The Film's Rating

I'm not referring to the critical rating. I mean the MPAA rating. It's rated GP or should I say, PG by today's standards, and there some things in it that would render it a little higher than that. Just looking at some of the violence that happens and the brief bits of gore concerning Zach Bass' injuries, I can't help but wonder. Do you guys think the film would've still been PG nowadays? 13 years later, the PG-13 rating would come into existence.

Also, another I want to ask, I read somewhere this film was originally a little gory to where filmmakers had to cut down on some scenes in order for it be less bloody. Is this true?