Why does Netflix edit (cut) movies?

I am just starting to stream this movie via Netflix. I always check the run-time for streamed movies because often enough, they cut anywhere from two to three minutes, as in Rites of Passage, to a movie-mangling 15 minutes.

It's a hanging offense to me! :-)

Why is this done? Does anybody know?

I cannot get any sort of response from Netflix. The people that answer the phones are nice, polite, and generally very helpful, however, every time I have asked them why they have cut time off a streaming movie, they are perplexed. First they verify it, then they say they don't know and will ask someone in charge, or ask someone technical. I have checked back on each movie that was cut, and have never seen the movie "restored." I am not talking about situations such as the Director's cut vs. regular cut. Netflix has no email, no Bugzilla (just kidding) or other way to contact them, just the phone call.

Is this a "Parental Control" issue? Or do they butcher movies just for the heck of it?

The worse cut I've encountered so far is Fahrenheit 451, cut from 112 to 96 minutes. The scenes that are cut pretty much wreck the plot.

Anyhow, I do like the Netflix streaming feature.

If anyone knows what was cut from this particular movie, please advise!