Hi all,

I have a contribution up for votes at the moment that has a single no vote so far and am curious what everyone's take is on it since the rules aren't exactly specific. Also, let me start by saying that I don't care which way this goes, I just want to do it right and have no problem withdrawling said contribution, changing it, then resubmitting.

The DVD is an anime DVD Vampire Hunter D, the OVA (638652-106407), not Bloodlust the movie. Since it wasn't theatrically released, there is no official rating detail for this title. On the back it does say:

"Warning: Contains Extreme Violence and Nudity. For Mature Audience. Parental Discretion Advised."

Now I submitted a NR rating with the detail of "Extreme Violence and Nudity" and the no vote explains the following: "that is a studio warning, not a rating detail from an acreditted ratings board, yes to rest". Now this isn't incorrect because it probably is the studio giving this warning, not an acreditted ratings board and I'm not disputing the validity of that statement.

My question is if a rating detail must be from an acreditted ratings board in order to be submitted. As with this case, since it wasn't shown on TV nor was it shown in theaters, there won't ever be one. The rules don't seem to clarify whether it has to be an acreditted rating or not, but like I said, it doesn't bother me either way. What do you all think?

It's not something that I've come across before, but if the studio have added their own content advisory details I can't see anything wrong with adding them to the profile - it is off the back cover after all, and that's our primary source for rating details.

I agree.  If this information is on the cover, it appears to be valid per the rules.  The rules don't say that they need to come from an accredited source.

They are not technically rating details, but they serve the same purpose and do not violate the rules. I would put them in and/or vote "Yes."

You can add my voice to those who think it should be left in.

Maybe the rules should be added to specify that studio issued ratings/warnings are allowed for NR materials...

KM

This was brought up in another thread a little while back, and after the examples were shown the concenus was, "if it's printed on the cover, it's good data and should be included." A huge victory for common sense!

Personally, I keep rating details for everything that has them. My logic is that 99% of unrated dvds offer nothing that would change the rating if that new cut were to be submitted to the MPAA. It's not like they submit them and the MPAA is like "this is an X", they add in a few more lines of dialogue and call it unrated since that is a buzzword that sells more discs, plain and simple.

Even movies where the unrated means something, I use Dawn of the Dead 04 as a perfect example of this. There's tons more gore and kills, but the rating details still are valid. Yeah it might've gotten the dreaded NC-17 or X by the up-tight MPAA for there being more of the same, but there's nothing else like a rape or bodily fluid (sans blood) scene that would change the rating if the levels and ammount of gore weren't factored.

After watching "This Film is not Yet Rated", I have no respect or care about the MPAA anyway. It's just sad they still hold any power, at least they are out of the their cave and some people know who they are now. Of course every once in a while the rating details are funny to read, Like Alien Vs. Predator has "Slime" as a reason, and my new favorite, Killing Zoe's "Plentiful Drug Use".

Of course I keep all these details local unless the disc also has the rated version included. If the rated version is included, then it's also within the rules to submit the details.

Except of course for the fact that it is not rating details at all, just a content warning from the studio releasing the DVD.

It is simply NOT a rating, useful or no.

For anyone that was interested in knowing. This contribution in question was approved dispite 2 no votes stating it was a studio warning. Although I know this isn't a definative answer on whether it is allowed or not, I thought I would share.