[Jessica Jade]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR> Well-said, dragongirlG, about how LOTR movie and books can be taken separately! You put into words what I was trying <HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>erm, i believe that it was <I>I</I> who said that! *coughcough* !! <P>Hmmm, thanks for your opinion Rosa Underhill...you did make a good point about how dumb enough TV is already without foul language. I especially liked what you said about how foul language stunting the growth of a good vocabulary and as an ego-booster. I personally think <I>excessive</I> cussing just makes one sound dumb and immature, thinking that it's the "cool" thing to do. However, i believe that it is okay to cuss on occasion, but only if you <I>really</I> mean it. Over-using cuss words only lessens the impact of their meaning.<BR>About censoring the words, i originally thought it was annoying (i mean, think of how annoying it'd be if they censored Good Will Hunting!) but i can see your point about how dumb it sounds. TV/movie scripts <I>should</I> replace those words with intelligent ones.<P>As for seeing rated R movies....i agree that it's right for parents to forbid to see a movie if it is overly graphic or sexual or contains to much violence, or if they think their child cannot handle it. I DON'T like, however, when parents forbid their kids to see a movie <I>just because</I> it is rated R. It's the content of the movie that matters, NOT the rating.<BR>I was partly letting off some steam when i wrote what i wrote about rated R movies, because i was getting darn sick of overprotective parents who don't let their kids see pg-13 movies without exception..parents who just don't trust their kids without good reason. If the kid really can't be mature enough to see a certain movie, then fine, don't let them see it. But if they really are mature ebnough to see a little sex and violence, there's not reason to hold them back. It's just saying that you don't trust your kids, telling them that they are not mature enough. And people hate when others "just dont' trust them" without good reason. <P>You have to admit, some of the best movies are rated R. The Matrix, and American Beauty, espeically. For example, The latter is one i would definitly watch with my kids. (when i have them.)The fact that there is nudity and blunt sexuality in the movie is totally beside the point. It makes me angry when i mention the movie and everyone is like, "Ewww that movie was soo gross! it was nasty, blah blah blah..." It just makes me think, "Is that all you got out of it?" The movie makes such a moving, powerful TRUE point about American society and our lives in suburbia...it's a powerful film with a message that all should be exposed to. The point could not have been so well made without the sexual content. So it's like, let's all grow up a bit people, and be mature about this, okay? Now, a lot of parents would have seen the sex scenes and banned that movie then and there, not realizing what a great film (and powerful message) that they and their kids are missing out on.<P>I personally do not believe you should have to be 17 to see rated R movies. In reality, it depends on the maturity of each certain individual. But of course, there is no was for the FCC to know everybody, so they naturally set an age limit. It IS the parents job to decide, but they should make good conscious decisions about what their kids are exposed to-they should decide for themselves, and not be blinded by reviews or movie ratings. My parents have never been into that whole "You can't see this movie because it's rated R" kind of thing. They had no inhibitions when i watched Schindler's List at age 11 when i was in the 5th grade. The movie did not phase me a bit, and i know that i can see any movie on earth without being severely disturbed or frightened. And there ARE some 14 year olds out there that have much more maturity than some 17 year olds that i know. Sometimes i get annoyed because i'm 16 and i can't even go see an R movie by myself until i turn 17 in half a year...if i am old enough to drive alone i should be able to drive see R movies alone, right? The truth is, there really is no "right" age...parents shouldn't say to their kids, "you're not old enough, you can see it when you're 18 blah blah"...they should be more realistic and say "You'll be allowed to do this when you are ready."