I think Hollywood’s biggest complaint with the MPAA is that it is unfriendly towards graphic sexuality. Nudity and sexuality is becoming ever the more acceptable among the social left and Hollywood will continue to argue that films that depict increasing levels of sex and nudity ought to be permissible for teenage audiences. As society continues to get all the more permissive, I think we will discover that this is a battle that’s really just beginning.

Re: #39 – A better system to rate movies. This is a website I like for picking out films for my son, and it would be good for adults too:

http://www.kids-in-mind.com/

Great site, I like how in-depth it is. Everytime a movie comes out that we are considering taking my daughter too, I have to wait a few weeks until I’ve talked to enough people I trust to know if I want to let her see it or not. I still regret letting her see Shrek after reading one review. The biggest thing I’ve learned is to totally ignore the rating system, and actually read and listen to as much as I can about the movie. Just because a small group of people on the ratings board thinks a movie is appropriate or innapropriate for children doesn’t mean I should.

Tim J., I have Shawshank in my personal collection and I think everyone should.

Veritas, bravo. Good list. From the blog, I got referred to those movies with Bill Murray and the Wilsons, they were wonderful and I’m glad I saw them. What great depictions of the good/bad in all of us.

John F., Christ has sat through much worse.

I do not think shielding us from life’s terrible truths will make us better Christians. Sooner or later, we all hit our Gethsemanes.

On the other hand, I’m careful about the movies I watch. On the still other hand, I unapologetically loved and own all the Alien movies. My family watches them over and over.

http://www.kids-in-mind.com/

They give each film a rating on a scale of 1-10 in three categories: Sex & Nudity, Violence & Gore, Profanity. But even better than that, they go to the trouble of listing out all of the incidents of each. So it allows you to judge for yourself whether the specific content is okay for you / your child to watch.

Re #25, I’d add The Journey of August King (PG-13) to that list. I think you’d like it, enochville. I also love Dancer, Texas Pop. 81, although it’s not really a message-heavy movie.

For the record, Hero isn’t rated R, either.

Often bad morals are the conflict of the story (you know, that necessary part that makes it interesting). Sometimes their gratuitous. I’m not saying which ones are which, that’s up for you to decide. And no, it’s not up for the MPAA to decide either because obviously they don’t make much of a distinction. But halleluja that we live in the modern era with the click of the mouse we can know exactly what content is in the film! We don’t have to rely on a corrupt, archaic system! Yay for technology!!!

And John, dude, I think you’re reading WAY too into the recommendations of others. I don’t think they’re actually saying you need to see those films otherwise you’re a racist (or whatever). They’re just saying they’re films that have a message that would be good for all to hear.