How do you feel about sex scenes in movies, TV shows, etc.?

[QUOTE="Samurai_Xavier"]

[QUOTE="SaintLeonidas"]People have sex. The thought might scare you, but they do. And it isn't always planned or purposeful sex either. Can it be gratuitous at times? Sure. But it is a part of life and if shows or films want to include it then I am perfectly fine with that. SaintLeonidas

Thats fine.

Problem is, sex in movies/tv is nothing like real life sex. 

Depends on the movie or show we are talking about.

[QUOTE="Samurai_Xavier"]

[QUOTE="SaintLeonidas"]People have sex. The thought might scare you, but they do. And it isn't always planned or purposeful sex either. Can it be gratuitous at times? Sure. But it is a part of life and if shows or films want to include it then I am perfectly fine with that. SaintLeonidas

Thats fine.

Problem is, sex in movies/tv is nothing like real life sex. 

How is it any worse than all the violence we often see in movies? 

You can have all the horrifying, graphic, gory violence you want in a PG-13 movie.

But by God don't ever show a nippleNuck81

Taking what you said more literal, I don't think I've ever seen a PG-13 movie with contents as you described. 

I completely understand the point your tying to make here though, I'll give you that.

It's hard to come up with a counter, but perhaps, more often than not, you generally know what you're getting into when it comes down to violent entertainment, as apposed to a graphic scene just showing up out of nowhere. For example, if I'm going to watch a show like the The Walking Dead, I should expect to see some "horrifying, graphic, or gory violence" scenes to take place in it.

But, to be fair, I suppose the older, the more "mature" the entertainment is rated, or "viewed as" itself, I should also just come to expect some form of sexual implications. As it seems to be the norm these days. So it's sort of null and voiding my original point.

Meh.

If the movie's story and context are sexual in nature, go for it and don't hold back. One of Helen Mirren's best roles was where she played the battered wife of a Thatcherite gangster and has an affair behind his back with some extremely explicit sex scenes. But the whole movie was done in such an artful way the scenes themselves were sweet and powerful. This is Peter Greenaway's The Cook, The Thief, His Wife, and Her Lover (1989) btw. Or Arcand's The Decline of the American Empire (1986) where it's about two groups of friends (men and women) who pretty much spend the whole movie discussing their sex lives and screwing around behind each others' backs. All good stuff, and the French understand how to do sensuality.

But if it's True Blood where they bone in slow motion and then actually switch positions a few times, then porn stars are doing a better job than them. In Mad Men's case, the scene between Don and Sylvia in the hotel room was pivotal to the whorehouse plot and Don's breaking psyche (and also much more erotic than anything on HBO).

I hate when I'm watching a porn and a unrelated story sex scene ruins the whole movie for me.

So watching dexter is ok when a mentally ill person that is a psycho path is killing other psycho paths in ritualistic and brutal ways with lying, drugs, cursing and so on throughout the show but you have a problem with a sex scene?

Sex is a part of dexter just like it is part of life itself. When dexter has sex with rita its because he loves her and he enjoys being with her. When deb has sex with this random guy she meets at a gym she handcuffs him and takes charges because that scene shows how emotionally damaged she is after her last boyfriend turned out to be a killer who almost killed her. Or when batista picks up a hooker, he does it because he is lonely and misses having someone in his life. When quinn has sex its usually with some dumb bimbo because banging bimbos, drinking too much, and being a little loose with the rules is part of quinns character.

Sex is a part of life. If it makes you feel uncomfortable then you either grew up in a religious atmosphere that makes people feel guilty for natural things, or you had some messed up experince that has scarred you. Just the fact you can deal with violence, but sex in a tv show makes you feel uncomfortable says a lot about you.

If you exclude sex from a tv show, movie, or whatnot you exclude one of the most basic human elements that everyone can relate to. Its a biological desire, it is its own emotion, a persons sexuality is part of who they are as a person and so on. Sex is the one thing that all life on this planet is put here for, to produce more of its species. Whether youre a bird, a fish, a elephant or a human propogation of your species is something all life shares.

But like I said if the incredibly tame sex scenes in dexter bother you then you have issues because you never actually see hardcore penetrative sex in dexter. THe violence on the other hand is far far far more graphic in that show than the sex has ever been. But thats how messed up our society is, its ok to see a boob chopped off a woman by a axe wielding maniac, but if a man is holding the boob and kissing it then thats just wrong.

It's a bit annoying for me.

Don't get me wrong, I loved all the nipples and gratutious sex in Spartacus and GoT; Emilia Clarke is sexy af, but I get irked because it feels tacked on

So watching dexter is ok when a mentally ill person that is a psycho path is killing other psycho paths in ritualistic and brutal ways with lying, drugs, cursing and so on throughout the show but you have a problem with a sex scene?

 

Sex is a part of dexter just like it is part of life itself. When dexter has sex with rita its because he loves her and he enjoys being with her. When deb has sex with this random guy she meets at a gym she handcuffs him and takes charges because that scene shows how emotionally damaged she is after her last boyfriend turned out to be a killer who almost killed her. Or when batista picks up a hooker, he does it because he is lonely and misses having someone in his life. When quinn has sex its usually with some dumb bimbo because banging bimbos, drinking too much, and being a little loose with the rules is part of quinns character.

 

Sex is a part of life. If it makes you feel uncomfortable then you either grew up in a religious atmosphere that makes people feel guilty for natural things, or you had some messed up experince that has scarred you. Just the fact you can deal with violence, but sex in a tv show makes you feel uncomfortable says a lot about you.

 

If you exclude sex from a tv show, movie, or whatnot you exclude one of the most basic human elements that everyone can relate to. Its a biological desire, it is its own emotion, a persons sexuality is part of who they are as a person and so on. Sex is the one thing that all life on this planet is put here for, to produce more of its species. Whether youre a bird, a fish, a elephant or a human propogation of your species is something all life shares.

 

But like I said if the incredibly tame sex scenes in dexter bother you then you have issues because you never actually see hardcore penetrative sex in dexter. THe violence on the other hand is far far far more graphic in that show than the sex has ever been. But thats how messed up our society is, its ok to see a boob chopped off a woman by a axe wielding maniac, but if a man is holding the boob and kissing it then thats just wrong.

Gargus

I don't think that's really the problem here. It's not like "eww get this off my screen", I think the main thing people in this thread are saying is "okay, they're having sex. Let's get on with the actual plot."

You can convey to the audience that two characters are f*cking in about 5-10 seconds. You don't need to show a 3-minute long sex scene to get that point across unless something specific happens during sex that develops a character in some way.

It's a bit annoying for me.

Don't get me wrong, I loved all the nipples and gratutious sex in Spartacus and GoT; Emilia Clarke is sexy af, but I get irked because it feels tacked on

supa_badman

Okay, I forgot about Spartacus. I kind of love Gods of the Arena because of how lavish and weird the orgies are. It's like watching a circus.

But anything after that, the sex scenes in Vengeance and War of the Damned were pretty boring and killed screen time.

They're mostly awkwardly inserted into a scene and don't benefit the plot or anything important.

[QUOTE="supa_badman"]

It's a bit annoying for me.

Don't get me wrong, I loved all the nipples and gratutious sex in Spartacus and GoT; Emilia Clarke is sexy af, but I get irked because it feels tacked on

Sharpie125

Okay, I forgot about Spartacus. I kind of love Gods of the Arena because of how lavish and weird the orgies are. It's like watching a circus.

But anything after that, the sex scenes in Vengeance and War of the Damned were pretty boring and killed screen time.

So watching dexter is ok when a mentally ill person that is a psycho path is killing other psycho paths in ritualistic and brutal ways with lying, drugs, cursing and so on throughout the show but you have a problem with a sex scene?

 

Sex is a part of dexter just like it is part of life itself. When dexter has sex with rita its because he loves her and he enjoys being with her. When deb has sex with this random guy she meets at a gym she handcuffs him and takes charges because that scene shows how emotionally damaged she is after her last boyfriend turned out to be a killer who almost killed her. Or when batista picks up a hooker, he does it because he is lonely and misses having someone in his life. When quinn has sex its usually with some dumb bimbo because banging bimbos, drinking too much, and being a little loose with the rules is part of quinns character.

 

Sex is a part of life. If it makes you feel uncomfortable then you either grew up in a religious atmosphere that makes people feel guilty for natural things, or you had some messed up experince that has scarred you. Just the fact you can deal with violence, but sex in a tv show makes you feel uncomfortable says a lot about you.

 

If you exclude sex from a tv show, movie, or whatnot you exclude one of the most basic human elements that everyone can relate to. Its a biological desire, it is its own emotion, a persons sexuality is part of who they are as a person and so on. Sex is the one thing that all life on this planet is put here for, to produce more of its species. Whether youre a bird, a fish, a elephant or a human propogation of your species is something all life shares.

 

But like I said if the incredibly tame sex scenes in dexter bother you then you have issues because you never actually see hardcore penetrative sex in dexter. THe violence on the other hand is far far far more graphic in that show than the sex has ever been. But thats how messed up our society is, its ok to see a boob chopped off a woman by a axe wielding maniac, but if a man is holding the boob and kissing it then thats just wrong.

Gargus

What is this? There's no reason to go off on such a tangent.

I think you've got the wrong idea about me. I never said I had a problem with sex in general. If I did, I wouldn't have brought up the option of porn. I just have a problem with it if it holds no value to the show itself, which, in most of the shows I've seen, it rarely does. You don't have to completely remove the act either, just make sure it doesn't take up a good chunk of time, that's all. Like I said, you can even imply the act too, and I'll still get the overall relevance here. I mean, If you enjoying watch them that's your thing, but there's no reason to start jump to conclusions, claiming I have some "deep, underlining personal issues" or something.

Also, the only reason I said Dexter's sex scenes were awkward is because whenever Michael C Hall is "going at it" he sounds like he's riding on some rickety see-saw, that's all.

Besides, is it so wrong to only want to view sex when I'm in the mood to view it, and not when I ain't?

I don't like it either. Even though I don't care for it, I'd rather for it to at least be related to the story. However, some of the posts in this thread do have a point because in real life there will be times where it is nothing meaningful. I still don't want to watch a mini porn scene though. Meaning or no meaning, fake or real, the actions are/look the same.

After watching Spartacus...

Yeah I think I'm kinda use to it.

I take issue with the idea that it's unhealthy to enjoy violence in films and dislike elaborated sex scenes. Scenes of violence are evocative by virtue of usually being the culmination of a plot's central conflict. Sex scenes are not and do not produce any emotional response. At best sex moves the plot forward or serves as character development. This can be accomplished, however, by implying the act and not showing it. Graphic visualizations of sex are just obnoxious in a show that takes itself seriously. 

I don't think that's really the problem here. It's not like "eww get this off my screen", I think the main thing people in this thread are saying is "okay, they're having sex. Let's get on with the actual plot."

You can convey to the audience that two characters are f*cking in about 5-10 seconds. You don't need to show a 3-minute long sex scene to get that point across unless something specific happens during sex that develops a character in some way.

JML897

Dont care either way, never really watched a movie that it bothered me.

[QUOTE="SNIPER4321"]I find them disgusting. if i was in control i banned all movies and tv shows that promote nudiity, sex scenes, etc etc they are utterly useless and more funny. i watch action movies alot. but when any romantic scene or kissing come in any action movie. it kills its atmosphere and badassery. chaoscougar1

I take issue with the idea that it's unhealthy to enjoy violence in films and dislike elaborated sex scenes. Scenes of violence are evocative by virtue of usually being the culmination of a plot's central conflict. Sex scenes are not and do not produce any emotional response. At best sex moves the plot forward or serves as character development. This can be accomplished, however, by implying the act and not showing it. Graphic visualizations of sex are just obnoxious in a show that takes itself seriously. 

espoac

And why are they obnoxious?  Furthermore, to people saying they need to be relevant to the plot, why?  Frankly, I think the idea that sex scenes need to have relevance to the plot underscores this idea that sex has to be put in the corner.  Sex is a part of everyday life, why not have it in movies just because?  These characters are (usually) human, they have urges like everybody else, why not show them having sex as a matter of fact?  Sex is something everybody does, yet when it comes to showing it on screen we have to put all these qualifications and restrictions on it, why?  Just accept it as a beautiful part of human existence.  I wasn't joking before about wanting full porno, either.  I would love to see a legitimate movie do an actual porn scene.  Hell, movies can get away with showing genitalia now, why not just put it all together?

They make watching shows with your parents a lot more awkward. See: first episode of Boardwalk Empire, watching Steve Buscemi ram someone was not on my to-do list.

[QUOTE="Gargus"]

So watching dexter is ok when a mentally ill person that is a psycho path is killing other psycho paths in ritualistic and brutal ways with lying, drugs, cursing and so on throughout the show but you have a problem with a sex scene?

 

Sex is a part of dexter just like it is part of life itself. When dexter has sex with rita its because he loves her and he enjoys being with her. When deb has sex with this random guy she meets at a gym she handcuffs him and takes charges because that scene shows how emotionally damaged she is after her last boyfriend turned out to be a killer who almost killed her. Or when batista picks up a hooker, he does it because he is lonely and misses having someone in his life. When quinn has sex its usually with some dumb bimbo because banging bimbos, drinking too much, and being a little loose with the rules is part of quinns character.

 

Sex is a part of life. If it makes you feel uncomfortable then you either grew up in a religious atmosphere that makes people feel guilty for natural things, or you had some messed up experince that has scarred you. Just the fact you can deal with violence, but sex in a tv show makes you feel uncomfortable says a lot about you.

 

If you exclude sex from a tv show, movie, or whatnot you exclude one of the most basic human elements that everyone can relate to. Its a biological desire, it is its own emotion, a persons sexuality is part of who they are as a person and so on. Sex is the one thing that all life on this planet is put here for, to produce more of its species. Whether youre a bird, a fish, a elephant or a human propogation of your species is something all life shares.

 

But like I said if the incredibly tame sex scenes in dexter bother you then you have issues because you never actually see hardcore penetrative sex in dexter. THe violence on the other hand is far far far more graphic in that show than the sex has ever been. But thats how messed up our society is, its ok to see a boob chopped off a woman by a axe wielding maniac, but if a man is holding the boob and kissing it then thats just wrong.

JML897

I don't think that's really the problem here. It's not like "eww get this off my screen", I think the main thing people in this thread are saying is "okay, they're having sex. Let's get on with the actual plot."

You can convey to the audience that two characters are f*cking in about 5-10 seconds. You don't need to show a 3-minute long sex scene to get that point across unless something specific happens during sex that develops a character in some way.

[QUOTE="JML897"]

I don't think that's really the problem here. It's not like "eww get this off my screen", I think the main thing people in this thread are saying is "okay, they're having sex. Let's get on with the actual plot."

You can convey to the audience that two characters are f*cking in about 5-10 seconds. You don't need to show a 3-minute long sex scene to get that point across unless something specific happens during sex that develops a character in some way.

0Hamburgher

I can't tell whether you're kidding or not, but the sex scenes in American Psycho were to reveal narcissism.

I'm fine with it. I think it makes you see the characters as more human since sex is a part of life. And it doesn't always need a deep emotional context either, though it's fine when it does since that's life too. If I'm following a character on tv or movies or whatever, they might just get horny and want sex like humans do sometimes.

I think Game of Thrones is a good depiction of showing different characters with different needs and wants. For some it's for power, some it's lust, some are in love, some are for pleasure, some are looking for comfort, whatever the need is.

As long as the show/movie has the proper ratings for parents to protect their kids and lets people know that there might be sexual images and issue that view discretion advised part then bring it on.

I'm fine with it. I think it makes you see the characters as more human since sex is a part of life. And it doesn't always need a deep emotional context either, though it's fine when it does since that's life too. If I'm following a character on tv or movies or whatever, they might just get horny and want sex like humans do sometimes.

I think Game of Thrones is a good depiction of showing different characters with different needs and wants. For some it's for power, some it's lust, some are in love, some are for pleasure, some are looking for comfort, whatever the need is.

As long as the show/movie has the proper ratings for parents to protect their kids and lets people know that there might be sexual images and issue that view discretion advised part then bring it on.

theycallmeRP

That's my whole thing, why even have ratings if some things are going to be out of bounds anyways?  Why not have porn on TV or in major movies so long as there's fair warning?  You can show breasts, you can show genitalia (well, I guess they an only really show bush on women, men can have their dongs flopping around all they want, what's up with that?), you can show a guy humping a woman, why can't you go one step further and show porn so long as people are warned about it?  We need this generation's version of Midnight Cowboy.

Not really bothered by them.

Michael0134567

As long as their in context to the film then I'm fine with them

The_Gaming_Baby

I find them mostly unnecessary and kinda weird. 

As title says.

Not trying to sound like a prude here, but personally... I hate them.

Typically sex scenes bring nothing of real value to the story itself. I mean, is it too much to ask for them just to imply the act, instead of wasting time? There's also the matter of how awkward these sex scenes can get. The show Dexter comes to mind when saying this. I couldn't help but cringe at some of those scenes in that show, and I was alone while watching them too. Finally, let's be honest here, if I really wanted to watch sex I'll just go online and look up some porn or something. I don't need my TV shows or movies to help get me off, you know what I'm sayin'?

So, I'm curious to know, how does everyone else feel about the topic?

Trail_Mix

Completely agree...

I find that they are usually just thrown in because there's not enough material to fill the entire run time...they very rarely (but sometimes) add to the story...

Just as long as the couple is goodlooking and they show enough skin on both of them, then i am all for sex scenes in movies.

I agree with you op, sex can just be implied we don't need to some awkard porno scene, most of the time sex scenes adds nothing.

  I would love to see a legitimate movie do an actual porn scene.  Hell, movies can get away with showing genitalia now, why not just put it all together?

theone86

Sounds like Lars von Trier is your man.

I love a (again) sensual and evocative scene, and while sex may be a part of every day life, voyeurism isn't. Even if two characters are having casual sex, that's as much plot or character development as everything else people have been discussing. If it's a sex scene for the sake of boobies, chances are it's going to be shoddy. And that is more an affront to the medium than the idea itself.

It depends. In Spartacus 99% of them were gratuitous, pointless, and extremely dumb. In Game of Thrones they were sometimes plot relevant (i.e, the one at the end of the first episode), but as long as they aren't unnecessary or there just for the sake of it, but I'm fine. Also, another thing in regards to violence over sex, why is it okay to watch a sword go through someone's throat, but it's wrong to show a d!ck going into a v@gina, even when it's implied? Please do tell me. ShadowsDemon

A sword going through a guy's throat doesn't often last 5 minutes and is awkward as shit.

Very sexy!

Fine, that's fine.

Iszdope

[QUOTE="Michael0134567"]

Not really bothered by them.

Hiddai

I dont mind the sex scenes, but it has to be crucial to the movie.

I am more tired of sexing being obligatory in most movies.

It really is of now importance most of the time. lol