Rating System Harsher Now?
I just re-watched BTTF parts 1 and 2 this weekend (I've never seen 3, but will probably rent it this coming weekend, the cliffhanger in 2 always drove me nuts).
I noticed on iTunes that the series is rated PG, however, I was shocked that for a PG rated movie the amount of swearing, innuendo, and other stuff they got away with, The same movie, if released today in the US, would probably have been PG-13. I mean, the first move has
Not that I mind, nor am I a stick in the mud. I mean, I watched these movies when I was in elementary. I just wanted to point this sort of thing out. What's everyone else's opinion on it? Do you think these movies would still be PG if they were released today?
I noticed on iTunes that the series is rated PG, however, I was shocked that for a PG rated movie the amount of swearing, innuendo, and other stuff they got away with, The same movie, if released today in the US, would probably have been PG-13. I mean, the first move has
attempted rape
for crying out loud!Not that I mind, nor am I a stick in the mud. I mean, I watched these movies when I was in elementary. I just wanted to point this sort of thing out. What's everyone else's opinion on it? Do you think these movies would still be PG if they were released today?
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I might expect a Son of a Gun, or Son of a B - it gets cut off.
As for the original post, yeah, standards for such things have both changed and, in some ways, never really existed. The board has made a lot of really confusing decisions in the past, and they're easily swayed by various seemingly arbitrary factors. Also, the PG-13 rating had only been around for about a year at the time Back to the Future came out.
Today, PG is like the new "G"...I can't even remember the last time I heard any swearing in a PG rated movie, seems PG usually just applies to minor violence and dramatic elements; like "Lilo & Stitch", which was rated PG for "Mild Sci-Fi Action" (?!).
To really see the contrast, check out some '70's movies like "Logan's Run" (full nudity) and "Papillon" (female topless scenes [innocent context, though]; fairly violent and disturbing). Both movies were (and still are; ratings stay the same unless edits/additions are made) rated PG, but would automatically get R ratings today.
EDIT: What's funny in the case of Lilo & Stitch is that the violence was, in my opinion, less shocking than almost all of the other animated Disney films that preceded it (Lion King, Little Mermaid, Hunchback, etc...all had pretty gruesome deaths and some pretty mature themes, yet were rated G)
Course I'm going to check it out. Time travel AND cowboys? Seriously, what's NOT to like?
Back on topic- I've found it interesting with anime ratings as well. Detective Conan (Meitantei Conan, or Case Closed for you American people) airs at 6PM on Saturdays here- just the time when everyone is sitting down at the table for dinner. In the US, I heard it aired at midnight with a very high rating.
On the other hand, Naruto, which has a lot more blood and violence (Conan has it in spades, but a lot of the murders happen offscreen) apparently has a Y-7 rating in the US (seven years and older, I think?). What gives?
yes friends.. people drag me to such places
Of course I have gay friends :P and they looove to pull jokes
"want a drink? lets go !"" SURE!!!"
GULP
RUnnnnn from the cowboys!
*Kal shudders from broke-back mountain scenario
or worse.. anyone hear dueling banjos ? ruuuun!!!
Other then when Biff and his gang crashed into the manure truck in the first movie, did they ever use shit again?
Ah, I'll have to recheck it out then cause I don't remember that.
I can confirm that.
That's right, he looks out the rear view mirror and see's that the terrorist pulled out a rocket launcher and says an appropriate line. I'd probably say that as well if someone pulled out a rocket launcher at me as well.
Yeah it would be weird if he didnt say that, and unrealistic.
telltale has never used that word except for poker night.
"When this baby hits 88, you're gonna see some serious stuff"
"Holy Jeez!"
"Take that you mutated son of a-" - DeLorean crashes out of the barn cutting him off.
"I'm gonna get that stinkin' punk"
"You cost 300 bucks damage to my car you son of a butthead, and I'm gonna take it out of your hide"
"Yes, definitely, goddamnit, Telltale, swear."
That is true, but we can't have the kiddies hearing the bad words now, can we?
Also, I wouldn't mind if they did it in their game, but yeah, like the movies, there's got to be a reason, like Marty with the terrorist and the rocket launcher.
Best. Line. Ever.
As for the swearing, I think the movies did it just right. It's not every other word like a lot of games out there; it was used for punctuation. There are times you just have to say it. I've seen the movies uncensored, and I can safely say that the line "What, do we become idiots or something?" just doesn't hold the same weight. There are times you just have to swear.
Another movie example, I remember in Lost in Space (yes, the movie. yes I liked it. Shut up.) when Will & Smith come up over the ridge and see the busted-up Jupiter 2. Will: "Oh, Shit." Smith: "A boy of your intelligence should never swear." (Smith sees it too) "Oh. Shit indeed." That just doesn't work nearly as well censored, even though the TV versions are dubbed down to use "damn".
And then, there's the joke about Mickey & Minnie getting a divorce. I can't repeat it here, but suffice to say, there's no way to clean it up and it still make sense.
But, hey--ToMI and latter-day Sam & Max got fairly mature as they went on, so there's no reason to expect BttF to be another Strong Bad/Wallace & Gromit.