the beach: okay to see?

greenspun.com : LUSENET : Catholic : One Thread

Is it morally permissable to see a terrible movie like "The Beach" starring Leonardo di Caprio for the sole reason that your girlfriend wants to see the movie? How can I convince her not to see the movie? Isn't it anti-catholic in its theme? Please respond quickly, we're going to the movies this Friday night. Thank you. Rick Jandrain

-- rick jandrain (rjandrai@nd.edu), February 16, 2000

Answers

Rick,
I personally know nothing at all about this film, but I offer you this information and advice:

1. Here is the review from the (traditionally too lenient) reviewers hired by the U.S. Catholic Bishops conference:
"The Beach -- Because of some gory violence including a suicide, shadowy sexual encounters with nudity, some recreational drug abuse and recurring rough language, the U.S. Catholic Conference classification is A-IV -- adults, with reservations. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. The Beach is a failed thriller about a restless American traveler (played by Leonardo Di Caprio) who convinces a French couple to journey with him to an idyllic, remote island off Thailand, but once there, they must pay a deadly price to keep the perfect beach a secret. Although visually beautiful, the chaotic film becomes muddled as the beach's bohemian residents discover evil exists even in paradise."

2. You asked if the film is "anti-Catholic" in its theme. If, by that word, you mean "bigoted against the Catholic Church," then I don't know. I went to the site of the outstanding organization that fights such bigotry (the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights -- http://www.catholicleague.org/) and they have not yet had anything to say about the movie. But if, by "anti-Catholic," you mean that it has elements against Catholic morality, then you are obviously right, according to the NCCB/USCC review.

3. My opinion is that, although both you and your date just may "luck out" and not sin by watching this movie, it is too dangerous to your soul to gamble on it. I think that few and far between are the people who can "stay spiritually clean" after watching R-rated trash that contains "... gory violence ... suicide ... shadowy sexual encounters with nudity ... recreational drug abuse ... recurring rough language." This is utter garbage. As the saying goes, "garbage in, garbage out." If you or your date watch a little of this trash, you will want to see more. Each dose pollutes your mind and soul more, driving you further and further away from godliness.

4. My opinion is that you have a duty to avoid this film, to explain to your date why you are avoiding it, and to recommend that she join you in viewing some wholesome entertainment -- or, better yet, make a "holy hour" before the Blessed Sacrament, in reparation for the sins committed in making this film.

God bless you both.
JFG

-- J. F. Gecik (jgecik@desc.dla.mil), February 17, 2000.

Better yet -- go rent "What's Eating Gilbert Grape," in which a younger Leo plays Johnny Depp's mentally challenged kid brother. This is a very off-beat film, but an interesting story about normal people living out in the middle of nowhere. Good acting all around, but Leo should have received an Oscar for his performance -- absolutely the best, the most surreal-ly flawless on-screen portrayal of a retarded person you will EVER see, I guarantee it. Go rent this movie. Really.

Can you tell I liked it...?

-- Leo doesn't drown (in@this.one), February 17, 2000.


Dear Rick, How old are you? 12 or 18? If you are at least 16, you're old enough to drive, join the army, get charged as an adult for crimes and even get married in some states. It is not morally wrong to see a film which is garbage. If you let that movie change who you are or let it change the way you act, then you're just very gullible. The same can be said for books and videos. You cannot expect anyone to make moral decisions for you--they come from your own heart and soul. I am basing this on the fact that you are a moral person. As to the other response you got previous--as to the "review from the (traditionally too lenient)reviewers, hired by the US Catholic Bishops Conference" what do you want anyway? Someone to hold your hand and make all decisions for you? The reviewers give you a "guideline" and you make the decision from there. They already told you it was an adult movie with reservations--if you choose to see it, don't expect Goldilocks. Who do you think you are to state that Rick and his girlfriend could sin by watching this movie? Or that sins were committed in making this film? God decides what are sins and you have already discounted His representatives here on earth--namely the US Bishops Conference. Maybe when you see "trash" you want to see more, but you don't speak for the rest of us. I am a moral person who is RC and God gave me a brain to make choices for myself-- I may choose to go by the rating that the Catholic reviewers print, but that is just a guideline. I resent that on this site, which is RC, you seem to think that you are in a position to judge for others and that your ideas are the correct RC ones, after all the US Catholic Bishops are remiss in their duty according to you. Many people of other faiths visit this site and it is hardly fair to assess the RC church based on the narrow-minded opinion of one individual who, in reality, has no authority at all. Jean and Brother Rich, where are you? Ellen

-- Ellen K. Hornby (dkh@canada.com), February 21, 2000.

Dear Ellen,
Since you are not of the "male persuasion," I know that you do not have the same thought patterns, emotions, and responses to sexual images as many of us males do. Much of the anger and error in your reaction seems to be due to your unawareness of this factor, so I will forgive you and avoid trying to fight and rebut you one line at a time.

Nevertheless, I have to mention a couple of important things ...
1. You wrote, "It is not morally wrong to see a film which is garbage." This is a great error on your part. If you know in advance that it is garbage, then you sin in at least two ways -- by polluting the temple of the Holy Spirit that is your mind and body, and by wasting money, which God made it possible for you to have for wholesome things.

2. When I post something here that is not a matter of fact, I can surely be wrong, so I don't mind well-reasoned criticism. But you have been quite inaccurate and unfair to me. You said that I "... have already discounted His representatives here on earth -- namely the US Bishops Conference." But, even according to your earlier quotation of my words, I did not do that. As you quoted, I spoke of "reviewers, hired by the U.S. Catholic Bishops Conference." My words do not implicate even one bishop, much less the whole body of hundreds. I certainly do not "discount" them. If you would read my other posts around this board, you would see that I speak of the necessity to respect and obey the Magisterium. The USCC is not quite the same thing as the NCCB. The USCC is a bureaucracy (in the process of slowly being fixed), which has lay, religious, and clerical staff members responsible for hiring the too-lenient reviewers.

3. You concluded with this thought: "Many people of other faiths visit this site, and it is hardly fair to assess the R.C. church based on the narrow-minded opinion of one individual who, in reality, has no authority at all." (a) How uncharitable of you! You apparently do not give any credit for brain power to visitors of other faiths, if you think that they would assess the Catholic Church [not the "R.C. church"] based on a single opinion. (b) How do you assess "narrow-mindedness?" If (as I suspect) all it takes for you to toss insults is for someone to post words with which you disagree, then perhaps you should not frequent this site until you can overcome that problem. (c) You complain that I have "no authority at all." You are finally right about something! I have no authority, and I CLAIMED no authority, which is why your reaction is absurd. If you would re-read my post, you would see that I repeatedly used the words, "in my opinion." I don't believe that those words appear even once in your post. Instead you "pontificated" in a most unbecoming way, one that is vastly more detrimental to Catholicism (in the eyes of non-Catholic visitors) than anything I wrote.

May Jesus grant you His peace.
JFG

-- J. F. Gecik (jgecik@desc.dla.mil), February 22, 2000.

Moderation questions? read the FAQ