Why are foreign films always rated R?

[McPhreak]

In the past couple months, I've seen two foriegn movies in the theaters: "Amelie", and "Italian for Beginners" (both GREAT movies I might add) and both are rated R.

Amelie:
One "unh, unh" scene shown from the waist up looking down on the bed with Amelie laughing. no nudity shown whatsoever
Another sex scene which you sort of hear (thumping) from the other side of the door
One scene takes place in a porn shop.
No swearing that I can remember.

Italian for beginners:
One "unh, unh" scene which doesn't show anything past 2nd base.
No nudity.
A little bit of swearing.

And it's not like these movies have adult themes in them or anything. They're both just love stories. I don't get it. Why are they both rated R?

 

[pulse8]

Amelie:


<< MPAA: Rated R for sexual content. >>



Italian for Beginners:


<< MPAA: Rated R for language and some sexuality. >>

 

[McPhreak]

Just comparing these films to films made in the US, they SHOULD be receiving only PG-13 ratings. Lord of the Rings got a PG-13 rating and how many people got hacked in that movie?!!

 

[pulse8]

According to the MPAA, sex is frowned upon more than violence.

There's really no rhyme or reason. It's just a bunch of people in a room who make these ratings.

If you're over 17, what does it really matter?

 

[vi edit]

It all comes down to politics and just how much money the studio/movie producer wants to slip to the MPAA to make the cut.

 

[pulse8]

<< It all comes down to politics and just how much money the studio/movie producer wants to slip to the MPAA to make the cut. >>



Actually, it has to do with what the studio/movie producer will cut in order to make the ratings.

Many movies have taken out a lot of things in order to make the rating they want.

Eyes Wide Shut is one that comes to mind.

 

[vi edit]

<<

<< It all comes down to politics and just how much money the studio/movie producer wants to slip to the MPAA to make the cut. >>



Actually, it has to do with what the studio/movie producer will cut in order to make the ratings.

Many movies have taken out a lot of things in order to make the rating they want.

Eyes Wide Shut is one that comes to mind. >>



Think what you will. The MPAA is BY NO MEANS an objective group.

 

[BurnItDwn]

R is a good rating, I rarely watch anything less!

 

[IGBT]

Relaxing?

 

[Zim Hosein]

<< Relaxing? >>

 

[goog40]

<< R is a good rating, I rarely watch anything less! >>



Exactly, a R rating often means more ticket sales. A lot of movies aimed at kids try to get those R ratings

 

[Nemesis77]

Because foreign movies forces you to use your brains (just compare Amelie with Pearl Harbor for example). That might be harmful for some young kids, therefore the R-rating.

 

[Nefrodite]

One of the best comes when Amelie stands high on the terrace of Montmartre and wonders how many people in Paris are having orgasms at that exact instant, and we see them, 15 in all, in a quick montage of hilarious happiness. It is this innocent sequence, plus an equally harmless childbirth scene, that has caused the MPAA to give the movie an undeserved R rating (in Norway it was approved for everyone over 11).


http://www.suntimes.com/ebert/ebert_reviews/2001/11/110901.html


ebert rants against the lousy censoring arbitrary mpaa all the time. anyways, sex is worse then violence to the damned mpaa.

 

[Nemesis77]

Why is it that Hollywood is so scared of sex? I mean, it's perfectly OK to smash soneones face in with a baseball-bat, but if someone has sex on-screen, it seems to be a big no-no?

As for Amelie... It's an awesome movie, and I fully recommend everyone to go see it !