USCCB Movie Ratings

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Is it a sin to see a movie that was rated morally offensive (O) on the USCCB web site?

usccb.org/movies/index.htm

I have personally not watched a movie that was rated morally offensive if I knew about it beforehand. There doesn’t seem to be any consistency in ratings. I have found some movies to be morally offensive but the USCCB did not.
 
I don’t think that the movie reviewers at the USCCB amount to a teaching authority of the Church. I also find that thier ratings are inconsitent and confusing.

Now if you decided to see a movies because the USCCB rated it morally offensive, that might be sinful, but I don’t think it would be if, in spite of a “O” rating, based on other information, you went to see the movie.
 
Good question… I’ve seen some that they have rated “O”, and enjoyed them from a filmmaking and storytelling point of view, although been very disgusted by some the actions and attitudes portrayed. For example - “The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly” (1968) is a great movie, in my opinion. The USCCB gives it an “O”, and I can understand why. Despite the title, there is relatively little difference between the motivations or methods of the three main characters - they’re all immoral and self-interested, and quite brutal. And yet, it’s a really good movie, and well-made.

I would also say that there is a qualitative difference between something like this, and a cheesy horror flick like “Friday the 13th Part VIII”, which also rates an “O”, and has few redeeming qualities.

And finally, there are movies that the bishops generally think are ok for adults that I would not recommend anyone ever see, e.g. “The Net” (1995) - rated “A-III”, but what a cheesy and dreadful movie! It offends good taste just by being so lousy, and the money spent to see it would be an immoral waste. It was so bad that 9 and a half years later I am still upset about it.
 
Bobby Jim:
Good question… I’ve seen some that they have rated “O”, and enjoyed them from a filmmaking and storytelling point of view, although been very disgusted by some the actions and attitudes portrayed. For example - “The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly” (1968) is a great movie, in my opinion. The USCCB gives it an “O”, and I can understand why. Despite the title, there is relatively little difference between the motivations or methods of the three main characters - they’re all immoral and self-interested, and quite brutal. And yet, it’s a really good movie, and well-made.

I would also say that there is a qualitative difference between something like this, and a cheesy horror flick like “Friday the 13th Part VIII”, which also rates an “O”, and has few redeeming qualities.

And finally, there are movies that the bishops generally think are ok for adults that I would not recommend anyone ever see, e.g. “The Net” (1995) - rated “A-III”, but what a cheesy and dreadful movie! It offends good taste just by being so lousy, and the money spent to see it would be an immoral waste. It was so bad that 9 and a half years later I am still upset about it.
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What would be good taste, i speak in defense of the USCCB, they probably no more about church teaching than we do? wouldn’t you agree, yes there are some pretty foul Bishops, but for the most part they are all well educated and know what they are talking about. Morally i can see why they would label “The Good the Bad and The Ugly” tha mian character in the movie is doing something morally wrong by cheating people and dealing out death and judgement, and in the end when he is supposedly going to hang his friend Tucco, the film gives the appearance that Clint Eastwoods character was the Hero when in actuality he was doing the same thing all the bad guys were doing. We must look deeper in to their reasoning. Finally, unfortunately toddays culture considers something “good taste”, if it has at leats one of three things, bad language, Sex, violence. So lets say The Scarlet and The Black, “offends good taste” so be it. Because that good taste is based off immoral themes!
 
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Sean.McKenzie:
What would be good taste, i speak in defense of the USCCB, they probably no more about church teaching than we do? wouldn’t you agree, yes there are some pretty foul Bishops, but for the most part they are all well educated and know what they are talking about.
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The bishops don’t review the movies themselves. People who work for the USCCB review the movies. I have no idea who they are or what their qualifications are, but I’ve found myself disagreeing with their ratings. For example, I think almost any movie with nudity should be rated O.
 
i agree with Benedictus . . . i have found their ratings system to be no different from the MPAA’s ratings. it’s obvious that they’re rated by social liberals because nudity (even tons of it) does not seem to constitute an “O” rating, but throw in some violence and it’s morally offensive! it’s as if johnny depp is rating them . . . :mad:
 
Benedictus, you make a very good point! i believe as well, that any movie that shows nudity should be morally offensive, i wonder why they aren’t getting this? Wouldn’t you agree though any movie that shows two people kissing or who are engaging in sexual activity wuith anouther should be stricken from the Catholic’s list. I have been wondering why we look so intently on movies which show sex in it, and differently on movies that show two people kissing in it, who outside of the movie are married to different people, Why is it different?
 
The habit of movie criticism has taught us to habitually distrust mystery. And this in direct proportion to our claiming that nothing is a mystery to us. Movie criticism has trained us in person criticism. Movies have become ‘persons’. One movie (Mulholland Drive ) has become the ultimate person. And this movie is rejected by the Bishops.
 
I thought the “O” rating meant that there is little to nothing in the movie to make it worthwhile for a good Catholic to see. Meaning nothing is in there to redeem the movie.

There are plenty of movies out there that teach important lessons which have objectionable things in them. Chicago (A-III), for example, makes you wonder just how easy it is to corrupt the legal system.
 
What about Million Dollar Baby? It’s been nominated for several Oscars so it is not a poorly made movie. It got an O rating because of its treatment of euthanasia.

I’m a fan of Clint Eastwood and would like to see the movie.

Anyone seen it and do you disagree with the rating?
 
i speak in defense of the USCCB, they probably no more about church teaching than we do?
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Sean.

I agree with you about Church teaching. However, the USCCB ratings do not usually seem to be based on Church teaching. At least that isn’t what stands out when you read the reviews that accompany the ratings.
 
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kmktexas:
Sean.

I agree with you about Church teaching. However, the USCCB ratings do not usually seem to be based on Church teaching. At least that isn’t what stands out when you read the reviews that accompany the ratings.
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I think the ratings are done not by the Bishops but by people hired for the purpose. It appears that cinematic experience is valued well above knowledge of Church teaching by those doing the hiring.

It should be noted that much of what is published in the name of the Bishops is produced by small committees and never reviewed by the Bishops. I think the bishops have much to answer for in allowing this deception.
 
I can understand why they would gve certain movies certain ratings…but on my list of film critics about whether I wish to see a movie or not…they’re not on it. Too many awesome movies I would have bypassed if I followed their ratings and didnt see the O films.

Btw…I am a proud owner of the re-release and remaster of The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly on Dvd…GREAT FLICK!
 
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