News & Politics - 'R-Cards' Let Teens See Racy Movies

migamoo · 06-02-2004, 12:42 AM

From AOL news

Quote:

'R-Cards' Let Teens See Racy Movies
Some in Industry Say Cards Defeat Purpose of Ratings

By Barbara Pinto, ABCNews.com

PEORIA, Ill. (June 1) - Introducing the R-card - a teenager's ticket to an unchaperoned world of R-rated movies. At Illinois-based GKC Theatres, which serves 24 cities in the Midwest, kids 17 and under are now able to view R-rated movies without being accompanied by a parent.

Any child can get an R-card, as long as an adult guardian comes to the box office to apply for the card. This lessens the chances of a forged signature. The adult must pay a $2 fee.

Brenda Pickney is buying one for her 14-year-old niece.

"I think she is very mature for her age," she said.

Her niece, Kaylin, agreed: "I think I'm old enough to see movies with bad language and stuff like that."

But the motion picture industry does not approve.

"I think it distorts and ruptures the intent of this voluntary film ratings system. All R-rated films are not alike," said Jack Valenti, president of the Motion Picture Association of America.

The theater chain claims the cards are a convenience for parents who already allow their kids to see R-rated movies, but would rather not go along.

The R-card is available now at nine theaters and there are plans to expand the program to about 30 theaters by the end of the year.

Critics think the card makes it too easy for parents to give up their responsibility.

"If you are too uninterested to properly chaperone the viewing habits of your kids, just sign this card and hey, your kid can get into any R-rated movie he wants, and you don't have to worry your lazy, lackadaisical parental butt about it," said Dan Gire, president of the Chicago Film Critics Association.

Joyce Needham got one for her 16-year-old grandson, Jordan Delgadillo, an aspiring filmmaker with a taste for action.

"I believe Jordan is responsible enough to make his choice in movies. It's just taken away a lot of the hassle for me," she said.

"Great, I can get in without my grandma," said Delgadillo.

His best friend, 15-year-old Andy Alexander, wants an R-card too, but his mother, Sandy, has other plans.

"He's only 15. He's got time. There are some things you can wait for," she said.

You know, there are ratings for a reason. It shouldn't matter if a teen is mature enough or not. If they are under 17, an adult should be there with them.

Ashley

Superabo · 06-02-2004, 01:05 AM

*shrug* I think it's about time, personally. Most teenagers are well aware, and are even talking about the things that are in R-rated movies. If the parents feel comfortable with their child seeing the content in the movies, then by all means, they should give the cards to their kids.

migamoo · 06-02-2004, 01:42 AM

Yeah, but it's still giving the message that parents don't care about the rating systems. There are guidelines and people should follow them.

Ashley

Katis · 06-02-2004, 04:12 AM

I don't see a problem with it. Not all teenagers are the same. I was watching R rated movies far before I was 17. And it isn't like they can't just go rent it, or watch one on DVD or tape if they really want to see an R rated movie.

*Lauren · 06-02-2004, 06:09 AM

As you said, the ratings are GUIDELINES. They're not set it stone. If a parent belives that their kid is old enough to handle it, then why not? And just because someone can handle it, dosen't mean they WANT to handle it, in the case of the parents.

JohannafromIHJ · 06-02-2004, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Fieryangel
Yeah, but it's still giving the message that parents don't care about the rating systems. There are guidelines and people should follow them.

Why?

Maybe there are a lot of parents who think the ratingssystems are dumb, and would rather have their kids watch racy and violent movies than the steady stream of "Ugly girl becomes hot and her reward is Prince Charming!" movies kids get brainwashed by while we're busy shielding them from the evils of movie-sex?

At least in R-rated movied people get to experience romance even if they're not perfect, beautiful and rich virgins--unlike in most PG and PG-13 movies.

alli balli · 06-02-2004, 03:17 PM

If I wasn't turning 17 in 5 days, I would be desperately wanting one of those.

There's a huge problem with the ratings system. Have you seen Lost in Translation and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind? WAY less racy than a LOT of PG-13 movies. Why are they rated R? Because LiT shows some boobs, in one scene, for a few seconds; and ESotSM says the word "****." About twice.

At most places its not hard to get in when you're under 17, anyway. But the real problem is with what ratings movies are getting.

sick little jag · 06-02-2004, 05:18 PM

seriously, if i weren't 17 already, i'd be interested in this as well. i don't see it as saying that parents don't care what their children are watching, but more that they trust that their child is mature enough to handle seeing it. i know for my mom, she didn't care if i saw rated r movies by myself because i was farely mature for my age and she doesn't really like going to movies because she has a bad knee and she can't sit for a long period of time or it hurts her really bad.

and like alli balli said, some movies that are rated r don't really seem like they should be. i saw lost in translation and i honestly didn't understand the r rating.

oh and there is also that little thing where the majority of "teen comedies" are being rated r now. of course, they're doing that becuse they're raunchy and gross, but it's like..don't target teens unless you know they're going to get it...and kids got in to see all three american pies, and i highly doubt their parents chaperoned them.

*Lauren · 06-02-2004, 09:33 PM

I watched the "Bring it On" commentry, and according to the director if they'd allowed a character to say "just head" (in the tryouts scene) instead of tounge, it would have been R. But they could use ****!

One line would have made the entire movie R. Ridculous.

pacifierrocks · 06-02-2004, 10:06 PM

I think this is a good thing. For the parents, its a bit of a hassle to watch a movie that they have no interest in seeing but its the only way for the kid to see it. If the parents have to big issue over their children watching rated R movies then the 'R' card should be available to them.

n e r b l e · 06-03-2004, 05:49 AM

i saw terminator when i was like 10 or something. i think the ratings should be there as a guideline for parents, not some crazy state / movie law enforced code that gestapos what people can allow thier kids to see.

Sindaanca · 06-03-2004, 06:24 AM

It depends on the movies but honestly in US there are a bit too many restrictions. But still a 14-years-old girl shouldn't be able to see all the movies she wants to

**Mio** · 06-03-2004, 01:04 PM

I have always firmly believed that it should be up to the parents, not a film board in whether or not a child should watch a R rated movie. I have snuck into a few R movies when I was under 18 and WOW! Big effin' deal. Like I haven't seen that crap before. My parents really didn't care if I saw R movies because I knew that stuff was just the movies and it shouldn't be repeated elsewhere.

Parents need to tell their kids that. When I have kids, I will allow them to watch the movie, as long as they know what it's about and not to repeat what was done or said elsewhere.

**TheAngel** · 06-03-2004, 04:12 PM

Also, in Daredevil, had the sai gone out of the back of Jennifer Garner's costume, the movie would have been rated R...and why. There are PG-13 movies that are worse than some R movies. I've been able to rent R rated movies since I was about 15 and I'm still my normal if not slightly disfunctional self. Kids are going to see R rated movies if they want to whether by sneaking in or getting an unsuspecting grandparent to rent movies for them. I'm glad that it's up to the parents because the parents that take the time to get their kids that card might be more involved with their childs development than the parents of kids that are sneaking into movies.

summerbug · 06-04-2004, 08:35 AM

The only "problem" I see with that article was that an aunt was getting the card for her neice. I think it should be the parents/legal guardians decision and the parents/legal guardian should have to go and get the card. Bring a birth certificate or whatever.

I say it's up to the individuals to decide what they want their kids to see. And kids are all different. Being 17 doesn't necessarily mean someone is mature enough to process what is in a film any more than someone 16 is, etc.

JohannafromIHJ - I completely agree with what you mentioned about the current staple for "teen movies". That message of not being good enough until you do whatever is a more disturbing concept then some of the movies who get an R rating for saying the f word once. The ratings system is flawed because there is such wide variation in what R means.


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