I hate censorship. Any type of censorship goes against everything this country is about and should be quashed as soon as it rears its ugly head (as long as it does not HURT anyone. Obviously child pornography and rape movies should be censored but anything that does not HURT anyone and is just deemed offensive to someone is censorship and it is wrong).
That is why I love being a writer for Truthbringer. Truthbringer let's me say anything I want (including giving Fantastic 4 a good review) and he does not censor me. I can type shit, fuck, fag, slut, cunt, bitch and meekrob to my hearts content and Truth will never shut me down. That's America for you. Just because a reader deems it offensive is no reason to stop my writing. I'm free to say what I want and Truth gives me the avenue to say it.
That being said, I saw This Film is Not Yet Rated last night. Two words, "Fucking brilliant!" Directed by Kirby Dick (yes, that's his real name) this Oscar nominated documentary filmmaker (Twist of Faith and Derrida) has broken the code of silence and finally infiltrated the ever silent MPAA. What is the MPAA? Those are the assholes who rate the movies you and I go to see. You know, Disney = Rated G, Rambo = R and anything with Rob Schneider = PG-13.
Those who don't know the MPAA may not know that this organization operates in total silence. The names of the fucks who actually watch the movies and decide what rating to give it are never released. No one knows who they are. Well, Dick was determined to find these people. So he hired a private investigator and followed her with a camera, on their quest to find out who the ratings board consists of.
Along the way Dick interviews many directors who have had their films rated by the board. John Waters, Kevin Smith and Matt Parker all tell stories of how the MPAA fucked with their films. They also reveal the hypocrisies of the board.
Straight sex = R rating. Gay sex = NC-17.
Tits and ass = R rating. Guys getting shot = PG-13.
Pubic hair = NC-17. Guy with head blown off = R.
Fuck you (said once) = PG-13. I want to fuck you (said anytime) = R.
Plus, indie films are always getting fucked by the MPAA, while studio films can usually get by the board for a better rating. It's all a bunch of bullshit.
"But ratings are a good thing and they help parents?" many of you might be thinking. WRONG. Censorship of any kind is bad for America. If a moviemaker has a brilliant film and some sex (maybe with a little pubic hair) is important to the film, who are these ass holes to tell the director to cut it out? I'm a grown man! I can go see this if I want to! But if the director has contracted to get an R rating, then he must take out the aforementioned hair in order for the film to be released. I will never get a chance to see the filmmakers original idea. I will never see the almighty hair!
Filmmaker Dick and myself both agree that the MPAA is just a lobbyist group of censorship-mongers who have a moralistic agenda to only allow people to see what they deem appropriate.
"What about the children?" Fuck the children! Oh, wait, that came out unintentionally in my rant. I'm kidding. Helping parents deal with what is appropriate for their kids is important. But why limit everything to 5 measly ratings. Besides, those 5 ratings are completely arbitrary. Why not just write a paragraph describing what might be inappropriate and then let a parent decide whether little Johnnie should see the titty flick, the gun toting crazy man or the little chipmunk family?
Anyways, back to the film. Dick does a great job of pointing out everything that is wrong with the MPAA system. He also finds the identity of every rater in 2005, something never done before. But what he does after filming all of that is one of the ballsiest and priceless things I have ever seen:
HE SUBMITS HIS FILM FOR AN MPAA RATING!!!
He then shows first hand how the MPAA rates and film (they give him an NC-17, big fucking surprise!) and how the bullshit appeals process works.
On the DVD:
Some priceless deleted scenes. They should've made the final cut. They include one of how hypocritical the MPAA was with Dick's film.
A great Q & A from one of the film festivals.
A decent commentary track. Nothing to write home about but worth listening to.
FINAL ANALYSIS!
This is a GREAT movie. If you like films, you need to see this movie. Censorship is truly evil and this film shows the biggest censorship group active in the United States today, and exposes them for the FUCKS that they are.
BUY THIS MOVIE!
**TRUTHBRINGER ADDENDUM:
After watching this documentary at Boz's request, I vow to watch any and all NC-17 movies released to theatre's. Even if the subject matter is one that I don't find interesting. That is the best way I know of, to stick it to the Nazis at the MPAA.
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