Poll: Sex scenes in movies

[5mj7R7yf4Dwr3gdZyyu9PeGNwYjlNrjzuh3iTXQG]

Interesting. In the '80s, nude scenes were added because teens were the target audience for R-rated films, and hence it became part of the dark and edgy paradigm. In the '90s, directors felt nudity didn't add to the story (except when it did), ergo we saw a lot more implications and the non-nude sex scene.

But in a story, consummation of a relationships is critical. It's the point where it's real, where the couple are an item. And since this was shorthanded by kissing in the 60s and 70s, actually seeing the nakedness not only punctuated the moment, but reminded us that we weren't just watching a television police drama.

In answer to the question, I generally don't find nudity or sex scenes distracting, but I do dislike when they are mismanaged. Neo and Trinity during the rave in Matrix Reloaded, for example, detracted from the story, unless Trinity conceived, and that child was going to be relevant to the story down the line. In contrast, the scene in The Devil's Advocate between Keven and Mary Anne Lomax (with Keven fantasizing about Christabella) added to the story (and the developing Faustian slow-burn), and the nudity amplified the intensity of the incongruity in the moment.

I would also agree that a token romance just so that the hero gets a prize at the end is more annoying to me, and I'm glad to see the trend changing in which foils end up not (necessarily) leading to a token romance, as seen in Gladiator, Angels & Demons and recently, Tron: Legacy. Certainly, US cinema has matured beyond the omnia vincit amor myth.

Interestingly, Spanish films feature gratuitous sex scenes for a different reason, as they are a celebration of the end of General Franco's regime during which cinema was severely censored. So a sex scene that has little to do with the story is acknowledgement in Spain that we live in better times.

238U.

 

[ruben6f]

Well it can be meaningfull, it's a way to show the love between 2 characters, but it can be pointless they don't add much to the story and I don't think it's necessary to show the entire sex scene, do a Avatar scene when they are about to do it the scene ends, it doesn't waste other people's time.

 

[OldNewNewOld]

There are some sex scenes which are meaningful, which help us understand the main character, his development.

But mostly, it's just to sell. They have no clue what to do, the movie needs to be at least one and a half hour long and they add some sex, kissing, naked scenes.

Movies which use sex to identify some character, to help us understand him, to develop him... those movies are really rare. And they are almost never Hollywood action movies. Those are movies which don't have much action, but a huge psychological impact on the viewers.

And as far as I've noticed, homosexual sex scenes (in movies which obviously aren't meant to be exclusively for the homosexual audience) are more often meaningful and help us understand the character than heterosexual sex scenes. Well, the reason is obvious. Most straight people don't like to see gay sex scenes and movie makers will try to skip them unless they are really needed.

 

[Adrian Neyland]

Sex scene can be meaningful if they help develop the characters or are important to the plot of the film, They are pointless when they are just there to sex up the movie and please their testosterone fueled male demographic.

 

[Fieldy409_v1legacy]

it can be done for good effect. but 90% of them are just pointless.

 

[azazellee]

It obviously depends on the movie.

I noticed a couple people slamming the sex scene in Watchmen and more specifically the song played during it, which I think is odd because I would agree that the scene was pointless if it wasn't for the song. A sex scene performed to Jeff Buckley's "Hallelujah" was a brilliant idea. (I'm pretty sure it was Buckley's version. I would have to see again to verify.)

 

[Strazdas]

let me just quote a very wise person i met.

Nudity and sexuality are not necessary in ANY movie, unless the movie is pornographic and is being watched to see sex and nudity.

still some sex scenes are funny, like the "out of time" sex scene where both people are fully clothed while doing it on the floor.

 

[SirDeadly]

or making something blow up real good...

I'd watch a movie of just explosions.

Sometimes sex scenes further develop character relationships which help to make a good story. Other times they're completely pointless and untasteful.

 

[Hugga_Bear]

They CAN be meaningful but not all of them are. It depends on how it's done and who the characters are. It's very rare to have an explicit sex scene that contributes but it can happen. Watchmen has been mentioned and is a great example, where the guy can only get it up when he's roleplaying his superhero persona? Amazing writing, it really is. It delves deeply into the world the film is set in and shows you just how fucked up this has left them all.

It's not always good, no way. Normally it's just gratuitous and done for the fan service but sometimes it can be very meaningful, poll needs a depends

 

[SinisterGehe]

If the sex scene has a narrative purpose and significant role in the plot, yes. (example, Requiem for a Dream, Illusionist)
Just for visual and to sell, no.

In my opinion just showing quickly to the audience that; "yes they are having sex" and then cutting something else is good. In my opinion sex scenes like in the Matrix are just POINTLESS!

Call me a prude, well I am, in my opinion we don't need to "show" sex really in movies/games/tv, but we need to show the fact that they are having it. I can't explain it properly due to language skills but I hope you understand.

 

[manic_depressive13]

If it's for characterisation or whatever, doesn't implied sex work just as well?

Not always. Going back to my example of Love and Other Drugs, the sex scenes at the beginning were establishing the characters. There was no affection, just each using the other to fill a base desire. If they had only implied it, it would have taken even longer to set the scene. It was only the slow progression as we watched Jake's character fall for Anne's that really made the scenes pointless. I get the idea, that we were supposed to see him fall for her over time, but the way it came off was just "well, the last ten minutes of movie have been rather dull, haven't they? Let's spare you. Anne, take your top off!" They just went back to the sex scenes too much. It wasn't the idea that was bad, just the execution of it.

Fair enough. But the previous comment was in regard to movies I would actually watch. That is, movies whose central theme isn't sex.

 

[Zhukov]

Depends.

Duh.

Yes, it's often just used to sell tickets. On the other hand, sexuality is a central theme of some movies. American Beauty and Black Swan for example. Taking the sex out of those movies would be like taking the action scenes out of 300. Would you want all the action scenes in action movies to be 'implied'?

EDIT:

let me just quote a very wise person i met.

Nudity and sexuality are not necessary in ANY movie, unless the movie is pornographic and is being watched to see sex and nudity.

Ha! What a prude.

 

[IsraelRocks]

watch Spartacus. its the definition of pointless sex scenes. quoting a friend of mine :

its blood and tits, then some more blood , followed by A LOT more tits

 

[Fugitive Panda]

Pointless. I've never watched anything where I felt a sex scene added to the finished product. Hell, in my opinion it's much more interesting if you just show the aftermath, rather than force the actors to awkwardly nuzzle against each other.

 

[Mr Somewhere]

Surely this should be obvious... Sex is an important element of human existence. Of course sex in films can be meaningful. Go watch Don't Look Now, that will show you the power a sex scene can have. It's a married couple making love, without a word and it speaks volumes.

 

[Prince Regent]

Most scenes in a movie are pointless on it's own, but in combination with the rest of the story sex scenes can be a powerfull tool to establish a character to further the plot or even to intentionally make an audience feel uncomfortable.

Sex is an important thing in human life, in all animal life even, so it's only natural that storys often have sexual scenes.

So let's not be prudes and just accept that.