Rated "R"

Several anti-smoking groups in America are petitioning the ratings bureau to place an R rating on any movie that depicts a character smoking!

According to these groups, smoking in the movies encourages kids to smoke; 52% of new smoking among adolescents is due to smoking in the movies, and that children who see large amounts of smoking in movies are three times more likely to smoke than kids who see movies with little smoking.

Ok, so there you have it. Ive briefly read over their evidence and proposals. It all seems to be thin at times, vague at others. 51 movies were selected for the "Rated R" list because they featured popular arts among adolescents who were smoking. How were these stars selected? Its always dangerous for adults to think they know what, or who, adolescents like. I don't necessarily agree with their methods or conclusions, but that's not my point.

Let me note another side of their campiagn...this one is the kicker.

This week, the FDA issued notice that obesity is quickly becoming the #1 preventable killer in the USA. It already outranks alchohol abuse and drug abuse, and at current rates of growth, will out-shine tobacco use in a few short years. The anti-tobacco groups have listed in their perposed bill that all leading causes of death should warrent an R rating. To include obesity. That being said, let's suppose these people are right, and smoking in the movies does in fact increase the likelihood of an adolescent eventually smoking, and this fact alone should merit an R rating (usually reserved for sexuality, language and violence). Fine. Great in fact, I'm not saying it shouldn't be a factor.

But let's take every other serious health danger and imagine the world they're asking for...alchohol in the movie? R rating. Subject matter of suicide? R rating. Fast Food, candy, potato chips? Are these all causes of an R rating? Of course not. Does an over-weight actor have to fear not being casted because they might inspire some teenager to eat themselves into obesity Ridiculous isn't it?

If the bill is accepted by the national ratings committee, here is a SHORT list of movies that will garner an R rating:

101 Dalmations
Alice in Wonderland
An American Tail
The Great Mouse Detective
Peter Pan
Pirates of the Caribbean
Snow Dogs
Bed Knobs and Broomsticks
Gone With The Wind
Frosty the Snowman
102 Dalmations
Inspector Gadget
Galaxy Quest
The list goes on and on and on...

This really doesn't have much of an effect on my life, but I think some people are a little too ate-up. Thought guys would be interested in this.