Movie-sanitizing technology: clean flicks or dirty tricks?

I want these videos.
I have 3 children and Hollywood is going crazy with nudity, sex and violence.

Dear "Sanitizers" and their supporters:
If you think this is going to get movie-makers and artists of every kind to "see the light" and change their wicked ways you're wrong. You'll only make it more alluring than ever to get the "naked truth" version and cause them to become an underground market in its ultimate incarnation. Leave the originals alone and why not try and "work it out" with the original writers, directors, etc to get a more "family" version of the film. Sadly, it seems, compromise is an art form rarely expressed in today's society.
It was bound to happen though, I suppose. Aren't these modern "sanitizers" the vision of history repeating itself? About 350- 75 years ago some original Renaissance paintings were "edited" by those who felt the nudity and violence depicted was offensive. The medium is different but the intent remains the same. How sad for freedom of expression.

What these third parties are doing is wrong and illegal. I would be prosecuted for selling copies of movies or CD's without consent of the makers. And when did it become the governments job to parent your children? There is a ratings system and furthermore you yourself can view it and see if it's appropriate for your children. Be a parent and not a breeder. Do not denigrate the freedom of speech or expression or yours will be next!

I was aware of the fact that some people tend to cut out content from films, music, books and everything else that can possibly include offensive content. But I never realised that they went to such extremes as cutting a dancing scene because the woman is married to another man, or editing a film such as Shrek. I think that the public's reaction to violence and other 'offensive' content in films is one of the greatest exaggerations in modern day society. If a film includes content that is actually offensive - such as harsh language and extreme violence - it is never aimed at a young audience and should not be viewed by one. Films by directors like Quentin Tarantino and Guy Ritchy, for instance, should not be shown to young children in any form, as they do not work without the scenes that would be cut out when 'sanitised'. I think that parents' overreaction of explicit contents in films is getting close to reaching the level displayed in the film 'South Park - Bigger, Longer and Uncut'.
I call to the parents of America and the rest of the world (though mostly America, which seems to be the epicentre of the problem) to stop overreacting and start acting normal, before you cause damage to the film industry.

You have to keep in mind that if a movie needs to be cleaned up so kids can watch it, kids probably shouldn't watch it at all. The best filter for movies and the like are parents.

If there is a demand for edited movies then there will be someone willing to fill it. As long as there arent extra copies being introduced into the market, then there is really no harm. I'm sure that Hollywood would prefer the money in its own pockets though. Which is most likely what this is about. In most cases anyway.

In regard to the first amendment, this does not violate it at all. In fact if anything it supports it. Those wanting to watch the "Dirty" version of a film won't buy the "clean" edition, and those wanting to watch for example "Pearl Harbor" without a love scene should be given that right.

As for myself however, I'm not too interested in watching a film that needs to be edited in the first place. If it's that bad then I find it safe to assume that the overall message of the flick is not something I need to see.

There are many movies that are rated PG-13 or PG that would be good for a younger audience if only something as simple as the language was descent and nudity was tamed. Why is foul language accecptable even in society? We do not use it at most of our jobs.....why because it is inappropriate, rude, etc. So why use it in everyday converstaion and accept it in the movies. Many parents as myself do monitor TV and movies. If the Hollywood would use "good manners" of language and other appropriate content would that not entice the viewers who watch it to use the "good manners" also. Then wouldn't that possibly over time, improve how society speaks? Humans learn from what we see, and hear. Our actions then show what we have learned. So what is Hollywood teaching its viewers?? Children and adults alike. Why does all the sexual content that was once "cherished" in the privacy of a relationship where it belongs "private" need to be slapped across every movie/t.v. screen? Do we as viewers have no morals? Or is it the old saying of "Do as I say not as I do"? Do parents think that certain movies do not corrupt their own morals and manners? The true test would then be what is their family life like? How do they speak at home? What do the children say and how do they act? Violence breeds violence. A smile brings a smile, laughter brings laughter, kindness brings kindness. Do we need to shelter children from "war". No, it is part of human nature. Read any history book even the bible! But, ask any ex-soldier who has been at war, the gruesome sites they saw, the attrocities that occurred, would they want to live them again? Probably not! So why do we have to have it so graphically on the movie screens? I will take the word of a soldier who has been there and relives it in their dreams. Learn from others experiences! There is a proper age, and time to display such material. That is where the parent uses their discretion. I agree movie content should not be changed so much that the original meaning is skewed. But, if it had started out in a way that the foul language wasn't necessary to use it would not have had to be changed would it? There are movies that have inappropriate moral issues to be thought about. If a parent does not agree with it they either do not watch it or edit as they go to TEACH THEIR children what is apporpriate! Oh, that is right TEACHING is not the parents place that is for schools to do 8 hours of a childs day. WE ARE ALL RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT WE TEACH THE YOUTH TODAY. Parents, Hollywood, teachers, etc. Of course, if all worked together then we wouldn't have any of these converstaions, arguements, and legal messess to deal with would we. Hmmmmm, where could I have spent my time better?? May be MY FAMILY.

>You have to keep in mind that if a movie needs to be cleaned up so kids can watch it, kids probably shouldn't watch it at all. The best filter for movies and the like are parents.

Forget the kids. I want them cleaned up for me.

I don't understand how it is wrong to edit a movie for television so that the general audience can watch it, but it is wrong when the same people that would otherwise wait for the TV version want a clean version of it now. I am one of these people, and unless there is a PG (or at least PG-13) version of a movie that I really want to see, I won't watch it until it comes out on TV. Honestly these people are doing Hollywood a favor and giving there movies to a larger audience. They pay the same price as any other resale company for the movies and then edit them. So in effect they are giving more money to the movie producers then they would get otherwise.
True some people would watch it anyway, but there are a lot that wouldn't. And true some movies would be all of two minuets long if the sex, violence, and profanity were cut out (personally I find these movies worthless and degrading to society so I wouldn't watch they anyway). But some movies are good and have moral value, to us and our children, except for one part. Are we the kind of society that tell those who want good moral entertainment to stuff it? Are we that arrogant as a nation?

This argument is a no-brainer! Where is the ACLU in this debate? Freedom? The government stepping into a private person's decision to change or view a changed product that has been purchased? How can anyone be against private individuals in the privacy of their homes doing this? Has our country gone insane? Am I allowed to change my vehicle once I purchase it? After all, the auto makers who designed it are artists in their own right, aren't they? Let's make it illegal to get body work done on our cars and then rent or sell them. Of course no one objects to that because this argument has nothing to do with artistic expression. Those opposed to the sanitizers simply want to push their morals onto others, something they've accused the sanitizers of doing for years. Be consistent! Open your eyes America! You just aren't thinking this through if you side with Hollywood on this one.

The world has a double standard. It's okay when you become an adult to see nudity, hear bad language, etc. Many of us do not feel that way - it's wrong for everyone - child or parent. Even the versions on tv leave in words we do not want to hear. YOU don't have to watch the edited version - WE WANT to! Many times a film would have been wonderful - the bad words weren't necessary or the nudity was gratuitous. Why can't you have your nasty version and we have an uplifiting version? We're not forcing anyone to watch the edited version. I'd rather boycott all the filmakers who filed this lawsuit forever and wish all those who felt the same way would do the same.

I really don't care if Hollywood gets a message or not. There is always someone willing to buy trashy movies or good movies with some trash in them. I think it's atroceous to forbid those that would like to enjoy certain movies without the distasteful elements while giving the rest of Americans the right to see what they like... nudity, graphic violence and foul language. I think it's a compliment to the producers that we even want to watch the movies for their good plot and good production. We just don't want to be subjected to the parts that offend us. It's more sales for them ,anyway you look at it, so why are they complaining! Frankly, Hollywood has been editing God and anything to do with Christianity out of their movies for years,(except for making us look stupid and hypocritical) all we are asking is the same right to remove their offensive material while still enjoying the good parts of the movie.

I am quite interested in this whole discussion because I'm a teacher at a high school in Idaho. While I'm far from a prude when it comes to the movies I watch, I'm less comfortable showing films in class that contain foul language and even suggestions of nudity. In fact, in the district I'm in, I could get fired for showing such films in class. I am very careful to not show anything over PG-13 in class; however, PG 13 now is what R was 10 years ago. Therefore, I'm all for the idea of having the option of "editing" films for use in the classroom. The problem I run into is that I don't have the equipment to edit the films for my own personal showing. Therefore, having a service such as Clean Flicks or similar company is a privilege, not a detriment. It's far from an infringement upon freedom of speech because the original movies are still out there and available for purchase/rent.

Let me pose the question this way, then: How many of you truly believe that the human brain is able to filter out everything we watch and listen to? If you said yes, how do you account for a game that is often played in social settings called "The song stuck in your head game"? Basically, what happens (mainly for aural learners) is that a song is played that has a catchy or familiar tune. Soon after, the person who heard the song (the victim) begins singing the song over and over again until it drives them crazy (along with everyone around them). The cycle continues for all of those aural people out there until everyone is going crazy on a song that no one even likes.

The situation described in the previous paragraph is exactly what happens to freshmen after watching any movie. If the movie has been edited, you don't run the risk of having the kids go home repeating things they shouldn't be saying. However, even PG movies now have foul language and strong suggestions. To say that we are able to filter all of this out of our heads and not have it affect how the kids interact with other kids, their teachers, their parents, etc. is absolute rubbish. Hollywood and a lack of quality parenting has successfully turned our teen culture into an apathetic society of disrespectful hooligans who have no idea how to think for themselves.

Granted, there are exceptions to the previous "rule"; however, why are we taking so many chances. Of course, before you start asking why I'm using films in my class, I have very specific reasons for showing films. I don't believe in wasting time by just showing films all the time. However, it is often a good idea to show visuals of what the students are reading; however, if you have to keep fast forwarding all the time through the bad stuff (especially with DVDs which are harder), it's pretty annoying for both the teacher and the students...AND...freshman are notoriously BAD at getting back on task once something pulls them away. That's just human nature.

Anyway, you can take my side of the argument for what it's worth, but as a teacher, I'm quite disappointed that I can no longer have the option of purchasing a clean version of the more modern movies that my students are more interested in. After all, you can't show "Old" movies in class...it wouldn't be Studently Correct (SC). Ciao

I work on a University campus. The language that I hear used in everyday conversation by our young adults, our future, is shocking to me. It is commonplace to them because they hear it everywhere. The entertainment industry contributes greatly to this problem.

I am the mother of three and I am constantly explaining to my children that the things they hear and see everyday are not acceptable. Parents have the responsibility to teach their children correct standards and morals, but this task becomes more difficult every day. As soon as a clean alternative to something is made available to us, it is shut down. What are we thinking as a society?

We live in a capitalist society and as long as sex, violence, bad language and poor behavior sell on the movie and television screen, we will continue to see it. I rarely go to a movie or watch television these days. I don't want my kids exposed to it and I don't want to be exposed to it either.

Well, I hope those that wanted to impose their belief system on us who would like to watch clean movies are happy - the courts have stepped in and the "sanitizers" are no more. It was a very sad day for me. I had waited over 30 years to watch the Godfather, and many years to watch other movies. I would have never seen, "The Game", which is really a great movie. Hollywood's audience was expanded. These sanitizers, (just like Netflix and Blockbuster) kept an unedited copy on hand for every edited copy they sent out - copies they purchased w/ profits for each and every one going to Hollywood. I don't understand the argument against the sanitizers (i.e. Clean Films, Clean Flix, etc.) How can people argue against them using the constitution and free speech which argue the opposite. For the vast majority that watches (and lets their little ones watch) whatever content found in the movies they see - you have lost NOTHING. On the other hand, people like me - a minority, no doubt, but made up of many, will go back to our old black & white reruns. No one is asking any of you to give up watching what you want, it was just a great pleasure for a few short years to be able to see a lot of movies I'd never seen before, and that I could watch with my kids. I guess my TVG (it blocks out foul language in movies) mode I have on my DVD player and VCR will be confiscated next. Is this America? Thanks for allowing me my two cents.

It makes me sick every time I think of Clean Flicks, etc. being shut down. I realize I would have to purchase the movie in the original form, but if I choose to pay someone else to edit "my movie" because I don't have the ability, technology, or possibly the time, I should have the right to do so. I am paying someone to do "me" a service. Hollywood is not loosing any money as long as I purchase the the original CD. If I am not happy with the way it has been edited, then I need to take that up with the person who is doing the editing. As several others have stated, we, as Americans, should have the right to watch good movies without the trash. If that means paying almost double for the movie, so be it. In the long run, Hollywood is making more money because I am buying a movie I wouldn't otherwise (if it wasn't edited) purchase. It's actually a win win situation for everyone. As one person stated, if you buy a car and decide to put on seat covers because you don't care for the seats, that should be your right as an American. If you can't put them on yourself, you should be able to hire someone to put them on for you.

I believe this issue needs to be revisited as it is not a matter of selling edited movies, but a matter of someone doing a service for someone who can't or doesn't want to take the time and effort to do it themselves.

Taking violence, sex, bad language, etc. out of a movie certainly isn't causing harm to anyone, and if we want to pay for having it done, we should be able to.

It is amazing to me to listen to people stick up for the film industry in Hollywood. Would they really rather we didn't watch their movies at all? The trick is that we as people with standards need to stick to our standards. Many people that want the edited versions need to make sure we are not supporting these films when they are not edited. If we can take a stand and show how much money they will lose by not allowing the films to be edited then maybe this could change. My fear is a that many will just say, "OH WELL, I GUESS I'LL JUST WATCH IT ANYWAY." That is exactly what they want. TAKE A STAND FOR OUR VALUES AND FOR THE FUTURE GENERATION. LET THEM KNOW IT'S O.K. TO NOT GIVE IN TO THE CRUDE BEHAVIORS OF THE WORLD TODAY. IT'S O.K. TO BE A GOOD PERSON AND HAVE MORALS. IT'S SAD THAT IT IS FROWNED UPON BY SO MANY.

I have sympathy for these arguments only for movies which have never been legitimately cut for TV or airplanes. If they approve such a version but choose not to sell it, then it is, in my opinion, the ultimate in hypocrisy to complain that someone wants to watch that version, which you made, approved, and then refused to sell to consumers. Start selling the officially edited versions, and THEN tell people that they can't edit it down themselves for reasons of artistic integrity.

I really think that these movies can be useful, but when you have to alter the movie extensively, I think you would be better off not watching the movie at all.