I was asked a couple of times at work what my plans were for this weekend and I told everyone that I was seeing Up tonight and Drag me to Hell tomorrow. What I did not mention was that I plan on continuing my Unseen Movie Marathon with a 3d screening (in honor of Up which I’ll be seeing in 3d also) of The Stewardesses. Its not that I’m embarrassed by the fact that I’m going to watch an old 3d X-Rated movie but I was worried that I might offend someone at work or that it might lower their opinion of me and since I have to work with them I don’t want to deal with that.
The thing is though I would not have a problem with telling them I was going to go watch some ultra violent gorefest but as soon as sex and nudity come into the equation I feel that I need to be careful what I say. I really hate it. I’d love to recommend movies like The Isle, Silip, In the Realm of the Senses, Intimacy, and The Dreamers just to name a few.
There is really something messed up in our society when violence is just accepted, ignored and almost welcomed. How many movies would be considered boring if it weren’t for the huge explosions and people getting killed. I know this is nothing new to consider but my own “covering up” of watching an X-rated movie is bothering me somewhat. I’m curious, would you talk about “sex” movies with people who are not close friends.
I’m sorry —
You CANNOT force me to choose between Boobs or Bullets!
They are like chocolate and peanut butter – two great tastes that go great together.
Yes, but do you talk about boobs with your co-workers?
I would much sooner talk about a sexy movie with casual acquaintances and co-workers than I would talk about my own love life. I just started a new job a few weeks ago and was shocked and amused that on my first day, during some downtime, one of my new peers told me every single detail about her last two relationships. I would never do that, but once I determined a general sense of a co-worker’s attitude and open-mindedness, I wouldn’t have a problem discussing an intriguing movie that just happened to have some racy subject matter.
I haven’t heard about “The Stewardesses”. Besides, whether we like it or not, there are some outstanding films that have sex and nudity like “Where the Truth Lies” or “Monster’s Ball” just to name a few. All in all, whether a film has sex or not, I’ll only recommend to someone a film only if I deem that it possesses a good script and a good performance from the cast.
Good piece, fair points. We should attempt to change it, sure, but the glorifying of violence is nothing new in human history. It is a societal failing because it is a human failing.
I know I ask all my female co-workers if they have shaved their V for Vagina.
John, you’re absolutely right about the prevelance and non-chalance of violence in films, and the prudity towards sex. Sex in and of itself is generally a beautiful thing; violence rarely is, and yet it’s accepted as the norm. You can show a guy shooting up people, but people get in an uproar over a nipple.
Violence is rarely a beautiful thing? Zhang Yimou (post 1999), John Woo (pre 1999) have said otherwise.
I don’t disagree in principle. I think movies that explore sexuality should not get the stigma (NC-17) they do with the general public, while movies that just have things blowing up and shooting and maiming tend to be PG-13.
This is more in America than in the rest of the world. You know, the puritan thing. But I’d be a fool to deny the fact that it exists to a degree pretty much everywhere.
You’re right Kurt, and I should have clarified my statement. I do enjoy some good action in films, but as you say, the censorship is much more severe for sex in films. My thoughts were more on reality, and by extension how that reality is portrayed and censored (or not censored) in films.
The more I think on this the more I realize that for me that there is really only one thing wrong with this. It is not so much that we shouldn’t be showing violence as I think that there is a place and time for everything but that we as a species need to just think about what we are watching and consider the implications of the thought processes involved. Violent movies can be an escape and can help us deal with it as a concept. Comedic violence and also the glamorization of violence can down play what violence really is but it is an outlet for many people and while it is definitely not good for people who are unable to properly deal with the images I do not ever want to move into a place where we as a species are unable to express our thoughts through entertainment means and that is what movies like Wolverine and Transformers do. If we were to start censoring these types of movies then it would also be only right to censor movies such as Shotgun Stories or other movies which deal with the real nature of violence.
I’m probably rambling but I am somewhat regretting the comparison between these two themes. Really it shouldn’t be about why or why not violence is accepted while sex is not. It really should just be more of a question as to why sex is restricted and seen as something that is bad or inappropriate. I’ve been trying to think of some type of solution and I just can’t see one. We (North Americans, I can’t speak for the other continents because I do not have enough knowledge to do so) have a long historical tradition of seeing sex as something that is bad and dirty and other than just trying to encourage open discussions I do not think there is much we can do. In time hopefully things will change because of discussions between open minded people.
This still doesn’t help me because while I may consider myself to be open minded I am not sure about everyone around me. Do I risk starting a discussion which will offend others and will thereby make my life more difficult as I will have to work or deal with them in the future? It is a vicious cycle of what I want to do but not feeling I am able to do.
Oh and we should either get rid of the MPAA or change how they work. I was thinking that I am fine with the MPAA stating exactly what is in each and every movie but it should then be up to the viewer and their guardians or parents as to whether the movie is appropriate for their beliefs not the beliefs of what the MPAA or any other governing body feels is right or wrong.