Movies that push the boundaries

[pockybot]

Not since the 70's I think, have we seen movies really going over the edge to push boundaries and challenge whats acceptable on screen.

For the first time in awhile, there's been a string of movies depicting actual non simulated sex, from Brown Bunny and the pretty much banned Larry Clark film Ken Park to Romance, Cremaster 2 and Baise Moi. Even tho nothing was actual, Cauron's(Harry Potter 3) Y Tu Mama Tambien pushed limits at the mainstream megaplex. The Dreamers however was decidely tame it seemed.

We have movies so hardcore in violence and depravity, they can't even get a rating like the highly disturbing French film Irreversible.

So where do movies go from here? Is it possible to have a film so challenging and revolting that it can't even find a distributor? We saw that with Larry Clark's Ken Park. I'm wonder how far movies can push it, and what audience members will accept. Movies like Irreversible, Crash, Cremaster 3, etc tested even the most art house savvy's nerves with scenes of depravity beyond comprehension. Andeven tho it is rated R, the upcoming "Saw" looks like another true horror film in every sense of the word.

If companies want to really push the limits, instead of releasing sterile pap like Texas Chainsaw remake, they should check out some of these films. I think that's Im finding some pg-13 films like The Ring and Village more taut than even some R films.

[MPArks]

There was plenty of what your describing happening in film in the '80s as well. Black Sun 731 and Tras el Cristal, for example. Filmmakers like Clarke and Gallo have just gotten better at promoting these kind of films, and the introduction of the DVD has vested them with staying power, because there is always an audience that will watch films like these at home, but wouldn't necessarily go to see them in theaters.

[cg124]

I guess battle royale pushes the limits, because It's not released in America. I can understand america having trouble acepting a movie about kids who have to kill each. I still think it's a fantastic movie though

[Tenaciousd1212]

You know what movies really push edges?:
Birth of a Nation
American History X
A Clockwork Orange

[Boro]

i think surf ninjas pushed the edges with all of that moto surfing.

[cg124]

i think surf ninjas pushed the edges with all of that moto surfing.


:funny:

you and your surf ninjas

[Starwars411]

:lol:

[Boro]

surf ninjas is the ****.

it also pushes the boundaries because money cant buy knives

[cg124]

sometimes I wonder weather or not your being serious about your love for surf ninjas

[Boro]

its one of my favorite movies. http://media.ign.com/boardfaces/13.gif

i'm also one of the five people in the world that own the dvd

i want a sequel

[SnoBorderZero]

He brings up a good point. But you can look past things like this if the film is trying to depict something. Passion of the Christ is a fantastic example. It uses violence to show us how much Jesus loved us. But you're right, a lot of movies (mainly horror and comedies) use sex, violence, language for no reason at all, just to see how far they can push it. Is it really nessecary? Not at all. One thing that shows movies can do more is that now PG-13 films can say the "f" word. Is it nessecary? No. Does it generate more laughs? No. Does it show that the writers/directors are desperate for anything to get a laugh or make their film push the limits? Yes.

[cg124]

He brings up a good point. But you can look past things like this if the film is trying to depict something. Passion of the Christ is a fantastic example. It uses violence to show us how much Jesus loved us. But you're right, a lot of movies (mainly horror and comedies) use sex, violence, language for no reason at all, just to see how far they can push it. Is it really nessecary? Not at all. One thing that shows movies can do more is that now PG-13 films can say the "f" word. Is it nessecary? No. Does it generate more laughs? No. Does it show that the writers/directors are desperate for anything to get a laugh or make their film push the limits? Yes.


Did you post in the wrong thread?

[Dilophosaurus89]

Last films to push boundries:

Midnight Cowboy (sex)
A Clockwork Orange (violence)
The Matrix (pshycology/effects)

[Hitman]

Did anyone mention Pulp Fiction?

[Tony_samo]

Scarface
Saving Private Ryan
The Passion of the Christ


just to name a few

[Dracula]

Last films to push boundries:

Midnight Cowboy (sex)
A Clockwork Orange (violence)



midnight cowboy didn't realy push the limit on sex, it was just the first one to really gain any sort of respect

Clockwork Orange did push the boundrys of sexual violence, but I wouldn't say it really push violence in general.

The first movie to really push the boundrys on sex was probaly Lolita(1962)No movie(with the exeption of Psycho) really pushed the boundry on violence at all until 1967 when the film production code was abolished. And the movies to truly push the boundrys then were Bonnie & Clyde(1967) and to a lesser extent The Wild Bunch(1969). Then M*A*S*H(1970) pushed the boundrys of language and politics. Thats when Clockwork Orange came in and basicly proved that filmakers have total freedom in the modern day. But it was The Godfather(1972) that brought violence to the mainstream despite the fact that it was relitively tame compared to some of the films that truly pushed boundrys earlyer. That same year Deliverence(1972) in the wake of CWO pushed sexual violence a bit further. Also that year Bertolucci's Last Tango in Paris(1972) pushed the hell out of the sexual boundrys. The Exorcist(1973) pushed the boundry on both religous content and childrens role in dangerous situations as well as bringing daring content to the mainstream. On a special note I'll mention that Chinatown(1974) pushed the boundry on a taboo subject that I won't name since it would be a spoiler. Taxi Driver pushed the boundrys on violece in an urban setting as well as children being involved in sexual situations, but it is worth noting that it's violence wasn't really all that controversial until the attempted reagan assassination. After that the only real boundry pusher was Alien.

I think the real reason for this sudden wave of movies that push the envelope was anger over the vietnam war. As the reagan bush era came in people started to calm down.