Nick+O.

​

=toc Movies that are "Too Graphic " for you...=

When you think of the movies, what pops into your head? Popcorn? A cinematic adventure? Milla Jovovich? Johnny Deep? All and all, movies bring you into another world full of action, suspense, horror, romance, and mystery. The purpose of the film is merely based on enjoyment of the consumer. But, there is the debate on whether or not the [|MPAA] (Motion picture Association of America) still needs to perfect the rating system, which is supposed to tell consumers about how graphic a movie is (whether it is full of violence, gore, inappropriate language, sex, drugs, etc.). The rating system is simple: G (all ages) PG (suggested parental guidance) PG-13 (may be inappropriate for children under 13) R (restricted, no one under 17 allowed without parent/guardian) and NC-17 (extremely adult, no children admitted) (Motion Pictures: Rating Changes)

But the real question should be whether or not the MPAA should determine what we can and can not see. Yes, it is true that some movies are filled with blood, violence, sex, drinking, and so on, but shouldn’t it be the right of the consumer to choose what he/she wants to see?

=What is the [|Movie Rating System] exactly?=

You’re probably familiar with the MPAA approved movie rating system. You’ve seen it before and after trailers, before movies, on the back of DVD’s, online, and in advertisements. The purpose of the rating system is to inform movie-goers about what inappropriate subjects the movie contains, and to what extent. Rod Gustafon, author of "Changes in Movie Ratings" argues that some concerned parents feel that the rating system doesn’t give enough information about the inappropriate subjects as it could. (Espejo 95) Others simply believe at an okay rating system is better then no rating system. (Movie Ratings, Issues and Controversis on File)

Some believe in a secret conspiracy between film makers and the MPAA concerning “Hard-R” (films that reach the boundary between R and NC-17). They believe that the reason so many inappropriate films get off with an “R” rather then a “NC-17” is because the film makers and the MPAA both know that younger individuals make up the movie-going population. If a film gets an “NC-17”, then that film may not do as well as an “R”. In fact, the majority of movies are rated “R”, while the minority are rated "NC-17" And all the MPAA does is ask the directors to [|edit] their movies to recive a less harsh rating. (Espejo 98)

Yet, parents do argue that the decision of allowing their children to see “R” rated films should be entirely up to them. They believe it should be the parents who decide what they want their children to be exposed to. And if they are uncertain about how extreme the violence/sex/drug abuse is, then they should first do some research to figure out how graphic the film is before they make their decision. (Espejo 91) But, besides the rating system, there are many other reasons to which people believe the film industry is extremely corrupt...

= Violence, Sex, and ​ Commercialization in Movies.=

Many are concerned that films are too commercialized in the sense of [|product placement]. Product placement is, quite literally, when companies pay to have their products in the movie as a way of subliminal advertising. You’ve most likely noticed product placement in movies, whether it comes in the form of someone drinking Pepsi, or someone driving a Ford. But others aren’t so worried about product placement as much as they fear the presence of violence and sex, which some argue has gotten worse and worse in movies as the years progress. They believe that the rating system overlooks some violent acts. Surprisingly, there are those who believe that Disney’s //The Lion King// (1994 -rated G) wasn’t rated harsh enough on account of animalistic violence and mild love themes between two //lions//. (Espejo 105) Those opposed to this idea believe that people are a little too extreme when it comes to their opinions about movie violence and sex. These people disagree with the argument that G is the new PG, PG is the new PG-13, and so on. They believe that some parents and concerned individuals are becoming too strict about what’s considered “mild” violence, or “some” sexual content. These individuals then get angry at the MPAA because they don’t share the same opinion about specific rating ideals at they do. (Movie Ratings, Issues and Controversis on File)

=Movies on  Television =

 Some parents do not like the idea of “R” rated films to be played on TV. But movies on cable television programs are always censored, so the blood, sex, and swearing is low. Why should parents be concerned about the censored films their children see on TV? media type="youtube" key="z4t6zNZ-b0A" height="238" width="299" align="left"

Honestly, would you be offended by this clip of the TV edited version of //Snakes on a Plane// (2006)?

The issue that parents see with movies on television is that, if they don’t have a parental block system, then their children can be exposed to films that they are too young for. A [|1995 poll] from CNN/USA today states that 83% of Americans believe that there is too much sex and violence on television (Television Content, Issues & Controversies on File). It is apparent that the amount of exposed, inappropriate content on television bothers most Americans. Television Executives argue “If viewers were truly offended by such [inappropriate] shoes, they would not be watching them”. As well, there are those who agree and believe that trying to censor or lighten television and movie content is against our right to freedom of speech. (Television Content, Issues & Controversies on File).



=So what can we Learn from other's opinions?=

Well, opinions are simply your thoughts on a subject, so you may or may not have been convinced by others opinions. But the main point of this argument is simple: Despite what others fear we young adults will be exposed to, shouldn’t // we // be the ones who decide what // we // want to see? The rating system is good enough to tell us what is in the movie, but should it also keep us from viewing the film simply because of our age?

Censoring, banning, and/or permitting others from viewing movies, is against the belief of the first amendment in which we are entitled to freedom of speech and press. There are many out there who are concerned for what we, America’s youth, are exposed to. But the reality is the decision of what we can or can not see should be entirely be made by our parents or ourselves.

= Works Cited = "Are MPAA Movie Ratings Obsolete?" //WiseGEEK: clear answers for common questions//. Web. 05 Feb. 2010. . Espejo, Roberto. //The Film Industry//. Detroit, Michigan: Greenhaven, 2009. // Motion Picture Association of America //. Web. 04 Feb. 2010. . "Motion Pictures: Ratings Changes." // Facts On File World News Digest //: n. pag. // World News Digest //. Facts On File News Services, 18 Feb. 1970. Web. 4 Feb. 2010. . "Movie Ratings." // Issues & Controversies On File: // n. pag. // Issues & Controversies //. Facts On File News Services, 9 June 2006. Web. 4 Feb. 2010. . "MPAA Ratings Still Stoke Controversy: Documentary Spurs Ratings Reform -- NCAC." //National Coalition Against Censorship -- NCAC//. Web. 05 Feb. 2010. <http://www.ncac.org/film/20070201~USA~Documentary_Spurs_Ratings_Reform.cfm>. <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Courier New'; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 200%; text-align: left;">"Television Content." // Issues & Controversies On File: // n. pag. // Issues & Controversies //. Facts On File News Services, 5 Jan. 2001. Web. 4 Feb. 2010. <http://www.2facts.com/article/i0102710>.