Re: [MOPO] HOSTILE TOWARD HOSTEL

[JR]

Doc,   I completely agree. Great to see a well-versed lover of "horror" films like yourself stepping up to say what needs to be said. It's time to take the genre back from the violence-porn producers and directors.   Now, of course, we will hear from all those who still believe that "films and television really don't affect people's behavior... most people can tell the difference between fantasy and reality... etc."  The usual rationalizations. Note that they will say "most people". So, I guess that makes everything cool if such things don't turn "most people" into homicidal maniacs? Just a few out them? How many? One out of 10,000... one out of 100,000? With a population of 300 million, that only means creating 3,000 to 30,000 homicidal maniacs. No big deal, I guess... easily worth it in order form some people to be able to indulge their interest in viewing this extremely realistic, over-the-top, psycho-sexual crap and "preserve" their first amendment rights. Sure it is.   Total hogwash, of course. Investigations of the recent killings by young people clearly shows their obsession with ultra-violent films and video games. But people still choose to ignore this evidence and hail chic, sexy vioporn flicks like the KILL BILL films as modern classics on the same level with CITIZEN KANE or DR. ZHIVAGO.   They just won't believe that films and television can affect the attitudes and actions of "most people" -- but if that's true, why is advertising a multi-billion dollar industry? Why pay all that money to put commercials on television and in the theaters if they don't actually influence the attitudes and actions of most people?   I'm not advocating government censorship of such junk, but both government and societal disapproval and disavowal of it. That's the way it used to be. 30 years ago, filmmakers simply didn't go so far. They knew the public would reject it and they would lose money. They knew they would be despised by their peers for making such things. But over time they managed to push the envelope a bit further with each new "horror" film until now anything goes. It's time to reestablish self-regulation in this area. The best thing anyone can do is NOT pay any money to see this film and to urge their friends not to either. They could also communicate their disapproval to the theater owners for showing it. They could also petition the MPAA to rate such films X for eXcessive violence. They could complain to the television stations that run the commercials for such atrocities - which exposes children as young as 2 or 3 years old to the basic perverted concepts in the film, if not all the gory details.   I don't believe government should have the right to tell film makers they can't make a certain type of movie, but I certainly believe our society has a right to protect itself from the dangerous and dehumanizing effects of such pollution by doing everything it can to discourage them, prevent anyone under 18 from even seeing glimpse of them (as in TV commercials) and to do  as much as possible to make producing such violence pornography a money-losing proposition.   -- JR ----- Original Message ----- From: Dr Vollin Md To: MoPo-L@LISTSERV.AMERICAN.EDU Sent: Tuesday, January 17, 2006 12:56 Subject: [MOPO] HOSTILE TOWARD HOSTEL Hey gang! Now I remember why todays so called "Horror" genre should be cast down to the bowels of a beast called atrocity.  A nauseating viewing of Hostel reassured me of my thoughts toward mankind's view of entertainment. What scared me was that there are people in this world as sick and evil as the characters in "Hostel." I guess I just can't go to the movies anymore, unless I'm seeing a Disney animation (is it still called animation or is there a new word for it). And I will certainly forget any future plans on going to Amsterdam. We do not have any room in this vicious world for films that promote or exploit violence towards other human beings. It is just too much!! Turn on the TV and watch 4 teens beat a defenseless homeless man to death. with BASEBALL BATS mind you? Vicious cowards. I think Mr. Tarantino has tarnished his name by being involved with this project. It makes his Pulp Fiction and Reservoir Dogs look like bed time stories. I am sure Mr. Roth's ancestors would be PROUD of his work in this film?? I bet this film would even make Leatherface vomit! Nuff said. RATING: TWO FANGS DOWN - FOR TOO MUCH VIOLENCE - the doctor Visit the MoPo Mailing List Web Site at www.filmfan.com ___________________________________________________________________ How to UNSUBSCRIBE from the MoPo Mailing List Send a message addressed to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] In the BODY of your message type: SIGNOFF MOPO-L The author of this message is solely responsible for its content. Visit the MoPo Mailing List Web Site at www.filmfan.com ___________________________________________________________________ How to UNSUBSCRIBE from the MoPo Mailing List Send a message addressed to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] In the BODY of your message type: SIGNOFF MOPO-L The author of this message is solely responsible for its content.