Movie Critic Assesses New Box Office Arrivals
WHITFIELD: The controversial documentary "Bully" now has a PG-13 rating. It was initially rated R by the Motion Picture Association of America because of multiple uses of the f-word and other profanities. The makers of the movie resisted the R rating, releasing the film in a small number of theaters with no rating at all. Now the Weinstein company has edited the movie, cutting some of the curse words out. Here's part of what the rating's board said about its new PG-13 rating saying, quote, "The Weinstein Company decided to resubmit a new edited version of "Bully" to be rated, and the rating board gave this new verse of the film a PG-13 rating for intense thematic material, disturbing content, and some strong language all involving kids," end quote, that from the Movie Picture Association. So the edited verse of "Bully" opens in theaters nationwide April 13th. Our movie critic Grae Drake from Fandango.com and Movies.com is here to talk about "Bully." OK, so it appears as though everyone got their way. The moviemakers get to keep the original content and have the other, the unedited version, and then the other modification for the PG-13. So many more people will get a chance to see it. That was the objective for those moviemakers. So let's look at a quick clip and then I'm going to have your opinion on the other end.</s>UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Two people to a seat. Two people to a seat. There's two people already here!</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They punch me in the jaw, strangle me.</s>WHITFIELD: All right, very tough, that one child's account of what he goes through all time or had been going through at the time of that filming. So Grae, very real in your view? What was your opinion?</s>GRAE DRAKE, CRITIC, MOVIES.COM: This movie is shockingly realistic. I mean, just the thought that this is actually happening is horrendous to me. That is such a tiny slice of an entire film filled with terrifying visuals of kids in today's schools, because, I mean, we all know that kids can be horrible when they are growing up, but this just takes it to a whole new level. And I think that part of the horror of the film is how helpless everyone is against it. Even the people who are in charge of our children, who are, you know, their responsibilities to present them, in the film you see them talking about how they can't do anything about it. They refuse to. They just chock it up to kids being kids. And this movie had me in tears over how brutal these kids' lives are. And I'm glad that they have released the PG-13 version to give people more accessibility to it. I don't think that the effect of the film will be changed after just editing language because it's such a powerful expression of this -- the terror of these kids' lives. I mean, it's --</s>WHITFIELD: And you gave it a grade, just as you do other movies that you review for us. And what is your grade? There we see it.</s>DRAKE: I gave this movie a B because although it does an amazing job of showing all of these kids and talking to their families, it doesn't show any bullies. They don't talk to any of those kids or those kids' parents. And so it was a little bit limited in that respect. But it didn't change the power of the film. I think everybody should see this movie, and also especially if you have children, and also especially if you are an administrator, because something has to be done, and this movie's a really good rallying cry for us to change the way that we are.</s>WHITFIELD: OK, so from reality to a different kind of reality in some circles. Let's talk about "American Reunion." Quick clip of what is the sequel, right?</s>DRAKE: Yes.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There's a smoking hot 18-year-old girl over there that used to baby-sit, and you're not going to do anything about that?</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Need I remind thaw I am married to Michelle?</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Exactly. Dude, you can take what you learned from her, bring it home, and apply it to Michelle. You do care about your marriage, don't you, Jim?</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What are you talking about, Stifler? I'm not going to cheat on my wife. I'm a father.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes. That's perfect.</s>WHITFIELD: "American Pie" kind of grown up, right?</s>DRAKE: Yes, kind of. That's -- let me break it down for you.</s>WHITFIELD: It wouldn't be fun if it was totally grown up.</s>DRAKE: You know what, the first two movies qualify as fun. This movie qualifies as sad and pathetic at every single turn. I've got to tell you, this movie is like a person that you dated over the summer and never thought about them again until they showed up on your doorstep 13 years later talking about what an amazing connection you had. In other words, you don't want to see them. You couldn't care less that they existed. This movie -- everybody's favorite pie molesters are showing up to their 10-year reunion 13 years later. So if their math is any indication how good this movie is, then I'll leave it at that.</s>WHITFIELD: I get it. Your grade, then?</s>DRAKE: They realize they peaked in high school, Fredricka nap is so sad. It was so horrible to watch, and at every single point that I gave this movie and F, except Eugene Levy deserves -- he deserves everyone in America's thanks for making this movie tolerable. And I desperately hope that America will not go see this film and encourage them to make any more pictures. They should have kept this straight to the DVD hell it was languishing in. I could go on if you want me to.</s>WHITFIELD: I know you could, but, sadly, we're out of time. And I'm sure the moviemakers of that film are glad you're not going to go on. Grae Drake, a harsh grade. Calling it like you see it at all times. Appreciate it. You can always watch her reviews at Fandango and Movies.com. You see how technology solved the crime on TV shows like CSI and NCIS. Straight ahead, how technology might prevent a crime.