Over on her weekly column ‘Salt and Seed’, Rosalynde Welch discusses the move away from the LDS Church teaching that ‘R’ rated movies (for it’s US members) are forbidden. She focusses on how, specifically, ‘The King’s Speech’ this year marked the demise of this former ‘standard’, being watched, loved and recommended by droves of happy LDS film-goers.
On a personal note, my LDS parents and both my Grandmas went to see it, and they all loved it. They even told us how they understood the need for the ‘strong’ language!
‘The times, they are a-changin’!’
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And now this we can debate the merits of changing works of art (movies in this case) to get more money. They’re going to re-release The Kings Speech as a PG-13 movie. http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118033216
Dang! I saw the movie and can’t recall ANYthing objectionable. It was just a good, good movie. So much there re: the triumph of the human spirit. Oh, sure–I’ve read that it doesn’t stick to “fact” very well, but it’s a movie . . .
It was for the cursing. Remember? Fuckfuckfuckfuckbuggerfuckbugger?
Oh. Wow. Yeah. Okay.
Seriously, if it’s not gratuitous, I don’t notice it. And in this case, it was definitely not gratuitous.
Heather, your ears have become accustomed to coarse language… you have been desensitized and have obviously lost the Spirit :-)
LOL, you all kill me.
At church on Sunday, while I waited for the librarian to make my copies, I eavesdropped on a whole conversation between two members of our ward talking about how great the movie was. :) Made me happy to hear such a normal conversation.
In my ward, I don’t know if it’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” or if everyone truly, truly does not see R movies. On our last 5th Sunday, the EQ Pres spoke about how he was trying to have a family standard for movies–if it’s not ok for his 13 year old daughter it probably isn’t ok for him, either. I just sat on my hands, and tried to not flip out. I can’t imagine what good it would have done to have questioned him. Either you’re grown up enough to make up your own mind, regardless of what he says, or if you’re so devout it wouldn’t matter what I said (because I’m probably perceived as not particularly orthodox).
I suppose this one is in the eye of the beholder. I have not seen any softening at all in the “you have agency to obey” crowd, other people never paid much attention to the taboo in the first place.
There is a lot of variety in the media and the quality has much more to do with content than with movie ratings. To be honest I’m more cautious about what my children watch with PG13 and PG ratings simply because too many people give them a pass without scrutinizing what is in them.
I think the swearing did not come across as harshly because everything sounds prettier and less offensive in a British accent. And a Southern accent. Have you noticed that? Listen to Ricky Gervais and all the course language sounds like music to the ears!