R-rated Movies

[Ian]

also elder hales:

I have a grandson who once asked me to go with him to a popular but inappropriate movie. I told him I wasn’t old enough to see that film. He was puzzled until his grandmother explained to him that the rating system by age didn’t apply to Grandpa. He came back to me and said, “I get it now, Grandpa. You’re never going to be old enough to see that movie, are you?” And he was right!

Link

[Steve]

From Mormon Times:

Y. study finds R-rating lowers movie profits

PROVO, Utah — Drop a few f-bombs, depict a gory battle and show several scantily clad figures, and movie makers can kiss hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of dollars goodbye. A new BYU student-led study found that in films with similar content, if the film is rated R instead of PG-13, it will make 25 percent to 35 percent less at the box office.

"Even if we take our lower estimate of 25 percent, and you want to make $100 million off your movie, you're losing $25 million by playing into that R rating," said Craig Palsson, a junior studying economics at BYU. "Just the sheer magnitude of the loss is significant and surprising."

Palsson had been studying the evolution of ratings when BYU economics professor Joe Price invited him to team up with fellow student Jared Shores, a senior in economics, who was researching the financial success of family films over adult films.

Together, the two created a unique content index for nearly 3,000 movies since 1995 thanks to help from movie review websites like "Dove Foundation," "Screen It" and "Kids-in-Mind." Those websites provide parents a detailed look at the violence, profanity, sexual content and adult themes — or lack thereof — in a movie.

With their content index, Palsson and Shores could identify "edge" movies that were rated PG-13 but had content similar to that in an R-rated movie.

The students quickly learned that profanity is one of the strongest factors for a higher rating, more so than violence or sexual content.

"And that's interesting to me," Shores said. "Because it seems so inconsequential to the plot of the film and so easily removed."

Once the movies had a content score, regression analysis allowed for revenue comparison. After controlling for budget, time of release and genre, they discovered that a lower-than-R rating meant greater profitability — massive for PG-13 compared to R, though smaller for PG to PG-13.

For PG-13 movies; however, the more adult content it contained, the more money it made.

"What that tells us," Palsson said, "is people are looking for movies that push the envelope without actually going over the edge, because then it gets an R-rating."

Take "Titanic," he said, which had more nudity and adult themes than most PG-13 movies, and performed well at the box office.

Shores said he's noticed that over the years, PG-13 films have gotten heavier and contain more intense content, like one film he saw recently with two surprise f-words and heavy drug use. Producers of those movies know they can attract some of the R-rated movie watchers, yet still appeal to those who feel safe because it's "only PG-13."

"These assumptions that we have ... as a populous of what a PG-13 movie consists of, we're becoming more and more accustomed to change," Shores said, "or more and more surprised."

Yet, the PG-13 versus R results weren't surprising to Utah theater officials.

"It is simple," said Blake Andersen, Megaplex Theatres senior vice president and general manager. "The guests at Megaplex Theatres vote for movies by purchasing tickets. Based on our years in business, guests overwhelmingly vote in favor of G, PG, or PG-13 rated films over R-rated movies."

There are some R-rated films that do well, he added, but the big successes come from movies like "Pirates of the Caribbean," "Avatar," "Dark Knight" and "Harry Potter."

In fact, for several movies, the five Utah Megaplex locations have finished at or near the top of all national theaters for the opening weekend revenue, Andersen said.

Yet, the students emphasized that their study relies on national data, meaning that their results are representative of people across the country, not just in Utah.

"If the movie industry could see that they're losing 25 to 35 percent of their revenue by not tailoring to this demographic, by releasing a film that had less of the content but still preserved the story and the art that they want to express, they could make a lot more revenue," Palsson said.

[Tuly]

Thanks Steve. We could have told them the results just from our personal experiences with movies. We still need more well done G-rated movies. Dove Foundation does have a good website - http://www.dove.org/default1.asp

[Steve]

We have video! Here is President Ezra Taft Benson addressing the world during the priesthood session of General Conference (April 1986):


Link

[John]

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[Ian]

i stumbled across a talk by elder reed smoot in an old conference report. here's an excerpt. the talk was delivered in october, 1916.

Mothers and fathers, I am a little alarmed over our young people and the temptations that are besetting them daily. Twenty years ago we used to think there were many temptations, and there were, but today there are many that we never thought of then, and I think they are even more deadly than the temptations that we, as middle-aged members of the Church, had to withstand. At that time we had no automobiles, there were no moving pictures, and there are hundreds of other temptations that we knew nothing about. I believe that the moving pictures could be, and in many cases are, made a great agency to educate the people of this country. I have not attended many exhibits; in fact, until this year, I had never entered a moving picture show, with the exception of twice, in my life. But the last few months I have attended a few, and I want to frankly say that some of them were unfit for young people to attend. No good could come from seeing them; the story as told by the picture was one that no father or mother would allow repeated in their home or at their fireside. You cannot tell me that it has not made an impression upon the minds of the young people, and well may we, as parents, if our children are to attend them, know beforehand what the picture is that is going to be presented. There are many of them, I admit, that are clean and they are worthy of the people seeing because of their educational nature, but a great many of them, my brethren and sisters, ought never to be shown, particularly to the young people. I plead with you that you be careful and watch over your children, for they either bring great joy or great sorrow to the parents. God intended that every man and woman who enters wedlock should bring children into the world. Children are precious in the sight of God, and to the father and the mother. I trust that all Latter-day Saints homes will be such that our children can obtain wholesome pleasures without seeking them outside. I pray my heavenly Father that he will instill in the hearts of the mothers and fathers of Israel a desire to look more carefully after their children.

Elder Reed Smoot, October 1916 Conference Report, 37-40

[Tuly]

Great quote and wonderful to have that 1916 magazine of General Conference in October 1916 were President F. Smith was the current President of the church. Did you get that from GospeLink?

[Ian]

the conference reports are all available at gospelink, but the link at the bottom of the quote is to archive.org, which also has many if not all of the conference reports.

[Tuly]

This thread is almost ten years old. Elder Lynn G. Robbins gave this talk at BYU September 2013 - Avoid It - Elder Robbins not only talks about deceptive rating in movies but also about dating. I think we should reconsider naming this thread, since we really don't have a step by step plan and because it's not just R-rated movies we should be concerned about.


http://speeches.byu.edu/?act=viewitem&id=2135

Here is the proverb: “Enter not into the path of the wicked. . . . Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.” The wisdom of Solomon in this passage is to be discovered in the word avoid. Solomon had discovered, as all wise people do, one of life’s most helpful guiding principles: It is easier to avoid temptation than it is to resist temptation.

Let’s take movies as an example. We know that “the Lord cannot look upon sin with the least degree of allowance,” but Hollywood can and does! And many good members of the Church allow themselves to “look upon sin” in movie theaters with a great degree of allowance or tolerance, justifying it in the name of “good entertainment with just a few bad parts.”

Let’s assume that the two ends of the basketball court here at the Marriott Center represent the two extremes of movies that Hollywood produces. We will have this end area at my extreme right represent G-rated movies. At the other extreme to my left is what Hollywood calls “adult entertainment.” In between the two extremes the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) gives movies ratings of PG and PG-13. We will have this pulpit represent R rated, then NC-17, and adults only. In between the two extremes, where do we draw the line over which it would be dangerous to cross?

It is risky for the Church to draw a line. If the speed on the freeway is sixty-five miles per hour, how fast will people drive? Well, they will feel free to drive as fast as the limit. If the Church were to draw a line with movies, that would be like giving permission to watch everything up to the line. President Gordon B. Hinckley never drew a line. Neither has President Thomas S. Monson. But the prophets have taught us principles found in For the Strength of the Youth, such as the following:

Do not attend, view, or participate in anything that is vulgar, immoral, violent, or pornographic in any way. Do not participate in anything that presents immorality or violence as acceptable.

President Hinckley taught, “Avoid pornography as you would a plague.” Did you notice his use of the word avoid? President Monson has said, “Avoid any semblance of pornography. It will desensitize the spirit and erode the conscience.” For the Strength of Youth states:

Avoid pornography at all costs. It is a poison that weakens your self-control, destroys your feelings of self-worth, and changes the way you see others. It causes you to lose the guidance of the Spirit and can damage your ability to have a normal relationship with others, especially your future spouse.

Did you catch that? It can damage your ability to have a normal relationship with your future spouse. That isn’t merely conjecture. Thousands of cases bear witness of its destructive impact on the marriage relationship.

In 1986 President Ezra Taft Benson warned members of the danger of anything “R rated” or beyond. The members thought he had drawn a line. I know that because I have heard many members of the Church say, “Oh, we can watch that movie. It’s only a PG-13. The prophet gave us permission.” They don’t say that last part, but that is what they are thinking, because they thought he posted a speed limit, so to speak.

But what would a movie given an R rating in 1986 be rated today? Would you agree that Hollywood has relaxed its standards? It is referred to as “ratings creep.” Hollywood has gradually allowed more vulgarity, profanity, nudity, violence, sex, etc., over the decades while maintaining the same ratings. Does the word creep remind you of “the serpent [that] was more subtle than any beast of the field,” as we read in both the book of Moses and Genesis? Well, you don’t need a study to verify the reality of ratings creep. If you are unaware of this creeping phenomenon, it is likely good evidence that you have become desensitized yourself to this dangerous trend and are in a pot of water with the temperature on the rise.

The cunning result of this creeping trend is that the 1986 R-rated movie has deceptively become a PG-13 or PG movie in 2013. The shifting or creeping of the line could be compared to the mists in Lehi’s dream that “blindeth the eyes, and hardeneth the hearts of the children of men, and leadeth them away into broad roads, that they perish and are lost.” As members justify the viewing of such movies based upon a deceptive rating, they become more and more desensitized to inappropriate material that a prophet identified as dangerous back in 1986. Those so deceived are pacified and lulled into Satan’s territory; hence this warning in For the Strength of Youth: “Take care that your use of media does not dull your sensitivity to the Spirit.”

If “virtue [is to] garnish [our] thoughts unceasingly,” then as we pray in faith to avoid temptation, we especially need to be watchful and on guard with today’s media, whether on TV or online, as it is perhaps the greatest spoiler of virtuous thinking. The movie rating or principle we should use is from the thirteenth article of faith: “We seek after”—or in this case “watch or view”—that which is “virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy.” The Holy Ghost should be our Internet, movie, and TV guide.

[Ian]

wow! thanks mom. i'm dismayed that this talk escaped my attention until now. elder robbins always gives impressive talks in general conference. this is another great one.

we've come a long way since this r-rated discussion started. back then, r-rated movies were off the table, but other movies were being produced that seemed worthy of consideration. now, almost nothing seems worthy of consideration. i haven't even been to a movie theater in ages. thankfully lots of good classic movies are available to enjoy at home.

[Steve]

Yes, another good talk. Lots of good things being shared on this site—makes me appreciate that I really can't claim ignorance with so much truth being revealed. The more I read, the more I hunger for it. It really does taste delicious, as I see the way that putting it into practice makes me feel so much healthier and happier than when I dismiss things.

This most recent review of the words from For the Strength of Youth drew my attention to the phrase "in any way." Do not attend, view, or participate in anything that is vulgar, immoral, violent, or pornographic in any way. This way, that way, a little or a lot, to influence us for evil or simply to teach a good lesson. I do still watch films and other media where violence is present "in any way." In fact, I watched a few classic films that contained immoral and violent elements, like The Invisible Man (1933), 42nd Street (1933), The Suspect (1944), etc. George Bailey even throws a punch in my favorite film, It's a Wonderful Life.

It is so difficult to find wholesome video, but maybe that suggests that I have too much video in my life? Perhaps instead of constantly hunting for wholesome movies, I should spend more of my recreation time with good books, the outdoors, good conversation, exercise, imaginative play with my kids, and tap dance and cooking. I really enjoy old movies, but that little phrase, "in any way" is going to be quite the garden wall to climb next time I'd like to watch one.

[Tuly]

Steve can we please rename this thread? - to just R-rated Movies.

[Steve]

Done!

[Tuly]

Thanks Steve!