More Info Please!

Dear Dan Glickman,

I sincerely appreciate all of the work that the Motion Picture Association of America does. I am glad that films are required to have ratings and that these ratings are readily available. However, I feel that these ratings do not provide adequate information as to the content of the film. Certain ratings send up red flags and warn viewers that the material may make them feel uncomfortable. However, I am frequently disturbed by some of the content that is portrayed in PG-13 movies. As an adult I don’t feel like the content is appropriate and certainly don’t feel like an early adolescent is mature enough to view it. There is a lot of discontinuity in the rating system and the amount of questionable material varies a lot in movies that have received the same rating.
I am not asking that the content of films be changed or that producers be banned from displaying certain things on the screen. I am not asking that violence and sexual content be eliminated from the cinema. However, as a viewer I am asking for the knowledge and warning of the content of a film before I see it. People have the right to know what they are viewing and choose for themselves if it something that they want to view. I realize that some people enjoy watching suggestive content and that others suggest that there are no harmful effects. By all means please allow these people to continue to watch theses movies. What I am asking for is the ability to know what is on the screen before I walk it to the theater.
What I am asking for is that film makers give a detailed list of the reasons that a film was rated a specific ways. I want to know what language, violence, and sexual content is portrayed. How frequently do these messages appear and what is their intensity. I want to know how much cursing I will hear and what violence I will watch. This will simply help me choose what movies I will be comfortable watching. I enjoy watching movies and would like to continue to be able to enjoy this form of entertainment. Instead of having to walk out of the theater or turn the movie off, I would like to know what I will be viewing before hand so I can simply choose to watch a movie that I will feel comfortable watching.
What I would like to see is a website that has a summary of the content of each film as it is released. In addition to the rating I would like some more information about the content of the film. More specifically, what caused this movie to be rated the way that it was. In essence what is a summary of the discussion that took place when the films’ rating was being decided upon.
As a future parent, I would like to know what I am allowing my children to be exposed to. As one of the two people that are mainly responsible for the development and actions of my children, I want to know what they are viewing on the screen and to be able to feel comfortable that they are being exposed to wholesome media. There are so many good films that I would feel at ease letting my children watch and I want assistance in choosing that which they will be exposed to. What I am asking for is more information as to the content of a film and the reasons why the MPAA has determined that it is not appropriate for all audiences.

Thank you!