MOVIES - Dec. 16, 1992

Rating Reponse: Director Louis Malle is charging the Motion Picture Assn. of America with “aesthetic myopia” over the handling of film ratings. Citing the steps involved in getting his new film, “Damage,” changed from an NC-17 tag (no children admitted) to the less restrictive R, Malle said Tuesday the changes were “minor . . . unimportant and, in fact, won’t be noticed.” But, he said he was “deeply shocked by the unfairness, inadequacy . . . of the ratings procedure which managed to cloak ‘Damage’ in an aura of pornography.” The MPAA does not comment on rating procedures. “Damage” stars Jeremy Irons and opens next week.