Any more than is seen in theaters is rated by the MPAA. When it comes to DVD releases however, it is common to see "unrated" versions. This means the film has been recut and distributed without MPAA review. While being reviewed by the MPAA isn't that big of a deal, what this can lead to is studios and distributors playing a game of bait and switch with parents.

A producer makes a film and has all kinds of sexual content or violence. To avoid the R-Rating, and therefore reducing their potential box office receipts, the producer edits down the harsher content to get under the bar and achieve the more lucrative PG-13 Rating. Follow its run in theaters, the producer then reinserts all of the harsher content and then releases the "unrated version". This contains all of the filth left out and thus makes the film worthy of an R or in some cases an NC-17 rating. The parents can be fooled into thinking the film is appropriate for their teen since they still identify it with the original PG-13 rating.

To make things worse, what the distributors and producers are doing is playing off people's weaknesses. Comedies will commonly advertise on their boxes additional "uncut" scenes that intentionally seems to offer soft porn content. In effect, since this is geared towards teens, it plays off their lust to drive sales.

Parents of teens, be careful of unrated DVDs, some are more than they appear.

Labels: miscellaneous, movie watching tip