March 31st, 2004

LDS WWII Movie Sheds R Rating

The Salt Lake Tribune—LDS WWII movie sheds R rating



Thankfully the directors of Saints and Soldiers edited part of the violence in their long anticipated film to get a PG-13 rating.

The difference between a PG-13 and an R is crucial for the movie’s predominantly Mormon target audience because LDS Church members are counseled to avoid R-rated films.
This film has won numerous awards at independent film festivals and looks like it will be one of the more successful LDS genre films as it appeals to members and non-members alike.
“Saints and Soldiers” has enjoyed success with largely non-Mormon audiences on the film-festival circuit, winning a grand prize at the Heartland Film Festival in Indianapolis last year…Saints and Soldiers,” set during the Battle of the Bulge, tells of five Allied soldiers caught behind enemy lines without weapons.
This film is set to be released in late spring or summer.

posted by John in Entertainment 

This entry was posted on Wednesday, March 31st, 2004 at 8:53 am and is filed under Entertainment. You can follow any responses to this entry through the comments RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

6 Responses to “LDS WWII Movie Sheds R Rating”

  1. Kim Siever says:

    Two comments.

    Not seeing R-rated movies is not a commandment. The “do not see R-rated movies” guideline has led to problems in among members of the Church.

    First of all, many of them now do not watch R-rated movies that are of a high quality, have good messages and are free of filth.

    Secondly, many of them now use it as an authorisation to see a non-R-rated movie, despite the content. In other words, they avoid R-rated movies absent ob language and sexuality, but they have no problems seeing PG-13 movies full of the stuff.

    Maybe that’s just the drama student in me. ;-)

    March 31st, 2004 at 11:13 am
  2. John says:

    Nope, not a commandment. Yep, council from a Prophet of God.

    “Don’t see R- rated movies or vulgar videos or participate in any entertainment that is immoral, suggestive, or pornographic” (“Youth of the Noble Birthright,” Ensign, May 1986, 45).

    I choose not to see R-rated movies based on the counsel above AND because I choose not to support a movie that is given an R-rating by the MPAA. I also choose not to see PG-13 movies that are inappropriate based on the above counsel AND because I choose not to support movies with inappropriate content.

    The best place to learn if a movie has content you deem inappropriate is http://www.screenit.com/search_movies.html

    March 31st, 2004 at 11:30 am
  3. Kim Siever says:

    I review any movies that look interesting and if there is content I find offensive, I will not see it. I never pay attention to the rating because the ratings are completely subjective—based on popular acceptance and the collective morals of those who extend the ratings—and because it is a terrible way to determine what is a good movie. After all Jersey Girl and Saints and Soldiers have the same rating; however, their content is completely different.

    Feel free to continue choosing movies the way you do. I’m not saying it’s wrong. All I’m saying is that when it comes to picking movies, I try to use the “”Don’t…vulgar videos or participate in any entertainment that is immoral, suggestive, or pornographic” of the counsel more so than the actual rating.

    March 31st, 2004 at 1:14 pm
  4. Kim Siever says:

    I should clarify that I use screenit.com to review the content. :-)

    March 31st, 2004 at 1:15 pm
  5. Rex says:

    I was intrigued by your comment, John, that the “Don’t see R-rated movies” is not a commandment, but IS counsel from a prophet. I am in your camp on not seeing R-rated movies because of this counsel, and I also make it a point to avoid PG and PG-13 movies that are objectionable. I guess the reason I am most intrigued by your comment is because I have a hard time distinguishing between counsel from the prophet and commandments. What’s the difference? If there is a difference, at what point does the prophet’s counsel become a commandment? Personally, I would never want to run the risk that I made the wrong assessment about what was merely counsel and what was a commandment. If the prophet gives counsel, I’ll always be on the right path if I follow it, but I might not be if I don’t. I know the same counsel/commandment distinction has been raised in the context of grooming and appearance (hair length, facial hair, number of earrings, tattoos, etc.), and will probably come up in other settings as well. It would seem the question is actually two-fold: 1. How do you know when a prophet’s counsel is a commandment; and 2. Even if its just counsel, why not just follow it anyway?

    March 31st, 2004 at 5:02 pm
  6. John says:

    As Kim suggested, the MPAA is a subjective group of people who may or may not have the same set of moral standards as you or I. We probably should not dismiss a movie based on what the MPAA decides the rating should be. For example, I don’t think seeing The Passion of the Christ would be wrong. I’ve chosen not to see it but there are many LDS that I know who have seen it but do not watch R-rated movies in general.

    It could also be argued that President Benson was talking specifically to the youth. R-rated movies are off limits by law to the youth and so that statement makes sense. I have not ever read counsel to adults that said specifically do not watch R-rated movies. In fact I doubt the church would ever make such a statement as we should be able to govern ourselves in such matters.

    However, I still choose not to see R-rated movies because I think President Benson’s statement is wise counsel for me to follow and because I’m not willing to give my money to those that produce that type of content. Is it a commandment? It is for me and my family.

    March 31st, 2004 at 5:27 pm