Dr. Dobson Recommends 'R' Film

NewsMax ^ | 3/5/04 | Limbacher

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

When the movie industry gives a film an R-rating, it's generally considered to be a red flag warning that it shouldn't be viewed by young adults and children.

But Focus on the Family founder Dr. James Dobson is urging family audiences not to be dissuaded by the R-rating attached to Mel Gibson's, "The Passion of the Christ," which garnered the warning label because of its violence.

"I've never recommended an R-rated movie before in my life," Dobson told Fox News Channel's "Hannity & Colmes" Thursday night.

The family values leader, who said he's personally viewed the film three times so far, said "Passion" moved him deeply.

"I appreciated its message. It was consistent with the four gospels, and I felt it was a message that should be seen. That's why I supported it," he explained.

Asked why some films warranted an R-rating for violence when "Passion" didn't, Dobson explained that there was no way to tell the story truthfully without focusing on the gruesome crucifixion scenes.

"I don't know how in the world you would show a crucifixion without it being violent," he said. "I mean, the word excruciate comes from the word 'the cross.' And there was simply no [other] way to do that."

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

What audience share is being lost with the rating?

[aBootes]

I do know a couple of people who categorically refuse to see shows rated "R" and they have not gone. But I must say that I haven't run into anyone who actually saw it, who then regretted going.

[RS]

"Asked why some films warranted an R-rating for violence when "Passion" didn't, Dobson explained that there was no way to tell the story truthfully without focusing on the gruesome crucifixion scenes. "

I suppose that could also be true for any movie about gruesome murders, say, the Manson murders also....

[Salgak]

As I recall, the Creed goes. . .

". . .He suffered, died, and was buried. . . ."

That's the POINT of "The Passion": to SHOW what he went through for us. Candy-coating the suffering of Christ is almost blasphemy. . .

[maestro]

I do know a couple of people who categorically refuse to see shows rated "R" and they have not gone. But I must say that I haven't run into anyone who actually saw it, who then regretted going.

The initiated's initiation?

(Support cartoon violence for your family!)

/sarcasm

[foreverfree]

Did anybody watch Dobson's interview on H&C in its entirety last night. Colmes, towards the end, asked Dobson "What is the worse threat to America, the terror war or the culture war?" Did anybody catch Dobson's answer? I didn't. And H&C's link on foxnews.com doesn't have transcripts of past shows.

foreverfree

P.S. For that matter, what IS the worse threat, - the terror war or the culture war? Inquiring FReepers want to know.

[walden]

While I do not believe that the film warranted an R rating, I'm not altogether sorry that it got one. The effect that the R is having is not to prevent children and young people from going, but to make it more likely that they go with their parents. I think that's a very good thing. My daughters are 17 and 18, and both routinely go to R rated movies and have for a while (when tickets are bought over the internet there is no age-check, at least in our local theater), which I don't mind, because they're mature and responsible. But, in the case of "Passion", I requested that neither of them see it with their friends, and told them that if they wanted to see it, I would take them. My 18-year-old doesn't want to see it but I took my 17-year-old, and both of us were glad that we went together. In fact, none of their friends have seen it without their parents-- it seems that all of the parents have come to the same conclusion I have, that this is a film best experienced as a family.

[Rander7]

Contemplating the "R" rating of the Passion...I'm inclined to say that "R" stands for Redemption, Revival, Royalty, Resurrection, Righteousness,and Right on!

[Typelouder]

I saw the interview last night. It seemed to me that Colmes thought he could trap Dr. Dobson into minimizing our nation's moral decline in light of the War on Terror. Dobson's response was guarded at first, saying it was a difficult question to answer (he was buying time to choose his words properly) but then remarked that the culture wars with the breaking down of the family was the greater threat becuse it "would destroy us from within."

[ImpBill]

Actually the Creed reads:

I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
    the Creator of heaven and earth,
    and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:Who was conceived of the Holy Spirit,
    born of the Virgin Mary,
    suffered under Pontius Pilate,
    was crucified, died, and was buried.

Just a minor point as your main point is right on the mark.

The "R" rating thing doesn't bother me. I haven't seen the film yet, but plan to, however I don't think I would take young children with me until after I see it. Life and death can be brutal, but young children need not see it until they have matured to the point to understand and accept it.

Anyway - good comments.

[Salgak]

Actually, I was going with the Nicene creed from memory: my current church uses the Apostle's creed. .