OKAY . . . Let's get a few things straight:
* The "PG-13" rating was introduced in August 1984. The first three released films were 'Red Dawn', 'Dreamscape' and 'Woman in Red'. The first film actually rated "PG-13" was 'The Flamingo Kid', however it was released after the release dates of the aforementioned films.
* Contrary to popular belief, 'Gremlins' and 'Indiana Jones & The Temple of Doom' were NEVER rated "PG-13". They certainly helped fuel the fire for the creation of the (then) new rating. Both 'Gremlins' and 'IJ&TToD' were rated "PG" only. For these films to be re-rated, they'd have to be re-summited to the MPAA for consideration. These films were never re-submitted, therefore their current ratings stood and continue to stand.
* The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) rates films more on the grounds of context, then actual content. The nudity in 'Splash' received a "PG" rating based on it's context. The nudity was brief, non-sexual in nature and used as a story-point as part of the mermaid-lore of the character Madison. That's why 'Splash' got the rating it did in early 1984.
* NO! This film would NOT be rated "R" today. It would be a "PG-13" rated film based on the aformentioned criteria used by the MPAA to rate films. 'Splash' features non-sexual nudity briefly involving a mermaid character. The MPAA would take that into account and rate the film "PG-13" today (it's 2011 as of this writing).
There Ya Have It,
~ MC1
"The reservist formerly known as JO2"
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