MPAA controversy on film "Bully' is absurd

If you've been keeping up with some more minor headline news you've probably noticed a movie named 'Bully' that is set to release some point in the near future. It is a documentary featuring the lives of several middle/high school students and the effects of bullying within schools. The film is said to have been created in order to work as some type of intervention for students who are perpetrators or victims of bullying.

The issue here being that the MPAA has already set this to an R-rating due to the graphic language in the film. Reportedly, the movie contains the f-word a total of 7 times, and perhaps other more minor curse words throughout. The MPAA has regulations that only a certain number of curse words can exist in a film before it reaches an R-rating. So now kids and parents are petitioning to have the film lowered to a PG-13 rating in order that more kids "can be able to" to go see it, or else they'll have to bring a parent to get them in. Either the MPAA makes an exception and just rates it at PG-13, OR the filmmakers rework the film, edit scenes, dub language, or generally whatever to remove these curse words in order to have it fit for PG-13. For the most part, people are petitioning for it to be changed to PG-13.

Ok, here is my issue with this. If this film were a true intervention method for bullying in schools, this would not only make it a student issue but also one that involves parents as well as teachers. The people need to see what is REALLY going on in schools if this is going to be a REAL documentary, and not some watered down version. If this type of film even releases even a bit of vibe of being watered down, people aren't going to get the real point of it, bullying will not be seen as big a problem as people make it out and things will just be lost. So if you ask me, I would say to KEEP the R rating. I find it rather hysterical that all these articles I read people just state that an R-rating will "keep kids out," or that they won't "be able" to see it. I'm not sure about you, but when I was younger than 17 I don't remember an age-detecting force field existing in movie theaters that physically kept me out of an R-rated movie. If there was an adult with me, I went right in, as would anyone. Kids STILL can go see it. Nothing is stopping them except their own stupidity.

Since this is an issue for parents as well as teachers, parents should be more than willing to break thier little baby rules of "No R -rated films until you're 17" and just make an exception about seeing this film. To any parents: The f word exists. Kids say it. Every day. If your kid is being bullied in school, then trust me, he's had it said to him perhaps numerous times. If your kid IS the bully then trust me, HE or SHE has said it numerous times. Watching a movie where kids say it a total of 7 times isn't going to do anything different. Parents need to stop this overprotecting just a TAD and expose their kids to the real world for once, even if it's JUST for this film (which I do believe in as being very important).

Watering down the film to PG-13 will seem obvious. Kids will pick up on the forced rating, and not take the issue as seriously. Parents may leave the theater not thinking it is that bad anyway and hence the problem will still persist just as much and the film will ultimately do nothing. I think kids and their parents need to grow a pair and not forgo the realities of what daily school life can be like just so that they don't have their ears "polluted" with hearing a few curse words.... which again, they hear day in and day out ANYWAY.

I for one look forward to seeing this film. But ONLY if it holds true to the R-rating. If it's going to be watered down crap, I'll pass.

The whole R-rating thing seems bad just because they won't be able to show it in middle schools and even some high schools (like my high school, even if you're 18!). I feel like, if its well done, the schools should be the ones showing it. I don't particularly care to see it, I've seen bullying from plenty of perspectives, I don't really think this film has much to show me that would impress me, or anything to say I haven't heard 1000 times, but I'm a senior in HS.

Really, the board should just make an exception and get over it, or the schools should, or the movie theaters, or the parents. I don't really care.

The one thing that I learned from the movie 'Be Cool' is that in order to be PG13, you can only say f**k once. I saw that movie opening weekend, and I swear to christ that in every single PG13 movie I have watched since 2005, that i have looked for them to say the F word one time, and almost every single movie just says it once. Occasionally there will be a movie that doesn't say it, but I have seen the majority of them say it once and it's always in a well placed spot, as if they know they can only use it once and it has to be in the perfect place.

As far as this movie goes, they shouldn't have to edit any of it out. I'm going in to film, I want to be an actor. You want to create a realistic movie. If there are f bombs in the movie, then there is probably a reason why. It can ruin the authenticity of the film. But I am going to be honest, no matter what it is rated, I don't think many kids under that age are going to even want to see it. Why see that when the new trasformers movie is out?! I think the main problem that lies here is showing this movie in school. If this movie is as big of a deal that they are making it out to be, then it needs to be shown in schools. When I was in middle school we watched a bunch of movies, with similar intentions in mind. The Ryan White Story stood out to me. It was about bullying, and the kid had HIV. You want to make children aware. But the big problem is, even with a signed form, many schools will not allow an R-rated movie to be shown. That's how it was in my school, which was public. Even though every single kid in high school was 13, you still had to get a slip signed to watch those. Obviously many teachers bent the rules and I saw Transformers and Accepted in my Chemistry class while my teacher was out. But you just couldn't show an R movie. You'd get fired. So I think, if they want this to make an impact, then you may need to edit those f words out. IDK, it's a tough call and a very intriguing situation. Thank you for sharing, otherwise I would not have known about this. I assumed this was about the Brad Renfro movie lol. Speaking about that, way too much sex in that movie. Kills what would have been a really good film.

Just bleep over it if they really want a lower rating, it won't affect the impact of the film.Gallion-Beast

The MPAA are embarrassing.

The rules are there for a reason. The film-makers should have been aware of the impact f-bombs would have on the MPAA rating, and adjusted before submitting the film for a rating.

...unless they left them alone in order to generate controversy over the R-rating, and therefore benefit from a round of free advertising.

I was a bully throughout school up into High School where I decided to stop and make better changes for myself

I've had teachers participate in my actions, it was just pretty bad and unprofessional.

[QUOTE="Gallion-Beast"]Just bleep over it if they really want a lower rating, it won't affect the impact of the film.cheese_game619

No, no it won't.

Removing the words, maybe.

Just adding a bleep over, no. The meaning and impact remains

The MPAA are embarrassing.

Ilovegames1992

I would say more corrupt, than embarrassing.

[QUOTE="cheese_game619"][QUOTE="Gallion-Beast"]Just bleep over it if they really want a lower rating, it won't affect the impact of the film.dercoo

No, no it won't.

Removing the words, maybe.

Just adding a bleep over, no. The meaning and impact remains

"Man, the kids in this documentary are so profane! We better make sure kids don't see it!"

Only the MPAA...

The point of getting it changed to a PG-13 isn't to water it down. They want it to be changed to PG-13 while keeping it exactly the way it is, so that the people to whom this movie is actually relevant are more able to see it (while it's true that people under 17 still see R rated movies, you have to be fairly ignorant to think that an R rating doesn't affect how many people see a movie; it does). Also, to the person who said censoring the words wouldn't affect the impact... are you serious? The movie is about bullying. If you take out the worst things the bullies say... it takes away ALL of the impact. If, for instance, someone called someone else a f@ggot, that's gonna have quite an impact. If all they say is "you're a *bleep*" there's no impact. Period. You can't make a movie showing how bad bullying is, and then censor the bullying.JinjonatorX

The best compromise is the theatrical release is rated R, and a special "school cut" is released later with a PG-13 rating. The "uncut" version would probably get a Netflix and DVD release, so parents can watch with the kids at home and tell them how much worse it was when they were in school.

And, once again: the film-makers had to know going in that excessive cursing was going to draw a R-rating. The controversy is likely intentional, to draw awareness to the film's release and get a ton of free publicity out of it.

The rules are there for a reason. The film-makers should have been aware of the impact f-bombs would have on the MPAA rating, and adjusted before submitting the film for a rating.

...unless they left them alone in order to generate controversy over the R-rating, and therefore benefit from a round of free advertising.

OrkHammer007

There are only two ways to get rid of bullies.

Method A: Cry. The older you are and the more facial hair you have, the better

.Method B: Wait til they stop to tie their shoes and then kick them in the mouth.

[QUOTE="dercoo"]

[QUOTE="cheese_game619"]Yes it will.cheese_game619

No, no it won't.

Removing the words, maybe.

Just adding a bleep over, no. The meaning and impact remains

It takes takes complants off MPAA standard, non-bribed, rating checklist

but everyone with an IQ greater than 5 still gets the message behind the bleep

And, once again: the film-makers had to know going in that excessive cursing was going to draw a R-rating. The controversy is likely intentional, to draw awareness to the film's release and get a ton of free publicity out of it.

OrkHammer007

Or they thought the MPAA was smart enough (despite all evidence to the contrary) to realize it's a documentary about kids and bullying, so if the kids in the movie are using R-rated language then maybe that horse has already left the barn?

I really don't care no matter how much they wish - bullying will never go away - wake up from their dream world.

[QUOTE="cheese_game619"][QUOTE="dercoo"]

No, no it won't.

Removing the words, maybe.

Just adding a bleep over, no. The meaning and impact remains

dercoo

It takes takes complants off MPAA standard, non-bribed, rating checklist

but everyone with an IQ greater than 5 still gets the message behind the bleep

Simple, bring the parents. Then you can talk with them after the movie about what they learned. R rating means you need to bring the parents, not that you're not allowed to see it, they have the R rating confused with the NC-17 rating.

Simple, bring the parents. Then you can talk with them after the movie about what they learned. R rating means you need to bring the parents, not that you're not allowed to see it, they have the R rating confused with the NC-17 rating.

CJL13

Regardless of the rating they should show the film in school bullying is crap. I mean cyber bullies are bad but the bullies offline are just as bad if not worse.LostVoyager

The weak will always get picked on as well as the wierd kids. No movie can change human nature nor should it. Many of the kids getting picked their mom should have had an abortion. They are weak mentally and physically that is why they get picked on. Humans have a pack mentality so when other wierdos enter your territory they bow down or get beat down is a common response.

Sad fact is most of the parents don't teach their kids to dominate. They treat them like babies and try to shield them from reality. Kids go around thinking life is a bunch of roses and that every thing should be handed to them. Get to school and surprise respect is earned not given.

[QUOTE="CJL13"]

Simple, bring the parents. Then you can talk with them after the movie about what they learned. R rating means you need to bring the parents, not that you're not allowed to see it, they have the R rating confused with the NC-17 rating.

cheese_game619

Not sure where the myth that more than one f-bomb equals an automatic R came from. I've seen several PG-13 movies that drop several f-bombs. The whole thing is completely arbitrary. JinjonatorX

[QUOTE="dercoo"]

[QUOTE="cheese_game619"]If censoring it makes it acceptable it obviously takes away from the impact it makes.cheese_game619

It takes takes complants off MPAA standard, non-bribed, rating checklist

but everyone with an IQ greater than 5 still gets the message behind the bleep

Actually not showing a character's death on screen can often lead to a stronger cinimatic impact.

The weak will always get picked on as well as the wierd kids. No movie can change human nature nor should it. Many of the kids getting picked their mom should have had an abortion. They are weak mentally and physically that is why they get picked on. Humans have a pack mentality so when other wierdos enter your territory they bow down or get beat down is a common response.

Sad fact is most of the parents don't teach their kids to dominate. They treat them like babies and try to shield them from reality. Kids go around thinking life is a bunch of roses and that every thing should be handed to them. Get to school and surprise respect is earned not given.

no-scope-AK47

I've never understood the whole arbitrary "bad word" shenanigans. I still abide by it and don't swear in public but that doesn't mean I don't think it's ridiculous. Much like how nudity is considered far worse than violence in entertainment.Vangaurdius

There are only two ways to get rid of bullies.

Method A: Cry. The older you are and the more facial hair you have, the better

.Method B: Wait til they stop to tie their shoes and then kick them in the mouth.

jubino

[QUOTE="cheese_game619"][QUOTE="dercoo"]

It takes takes complants off MPAA standard, non-bribed, rating checklist

but everyone with an IQ greater than 5 still gets the message behind the bleep

dercoo

Actually not showing a character's death on screen can often lead to a stronger cinimatic impact.

Not sure where the myth that more than one f-bomb equals an automatic R came from. I've seen several PG-13 movies that drop several f-bombs. The whole thing is completely arbitrary. JinjonatorX

Or they thought the MPAA was smart enough (despite all evidence to the contrary) to realize it's a documentary about kids and bullying, so if the kids in the movie are using R-rated language then maybe that horse has already left the barn?Slow_Show

It's not arbitrary. Straight from the PG-13 rating itself:

A motion picture's single use of one of the harsher sexually-derived words, though only as an expletive, initially requires at least a PG-13 rating.More than one such expletive requires an R rating, as must even one of those words used in a sexual context.MPAA

It soesn't matter if the horse left the barn or not. Rules are rules. I dislike censorship as much (probably more, since the c***s from the PMRC tried to kill my music in the '80s... Al Gore needed to worry less about the environment and f*** Tipper more, in my opinion), but they were put in place to give parents like myself a guide on what is and isn't age-appropriate for my kids. The only people who seem to have an issue with that are teenagers who don't have kids and are too young to get in to R-rated movies and filmmakers trying to squeeze an extra few million from a PG-13 rating.

Just bleep that damn thing. I could do that while I watch the movie.

To be honest the word **** isn't as big a taboo as it used to be decades ago.. Everybody has heard **** at some point and time in their lives whether the MPAA wants to admit it or not.