MOVIES: "Juno"

[Little_Mary]

Um…that’s the kind of thing my friends and I would say when we were that age. It’s not classy, sure, but even though we were 8th graders at an orthodox Catholic parish school, we were still immature teenagers. Right or wrong, many kids do think and talk that way and not all of them are the “bad” kids.

I enjoyed this movie. I thought Ellen Page was adorable and portrayed Juno very believably. I also had to fight tears a few times. My husband and I are infertile, and I was really able to put myself in the shoes of Jennifer Garner’s character. I hope someone is that generous to us someday.

I was once that age as well, and we did not talk that way. Don’t get me wrong, we were immature teenagers and very curious about everything, but we did not have sex, take sex and abortion casually, or discuss in very blunt terms what was inside the boys’ gym shorts.

And I think that a movie that features an 8th grader having sex and considering abortion all in a very casual manner, no matter how “real world” it may be, that movie is aiding in numbing the nation’s shock value and wordlessly condoning such behavior.

I think such things are a much more serious matter than to respond to it with a shake of the mead muttering “kids these days…”

As I said in a previous post, we all need to raise our standards, no matter how raunchy things are in the real world. Maybe in the long run, it will help things not be so raunchy.

Just my opinion. I know it’s only one of many.

 

[Nordar]

I was once that age as well, and we did not talk that way. Don’t get me wrong, we were immature teenagers and very curious about everything, but we did not have sex, take sex and abortion casually, or discuss in very blunt terms what was inside the boys’ gym shorts.

And I think that a movie that features an 8th grader having sex and considering abortion all in a very casual manner, no matter how “real world” it may be, that movie is aiding in numbing the nation’s shock value and wordlessly condoning such behavior.

I think such things are a much more serious matter than to respond to it with a shake of the mead muttering “kids these days…”

As I said in a previous post, we all need to raise our standards, no matter how raunchy things are in the real world. Maybe in the long run, it will help things not be so raunchy.

Just my opinion. I know it’s only one of many.

The movie did not treat anything in a casual manner quite the contrary, and that was the point of the whole movie, You are trashing this movie for all the wrong reasons.

What could be more serious than showing that teenage pregnancy and sex is not a good thing. What could be more serious than showing that there is a viable option to pregnancy, NOT abortion but adoption. You can stick your heaad in the sand all you want but the fact of the matter is that some teenagers do have sex and do get pregnant. This movie was addressing that!

 

[Little_Mary]

The movie did not treat anything in a casual manner quite the contrary, and that was the point of the whole movie, You are trashing this movie for all the wrong reasons.

What could be more serious than showing that teenage pregnancy and sex is not a good thing. What could be more serious than showing that there is a viable option to pregnancy, NOT abortion but adoption. You can stick your heaad in the sand all you want but the fact of the matter is that some teenagers do have sex and do get pregnant. This movie was addressing that!

The teenager in the movie, Juno, was obviously very into casual sex. But, I know the movie ends on a good note. That’s good. I don’t mean to down play that.

I just happen to think that Bella got the same message across and did a much MUCH better job at doing so.

Maybe this isn’t a good analogy, but I liken it to a stand up comedy act. There’s the comedian who can’t get by without every other word being a four-letter word w/ lots of sexual references, but otherwise has a really funny act. Then there’s the comedian who is equally funny without going into the four-letter word trashy stuff.

I still maintain that movies/shows should NOT highlight this type of behavior. Bella didn’t. I am of the opinion that it lowers shock value and might make some young people think it’s “OK”.

My opinion differs from yours and from many posters here. That’s OK. BUT, that does not mean my head is in the sand. I’m well aware of the world around me. I know all about teenagers and sex and drugs and rock and roll. I was a teenager once myself.

 

[yellowbird]

The teenager in the movie, Juno, was obviously very into casual sex.

Agree with you.

And I actually didn’t like the ending. I think it reinforced the belief that children don’t need a Mom and a Dad. While there are very good single parents who do a fantastic job of raising their children, studies show that children do best in a 2 parent household. I was disappointed that Juno gave her child to the woman after she lied about the stability of her marriage and her husband’s enthusiam about becoming a father.

I also didn’t like the way she ended up with the boyfriend - probably still having sex - there was no mention that she learned from her mistake.

But having said that, I did like the movie and thought it spoke to teenagers - probably NOT with the message of abstaining, but rather, that IF a girl gets pregnant, it IS a baby in there (with fingernails) so for that, I was willing to put up with the parts I didn’t care for.

 

[jdmayer]

The teenager in the movie, Juno, was obviously very into casual sex.

Did we watch the same movie? Juno has sex once, with the same person who the movie implies that she will stay with. It was not a spur-of-the-moment thing, she had been ‘planning’ it for quite some time.

I think the word you are looking for is ‘pre-marital’.

 

[Little_Mary]

Did we watch the same movie? Juno has sex once, with the same person who the movie implies that she will stay with. It was not a spur-of-the-moment thing, she had been ‘planning’ it for quite some time.

I think the word you are looking for is ‘pre-marital’.

Oh, so we can tell our teenagers casual sex is not OK but pre-marital sex is? As long as you plan on it for quite some time, and at the ripe old age of 14, intend to “stay with” your partner?

 

[Little_Mary]

Agree with you.

And I actually didn’t like the ending. I think it reinforced the belief that children don’t need a Mom and a Dad. While there are very good single parents who do a fantastic job of raising their children, studies show that children do best in a 2 parent household. I was disappointed that Juno gave her child to the woman after she lied about the stability of her marriage and her husband’s enthusiam about becoming a father.

I also didn’t like the way she ended up with the boyfriend - probably still having sex - there was no mention that she learned from her mistake.

But having said that, I did like the movie and thought it spoke to teenagers - probably NOT with the message of abstaining, but rather, that IF a girl gets pregnant, it IS a baby in there (with fingernails) so for that, I was willing to put up with the parts I didn’t care for.

Yes, there is no question that there is a good message in the movie. I just don’t agree with the road they travelled to get there (parts and pieces of it, anyway).

Please, let me say this again, I realize my opinion is only one of many. We can all certainly agree to disagree.

 

[jdmayer]

Oh, so we can tell our teenagers casual sex is not OK but pre-marital sex is? As long as you plan on it for quite some time, and at the ripe old age of 14, intend to “stay with” your partner?

I’m not saying what’s ok and what isn’t. I’m pretty sure that you and I have the same sexual morals. But not all pre-marital sex is ‘casual’. I think it’s important to distinguish these things, not just throw words around.

The movie is not religious. I think it’s a shame that people refuse to see the good in something if it isn’t quoting the Catechism. We strive to recognize truth wherever it is, whether or not it has an imprimatur.

Edit: I’m certainly not getting any bad vibes from you, LM. I’m just interested in discussing this stuff. I don’t mind a pleasant disagreement.

 

[Nordar]

The teenager in the movie, Juno, was obviously very into casual sex. But, I know the movie ends on a good note. That’s good. I don’t mean to down play that.

I just happen to think that Bella got the same message across and did a much MUCH better job at doing so.

Maybe this isn’t a good analogy, but I liken it to a stand up comedy act. There’s the comedian who can’t get by without every other word being a four-letter word w/ lots of sexual references, but otherwise has a really funny act. Then there’s the comedian who is equally funny without going into the four-letter word trashy stuff.

I still maintain that movies/shows should NOT highlight this type of behavior. Bella didn’t. I am of the opinion that it lowers shock value and might make some young people think it’s “OK”.

My opinion differs from yours and from many posters here. That’s OK. BUT, that does not mean my head is in the sand. I’m well aware of the world around me. I know all about teenagers and sex and drugs and rock and roll. I was a teenager once myself.

You cannot compare the movie Bella to Juno, first of all Bella was religious in overtone, Most teenagers are not going to see Bella or want to. Juno spoke to teenagers in their own language, there was nothing casual about the sex.
No one is saying that teenagers haaving sex is a good thing, that is what the movie was trying to portray.

Your analogy of comedians made no sense. the movie was not a vulgar movie nor did it use vulgarity to get it’s point across. It was quite simply speaking to teenagers in the way that they speak,

It was not HIGHLIGHTING this kind of behaviour it was trying to show that there are consequences for that behaviour.

 

[Little_Mary]

I’m not saying what’s ok and what isn’t. I’m pretty sure that you and I have the same sexual morals. But not all pre-marital sex is ‘casual’. I think it’s important to distinguish these things, not just throw words around.

But all pre-marital sex is and should be discouraged. Another poster mentioned that the movie might have ended on a good note, but it didn’t necessarily make the statement that abortion is wrong and that abstinence should be encouraged. It simply showed how the situation played out for that particular individual.(Come to think of it, I don’t think Bella did either. I just prefer the way Bella was presented.)
Remember, we want teenagers to see this movie.(I think?) I don’t think it’s as easy for a teen to sort out the good and the bad when it’s all mixed together like that.

The movie is not religious. I think it’s a shame that people refuse to see the good in something if it isn’t quoting the Catechism. We strive to recognize truth wherever it is, whether or not it has an imprimatur.

I didn’t rent the movie looking for religious. To say that people refuse to see the good unless it’s in the Catechism is painting with quite a broad brush. :tsktsk:

Edit: I’m certainly not getting any bad vibes from you, LM. I’m just interested in discussing this stuff. I don’t mind a pleasant disagreement.

Agreed!

The bottom line for me is that the movie could have achieved the same ending without all the raunchy stuff. I don’t care how “true to life” it was trying to be - there is something to be said for “raising the bar” here.

 

[Little_Mary]

You cannot compare the movie Bella to Juno, first of all Bella was religious in overtone, Most teenagers are not going to see Bella or want to. Juno spoke to teenagers in their own language, there was nothing casual about the sex.
No one is saying that teenagers haaving sex is a good thing, that is what the movie was trying to portray.

Your analogy of comedians made no sense. the movie was not a vulgar movie nor did it use vulgarity to get it’s point across. It was quite simply speaking to teenagers in the way that they speak,

It was not HIGHLIGHTING this kind of behaviour it was trying to show that there are consequences for that behaviour.

We are just going to have to agree to disagree here.

My teenagers both loved Bella. In fact, the entire junior/senior class at our local Catholic high school loved it. They said so.

I think the movie Juno most certainly did use vulgarity to get its point across by quite simply speaking to teens in the way that they speak, since it assumes that teens use vulgarity all the time when they speak.

I maintain that the movie could have successfully achieved all it had set out to achieve without all the vivid trashy talk detail. Done well, teen viewers could have walked out of the movie with all the same impressions, without ever hearing exactly what Juno thought about when she looked at the boys in their gym shorts.

 

[Jerrysgirl]

I was disappointed that Juno gave her child to the woman after she lied about the stability of her marriage and her husband’s enthusiam about becoming a father.

I also didn’t like the way she ended up with the boyfriend - probably still having sex - there was no mention that she learned from her mistake.

I didn’t get that Jennifer Garner’s character lied. I think she was mislead by her husband and didn’t necessarily see the signs that he wasn’t ready to be a dad.

Also, Juno does say at the abortion clinic that she is done with having sex.

:twocents:

 

[yellowbird]

I didn’t get that Jennifer Garner’s character lied. I think she was mislead by her husband and didn’t necessarily see the signs that he wasn’t ready to be a dad.

Also, Juno does say at the abortion clinic that she is done with having sex.

:twocents:

The reason I thought she lied is because didn’t she said something like, “YOU told her???” - to her husband about him wanting to leave. Or something like that… I don’t exactly recall - I just remember walking out of the movie feeling like I would not have given that woman my baby because she lied - ? (fuzzy memory fails me now so I could be mistaken about that?)

Right you are about the no more sex thing though.

 

[TexCatholic4JMJ]

Haven’t seen “Juno” yet but I had plans to go see it. Now, after
reading what some have written, I am not so anxious to see it. As
many of you know, I have strongly supported “Bella”. It delivers
the message without vulgar language, etc. In addition, it shows
a real family with problems, but those are handled in such a
different way. Yes, teenagers see plenty of divorces, single
parent homes and hear vulgar language,but does that mean that
there aren’t good homes anymore? (Be they with 2 parents or
single parent homes)
I think our Catholic teens need to be challenged to live holy lives,
despite the culture around them.
I know some teens who wanted to “convert” to another religion,
the reason? “Those” kids were learning about the bible and “had”
to go to church 3 times a week!

 

[yellowbird]

Haven’t seen “Juno” yet but I had plans to go see it. Now, after
reading what some have written, I am not so anxious to see it. As
many of you know, I have strongly supported “Bella”. It delivers
the message without vulgar language, etc. In addition, it shows
a real family with problems, but those are handled in such a
different way. Yes, teenagers see plenty of divorces, single
parent homes and hear vulgar language,but does that mean that
there aren’t good homes anymore? (Be they with 2 parents or
single parent homes)
I think our Catholic teens need to be challenged to live holy lives,
despite the culture around them.
I know some teens who wanted to “convert” to another religion,
the reason? “Those” kids were learning about the bible and “had”
to go to church 3 times a week!

It’s my opinion that Juno’s parents WERE good parents though. They provided a good home for her - one with lots of love and support. I think if you see the movie, you’ll agree.

 

[petitfleur]

Juno is not a family flick for sure and definitely secular but I thought it was goo to see a secular movie where the girl does the right thing. It is all to easy for teenagers to go to an abortion clinic without thier parents knowing and get an abortion and just go on with thier lives until years later when they might or might not realize what they have done.

 

[Orpheus2112]

My wife and I watched it last night and loved it! I certainly don’t agree with some of the flippant views that the film takes on sex, but, as has been mentioned, it’s looking at the situation from the point-of-view of secular society and still finds itself pointing strongly to the value of life. I thought that the protester (Suchen?Sue Chen?) was great and her simple statements about the fingernails and heartbeat were great. Also, her reaction to Juno’s decision was touching. I thought that the film’s portrayl of the clinic’s staff and clientel was very funny: “See what it’s really like? This is a factory, not a place for ‘caring.’”

 

[hasikelee]

This movie follows in the footsteps of “Knocked Up”

Maybe people are beginning to realize that the next young adult generation, albeit still as messed up as all the previous coming-of-age generations, are at least becoming very pro-life.

 

[OntheMount9]

I loved the movie…
It was very real and very much what I experience as a teenager in Midwest America. Yeah, the slang was somewhat exaggerated, but it has allowed for several inside jokes to develop amoungst my friends… WHOA… dream big!
I was very greatful that my mildly pro-choice sister sat down and watched it, next is Bella! My youth group went to see it at an indie theatre and we LOVED IT.
I really don’t think as many teens would connect with Bella as they would with Juno. But, at least the “Pro-life is cool” message is infiltrating my peers’ society of death mindsets.

 

[ArdenB]

I think Juno was more realistic than Bella. I liked them both, but I related more to Juno. I found the characters more complex and the dialogue witty. Bella was a bit cliche IMO.

I also liked the way Juno was very firm in her decision to choose adoption. She was smart enough to know she wasn’t ready to be a mother and came to realize that abortion would’ve been the wrong choice. That’s a stark contrast from the wishy washy way other women are portrayed in other films dealing with teen pregnancy(like For Keeps). Juno had no delusions about parenthood at such a young age and chose a path that didn’t sacrifice her or her child’s future. I realize there was some vularity, but I think the underlying message was very positive. I think most pregnant teens could learn a lot from Juno.