Are R-rated films as "R" as they used to be?

[terry78]

They still make them today, but a lot of them seem not be as graphic and gory as they used to be in the 1980's or the 1970's. I know the Matrix series was R-rated as one example, but that whole thing seemed to be a hard PG-13 sans the profanity. A lot of the 1980's R rated flicks basically went all out as far as gore and what not, but I assume it's subject matter that makes a movie R nowadays.

 

[xwolverine2]

yeah constantine didnt feel R

 

[Symbiotic]

They still make them today, but a lot of them seem not be as graphic and gory as they used to be in the 1980's or the 1970's. I know the Matrix series was R-rated as one example, but that whole thing seemed to be a hard PG-13 sans the profanity. A lot of the 1980's R rated flicks basically went all out as far as gore and what not, but I assume it's subject matter that makes a movie R nowadays.

Yeah. Those could've been edited to PG-13 and it wouldn't have been overly hard to do.

 

[Steve Rogers]

Considering that the PG 13 rating came into effect in the early 80's I'd say that R rated 70's films were less graphic than today. Anything harder than PG back then was chalked up to R. Meaning, what today would be PG 13 would be R back then. So that being said, I think today's R rated movies earn their R ratings.

 

[Drizzle]

I have no idea why the Matrix movies were R rated. Those were PG-13 movies. I don't even remember any f-bombs in those movies.

However, there are quite a few R rated movies today that push boundaries of R. Namely horror movies, like "Hostel" and "Saw III".

 

[chaseter]

^Matrix Reloaded was R because it had visible boobs through shirts.

 

[Symbiotic]

^Matrix Reloaded was R because it had visible boobs through shirts.

If not for that, it could've got PG-13 with minor edits. Actually, both Reloaded AND Revolutions would've been easier to give PG-13s to than the first one.

 

[gkokujin]

WOW i was just talking about this with a coworker today.

 

[Trevor Goodchild]

However, there are quite a few R rated movies today that push boundaries of R. Namely horror movies, like "Hostel" and "Saw III".

Add Passion of the Christ, Silent Hill; 28 Week Later, 40 year old virgin and Knocked Up in terms of adult content too. Yeah, I agree.
But as it was pointed out in This Movie is Not Yet Rated, major studio influence helps from the black labelled NC-17.

 

[matrix_ghost]

I have no idea why the Matrix movies were R rated. Those were PG-13 movies. I don't even remember any f-bombs in those movies.

However, there are quite a few R rated movies today that push boundaries of R. Namely horror movies, like "Hostel" and "Saw III".

Believe it or not , the guns played a large role in that movie getting a R rating. And also full impact kicks which strangely enough also gives you an R rating


And IMO R rated flicks that are released today aren't the same R rated flicks of the past. They didn't have PG so they knew that either their movie was made for kids or adults. I think the whole PG-13 thing really became important when studios saw just how much money they could make because ot that.
Nowadays the R rated movies really are just pushing the levels of gore /profanity without really adding anything new to the story. There are of course exceptions .
But generally speaking you can basically categorise R rated flicks into 2 categories : soft R and Hard R.
Example of soft R : Matrix Trilogy
Example of Hard R : 300 and the upcoming Rambo flick ( anymovie that features a guy's head being blown off point blank with .47 gun is just asking for a hard R )

 

[Hush]

I think maybe Revolutions deserved its R casue it had several impailings. and the violence was greater that the other two. The first one should have been PG-13 though.

 

[Hotwire]

Re: Are R-rated films as "R" as they used to be?

Deffinately not! I can remember films on Cinimax showing penetration. And PG is actually tamer as well. My daughter was recently watching "The Toy," and I was shocked by what I saw in that film. The language was PG13 at least, and there was even nudity, all be it in a painting. So yeah, the new "R" is much tamer than the old "R".

 

[LostSon88]

Terminator 3 was definately NOT R-rated material, IMO.

Yet...it was rated R.

 

[strikezone89]

yeah constantine didnt feel R

ditto

 

[Arkady Rossovich]

The rating system is broken.

 

[Mr. Socko]

We now have a middle ground.

Back in the 70s and 80s, there was only one or the other.

 

[Spider-Vader]

Terminator 3 was definately NOT R-rated material, IMO.

Yet...it was rated R.

They probably did that so fans wouldn't complain. Sold less tickets than it could though by that.

R movies aren't what they used to be.

 

[AhabTheArab]

no they are not. damn you politically correct police!

 

[Addendum]

Depends on the genre

 

[TNC9852002]

We need to bring in some better examples, because looking back, not too much has changed.

-TNC

 

[bullets]

no way the 80s totally rocked the R in ways you dont see much anymore.

 

[xwolverine2]

Terminator 3 was definately NOT R-rated material, IMO.

Yet...it was rated R.

the arm bursting through the cops chest wasnt violent? lol

 

[DACrowe]

Being R rated has NOTHING to do with constituting a good movie.

And if you want blood on the walls the torture porn is still in style right now.

 

[Shifty]

Add Passion of the Christ, Silent Hill; 28 Week Later, 40 year old virgin and Knocked Up in terms of adult content too. Yeah, I agree.
But as it was pointed out in This Movie is Not Yet Rated, major studio influence helps from the black labelled NC-17.

In the late 90s Canada's provinces reorganized their ratings, each province rates films so a film in Ontario could be R while in Manitoba it could be 14A.
I know Knocked Up and Superbad were rated 14A in some Canadian provinces and most R rated films are rated 14A. So R rated films aren't what they used to be. America would be better off if each state had a ratings board.

 

[odiin]

Never fear. John Rambo is (nearly) here.