General Chat

Well, I am a 'bloke' and I do get fed up with present day films. I have to say that I havent been to a cinema for a long time - pronounced loooooong - so I put up with what is on TV and probably coming round for the umpteenth time. Seems that the directors, producers etc., do their utmost to get new twists on violence while most are trying to teach their young not to indulge in violence, bullying etc., Then there are the compulsory sex scenes and that is the time to switch off or exit - I mean to say, even the Kama Sutra has a limited number of positions but studios try to create something new or it is the same old way in every film - and is it necessary anyway ? Then language - all films seem to delight in putting in as many four letter + words as possible - is that necessary ? Even if you watch so-called comedians these days it seems that swearing is part of the script and do people roll up laughing because the person is funny or that he is using as many blue 'words' as possible ? Looking back to the film stars who were THE 'Greats' they did not gain fame through foul language, sex scenes, unnecessary violence ....... Thank goodness there was a censor ! I am not a prude but there is a time and place for everything and when you read newspapers of the terrifying ordeals that some people have undergone, or just sit on a bus and listen to the language uttered by a gang of yobs - or even school children - does make me think. Or should I get a life ?

Joe I have to say I agree with you, there are many others out there that would also agree. The old films are my favourite lots left to the imagination with very little violence even in Gangster War and Cowboy films. It wasn't until Dirtectors like Sam Peckinpah's 'Wild Bunch' and the Spaghetti Westerns did the violence really emerge and remain in the Cinema. Lack of vocabulary and lack of good dialogue is the excuse for so much bad language but that has been part of the Music Industry for years now. I have always been a fan of old films nearly all my favourite Actors and Actresses are dead. Last week one of my faves died the wonderful Anne Bancroft age 73 years old, she would be one of the youngsters to some of my other faves. Cinema will never be the same again, although we had to put up with the Political Censor and the McCarthy witchunts. Pat x

I agree heartily with this in essence - but - I've seen some really good films recently and they can be found if you look beyond 'Hollywood'. If you really enjoy a love story and don't want the unnecessaries, try renting 'The Notebook'. My husband and I both enjoyed it and we come in the 'old fogey' category. Another good film that deals with a love story in a violent world without sensational and unnecesary detail is Hotel Rwanda. A true story beautifully portrayed. The films are there - you just have to hunt for them, which is a pity. I have other recommendations if you'd like them, but I'm sure that there are lots of people on the site with good suggestions to make. Doesn't solve the problem of lower and lower standards though. :-(

An add-on to my comments. Why does the West End have so many many musicals (I am all in favour) and bookings are for months ahead yet TV seldom shows a musical. In fact TV seldom gives us any MUSIC and I put that in capitals as I do not mean the pop stuff (rarely anything great there). TV these days seems to hinge on so many antique shows, painting & decorating your home, followed by soaps and childrens TV plus the type of film I mentioned previously. If only we could get back to some good entertainment.

Joe, I agree with you about this compulsion the film industry appear to have to promote foul language and show extremes of violence and graphic sex - none of which would attract me to a cinema. (I won't resort to the old joke about 'I get enough of that at home'. LoL) However, I will say that some of the films I've enjoyed most have included them - 'A Clockwork Orange', 'Fatal Attraction', 'Lock, Stock & Two Smoking Barrels', 'Gladiator', the 'Alien' films, for example. I think violence should only be portrayed if it's relevant to the plot, not as entertainment for its own sake, but it does attract people - look how successful the 'Rocky' films were. There's no denying that boxing is gratuitous violence, yet it's been a popular 'sport' for thousands of years. As for musicals - I love most of them from 'Showboat' to 'Grease' (showing my age), but I know I'm in a minority. I don't think they appeal much to younger people or to the majority of older men. My husband can't stand them, nor can my son (aged 26). I think it's sad that, today, as with most things, what counts is how much money a film is going to make. If production teams can make more by showing certain types of film, they'll make more of them. If sex and violence sell, that's what we'll get. CB >|<

Hi Joe, Try Starwars 3. OK it has some violence but no sex or swearing! Jack x

I agree with all the comments and very rarely watch many films nowadays except for more recent comedies. I also love all musical films especially the older ones and so do my kids infact they recently had a spate of watching Calamity Jane.And as for TV again there isnt much i watch on that. I spend a lot of my evenings on genealogy sites. Cherry

I remember some time ago going for a few days to one of those family holiday parks in Devon somewhere for a short break organised by the 'Sun' newspaper with the wife and my elderly parents. They had a so called comedian on one of the evenings. I was appalled by his tasteless - so called jokes which were nearly all of a sexual nature. OK if you want to hear that sort of thing in an adult club, but there were many children there and guests who simply didn't want that sort of rubbish. At the very least there should have had some sort of warning regarding the nature of the act. Can't remember his name now but would probably recognise it if I heard it. Martin

Joe, There's a lot done in the name of commercialism ... give the punters what they want and thereby make loads of dosh. Maybe we should all don our sandals and set up a 'real' community on an island somewhere .... sure it wasn't as bad as this when I was a kid. How did all this happen? Can we stop it? Yours in hope, Jane

Joe, Good thinking. Lowest Common Denominator seems to apply these days. Rather sad. happy days

I think a lot of the anti social behavior these days comes from these films also the playstation and x box games that you see advertised the yobs think it is how people live in other parts of the world. Makes a mockery of the saying lead by example

John, you make an interesting point. It has always seemed odd to me that folk talk disparagingly about 'the youth of today' forgetting it seems that 'the youth' are learning from their elders all the time. It is the 'elders' in our society who invent and provide the films, the 'blue' comedy, the X-box and video games etc etc etc that the 'youth' use and learn from. No one wants censorship in the name of claiming the 'right' to make decisions for themselves but no one wants the responsibility of teaching the young folk what is and is not acceptable it seems. Mary Whitehouse attracted much ridicule in her day but it's a pity that more people didn't listen to her and take note.

I'll tell you what Pees me off on TV, is the fact that you dont get more than about a half second of program before the camera is skipped off to another view of the Group/artist. at most you get a second of a view then another totally different shot WHY? Is it that they are so talentless that its impossible to show an '' artiste'' for more than a second? one moment you are looking down the throat of a so called ''singer'' then zipped off to look at someone jumping around............or making out that they are actually playing an instument........ Bob