What was the last movie you've seen?

[Luke]

It's been a couple of months since I saw it, but what rape scene? I don't remember that.

This discussion is probably lost somewhere in the forum, but there's an attempted rape scene that was in focus groups, wasn't in others, was in screenings, wasn't in others, etc.

I asked a member if the attempted rape scene made his early theatrical cut and I believe he said yes.

Who is the intended victim? Hit Girl?

Night B!tch.

[Stark]

Oh wait, that is still there, I remember now (read a description). I can see how that scene might turn some off, but I don't think it was making fun of rape, it was making fun of the impotency of the villain, just my opinion.

[Luke]

Oh wait, that is still there, I remember now (read a description). I can see how that scene might turn some off, but I don't think it was making fun of rape, it was making fun of the impotency of the villain, just my opinion.

The sequence can be interpreted in many ways, but bottom line I think is was unnecessarily crass and served zero purpose.

[Ack]

Oh wait, that is still there, I remember now (read a description). I can see how that scene might turn some off, but I don't think it was making fun of rape, it was making fun of the impotency of the villain, just my opinion.

The sequence can be interpreted in many ways, but bottom line I think is was unnecessarily crass and served zero purpose.

I don't know, I found it less troublesome than the rape/forced oral sequence in the US version of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Not that I think a rape sequence serves no place in film, I admit that they can be used to influence and shape the audience's views on violence, sexuality, affect the themes and explorations of the work, or alter characters' motives and audience symphathization(such as a film like Irreversible). But if handled poorly, these scenes can also end up making light of rape or hindering the audience's perception of the film.

[pierrot]

Oh wait, that is still there, I remember now (read a description). I can see how that scene might turn some off, but I don't think it was making fun of rape, it was making fun of the impotency of the villain, just my opinion.

The sequence can be interpreted in many ways, but bottom line I think is was unnecessarily crass and served zero purpose.

I don't know, I found it less troublesome than the rape/forced oral sequence in the US version of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Not that I think a rape sequence serves no place in film, I admit that they can be used to influence and shape the audience's views on violence, sexuality, affect the themes and explorations of the work, or alter characters' motives and audience symphathization(such as a film like Irreversible). But if handled poorly, these scenes can also end up making light of rape or hindering the audience's perception of the film.

Have you seen the original movie adaptation? I haven't seen the US version, so I don't know what they did with it, but as far as rape scenes go, I think the Swedish original did it fairly well.

[Ack]

Yes, I've seen both the Swedish and US version. The Swedish one handles the subject in a much more tasteful manner. The US version lingers long after the scene should have been wrapped, and I noticed quite a few people in the audience squirm. Effectively, if you want to see the difference between the European handling of a film and the American handling, just watch these two back to back. The American one has a much bigger budget, but also has a lot more focus on showing the violence, nudity, and sexuality. It comes off as obscene in comparison.

[Forlorn Drifter]

How do you deal with rape in a tasteful manner though? I haven't seen all that many movies with rape scenes, but I can't say I've ever seen one done tastefully. Most of the time, it breaks down to giving a character motivation for revenge in most cases.

I will say that the Girl With the Dragon Tattoo scene (American version) was pretty rough from what I can remember. I'm not really a fan of rape scenes in general though unless they actually serve a purpose, although I don't really think you can argue the one in Pulp Fiction has a purpose.

@Luke- You mention that the intention to use the rape scene as a joke about the villain's impotency would still be crass and uncalled for. How do you feel about the view of rape in popular culture and internet culture altogether though? I feel like rape is used to make jokes much more than I would like, especially on the internet.

And then how do you feel about jokes or humor related to murder, death, or violence?

[Ack]

How do you deal with rape in a tasteful manner though? I haven't seen all that many movies with rape scenes, but I can't say I've ever seen one done tastefully. Most of the time, it breaks down to giving a character motivation for revenge in most cases.

I will say that the Girl With the Dragon Tattoo scene (American version) was pretty rough from what I can remember. I'm not really a fan of rape scenes in general though unless they actually serve a purpose, although I don't really think you can argue the one in Pulp Fiction has a purpose.

Put it this way, the Swedish version goes through the scene quickly, doesn't dwell on the graphic nature of it, and doesn't show much, leaving more to the viewer's imagination about its horrors while still getting the audience to support the eventual revenge. The American one lingers(if I recall, it's at least twice as long as the Swedish version), uses camera angles and mood lighting to emphasize the power and dominance of the male figure and the "sensuality" of the scene, supported by a droning audio track and sound effects to emphasize the dread(particularly the penetration and resulting scream). The use of sex toys like the handcuffs and ballgag also further emphasize the dominance issues, but also lead to associations between BDSM and rape within the film(which in the US version also tends to hover a lot more on both the violence and alternate, "aberrant" sexuality of some characters).

[Luke]

@Luke- How do you feel about the view of rape in popular culture and internet culture altogether though? I feel like rape is used to make jokes much more than I would like, especially on the internet.

And then how do you feel about jokes or humor related to murder, death, or violence?

I honestly wouldn't know how to respond to your question. I'm on one internet forum, this one. I don't read comments on youtube, I don't "surf" the net, and I typically only use the net for business.

But as far as movies and comedy go, nothing is really out of bounds, but that doesn't mean it's always handled well.

The right way (from a female comedian): Any creep-os out in the audience? I don't think guys know how creepy they can be. I got back from a date last night and when he dropped me off at my apartment he grabbed my hand and said "I want to make you feel things you've never felt before". I told him "If by that you mean fearing for my life and unwanted sexual intercourse than you have already accomplished your mission".

Wrong way: "The physically handicapped are easy prey for rapists. Only problem is you'll end up getting some nasty bruises from those knee braces, I know from experience".


With tact and without being graphic anything can be funny...But some things are harder to make funny than others.

Simulated sex I'm fine with. Actors or actresses actually getting paid to have sex (Brown Bunny) makes me a bit sick. Totally cool with porn, not cool with non-porn people performing sex in a motion picture. For some reason I don't find porn degrading, but sex in movies turns my stomach. I see zero reason for it.

[prfsnl_gmr]

After reading a short article about it yesterday, I decided to watch:



The Spirit of the Beehive (1973). It is a quiet, breathtakingly beautiful Spanish film that serves as clear inspiration for Guillermo del Toro's Spanish films (particularly, The Devil's Backbone and Pan's Labyrinth). Set during the final days of the Spanish Civil War, the film relates the emotional turmoil of a seven-year-old girl who befriends a wounded Republican soldier hiding in a sheepfold near her home. As in Catherine Breillat's sublime Bluebeard (which IMO, is one of the most underrated films of the last five years) The Spirit of the Beehive is told from the perspective of a child for whom the the real and the imaginary is not always distinguishable. (A late film cameo by an iconic movie monster would be laughable if it wasn't, like everything else in the film, so beautiful.) The result entranced me from beginning to end, and I cannot recommend it highly enough.

(It is also available for streaming on Hulu+; so, those of you with the service have no excuse for not watching it tonight!)