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This Week’s Movie Ratings
By Ali Asadullah 31/08/2001
Please consult the following ratings system for the evaluation of films currently in theaters. Please note that films with themes specifically adult in nature will be rated as
(Adult) in addition to being given an overall rating.
(CU) Completely Unacceptable
- Film contains levels of Sex, Violence, Profane Language and/or other objectionable content that are gratuitous to the degree that the film has absolutely no redeeming value either as a social commentary or as an entertaining diversion.
Examples: Fatal Attraction, Basic Instinct, Eyes Wide Shut, Eddie Murphy: Raw
(RU) Rather Unacceptable
- Film contains levels of Sex, Violence, Profane Language and/or other objectionable content that are extreme. As such only through extreme rationalization could someone consider the film fit for consumption. The only reason to see it would be as a study of the current state of Western culture.
Examples: American Beauty
(SA) Somewhat Acceptable
- Aspects of objectionable Sex, Violence and Profane Language and/or other questionable content exist, but either a) Not in a gratuitous manner, b) Not in great frequency or c) With specific redeeming intent. But be very careful.
Examples: Malcolm X, American History X, The Matrix
(RA) Rather Acceptable
- Overall, the film is suitable for general consumption with some concerns over thematic issues or minor objectionable content. But be on the lookout for more subtle Western themes that are of concern to Muslims such as romance and dating.
Examples: Shrek, Atlantis
(CA) Completely Acceptable
- Film content is either tame or fully socially redeeming in nature.
Examples: Jinnah, The Battle of Algiers, Bambi
O (RU-Adult)
Summary: Once again audiences are reminded that when it comes to telling stories, the classics still stand as the measuring rod to which all other narration is compared. In the past few years, Shakespeare has received quite a bit of interest from Hollywood with both classical and modern remakes of his popular works reaching audiences nationwide.
O is the most recent effort to reshape Shakespeare for a young, urban audience. A retelling of
Othello, O dismisses with the antiquated early-modern English in which Shakespeare wrote, opting instead for Hip-Hop era colloquialisms and a serious dose of foul language.
Othello was itself one of Shakespeare's greatest tragedies. It dealt with the life and trials of
Othello, a Moorish mercenary fighting in the Venetian army, and his love and relationship with his wife Desdemona. Through deceit and treachery, Othello is led to believe his wife has been unfaithful to him, an accusation that has no truth to it. However, the deceit takes hold of Othello and his jealousy and pride lead him to ruin.
O diverges from the original in that the main character is not a soldier, but a star basketball player and the setting is not Venice, but a modern high school. This film contains strong language, romantic themes, violence and one scene of strong sexuality. For these reasons Muslims should be wary of the film. However, just as
Othello was a strong commentary on relations between the Muslim world and the newly emerging Europe of the Middle Ages, so to does
O take a crack at important issues of race and culture.
Jeepers Creepers
(CU-Adult)
Summary: Your basic horror film, Jeepers Creepers tells the story of a brother and sister who get waylaid on their drive home during their college spring break. Cruising down a country highway, the two see a strange figure drop a body down a drainage pipe. Concerned over what they have seen, the two stop to investigate. What they find is horrific. There is not just one body down in the sewer, but many bodies. The natural question therefore is: Who or what is responsible for this abomination? The answer? A terrifying creature that, every 23 years for 23 days, emerges to "feed". This film has a great deal of violence, blood, gore, foul language and even some brief nudity. It is gratuitous to the point of being unacceptable and therefore should be AVOIDED AT ALL COSTS.
Speedway Junkie (CU-Adult)
Summary: Johnny wants to be a racecar driver on the speedways of North Carolina. When that dream doesn't pan out though, he finds himself penniless and destitute on the streets of Las Vegas. He gets ripped off, hustled by seedy characters and gets sucked into the wrong crowd. What ensues is life on the mean streets where survival requires Johnny to do all sorts of things. This film is filled with profane language, strong sexual themes, drug use and other objectionable material. AVOID AT ALL COSTS.
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