The problem with a two-rating system is that there's always a mid-ground for movies. "K" and "A" is just too broad for a lot of movies.
Look at the modern PG-13 action movie. Not enough to warrant an R, but it's certainly too hard for a PG.
Film ratings are fine as is. The problem is the classification process and weird secret society that the MPAA is.
[QUOTE=LTJGPliskin;48108181]The problem with a two-rating system is that there's always a mid-ground for movies. "K" and "A" is just too broad for a lot of movies.
Look at the modern PG-13 action movie. Not enough to warrant an R, but it's certainly too hard for a PG.
Film ratings are fine as is. The problem is the classification process and weird secret society that the MPAA is.[/QUOTE]
Basically, not to mention that there is a lot of strange shit I've seen movies rated for. It's not like video games where it's like "Cartoon Violence" or "Violence". I think it was a Pirates of the Caribbean DVD I read the back and it said "Swashbuckling Violence" as one of the reasons. Like what? Shouldn't that just fall under violence then?
That two rating system is fucking stupid. A 13 year old isn't old enough to see a lot of adult films, that doesn't mean they're going to enjoy a film made for 7 year olds. The ratings on films aren't just barriers for entry, they're also used to determine the recommended age for viewers. If anything what America needs is a system like Ireland's (and many other European countries), G for anyone, PG for parental guidance, 12A for 12 year olds or younger kids accompanied by parents, 15A for 15 year olds or younger kids accompanied by parents, 16 for 16 and up, and 18 for 18 and up.
Right now American films either have to go for a R rating which would severely limit how many people can see the film, or a PG13 rating which severely limits what a film can do. Most of the time here American R rated films are 15A or 16 over here, the only 18 rated films are incredibly gory or filled with sex.
[QUOTE=bdd458;48108222]Basically, not to mention that there is a lot of strange shit I've seen movies rated for. It's not like video games where it's like "Cartoon Violence" or "Violence". I think it was a Pirates of the Caribbean DVD I read the back and it said "Swashbuckling Violence" as one of the reasons. Like what? Shouldn't that just fall under violence then?[/QUOTE]
Some Godzilla movies are rated PG for "Traditional Godzilla Violence"
[QUOTE=Zillamaster55;48108416]Some Godzilla movies are rated PG for "Traditional Godzilla Violence"[/QUOTE]
I think that in itself is the real problem with our movie rating system. It's far too specific, and there's too many random classifiers such as that. While I don't think that the ESRB is perfect (for example M should be knocked down to 15 or 16 instead of 17) the actual content of the classifications doesn't seem to vary all that much. For example I mentioned "Cartoon Violence" and just "Violence" earlier. One is an apt description for what would happen in a Legend of Zelda game for example, and the other is an apt description for what would happen in a Call of Duty game. They're specific where needed, and I don't think I've really ever seen a violence classification beyond those two because those are quite frankly all you need as there is an actual distinction between those types of violence.
That and the age brackets for movies are weird. R should be bumped down to 15 or 16 and keep the others where they are. They are not just age classifications, they are also an indicator for what age group in general would be interested in a particular film. Stripping that down to 2 completely eliminates that purpose.
oh, and IMO what he says about the 2 ratings bringing more profits is wrong. Now instead of parents taking their kids to a movie that may be pg-13 (especially in the pre-teen boy category) like say Micheal Bay's Transformers they're going to see a different movie just rated K which going by his standards aren't going to have movies that were once going to be pg-13 because they were just dumbing it down or whatever for that market. that or it would be dumbed down even further.
I always thought they should just have a "Nudity Language Violence" (NLV) system and give each a 1 out of 5. So you could know just what you're getting into. example: Nudity-1, Language-3, Violence-4.
Some people are ok with language but not violence, or violence but not nudity. It would be way better than just "R" rating that says little to nothing to the content in it.
Or we could add a 15 between 13 and 17 like everyone's been asking for since PG-13 became a thing?
Why should Paranormal Activity be the same rating as Goodfellas?
Why should Mad Max Fury Road be the same rating as Saw?
I think Australia's system is really good actually (in regards to movies, not games):
G - General Audience
PG - Parental guidance recommended for ages under 13
M - Mature, Parental guidance recommended for ages under 15
MA15+ - Mature Audience, for ages 15+ only
R18+ - Restricted, for ages 18+
X18+ - X Restricted, for ages 18+ classification for porn ect, can't be sold in normal stores. Illegal to show to a minor ($5,500 fine)
RC - Refused Classification, illegal to sell or distribute, but legal to posses unless there is illegal content on the film. (10 years prison + $275,000 fine)
Up until MA15+ there's no real restriction and is entirely up to the parents to let them see the movie, also our rating boards are pretty fair tbh. I've seen a few movies get M ratings here but get NC17+ in America, I know one movie got PG here but NC17+ because it was about gays or something.
If we're going with gut feeling on should kids watching something, 2001: A Space Odyssey would get a 16+ rating despite it not having any content that should be restricted from kids.
One rating system Hollywood should follow is something similar to TV ratings, with a couple letters after the rating to indicate the content you should watch out for.
I've always thought of it this way:
G - General Audiences
PG - Parental Guidance suggested, mainly to some stressing stuff (end scene of Toy story 3, anyone?)
PG13 - Parental Guidance suggested for viewers under 13. Stuff like Robocop 2014 and the Avengers comes to mind.
MA - Mature audiences only (16+ or <16 with a guardian). Stuff like Mad Max would go here
MAR - Mature Audiences Only Restricted (17+ only). Hardcore films, but I can't name any off the top of my head
MA18 - Mature audiences only (18+). Essentially NC17 films. Few things would meet this anyways
Honestly, I prefer the employees just not giving a shit. This system is better for the movie makers (and have no effect on me at all even if I was in the US), which I totally get, but I hate the idea that what young teens watch needs to be moderated by the government and their parents. Basically, if you're old enough to get the bus to a cinema with some friends, walk in, buy a ticket and some drinks/food and watch a movie, then get some dinner or make your way back home then you're mature enough to [B]decide[/B] what you think you're ok to watch. Why should anyone need to prove anything to anybody else just so they can see a movie?
At the end of the day, most movies are suitable for everyone and it's not like an 8 year old can just walk into a cinema and watch the latest Insidious (I think we can completely ignore the idea that if ratings didn't exist we'd have all 8 year olds running into the cinema to see the latest gore and sex fest). And the movies that aren't ok for everyone? Well that's fine, most kids at 13-14 wouldn't want to watch them anyway, and if they do, then it's their fucking decision, if you stop them when they want to they'll just pirate it anyway.
I was thinking
K-kids
T-Teens
A-adults
Hell, PG-13 was an addition to the ratings system due to Indiana Jones & the Temple of Doom, and how poorly it fit with a PG rating, but it wasn't R-worthy either. Two categories really is far too broad.
For this guy, is Temple of Doom a kid movie or an adult movie?
[quote=Hiruty;48111697]Up until MA15+ there's no real restriction and is entirely up to the parents to let them see the movie[/quote]
Up until R, America's system is the same.
The biggest issue with the current ratings system is that we have a lot of films these days that are either a soft R or hard PG-13 and blur the lines pretty bad sometimes
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