Image Credit: Davi RussoThe Parents Television Council criticized the MPAA’s decision-making process that led them to downgrade the rating for The Weinstein Company’s Blue Valentine from the financially-damning NC-17 to an R. In a statement, PTC president Tim Winter said, “Ostensibly because the producers of the film would not earn as much money at the box office with an accurate rating, the MPAA buckled under intense pressure and lowered the age rating of the film. The new rating may be correct or it may be incorrect. We don’t know because we haven’t screened the film. What we do know is this: the entire integrity and legitimacy of the MPAA ratings system has been compromised. There is no transparency; there is no consistency; and there is no accountability — unless you are a wealthy producer who can afford to hire the biggest legal guns in the nation and wage a massive PR campaign … The entire point of the film ratings system is to protect children and guide parents as they make informed choices for their families. Clearly, the motion picture industry’s system has failed at that task.”
More on Blue Valentine:
The Weinstein Company challenges ‘Blue Valentine’ rating
‘Blue Valentine’: Harvey Weinstein rails against NC-17 rating
Michelle Williams talks ‘Blue Valentine’ and its NC-17 rating
MPAA gives ‘Blue Valentine’ an NC-17
They should worry about what trash is on TV between 8-9 PM. That time frame is considered the “family hour” but you’ll see scenes of Clark Kent bedding Lois Lane.
And that’s at 7-8 PM Central time
It’s 6-7pm MST
“Bedding?” Bwahahahaha. Both your attitude and your vocabulary are antiquated. If you don’t want your kids to watch a show that is designed for young adults, don’t let them watch it. But don’t suggest that it shouldn’t be available for those of us who aren’t so backwards and puritanical as to be harmed by the very thought that people actually have sex. Grow up.
That was classy sexy time. It’s his final year let him get some loving.
Melis FTW!
Sorry, but the PTC is like PETA or Westboro Church. They howl as loud as they can so that it’ll get picked up by the media, but ultimately… they don’t do anything other than annoy people.
Agreed!
What a pity your television doesn’t come with an “off” switch.
And children shouldn’t be watching R-rated movies, Mr. Winter. Case closed.
One: The Parents Television Council is an organization built to watch over TELEVISION, so what they have to say about the film industry is both irrelevant and uncalled for.
Two: The PTC are all jerks who want to censor instead of asking parents to be considerate of the programming they let their children watch. So whatever they say is asinine anyway.
These were my thoughts exactly. I wonder how many parents would have let their children see it whether it was rated R or NC-17. It is the responsibility of the parents to protect their child’s eyes, not some self-righteous parents group.
Oh, I don’t know about that. Remember how many people holwed when their little angels couldn’t go see “Passion of the Christ?”
I guess you could say ratings are a subjective thing. Which, really was the whole point of them, right?
To act as something of a guide?
I really don’t think many parents will now take their kids to see this movie. Common sense should tell them that maybe young kids shouldn’t watch it. The PTC is full of it.
If you don’t want your kids to see “Blue Valentine”, don’t let an adult escort them into the movie theater.
Exactly. Rated R means you can’t see it unless you’re 17 OR are with a guardian/adult.
Exactly.
Parents should, you know, parent?
If you don’t want them to see it, don’t give them movie money, don’t drop them at the theatre, don’t let them wander around the mall for hours where they can drop in and see a film without your knowledge while you emain intentionally and blissfully ignorant.
Don’t say “I trust my kids” and then expect the rest of the world to protect them. That’s not trust, that’s passing the responsibility buck.
How about knowing where your kids are, and knowing who they are hanging with and what they are doing with their time?
How about going to the film with them, or in advance, and then discussing it with them?
Don’t give me that BS that you don’t have time. If you don’t have time to do any of this, then you don’t have time to have children.
Beg your pardon, but they can’t just get dropped off at the theater and expect to get in to see an R rated film, and you can’t buy them the ticket and let them see it while you go watch something else in a different theater, either.
Look up the definition of “accompany” – all the theaters I frequent take that to mean the parent/guardian has to be WITH them in the same theater.
They have a better chance of renting a copy from blockbuster or downloading it using the parent’s netflix account than they do seeing it in a theater.
If you havent seen the movie how on earth can you make that last statement??? I cannot stand this “holier than thou” attitude.
That’s something that really gets under my skin in general. How can you judge a movie (or show, play, or whatever) when you haven’t even SEEN IT? Tools…
Amen! I guess the PTC has no faith in parents to keep their children away from R-rated movies. Oh, and if they haven’t even SEEN THE MOVIE they have no basis in reality for commenting on the content, much less raise the fuss that these self-appointed guardians of morality have!
They’re right about one thing: The MPAA is flawed and the rating system sucks. See the documentary “This Movie Is Not Yet Rated” for some good evidence of this.
I think, that the difference between nc-17 and R is a minor one in this context. It’s not as if it went from an R down to a PG-13, thereby allowing teenagers automatically in. The R just requires parental accompaniment to the movie, which, being the PTC- I would think you’d be in favor of.
What is the PTC even doing making a response to this? This is a movie for the theatres. They ineffectively watch TELEVISION to protect the children (because they are so endangered with images of love, but violence always gets a pass).
Because the PTC are a bunch of self-righteous, fear-mongering, puritanical, uneducated, pretentious, sanctimonious, irrational idiots who would sacrifice all reason and any art, no matter how poignant or valid, if it conflicts with the advancement of their fear-driven and backwards agenda. Get rid of ‘em.
Love it. Bunch of morons who should not be allowed to procreate.
The PTC should be lobbying for films that show graphic violence to be labeled NC-17, not films with sex. I’d rather my kid know more about sex, and less about dismembering bodies.
You are absolutely right! My teens can see any tortue movie they want with PG-13 or R – when I think those things are much more offensive and poor for emotional development that an honest depiction of a struggling marriage.
I completely agree!
Did you guys read the EW letters page in the “Entertainers of the Year” issue? From the mother who was afraid her children would see Jake Gyllenhal and Anne Hathaway’s bare shoulders on the cover of the issue previous? America does have an odd sense of what is improper…
From what I read, the film in question depicts very explicit sex. Can you tell me that you’d rather your kids watch actual sex acts than violence they know is fake? Watching sex acts on screen is much more likely to make your kids want to have unprotected sex, which can lead to terrible consequences, than watching fake violence in movies is to make them want to shoot someone. The explicit sex is much more dangerous to their behavior.
From what I read, the act is between a married couple in a film that you have to pay to see. If you were true to your moral stance, you would be outside picketing CBS for showing Two and Half Men every week for free during the family hour. Besides, s@x is natural and something young adults should be interested in seeing (responsibly, of course.) Now, if your teenager is naturally interested in seeing decapitations in a PG-13 movie, you have issues.
It is not “actual sex” as you state. It is just as fake as the violence you have no problem with your children seeing. You need to explain to your children that NOTHING in any movie is real. And if they try to do ANYTHING they see in a movie, the reality will be quite different and even damaging. So as many others have stated, parents should do just that — parent.
Ah, the PTC – making life easier for publicists.
very cute
Stop reporting on the PTC. If we ignore these idiots they’ll go away.
I love that in his statement, the guy admits that the council hasn’t even seen the movie yet. Way to make an informed decision about something when you literally don’t know what your talking about. The PTC is a joke, and so’s the MPAA. Can’t wait for Blue Valentine, though i hope my delicate sensibilities can handle it.
Be sure to bring the smelling salts.
Best lines ever, “The new rating may be correct or it may be incorrect. We don’t know because we haven’t screened the film.” That’s just fantastic!
That quote is SENSATIONAL!
It brings to mind the great Brick Tamland: “I DON’T KNOW WHAT WE’RE YELLING ABOUT!”
I know, right? All the MPAA did is say, “We made a mistake”. How in the world can the PTC say the industry “failed” before judging by themselves what the rating should be?
Oh so true!
@Mr. Holloway: I love you.
I know. I can’t read that did a double-take. The PTC is just ridiculous.
And LOL Mr. Holloway.
I seriously laughed my head off after reading that. The PTC sounds so clueless. How are they relevant in this at all?
Yeah, I’m worried I won’t be able to handle the adult nature of this film because I’m only 38. I’m going to wear some pearls so I can clutch them when the movie gets too intense.
I’m 41 and I will be doing some serious hand-wringing and face-fanning!
Yes! The MPAA has failed to protect children by switching the rating of this movie from “no children allowed” to “no children allowed!” Personally, I don’t think the NC-17 rating should even exist. R is adult content for adult viewers, and that’s good enough. Having a rating beyond that just gives people a nonsensical excuse to get all riled up over their personal peccadilloes.
Well, teh PTC is right about one thing – there is “no transparency; there is no consistency; and there is no accountability.” Which is why the MPAA should be restructured or done away with.
Agreed. The bigger issue is that they changed the rating on a movie that didn’t change. The point is not whether Blue Valentine is good/bad/inappropriate/whatever – the point is that the MPAA is a joke.
I’m finally glad someone mentioned the one good point the PTC did make- the MPAA system is seriously flawed. I used to work at a movie theater in high school, and I fielded tons of customer complaints about the ratings not being a detailed enough guide to film’s content. For example, “Pirates of the Caribbean” and the “Meet the Fockers” have the same rating (PG-13), but “Pirates” rating comes from its swordplay violence, whereas “Fockers” earns its rating from its sexual humor. Two very different films, with very different mature content, but are given the same rating.
Pirates contains PG-13 violence, whereas Fockers contains PG-13 sexual humor. Neither has anything to do w/the other. I have no idea what point you are trying to make.
It’s much easier to blame the MPAA than it is to exercise parental responsibility and make an informed decision about what entertainment you allow your children to view. I worked in a video store and a customer was furious that a movie (I think it was H.O.T.S.) she rented for her kids had nudity in it. Apparently, the R rating and the picture of the bikini-clad women on the box didn’t tip her off that the film might not be wholesome family fare. Instead, she blamed us for renting it to her, as if it was our responsibility to monitor her children’s viewing habits.
Seriously if I were you I would have just laughed in the womans face I mean the movie is called HOTS! This is why I cant stand parents who blame everyone else except themselves
I’m pretty sure he was anagraming HOT TUB TIME MACHINE
We will let this one slide. H.T.T.M
Wow. That woman is stupid.
Maybe the Parents Television Council should let PARENTS decide what to allow their children to watch. If a parent can’t figure that Blue Valentine is not for kids, then maybe what’s on television (or in the movie theater) isn’t the problem. Parenting skills are.