Films are getting out of hand with sexual content?

[Watchmen]

The Hangover

Marie and I went to see the above film last night. I have to admit that it was most enjoyable and incredibly funny; what took that "good" feeling out of the experience is that the film was classified as "O.K" for 15 year olds.

Frankly, the gratuitously soft porn content in the film made me wonder what we are doing to our children. I am not really a prude, but I caught myself thinking......where is society going with this? - the film would have been just as funny without some of the scenes which were focused mainly on rather lewd content.

Any thoughts ? Am I a dinosaur ?

It was rated R in the states (no one under 17 without an adult).

I think the film was fine and the problem lies with the parents. For example, when my wife and I were walking out after the credits, we saw parents with their 7-year-old daughter leaving the theater too. We were disgusted, but not at the movie - at the parents.

 

[Nepenthe]

Sort of on this topic, I watched This Film is Not Yet Rated. It's a documentary about the movie rating system in the US. As it turns out, movies down there are rated in secret by middle-aged card-carrying (between the knees, most likely) Republican women, and while they have very liberal views on explicit, graphic violence, they tend to slap an "R" on anything that suggests women can have orgasms, or that some people are gay. It's quite difficult for film-makers to challenge their decisions, which have the power to make or break a movie. It's a pretty good flick. I recommend it.

Great movie. I highly recommend it as well. As it now stands, the MPAA is a dinosaur that's long outlived its usefulness.

So, michel, by the fact it's rated for 15 year olds, I can only assume that you don't live in the US. I agree with the people who have said sex in films is less troubling than violence.

It's likely due to my being a horror nerd, but I have no problems with gratuitous sex or gratuitous violence onscreen. Both are legitimate, and important, human expressions and have a valid place in storytelling. I know you weren't necessarily condemning violence outright, merely that the ratings board is more concerned about sexuality, and I agree that that's ridiculous.

I started to write a long boring essay about violence in popular culture from the Grand Guignol in 1920s England with its eye gougings and torture porn, to video games but I bore myself so... suffice it to say that I know exactly what to expect from The Hangover. And as an adult I want to have access to whatever I may find entertaining, while restricting access to kids.

The only problem I have with sex in films is that it's usually such an unrealistic depiction. Where are the bumping foreheads? The skinned knees? The patch of leg the shaver didn't quite catch? And why does everybody suddenly seem to be in a committed, life-long relationship (or if not, then dead) the morning after? Nobody in the movies ever has sex with their friends, just for fun. I think it's psychologically damaging, especially for young women. But that's just my opinion as a fun-loving, independent-minded heathen who has been known to have sex for fun rather than as a trade-off for lifelong codependency.

You're not looking hard enough!

I do find it ironic that some of my favorite sex scenes in mainstream films that capture both the intimacy and the awkwardness of sex are Don't Look Now, Requiem for a Dream (and no, I'm not talking about the *** to *** scene) and A History of Violence.

Imagine that!

 

[michel]

Guys, because this is in open forum, I would not discuss the content here; would you like me to move this thread to "Eros" ? - so that we may debate what ws in the movie?

My problem with sex and violence (O.K, let's bring violence in, since one or two of you mentioned it), is that the manner in which both subjects are being depicted throughout the media in society means that we are all becoming de-sensitized to these subjects, and the boundaries of what I would all "decency" are being broadened every day.

There is nothing wrong with sex, or nudity per se; what bothers me is that we seem hell bent in letting our children see it all. They seem to be being educated about the mechanics of sex without having an incling about the emotional connotations, the dangers of unprotected sex - Yes, let's face it, sex is often a spontaneous event, where logic and care are swiftly chucked out of the door, to be replaced by a need for urgency, emotions, but little thought.

 

[Smoke]

There is nothing wrong with sex, or nudity per se; what bothers me is that we seem hell bent in letting our children see it all.

Well, I think the fact that the movie is rated R is a pretty sure indication that we aren't hell bent on letting the children see it.

Of the last ten or so movies I've seen, several were cartoons and none had any nudity or gross sexual behavior, though several of them had a good bit of violence and there was one that was so violent I don't think it would be at all suitable for children. In fact, it was "Rated R for pervasive language, drug use, sexual references and violence." (I just looked it up on IMDB.)

That's sexual references, not sex depicted.

Frankly, when it comes to children, violence bothers me more than sex. When my nephews were younger, I once took my sister-in-law to task for allowing them to see a movie in which people were beheaded, yet refusing to allow them to see a movie in which a woman's breast was exposed. I find that very odd, and more than a little unhealthy. Her answer was that she didn't suppose they'd be tempted to behead anybody, but they might be tempted to touch a breast.

 

[Watchmen]

Well, I think the fact that the movie is rated R is a pretty sure indication that we aren't hell bent on letting the children see it.

Of the last ten or so movies I've seen, several were cartoons and none had any nudity or gross sexual behavior, though several of them had a good bit of violence and there was one that was so violent I don't think it would be at all suitable for children. In fact, it was "Rated R for pervasive language, drug use, sexual references and violence." (I just looked it up on IMDB.)

That's sexual references, not sex depicted.

Frankly, when it comes to children, violence bothers me more than sex. When my nephews were younger, I once took my sister-in-law to task for allowing them to see a movie in which people were beheaded, yet refusing to allow them to see a movie in which a woman's breast was exposed. I find that very odd, and more than a little unhealthy. Her answer was that she didn't suppose they'd be tempted to behead anybody, but they might be tempted to touch a breast.

Sex was depicted.

 

[Darkness]

I think UK shows are much "worse" when it comes to nudity. I mean, I have been watching Skins and that show is on television and is packed full of nudity and sex.

 

[Truth_Faith13]

I was watching Loose Women the other day (a daytime chat show with ladies here in the UK) and they were talking about the move to allow 12year old boys to be given special types of credit cards which buy condoms...

After much discussion...one of the ladies said....

There were two seven year olds and they came across a condom on a patio. One of the young lads turned to the other and said "whats a patio?"

Quite amusing, but it gets the point across....

I have no issue with nudity or sex being shown in films - my issue is I am concerned we are gradually lowering the age of the kids needing to know absolutely everything. There is nothing wrong with nudity per se - like the sort you get in titanic, now that is just a very romantic scene and I would be fine any kid watching that - its when they throw in every grunt moan, detail etc it strats to push the boundaries.

I remember being 11 and not knowing what sex was - I thought it was kissing...where are the days when childhood meant innocence...(ah listen to me, I am only 23 now!).

 

[.lava]

Sex was depicted.

then there is nothing you can do but to not let those authorities to decide which "moments" of this world would go into mind of your kid. at the end you are responsible of your child, not some people you do not even know. my mom complaint about similar stuff before. she took my nephews to cinema, to a movie supposedly made for children. she was so surprised how come they made such a horrifying movie for kids. no sexuality though but violence. imo you should be the authority to decide which movie is OK for your children.


.

 

[DallasApple]

I saw a rated G movie ..I think it was called "Spirit" and it was a cartoon..It was about a wild horse(a stallion I believe an Arabian) who's spirit was broken by man.Im not kidding you ..that horse had sex with his girfriend.Of course they didnt show the actual "humping" but I knew what they were doing.Im not dumb.

Love

Dallas

 

[Truth_Faith13]

I saw a rated G movie ..I think it was called "Spirit" and it was a cartoon..It was about a wild horse(a stallion I believe an Arabian) who's spirit was broken by man.Im not kidding you ..that horse had sex with his girfriend.Of course they didnt show the actual "humping" but I knew what they were doing.Im not dumb.

Love

Dallas

hahaha...that is such a sweet movie and i can see what you mean!

They were "dancing"

 

[DallasApple]

One time when I was about 10 or so..My mother used to take us to the drive inn movies and because it was a "cartoon" she took me and my younger sisters and my brother to see "Heavy Metal".

She didnt "heed" the rated R warning.When they showed the red haired girl recieving oral sex she looked shocked..Then she said..Oh well I didnt know that would be in the movie ya'll forget about that part hand me the popcorn.

My mother was crazy.We couldnt have sex..Only married people could ..Then she told us to not think about or remember cartoon characters humping each other.I 'll never forget that movie..or that night..she had a big giant station wagon.We parked backwards and opened up the hutch and drank coke and gorged on the popcorn..I think my mother liked that movie.(she bought the album)

Love

Dallas

 

[Watchmen]

then there is nothing you can do but to not let those authorities to decide which "moments" of this world would go into mind of your kid. at the end you are responsible of your child, not some people you do not even know. my mom complaint about similar stuff before. she took my nephews to cinema, to a movie supposedly made for children. she was so surprised how come they made such a horrifying movie for kids. no sexuality though but violence. imo you should be the authority to decide which movie is OK for your children.


.

I already said several posts ago the responsibility is on the parents, not the movie.

 

[DallasApple]

hahaha...that is such a sweet movie and i can see what you mean!

They were "dancing"

Yeah..they were "dancing" and then she had a baby after they danced.

Love

Dallas

 

[Trey of Diamonds]

"Heavy Metal"

Whoa, good nyborg man!

 

[Circle_One]

Great movie. I highly recommend it as well. As it now stands, the MPAA is a dinosaur that's long outlived its usefulness.


It's likely due to my being a horror nerd, but I have no problems with gratuitous sex or gratuitous violence onscreen. Both are legitimate, and important, human expressions and have a valid place in storytelling. I know you weren't necessarily condemning violence outright, merely that the ratings board is more concerned about sexuality, and I agree that that's ridiculous.

I started to write a long boring essay about violence in popular culture from the Grand Guignol in 1920s England with its eye gougings and torture porn, to video games but I bore myself so... suffice it to say that I know exactly what to expect from The Hangover. And as an adult I want to have access to whatever I may find entertaining, while restricting access to kids.


You're not looking hard enough!

I do find it ironic that some of my favorite sex scenes in mainstream films that capture both the intimacy and the awkwardness of sex are Don't Look Now, Requiem for a Dream (and no, I'm not talking about the *** to *** scene) and A History of Violence.

Imagine that!

All I have to say is: It isn't really a horror movie without gratuitous and random nudity.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

All I have to say is: It isn't really a horror movie without gratuitous and random nudity.

Same goes for any home video worth its salt.

 

[Nepenthe]

All I have to say is: It isn't really a horror movie without gratuitous and random nudity.

And if it's in the same scene it automatically gets a better review from me!

 

[TurkeyOnRye]

I have no problem with expression of sexuality. It can be a little frustrating that sex, as portrayed in popular culture, is pretty dead and remarkably non-intimate, but than again...it's popular culture...how deep does one expect it to be?

As for the young being exposed to such content...I could care less. Parents have done plenty of damage to their children by trying to shelter them from the outside world, and by pushing their values on them. Maybe if there wasn't such a stigma placed upon sexuality, we wouldn't grow up to be such uptight people who blush or even get offended at the mere sight of human sexuality.

 

[Azakel]

One time when I was about 10 or so..My mother used to take us to the drive inn movies and because it was a "cartoon" she took me and my younger sisters and my brother to see "Heavy Metal".

Whoa, good nyborg man!

LOL, I believe I was about 10 when I first saw Heavy Metal myself ^_^ Good Movie.

 

[Watchmen]

I have no problem with expression of sexuality. It can be a little frustrating that sex, as portrayed in popular culture, is pretty dead and remarkably non-intimate, but than again...it's popular culture...how deep does one expect it to be?

As for the young being exposed to such content...I could care less. Parents have done plenty of damage to their children by trying to shelter them from the outside world, and by pushing their values on them. Maybe if there wasn't such a stigma placed upon sexuality, we wouldn't grow up to be such uptight people who blush or even get offended at the mere sight of human sexuality.

Just because we've gone to one extreme does not mean the proper remedy is to go to the other extreme.