Review of This Film Is Not Yet Rated (2006) by Laimis Z — 15 May 2010

I found this to be a well done and eye opening look into the secret society that is the MPAA. It is very interesting that America rates movies differently from the rest of the world for the most part. Many depictions of sex, especially gay and lesbian sex, quickly bump a movie from an R to an NC-17 while in Europe and elsewhere in the world gratuitous violence is much more likely to get the more restrictive rating than if the movie has sex scenes. In short, America needs to lighten up about sex and maybe crack down a bit more on the most gratuitous acts of violence.

The fact that the members that rate movies are totally anonymous and only work in the job for 3-5 years is amazing. They protect the identity of the raters as if they were CIA spys or something, its ridiculous. The movie does a great job of showing that also. I might have liked to have seen one of the private investigators try to get a job there as a rater and wear a hidden camera, that would have been very interesting. However, something tells me its probably pretty hard to even get an interview for a job as rater let alone be hired.

This movie lifts the curtain of mystery surrounding the MPAA and tells some shocking facts about how corrupt their system is and how their word is pretty much final no matter what even if the director makes an appeal. It also explains that for some viewers an NC-17 rating may sound cool for the movie makers it very much limits how many theaters can show it and how many people will eventually see it. But don't worry film makers the MPAA president says the ratings have no effect on box office gross, cough bullshit cough. This documentary is well done and informative and can be enjoyed by any lover of movies. Oh but beware, their is a lot of sex so be careful because its rated NC-17.