We got an ad in the mail today to invite folks to a co-op video rental, which provides edited versions of films to its members.
Now you can watch these great movies WITHOUT the
Sex, Nudity, Profanity, & Extreme Violence!
Uuuuuhhhhh … what’s the fun in that?
Besides, I’m not sure that Gladiator, The Matrix, The Patriot, or Saving Private Ryan (all of which are shown on the ad) lend themselves to much enjoyment if you take out the Sex, Nudity, Profanity, and Extreme Violence. Heck, I’m not sure you’d be left with more than thirty minutes or so of video …
Actually, doing a bit more research, it seems that this is a franchise, founded by a Mormon. Since the LDS church urges its members to shun R-rated, even PG-13 films, this business basically lets you send in videos that you own, and they edit it to their standards, and send it back to you. It takes them 20 days turn-around if it’s one they’ve already done; otherwise, it’s 16-20 weeks.
In the CleanFlicks version of Titanic Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslett never appear without their clothes; in Schindler’s List Liam Neeson as Schindler does not have sex outside his marriage; in Planes, Trains and Automobiles Steve Martin does not say naughty words; and in Saving Private Ryan soldiers die but they do not bleed a lot.
Or, as their FAQ puts it, “We take out all F words, S words, B words, and words related to Diety [sic]. We also take out sex, nudity, and gory violence.”
Working on Schindler’s List, a haunting story of one German’s effort to protect a group of Jews from execution, he altered scenes of people in concentration camps who had been stripped of their clothes by their Nazi captors.
“Every teenager in America should see that film,” he said. “But I don’t think my daughters should see naked old men, running around in circles.”
Movies they won’t edit? Pretty Woman; Liar Liar; Blair Witch Project; The Story Of Us; Addicted To Love; American History X; Caddyshack; Eyes Wide Shut; Basic Instinct; Show Girls; Gross Pointe Blank; Primary Colors; Rounders; Payback; Election; Analyze This; Return Of The Dragon; Face Off. Stated reasons are because of “theme, overall message, and number of edits.”
There’s been some heated disagreement as to whether this is all legal. Hollywood lawyers generally disapprove, but fair use seems to allow folks to have such editing done on films they own. The questionable part of it has to do with the “rental co-ops” — pooling together films folks own, with rentals/membership fees, seems to be dodging the legal bullet … maybe.
Still, as much as I make fun of the concept above, it’s actually kind of a clever idea. Though I aesthetically cringe at the whole thing, it’s also a matter of “giving the people what they want,” and what they seem entitled to have. I don’t plan on paying them a visit any time — but I’m glad others can.