Nc-17

[CharleyH]

Seriously? LOL, the states have such a rating? Yet a second Canadian film, after Cronenberg's "Crash" has been raped with this dumb ass rating... Atom Egoyan's "Where the truth lies."

So, the mighty US of A would prevent sex, particularly a threesome with 2 guys and a girl (maybe not 2 chics and a dude), from being shown in theatres, and yet persists on the constitutional right to bear arms promoted in endless suspense, detective and horror movies?

Hm, the scales ... fun and sex on one end and blood and fucking guts on the other? (Ever noticed in horror flicks that it's always the teens having sex who die first?)

Talk away.

 

[BlackShanglan]

Actually, you've got the NC-17 rating backwards. It helps rather than hurts the movie.

No US rating directly forbids a movie from being shown in theaters. The ratings only restrict who can see it. R ratings theoretically forbid admittance to under-18's who are not accompanied by an adult. X ratings theoretically forbid anyone under 18 from entering, adult or no adult.

The problem with an 'X' rating is that very few theaters will carry an X-rated movie because the rating is associated with pornography. It's very difficult to get an X-rated movie shown anywhere but porn shops/cinemas. 'NC-17,' however, is widely recognized as meaning "nudity/sex of a high level, but with artistic merit of some sort." Such a film is more, not less, likely to be shown in general audience movie theaters. Giving an NC-17 rating to a movie is a boon; it's basically saying, "Yes, there's more sex and/or violence in this than would ever pass in an 'R' rated movie, but we think it has sufficient merit to deserve a wider audience."

Shanglan

 

[Lauren Hynde]

MPAA is a joke, but it only reflects the kind of society the US is turning into: a bunch of ignorant pussies.

I for one agree with J.G. Ballard when he says that there should be a whole lot more sex and violence freely available on TV and movies. Both (sex and violence) are powerful catalysts for change in areas where change is urgent and overdue. Throughout history, the periods of greatest availability of pornography have always coincided with times of greatest economic, scientific and even moral advancements. Moral, not puritanical.

 

[Colleen Thomas]

MPAA is a joke, but it only reflects the kind of society the US is turning into: a bunch of ignorant pussies.

I for one agree with J.G. Ballard when he says that there should be a whole lot more sex and violence freely available on TV and movies. Both (sex and violence) are powerful catalysts for change in areas where change is urgent and overdue. Throughout history, the periods of greatest availability of pornography have always coincided with times of greatest economic, scientific and even moral advancements. Moral, not puritanical.

Lauren!

*HUSG*

 

[Lauren Hynde]

Actually, you've got the NC-17 rating backwards. It helps rather than hurts the movie.

No US rating directly forbids a movie from being shown in theaters. The ratings only restrict who can see it. R ratings theoretically forbid admittance to under-18's who are not accompanied by an adult. X ratings theoretically forbid anyone under 18 from entering, adult or no adult.

The problem with an 'X' rating is that very few theaters will carry an X-rated movie because the rating is associated with pornography. It's very difficult to get an X-rated movie shown anywhere but porn shops/cinemas. 'NC-17,' however, is widely recognized as meaning "nudity/sex of a high level, but with artistic merit of some sort." Such a film is more, not less, likely to be shown in general audience movie theaters. Giving an NC-17 rating to a movie is a boon; it's basically saying, "Yes, there's more sex and/or violence in this than would ever pass in an 'R' rated movie, but we think it has sufficient merit to deserve a wider audience."

Shanglan

Actually, Shanglan...

The MPAA introduced the NC-17 (No one 17 and under admitted) rating on September 27, 1990 to finally make an official and standardized classification that could allow so-called adult fare to be distributed with the MPAA seal. Part of this calculation was that the adult XXX markets tended to have no reason to pay the fee to submit their product by that point (since the films were distributed either through independent theaters or simply direct to video), and a differentiation could therefore be implied by viewers that MPAA-rated adult-oriented films rated NC-17 were legitimate product, as with the first such film, Universal Pictures' Henry & June (1990), rather than purely prurient fare. The intention was that although X was associated historically pornography, Henry & June was intended as an erotic but legitimate mainstream film. Some media outlets which refused ads for X-rated titles viewed ads for NC-17 rated films as equally unsuitable, despite studio claims, and thus simply transferred that policy to NC-17 titles, as did many theater landlords. A number of social conservative groups placed pressure on large video chains including Blockbuster Video and Hollywood Video, as a result of which these chains do not stock NC-17 titles.​

and...

While a number of movies have been released with the NC-17 rating, none of them have been a major box-office hit. In a bold attempt to broaden the acceptance of NC-17 rated films towards the movie-going public, United Artists marketed its big-budgeted Showgirls heavily, with splashy TV and print ads. The film became the first (and, to date, only) NC-17 rated film to open in wide release, on 1,388 screens. But the critically-savaged film's poor box-office performance only created a larger stigma towards the rating, deeming any film rated NC-17 as being "box-office poison".​

 

[Lauren Hynde]

Lauren!

*HUSG*

Colly!

*HUGS!*

 

[JamesSD]

Seriously? LOL, the states have such a rating? Yet a second Canadian film, after Cronenberg's "Crash" has been raped with this dumb ass rating... Atom Egoyan's "Where the truth lies."

So, the mighty US of A would prevent sex, particularly a threesome with 2 guys and a girl (maybe not 2 chics and a dude), from being shown in theatres, and yet persists on the constitutional right to bear arms promoted in endless suspense, detective and horror movies?

Hm, the scales ... fun and sex on one end and blood and fucking guts on the other? (Ever noticed in horror flicks that it's always the teens having sex who die first?)

This has pissed me off since I was 16 or so (I forget exactly when NC-17 came to be). Of course, an R rating hurts a movie's chances to be a blockbuster, and the NC-17 is basically the kiss of death.

There does seem to be sexism in threesomes, although it's tough to tell from a small sampling of movies. Wild Things is a classic (and yummy!) example of an MFF threesome that got an R rating.

Personally I don't watch a lot of Non-R movies, unless they're animated. I guess a lot of comedies end up PG-13.

Eh, considering I rarely go to theaters anymore thanks to Netflix, I dont' really care much about ratings. I'll get the uncut version by the time I watch it anyway.

 

[BlackShanglan]

Actually, Shanglan...

The MPAA introduced the NC-17 (No one 17 and under admitted) rating on September 27, 1990 to finally make an official and standardized classification that could allow so-called adult fare to be distributed with the MPAA seal. Part of this calculation was that the adult XXX markets tended to have no reason to pay the fee to submit their product by that point (since the films were distributed either through independent theaters or simply direct to video), and a differentiation could therefore be implied by viewers that MPAA-rated adult-oriented films rated NC-17 were legitimate product, as with the first such film, Universal Pictures' Henry & June (1990), rather than purely prurient fare. The intention was that although X was associated historically pornography, Henry & June was intended as an erotic but legitimate mainstream film. Some media outlets which refused ads for X-rated titles viewed ads for NC-17 rated films as equally unsuitable, despite studio claims, and thus simply transferred that policy to NC-17 titles, as did many theater landlords. A number of social conservative groups placed pressure on large video chains including Blockbuster Video and Hollywood Video, as a result of which these chains do not stock NC-17 titles.​

and...

While a number of movies have been released with the NC-17 rating, none of them have been a major box-office hit. In a bold attempt to broaden the acceptance of NC-17 rated films towards the movie-going public, United Artists marketed its big-budgeted Showgirls heavily, with splashy TV and print ads. The film became the first (and, to date, only) NC-17 rated film to open in wide release, on 1,388 screens. But the critically-savaged film's poor box-office performance only created a larger stigma towards the rating, deeming any film rated NC-17 as being "box-office poison".​

I don't really see anything here that contradicts what I said. "Showgirls" sucked. *shrugs* Don't really see how the fallout of that has anything to do with the States trying to - was it "rape"? - artistic productions. NC-17 still beats X for any movie attempting to play the main theaters.

 

[BlackShanglan]

Throughout history, the periods of greatest availability of pornography have always coincided with times of greatest economic, scientific and even moral advancements. Moral, not puritanical.

Could you provide some examples?

 

[Lauren Hynde]

I don't really see anything here that contradicts what I said. "Showgirls" sucked. *shrugs* Don't really see how the fallout of that has anything to do with the States trying to - was it "rape"? - artistic productions. NC-17 still beats X for any movie attempting to play the main theaters.

NC-17 is X. MPAA doesn't have an X-rating, it just changed its name to "NC-17". For the theatre owners and the public at large, it is still X, though. Any movie who wants to make any kind of success in the US with an NC-17 rating simply has to drop it and risk going unrated.

 

[CharleyH]

Actually, you've got the NC-17 rating backwards. It helps rather than hurts the movie.

Actually, NC-17 notoriously kills a movie in the box office. I mean by this, as it means ... that without the largest movie going group, there is little reason to show the film, and so, cinemas do not bid for it, as most cinemas make more money off popcorn than cinema tickets. Therefore it loses even more money if they show it. It is a disasterous rating for a film, and every filmmaker knows it.

But argue as you like. Your opinions are appreciated and respected.

 

[Lauren Hynde]

Could you provide some examples?

Imperial Rome, Revolutionary France, the height of decandence of 80's America. Practically any moment in history worth writing erotica about. You should be the expert on this.

 

[Elenia26]

Seriously? LOL, the states have such a rating? Yet a second Canadian film, after Cronenberg's "Crash" has been raped with this dumb ass rating... Atom Egoyan's "Where the truth lies."

So, the mighty US of A would prevent sex, particularly a threesome with 2 guys and a girl (maybe not 2 chics and a dude), from being shown in theatres, and yet persists on the constitutional right to bear arms promoted in endless suspense, detective and horror movies?

Hm, the scales ... fun and sex on one end and blood and fucking guts on the other? (Ever noticed in horror flicks that it's always the teens having sex who die first?)

Talk away.

Yes. And:

MPAA is a joke, but it only reflects the kind of society the US is turning into: a bunch of ignorant pussies.

Yes, sadly.

 

[CharleyH]

Lauren!

*HUSG*

COLLY! Now I know you have something to say!

 

[yui]

Has anyone noticed that to half the world, America is despised because she is the evil purveyor of all that is nasty sex and terrible violence; the "decadence" and "perversion" of Americanism, Westernization, is infecting the "World?"

And to the other half of the world, America is a lot of puritanical, ignorant pussies.

Wow, what sweeping, if dichotomous, generalizations.

 

[Dar~]

Has anyone noticed that to half the world, America is despised because she is the evil purveyor of all that is nasty sex and terrible violence; the "decadence" and "perversion" of Americanism, Westernization, is infecting the "World?"

And to the other half of the world, America is a lot of puritanical, ignorant pussies.

Wow, what sweeping, if dichotomous, generalizations.

*sings* Have I ever told you, you're my heeeeeroooh! You're evrything I wish I could be. I can fly highger than an eagle cause you are the wind beneath my wings!

 

[Lauren Hynde]

Has anyone noticed that to half the world, America is despised because she is the evil purveyor of all that is nasty sex and terrible violence; the "decadence" and "perversion" of Americanism, Westernization, is infecting the "World?"

And to the other half of the world, America is a lot of puritanical, ignorant pussies.

Wow, what sweeping, if dichotomous, generalizations.

America is a great purveyor of sex and violence, but being puritanical and ignorant pussies, can only (in their own minds) purvey nasty sex and terrible violence instead of sophisticated thought-provoking pieces of art.

They deserve the MPAA they get.

 

[gauchecritic]

Has anyone noticed that to half the world, America is despised because she is the evil purveyor of all that is nasty sex and terrible violence; the "decadence" and "perversion" of Americanism, Westernization, is infecting the "World?"

And to the other half of the world, America is a lot of puritanical, ignorant pussies.

Wow, what sweeping, if dichotomous, generalizations.

However, if you consider that God is with the US (as the leader never tires of telling the rest of the world, even if only through reportage) then America becomes, by association, omniscient and omnipresent and so must encompass all things however dichotomous.

You must admit though Yui that promoting killing and denying sex all in one breath (by the rating system) is pretty split level thinking for anyone.

 

[Lauren Hynde]

You must admit though Yui that promoting killing and denying sex all in one breath (by the rating system) is pretty split level thinking for anyone.

Not if your ultimate goal is Population Control.

 

[CharleyH]

There does seem to be sexism in threesomes, although it's tough to tell from a small sampling of movies. Wild Things is a classic (and yummy!) example of an MFF threesome that got an R rating.

It got an R, so what about MMF threesomes? It is rare in Hollywood, I know. There is also contoversy though, over the penis. Tits, ass, or a pussy of a woman is quite acceptable, always has been. In recent years Richard Gere (American Gigalo) Harvey Keital (The Piano?) or Bruce Willis (Colour of something that I forget) 80's and 90's films were controversial because of a male penis? What's up with that?

Have we not bypassed that? Yet even last year Colin Farrel's cock is a no no, (was it too big) and yet it was cut from a film? Why?

 

[JamesSD]

It got an R, so what about MMF threesomes? It is rare in Hollywood, I know. There is also contoversy though, over the penis. Tits, ass, or a pussy of a woman is quite acceptable, always has been. In recent years Richard Gere (American Gigalo) Harvey Keital (The Piano?) or Bruce Willis (Colour of something that I forget) 80's and 90's films were controversial because of a male penis? What's up with that?

Have we not bypassed that? Yet even last year Colin Farrel's cock is a no no, (was it too big) and yet it was cut from a film? Why?

Oh I agree with you. The only MMF threesome that springs to mind was Y Tu Mama Tambien, where it was cut from the theatrical release. Non-sexual nudity should be freely allowed in R rated movies. It's one thing for an erect cock, but maybe more women would appreciate the naked male form if they saw it more, and were conditioned to find it sexy?

Ok, I'm getting off on a tangent here.

 

[Slowlane]

Seriously? LOL, the states have such a rating? Yet a second Canadian film, after Cronenberg's "Crash" has been raped with this dumb ass rating... Atom Egoyan's "Where the truth lies."

So, the mighty US of A would prevent sex, particularly a threesome with 2 guys and a girl (maybe not 2 chics and a dude), from being shown in theatres, and yet persists on the constitutional right to bear arms promoted in endless suspense, detective and horror movies?

Hm, the scales ... fun and sex on one end and blood and fucking guts on the other? (Ever noticed in horror flicks that it's always the teens having sex who die first?)

Talk away.

It's comparable to the Canadian rating of "R" with a one year difference. In intent, it differs little from Canada's 14A or 18A. The US has a nation wide rating, Canada's may vary slightly by province.

No rating prevents anything from being shown in theaters or on pay TV.

So, what’s your point?

 

[Liar]

Has anyone noticed that to half the world, America is despised because she is the evil purveyor of all that is nasty sex and terrible violence; the "decadence" and "perversion" of Americanism, Westernization, is infecting the "World?"

And to the other half of the world, America is a lot of puritanical, ignorant pussies.

Wow, what sweeping, if dichotomous, generalizations.

Because it's...well...true.

Depending on the eye of the beholder. To a fundamental muslim, America is on average, a decadent sex crazed culture. For a liberal western European, America is a bunch of prudes.

This can be said about ANY culture. People watch it and compare it with their own culture, which they pecieve as Normal, which makes anything different wrong. So why the focus America all of the time? Because no other culture comes close when it comes to visiblity. Yer loud, yer bold, and yer everywhere. No wonder people have opinions.

 

[rgraham666]

So, what’s your point?

Charley rarely has a point. That's the beauty of her.

We read what we want into her. Sort a a Rorschach test for Litophiles.

 

[Lauren Hynde]

No rating prevents anything from being shown in theaters or on pay TV.

Theoretically. In practice, you know that's not true. NC-17 is the equivalent to the original X-rate. "Some media outlets which refused ads for X-rated titles viewed ads for NC-17 rated films as equally unsuitable, despite studio claims, and thus simply transferred that policy to NC-17 titles, as did many theater landlords. A number of social conservative groups placed pressure on large video chains including Blockbuster Video and Hollywood Video, as a result of which these chains do not stock NC-17 titles." There was only one movie ever rated with NC-17 that still managed to get a wide release in the US.