CAA: Christian Anime Alliance

Hey guys I have a couple of specific questions which lead me to a more general musing.

First up, two movies I was thinking of renting were Appleseed and the Cowboy Bebop movie. Both I hear are good and pretty clean. However, both also received 'R' ratings for 'Some violence'. So I was wondering, how exactly is the content of these movies. Violence I don't mind so long as it's not particularly sadistic, psychotic, or overly gory. I'd rather avoid language, but can put up with a few references now and then, and sex I'd really rather avoid.

SO what might I be in for with these two.

My general musing was then about 'R' ratings for anime. It tends to be the case that with western movie ratings the scores tend to be lower than they should be, at least in my opinion. Yet the thought occurred to me that with the trouble in the past of people not familiar with anime thinking it was just another 'cartoon' a la Tom and Jerry or whatever, they were renting unsuitable material for their kids. Might it be the case that they tend to rate anime higher rather than lower to ensure that people get a clue that something is different here? Just wondering.

Thanks.

The big violence I saw in Cowboy Bebop: The Movie were two headshots (one is shown from a distance, so it's not really seen) and a guy getting stabbed with blood splattering on the walls (though the actual killing isn't really seen; you just see him falling over after it happens). A bit mild compared to some series, really.

Some cussing it (though I watched in Japanese, so I don't really know how much), and while there's no sex, one character has her shirt cut open (but it doesn't go all the way).

There's plenty of violence in Appleseed, too, but no gore, nudity, and very little swearing that I recall. If you're an action fan, the first scene of the movie alone is worth the rental price.

I agree that Motion Picture Association of America theatrical rating standards appear to be more harsh for anime than for American productions, but at least it is gaining some discernment as far as ratings are concerned.

The Cowboy Bebop Movie was rated R?!

Tom Dincht wrote:The Cowboy Bebop Movie was rated R?!

Yes. If Cowboy Bebop was live-action, it probably would have been PG-13, but it could have been pushing 'R' levels, if you honestly think about it.

I just got it out of my library....

My parents won't be happy to see an "R" sticker.

I don't rent much so I hadn't noticed but a friend of mine just confirmed that he never pays much attention to the ratings since he said they all seem to be 'R' or unrated or something else. He just come to CAA!

He said Bebop was quite full of fan-service though...

Also, can I get a confirmation on the language use in Appleseed? I heard the original 80's movie had pervasive language, and I wonered if they'd carried that across to the 2004 movie? Oh, and Sub/Dub?

Bebop's fanservice honestly isn't that bad, for what I can remember. Faye is the most fanservicey character in that show, and even she's not bad as most. I don't think there's too much to worry about, but then again, I don't really know your personal convictions on that topic.

appleseed is very clean not maybe 10 swears at the most and not any sex (cept you do see the main char in her underwear nothing sexual is happening) the violence isn't to bad either. I highly recommend appleseed

Tom Dincht wrote:I just got it out of my library....

My parents won't be happy to see an "R" sticker.

I find that very funny

*15 year old walks up to rent a rated R movie. He gets through because it's an anime*

There's pretty much always some fanservice to be seen in Bebop. Have you seen what Faye wears all the time? Aside from Faye getting her shirt ripped open, there's also a very brief shower scene. (you really can't see much) All that being said, it's a great movie. The language isn't too bad. The worst thing I can remember is the S word being used. As for the R rating, I really can't see why they would give it such, except for the headshots mentioned earlier. I also think that if it were an American movie, it would probably be PG-13. I say the same thing about Appleseed, Returner, and Princess Blade... It doesn't make much sense.

I would say, for both movies, consider them somewhere between "PG-13" and "R". They're not kid-friendly movies, but there's nothing in either one that will leave you scarred for life.

Someone said if it were liva action it would be PG-13.

It would be more logical the other way around.

Well, I think Bebop would probably be R either way for content. However, if it had been made in the US by US movie makers who are willing to work with the MPAA to get the rating they want (assuming they wanted a PG-13 rating), then I'm sure the movie could have had that rating with only a few changes.

The rules they use to gauge the rating of a movie is rather strange and not at all intuitive to your average movie-goer. On top of that, the rules can change at anytime with out notice. What maybe OK when the movie is planned may not be OK when you try to release it. American movies can make adjustments, but Anime movies imported from another country with different rules are a lot harder to change. Not to mention, the fans generally grouse when such changes are made.

Anime films are not made with MPAA rules in mind, so they are more likely to cross into the R rating for seemingly insubstantial reasons.

Like I said about the violence, the big points are just a couple of headshots and a guy getting stabbed (though you just seem it afterwards).

I did forgot another part, though: a certain character gets shot in the chest (but doesn't die).

Hmm, I think anime ratings are a little more strict than movie ratings, actually.

But certain movies such as Samurai X should be rated R, while others, such as Cowboy Bebop...from what I've heard, that should be PG-13.

I think that the ratings for anime are only strict with the movies, not the series as much. It's probably because they have a different rating system for the movies than for the series.