I have a question. I know that this movie is PG-13 but does anyone know if the rating will change to PG so that more people can watch it? because i know that they did that with the book of mormon movie and i'm wondering if they'll do that for thiis one. if anyone could let me know that'd be great cause i really want to see this!
-Sarah
Sarah...
Watch the movie. Don't worry about the rating. If you've seen the new Joseph Smith film at either a Temple visitor's center or the Joseph Smith Memorial Building, you've seen a PG-13 movie, and basically the same material this film covers.
I was not aware the BOM movie changed the rating. This is not something that can be done without the MPAA's approval, as it is they who assign the ratings.
AMERICAN ZION is a movie about the restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and the life of Joseph Smith, and the trials that faced the early Latter-day Saints. Go see the movie, it is amazing and uplifting, and needs the support of members of the church.
This is a film based on the writings of a Member of the Seventy, Brother Lund, currently serving in Europe. It is produced by LDS members, and obviously has the support of Brother Lund. Go see the film, and do not let the MPAA make the decision for you on this film, and the next one A HOUSE DIVIDED.
As for ratings, please visit www.nauvoo.com and read Orson Scott Card's essay on "Is there an R-rated Commandment."
-Todd
www.toddlbauerle.com
thanks for the help. the thing is in my family we are not allowed to see PG-13 movies, so I guess this means i won't get to see it.
shareFeel free to share my post with your parents, or when you are old enough to decide for yourself perhaps you should see it.
-Todd
www.toddlbauerle.com
FYI, The Book of Mormon movie did have an initial PG-13 rating and when it was distributed on DVD, the MPAA did reconsider and reassigned it a PG rating.
As for American Zion's rating, I second what Todd has said about its rating.
The producer of American Zion assured audiences that if they have seen the Church produced movies Legacy or The Testaments, the violence depicted in those films is equivalent to the violence depicted in American Zion.
I understand that as a dependent child of your parents, you have an obligation to abide by their rules/standards, etc.
I recall the first time I saw a PG-13 movie after recently returning from my full-time LDS missionary service. The movie was Forrest Gump. I was so shocked by the content that I vowed to never see a PG-13 movie again.
Since that vow, I have come to understand that the rating system by the MPAA is not consistent. There are some PG movies that are worse content wise than some PG-13 movies. There are even some G movies that thematically are worse than PG movies.
As Kieth Merrill (the director of The Testaments) said in an article...He said basically that there is only one rating that can be trusted. If a movie has an "X" rating, don't see it! Otherwise, the other ratings are not 100% reliable.
Content ratings: Indie films: LDS viewers in mind!
http://ldsreviews4movies.tripod.com
The MPAA ratings were never intended to rate the moral aspects of a movie. They were meant only to be a semi-objective guide for parents.
I agree with Notyourordinarymoviecritic. In terms of the moral suitability of a film, the MPAA ratings don't mean much. Two of the most spiritually uplifting films I have seen ("The Passion of the Christ" and "Changing Lanes," both of which in very different ways dealt with the Atonement) were rated R (in the first case deservedly, not so in the second case). On the other hand, there are plenty of PG-13 films full of sexual innuendo and gratuitous violence. That can happen with a PG film too, although rarely; unfortunately, most PG films are too inane for adults to watch, so I haven't seen one in ages.
As to "Zion," the PG-13 rating is deserved; Joseph Smith wasn't treated very kindly by his critics, and that would be hard for some youngsters to watch. But I think the film would be fine for most kids old enough to be posting here.