MovieChat Forums > Narcos (2015) Discussion > Is that accurate parental rating, '15' ?...

Is that accurate parental rating, '15' ?

posted 8 years ago by Justice68
7 replies | jump to latest

I managed to get through Spartacus TV series, so I am pretty confident that I've seen some of the most nasty stuff on modern television.

Having said that Narcos is one of those shows that is written well, filmed well, acted well and generally in a top twenty of shows to watch in this decade. I would love to recommend it to many in my family and circle of friends, however the graphic violence, overt sexual conduct and general crudeness, is something that keeps me from mentioning it.

Ok, that's life I guess and a decision I have to make. However it got me curious and I checked the parental rating.. 15!!

Wow, I won't speak for any parents, but as a child at fifteen, I wouldn't have been able to cope watching this. In fact I would have thought it fitted the description of what a 'snuff' film was.

Who comes up with these ratings? And why do they seem to get relaxed more and more as time goes on. What was wrong with the previous standards? I don't understand why we think kids are more capable of handling the viewing of such content these days. As far as I can see, kids are far less mature than we were.
They're oblivious to how the real world works, they can't balance a check book, they can't survive without an electronic device in their possession, they don't know how to get somewhere without satellite navigation, they have no idea how WWII really started (just throwing that one in there). They are like really large infants with umbilical cord still attached - for the most part ignorant and entirely dependent. They're certainly not free thinkers, given the free speech hysteria of our high schools and college campuses.

So just whom out there is sitting around and suggesting that this material can be handled and processed by a fifteen year old? Given by the standard of conduct on these forums by us adults, I am not even sure if we can handle the content.

[–] voorheesjason42 8 years ago

The rating is just fine.

[–] Kyumonryu 8 years ago

I managed to get through Spartacus TV series, so I am pretty confident that I've seen some of the most nasty stuff on modern television.

lol, not even close. You saw some stylish slow-mo cutting and naked ladies, but far from what gratuitious violence modern tv has to offer.

...but they hung him anyway.
Hanged, Ami. Your father was not a tapestry.

[–] InglouriousSister 8 years ago

In fact I would have thought it fitted the description of what a 'snuff' film was.

Yeah, no. As far as I know, none of the actors who played characters who died on the show actually died while filming. That is what "snuff film" is, where humans are actually murdered on-screen. Like no acting, but real killing. The most famous example was thought to be Cannibal Holocaust, but while that movie is infamous for killing animals and being all around insane (I haven't seen it and I never will, I wouldn't be able to stomach it) even that turned out to not be an actual snuff film when the actors were located alive.

Overt sexual conduct? I didn't notice much of that. I think 15 is a good rating. It is violent, but I didn't think it was done in an exaggerated way. Also, remember this is based on true events, that you complain about "kids today" not knowing about.

Do you even know what honor is?
- A horse.

[–] Philip_90 8 years ago

For the most part it's 15-certified but there are some scenes (real footage) that would gain 18-rating, however, all in all a 15's fine. Besides, I'm sure your kids have seen a lot of shít behind your back.

[–] Justice68 8 years ago

If it even has one part that's '18' then that's what it needs to be rated.

Also, the mentality that it's already happening behind your back and therefore it's 'OK' is troublesome and a mental acceptance habit parents should break.

When it happens in secret, it carries that feeling of taboo. They know it's wrong, and while they may still do it, they don't do it without some consideration until...

Someone in society comes along and gives it free license(schools giving out condoms comes to mind) and make it acceptable, then it's done in the open without any consideration all.

And intra-debate aside, my query was more on whom really decides these types of ratings.

Thank you all for the comments. I will research and learn more about these committees (I presume?) and organizations.

[–] Metatron_Fallen 8 years ago

Well, for US viewers, children can safely watch most of the series because there aren't that many nude female breasts- just lots of murders, so they should be fine there if you are ready to jump in and cover their eyes when there are boobies to be seen.

For everybody else, I think 15 or even more would be appropriate. Although, there actually aren't so many extremely graphic scenes. Los Pepes account for most of the really horrific ones.

...

I'm being facetious and sort of ironic/sarcastic here, obviously.

The USA is a very violent place. Living in the UK and in Europe for most of my life now, it is easy to forget what it is like to live in a place where people are gunned down all the time- like it's an ordinary part of life.

Violence in the US is a main tabloid staple here as the violence here just doesn't compare. For a while ISIS had sort of bumped the US down in the hierarchy but as they're being defeated, the US is moving back up in the ratings.

I'm expecting Hillary and Trump to whip out pistols at their next meeting and start blasting away at each other.

Wouldn't that be surreal? And probably a CNN reporter right in the middle arguing with a Fox reporter over how was firing the best shot groups at their rival.

And then the US public voting one or the other into office because of how well they handled their weapon.

It's really not that far from reality. That's the scary thing.

[–] Justice68 8 years ago

My view has always been that sex is natural, however only one sexual act is required. Let me clarify: Intercourse (unless you have alternative methods in mind), is how procreation is achieved. Everything else about sex is not necessary.

Violence on the other hand is extremely natural. No matter the creed, race, religion, nationalism, geography, period in time etc, all manner of violence, from minor to wanton, is ingrained in our society.

It's because of this spectrum and the violent origins of America, that lead myself and others to view violence in a different light - or at least not as much of a 'taboo' as graphic sex acts and the depiction of those acts.

Possibly more importantly when it regards children and teenagers, we have this belief that violence towards others is extremely unacceptable and therefore entrust our children won''t engage in it.

Sex on the other hand is not extremely unacceptable, there's just a time and place for it and exposing young people to it without any sort of limitation, suggests that any time is a time and place for it.

As for your comment about people being gunned down all the time - surprisingly it's not per-capita. The only places where people get shot regularly are black neighborhoods and gun free crime zone cities(oh the irony). As a culture we are violent, however we do respect that it is not an appropriate way to live.
Contrast to South American or African/Asian or predominately Muslim countries where life has very little value and death happens by all manners.

Comparing the internal street violence of America to ISIS is unfortunately very ridiculous. Though if your comment is eluding to the fact that unevolved black culture is as inherently tribal and animal like as ISIS, then you'd be correct - that's not an 'American' thing.

And btw, America doesn't have a tribal football and hooligan culture, so let's not paint England/Europe to be saints.