Not enough information?

The motion picture ratings system "is not working as well as it could" in warning parents about the amount of violence in movies, according to researchers at UCLA's Southern California Injury Prevention Research Center. In a study of 98 of the most popular movies in 1994, the researchers found all but three included at least one scene of violence and that some PG-13 films contained as much violence as some R-rated ones. The researchers noted that many films that were flagged primarily for language contained a greater-than-average amount of violence than those flagged for violence. Commenting on the study, University of Michigan psychology professor L. Rowell Huesmann told today's (Wednesday) Los Angeles Times: "There are interest groups that are outraged by the sight of a breast, a la Janet Jackson, or suggestions of sex, but don't mind someone being strangled, knifed or shot to death [on screen]." The authors of the UCLA study conclude by asking the MPAA to provide "meaningful content" information about each film.

I'm really curious as to how much information constitutes "meaningful content." If you tell too much about the content within the film, don't you run the risk of being indecent in your content review? or perhaps, even telling the story yourself?

"The following movie contains scenes about war, in which some soldiers patrol a bombed out building and a sniper is hiding inside. The sniper takes aim on one of the soldiers and proceeds to shoot bullets into him while he bleeds profusely as his sqaud watches from protective cover and attempt to devise a plan to save him and find the sniper. This scene lasts approximately 15 to 20 minutes, during which time you will see many slow motion sequences of the soldier being shot and bleeding into the air. Once the squad finds the sniper they shoot the hell out of her (Oh yeah, the sniper is a woman, so if you have a problem with women and guns, well...sorry) and she then lies bleeding on the ground gasping for breath for about 5 minutes all the while begging "shoot me....shoot me." Eventually, one of the soldiers shoots her in the head and puts her out of her misery. Parents strongly cautioned."

The first thing you learn in Home Video Marketing is "Never let your audience know too much about what they are about to buy." The second thing you learn is "You might get sued for this." Which is why they also require you to take a "Business Law" course.