This grossed out my parents, and they will literally watch ANYTHING
Ive gotta see how over the top it is.
shareSrsly? This film is tame even by the most conservative standards.
Religion is like a rocking chair -- a lot of work to get nowhere.
The only scene that was difficult to watch, was the graphic and completely unnecessary sex scene
sharethe graphic and completely unnecessary sex scene
A. I've seen worse than that on commercial TV.
B. How was it unnecessary?
Religion is like a rocking chair -- a lot of work to get nowhere.
A: Really? And were those scenes necessary?
B. How was it necessary?
Over the years I've watched several films that dealt with this subject, and I can't think of one that thought it was necessary to have a graphic sex scene, even when the victims were hetero.
I am not homophobic but I ask myself, "If they had not shown the sex scene and various other scenes (which seemed to be more about titillation than necessity) would the film have lost it's momentum or the subject, it's impact"?
I don't think anything in The Normal Heart was meant to be titilating. And I thought that the love scene between Felix and Ned was beautifully done. Do I think it was necessary? Yes actually. For a couple of reasons. (1) it showed the loving relationship between the two characters (and yes I think it was making love and not just sex even on that occasion) which continued from that moment on consistently as a love story. This was not just a couple of guys engaged in casual sex. (2) by showing this scene, we got to see Felix fully in his healthiest state so that later when we see him ravaged by the disease, the impact is that much more extreme because we remember what he looked like before. Could they have found another way to show us Felix naked so we'd have that image to compare to? I suppose so but anything else would have felt contrived and conspicuous. This was a very natural way to see a man's naked body.
And you know what else? I think perhaps it was necessary because if they refused to show two men making love in a movie that dealt so honestly in this topic, it would have been like another form of shaming. Because there's nothing wrong with same sex couples making love. And yes, plenty of movies show heterosexual couples making love (even if they're not usually fully nude) and audiences rarely question the necessity of including those scenes. In this case though, I think it was. For the reasons listed above.
I actually thought the sex scene was beautifully done. I think it was necessary to set the tone of the love Felix and Ned were to have for each other. It was passionate, romantic love-making, not just casual f* *king. The tears streaming down Felix's face was what got me the most. I thought it was beautiful.
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I can understand how some might view it as unnecessary (without being homophobic
I don't think that's possible, frankly. Interesting that all the people on this thread who've said it was "unnecessary" have also been careful to identify themselves as non-homo, at least by inference if not outright. It's all about shame and the personal ick-factor, which is kinda ironic, given the substance of Ned's struggle in the film.
Enjoyed the sex scene, but did feel it was a bit premature. Should've built up the relationship more, but figure time restraints might've been the reason they went straight for love-making...
It had a theme purpose as well, showing the culture even Ned was a part of -- counterpointing the early scenes, where he frowned at the more impersonal sex he saw on Fire Island -- and the impact when it became personal, which was a major thread of the film.
You might very well think that. I couldn't possibly comment. share
People are sometimes uncomfortable just because they're not used to it. I don't believe it's always out of hate.
Making it more common to see affection among the same sex is what their agenda was about in the beginning of the film. It's one of the reasons why some believe the government planted the virus among them.
I don't believe the love making season was unnecessary. I didn't though believe the film needed that scene of the group sex. I don't believe any film needs those, especially graphic, except maybe porn. I don't watch porn.
The only scene that grossed me out was the barfing on the airplane. I'd forgotten there even *was* a sex scene in this film until you mentioned it. Then again I'm gay, so it's something I see all the time--and much more graphic than that ;) How could ANYONE--gay or straight--object to seeing Matt Bomer naked!?
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