The Deadly Companions

[charliechaplinfan]

I'm certainly more affected by bad language on screen than Chris, Tarantino wouldn't loose his power if the cuss words weren't every other word. I do enjoy Tarantino and Deadwood but I think it's possible to express oneself much better with more craft to the use of language, swearing I think is partly laziness, I do worry that the proliferation in modern media is limiting vocabulary. There is the argument that swear words have been around for centuries and some of the more choicest are Anglo Saxon words and the language of the old West and the gangster might have been one expletive after another, if this is the truth I'd still rather have the language whitewashed and rewritten by someone with a talent for imaginative vocabulary. Even though they do carry an 18 listing who are we kidding about teenagers not watching them. Tarantino might be amongst the best filmmakers today but the language adds nothing, same Glengarry Glenn Ross, it wouldn't lose anything if it contained no swear words.

The parent in me rails against the words that are used on prewatershed programmes, the B word creeps in, the subjects that are discussed are just not suitable for any younger people who might be tuning in. they might have their own channels to watch but my experience is that they like our programmes just as much.

[Western Guy]

Alison, if I may, you just said a mouthful. The thing is, I can watch unedited movies such as SCARFACE, GOODFELLAS, CASINO and Tarantino films and really not be too offended by the language - after all, I confess, growing up with the black-eyed boy group I did, we certainly were not puritans. As tough-talking teens we swore with the best of 'em (not that I'm saying this is something to be proud of). But I do find it extremely uncomfortable when I'm watching something with my wife that suddenly erupts into profanity. Cindy really hates coarse language so often I'm walking on eggshells around her when it comes to entertainment preferences. Can't tell you how many times we rented something that looked good from a video store, only to pop into into our player an instantly become assaulted by profanity. Again, I can tolerate it but my wife gets offended so I squirm and lose the enjoyment factor. Out it comes, back to the store it goes. Probably missed many fine films that way.

Fortunately, I've grown mellow enough to share with Cindy the pleasure of chick flicks.

[charliechaplinfan]

I'll never get Chris to chick flicks, the truth is if we watch a movie together it invariably involves swearing because all the best movies these days do seem to have swear words in them but they are the only movies we would watch together, Chris doesn't really do classic movies, the occasional one, an Ealing comedy or a war movie. I do get onto my soapbox about swearing and it has been heightened since having kids but I remember secretly listening to tapes of Monty Python when I was younger, we used to go to each others houses and switch it off when a parent came near. There is a certain amount of cachet in using the words when with friends, especially I think for teenage boys. My son age 7 has come out with a couple of the worst ones at the tea table, like he's asking for a drink, no idea what he was saying but it obviously sounded good when he heard it and he would have picked it up from somewhere as innocuous as the supermarket, he's old enough to know better now. I guess I just think that pictures and TV could really set a good example and be just as enjoyable. I am a minority, this I realise.

[Western Guy]

Darn, I've gotten hooked on chick flicks. Some of my faves are SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE, YOU'VE GOT MAIL, WHEN HARRY MET SALLY, THE SECRET LIVES OF BEES, and I love MISS POTTER.

Don't get me wrong: Still need my gangster, western, war and tough guy flick fixes. Hey, reckon this makes me a true renaissance man.

[RedRiver]

swearing I think is partly laziness

I think so too. If "F-ing" can be good, bad, adjective or gerund, it's really of very little use in expression. The practice can be contagious too. For a while, I stayed with a friend who made frequent use of bad language. Guess what? I started doing it too! It's a hard habit to break.

The parent in me rails against the words

Me too. I don't want my dog to hear that kind of talk!

[JackFavell]

How about chick flicks with swear words? I was so surprised at the beginning of Four Weddings and a Funeral... but I still love the movie, just wouldn't watch it with my daughter. I remember a couple of other naughty things in the movie...

[Western Guy]

You know Wendy, it's odd but it seems that even the most family-rated movie has to incorporate at least one foul word in the context of the plot - I suppose for it to pass the G-rating which some people still believe is box-office death. But what an unnecessary and absurd assumption. Family movies seem to rack in the b.o. numbers every weekend upon their release.

Here's my final stand: I'll accept vulgar language in a contemporary gangster film because I understand hoodlums talk this way (I've listened to those John Gotti tapes) but prefer my Westerns and romances to keep such vocabulary under strict control. Unless such useage is integral to the plot (which it rarely is unless intended for shock humor/effect) I'd prefer not to listen to it.

[charliechaplinfan]

Miss Potter, I haven't watched it, I can accept Renee Zellwegger as Bridget Joes but not as Beatrix Potter, although I think Vivien Leigh is fine to my English ears as Scarlett O'Hara. Maybe I should get over my scruples and watch it, for the scenery if for nothing else.

[Western Guy]

NO!!! She's really brilliant as Beatrix. It's an absolutely wonderful film. She also produced the picture. It's one of my absolute faves and I watch it frequently. Give it a try, I implore you, Alison!

[charliechaplinfan]

I will, I will, I think it's living so close to the area and reading all the books to my kids, that they're so precious, another world, a world of children and little animals. I've read a great biography of Beatrix too, so I could almost be too picky but I will watch it, it sounds like a feel good movie and I'm always up for those.

[Western Guy]

Alison, just to add that MISS POTTER is a perfect Christmas movie. I cannot say enough good things about it. It's listed in my Top Ten favorites. Wonderful piece of filmmaking.

[Lzcutter]

One of the best chick flicks, especially this time of year, is Love Actually with Emma Thompson, Colin Firth, Hugh Grant, Alan Rickman, Liam Neeson and Bill Nighy doing a great take-off on aging British rockers.

"Let's go get our butts kicked by love!"

[Western Guy]

Lynn, just saw it a couple of weeks ago and did enjoy it very much.

Bill Nighy was hilarious!

[knitwit45]

I liked this movie so much, I watched it twice the same day at the theater...Colin Firth ROCKS!!! As does Bill Nighy, Alan Rickman (the fool!!!!) Emma Thompson, and all the rest.

[Western Guy]

Don't want to come across as morbid, but wasn't it a little too weird how in the film Liam Neeson's character's tragedy and aftermath mirrored what so unfortunately occurred to Liam - and about this time not many years back? When I watched LOVE ACTUALLY a couple of weeks back I chilled at the coincidence.

That's gotta be a movie Liam cannot watch.