MPAA or Dumb and Dumber

Writing about something that I haven't seen.  No surprise there as many friends will tell you, but I couldn't let the controversy over the ratings for Bully to go un-ranted.  The MPAA is the most inconsistent and arse-backward group.  The movie, Bully, is by all accounts an important, heart-wrenching, and honest documentary about kids being bullied.  If I had my way, I would have all teens see it.  They can't. The movie received an R rating.  Why, you may ask?  "Bad" words.  Bad words?  Are you kidding?  It's a film about kids bullying other kids. It's how kids speak.  I can only imagine the words used.  Nothing that we don't hear everyday on the streets of New York.  

Remember the Academy Award winning film The King's Speech?  A fine film and rated R because the King said the f**k 3 or 4 times.  Really?  A whole host of people that didn't get to see it because of that?  Ridiculous. So now we have a documentary about the secrets and pain of bullying and the target audience can't go.  Is that the most shortsighted decision?  I know that the filmmakers fought the MPAA about the rating.  So a film about kids, for kids, and could help kids can't be seen unless they go with an adult.  That is the dumbest thing I have ever heard. Seems to me that the MPAA could have rated it PG-13 with a big asterisk. To protect teens from language is ludicrous.  They let kids see violent, bloody movies. No problem there. Language?  Language???  I have every intention to see the movie.  I care. If any of you have seen it, please weigh in.  

The Hunger Games.  Read the book twice on vacation. Finished with the second book, Catching Fire.  It is a story that stays with you. It is haunting and disturbing.  It is a mix of Lord of the Flies and Survivor, but that simplifies it too much. The characters are interesting and three dimensional.  I am late to the Suzanne Collins fan club, but I think that the series is totally captivating and recommend it, even if you are an adult.  I want to finish the trilogy before seeing the movie. So, a story as violent and disconcerting as The Hunger Games is rated PG-13. Go figure.  

Sidebars:  Tuesday night television was what it should be always. One hour of The Biggest Loser, make over edition, one hour of Dancing With the Stars, one hour of The Voice, one hour of Fashion Stars.  Jack Wagner was tossed from DWTS.  I think he was stunned but couldn't have acted more gracious if he tried. Who says he can't act? Fashion Stars may turn out to be sheer genius.  If you haven't tuned in yet, give it a go.  It may go right there next to Shark Tank.  Heard last night that Tori Spelling is pregnant again.  Not that interesting until you find out that she just had her 3rd child that is only 6 weeks old!!!  She went to the hospital for a test and they said they had to make sure she wasn't pregnant. She mocked them and said impossible. Woops!  Preggers! Shocking for so many reasons. No one even mentioned that they had sex before the doctor recommended waiting period of 6 weeks.  Closer than Irish twins. For those of you that celebrate Passover and Easter have a yummy weekend.  If you don't celebrate either, have yummy food anyway.  Enjoy Spring!

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