Originally Posted By HyperTyper So Disney is getting rid of smoking in the movies. No more on-screen smoke in films released under the Disney label, and it's being frowned-upon in films released by other Disney film divisions. Okay, wonderful. Disney has acknowledged that entertainment influences behavior. Isn't it interesting how the entertainment industry proclaims its ability to influence and shape behavior when it comes to inspiring people, or advancing important issues like global warming, but they claim that they have no effect on people, even kids, when it comes to violence, sex, language, etc.? Disney seems to have a conscience regarding certain hot social issues, but on others .... ???? If having a character smoke on-screen is so irresponsible (even one like Cruella de Ville), what do we say about other bad habits? If Disney's going to keep the air clean, could we get a commitment to keep characters' language clean? Not too long ago, I rented the remade "Freaky Friday." Hello! NOT the kind of language that's tolerated at the school where I teach. There was even some profanity in "The Incredibles." What's with that? And while I really loved "Ratatouille," I was actually very surprised that Linguini was clearly the child of unmarried parents. It happens, I know, but look at how it was portrayed: Mom has a baby, and doesn't bother to tell the father or her son about each other. She decides for herself that both marriage and fatherhood are unnecessary in the upbringing of a child. Only when she and the Chef are dead does she reveal everything, because apparently Dad is only needed for his DNA and an inheritance. And, in true Disney style, everyone is okay with this. ARGGGGHHHH! What is this teaching kids about the value of fatherhood? Motherhood? Family? Responsibility? And how is this careless message any less irresponsible than an a disagreeable character lighting-up? My point is not that Disney shouldn't ban on-screen smoking, or conversely that it should ban everything that's bad. My point is that responsibility comes in how people's decisions are portrayed, and how consequences are depicted, and that there are more potent misleading messages in film that ought to be of more concern to movie makers than Cruella de Ville's cigarettes. A clearly disgusting character engaging in a disgusting habit isn't going to get kids to start smoking. HOWEVER, lovable, likable characters hurting and killing people (and enjoying it), or making otherwise stupid and/or selfish decisions for which there are no consequence can very easily give youngsters a very warped perception of reality and responsibility. Characters who speak lightly of religious things (profanity) encourage bad manners and disrespect. Bathroom humor, so popular in children's movies lately, gives the impression that there is nothing offensive or rude anymore about such talk or behavior. Characters who, even subtly, make irresponsible decisions regarding sex and family minimize inhibitions and good common sense. I think it's great that Disney wants to take a more responsible approach to film making. Now I hope they extend their thinking to other negative influences in film.
Originally Posted By berol Wiggle room was left for not doing it, making exceptions or moving films to touchstone/miramax. Nobody ever died from cussing (unless the listener had a weapon).
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan >>Not too long ago, I rented the remade "Freaky Friday." Hello! NOT the kind of language that's tolerated at the school where I teach. << Hello? The film, like the Incredibles, is rated 'PG.' Right there on the movie poster, you get a warning of what you're in for. Disney made squeaky-clean movies throughout the 1970's that seemed more at home in the 1950's, and most were truly dreadful. Real life involves imperfect people making imperfect decisions, and not everything need be some heavy handed morality tale. Interesting people, and interesting characters, are complex. Not only bad guys smoke. Sometimes heroes make mistakes or have unsavory aspects to their personalities.
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan >>HOWEVER, lovable, likable characters hurting and killing people (and enjoying it), or making otherwise stupid and/or selfish decisions for which there are no consequence can very easily give youngsters a very warped perception of reality and responsibility. << If my kids are ever chased by armed thugs in flying disks through a remote island jungle, I'm okay if my kids cheer as they make the bad guys crash and blow up. Then again, my kids understand that movies and cartoons are pretend.
Originally Posted By twirlnhurl I am against the ban on smoking because it takes away a cool visual from the filmmakers palate. Not that cigarettes automatically make one cool, but they do at life to static dialog scenes. Consider the movie "Good Night and Good Luck". Edward R. Murrow smokes for the duration of the film. If he hadn't, we would have lost the kinetic visual of the smoke slowly rising from the cigarette while the characters debate and talk. There are so many times where a character needs a prop, to have something to do, and cigarettes are a much better visual then twiddling one's thumbs. "Okay, wonderful. Disney has acknowledged that entertainment influences behavior." I don't think that is true. I also don't think that is why this is done. I think Disney decided that smoking cannot be used in movies that take place now because of the health factor, and that telling everyone that it is a rule would be good press. I am not a fan of cigarettes, but I also do not want my favorite corporation (or the federal government) to be my parent. Cigarettes do not bother me, and I do not smoke, so if other people do or not has no effect on me. The idea that Disney should take out all other "negative" character attributes from it's films is both alarming and naive. What are stories supposed to be about if you can't have violence or drama? Is that not what entertainment about? People forget that the most violent and sexually explicit book most people have is the Bible. In fact, the gratuitous violence in the Bible is commonly read and championed by the same people who are angered by a petty caricature of much less severe violence. The same thing goes with sex in entertainment. I know that I first heard what a prostitute was in a kindergarten Sunday school. Anything as minor as the illegitimate son subplot in Ratatouille is no revelation to kids who probably didn't notice it. Either way, I would be surprised to turn on Jerry Springer in 25 years to see people bickering and eventually reveal the source of their marital strife as a Pixar film seen in their youth. The concept of bad words still puzzles me. I understand that currently in many places it is better to refrain from the use of certain words, but the cultural environment that creates this has no logical or even social logic for this state. There are many words with the same definition (and intimation), that can be used interchangeably in conversation, but for some reason, a few of them are indecent? To teach kids to judge others by the vocabulary they use and not what they are saying has always struck me as superficial and elitist. If Disney can help to remove this social inconsistency without catching much flack, then I am all for it.
Originally Posted By Pirate Mickey Wait. Smoking is bad and underage drinking is ok? Look at some of the movies and tv shows that are on ABC Family. They allow all kinds of illegal and underaged behavior and no one cares. ABC Family - A new kind of family - Where underage drinking is ok and all sorts of other questionable stuff is being promoted. But it's ok because Disney does not show smoking anymore. ;-)
