R in america
Why the hell did this get an R rating in america? I'e seen this movie and it got a 12 rating and and thats what it deserves.
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MovieChat Forums > The Parole Officer (2001) Discussion > R in america
For the last line?
shareI'm not even sure why there's an American rating for it - as far as I can tell, it was never even released in America (which I'm ticked off about, because I'm dying to see this movie. I love Steve Coogan, but very few of his movies are released over here, and Alan Partridge has never been shown). Since I haven't seen it, I don't know specifically why it would have gotten that rating, but the MPAA has certain rules, so if the F-word is used twice, a movie will automatically be rated R, even if there's no violence, etc. Nudity also guarantees an R rating, unless if it's rear nudity. Yes, I think the rules are stupid too, but I'm not in charge.
Death puts things into perspective - we're all equal in the grave.
I always wondered what Americans think of British films. Do they do well over there?
shareThat's actually a tougher question to answer than you'd think. First of all, I don't exactly know how the distribution of a film works, but I would assume a movie would have to be very popular in its own country before it's released elsewhere (meaning a movie made in England would have to be really well received for it to be released in America). That said, in general, American film buffs are fans of British film. I personally think they're better made, and since they aren't made with tremendous budgets, they have better plots or stories or actors, etc. I don't know how the general public feels about British films as a whole, but I know that British comedy in particular is very well-received. Which is why I can't figure for the life of me why Steve Coogan is such an unknown here. I've read transcripts of I'm Alan Partridge, downloaded the Knowing Me, Knowing You radio shows, and have been lucky enough to obtain a copy of the Day Today tape that someone converted to NTSC format, and it's really some of the funniest stuff I've ever seen, and I watch a LOT of comedy. I would honestly categorize it right up there with Monty Python. I've never laughed harder in all my life. I suppose once "Around the World in Eighty Days" is released, Americans will at least know who he is, and maybe BBC America will show an Alan Partridge episode or two instead of a Changing Rooms marathon.
Death puts things into perspective - we're all equal in the grave.
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It's available for purchase? Where did you get it? Do you have to have a Region 2 DVD player?
Death puts things into perspective - we're all equal in the grave.
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"Death puts things into perspective - we're all equal in the grave."
Lighten up! It's just an R rating!
Why the hell did this get an R rating in america? I'e seen this movie and it got a 12 rating and and thats what it deserves.
It's cos of the topless bit... I think that a 12 is too lenient in Britain as well for this movie due to that bit >_>
Oh, don't be so old fashioned and uptight. Do you really think that a little toplessness is unsuitable for 12-year olds? They'll have seen it in science lessons at that age, for God's sake. I think 12 seems right for the film, and can't understand why it would be R in the US.
Just because you are a character, doesn't mean you have character
Yeah, i said that though cos you hardly ever find a film that's a 12 that has toplessness in it O_o
shareThou7gh this is an old board, Ive just seen a video of the Parole Officer, and it was a 15. I know the cinema release was a 12, coz I saw it when I was 13, but are the video certificates more lienient than cinema releases?
shareI've got a copy of the video, and it's got a 12 certificate on the box on my copy... O_o
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Oh yeah, it was a dvd actually. Just like the moulin rouge dvd is a 15. Geddit. Thanks.
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Bitter?
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Although Titanic is a 12 and Kate Winslet gets her baps out.
shareGo see Walkabout- 12 with full frontal nudity
shareNudity is viewed in america very differently than the rest of the world. Janet Jackson-Superbowl. Enough said. We were ROTFLOAO here in Canada too.
shareAs someone else mentioned, if the word F*** is used more than once it's automatically an R rating or if it's used only once and is referring to the act of sex (rather than in a "f*** off" sort of way) it's an automatic R rating.
Then there's the nudity (not much I admit but it's there).
And also I think the word twat was used which is considered much worse over here in the US than it is in the UK (as is c*** but I don't think that one was used in this film as far as I remember).
There wasn't enough violence to make it rated R so it must be a combination of the above factors that did it.
That said, I think the ratings system over here needs an overhaul.
I agree about the overhaul of the ratings system in America. I'm British, so it doesn't really concern me, but to me it seems stupid that under 17s cannot go and see a film (on their own, I think the accompanied rule is a good idea, I wish we had it here) that is rated 15 here, as there is nothing unsuitable in them, in my opinion, for several years below that. In my opinion, the ratings system here needs a little modification. In my opinion, 18 should be reduced to 16, 15 to 13, and 12 to 10. I'm 16, and I've seen about 20 18-rated films, and there is nothing which I feel is 'unsuitable' for anyone of my age group. It'll never happen though, and in about 16 months time (my 18th birthday), I won't care any more.
Oh, why do I have to be Mr. Pink?
What i don't understand is the difference in US and UK ratings. UK is harsher on violence as it takes life rather than sex, as it makes life. That in can understand, but America is such a stupid place. Violence is allowed to be shown more than sex, this is why the country is brought up to a terrible standard.
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Wow, this is an old message to receive a reply to, well over a year ago that I posted that. I still agree with myself now though, though its not really a probelm for me anymore, I can buy 18s or see them at the cinema, no one bats an eyelid. Only problem is I can't use my studemt discount card. Bah, I'm 18 in less then two months, then there'll be no problems.
I agree also with the point about the US, they seem to prohibitive about sex and so worked up about it, as if its an 'evil deed', which is obviously complete bollocks. We do kinda have a crazy law over here though, and porn film is rated 18 (as you might expect), however the age of consent is 16. So basically the law says that someone like me is old enough to have sex, but not old enough to watch a video of two other people having sex. How crazy is that?!
Oh, why do I have to be Mr. Pink?
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If anyone's still looking at this board, you see a woman's titties in a mirror as well as her... lower parts (clearly) and a man is seen with porn on his laptop (clearly with boobs n stuff)
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i think the American rating system gives the R rating for the bad language
e.g t0sser tw@t e.t.c
IMDB please put Bowling for Columbine and Fahrenheit 9/11
the top250
Net flix has it available for SAVE in the US, and Amazon are selling it in preperation for a release, but still no release date info. I know Alan Partridge has started gettign played on BBC America sinse interest was sparked in Coogan for around the world in Eighty days... also British television is getting very popular in the US again, by now im sure you know Office was given an american make over, which really wasnt THAT bad, but still wasnt "The Office" I know and love... also Little Britain is being talked about having a make over as the first2 DVDs have done spectacular over here... and also the Mighty Boosh and Spaced was played... I just wish the BBC would allow a second series of Snuff Box, if you missed it, check it out when you get a chance, or set your video for it, as it was really original without being out right obscure (which I like, but the general population doesn't)
As for the rating system i do believe R is 17 without adult supervision, because i saw a few 9-10 year olds go see snakes on a plane, with their unsuspecting parents MUHAHAHA.
Any one got any tips on a release date, let me know!
In Sweden, The Parole Officer has a 7y age limit. When you're 15, you can see ALL movies, the 18y age limit is long gone. We're not too uptight about "bad language", WE ALL USE IT SO WHY NOT HEAR IT IN THE MOVIES?
As for porn, that area's a bit fuzzy. There's no official age limit, but it should be legal for any 15y old to watch it although the porn industry's got it's limit of course. The age of conscent is 15...
Sometimes I think our ratings are frustratingly harsh, but comparing to US, UK or most other countries it's alright. :)
I saw the film last night on cable TV in Northern California. I think on one of the HBO channels. The R rating must be for some of the language and sexual references because the one shot of Lena Headey naked was a long shot and very short (did anyone notice how they covered her tattoos with makeup? I wonder if those tattoos have ever kept her from being nude in other films because the character wouldn't put tattoos on themselves).
The movie is really pretty harmless fun. The ratings system is often arbitrary (see a movie called, "For Your Consideration" or something like that. It describes the twisted and arbitrary nature of the ratings system in America and actually names the people on that board), and films that are basically inoffensive get an R while another film which shows all manner of gruesome violence gets a PG-13. I think that foreign films should not even try and get a rating. If Coogan's movie had come through NR, it would probably have gotten more viewers. On second thought, no it wouldn't. Still, NR is no longer the big bugaboo that it used to be. The ratings board and the system itself are under a lot of pressure to become more transparent. There needs to be a real set of standards for each rating and an explanation beyond the curt "violence" "some nudity" "drug use" and the rest. Nothing is ever in context.
Just for clarification:
American ratings have no relationship to British ratings. A movie can be rated U in England and still get an American R rating.
An R rating in America means that an adult must accompany any under 17 year-olds into the theatre.
If there are multiple uses of words that the MPAA regards as obscene the film will get an R rating, although restricting such words to one-time use might permit a PG-13.
Although the MPAA insists it does not practice censorship, MPAA ratings are a form of censorship, since in effect they restrict certain people from seeing certain movies: for example, the NC-17 rating absolutely prevents under-17s from viewing a movie at a movie theatre even if the parents allow their kid to see it on home video.
The MPAA ratings system is very arbitrary and you can show or imply multiple murders - even mass murder - and get a PG-13 rating, but if you show a single female nipple or say *beep* twice you'll likely get an R rating. Critics of the MPAA's ratings system have argued that the system reflects American culture in that it is often accepting of gross levels of violence but it finds sex and coarse language unpalatable. I would go further - I tend to think the MPAA actively encourages violence and represses healthy sexuality. The MPAA ratings system is symptomatic of a sickness at the heart of American culture.
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I agree with the film being rated 12 in the UK, Titanic has a topless secene and you see Kate Winslet half nude as far as i can remember and that's a 12 in the UK aswell. An R Rating in the US is a bit harsh.
shareNudity?
share