What About Those "good" R-Rated Movies?

[Tacenda]

Knowone, Diet Coke Isn't against the WoW now.

[KevinG]

Now that this is settled can we discuss two piece bathing suits for women?

[Kenngo1969]

Now that this is settled can we discuss two piece bathing suits for women?

Sure.  Are you "pro" or "con"?  How about your wife?  Does the fact that you have seven children together influence how you answer that question?  (Sorry; couldn't resist.  I just had a milkshake.  It must be the sugar rush.  I apologize and repent. )

Edited February 1, 2014 by Kenngo1969

[Kenngo1969]

Knowone, Diet Coke Isn't against the WoW now.

As a general rule, no.  But it depends.  It could be for some people, but not for others ... perhaps.

Edited February 1, 2014 by Kenngo1969

[thesometimesaint]

As a general rule, no.  But it depends.  It could be for some people, but not for others ... perhaps.

 

When my son came back from Saudi Arabia he claimed that Diet Coke tasted like warm camel pee. Don't know how he knew that.  

[knowone]

i think as adults, it really is about free agency.  i went to school for media, i.e. photography & film so i definitely agree that media does impact you, but some 'good' R-rated movies impacy you in a good way.  i cant see how the passion would be considered bad.  the Savior voluntarily did those things & for some, they need to see it like that to get the idea.  i on the other hand, prefer the bible series from the history channel for the life of the Savior..but again, just free agency & simple honesty.

 

for example, i knew a good priesthood holder who went out of his way to rent foreign movies that didnt have the american ratings system.  he would see all types of nudity & explicit scenes & he was perfectly fine with it.  i on the other hand, see this as a perfect example of the difference between following the spirit of the law or the letter of the law.

 

i personally prefer other movies to the hangover series.  doco's, nature shows, science or physics shows are all more entertaining than the dribble hollywood is putting out these days.

 

so with my personal power of free agency, i try to be as honest with myself & the Lord as possible.  for example, i have a medical condition that i need to take a stimulant to regulate a gland issue.  just today, i forgot to pack my meds with me as i was going to the temple.  when i realized i had forgot it, i simply stopped at a petrol station & purchased a diet coke.  we are advised to avoid caffeinated drinks.   in this instance, the diet coke became a pseudo med for me that i need to take daily.  in this instance i am following the spirit of the law.

 

dont get me wrong.  i do not partake of coffee or tea, because those are specifically forbidden. to double down my honesty with the Lord, i will compleetely enforce the letter of the law on myself the next time it happens.  meaning, i will turn around & get the meds at the house.  if i miss an appointment, or am late to work for this reason, then thats totally on me.

 

so back to the good R-rated movies, i can see a military movie with war violence perfectly fine for me as an adult to watch.  i was raised in a military family & some of the best lessons that ive learned about the gospel has been through these sorts of movies.  in the movie glory, for example, the lessons are to the brim!!  the putrid practice of slavery, the example of how one can have high character & integrity through broderick & denzels roles, the dicotomy of man through the same roles, enduring to the end, etc, etc  these are valuable lessons that fit perfectly into the gospel.  why its rated R, is anyones clue since my favorite movie of the civil war is gods & generals & it has 50 times the war violence glory has, yet its listed as pg-13!! 

 

which brings up another issue, which is the questionable workings of the motion picture association.  the mpa is basically a secret combination & im sure when all is revealed, we will be aghast at how they chose their ratings one way or another.

 

ok, i want to make sure i post this before i forgot.  after i posted this innocent reply to show how quick i am willing to change my mind through promptings of their spirit.  i was looking for a positive link to post on my fb page.  the first thing that comes up in my feed is a new scientific study about the real dangers of caffeine.  here it is:

 

http://shine.yahoo.com/healthy-living/five-scariest-things-caffeine-does-body-215400917.html

 

so humbly, i must make an absolute 180 degree change.  i am now working towards not having to rely on caffeine ever.  that being said, the blessings are even better if i sacrafice it from my body as soon as i can.  sure, i know my flesh may shiver & shake but it gets better through the burn.  l'chaim!

[Stargazer]

Same here. I very much dislike hearing that word. The f bomb count for some movies is in the hundreds.

 

My wife and I loved My Cousin Vinny.  The F bomb is so egregious in places that it is obvious that they are self-parodying.  And its only Vinny and his girlfriend.  The rest of everyone else in the movie are well-mannered and well-spoken, making it look like the two protagonists are big-city jerks.

 

But it is a very very funny movie -- and you can actually learn some actual courtroom procedure in the movie.

[Stargazer]

Knowone, Diet Coke Isn't against the WoW now.

 

Now?  When was it ever?

[Rock_N_Roll]

 we are advised to avoid caffeinated drinks.  

 

We are?  When was this? I must have missed that talk.  I personally, am trying to avoid sugar.  I find sugar is more of a detriment to my health than caffeine.  Have we been advised to avoid sugar?  

Edited February 5, 2014 by Rock_N_Roll

[cinepro]

We are?  When was this? I must have missed that talk.  I personally, am trying to avoid sugar.  I find sugar is more of a detriment to my health than caffeine.  Have we been advised to avoid sugar?  

 

The LDS Church advising to avoid sugar would be like Budweiser advising to avoid beer.

[knowone]

We are?  When was this? I must have missed that talk.  I personally, am trying to avoid sugar.  I find sugar is more of a detriment to my health than caffeine.  Have we been advised to avoid sugar?  

 

bruce mcconkie in his books & gordon hinkley on 60 minutes a few years ago.  did you read the link i posted?  sugar is much tamer.

[BCSpace]

I'm still trying to work an Eminem quote in one of my sacrament talks. Pray for me!

 

I'm able to work in The Simpsons, Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy, Tolkien, Poe, and Mark Twain etc. all the time.

[Rock_N_Roll]

bruce mcconkie in his books & gordon hinkley on 60 minutes a few years ago.  did you read the link i posted?  sugar is much tamer.

 

Maybe it would be fun to start another thread on the hundreds of things that Apostles have “advised” in their books or talks or TV interviews.  R-rated movies, stay out of debt, 2 year supply of food,  tattoos,  number of earrings, face cards, evil rock music, facial hair, white shirts, gambling, lotteries, flip-flops, skirt length, etc., etc…. 

 

On the 60 Minutes interview, Mike Wallace said “Mormons adhere to a very strict health code, no alcohol, no tobacco, no coffee, no tea, not even caffeinated soft drinks, eat meat sparingly, exercise, get plenty of sleep.”   President Hinkley said “Right! Wonderful.”

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLFDP_MeYhg

 

When he said “Right!”, does that mean no caffeine, exercise and get plenty of sleep are all part of our “health code”?

 

Of course these things are just advice – take the things you would like to follow and leave the rest. 

 

The church posted a statement on its website saying that "the church does not prohibit the use of caffeine" and that the faith's health-code reference to "hot drinks" "does not go beyond tea and coffee."

 

For what it’s worth. 

[toon]

The Church has backed away from that absolutist stance.

 

I'm not sure that the Church every had an absolutist stance.  What I have noticed, and I may have missed things, is that you don't see reference to ratings much anymore in official Church publications or from general authorities and other Church-wide leaders.  While movies and other entertainment are discussed, it seems like the emphasis is more on what is wholesome and appropriate.  I suspect this may in part be a recognition that Church-wide talks, advice, and pronouncements are disseminated globally, and discussion about a particular rating system that only applies to the United States isn't as relevant or meaningful.  None of this is to say that R-rated "line" isn't still followed, discussed, or taught by many at the local level.

[toon]

What about movies you allow to be shown at a church activity or if your children have a bunch of member friends over. My standard for any church activity is general, no swearing and no sexuality. A bit tough, but I have found it easier simply not to allow movies at any church function. When friends are over, I have my kids let the parents know before hand the movies we may be watching. I have one family who is strongly opposed to Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings, for example. 

 

My rule of thumb is that, when my kids have friends over, they can watch whatever they want so long as I don't risk getting a phone call from an angry parent.  I respect the fact that other parents draw different lines that my wife and I do.  (And I try to teach my kids to be respectful of others' lines and not judgmental.)

 

With regard to what many might consider an absurd line (Harry Potter), I would still respect it if was just my son and that one kid.  But if it were a large group, it might be a different matter.

[toon]

The F-bomb is a big one.

Screenwriting 101 is character dialogue should seem natural and believable.

The use of the F word is way over used to the point where it desensitizes people to how the offensive it is.

 

On the other hand, if we become so desensatized to it that it loses it's offensiveness, then does it cease to be an obscene word?

[thesometimesaint]

I'm not sure that the Church every had an absolutist stance.  What I have noticed, and I may have missed things, is that you don't see reference to ratings much anymore in official Church publications or from general authorities and other Church-wide leaders.  While movies and other entertainment are discussed, it seems like the emphasis is more on what is wholesome and appropriate.  I suspect this may in part be a recognition that Church-wide talks, advice, and pronouncements are disseminated globally, and discussion about a particular rating system that only applies to the United States isn't as relevant or meaningful.  None of this is to say that R-rated "line" isn't still followed, discussed, or taught by many at the local level.

 

There is always a bit of a disconnect between what is said and how it is interpreted. I'm under no illusion that if the Prophet were to tell his wife that such and such was the best meal. It wouldn't take too long before some members of the church would be claiming that the Prophet has spoken, and the thinking has been done.

Edited February 6, 2014 by thesometimesaint

[toon]

The LDS Church advising to avoid sugar would be like Budweiser advising to avoid beer.

 

Budweiser spends quite a bit trying to get people to drink a beverage no one in their right mind would ever consider beer.

[thesometimesaint]

Budweiser spends quite a bit trying to get people to drink a beverage no one in their right mind would ever consider beer.

 

It's fine to cook with, but that kinda defeats it purpose as a beverage. I have receipt for Andean steak cooked in beer. Delish.

[altersteve]

I'm able to work in The Simpsons, Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy, Tolkien, Poe, and Mark Twain etc. all the time.

Someone in my ward referenced The Shawshank Redemption a few weeks ago.

[Garden Girl]

Someone in my ward referenced The Shawshank Redemption a few weeks ago.

 

Wow... Wonder what line that was... Shawshank is one of my favorite films... as is My Cousin Vinny...I told on here how I had watched "Vinny" on TV, loved it, so ordered it from my DVD club.  Upon receipt, sat down to watch, anticipating a good and humorous film.  Whoa!!  Where did that language come from??!! 

 

GG

[Kenngo1969]

It's fine to cook with, but that kinda defeats it purpose as a beverage. I have receipt for Andean steak cooked in beer. Delish.

A receipt?  Where did you buy it?  (A recipe you mean? )  Sorry!  Couldn't resist!

[knowone]

Maybe it would be fun to start another thread on the hundreds of things that Apostles have “advised” in their books or talks or TV interviews.  R-rated movies, stay out of debt, 2 year supply of food,  tattoos,  number of earrings, face cards, evil rock music, facial hair, white shirts, gambling, lotteries, flip-flops, skirt length, etc., etc…. 

 

On the 60 Minutes interview, Mike Wallace said “Mormons adhere to a very strict health code, no alcohol, no tobacco, no coffee, no tea, not even caffeinated soft drinks, eat meat sparingly, exercise, get plenty of sleep.”   President Hinkley said “Right! Wonderful.”

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLFDP_MeYhg

 

When he said “Right!”, does that mean no caffeine, exercise and get plenty of sleep are all part of our “health code”?

 

Of course these things are just advice – take the things you would like to follow and leave the rest. 

 

The church posted a statement on its website saying that "the church does not prohibit the use of caffeine" and that the faith's health-code reference to "hot drinks" "does not go beyond tea and coffee."

 

For what it’s worth. 

 

i know, i know.  i absolutely agree.  it just became something personal after i commented on here.

[thesometimesaint]

A receipt?  Where did you buy it?  (A recipe you mean? )  Sorry!  Couldn't resist!

 

[Stone holm]

An LDS member and I were talking about recent movies that we've seen. When I mentioned a particular film, HE almost gasped, "Isn't that R-rated? We don't watch R-rated movies."

I then asked, "Even the good ones?"

"There are no good R-rated movies."

I was amazed. So you've never seen, "Glory? Schindler's List? Passion of the Christ? The King's Speech? Saving Private Ryan? Porky's 1, 2 or 3?"

Being someone with too much time on his hands, I've done some research on the issue and there seems to be some question as to whether the R-rating is an explicit prohibition or merely a "guideline". Now, I realize that for many saints, there is no distinction between the two but that's not the point of this thread.

My question is do "good Mormons" EVER watch R-rated movies? And if so, under what circumstances is an R-rated movie appropriate? And could those circumstances possibly include The Hangover 3, which is next up on my Netflix queue?

Answer is yes. We do a disservice to certain stories and accounts which need to be told by sanitizing them. Saving Private Ryan is a perfect example. People need to understand the horrific aspects of war, so they do not romanticize it. I have never favored abdicating our own judgment to a review board. If the Bible were depicted on the screen it would get an R rating, if we applied similar standards to books, it would be banned. I remember censor attempts to take Huckleberry Finn out of the libraries, and to censor Bugs Bunny and Roadrunner cartoons.