MovieChat Forums > Shank (2009) Discussion > MPAA

MPAA

posted 13 years ago by jashywashy
7 replies | jump to latest

First off, I thought the film was good. I gave it 3 out of 5 stars on Netflix. While I'm on the subject of Netflix, I saw that the movie was R-rated. This seemed interesting to me, being that most independent films with "gay-themed" material like this don't even bother with submitting their films to the MPAA, especially a British film. After watching the film, I thought Netflix may have made a mistake labeling the film as R-rated. So I venture here to IMDb and notice that it has an actual rating certificate and everything.

This comes as a pleasant surprise to me. Something like this film would have definitely been given an NC-17 rating in the past. Look at something as harmless as But I'm A Cheerleader. It's original rating was NC-17 for something as silly as the main character touching herself through her panties. I wonder if the MPAA has finally heard enough protests on how they rate films. Are they finally being more lenient with homosexual content, and treating it the same as heterosexual content? I sure hope so.

[–] roxyrose302 13 years ago

I think British films and American films are rated by different panels. But yes, this is indeed suprising.

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[–] johnmichael-2 13 years ago

I think British films and American films are rated by different panels. But yes, this is indeed suprising.

You mean each country has their own rating panel--the MPAA in USA and the BBFC in Britain. But both boards rate movies from both countries. Most PG-13 movies in the U.S. get a 12 in Britain, most R-rated movies will get a 15 or 18, and most NC-17 movies will get an 18.

On IMDB it only has the USA and Australia certifications for this film, but I imagine it probably got an 18 in Britain. And if there is an uncut and R-rated edition in the U.S., I'm sure the version I saw on Netflix was the uncut one. There's no way it wouldn't have gotten an NC-17, even with the ratings creep over the past few years.

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[–] sergius1970 13 years ago

Have to disagree. I found this film as boring as it was patronising and predictable, and as a gay man Im cheesed off with this sort of thing. Havent gay artists got anything interesting to say?

[–] christian-385 13 years ago

@sergius1970 - what film would you like to see that comments on gay life?

[–] 13 years ago

[deleted]

[–] slayer889620 13 years ago

Can anyone tell me what the differences are in the R Rated and Unrated. I download the film but it does not say which version is it.
"You forgot the number one rule about remakes. Never *beep* with the original."

[–] Mirage4 10 years ago

The MPAA is very subjective and the panel differs from film to film. So, one day you can have a panel with very conservative viewing habits who gives a semi-risque film a more restricted rating than colleagues who are not offended by the same images and language.