To Watch or Not to Watch

R-rated movies. We are all confronted with them. We all have the choice whether to watch them or not.

Sentiments are split, even among a purely LDS audience. Having said that, I've realized two things: just because someone isn't LDS doesn't mean they just go out and watch R movies; also, just because someone is LDS doesn't mean they won't watch R movies. To illustrate, I offer the following stories.

A Catholic woman, just a few years older than myself, sitting next to me on the airplane from Nashville to Denver had a lot to say on the topic. She expressed disgust at the "smut" and "crassness" that were becoming more and more common in all movies, even those with lower MPAA ratings. She has made the choice recently to avoid R-rated movies and be careful about the PG-13 movies she watches, as well.

I find that same attitude is shared by the majority of members, as well. Some go so far as to say "no R-rated movies" is written in the "For the Strength of the Youth" handbook; or, if not there, that it was said over the pulpit in a General Conference. I have gone and personally checked through Conference talk searches on LDS.org. Everywhere we are told to avoid inappropriate media, especially if it borders on the pornographic. However, nowhere in the "For the Strength of the Youth" pamphlet are "R" movies specifically stated. The most recent counsel concerning media choices is as follows:

“If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things” (Articles of Faith 1:13).

Whatever you read, listen to, or look at has an effect on you. Therefore, choose only entertainment and media that uplift you. Good entertainment will help you to have good thoughts and make righteous choices. It will allow you to enjoy yourself without losing the Spirit of the Lord.

While much entertainment is good, some of it can lead you away from righteous living. Offensive material is often found in web sites, concerts, movies, music, videocassettes, DVDs, books, magazines, pictures, and other media. Satan uses such entertainment to deceive you by making what is wrong and evil look normal and exciting. It can mislead you into thinking that everyone is doing things that are wrong.

Do not attend, view, or participate in entertainment that is vulgar, immoral, violent, or pornographic in any way. Do not participate in entertainment that in any way presents immorality or violent behavior as acceptable.

Pornography in all its forms is especially dangerous and addictive. What may begin as a curious indulgence can become a destructive habit that takes control of your life. It can lead you to sexual transgression and even criminal behavior. Pornography is a poison that weakens your self-control, changes the way you see others, causes you to lose the guidance of the Spirit, and can even affect your ability to have a normal relationship with your future spouse. If you encounter pornography, turn away from it immediately.

Depictions of violence often glamorize vicious behavior. They offend the Spirit and make you less able to respond to others in a sensitive, caring way. They contradict the Savior’s message of love for one another.

Have the courage to walk out of a movie or video party, turn off a computer or television, change a radio station, or put down a magazine if what is being presented does not meet Heavenly Father’s standards. Do these things even if others do not. Let your friends and family know that you are committed to keeping God’s standards. You have the gift of the Holy Ghost, which will give you strength and help you make good choices.

Moroni 7:12–19
(“Entertainment and the Media,” For the Strength of Youth: Fulfilling Our Duty to God, 17)

On the other side, a friend of mine, a returned missionary, doesn't accept or reject a movie based on its rating alone. To him, other factors are more important than the MPAA's reasons for the rating. I've heard from him, and others, that the MPAA system is biased and completely subjective to their own standard of morality, which may or may not mirror your own. Anything so closely connected with Hollywood could hardly escape corruption and moral relativity. My friend instead finds himself asking the questions, "Is the message good?" "Does it have artistic merit?" "Will my understanding of the human condition and my sensitivity to it increase?"

Analiesa Leonhardt expressed mixed feelings over the ratings issue, as well. To her, some PG-13 movies were a complete waste of time, and she left feeling revolted. Among R-rated movies that she's seen, like Schindler's List, she felt it was not only a good decision to see it, "But it was important to see." She added, "My point is, with ratings so inconsistent, ratings are not a logical or effective way to pre-judge a movie."

I personally have re-committed myself to avoiding R-rated movies and any kind of media regardless of rating that would desensitize me to others' needs. Excessive violence and explicit sex scenes do leave an imprint on us -- and whether we want to admit it or not, it affects the way we treat other people. But before that, it gains command of the way we view ourselves.

Will I ever see an R-rated movie again? Chances are, yes. Many films have value that go beyond the rating. Will I seek them out? Most likely not.

Here I will pose two questions: If you watch rated-Rs, why do you? And if you don't, why not?

And for those interested who want to be more informed about a movie's content before they actually view the movie here is a website that has established ratings of its own: Kids-in-Mind.com. It pretty much lists everything you could possibly find offensive in good detail before you go to see the film. Watch out, it will most likely turn you away from many of the movies you want to see.