Appeals board upholds R rating for `Fahrenheit 9/11'

Appeals board upholds R rating for `Fahrenheit 9/11': "'Today was a classic example of how the ratings system works to benefit parents, for whom the ratings system was designed,' MPAA chief Jack Valenti said.

Tom Ortenberg, president of Lions Gate Films, had argued to the appeals board that 15- and 16-year-olds should be free to see the film on their own because they could end up in military service in Iraq in the next few years.
'I hope the R rating doesn't have a large impact on the box office,' Ortenberg said. 'I've spoken with many parents, including some on the appeals board, who absolutely said they are going to take their children to see the film. We'll just have to hope the teenagers we're encouraging to see this picture find their way in through parents or adult guardians.'

'Fahrenheit 9/11' opens in limited release in New York on Wednesday and nationwide in about 850 theaters Friday.
Jonathan Sehring, president of IFC Films, said the R rating could reduce the film's theatrical revenues by 10 to 20 percent."

DAVID GERMAIN
AP Movie Writer