No "Saving Private Ryan"

[Hodag]

It seems that several stations are pulling the showing of Saving Private Ryan tonight. Because of the violence and naughty language. Maybe they should edit it, and make it all nice so people aren't offended by images of war.
On top of that its Veterans day.
Mark

[bullit7801]

The network can't edit this film. Spielburg sold them the rights to the movie with the stipulation that they COULD NOT edit in any way without his permission.

First post, learning, looking to see how this appears.
I'll get fancy later.

Bullit

[TheSlashFiveTourer]

Originally posted by Mark11LT
It seems that several stations are pulling the showing of Saving Private Ryan tonight. Because of the violence and naughty language. Maybe they should edit it, and make it all nice so people aren't offended by images of war.
On top of that its Veterans day.
Mark

More on this story (http://edition.cnn.com/2004/SHOWBIZ/TV/11/11/movie.canceled.ap/index.html). I watched the house-to-house "activities" from Fallujah on CNN today. I guess the real-life "violence and naughty language" of today's young Marines in Iraq - even on the 11th of November - is acceptable on cable news but not acceptable in a prime-time Spielberg movie on ABC.

I'd sure like to hear what Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks have to say about the cancellations.

[Braddog]

Cable channels don't fall under the rules of the FCC. Network affiliates do.

Since the movie had been shown in the past on ABC, it was kind of dumb to pull it now. If you don't want your kids to be exposed to what's depicted in the movie, don't let them watch it.

A lot of the stories are referencing Janet Jackson's boob flash from the Superbowl. Some stations don't want a repeat of that fine.

The FCC doesn't pre-screen shows, they respond to complaints once something's been shown.

[Hodag]

If you don't want your kids to be exposed to what's depicted in the movie, don't let them watch it.

Hmmm active parenting, now thats an interesting concept. I remeber it was tried many years ago, and seemed to work. But lately its been put by the wayside. Luckily we have a "huge,bloated" government to do it for us.
mark

[dlearl476]

[QUOTE=Braddog]

A lot of the stories are referencing Janet Jackson's boob flash from the Superbowl. Some stations don't want a repeat of that fine.

QUOTE]

Janet Jackson flashed tit in "Saving Private Ryan"? That must have been when I went the the head. :bliss

[username]

i think it's a move by the networks to call attention to the fact that the FCC is, perhaps in the opinion of network execs, a little heavy handed right now, or at least unpredictable, and should back off a bit. it is generating public debate, and in these value-rich times that we all live in, it's a good thing for all of us to talk about.

i saw some folks get interviewed about it on TV, and i was shocked at some of the comments. these are man on the street people, regular folks who most likely do NOT ride BMWs... ;) but they vote, and buy lottery tickets just like regular people.

dude1: i think they should show it. it is something that really happened, so it should be shown. (yes, this was the whole answer...)

me: sex really happens, do you want that on your tv? do you really want DP on the networks during primetime? murder happens. beatings happen. verbal abuse happens. racism happens. how should these things be portrayed on network tv? who makes the decision? what's 'tasteful?'

dude2: i oppose the networks censoring us like this.

me: huh? how are you censored? wtf? dude, can you remember back to the spring when they all got in big trouble for the wardrobe malfunction? theyre scared. theyre censoring themselves, in response to unclear rules and inconistent enforcement.

lady1: perhaps theyre scared of the FCC fining them?

me: what are you lady, a READER? are you the anti-patriot? you want to tax me and give all the money to homosexual inner city drugs users, dont you? well I SAY NO!!!

oops, sorry, i got a little worked up there. ;)

anyway, i was in general shocked with how goofy the replies were. i wish i were interviewed, i could out-goof them all:

me: so are we all worried about the last three people in the US who dont own a VCR or DVD player, and thus dont have access to this film? is that why it MUST be on broadcast television? and is this the ONLY way that epople can appreciate what veterans have done for this nation, by watching a movie, on tv, with commercials? are we THAT pathetic, cognitively and culturally? personally, im offended that folks would pull my patriotic heart strings to entice me to watch this film along with about 30 minutes of commercials pushing me to buy stuff i probably dont need. if people need to see it, i advise people to rent this film, watch it without commercial interruption, and take a moment to reflect on the sacrifice all veterans have made for our country, our freedom, and our ideals. i urge you to look veterans in the eye, and thank them for their service. i urge you to also watch the band of brothers series in it's entirety, and i dare you to do so without crying. i urge you to read books about the rise of nationalism and the effect it has had on the world. then i urge you to write a letter to the FCC urging them to loosen up on the networks, or at least provide clear guidance on this sort of thing, so networks know when they will and wont be fined for something. everyone knows that young men are cut to ribbons by hot german lead on the beaches of normandy in this film, and it should take about five minutes to decide if this complies with or violates the FCC's standards for decency.

man in crowd [shouting and pointing to me]: that answer was too long! a READER!! get him!!

[crowd rushes me with pitchforks and rips me to shreds.]

:D

i agree with the idea that parents should be involved in the lives of their children, and make these decisions on a case by case basis.

i also think that i, and many other people, dont fully understand the role and scope of the FCC's authority.

somewhere someone is also wondering if the traditional networks might not be an anachronism...

[kbasa]

yer killin' me, username.

:rofl

And yeah, the networks are done. except i really like watching survivor. it's my dirty little secret between you and me. k?

[Hodag]

"is this the ONLY way that epople can appreciate what veterans have done for this nation, by watching a movie, on tv, with commercials"

Not the only way, but probably a good way. My neighbor was going to watch it with his 12 year son, and talk about it. I ended up loaning him my copy. Commercials are a fact of life, they help pay for the program. Watching any show is OK, its still a commercial venture be it Band of Brothers, or anything ,its made to make money.

when it comes to honoring verterans. I've spoken to more WWII vets than the average bear. I'm a avid WWII re-enactor, and do several public events during the summer with the point being to honor vets. The stories they tell in hushed voices one on one is amazing.
Mark