Does Nudity Make a Movie Better?

[Bill Haverchuck]

Personally, it doesn't add much except two mintues of naked tits, ass and etc...

It doesn't help the story by making it better in anyway.

I guess I just don't see the point.

[Raena]

For some maybe. /ubb/smile.gif


But I get your point. It sometimes baffles me when actors say, "I'll only do nudity if it is neccessary."

But I guess there are scenes where nudity would be necessary. Especially if the scene is depicting some real life situation (rape, prison camp, what have you. .) and nudity was involved. . .


I wondered what was the point of the naked young flesh in AMERICAN BEAUTY. . .until Brock gave me an explaination.

[Brock Landers]

How much wood could a Haverchuck chuck if a Haverchuck could chuck wood /ubb/wink.gif

You know what Bill, I gotta disagree with you about not seeing the point of nudity in films. I mean, it usually doesn't make the film worse, unless you are uncomfortable with the human form. In many cases, it adds to the film if it is done tastefully. Even if it's not done tastefully, I don't see how it can hurt a film, unless you were to fixate on it, which as a mature adult we should be mature enough to deal with it, I mean it's just a naked body, no big deal. As a culture we have been raised to see the naked human form as a dirty and perverted thing, but in reality there is nothing more beautiful or pure. It's all in how you look at it, I mean, some people don't see the point of profanity in films, but nobody questions that, only nudity, which is ridiculous...

[This message has been edited by Brock Landers (edited 03-13-2001).]

[SirReel]

I agree with Brock fully and completely.

So long as the nudity is not the focus of the film - I mean wouldn't that be called "porn" anyway - I don't see the harm. To reiterate what Raena said, if we're witnessing a real-life situation that primarliy involves nudity, or sex, or whatever, and the nudity itself is skipped, then what the hell's the point of making the movie. As a filmaker, as a film viewer, you can't be afraid of or opposed to reality... Even the most god-fearing purists need to procreate - procreation involves nudity - do they procreate blindfolded?

Anyway...

[doctor drew]

Does nudity make a film better?

Allow me to play devil's advocate for a minute. Rent The Piano and look for the infamous "Little Harvey" scene and tell me what you think. (shudders) Nudity does not, I repeat, DOES NOT always make a movie better.

[Brock Landers]

SirReel: "I agree with Brock fully and completely."

alright SirReel... what's the punchline?

Keanu Drew (The Doctor's Advocate)... I don't think anybody said it "always" makes a movie better, more like it "usually" doesn't make the film worse... anyway, are you trying to say that "The Piano" would have been a better film without Keitel's flesh flute? I wonder, would it have still won an Oscar? Would Keitel still expose himself in other films? Would Jane Campion's film "Holy Smoke" have ever been made, in essence would we have missed yet another full frontal shot of Kate Winslet?

[This message has been edited by Brock Landers (edited 03-13-2001).]

[ak]

David Fincher uses sex as art in Fight Club, the scene with Helena Bonham Carter having sex was really well done indeed. By far the best sex scene in film.

[doctor drew]

To quote Keanu, "Whoa."
Allow me to make reference to some of your points, Brocky Balboa. /ubb/wink.gif

"...unless you are uncomfortable with the human form."

Check that. I'm uncomfortable with Harvey's naked form.

..."unless you were to fixate on it, which as a mature adult we should be mature enough to deal with it."

I'm a mature adult but even I draw the line somewhere, especially when it comes to Mr. Keitel's shriveled member. It's quite hard not to be fixated on it as it hovers on screen for what seems hours and hours.

"...there is nothing more beautiful or pure."

Beautiful and pure? Sure, if we're talking about a naked Laetitia Casta or Jenna Jameson. /ubb/wink.gif

I was just trying to make a point that nudity doesn't always enhance a film neither was I insinuating that you or SirReel suggested that. Sorry for the confusion on my part.

In all seriousness though, I think the movie would've been just a good if they had replaced a full frontal shot with one of him half clothed. I mean, apart from the obvious dramatic effect of his schlong, it added very little to story and probably scarred a lot of people for life.

[This message has been edited by doctor drew (edited 03-13-2001).]

[playgames]

Give me nudity ,or give me death

[Cyclonus]

For those of you who slam nudity in films...

Take a look at Charlize Theron's scene in "The Cider House Rules" and tell me you still feel the same way... /ubb/biggrin.gif

[DireWolf]

Seeing Heather Gramm a la natural bumped Boogie Nights a few notches up on my list. That is one fine female specimen.

[Bill Haverchuck]

Ok, well, there is a point to some nudity, like you say depicting a real life situation.

And, I have seen "The Piano" and as a female, I get more turned on looking a President Bush than Havey Kietel. /ubb/wink.gif

And, I have seen Boogie Nights.

For me, sometimes, some movies can get ruined, dependong on the story and situation, having a nudity sceen was like, "Oh, like I really needed to say that..."

It just has a tendency to be boring and uninteressing. There is an unmotivated sceen of nudity. "Oh, here comes that nude sceen... *rolls eyes*

Just for the record, I do not feel uncomfortable to the human form.

I never said it was wrong, I am just making pointing this out now.

[VonEerie999]

Nudity in a flick can convey a powerful message,much like it did in "American Beauty".The scene where Janey(the INCREDIBLE Thora Birch!)bares her breasts for Ricky's voyeurism,is an awakening of sorts for the character.She was obviously a very insecure girl,who obsessed about breast augmentation.But,in this scene,she is coming to the realization that she is beautiful,and this is her way of manifesting her "growth" as a woman.She is finally comfortable in her own skin,and confident enough in her sensuality to reveal herself.The vulnerability shown at the beginning of the scene was quickly replaced with self assuredness.Extremely vital to the balance of the film.It was a tastefully done,and powerfully erotic, scene.Considering Ms.Birch was only 16 when she did it,it was quite a step forward for her as an actress.And,yeah,the rack was spectacular!
Too much of the nudity in movies today is included strictly for nudity's sake...and that is boring.It is done solely for titilation,and it is tedious to observe at times.An earlier post mentioned Jenna Jameson...are you kidding me?This is a walking sack of silicone!Too many of the scenes are done by these freaks of surgey,who are a dime a dozen.Give me a natural,healthy vixen like Thora Birch any day over those plastic surgery disasters.Amen to that!

[This message has been edited by VonEerie999 (edited 03-14-2001).]

[This message has been edited by VonEerie999 (edited 03-14-2001).]

[PhilR]

In a good film, I don't think a moderate amount of nudity can add or detract from the overall effect. Nudity for nudity's sake, though, is usually detrimental. HOWEVER, nudity can make bad films much much better. Like B-movies. A healthy splash of sex and nudity can make an otherwise boring horror movie into a fun flick.

[7_Words]

VonEerie999, you could not be more right! I totally agree with everything you said /ubb/smile.gif

[magicman]

I can't really answer that question but I will ask you another and then you answer the question to yourself.


When was the last time the thought of nudity in a film stopped you from seeing it?

[halfanarcher]

Does Nudity Make a Movie Better?

Not when it's gratuitous.

Also holds true for violence and love interests.

[Bud_Fox]

In the case of the movie Showgirls nudity is the movie, other examples; Boogie Nights and one of my favourites Basic Instinct. Without nudity these would not be known as feature length films they would be called Shorts. But don't get me wrong nudity is a quintessential driving force in these movies.
Did Charlize Therons dethroning of her robe inside the church scene in "The Devils Advocate" help drive the point home that she had been raped by Satan himself. Yes. Sometimes nudity helps accentuate a pivotal scene,ie American Beauty. And other times its just a Money Shot baby!!! but still is not near enough to salvage a piece of junk movie, ie; Lampoons European Vacaction when Rusty hooks up w/ the busty blonde.
Bottomline nudity in a few cases is a neccesity in many story lines I just wish to God that Jennifer Love Hewitt will someday been in one of those story lines!!!

[Brock Landers]

You are way off on "Boogie Nights" Bud Fox, I mean, to lump it in there with crap-fests like "Basic Instinct" and "Showgirls" is a f**king outrage, ya know, "Boogie Nights" was mostly dialogue with nudity only used in tasteful sequences where it was necessary, in fact, most of the film is with clothed people. How do you figure that "Boogie Nights" would not exist without nudity? I mean, the whole f**king thing is dialogue, innuendo and great acting, I just think it is a sorry thing to say that "Boogie Nights" is all about the nudity, if you really believe that then you either haven't seen it, or you just didn't get it. Just my opinion... man oh man... /ubb/frown.gif

[419PRD]

If it means showing something that can make you understand the movie...sure i dont give.

If it means not doing anything in the movie just showing tit action, ass wiggling, and everything else...HELL YEAH.

If its a really gay movie that sucks...some T&A couldnt hurt.

[sico_freak]

Hmmmmmm.
The way I perceive nudity in films is as follows:
Although many ppl say that a little T&A couldn't hurt. I think that someones body is a precious thing which shouldn't be used for mass entertainment but for the one he/she should be with. Sex and innuendo is all very enticing, but shouldn't be enjoyed where it is valued? Or should we devalue someone's body and make it into an item of sexual attraction? My mind on general nudity with no innuendo is far more hazy, but for enticing nudity - I feel that it should be viewed only by husband or wife. /ubb/smile.gif And if u want to know I'm 16 - so diss all you want. At least I have a moral opinion. /ubb/wink.gif

[Irene Manor]

Yes nudity can make a movie better.
If you were to do a film about Native African tribespeople, it would be silly to have them all wearing Bermuda shorts and Hawian shirts with scarves. Wouldn't it? Nudity would make it more authentic/better.

I think sometimes it comes down to how the nudity is written into the movie. This brings up personal taste.

[McBain]

I don't think nudity can make a good film better, but it can make a bad film much more watchable. How many times have you sat through a crap film because there is an attractive character whom you hope will get their kit off? I'm telling you, the time just flies by.

[unicorn207]

I think that nudity should be for at least 15+ minutes if it's in any movie for it to be worth it. I've said before that it's pointless to have a 15 second shot of nudity in a movie when it only results in an R rating and millions of dollars down the drain.

But what's so wrong with lots of nudity in a romantic film? Nothing at all in my opinion.
In fact I hope that when Jennifer Love Hewitt does get naked it's for 15 minutes and 7 more pounds in a romantic film that will make guys willing to go see a "LOVE STORY" with secret motives in our heads. HAHAHAHAHA
I'm talking about her being naked people. /ubb/redface.gif boy!

[MrWhite]

I saw THE GIFT last night! Although it didnt last very long it was a welcome site to see KATIE HOLMES gorgeous breasts! (They look bigger than on Dawsons Creek)

[Zed]

I think that sometimes the nudity DOES make a film better.
Make yourselves this question when you see a nudity or a sex scene:
It was necesary? If the answer is yes then the nudity made a better film.
The reason: It helps the film to be more "believable". I don't like the unnecesary nude scenes as much as those of a couple that wakes up in the morning (with a perfect make up) and a with a sheed over his chest. (Do you wake up like that when you get laid?).
Some final words:
Could you imagine a movie like "Quills" without a single nudity scene?
Could you say that the nude scenes in a movie like Starship Troopers were necessary?

[Bud_Fox]

in response to Brock- yeah in retrospect having read what I wrote maybe Boogie Nights was a poor example, and it was in poor taste coupling Boogie Nights with Showgirls and Basic Instinct. However my point is in all three movies pornography was a neccesity and used often. More-so in Showgirls and Basic Instinct.
I mean Boogie Nights as a whole would not have left me with the same feeling had they ended the movie w/out the "I am a star" scene where he whips out is best supporting actor. And other scenes would not be the same minus the porno.

In conclusion Certain movies, from Cinematic Works of Art (Boogie nights) to pcs of crap (duh Showgirls), due to their story line need pornographic content to properly tell the story and convey to us the viewer what these Characters are truly about.

[SweetEnLow]

I think that nudity might be appropriate for certain scenes. But I don't really think that it makes it better. I could have done without seeing Harvey Keitel's dick every 5 seconds in Bad Lieutenant.