Films that have a negative influence

[J. J. Hunsecker]

Originally Posted by SillyMammo

The Birth of a Nation.

I'd have to agree with The Birth of a Nation as the #1 choice, since the movie is basically a RECRUITMENT POSTER FOR THE KU KLUX KLAN!! Hello!?! It's one of the most racist movies ever made!

If we're including documentaries, then the number one spot should go to the Nazi propaganda film The Eternal Jew (1940) -- which masquerades as a documentary film. Anyone who's seen it knows how vile and disgusting it is.

Other than that, I can't think of many fiction films that are harmful, or really have a bad influence.

[Glassroots]

Gotta say Natural Born Killers. The movie was said to have been repeatedly watched by the shooters in the Colombine school shooting massacre in 1999.

[Atreyu]

For me when I was around 20 and realized I was gay I saw the only gay oriented movie that I knew of called The Boys In The Band and many of the reviews of the film said it was very realistic and it scared me half to death thinking I was somehow going to be like the men portrayed in it. I can now appreciate the film for what it is and am glad there are positive movies of discovering one's sexuality.

[Q?]

Originally Posted by Atreyu

For me when I was around 20 and realized I was gay I saw the only gay oriented movie that I knew of called The Boys In The Band and many of the reviews of the film said it was very realistic and it scared me half to death thinking I was somehow going to be like the men portrayed in it. I can now appreciate the film for what it is and am glad there are positive movies of discovering one's sexuality.

But, that's not a negative influence then

[Rob71]

An Inconvienent Truth.

[Q?]

Originally Posted by Rob71

An Inconvienent Truth.

I don't know about that, the winters here in Greenland are getting milder and milder, we used to have some wild snowstorms, now it is just warmer and it's "spring" most of the time

[Offender_Mullet]

Originally Posted by Rob71

An Inconvienent Truth.

Originally Posted by Jaguar007

Anything directed by Michael Moore

Agreed on both. Those movies are filled with nothing but hot air (no pun intended ) and are taken seriously only by the clueless or ill-informed.

Originally Posted by Grand Bob

My son saw one of the Jay and Silent Bob flicks at a friend's house when he was about 10 and came home swearing like a sailor.

lol My Goddddd, who was the genius that put that on for the kids? They might as well have watched Goodfellas and Scarface to complete a "F-Bomb Fest" hat trick day of movie viewing.

[Bluyoda]

Originally Posted by Rob71

An Inconvienent Truth.

You are joking, right??


I'd also go for Natural Born Killers. I couldn't even finish watching it, because it's simply too sickening!
Later I found out that Oliver Stone was in Viet Nam during the war, so that explained a lot to me.
I think such a movie and all those Revenge movies (Mad Max, Payback...)
are very dangerous and poisonous for the mind!

I vehemently disagree with the statement that all movies have a negative influence.

What about Monty Python's Life of Brian, Star Wars, Jet Li's Fearless, Kung Fu Panda, What the Bleep? Down the Rabbit Hole, 'Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter and Spring'.....???

Those movies teach people a lot of valuable lessons.

[TelkEvolon]

Originally Posted by TylerDurden

Generally films that are not wholesome and send a degrading demeaning message. I thought American Psycho showed alot of bad behavior but I guess that was the intent of the director.

You're avatar, Fight Club with "Project Mayhem".

[Wookalar]

No film could have as negative an influence as reality shows that parade an endless stream of dimwits teaching young people that all you need to be rich and famous is to make a sex tape or sleep with Hugh Hefner. That's not saying these shows are bad for adults (my wife loves them) who laugh at the ridiculousness, but when kids watch them, they're picking up a whole different lesson.

[Wookalar]

I'd also say that film has had a much more positive effect than negative. Boys Don't Cry, Schindler's List, Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, Philadelphia--just think how many movies exposed problems within our society. Did it solve them? No, but it brought the evil under the surface into the light so we could begin the conversation.

[P@t_Mtl]

Avatar...

the message is if you have a weak story with one dimensional characters, have tons of cool shinny CGI and 3D and you will make billions easy




Just kididng


On topic....I think that most movies don't truly have to follow a pattern of good or bad messages. They are stories. If someone pick's a gun and start shooting everyone, because he saw it done in a movie, don't blame the movie but blame the individual. We are a society that love's blaming everyone and everything else except our own selfs for the stupidity we do. We should start taking responsibility for our actions.

[blu-bry]

When you look at how many suspensful and great films Hitchcock made without showing gore, using foul language, or showing people having sex on screen it's obvious that the "R" rating could often be done without. I would like to see more studios try to make their films with a PG or PG-13 rating so that we can feel free to watch them with almost any audience and not have to worry about the bad affects a films language or sex might have.

So, while I'm not going to choose one film to answer this question, I would say that the gratuitous use of on screen sex, violence, foul language, etc. makes too many films have a negative influence. I don't buy that these things are necessary for the art, and with the increase in foul language and sex crimes that we see today I think they may influence society rather than reflect it.

[rkolinski]

Originally Posted by blu-bry

When you look at how many suspensful and great films Hitchcock made without showing gore, using foul language, or showing people having sex on screen it's obvious that the "R" rating could often be done without. I would like to see more studios try to make their films with a PG or PG-13 rating so that we can feel free to watch them with almost any audience and not have to worry about the bad affects a films language or sex might have.

So, while I'm not going to choose one film to answer this question, I would say that the gratuitous use of on screen sex, violence, foul language, etc. makes too many films have a negative influence. I don't buy that these things are necessary for the art, and with the increase in foul language and sex crimes that we see today I think they may influence society rather than reflect it.

I very much agree with your views; these things aren't necessary! A particular program on Starz - "Spartacus: Blood and Sand" is a prime example of this. Personally, I prefer the 1960 movie version of Spartacus and I don't have any major problems with the USA Network version from 2004. However, regarding the Starz version, even though they have a warning statement suggesting that the nudity in the program is an attempt to show Spatacus in its historical context sexually, I'm not sure I need to see rows of gladiators with their penises exposed. I'm not a prude but I think this is a prime example of sexuality being used in a gratuitous manner.

[Rob71]

Originally Posted by Q!

I don't know about that, the winters here in Greenland are getting milder and milder, we used to have some wild snowstorms, now it is just warmer and it's "spring" most of the time

Weather changes are definitely happening, but to put the blame on man when it's been going on for millions of years with no input from us is just a little strange to me. Especially now what with the email "issue", the hockey stick chart "issue" and the number of experts jumping ship. Besides, I can say with great certainty that the global warming on Mars was not caused by my gas chugging big-block Chevy. Or any other Earthling.D

[master_8ball]

Originally Posted by Rob71

Weather changes are definitely happening, but to put the blame on man when it's been going on for millions of years with no input from us is just a little strange to me. Especially now what with the email "issue", the hockey stick chart "issue" and the number of experts jumping ship. Besides, I can say with great certainty that the global warming on Mars was not caused by my gas chugging big-block Chevy. Or any other Earthling.D

What concerns me are the pockets being lined by that so called documentary...

If people are influenced by a movie to the point where they act out than there was something wrong with them in the first place. I see nothing wrong with entertainment geared towards adults as long as its stated as such.

People need to be responsible for their own actions and not blame movies or video games. People have been doing terrible things to each other long before film came about and will continue to do so.

I am tired of hearing people talk all high and mighty as if their moral compass is more true because of what they choose to not watch and make unfounded claims like someone who enjoyed a movie like Hostel has a "degraded mentality". Its funny that such people say these kind of things yet believe and have been taught that there is only one judge on morality.

[mikejet]

What does climate change have to do with the OP? Let's stay on topic guys. There's a very fine line you are walking here.

[KrugStillo]

I'm very surprised there hasn't been more a slam on the gangsters movies that glorify hip hop culture. Not that I don't like these movies but come on. Actually I love DePalma's Scarface but that movie has becomed one of the worst influences in the history of cinema. It seems as if a huge section of the wannabe gangster population has made Tony Montana a hero. I love the movie but I never saw that character as a hero. I also think it's pretty obvious that Brian DePalma didn't mean for him to be taken that way. I just hate what that movie has become, some kind of textbook for being a gangster.

Also, can we lay off the Michael Moore bashing. I'm not saying you have to agree with every word the man says but let's face facts all he really does is present news footage. Yeah it's a bit one sided but it's usually impossible to debate. I personally think Sicko and Capitalism: A Love Story are two of the most important films to be made in years and everyone should watch them. Oh, and if you haven't seen both of those movies you're opinion on them is not valid. I love how people bash the message in those movies but don't actually watch them (from beginning to end). I'd rather my kids watch that than any of the above mentioned type of movies.

As far as other movies I can say that all the current Torture-Porn horror is probably not something you'd want to show a 10 year old. However, I'm a huge horror buff and I like all horror movies. As if you can't tell by my posting alias.

[repete66211]

Originally Posted by 42041

I'm more concerned that insipid nonsense based on toys like GI Joe and Transformers is attracting adult demographics Not a good reflection on our culture when our biggest films are based on comic books, toys, and disneyland rides...

+1 Bravo! While you're at it, maybe throw in Harry Potter and the Twilight craze. Adults who get into things intended for children and young adults creep me out a bit. Perhaps I'm a snob, but I have nothing but contempt for people who watch the reality shows like Dancing with the Stars, Survivor and anything with the words Kardashian or Housewives in it.

[repete66211]

Originally Posted by jhiggy23

I change my answer to one film and one film only:

Loose Change.

Don't forget Zeitgeist.