Kevin Smith wins MPAA appeal, "Zack and Miri Make a Porno" to be rated 'R'

[Grendel]

Smith wins 'Porno' rating appeal

By Simon Reynolds, Entertainment Reporter

Kevin Smith has won an appeal to have the rating for his new comedy Zack And Miri Make A Porno lowered from NC-17 to R in the US.

The filmmaker had earlier encountered problems with the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) over the sexual content of the movie, which focuses on two lifelong friends who try to solve their cash problems by making a porn film.

Smith told the Associated Press: "We didn't set out to make an NC-17 film. That's just commercial suicide."

The NC-17 is often considered the kiss of death for a movie in the US as it prevents anyone under 17 from seeing it. An R rating is more desirable because it allows those under 17 to watch with an adult.

Smith said the MPAA was initially reluctant to lower the rating because of two sex scenes involving Jason Mewes and Katie Morgan.

He explained: "They felt it was rather sexually graphic. My point is, it was comically graphic. All the sex in the movie with the exception of one scene is very cartoonish, very campy. It wasn't designed to titillate."

After presenting his case to the appeals panel, Smith managed to secure an R rating for the film.

He added: "Anybody not inclined to see a movie with Porno in the title is not going to see it, so it kind of regulates itself to a degree."

Glad to hear they reversed themselves on the NC-17, but I don;t know if anyone needs to see Mewes bumpin' uglies with Katie Morgan...

[Doc Awesome]

Glad to hear someone able to reverse the decision and not take anything out of the original piece. Smith made a good point in that anyone that doesn't want to see a movie with porn in the title won't see it.

[Grendel]

Glad to hear someone able to reverse the decision and not take anything out of the original piece. Smith made a good point in that anyone that doesn't want to see a movie with porn in the title won't see it.

Smith's becoming quite the expert at wooing the MPAA's apellate folks:

The appeals board, a separate panel from the ratings board, viewed the movie Tuesday, and Smith presented his arguments. It was the third time Smith successfully talked his way down to a lower rating: His 1994 debut “Clerks” initially received an NC-17 rating that was reduced to an R on appeal, while his 2003 film “Jersey Girl” was reduced to PG-13 after first being rated R.

[Doc Awesome]

Well if one of my films ever gets NC-17 I know who I'm talking too. I knew about Clerks but had no idea that Jersey Girl was rated R.

[Luris Blear]

If you have seen either Clerks 2 or the outtakes from Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back then you have already seen too much of Jason Mewes for this to be any kind of shock.

Not so sure I want to see what looks like another Smith romantic comedy with sex being a core plot device. Congrats to him anyway.

[Grendel]

If you have seen either Clerks 2 or the outtakes from Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back then you have already seen too much of Jason Mewes for this to be any kind of shock.

Forgot about his "Buffalo Bill" moment...

[Get Some]

i will probably see this movie i like seth rogan

[koolmike]

F Mewes

[asteroid]

Turning the MPAA around is a tough job, not like them to see sense, a very eloquent arguement.

[Grendel]

i will probably see this movie i like seth rogan

Been seeing a lot of him doing press for Pineapple Express. Can't argue that he's been successful, but he comes off like kind of a dipshit. Sounds exactly like what he is: an oft-stoned high school dropout.

Was a little disappointed to see him have the lead in this.

[IKickAssForTheLord]

F Mewes

F Mike!