicks, the MPAA, just said, "Let's change this to NC-17." This just said that any flick that was not appropriate for kids would just get this label.

In other coutries they have even more lables for ratings! I find them very confusing. Does anyone know what they are? I like the MPAA rating system the way it is now. However, several of my Internet movie friends think it should be changed.

How well do you think today's rating system for movies protects our kids? I say, not well at all. You may be able to stop a small number of kids from seeing objectionable movies at the cinama. However, with digital cable, hundreds of movie channels, PPV, I-Control, and VCR's and DVD's, nothing is going to stop a determined kid from seeing the movies on a premium movie channel or renting the movie after it has left the theature. You can block access to channels on cable, dish, and even your DVD, but who actually uses that feature, or is going to take the time to program their units to do that?

Where do you all stand on the ratings issue? Can we draw a line between censorship and free speech? Should we draw a line, or is it nobody's business? Do you think that the ratings system should stay the same or be changed?

Jack