PG13 versus R

[Eric Rodemann]

I have noticed recently that I prefer R rated films over PG13. This may be an example many of you can't relate to, but I saw Shark Night 3d, and Piranha 3d. Shark is PG13, and Piranha is R.

The PG13 just feels contrived. A shark bites you, and you say ouch, instead of the F word. I think we can all agree that if a shark takes a bite out of you you're probably going to say something that would not be appropriate for Church.

Same when it comes to comedy. The Hangover (R), hilarious. Medea's Big Happy Family (PG13), not that funny.

A rare exception is Insidious. I thought it was so well made, and really scary (at least the first 45 minutes) that it didn't matter that it was PG13.

But generally, if it's PG13 that's a strike against it in my book.

Captain America was PG13. Pretty entertaining. But Kick Ass, rated R, was fantastic.

I know that's where the money is. The teenagers buy a lot of movie tickets, and they can't get in if it's Rated R.

 

[Keith Putnam]

Where in the world do you live that teenagers can't get in to R rated movies? The industry would more or less implode if that were the general case.

 

[Bill Anderson]

Sorry, I posted in wrong thread

 

[Austin Glass]

The Hangover (R), hilarious. Medea's Big Happy Family (PG13), not that funny.

I can accept the other points of your argument, but comparing something like The Hangover to ANYTHING by Tyler Perry on grounds of comedy is a little silly. Nothing Tyler Perry creates is funny… it has nothing to do with the rating it gets.

I can understand your argument in regards to character realism. When most people get bit by a shark, they will likely scream the f-word. While this is true, I also know many people whom do not include the f-word in their vocabulary, so no amount of pain would cause them to say it. It just wouldn't come to their mind.

I for one generally prefer R-rated movies, but I never want to see a movie that adds R-rated content just so they can get the rating they want. I think it should only be there if it supports the story.

 

[Aaron Champion]

The studio system still rules the industry today, and its not like the old studio system, its all corporate now, and pg13 sells statistically more than rated R. And to the corporate studio system wants to make money, it has nothing to do with quality, or what people like more, it has to do with what sells. Is it backward? Yes, why would a better rated R movie not sell as well as a PG13...well in the box office pg13 is king... sadly I suppose.

 

[Eric Rodemann]

Where in the world do you live that teenagers can't get in to R rated movies? The industry would more or less implode if that were the general case.

Apparently it does make a difference.

 

[Eric Rodemann]

I can accept the other points of your argument, but comparing something like The Hangover to ANYTHING by Tyler Perry on grounds of comedy is a little silly. Nothing Tyler Perry creates is funny… it has nothing to do with the rating it gets.

I can understand your argument in regards to character realism. When most people get bit by a shark, they will likely scream the f-word. While this is true, I also know many people whom do not include the f-word in their vocabulary, so no amount of pain would cause them to say it. It just wouldn't come to their mind.

I for one generally prefer R-rated movies, but I never want to see a movie that adds R-rated content just so they can get the rating they want. I think it should only be there if it supports the story.

Ok, I was just trying to think of a PG13 comedy. I have never seen anything from Tyler Perry that was funny. It's very odd though. He even makes up his own vocabulary and accents.

Here's the thing about R ratings. You might as well go all in.

If you say the F word twice, instant R rating. If there are ANY drugs, and you don't show the person using the drugs going to jail, rehab, and their life being ruined to teach the lesson that drugs are bad, instant R rating. More than two boobs for more than 2 seconds or if the brief nudity is in any way sexual, instant R rating.

So what if one character in the story says the F word twice, and NONE of the rest of the movie has any R rated content?

You do the OPPOSITE. You cut out the F word, even though it's not motivated by the story.

OR, you might as well re-write the whole thing to be a R rated movie.

Otherwise you lose.

If you leave the F word in, you lose the PG13 audience and the R rated audience will be like, WTF? this is made for Teens.

There's no in between. Either skip ALL drugs, nudity, and language, or put in as much as you can get away with.

 

[Austin Glass]

Ok, I was just trying to think of a PG13 comedy. I have never seen anything from Tyler Perry that was funny. It's very odd though. He even makes up his own vocabulary and accents.

Here's the thing about R ratings. You might as well go all in.

If you say the F word twice, instant R rating. If there are ANY drugs, and you don't show the person using the drugs going to jail, rehab, and their life being ruined to teach the lesson that drugs are bad, instant R rating. More than two boobs for more than 2 seconds or if the brief nudity is in any way sexual, instant R rating.

So what if one character in the story says the F word twice, and NONE of the rest of the movie has any R rated content?

You do the OPPOSITE. You cut out the F word, even though it's not motivated by the story.

OR, you might as well re-write the whole thing to be a R rated movie.

Otherwise you lose.

If you leave the F word in, you lose the PG13 audience and the R rated audience will be like, WTF? this is made for Teens.

There's no in between. Either skip ALL drugs, nudity, and language, or put in as much as you can get away with.

That is an incredibly valid argument. Excellent points made.

 

[Keith Putnam]

Well, let's not forget here that the entire MPAA ratings system is absurd and only exists as A. a marketing tool and B. a misguided attempt to prevent parents with nothing more important to worry about from complaining to their legislators about how Hollywood is corrupting The Children. Looking for too much logic within the ratings system is folly at best.

 

[Eric Rodemann]

Well, let's not forget here that the entire MPAA ratings system is absurd and only exists as A. a marketing tool and B. a misguided attempt to prevent parents with nothing more important to worry about from complaining to their legislators about how Hollywood is corrupting The Children. Looking for too much logic within the ratings system is folly at best.

There are so many things wrong with the MPAA. For one, have you seen the price to get your movie rated? It's not cheap. And no theater chain is going to play your movie without a rating.