The content of movies and morality

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fugadux

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Hello!

Yesterday I went to the cinema with my girlfriend to enjoy a simple movie. We decided to catch one of the movies which seemed to be clean and pure entertainment: Kick-***. If I had known the content of the movie I would probably have chosen a different venue, because it contained sexual scenes (not pornographic, but simulated intercourse and semi-nudity) and blasphemies. That raised a question in my mind though as to our moral culpability and responsibility when it comes to movies. Where should we draw the line and simply walk out on a movie? It is not uncommon for movies these days to include references to sex and the outright blasphemies of taking the Lord’s name in vain. How do we fight for morality in movies? There was an Act in the 1930s I think that was largely enacted by the Catholic community in the USA in order to keep morality in the movies. Should we try something similar today?

In Christ, through Mary,
David
 
I’d be all for such an act. Problem is, of course, most Catholics won’t be, since it seems that so many Catholics are Catholic-in-name-only, even if only partially. Too many modern Catholics don’t want to be “bored” or have their “fun” taken away, so I could see a lot of balking at any attempt to say that Catholics should not do this or that.

I almost never watch TV and could live without it, and the same goes for movie-going. I haven’t been to a theater in I can’t remember how long, and I’m certainly no more bored because of it. Really, most Catholics don’t realize that there’s nothing they would miss if they just gave up such breads and circuses. Then, an act like what you speak of would be a piece of cake, as it would practically be in force already.

But I do agree, the Church needs to take a more vocal and blunt position on morality and public entertainment. It’s an ongoing problem with human culture that has always been with us and probably always will be.
 
I walked out of “An Officer and a Gentleman,” and came back after 15 minutes even though my date said it was his favorite movie. A long time ago, and the last theater movie I attended. Some people have to see the latest movie, but, not I. I’m with you. I was never an old movie buff, but, became one. Go to USCCB, and find the movies that are considered top entertainment for each year. You’ll get good at choosing, 'cause there are some good movies being made. Pay attention to who the writer is, if it is from a novel, or view biopics. Catholic Digest recommends movies every month. It is not time to throw the Baby out with the bathwater. JPII made waves in Hollywood. Soap Operas are a good example of worthless mixed with worthy. One wonders if there is a Catholic writer who takes turns with another writer, week by week … I don’t know anything about it. America Magazine for Catholic is another place to find reviews of well written novels by Catholics, which may eventually turn into Movies. I used to run out when violence occurred, on televised movies at home. Dad assures me that it is just ketchup. St. Augustine had something to say about our penchant to watch dramas, when life is so interesting, and emotions in false drama is a waste of emotion. My best and holiest viewing came when Christ gives the Okay. He does that sometime, and then the movie is worth the viewing! Some people just watch Hallmark Movies. Jesus loves other movies … just ask His advice. I wish I could remember the title of the last one …
fugadux said:
Hello!

Yesterday I went to the cinema with my girlfriend to enjoy a simple movie. We decided to catch one of the movies which seemed to be clean and pure entertainment: Kick-***. If I had known the content of the movie I would probably have chosen a different venue, because it contained sexual scenes (not pornographic, but simulated intercourse and semi-nudity) and blasphemies. That raised a question in my mind though as to our moral culpability and responsibility when it comes to movies. Where should we draw the line and simply walk out on a movie? It is not uncommon for movies these days to include references to sex and the outright blasphemies of taking the Lord’s name in vain. How do we fight for morality in movies? There was an Act in the 1930s I think that was largely enacted by the Catholic community in the USA in order to keep morality in the movies. Should we try something similar today?

In Christ, through Mary,
David
Click to expand...
 
I’ve never walked out on a movie. if I decide to go see a movie, I check it out, see why it’s rated what it’s rated. I’ve never had a problem with morality in movies, but this may be becuaase of my taste in movies.

You can check out decentfilms.com for a good, Catholic, but not scrupulous or fundamentliast-protestant view of new and upcoming, as well as old movies. It gives you a heads up on things you may or may no be cofortable with, and even rates the movie on terms of moral and spiritual and artistic worth.

I also get very, very miffed and pretyt much pissed at anyone who seems to think that ovies, film, books, or other forms of art and entertainemtn are a waste, and yeah, that kinda includes Augustine’s opinion that they’re wasted emotions. If they didn’t make you feel emotions, it would be worthless art. Art is a beautiful, wonderful, amazing thing, be it visual, auditory, spoken, etc. Not to say that there aren’t many things called “art” that are beyond artistic merit, but in general, I disagree vehemently with Augustine on this. Maybe because I’m an artist myself.
 
I’m sorry, but you thought a movie with a title like THAT was going to be “clean”?😃

I agree with you, but I don’t think that we have any right to be censoring movie content for everyone in the country. If a film clashes with your own morality, leave. But don’t expect everyone else to be deprived of a good story because it has some objectionable content according to your personal standards. That just isn’t right. It ain’t American!

I have learned to tolerate some content I don’t like for the greater good of a good message. Like for example - I don’t know why this comes to mind! - Good Will Hunting for just one example. Some objectionable language, but the story and message are so superior that I had to forgive it.

Also, I like some realism in a film. I may not like the words the characters are using, but they are characters - and I don’t think all street gang thugs talk like nuns. 😉 That said, I’m not interested in seeing a film about street gangs. As for sexual content - I don’t like feeling like I’m intruding on someone’s private moment, it makes me squirm. And if the sex is exploitative, as it so often is in modern film - I always squirm.

So basically I understand your sentiment, I just don’t agree with mass censorship.

I walked out on a film ONCE. And it wasnt’ for language or sexual content, it was because the overall message was so hateful. It was Dangerous Liaisons. I didn’t find the story of people trying to destroy one another’s psyches all that appealing or important in the scope of mankind’s experience. I had come from a day of working the sexual assault program in a large city, and that film at the end of the day - misogynisitc mess that it is - was NOT my idea of a good time. So I objected to the message. I picked up the video years later to give it another try, and still hated it. I read a review that said it all - “it was a mean, misogynisitic book, and it’s a mean, misogynisitc film.” Exactly.

My point is that a message that brings down humankind into the gutter is a big deal for me. A few swear words, in a film that has a higher message, is not.
 
Thanks for the good discussion.

Hereswith: Maybe I was naive to think it would be “clean”, but from the trailer I thought it was going to be about a kid who was trying to be a super-hero. Well, of course the basic plot was still there but it was peppered with unnecessarily explicit content, so it was more reaking of high-school movie than super-hero movie. Since I’m not American I don’t really subscribe to the American way, though, I have no problem with censorship and I think we need more of it. (Of course based on the natural law and not on my “personal” morality 🙂 ) Say what you will, but we are affected by what we watch and a movie is way more effective than words when it comes to bringing you into a certain mindset.
 
shondrea said:
I’ve never walked out on a movie. if I decide to go see a movie, I check it out, see why it’s rated what it’s rated. I’ve never had a problem with morality in movies, but this may be becuaase of my taste in movies.

You can check out decentfilms.com for a good, Catholic, but not scrupulous or fundamentliast-protestant view of new and upcoming, as well as old movies. It gives you a heads up on things you may or may no be cofortable with, and even rates the movie on terms of moral and spiritual and artistic worth.

I also get very, very miffed and pretyt much pissed at anyone who seems to think that ovies, film, books, or other forms of art and entertainemtn are a waste, and yeah, that kinda includes Augustine’s opinion that they’re wasted emotions. If they didn’t make you feel emotions, it would be worthless art. Art is a beautiful, wonderful, amazing thing, be it visual, auditory, spoken, etc. Not to say that there aren’t many things called “art” that are beyond artistic merit, but in general, I disagree vehemently with Augustine on this. Maybe because I’m an artist myself.
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Today, I’d say most of what passes for ‘popular culture’ is a waste. Fine art has degenerated into meaningless nonsense and even modern illustration has degenerated into mediocrity and the purile.

I work in the media. I’m a writer and editor. Most of my friends are writers and artists.

In my view, much of what passes for culture reeks of hedonism and death. Just watch an episode of Dexter, that lovable serial killer. What’s next? The lovable family of Cannibals next door?

It’s difficult enough to actually be around dysfunctional people, so I’m not going to spend time watching fake dysfunctional people on TV. And comedy. Who decided saying *uck every five seconds was funny? Or Chris Rock and his endless, graphic, disgusting comments about sex?

In the past, in movies, boy meets girl, fall in love and get married. Today, boy meets girl, jump in the sack and declare each other a couple until he or she finds out that they’re with The Biggest Loser/Jerk On The Planet.

Most modern media should just get dumped in the trash.

God bless,
Ed
 
fugadux said:
Hello!

Yesterday I went to the cinema with my girlfriend to enjoy a simple movie. We decided to catch one of the movies which seemed to be clean and pure entertainment: Kick-***. If I had known the content of the movie I would probably have chosen a different venue, because it contained sexual scenes (not pornographic, but simulated intercourse and semi-nudity) and blasphemies. That raised a question in my mind though as to our moral culpability and responsibility when it comes to movies. Where should we draw the line and simply walk out on a movie? It is not uncommon for movies these days to include references to sex and the outright blasphemies of taking the Lord’s name in vain. How do we fight for morality in movies? There was an Act in the 1930s I think that was largely enacted by the Catholic community in the USA in order to keep morality in the movies. Should we try something similar today?

In Christ, through Mary,
David
Click to expand...
There was the Hays Code which outlined the things that could and could not appear in movies, including language. There was a Catholic Legion of Decency which began in the 1930s but which disappeared in the early 1970s.

Some people still believe the falsehood that a movie could or should contain some ‘higher message.’ In the late 1960s, I remember the self-proclaimed artists arguing that they needed some sort of freedom to tell their ‘higher message.’ What they wanted was to gradually show more and more skin over a period of decades, add more profanity, and finally, turn real love into ‘just sex.’

Let’s face it folks. Everything is way too sexualized and too Xtreme. Everything. Cosmopolitan recently had a cover blurb about 50 new sexual ideas to add to the 1.69 million they’ve already published. I’m looking at the paperbacks and one of them has the word *itch on the cover. I’m sick of seeing or hearing viagra ads.

The correct way to fight this is don’t give them your time or money. Get creative and do something else, something that has some virtue.

God bless,
Ed
 
I’m no fan of “chick flicks” or movies with excessive sexual referance. I can ignore the swearing, but often grimace when the Lord’s name is taken in vain.

With that said, I love violent movies, and usually if I want to see some good old fashioned blood shedding I have to tolerate the swears and the occasional sexual referance. Of course, NZL is very liberal towards swearing and some words that would never be uttered in polite American conversation are used daily, and are as Kiwi as a pav with kiwifruit and cream!

I have asked God about this, and the answer I got was a long the lines of “dont’ make it an idol”, so, if I decided to go see a violent movie instead of going to Church, I’ve done something naughty. And God’s given me a lot of leeway in what I can watch - the only movie so far God has told me to avoid is the Exorcist.

The way I look at it, in a broader sense, is how strong is a person’s faith. Mine is very strong, so watching a violent movie isn’t going to take me away from God, yet other people who have a weaker faith may be more easily led to sin or away from God. Its kinda like Harry Potter, I dont’ particularly like it, not becuase of anything spiritual, but because I just find it boring and hum drum, yet, I can watch it and not have my relationship with God affected, and I’m not goign to run off and start praticing witchcraft, but I have met a Christian girl who loves Harry Potter and for her it was a gateway into the ocult, she started reading about ghosts, which lead to sennances and tarrot and then into casting spells she heard in HP - which, from another witch I know, are based on other spells in her coven.

So yeah, it depends on the person and their faith. So, if you feel you will be led from God, then you should avoid it.

And there’s only one movie I walked out of, “Teen Movie” or whatever it was, it was my friend’s idea to go, and it was my idea to walk out, she agreed. Potty jokes and swears can only carry a movie so far, to base the whole movie on such stupid concepts is just a sign that the target audience is very, very low brow and un-educated. -_-’
 
Rarely have I ever been so offended by a movie as to walk out (if ever, actually. I can’t recall the last time I have done such.)

I’m not a very easily offended person. Granted, I’m not saying that it is okay for everyone to view movies full of violence, sex, and profanity. But, I mean, I have watched movies that are pretty risque, such as “Pulp Fiction” and I found them enjoyable. However, not once did I think, “Man, now I wanna go be a hitman and do cocaine on the side!” Of course not! I would never kill another person unless I had to in self-defense, and I would never, ever use illegal drugs. I felt no temptation to go act the things I viewed in “Pulp Fiction” out.

Granted, there are some movies that I feel just lack any entertainment value and are just meant to shock the audience. Those movies I ignore, because I don’t want to waste my time.

If you are thinking right now, “Presidentjlh, I’m sorry, but I disagree. I don’t want to view these movies.” That’s fine, I never encourage anyone to see movies or such that they would find offensive.

However, I feel a little uneasy when I hear talk of more censorship. Indeed, we should protect the innocence of children, but that, in my opinion, is more the responsibility of the parent than the producers of movies. There is such thing as an “off” button. There is such thing as parental controls. I understand that freedom of expression is not a given right in all nations, but as an American, I will defend that right for all who live in this country. I am not saying that I will support those who produce objectionable material, but they do have the right to do such, for if we silence them, it will not end there.

Censorship is a dark, dangerous path. Yes, it starts out honorable and righteous, but soon, it can be abused, used to silence dissent.
 
presidentjlh said:
Rarely have I ever been so offended by a movie as to walk out (if ever, actually. I can’t recall the last time I have done such.)

I’m not a very easily offended person. Granted, I’m not saying that it is okay for everyone to view movies full of violence, sex, and profanity. But, I mean, I have watched movies that are pretty risque, such as “Pulp Fiction” and I found them enjoyable. However, not once did I think, “Man, now I wanna go be a hitman and do cocaine on the side!” Of course not! I would never kill another person unless I had to in self-defense, and I would never, ever use illegal drugs. I felt no temptation to go act the things I viewed in “Pulp Fiction” out.

Granted, there are some movies that I feel just lack any entertainment value and are just meant to shock the audience. Those movies I ignore, because I don’t want to waste my time.

If you are thinking right now, “Presidentjlh, I’m sorry, but I disagree. I don’t want to view these movies.” That’s fine, I never encourage anyone to see movies or such that they would find offensive.

However, I feel a little uneasy when I hear talk of more censorship. Indeed, we should protect the innocence of children, but that, in my opinion, is more the responsibility of the parent than the producers of movies. There is such thing as an “off” button. There is such thing as parental controls. I understand that freedom of expression is not a given right in all nations, but as an American, I will defend that right for all who live in this country. I am not saying that I will support those who produce objectionable material, but they do have the right to do such, for if we silence them, it will not end there.

Censorship is a dark, dangerous path. Yes, it starts out honorable and righteous, but soon, it can be abused, used to silence dissent.
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Censorship is dark? Dangerous? What I find truly dark and dangerous is people wallowing in all the Dark Fiction out there. “Embrace the darkness, it needs a hug.” Oh yeah. We can’t not allow that.

Dexter - a man who works in a police crime lab by day, and who kidnaps and cuts up living people in his spare time. You can get it at Target.

A very wise man, a writer and artist, said, I don’t want to go down that path. Who knows what people will get used to.

The Trend over The Last 40 Years has been to get people used to a little skin, then a little more and then a little more. A little profanity, then a little more and then a little more. A little suggestive sex, a little more graphic and then a little more.

And then we have so-called comedians like Chris Rock and Louis Black who can’t stop saying *uck and in the case of Mr. Rock, who can’t stop saying sick and disgusting things about sex and marriage. “I’ll just be miserable and stay with you.”

Oh yeah. We should fear Censorship? I don’t think so. Criticise the government all you want but get that filth off of TV and out of the movies. I am For Media censorship as regards “entertainment.” Not the News. Not News Programs. But against those sick TV programs that spit on “Those values on which we used to rely.” UH, UH. We need those values.

The MEDIA is part of the collective community and it has a duty to present itself as a guest in our home and not as a prostitute or adulterer or pimp.

God bless,
Ed
 
edwest2 said:
Censorship is dark? Dangerous? What I find truly dark and dangerous is people wallowing in all the Dark Fiction out there. “Embrace the darkness, it needs a hug.” Oh yeah. We can’t not allow that.

Dexter - a man who works in a police crime lab by day, and who kidnaps and cuts up living people in his spare time. You can get it at Target.

A very wise man, a writer and artist, said, I don’t want to go down that path. Who knows what people will get used to.

The Trend over The Last 40 Years has been to get people used to a little skin, then a little more and then a little more. A little profanity, then a little more and then a little more. A little suggestive sex, a little more graphic and then a little more.

And then we have so-called comedians like Chris Rock and Louis Black who can’t stop saying *uck and in the case of Mr. Rock, who can’t stop saying sick and disgusting things about sex and marriage. “I’ll just be miserable and stay with you.”

Oh yeah. We should fear Censorship? I don’t think so. Criticise the government all you want but get that filth off of TV and out of the movies. I am For Media censorship as regards “entertainment.” Not the News. Not News Programs. But against those sick TV programs that spit on “Those values on which we used to rely.” UH, UH. We need those values.

The MEDIA is part of the collective community and it has a duty to present itself as a guest in our home and not as a prostitute or adulterer or pimp.

God bless,
Ed
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I agree with Ed.

Plus, freedom of expression in the entertainment industry, comes with responsibility. Our culture today has confused freedom with license. We tend to believe we can do anything. This is license, not freedom. The entertainment industry has relinquished any responsibility it had to our society. When we kick God out of our country, schools, entertainment, families, etc., the devil & his darkness will inevitably move in to fill up the void.
 
edwest2 said:
Censorship is dark? Dangerous? What I find truly dark and dangerous is people wallowing in all the Dark Fiction out there. “Embrace the darkness, it needs a hug.” Oh yeah. We can’t not allow that.

Dexter - a man who works in a police crime lab by day, and who kidnaps and cuts up living people in his spare time. You can get it at Target.

A very wise man, a writer and artist, said, I don’t want to go down that path. Who knows what people will get used to.

The Trend over The Last 40 Years has been to get people used to a little skin, then a little more and then a little more. A little profanity, then a little more and then a little more. A little suggestive sex, a little more graphic and then a little more.

And then we have so-called comedians like Chris Rock and Louis Black who can’t stop saying *uck and in the case of Mr. Rock, who can’t stop saying sick and disgusting things about sex and marriage. “I’ll just be miserable and stay with you.”

Oh yeah. We should fear Censorship? I don’t think so. Criticise the government all you want but get that filth off of TV and out of the movies. I am For Media censorship as regards “entertainment.” Not the News. Not News Programs. But against those sick TV programs that spit on “Those values on which we used to rely.” UH, UH. We need those values.

The MEDIA is part of the collective community and it has a duty to present itself as a guest in our home and not as a prostitute or adulterer or pimp.
Click to expand...
AMEN! It is good to hear a Catholic in the modern world actually say something intelligent about censorship and the modern media.

The media has done a great job of making everyone feel threatened by the thought of the government censoring their entertainment and appealing to human selfishness. Now, folks don’t want to lose something they feel they have a right to. Everyone is terrified about being cracked down upon for anything if the slightest control is placed upon the junk food that comes out of the entertainment industry.

I’ll add Family Guy to the list. Just one more example of why we need strict media censoring. It is plainly evident that it will never control itself.
 
Watched a silly movie, and heard some swearing that was maybe not in the script. It was superfluous, and almost inaudible/distant. Family, funny movie, but, that one swearing allowed to remain in the audio, when it could have just as easily been edited out. Martin Short (Roman Catholic) movie “Captain Ron.” It wasn’t Short who cursed…
 
This is a good topic.

Here’s a couple random thoughts:
  1. Sexuality in movies is WAY overdone…gratuitous, if you will. Smart moviemakers give the audience a little taste and let them use their grey matter to figure out what’s going on in the plot or what’s happening between the sheets.
My best example of this is in the movie “The Sting”. We get it. We know what happened.
  1. Violence, the same…gratuitious is not necessary. We get it. Mob movies have bad guys, bad guys do bad things. We expect to see some violence, but not over the top.
Best example is the old western movies or old war movies. Someone gets shot by the bad guy. He dies. We get how it serves the plot.

Exceptions might be something like the Transformers movies, as far as the Robot-Robot violence is concerned. Our local paper review said something like, “Who can resist a movie where giant robots beat the **** out of each other”. 😃 And that pretty much served the plot, although there were other things in the movie that did not.
  1. Language. I can’t stand movies that have gratuitous f-bombs in every line of dialogue. Exceptions may be where it serves the plot. For example, the TV-ized version of the Sopranos series was much not as good as the original/DVD version. But once again, they didn’t go over the top with it; it served the plot. Mob guys are bad guys, most without an education. They don’t talk like Rhodes scholars.
Bottom line, if sex, violence and language don’t serve the plot or story, it doesn’t belong in the movie. Moviemakers that don’t follow this insult their audience’s intelligence.
 
My Dad says, over a certain age, who cares … about nudity. He does not like movies with a lot of kissing in them. :o
 
ohioszo said:
My Dad says, over a certain age, who cares … about nudity. He does not like movies with a lot of kissing in them. :o
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Catholics and everyone else, cannot afford to be indifferent. If we are to be the Salt of the Earth, we cannot condone nudity, like “What’s the big deal”? You know?

So, nudity is a bad thing in movies and on TV. It’s not progressive or artistic or anything else. Leering at nude people is not dignified.

God bless,
Ed
Choose Jesus.
 
edwest2 said:
Catholics and everyone else, cannot afford to be indifferent. If we are to be the Salt of the Earth, we cannot condone nudity, like “What’s the big deal”? You know?

So, nudity is a bad thing in movies and on TV. It’s not progressive or artistic or anything else. Leering at nude people is not dignified.
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Exactly. Humans get so distracted by being “amused” by movies and TV that we fail to consider “is this dignified?” - and if we honestly asked ourselves this question, a lot of “no” responses would result.

Too many folks kid themselves by thinking “well, they’re consenting adults so they’re free to do it, therefore we’re free to watch.” That is the relativistic attitude of our secularist society - so long as it’s legal, and so long as it makes us feel good and isn’t being done by force, it must be OK. Objective morality has nothing to do with it.
 
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