Legitimate beef or publicity stunt?

Maybe a little of both for Michael Moore, the contrarian documentarian who is expressing outrage that another one of his films has been slapped with an R rating.

In this case, it's "Where to Invade Next," actually his most optimistic movie -- he travels the world examining successful government policies to import to the U.S. -- but still too hot for the ratings board because of "language, some violent images, drug use and brief graphic nudity.”

The "Roger and Me" filmmaker has long attracted attention battling the Motion Picture Association of America, which is notoriously tolerant of violence but prudish over sex and nudity ("Where to Invade Next" has a quick shot of a man and woman buck naked at a German spa).

He previously appealed the R rating for “Fahrenheit 9/11" and the late critic Roger Ebert famously frowned on the MPAA's R for “Bowling for Columbine." “Roger and Me” also got an R.

In a statement Moore said: “It’s amazing how 25 years have passed — we invented the Internet, gay marriage is legal and we elected an African-American President of the United States, but the MPAA is still intent on censoring footage that is available from any evening network news show.

“I wish the MPAA would just be honest and stick a label on my movies saying: ‘This movie contains dangerous ideas that the 99 percent may find upsetting and lead them to revolt.’ Teens will be the most agitated when they learn they will soon be $80,000 in debt just by going to school.”

"Where to Invade Next" opens in limited release on Dec. 23.