The Ohio Sci-Fi and Horror Marathons

OH MY GOD


WHAT THE HELL???







I have to see it.

discussion continued from other thread:


To Adam H,

I never labeled the film pornographic. I said some films at the marathon this year may be too extreme and pornographic for me. Meaning they contain what I consider to be pornographic content. The rating board may label it scenes of extreme sexual nature and it's in that context that I define the term pornographic. Now I certainly don't think Serbian film is a porno but I can say that I feel some scenes may be too pornographic for me. My point earlier was that great art to some is simply offensive and pornographic to others. Everyone has a right to watch the film and the filmakers have every right to make this film. That doesn't necessarily mean it's the right thing to do or we should support it but they have every right to make it.

I also take issue with being told I have to watch something before I judge it. The fact remains that once something is seen it CANNOT BE UNSEEN. This is a fact. Some people witness horrible crimes against humanity and have a hard time returning to the scene of the crime often breaking down, having panic attacks or extreme difficulty being in the same place they witnessed the crime. The trauma from witnessing something horrific can stay in a persons psyche for the rest of their life. Now I agree that I can't judge if the film is good if I haven't seen it or even mount an extremely effective argument as to why it's content is offensive if I haven't seen it but I can judge wether or not I want to see it by finding out what's in it. If a hunter invites me to go into the woods with him and I ask him why and he says so I can watch him shoot dear I don't need to go and actually view the act before knowing how it would make me feel. It's not something I want to see. In fact I would say I didn't judge the film at all but went looking for information on it all over the internet, read reviews from similar minded folks and heard about it's content and then I made an informed decision not to see it and quite possibly to object to it on moral levels but because I refuse to watch it I will never push that argument too far. What I definitely know is I don't want to watch it or support it. It's hard to get into the real meat of this debate because there are two scenes of the film in question that we can't discuss without spoiling the film and it's difficult to tap dance around those. Maybe after you watch it we can discuss in greater detail.

You keep saying the film needs to be seen first but you forget that many have seen the film and a majority are condemning it. Many others are saying if you don't want to see XXXX then do not go and see this. One wished he had known about the film's content before going in and wishes he could reverse his decision to watch the movie. When a movie pushes the limits of what has been put on film before and tests the sensitivities of society at large like this one does I feel and audience should at least know what they are about to view so they can decide if they want the trauma of living through such an experience. I am glad I took the time to read about some of the content so I know this is not for me.

I don't believe you can object to it on moral levels without seeing it. You said earlier art is subjective, so making a moral judgement based on other peoples' reaction seems to be contrary to you believing that. Random strangers on the internet don't tell you how to react to something. I fully believe you have the right to choose not to watch something based on what you read, but that's it. Once you choose not to watch it, you lose the chance to pass a moral judgement on it because you will never know all the details. The most important one being how YOU actually feel about it.

Comparing a movie that I heard just gets ridiculously over the top towards the end to witnessing a real life tragedy is stretching it.

Also about the majority of people condemning it, the 2 reviews I have seen (Knowles review and Ben from the Mondo Movie podcast's review) have been positive. The one person I know that has seen it, loved it.

Adam you're smarter then me so maybe you're right. I am going to talk more about A Serbian Film with you after you see it so we can discuss it better. I think I will be able to paint a better picture of where I'm coming from when we can do that.

Either way we will have fun at the thon as I'm thinking about ordering my ticket tonight. You have to promise to stay through the whole thing with me though as everyone wusses out and leaves around 2:00. If a Serbian Film shows I'll just sit on your face while it's playing so you can enjoy it better.

You know that you're the smartest of them all. Remember I have to show up late, so I promise I will stay until the end with you. And if we aren't tired and sick of watching movies, JOE DANTE MOVIES AT GATEWAY.

good to see some heated debate over this film. I think that right there is enough to prove this film has something special about it. I've only seen the trailer and i hope we get to watch it. it seems like one of those movies you wanna look away from but you just cant. like a deer caught in the head lights.

My only opinion, is that horror films are horrific in nature. I often laugh when i watch people get canned by a killer or monster. I find myself rooting for the killers. I want the next kill to be worse than the first one. Horror films are like that now. I want to see a horror film worse than the one before. Piranhas 3D was pretty horrific. it was also very whore-ific if you know what i mean. so, if there is a movie worse than that. Count me in. I wanna be there first in line with a smile on my face. just itching to see somebody get killed. because thats what horror movies are for. Fake killing. its entertaining, fun, and creepy at the same time.

I've read a lot about this film & have no desire to view it. But, this is me. To me, there is a difference between horror movies & traumatic, life changing horrific images. When Stuart Gordon brought 'Irreversible' with him, for our viewing pleasure, I realized these types of films are not for me. So, I will be coming this year & will likely sit out for 'Martyrs'. If 'A Serbian Film' ever makes the list, I will definately sit out on that one too. But, I certainly wouldn't boycott the Marathon. Some people like such things, but I am too fond of my own psyche', too allow such images to infect it.

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"From the eternal sea he rises, creating armies on either shore... Turning man against his brother, 'Til man exists no more..."

thats fine, so long as you dont boycott the marathon, everyone wins right?

the only thing i will say for these type of movies defense, is that its just a movie, when it comes down to everything. its all fake.

turn on the news and they will tell you about a child raper, or a kid being killed for throwing an egg. I think the news is more disturbing for they talk about real life.