Affiliate Marketing Secrets

Is the Movie rating system Effective?
From cult classics such as The Rocky Horror Picture Show to modern day action movies like Avatar we have always loved movies. In 1878 A Horse in Motion was released. This is said to be the first movie ever made. Not long after, in 1935, the first full color film entitled Becky Sharpe was created. William Hays founded the Hays Code in 1922, which was used when rating movies. Though we have been rating movies for nearly a century, the system has not yet been perfected. This brings us to the question, is the movie rating system effective?
Instead of giving movies a rating like we do today, Hays would give filmmakers a detailed list of content that was not prohibited in movies. Sexual nudity, childbirth, mocking of religions, and drug use were just a few items on the list. On November 1st, 1968, the popular system that we use today was created. The Motion Picture Association of America, or MPAA, gave directors more artistic freedom. Ratings were given in place of the list of restrictions. The ratings they used were G, PG, R, and X. In 1984 Steven Spielburg suggested that the MPAA added the PG-13 rating for movies that were not R worthy but not PG either. Shortly after, in 1990, the X rating was changed to NC-17.
Stores that cater around families pride themselves in carrying family friendly films. Most of these stores carry very few R-rated films and no movies with the NC-17 rating. If you do so happen to find and chose to purchase an R-rated movie the cashier will ask you for your ID to prove you are of an age to purchase the film. Though this proves to be a useful, stores carry movies that are unrated. Most movies that are unrated have more vulgar and inappropriate content in them than most R-rated movies.
Studies have shown that advertising for motion pictures loses influence anywhere from two to four weeks prior to the release date of a film. Studies also show that raunchy R-rated trailers prove to be more effective when selling than a trailer that skips over the naughty parts. Trailers are meant to be appropriate for audiences of all ages. R-rated trailers are posted online while a more watered down version of the trailer that will not offend viewers is shown at the theaters. Before you see the actual preview for a movie you see the rating of the film. It shows the rating, the definition of the rating, and the reason for the rating. This proves to be a useful tool for parents of younger children and teenagers. Since trailers are meant to be appropriate for all ages it can give a false impression on the movie at hand. What is shown in a preview could have little significance to the actual plot of a movie.
The internet is another useful place parents can go to when they need to find information on movies. Websites such as http://www.IMDB.com show short summary’s on movies along with the content in the film itself. The internet can also be a place that teens turn to when they want to see a movie that, due to the rating, they cannot see in theaters. There are websites with illegal downloads for movies of all rating. With the simple click of a mouse you can have access to thousands of movies.
Though the movie rating system was created with nothing but good intentions it was created a long time ago. It was created before we had such things as the internet, Netflix, pay-per-view, and video rental stores. The movie rating system has also been modified over the years. As long as the language is under control, no more than one use of the F word is allowed in a PG-13 rated movie, past R-rated movies would have no trouble maintaining a PG-13 rating today.
Plenty of movies have been adapted for television. Movies with all sorts of ratings may be played on the TV. The content that gave a film a certain rating will simply be edited out to keep it appropriate for all audiences. Though this may be a good idea, it may also give a false sense about what is in the movie itself. A parent may see the movie on the television and choose to rent it for the family to watch, only to find out that it contains foul language and graphic nudity.
The movie rating system was created to protect underage viewers from things parents might deem inappropriate, but times have changed. With all the different ways one can get access to movies I do not think that it is effective. The system that was once a fantastic tool for viewers is now terribly flawed. So is the movie rating system effective? No.