LOS ANGELES If Nicolas Cage lights a cigarette in a movie, Hollywood's ratings board should respond as if he used a profanity, according to authors of a new study that criticizes glamorous images of smoking in movies rated for children under 17.

"No one is saying there should never be any smoking in the movies," Glantz, a professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, said Tuesday at a press conference at Hollywood High School. "What we're simply asking for is that smoking be treated by Hollywood as seriously as it treats offensive language."

Some people think smoking is offensive, obviously. But is it really comparable to profanity?

What would the authors of this study rather have me do? Like up a smoke on a street corner? Or say fuck you to their kids?

Since R-rated films typically earn less money because they are not open to most teenagers, Glantz said he hoped such a policy would discourage filmmakers from depicting unnecessary smoking, such as the nicotine-addicted worm aliens in Men in Black.

This is just bullying and control freakery, a way to impose an agenda on artists by threatening to cost them millions of dollars if they dont comply.

Why stop with smoking? If were going to protect The Children from seeing bad adult habits on camera, we might as well restrict the number of Twinkies, french fries, and Froot Loops an actor or actress can eat in a movie.

Kicking smokers out of every bar in California ought to be enough micro-management for now.

NYHCx516

Madison, WI

September 2002

MAR 09, 2004 06:05 PM

*fuck* censorship of any kind.

punk

Phoenix, AZ

January 2004

MAR 09, 2004 06:23 PM

People need to lighten up...

Thistle

SUICIDEGIRL

California, USA

MAR 09, 2004 06:27 PM

I agree that smoking in movies is definitley part of the cool factor that seems to draw many kids into smoking, but honestly, when will this type of thing end? Various agencies already control who we can marry, when we can have abortions, what our kids learn in science class, and how much sex we can see on tv. Is this really necessary?

muddog

Dover, FL

August 2003

MAR 09, 2004 06:27 PM

I don't smoke anymore but this type of shit pisses me off,When will it all stop. I for one am sick of others trying to look out for my own good.

crispy

NEWSWIRE

Philadelphia, PA

MAR 09, 2004 06:32 PM

Yeah, because everyone knows that kids love to emulate chain smoking alien worms.

Absolutely ridiculous.

djr255

New York, NY

September 2003

MAR 09, 2004 06:42 PM

hey, you forgot to mention the smoking ban in New York as well. This is a national trend, not just a California issue.

btw, anyone see Demolition Man? The dystopic action movie from the early 90's in which smoking, cursing, sex, unhealthy food, and any form of physical contact is illegal? One thing they mention in the movie is that Arnold Schwartzeneger becomes president in the early 21st century. Creepy eh?

digitusboy

I'm lost

December 2003

MAR 09, 2004 06:48 PM

wwwweeaakkk..

apesamongus

Atlanta, GA

July 2002

MAR 09, 2004 06:51 PM

Now, I'm all for throwing the MPAA out on it's ass, but truthfully, if we're ranking things on a scale of badness, I'd much rather have kids swearing than smoking.
Their agenda is stupid, but their comparison is sound - showing swearing IS less harmful than showing smoking (and by "less" I mean "not harmful in any way"), and it is restricted more harshly.

Poser

Tampa, FL

May 2003

MAR 09, 2004 07:01 PM

In this day of age, by the time kids become the age of older adults, cancer of any form should easily be eradicated.