Movie Trailer Bait and Switch

Honestly, you're better off getting Netflix, and staying home. There are a few things not everybody gets about the nature of studios, theaters, and the MPAA. The rating doesn't mean a thing. Why would that be? The MPAA is not a government entity. It's a corporate advisory board. They can't sanction anything. The MPAA came about in 1922, as a concern of the 6 largest major studios - Disney, Warner, Fox, Columbia, Paramount, and Universal. It's a cartel. Essentially the rating system is a gentleman's agreement between those studios about the content of their films, so they wouldn't offend too many people and therefore lose revenue - it has more to do with the revenue. Furthermore, the "ratings" make it harder for independent film that might have artistic merit instead of another dumb, cookie cutter, Harry Potter or whatever trite pre-packaged, snooze fest designed to empty the pockets of the lowest common denominator because they're dumb enough to fall for it again. Theaters - most are part of large national chains, like AMC, Loews, Carmike, etc, and trust me on this one, they are doing what they are told. So if you have a complaint about a film or content, you should not complain to your local theater. Once again, they are doing what they are told. A rude ticket seller or unclean bathroom, go ahead. Don't like the movie? You sat through the whole thing - you aren't getting a refund. If you don't like the food at a restaurant, do you eat the whole thing and THEN complain? I worked in the theater industry for five years, most of it as a manager. I've built prints, assembled trailer packs, done countless Thursday night changeovers, and I've dealt with every complaint you've ever had. Every little quibble and this, that, the other, I've heard it. Chances usually are that about 65-75% of whatever trifle you have to gripe about, is far beyond the control of the theater staff, and if you call corporate, they are going to give you a gift cert or pass to shut you up. That's the way it works. And in case any of you are wondering, the answer is most definitely YES - the general public comes off as far below what most would consider "intelligent." I mean YOU. I also mean your precious child who won't stop crying, which makes a lot of other people angry, including the maltreated, overworked, and underpaid staff. And for the Love of God, keep your feet off the seats! TRUST me on this. We are told what trailers to put in. The point of this missive is this - the theater is acting on orders of the studios, who own and run the MPAA you trust to make things "safe" for the kiddos. They don't - they only care that you keep BUYING. The ratings exist to tell you what to go to - what that means is that when a PG movie comes out, you'll go to it because you're willing to pay to take the kids to the movies, because there's a kids movie out. (In other words - you fell for it!) The studios are too large to really care about whether or not you're offended. Once again, get Netflix. It puts the power into the hands of the consumer.