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Copyright Stillwater Area High School MMX
April 27, 2012
Online Editor
This year alone, over 18 million students will be bullied. To see bullying in action will teach many people, students especially, the hardships of bullying on those whom have been affected the most. This is exactly the point of the movie "Bully"; to inform viewers.
"Bully", the movie, was released March 30, 2012. The film offered insight into the often cruel world of the lives of five bullied children. Through the movie viewers will get a sneak peak in the lives of five students who have been victims of bullying. Bullying is the most common form of violence experienced by young people in the United States.
The reason many are contemplating over the movie has to do with the content. The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), led by former senator Chris Dodd, gave the film an R rating. This means that most of its target audience will not be able to see it unless they are accompanied by a parent. Giving it an R rating would eliminate a large population of those kids who experience bullying in their everyday lives: the younger school students under the age of 17.
According to nydailynews.com, "It got the R reportedly because a bully in one scene in the flick drops the F-bomb repeatedly."
Many people feel taking the R rating away would be beneficial to the younger generation.
According to blog.bookish.com, "Its creators, the people behind The Bully Project, hoped that the film would receive a PG or PG-13 rating in the United States, presumably so that both its message and its profits might be maximized."
Many parents would judge the movie by the rating alone without even taking a look into what it was about. R ratings automatically grab the attention of many parents, causing them to say no right away.
Parents will allow their children to see the movie if they feel they are ready for it. Just because the movie is unrated does not allow those kids into every theatre without a parent. Many theaters still require a parent accompany kids or at least have parent permission first.
News.moviefone.com says, "Several theaters are refusing to show an unrated film, and those that are may require a permission slip from viewers under 17."
Some may feel that going from rated R to unrated really did not help much but make it more of an issue than necessary. A large percentage feel it was just their way around the R rating.