OT - Saving Private Ryan and ABC

F308GTB · Post by **F308GTB** » Thu Nov 11, 2004 7:32 pm

So I understand many ABC affiliates are pulling their broadcast of Saving Private Ryan due to FCC regulations on language and violence. Many parent groups are championing this saying it's inappropriate viewing matter for prime time hours. That said, I must say that ABC and their affiliates should be allowed to broadcast the film in its entirety without repercussion.

While I don't ever expect to watch the movie again, it is one that every person should experience. For me it was the closest I'll ever get to war, and it really seemed to nail the experience. It was disturbing and made you really think about just what our men in arms sacrifice for our country. It's one of those movies that leaves a deep impact on you for years. War is nasty and shouldn't be edited for television. It belittles the respect we should give our veterans and minimizes the gut wrenching decision of going into military action.

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Thu Nov 11, 2004 7:39 pm

http://www.digitalsportspage.com/module ... pic&t=5714

JackB1 · Post by **JackB1** » Fri Nov 12, 2004 10:33 am

big surprise......my south FLA ABC station pulled it. Total BS!!
so tired of all this censorship crap. People need to see this movoe to
see how ugly war really is. The funny thing is most kids see more
violence than this on their video games.

Post by **ScoopBrady** » Fri Nov 12, 2004 10:35 am

Chicago didn't pull it. You go Chicago.

Brando70 · Post by **Brando70** » Fri Nov 12, 2004 11:35 am

There was a similar issue with Schindler's List, I think, when it was broadcast on TV. Sen. Corburn (the one from Oklahoma) protested it because there was nudity in the movie, and also because of the violence.

It's all about context. Showing Jews being stripped naked is horrifying, as is watching the battle scenes in SPR. They are educational experiences because they are trying to faithfully recreate what happened during these monumental historical events. Or take the 9/11 documentary CBS showed. It had a lot of profanity and awful violence, but it was an important thing to see. You need to know the enormity of these events.

I don't know what the FCC is thinking. They do seem to be cracking down more on violations of all sorts, but it is ridiculous for them to be so ambiguous here.

wco81 · Post by **wco81** » Fri Nov 12, 2004 12:08 pm

ABC promised to indemnify any station against fines for showing it.

So really the financial argument should have been moot.

I checked out a few minutes of it. The pseudo-sepia and soft focus kind of distracted from the clarity of the HDTV image.

Lot of HDTV enthusiasts jump on these airings of movies in HDTV. But it just doesn't seem right with commercials. Watching the network broadcast premier of movies just don't have the same cachet it used to have before the days of home video and cable channels.

Teal · Post by **Teal** » Fri Nov 12, 2004 2:00 pm

I bought Saving Private Ryan a couple of years ago...I pull it out from time to time and watch it again...and am humbled and amazed again. I usually buy authentic war movies. I've got that, Band of Brothers (another AMAZING achievement), Black Hawk Down, plan on getting We Were Soldiers. I just really get into the stuff that tries to stay true to the way it was. The Longest Day was pretty good in it's day, but it's vanilla in the light of SPR and BOB. Braveheart and Patriot are two more of my favorites, and I love Gladiator. I know it's fiction, but the spirit of the day is right on...

GROGtheNailer · Post by **GROGtheNailer** » Fri Nov 12, 2004 2:58 pm

Saving Private Ryan & Schindlers List are masterpieces, my favorite movies of all time, very emotional and very well done.

matthewk · Post by **matthewk** » Fri Nov 12, 2004 3:10 pm

Here in Milwaukee they pulled it and broadcast Far & Away instead.

What a joke. Any kid over the age of 3 knows how to change channels on a remote and can find things they shouldn't be watching any day of the week during this time.

If parents are doing their job, they will know better than to have the kiddies around when this is (or in my case, SHOULD HAVE BEEN) on. The Janet and Howard Stern issues now have everyone scared of what the FCC "might" fine them for. Yet another step towards our Police State mentality.

AcemanPR · Post by **AcemanPR** » Fri Nov 12, 2004 3:13 pm

This s*** irritates me to no end. People need to learn the First Amendment.

Do people not know how to turn off their television? If they are upset, then don't watch the movie. I believe other people have the right to watch this movie in its entirety and uncut.

While I think that pornographic material and slandering should not be shown on regular TV, I think that occasional nudity and language is fine if in proper context. Every other country in the world has no problem with the above issues. I think people in the USA are over sensationalized with this garbage. We're just an immature and over emotional country anymore, and frankly, I am quite ashamed about it. People in this country as a whole need to lighten up a bit. If you don't approve of the content, simply don't watch. I thought that is what all these ratings are for.

AcemanPR · Post by **AcemanPR** » Fri Nov 12, 2004 3:18 pm

matthewk wrote: If parents are doing their job, they will know better than to have the kiddies around when this is (or in my case, SHOULD HAVE BEEN) on. The Janet and Howard Stern issues now have everyone scared of what the FCC "might" fine them for. Yet another step towards our Police State mentality.

Bingo. Parents need to do their job. I have two kids of my own. First of all, they are in bed by 8, so they won't be exposed to this type of material right now. Secondly, when I think my sons are old enough to handle a movie like SPR, I will let them watch this movie uncut and viewed the way it is intended to be viewed.

I rather my boys learn things from me first hand than from kids in school. If they have questions, I'd hope they can come to me for honest answers. Will them seeing a nipple on TV scar them? I certainly hope not, considering that they still will see my wife unclothed from time to time since they like to barge into bathroom or bedroom in the morning. However, as a parent, it is my job to explain to them certain things. They also need to realize when it is not appropriate to use certain words.

wco81 · Post by **wco81** » Fri Nov 12, 2004 3:24 pm

It's not just that people who object to certain material shouldn't have to see it on their TVs.

It's that people who object to certain material doesn't think anyone should be able to see it on their TVs.

Some people don't have problems imposing their values. There are several cases of pharmacists refusing to fill contraceptive prescriptions because they believe those pills "abort" babies:

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/200 ... pill_x.htm

Wilkie33 · Post by **Wilkie33** » Fri Nov 12, 2004 4:47 pm

JackB1 wrote:big surprise......my south FLA ABC station pulled it. Total BS!!
so tired of all this censorship crap. People need to see this movoe to
see how ugly war really is. The funny thing is most kids see more
violence than this on their video games.

Totally disagree about the "censorship crap" line, but that's my opinion I guess. Personally I don't think the movie is suitable for network television, but that's just my opinion I guess. How close to war have you been, btw.. if you don't mind me asking?

Post by **ScoopBrady** » Fri Nov 12, 2004 5:00 pm

I can see pulling Shaving Ryan's Privates off the air but not Saving Private Ryan.

This country is too pussified.

wco81 · Post by **wco81** » Fri Nov 12, 2004 5:30 pm

ScoopBrady wrote:I can see pulling Shaving Ryan's Privates off the air but not Saving Private Ryan.

That's awesome