Some movies just shouldn't be altered.
I watched "Casino" on the USA network not long ago. At times I felt I was watching a bad 1970s kung-fu movie. The profanity Robert DeNiro and Joe Pesci rattled off in the theatrical version, was replaced by angry shouts of Mother Freaker and forget you.
The visuals were as beautiful as ever, and the expose of the inner workings of the Las Vegas gambling industry was equally as fascinating. The dialogue became laughably bland, however. But, understandingly, sacrifices are made when filmmakers allow their works to be broadcast. For years if you wanted to see the full uncut version it was a simple matter of a paying a few dollars to rent the videotape or DVD.
But a chain of a "family friendly" video stores based out of Salt Lake City, has a different idea.
The Directors Guild of America is currently involved in a lawsuit against CleanFlicks video, which operates 70 outlets, mainly in the Western United States. The chain stocks all the latest Hollywood hits, but without the sex, violence or profanity. The company takes it upon itself to edit out all the f-words and breasts from such movies as "Muholland Drive" and "Ocean's 11."
Video stores have actually been offering sanitized versions of movies for several years. But in August an owner of several CleanFlicks franchises in Colorado, filed a preemptive suit against 16 Hollywood directors. He requested the court declare the editing legal.
The industry retaliated with its own lawsuit claiming the editing violated creative rights.
Both sides have a good stockpile of ammo to fight the battle. An article in the October 1 issue of the Oregonian cited several portions of the 1976 Copyright Act. Section 109 states that a first sale "exhausts the copyright owner's economic right to control furthur use and sale of the work" the story said. But Section 106 states artists' rights to authorize the preparation of "derivative" works.
"I like Steven Spielberg and I enjoy his movies. I'm not in any way arguing that he shouldn't have the freedom to express himself the way he wants," said CleanFlicks store owner Korey Smitherman in a Salt Lake Tribune article. "Instead there's a group of people out there in the world who would like to view a movie without having the F-word so prominent in it."
Even Spielberg edited out a few of the obscenities in the re-release of "E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial." Though the decision was probably motivated by political correctness pundits, at least it was his own to make.
But having someone else do the trimming can cheapen a product, even take a consumer by surprise. A few video rental have been known to clandestinely slip snipped versions into their stock.
"It people can just take stuff out and do what they want with it, and then sell it, it just completely debases the coinage," director Michael Apted said in a New York Times article. "You don't know what version of a film you're buying, frankly. I think it's ridiculous."
Plenty of films prominently feature magnificent explosions and scantily clad women, but are terrible. Those qualities are part of the artist's touch.
Sex can underlie tender turning points in movies like "Titanic" or "American Beauty." A certain luster is attached such films as "Goodfellas" and "The Godfather, or on shows like "The Sopranos." It gives insight into their gritty personalities and dirty underworlds.
If a person buys a video for their own personal use they should be able to do whatever they want with it. But when I rent "Saving Private Ryan" or "Terminator 2" I want to see blood and gore hit me in all its glory. ::26-á+â-ì-Some movies just shouldn.docDNEditorial::2SORTN+â-ä2AUDT
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