Clean Flix? [Archive] - Lounge of Tomorrow

Alex

06-20-2006, 12:09 PM

I wouldn't watch any movies this way, but I don't really care if other people want to. There are several companies that provide this service (I believe at least two of the big ones were started by Mormons in response to the desires of their fellows).

They've run into some lawsuits from the movie studios but so far have prevailed since it is not unlawful to modify personal copies of films (essentially they sell you the unaltered film and then alter it for you by agreement).

I want to see the artist's intention when watching movies so I don't understand how watching a heavily edited (particularly when the edits are not by the artists) version could be fulfilling but if others are fulfilled by it, who am I to argue with them.

BarTopDancer

06-20-2006, 12:09 PM

Whatever floats their boat. I remember hearing that the [blanking on this, something with the directors] were not happy with this at all because it can remove the intent of the film.

I think it's stupid though. It's just another way for people to not have to say no. [mom to 10 y/o son] Oh look honey! It's a clean version of Hostel. Now you can watch it. [watch movie] [son to mom] that sucked, it was 30 seconds long. [mom to cleanflix] this movie was 30 seconds long, we want our money back.

Alex

06-20-2006, 12:11 PM

Oh wait. Are you saying Clean Flix rents out the cleaned up copy? That may run into some legal issues with copyright then.

Gemini Cricket

06-20-2006, 12:16 PM

Oh wait. Are you saying Clean Flix rents out the cleaned up copy? That may run into some legal issues with copyright then.
Don't get me started on CleanFlix... :D
If I remember correctly, CleanFlix and Family Flix reedits the films themselves. (I saw a doco on TCM or AMC about this issue.) The studios sell Wal*Mart and some other chains edited airlines versions but I think what these guys do is different.
Steven Soderberg (sp?) is starting a campaign to prevent them from doing this and so far it hasn't gained enough steam to make a huge difference.

DreadPirateRoberts

06-20-2006, 12:18 PM

Oh wait. Are you saying Clean Flix rents out the cleaned up copy? That may run into some legal issues with copyright then.

Apparently they do rent out. They even filed a preemptive lawsuit (http://www.clean-edited-movies.com/clean_flicks.htm) against the Directors Guild of America

Moonliner

06-20-2006, 12:19 PM

Do you think it would be possible to get just the stuff they edited out? It could be a real timesaver when viewing movies.

Capt Jack

06-20-2006, 12:19 PM

volunteering (let alone paying) to have someone elses idea of 'inappropriate content' handled for you is IMO a cheapass cop out for not doing so/taking responsibility for it yourself, but totally up to them as far as their own kids (or selves) of course. To me its like letting the mob burn books they dont want you to read and being 'ok' with it, but then Ive never been real keen on censorship in general.

I also tend to agree with Alex that some publishers might just take exception to it.

mousepod

06-20-2006, 12:24 PM

volunteering (let alone paying) to have someone elses idea of 'inappropriate content' handled for you is ******** taking responsibility for it yourself.*** Totally up to them ****** of course. *** The mob burn books they dont want you to read ** 'Ok' *** in general.

Capt Jack's post edited for content.

Thank you.

JWBear

06-20-2006, 12:45 PM

Come on... cut these people some slack. The just want to be able to make sure that their kids are as sexually and emotionally ****ed-up as they are. It's the American way!

Cadaverous Pallor

06-20-2006, 12:47 PM

Capt Jack's post edited for content.

Thank you.How much do you charge?

Mousey Girl

06-20-2006, 01:14 PM

When they were telling me about it she said, "Sometimes you can tell where it was edited and it can take a few minutes to figure things out." What is the point of even watching something if there is a major plot point sitting in the trash somewhere? They are planning on watching Goblet of Fire this way. She wanted to borrow my copy, but her husband said it was on her CleanFlix que. Is all the magic gonna be edited out, since magic is offensive to the religious right (which they are)?

BarTopDancer

06-20-2006, 01:15 PM

They are planning on watching Goblet of Fire this way. She wanted to borrow my copy, but her husband said it was on her CleanFlix que. Is all the magic gonna be edited out, since magic is offensive to the religious right (which they are)?

Now that would be interesting to see.

katiesue

06-20-2006, 01:16 PM

If you feel as a parent something is inappropriate for your child to watch then don't rent it. Or rent it and watch it when the kiddies are asleep. That's what I do.

Don't even get me started on the three year olds in the movie theaters for violent R rated movies cause the parents won't cop for a babysitter.

Capt Jack

06-20-2006, 01:19 PM

my lawyer(s) will be in touch. :mad:

;)

Ghoulish Delight

06-20-2006, 01:20 PM

I wonder if people will sign up for this service just so they can swap out the edited copies for the real thing and send 'em back.

Capt Jack

06-20-2006, 01:21 PM

I wonder if people will sign up for this service just so they can swap out the edited copies for the real thing and send 'em back.

heh...you scored "pure evil" on the quiz...didnt you?

:p

Motorboat Cruiser

06-20-2006, 01:39 PM

I bet the cleanflix version of Pulp Fiction is about 11 minutes long.

Mousey Girl

06-20-2006, 01:54 PM

She told me they just got done watching Diary of a Mad Black Woman, and that it was really funny, but that there must have been some bad language since a good chunk of the dialog appeared dubbed. This leads me to my next question, if they are editing and dubbing everything, why not just save your money and wait for it to be shown on tv?

Not Afraid

06-20-2006, 02:30 PM

The older I get, the less I understand American culture (can I even realistically use that word?).

tracilicious

06-20-2006, 03:52 PM

I saw a documentaragraphical (new word!) snippet about this sort of thing once. There were some movies they wouldn't edit and rent. Pretty Woman was one. They said no way to clean that up, it's about a prostitute. So basically, the plot has to be somewhat salvagable past the editing.

I don't get it either.

JWBear

06-20-2006, 03:55 PM

The older I get, the less I understand American culture (can I even realistically use that word?).
Yes, you can. Culture in America isn't totaly repressed and destroyed. Not yet. It's like a flower growing out of a crack in the concrete; struggling, ignored by most, but still beautiful.

Alex

06-20-2006, 04:25 PM

Here is a list and comparison of companies that do this, in case you're interested in trying one:

http://editedmovies.ldsresources.net/#comparison

According to Clean Flicks FAQ they edit out profanity, graphic violence, nudity, and sexual language. So, they probably wouldn't be editing out "magic." In the end it is probably just like a regular movie that has been edited for the Pax channel.

Services like this also aren't all that new. I don't know if it was Clean Flicks but I know there was a service like this in the late '80s for VHS tapes. And in the early days of computer DVD players you could subscribe to a service that would download from the internet a table of content to skip when playing DVDs (so, if you were watching Liar Liar it would know to skip four seconds at 23 minutes, 16 seconds in and so on).

I also don't know that I would blame these services on "American culture." I have now doubt they'd be in Europe as well except that the service provided violates EU copyright laws.

€uroMeinke

06-20-2006, 11:43 PM

I just don't get why children shouldn't be exposed to profanity, violence, nudity, and sexual language - they get it elsewhere just the same. It seems if you could get to adulthood without ever experienceing any of that stuff, you'd be pretty messed up in just interacting with your peers.

Mousey Girl

06-21-2006, 06:14 AM

Keep in mind she is such a prude she makes Scaeagles look like a swinger. They are also big into home schooling and would starve before they gave up tithing to their church. when Nick and I were up there Saturday (they live in Tehachapi) one of her friends came over to take pictures of once of the puppies (she is selling dachsund puppies) the friend looked at me and asked if I home schooled Nick. when I replied "no" she dismissed me completly. These kids (the older one especially) are growing up so sheltered that they will eventually have trouble functioning in the real world.

Gemini Cricket

06-21-2006, 06:25 AM

Ah, yes, Tehachapi. Where members of the school board want to ban Harry Potter for promoting witchcraft... :D

If I had kids, (Hahahaha!) I'd let them watch something rated R but they'd have to watch it with me and we'd talk about it during and after. I'd also tell my kids that TV, Movies, video games are all make believe and should not be taken seriously nor literally. I'd show them how movies are made and take them to a film shoot. I'd also let my kids swear. But I'd tell them that it's never something they do too often and never at school. I'd like to teach my kid about reality but also take them to Disneyland often. I would desperately try to make sure that my TV/DVD player was not a babysitter.

Moonliner

06-21-2006, 06:52 AM

(can I even realistically use that word?).

Is there culture in the US?

Yes Lisa there is still culture in America and while many may question that idea, they have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age.
"They do not believe except what they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Lisa, whether they be men's or children's, are little.
"In this great universe of ours, man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of gasping the whole of truth and knowledge.
"Yes, Lisa, there is culture in America. It exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! How dreary would be the world if there were no culture.
There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The external light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.
Not believe in Culture! You might as well not believe in fairies.
"The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that's no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in this world.
"You tear apart the baby's rattle to see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived, could tear apart.
"Only faith, poetry, love, romance can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, Lisa, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.
"No culture? Thank God there is. A thousand years from now, Lisa, nay 10 times 10,000 years from now, American culture will continue to make glad the heart of humainity."

FEJ

06-21-2006, 08:17 AM

Out of sight, Out of mind. If we just pretend it isn't there, then it will go away. :(

Alex

06-21-2006, 09:06 AM

I'd let them watch something rated R but they'd have to watch it with me and we'd talk about it during and after.

Bolding mine.

It all makes sense now. I bet this is why suddenly it seems like everybody thinks it is ok to talk through a movie. It is concerned parenting teaching the kids that you discuss something as soon as it hits the screen and getting the parents used to actually doing so.

Now I know to next time just stand up and shout out "Godamit, let your kids be morally corrupted for 90 minutes but for the love of god (and he is a cineaste) shut the **** up!"

Gemini Cricket

06-21-2006, 09:11 AM

I was thinking more of talking while watching a DVD so I could pause it. I abhor talking at the movie theater. I'd tell my kid what 'Shh' means and tell him/her what the proper conduct at a theater is.

Gemini Cricket

06-21-2006, 09:15 AM

I bet this is why suddenly it seems like everybody thinks it is ok to talk through a movie.
When I saw 'Hunchback' for the first time (at the El Cap), I sat next to a woman who was translating the entire film into Spanish for her elderly mother and child. It was very frustrating. There were no empty seats for me and my friend to move to. I was trapped. I was so going to say something but no matter what I said, I would have totally looked like a demon picking on a poor old lady and a child who didn't speak English. So I bit my tongue.

Capt Jack

06-21-2006, 10:03 AM

Is there culture in the US?

yeah, but its mostly in the yogurt

*rimshot*

Moonliner

07-10-2006, 06:56 AM

In a shameless example of a judge getting starstruck by Hollywood hotties like Martin Scorsese, Judge Richard Matsch of Denver (Denver?? whatever...) has ruled (http://www.cbc.ca/story/arts/national/2006/07/09/film-scrubbing-ruling.html)that making movies clean is a dirty business. So from now on movie goers can enjoy their smut in the privacy of their own home whether they get off on it or not.

It's a happy day for filth! :) and a sad day for uptight repressive weenies everywhere :(

Gemini Cricket

07-10-2006, 07:01 AM

I totally agree with that decision. It's about time. Good for those directors... :)

Alex

07-11-2006, 08:05 AM

A federal judge just ruled that these operations are in violation of copyright and that all their redacted DVDs must be turned over for destruction. FamilyFlix has already been shut down. In this article (http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/arts/entertainment-smut.html?pagewanted=2&_r=2) on the decision some practices are made clearer.

1) The businesses purchased a standard DVD for every modified one they made.

2) When they shipped it to the customer they shipped both the standard DVD and the modified DVD.

The ruling seems a little bit weird to me since it is essentially ruling that while the activity itself is legal for the DVD owner it is still illegal to pay someone else to do it for you. Interestingly the software solution I referenced above is legal since it just alters the content between the DVD layer and the monitor without actually editing the DVD. That, to me, seems an distinction without meaning.

flippyshark

07-11-2006, 09:30 AM

The ruling seems a little bit weird to me since it is essentially ruling that while the activity itself is legal for the DVD owner it is still illegal to pay someone else to do it for you.

I know what you mean. To quote George Carlin:

"Selling things is legal. F**king is legal. Selling f**king is illegal. Am I the only one who sees a contradiction here?"

Moonliner

07-11-2006, 11:11 AM

I know what you mean. To quote George Carlin:

"Selling things is legal. F**king is legal. Selling f**king is illegal. Am I the only one who sees a contradiction here?"

He also says, "You can Prick your finger but you better not Finger...."

mousepod

02-05-2008, 07:55 PM

Kevy Baby

02-05-2008, 07:59 PM

Hypocrisy defined!

JWBear

02-05-2008, 08:00 PM

Good ol' Family Values!

Ghoulish Delight

02-05-2008, 08:45 PM

And sadly, no one will learn anything from this. Heck, I bet it'll be used by someone as an example of why we need to be MORE vigilant about protecting everyone from obscenity.

lashbear

02-05-2008, 09:46 PM

My sister told me that she and her family subscribe to Clean Flix. It is just NexFlix where someone has gone through and edited out all "inappropriate" content.
A federal judge just ruled that these operations are in violation of copyright and that all their redacted DVDs must be turned over for destruction. FamilyFlix has already been shut down..
What a pity, I was looking forward to getting the 4 minute version of "Saw" from them....

The older I get, the less I understand American culture (can I even realistically use that word?).
You read my mind... ;)

Keep in mind she is such a prude she makes Scaeagles look like a swinger..
I'm sorry, he isn't ?!?
(or is that "I'm sorry he isn't?")

CoasterMatt

02-05-2008, 10:06 PM

I thought CleanFlix was a company that cleans the cases of porn dvds as they're returned :)

Gemini Cricket

02-05-2008, 10:18 PM

Well, I am shocked.

No, I'm not.

blueerica

02-05-2008, 10:54 PM

Somehow, I missed this thread the first time around. Then again, had I caught it then, I'd not have had much else to say, beyond mirroring what everyone else wrote.

On that note, totally not surprised at all.

Also, there have been two LDS-related stores that have been selling "edited content" locally that have "gone out of business" in the past year. I haven't seen any others. I found it amusing, and gave a mental high-five to northern-Utahns who seem to have a bit more sense than the loonies with compounds down in the south.

And yes, I judge the people with the compounds in southern Utah. They're a bit frightening.

Maybe temperatures in the single digits increases mental acuity. It's hard to say...

Pirate Bill

02-06-2008, 09:23 AM

I wasn't around these parts when this thread made its rounds the first time.

I'm 100% against businesses like this. They make my right-winged religious moral fiber itch.

A) I can't stand "holier than thou" people and that's how these businesses and their customers come across.

B) If you don't want to be exposed to the filth, avoid it all together. Don't watch someone else's "cleaned" up version and pretend you're better for it. For one thing, it sends the wrong message to the studios. If you want clean family friendly films then watch, rent, and buy films that were made that way to begin with. Copyright violations aside, buying an R rated film then editing it only tells the studios, "We like your film, make more like it."

C) I've always thought that extremists (left or right) are covering up something. They seem to be trying just a little too hard to prove something. The fact that this Daniel Thompson guy is the scum of the earth doesn't really surprise me.

I emailed one of these businesses once to voice my concerns. I'll have to dig through my inbox to see if it was this guy who responded.

By the way, I know some people who think this Clean Flix and others like it are a great idea. I want to rip their televisions and DVD players away from them shouting "You're not worthy!" But then that would be holier than thou too. :evil: I think I'll just point them to this article instead and say "You want this guy deciding for you what is or isn't appropriate?"

ETA: Checked my email and there was no name attached. Just "Customer Service" from CleanFlicks Media, Inc.

Gemini Cricket

02-06-2008, 11:07 AM

Good points, Bill.

When I think on things like this, my problem is not with the right, it's with people who are hypocrites. That's what truly bugs me. Practice the preach or hit the road. That's what I say.

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b268/braddoc310/hippocrates.jpg
Hippo crates.

Ponine

02-06-2008, 11:09 AM

Ironically, I was thinking of finding this company when they released Sweeney Todd on DVD so that my son could watch it. He wants to see the songs in motion.
Maybe I'll just sit there with the remote handy and throw a pillow over his face.

Gemini Cricket

02-06-2008, 11:11 AM

Ponine

02-06-2008, 11:14 AM

Or you could show him the Angela Lansbury version on DVD...
:)

Its on order from Amazon. ;)

However, that version doesnt have Prof. Snape and whats his name... Wormtail? Singing, and not in HP costumes.

Moonliner

02-06-2008, 11:23 AM

How's this for a thread bump?

Operator Of Clean Flix Store Arrested For Statutory Rape (http://www.contactmusic.com/news.nsf/article/operator%20of%20clean%20flix%20store%20arrested%20 for%20statutory%20rape_1057942)

Well obviously this poor fella is a victim of his own desire to help others. Viewing all those hours of sex and violence to filter it for others left him a broken man. It's sad I tell you just sad.