May 2004

   
 
 
   
   
  
  
   
   
   
 
 
   
    
 
  
  
 
   
   
   
  
  
  
   
  
   

video stores in the 80s) wouldn't stock X-rated
movies. Therefore, a mainstream film’s content
would almost always be toned down in order to
get an R-rating—a form of self-censorship that
the ratings system was designed to avoid.

To solve the problem, and erase the stigma
attached to X, in 1990 the NC-17 rating (not for
children 17 or under) was created by Valenti and
the MPAA. The first NC-17 film to be released
was 1991’s Henry and June, but the newfound
freedom didn’t last long. Unfortunately, NC-17
failed to erase the stigma associated with its pre-
cursor and to this day, a potential NC-17 rating
usually means a movie will be re-edited so that it
gets an R-rating instead.

A recent example of a bold move countering
this general convention is Fox Searchlight’s release
of its uncut version of Bernardo Bertolucci’s sex-
ually explicit coming-of-age story, The Dreamers,
making it the firsts MPAA signatory company to
release an NC-17 film in six years.

While a major improvement over the old Hays
Production Code, the present rating system is not
perfect. Because it is only a voluntary system, the-
atres are not legally bound to, follow its guide-
lines.
However, though there have been sensational-
ized news stories of theatres that admit underage
kids into R-rated movies, most theatres generally
seem to follow the rules.

Critics such as Roger Ebert also argue that the
system emphasizes sex over violence and places
way too much importance on inconsequential
aspects of movies, such as how many times bad
words are used. Also, since the 80s, conspiracy
theorists have claimed that more and more con-
tent is being allowed into PG and PG-13 films in
order to court the teenage crowd—something
that wouldn't be possible if a film was restricted.
Ultimately though, whether the ratings system
is perfect or not, most people would probably say
that it does its job (informing parents about
movie content) and that we are far better off
today than under the old Hays Production Code
system of artistic self-censorship.

Arts & Entertainment

 

RESTRICTED <>

 

 

 

UNDER 17 REQUIRES ACCOMPANYING
PARENT OR ADULT GUARDIAN

 

 

 

OtherPress | 17