Man, while I personally think the OP is poorly phrased, this has caused me to think a bit.
Not sure what you mean about “gratuitous explicit sex.” I have not seen any family flicks where suddenly appeared the beast with 2 backs or other “graphic” sex. But I (fondly) remember Bev D’Angelo in the shower in Nat’l Lampoon’s Vacation - or the homecoming queen (also in the shower) in Sixteen Candles. And while I don’t normally consider myself a prude, I must admit that I was a little unconfortable when those scenes came on and I was watching the vids with my kids. We don’t tell our kids that there is anything “dirty” about the human body, or sex, but I’m not sure we want to send them the message at an early age that showing nude women for titillation is all that great either.
See, I’d rather have my kids watch Kissing Jessica Stein. It was rated R, but it had no nudity. Maybe 1 or 2 scenes where sex was presented but the participants were either mostly clothed or under covers. Much of the movie dealt with sex, homosexuality at that, but there was no gratuitous nudity.
I guess I have more problems with the “gratuitous” part instead of the sex or violence part. I would also have more difficulty with “graphic” sex or violence, than “represented.” Hard to make a generalization.
On the violence side, one of my son’s favorite movies is Kelly’s Heroes. They wipe out dozens if not hundreds of Germans. But I guess the violence is neither gratuitous nor graphic. But it will be a long time - if ever - before I bring a slasher flick home fromt he store.
Regarding the rating system, we aren’t all that concerned with gratuitous profane language. Or representation of drug use. I was surprised when we rented one movie - Saving Grace I believe - that involved a proper middle-aged British woman growing pot to save her home. It was rated R, and I don’t think there were even any swear words in it. Just because of the subject matter. That struck me as wierd.
Or another example, when my kids were younger we took them to see The Phantom. (I always LOVED the comic, and was SO pissed when the Trib stopped carrying it!) If you haven’t seen it, it is a very entertaining, campy, family flick. But very early on, the characters say a couple of swear words - I forget which ones. Then there is nothing objectionable for the rest of the film. I couldn’t figure out why they had to include those few words, unless it was to avoid the unmarketable “G” rating. Again, my objection was to the gratuitousness, rather than the specific content.
What those of you out there without kids may not realize, is how much of what you do as a parent involves trying to imbue your kids with “good values” and enable them to make “good decisions.” Direct them to “quality” instead of the “crap” that is out there. Or at least enable them to make such decisions for themselves. You never can be quite sure what little thing the kid is going to pick up on as the guide for his future behavior. You spend hours agonizing over how to have a particular discussion with your kid, choose what you think is the optimal timing and setting, have the discussion, and the next day discover your efforts were trumped by a TV commercial! A parents life is filled with suchh “successes.” Yet you continue in the attempt,
Yes, that involves me - as a parent - making value judgments, and trying to instill them in my kids. While that might seem intolerant, narrowminded, dictatorial, or some such to folk without kids, it is a CONSTANT process for many parents. Heck, I have to figure out how to teach my kids that veggies are a better choice for dinner than candy, or that they should have juice or milk with meals instead of soda. At the risk of getting carried away with my imagery, I similarly perceive a benefit from guiding them regarding nourishment of their minds through art and entertainment.
Well, as usual, I’m rambling. As I said, I didn’t have much to say about the OP. Sorry.
