A month ago I mentioned that I hoped this guy died soon.
And now he has. Everyone is rushing to lionize what a pioneering and wonderful man he was but this at best a half-truth. He was a proud censor, a man who made sure a priest helped form our rating systems, a bigot and a homophobe. He was a world class fuckhead, and even in death he’s not going to get a pass from me.
MUCH more ranting and raving after the more button
When someone like Vonnegut dies you mourn. He pointed out legitimate problems with our world.
Valenti? He thought he was a better parent than you could ever be.
Look at some of these quotes from AP:
Recognizing that the industry had outgrown the morality code regulating movie content since the 1930s, Valenti replaced it with a ratings system that survives today with its G, PG, PG-13 and R designations.
Now mind you he had no actual authority. The MPAA is not a government agency, we don’t get to vote on the rules or the people who assign ratings. The MPAA gives easier ratings to the people who fund it, the big studios. Independent film gets screwed. Anything controversial is frowned upon. Walk lockstep with someone else’s values or go broke. Those are your choices. Everyone buys into this “voluntary” system because they have no choice. The theater chains won’t run an unrated film because of bad publicity. So then, Jack succeeded in curbing the first amendment. Nice work pal.
(Jack) “enabled the industry to give parents the information they need to make appropriate decisions for their children
A true ratings system would have value. I know that. But that’s not what we have here. The ratings for films aren’t descriptive and don’t make any sense. Casino Royale (which rocked by the way) was given a PG-13 and it was one of the most violent films I’ve seen in the past few years. Bond KILLED ten people. But he didn’t have any actual sex did he? Whew. Can’t have our 13 year olds learning about people’s naughty parts.
“While I believe that every director, studio has the right to make the movies they want to make, everybody else has a right not to watch it,” Valenti told The Associated Press shortly before his retirement in 2004. “All we do is give advance cautionary warnings and say this is what we think is in this movie.”
No, no, no, no. This is an absurd lie. We are not given a chance “not to watch it” because it won’t appear in theaters without a rating. Plus, what the MPAA doesn’t like is changed. The only shot we have at seeing a film the way it was intended is the “unrated” version, but you better believe the MPAA wants its dirty little hands on that.
He became one of the highest-paid and best-known trade association executives, with a salary topping $1 million and his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Yes, he was paid a MILLION dollars to run a “voluntary” and unregulated big studio scam.
Valenti was always quick to rebut critics, saying frequent MPAA surveys found that parents with young children felt the ratings system was a helpful guide.
This is because no one ever peered behind the curtain. The question should have been posed “would you like a completely unfair system to govern what you see?” Because that’s what we got out of the deal. Movies shouldn’t have a rating, they should have an honest description of what’s in the movie, and then parents should decide. Yes, sometimes a kid will be exposed to something adult. Yes, sometimes parents will fall down on the job.
But guess what? That happens now. All the time. The difference is we’ll get to see interesting ideas if we so choose. Us ADULTS will get access to films without the Gestapo telling us what’s good for us.
So fuck you Jack. Rest in peace.
You are such an idiot. How dare you. Its people like you that are f______ed up.
and it’s people like you, D Says, who fail to realize that people DARE say whatever the hell they want to in the public forum. is it somehow worse to criticize a man after his death even though he was criticized during his life? The fact that you CAN be pissed and tell evilbeet that you disagree is your right, and you obviously enjoy having that right, but you are defending a dead guy who wanted to restrict that right.
the reason this country is so fucked up is because people like the dead guy in question deemed sexuality as the devil and violence was only somewhat reprehensible. that is why you have so many kids shooting up their schools and getting knocked up before they hit 20 years old, because violence is glorified and sex is kept in the dark.
Um … okay. SL, I can appreciate that you are not a fan of a ratings system in which you have no say and occasionally buries films on the fringe, but is it true we are not given a chance to watch films that don’t make it to the theaters? Maybe it’s just me, but hasn’t technology pretty much made all of this totally irrelevant? Yeah, yeah, theater experience. All of this shit comes to your home now, and you have unfettered access. Who cares what the MPAA has to say about an ultra-violent-naked-fest? If you want to watch it, you just use that magic computer.
And vote on the rules? Do we really want to put this to a vote? Do you think the United States public would arrive at a more realistic ratings system? Is the general public really your go-to when you want the edgy, artsy stuff to get a fair shake? I mean, the result is going to be some manner of arbitrary bar that won’t satisfy everyone. I see little difference between 300 million morons having a crack at it or one crusty old moron. The result is still something we tend to completely ignore anyway.
As an athiestic, city-bred adult, I can honestly say I could give a fuck less about ratings, and I never pay attention to them.
It is extremely interesting that you wrote that article last month and now he’s dead. Lars, do I need to call the cops?
I would never wish death on anyone, but damn, it looks good on Valenti – what an asshole he was while he was alive. I hope he´s a better person while 6 feet under.