The film of the mommy porn publishing phenomenon 50 Shades of Grey has been given an ‘R’ rating by the MPAA. The classification is for “strong sexual content including dialogue, some unusual behavior and graphic nudity, and for language.” Strong sexual content, graphic nudity, and language: okay, I get it, those are things that routinely get films an “R” rating. But what exactly is this “unusual behavior” the MPAA is so concerned with? In the trailer billionaire Christian Grey (Jamie Dornan) tells Anastasia Steele (Dakota Johnson) “my tastes are very singular” before we get a hint of some BDSM action. Can the MPAA not bring itself to utter the word “bondage”? Or is it the glider? Let’s face it; it’s a highly suspicious aeronautical activity.
Screencrush has assembled a hilarious list of some of the MPAA’s more ludicrous — and inconsistent — ratings descriptions. While War of the Buttons was rated PG for “mischievous conflict, some mild language and bare bottoms,” Mr. Deeds received a PG-13 for “language including sexual references, and some rear nudity.” Batman Returns received a PG-13 rating for its “brooding, dark violence,” (of course it’s brooding and dark – it’s Batman), while Jefferson in Paris was also hit with a PG-13 for its “mature theme[s], some images of violence and a bawdy puppet show.” Speaking of bawdy puppets, remember Team America: World Police? It was rated ‘R’ for “graphic crude and sexual humor, violent images and strong language—all involving puppets.”
