MPAA Willing to Consider Banning the F-Word in PG-13 Movies

Posted on August 18, 2011 at 10:52 am

I have consistently criticized the MPAA for allowing the F-word in a PG-13 movie. It used to be limited to one non-sexual use of the term but now they allow it more than once in some PG-13s. It makes no sense at all. Either the word is acceptable for young children or it is not. Movie studios are cynical in manipulating the MPAA to get the rating they think will sell the most tickets. So they will throw a bad word into an otherwise-acceptable film so it won’t get a “babyish” PG rating.

Today I am quoted in a new piece in the Huffington Post by Glenn Whipp of AP about the use of the F-word in PG-13 movies.

“Allowing it once or twice just doesn’t make sense to me,” Minow says. “The word is something you’re OK with a child hearing or you’re not. And, still, in 2011, I’d argue that it’s outside the safety zone for children.”

The MPAA’s Joan Graves responded that she is open to revising the rules to prohibit the F-word if she hears from parents who object. If the language in PG-13 movies bothers you, get in touch with her at:

Joan Graves
MPAA Ratings Board
15301 Ventura Blvd., Building E
Sherman Oaks, California 91403
(818) 995-6600

filmratings@mpaa.org

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Understanding Media and Pop Culture

My Segment on the Ebert Show: 3D Movies for Kids

Posted on July 13, 2011 at 5:48 pm

Many thanks to Roger and Chaz Ebert and all the wonderful folks at Ebert Presents At the Movies for including my segment on kids and 3D in this week’s show!

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Media Appearances

Thelma Adams Asks, ‘Where’s Momma?’

Posted on June 7, 2011 at 3:52 pm

US Magazine critic Thelma Adams has a blog post about one of the most common questions I get asked: where are the parents in movies about kids? She quotes my comments:

Nell Minow, the Movie Mom, told me “This is the second-most frequent question I get asked by parents (first is: I am so careful with my kids, but what do I do when they go over to someone else’s house?)”

The answer, Minow continued, referencing Tom and Huck, Pippi Longstocking, and David Copperfield, et. al., is that “if the parents are there, the child can’t have an adventure. They’d be saying, ‘You can’t go on the yellow brick road today — you have homework, and you need a sweater!’ The satisfying fantasy of the story is that the child is able to do what the child in the audience would like to feel he can do — to master the scary adult world.”

She still doesn’t like it though, and wonders how many more parts there would be for mature actresses if the movies allowed more of their young characters to have moms. And privately, we agreed that even though we loved “Finding Nemo,” the beginning is wrenching.

The Corporate Villain in Movies — My First Appearance on Ebert Presents

Posted on April 11, 2011 at 12:41 pm

I was thrilled that my first appearance on Ebert Presents At the Movies was a discussion of corporate villains on screen from 1909 to the present — why they are so popular and how the portrayals have evolved to reflect changing times. It was inspired by the piece I wrote for Bnet at the end of last year about the corporate villain in the movies of 2010. Thanks to all who wrote to say they watched and especially those who said I inspired them to track down some of these films so they can see them. Enjoy!

Roger Ebert’s New Show!

Posted on January 4, 2011 at 2:42 pm

I am thrilled that I have been invited to be one of the correspondents for Roger Ebert’s new show, “Ebert Presents At the Movies.” With AP’s Christy Lemire and the 24-year-old Ignatiy Vishnevetsky of MUBI.com as co-hosts and Roger and his wife Chaz producing, it is sure to be informative, provocative, and illuminating viewing for anyone who cares about movies. The show will also feature Kim Morgan of Sunset Gun, who also writes essays for MSN Movies, and authors and runs MSN’s daily film blog, the Hitlist, my friend Omar Moore of Popcorn Reel and more. It is a great honor to be included. Stay tuned for updates about the show!

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Critics Media Appearances