May contain adult scenes....

[Lush]

How about: "Kids can't watch sci fi movies, because some of them might actually be tempted to make a rocket in their backyard for the purposes of blasting off to hang out with Vulcans."

I'm just glad that the Liverpool council is looking out for everyone's well-being, because everyone knows that young adults simply mindlessly replicate whatever it is they see on a large enough screen.

[Inziladun]

Utterly ridiculous. There are perfectly valid reasons to avoid PJ's movies without resorting to rubbish like this.

[Tuor in Gondolin]

There are perfectly valid reasons to avoid PJ's movies without resorting to rubbish like this

Of course, Ian McKellan may be behind this move.
Remember, he wanted Gandalf to be chewing some sort of candy
because he'd given up smoking.

[Elmo]

I'm surprised they included any smoking in the films in the first place to be fair.

[wilwarin538]

Originally Posted by Elmo

I'm surprised they included any smoking in the films in the first place to be fair.

Why? It's talked about pretty frequently in the books. Though, so was Bombadil and he lacked an appearance. (yes, I am still sour about that one)

I don't think it's that big deal, cause it's a pipe, it isn't like the hobbits are there with a modern day cigarette or a joint or something. I have a hard time picturing teenagers going to get themselves a pipe because Gandalf did it. Not really that cool...

[Rumil]

Hmm,

pipe-smoking obviously dangerous to depict on film, but beheadings and mutilation are apparently fine.

The Scouser councillors would do better spending their time down in Toxteth stopping kids illegally buying fags and drugs and booze I reckon.

[Azaelia of Willowbottom]

Boy am I ever relieved that this thread is merely about smoking...


Here's an idea. How about parents, who actually know their kids' temperaments and tastes, decide what's okay for their individual children to watch and talk over any issues that arise from that with said kids? I know, asking mom and dad to take an active role in the upbringing of their own offspring is kind of a stretch...but really, now, surely the human race is ready for this step.

Kids/teens/young adults are smarter and stronger than their parents' generations give them credit for being. Sheltering isn't necessary. Trust, understanding, and open channels of conversation are. But what do I know? I'm just some college kid.

I think that the merits of TH and LOTR far outweigh the smoking nonsense. There are lessons there about friendship, bravery, respect, pity, perseverance, hope, the potential of everyone, no matter how small/ordinary, etc. that are far more beneficial than a few scenes of Gandalf and some Hobbits and Dwarves smoking are harmful.

[Galadriel]

Originally Posted by Rumil

Hmm,

pipe-smoking obviously dangerous to depict on film, but beheadings and mutilation are apparently fine.

The Scouser councillors would do better spending their time down in Toxteth stopping kids illegally buying fags and drugs and booze I reckon.

Lol. The gore in the movies was nothing compared to the books. Remember that scene in RotK where they cut off the soldiers' heads and catapulted them back into Minas Tirith? But yeah, this smoking thing seems a bit ridiculous.

[Andsigil]

Originally Posted by Lush

How about: "Kids can't watch sci fi movies, because some of them might actually be tempted to make a rocket in their backyard for the purposes of blasting off to hang out with Vulcans."

I'm just glad that the Liverpool council is looking out for everyone's well-being, because everyone knows that young adults simply mindlessly replicate whatever it is they see on a large enough screen.

Ah, yes, the Nanny State: total bliss is always just one more regulation away.

[Son of Númenor]

Originally Posted by Lush

everyone knows that young adults simply mindlessly replicate whatever it is they see on a large enough screen.

For the sake of argument: there was a time when I was heavily influenced by what I saw the admirable protagonists of films doing; and seeing hobbits smoking pipe-weed could foster a mental connection between the enjoyment of an idyllic setting with the recreational use of tobacco.

Yet this calls to mind the adage

"The law is a ***, a idiot" (Dickens)

because the law in this case has no sensory apparatus to judge context. It can only see 1s and 0s.

[alatar]

Originally Posted by Son of Númenor

I know you're being facetious, but for the sake of argument:

I like a good argument, for goodness sakes...

there was a time when I was heavily influenced by what I saw the admirable protagonists of films doing; and seeing hobbits smoking pipe-weed could foster a mental connection between the enjoyment of an idyllic setting with the recreational use of tobacco.

But why limit it to that *one* specific scene? What of the poor table manners of Denethor, to say nothing of all of the killing? What of Gimli's overall behavior, and more specifically, his binge drinking? Boromir and Faramir make light of drinking ale, Merry and Pippin overeat and Aragorn's much too at home in Arwen's rooms...and they're not even married!

Anyway, for me, it was the TV movie, "V" that made me want to be a scientist, so that, when the aliens land, I'd be on to their reptilian ways.

[Inziladun]

Originally Posted by alatar

But why limit it to that *one* specific scene? What of the poor table manners of Denethor, to say nothing of all of the killing? What of Gimli's overall behavior, and more specifically, his binge drinking?

Speaking of Gimli, the films' glorification of dwarf-tossing has, I'm sure, led to a surge in the number of confirmed cases of that phenomenon. PJ is the enemy of civilisation!

[alatar]

Originally Posted by Inziladun

PJ is the enemy of civilisation!

I've always asked why we deserved this punishment...

[Lush]

Action movies have influenced me in curious & disturbing ways...

But the thing is - this doesn't just go for films. It goes for your parents, your friends, the people you see walking around on the street outside. At one point, such laws just veer off into absurdity, never to recover.

[Bêthberry]

I'm actually rather pleased to hear of such bans.

Mostly these days books and movies are regarded as insignificant or frivilous, all well and good to teach kiddies how to read and cypher in school, but best put away with the toys once one attains adulthood.

So, here is a group of concerned legislators--poets even if they are right about art -- who are worried that art might actually have some significant influence on minds. Scary thing!

Give me the censors any day over the naysayers.

Originally Posted by alatar

Anyway, for me, it was the TV movie, "V" that made me want to be a scientist, so that, when the aliens land, I'd be on to their reptilian ways.

Let's imagine just what influence a movie like "District 9" would have! And there's another PJ reference for this thread, to make this post slightly attenuated towards Tolkien.