Samoa bans hit Elton John biopic over gay sex scenes

Not being homosexual, why would I wish to view gay sex scenes?

Maybe the censors are of the same opinion?

Just use a disclaimer and eating system - stop imposing one's values in another. Don't make laws about that. If you dont want to see scenes of gay, pedo, straight, [insert moral outrage], then don't watch it.

Not being homosexual, why would I wish to view gay sex scenes?

Then simply don't go see the movie. There are movies with all kinds of plots and takes--those that don't look interesting to me I avoid. It'd be like saying not being a fan of J-pop, why would I wish to listen to it? I don't.

Go to a movie about a well known gay musician but don't want to know anything about them being gay.. because.. the truth hurts you?

People are so precious...

Sounds pretty gay.

They could easily edit out those scenes... No need to throw the baby out with the bathwater!

So a film about the life of a world famous musician shouldn't include a big part of his personality, private life? Editing out that part of his life just makes the film nonsensical. China did that with the Freddie movie and viewers were left confused. But it is an Island nation with a fundamentalist Christian take on "God". Homosexuality between males gets five years jail. No punishment for Lesbians, and there is a category for transgender who are beloved as part of the culture. It's one unfathnoble society.

So a film about the life of a world famous musician shouldn't include a big part of his personality, private life?

Do we need to watch him having sex?

But it is an Island nation with a fundamentalist Christian take on "God". 

Oh, but then you put God in quotation marks, so we know your politics.

It's a free world. Samoa can do what it wants.

It's a free world. Samoa can do what it wants

But, apparently, the Samoans can't do what they want- Not a free world for them.

@0reo0

It's a free world. Samoa can do what it wants

But, apparently, the Samoans can't do what they want

I believe that the vast majority of Samoans just aren't interested in depictions of gay sex. The tiny minority that are can watch the movie on the Internet later. No big deal.

I believe that the vast majority of Samoans just aren't interested in depictions of gay sex. The tiny minority that are can watch the movie on the Internet later. No big deal.

Been to Samoa, have you? Met lots of Samaons? Just an unofficial spokesperson?

The movie is about Elton John, not gay sex. Maybe people want to see a musical movie in a theatre because it has more atmosphere.

Sadly, Samoans don't get to choose- like you do, I'm sure.

ALL Samoans and islanders I met are massive guys, one security guard in roppongi I met is as big as Dwyane Johnson, if not bigger..

Who could knock you into the earth with their finger.. So not sure the whole PC world will work there

Bohemian Rhapsody is a better film, cause it showed a more in depth story. Eltons movie is a long musical with endless music only, not much in the story or script at all

Good!

 If you dont want to see scenes of gay, pedo, straight, [insert moral outrage], then don't watch it.

Explicit pedo sex scenes are/would be a whole different ballgame though. Gay/straight sex isn't illegal (in most countries), nonces are.

Not an EJ fan so won't watch but if I were I guess I'd expect/be ok with a couple of gay sex scenes shoved down our throats, so to speak ;)

Why the need for so many movies these days to show any sex scenes? Are these filmmakers trying to be 'edgy?'

Enough is enough.

The country is also well known for its acceptance of fa'afafines -- men who dress as women and adopt female mannerisms -- known locally as the third sex.

This makes no sense at all, especially in a nation that prides itself as 'Christian' proper. And yet this government doesn't want movie viewers to see depictions of gay sex (NOT real action) even though EJ is gay?

Contradictions, folks. And outright hypocrisy.

I watched Rocketman on the weekend. I'm a pretty liberal sort of person and try not to judge others for their life style. Gay, LBGT, whatever. Do what you want. But I did feel somewhat uncomfortable with the male on male sex scenes. Uncomfortable because this is not my scene. I'm somewhat hypocritical because had it been lesbian scenes I would have been okay. Have to be honest in saying how I can see this may have offended others. Guy with his girlfriend in the seats next to us had his head in his hands muttering I can't watch this. So, liberal as I may think I am, I'm okay with whatever you do but I don't need to see it. So possibly not as liberal as I thought I was. Or maybe I am. Like eating sausages. Just don't tell me how they were made.

Fail to see what the sex scenes have anything to do with the overall story - Good to see countries around the world supporting standards.

Honestly, who cares whether a tiny island nation in the Pacific bans one of the 100s of movies made each year? Hey, why not make a big deal out of the Marshall Islands arresting people for jaywalking. It's just irrelevant to most of the world.

Except for the producers of this film, of course. They get tons of free publicity by crying "we were banned in (insert name of obscure country)."

Then simply don't go see the movie. There are movies with all kinds of plots and takes--those that don't look interesting to me I avoid. It'd be like saying not being a fan of J-pop, why would I wish to listen to it? I don't

Or you can wait to get it on Blu-Ray and just fast forward past the sex scenes, problem solved.

Or you can wait to get it on Blu-Ray and just fast forward past the sex scenes, problem solved.

Or you can wait to get it on Blu-Ray and just fast forward TO the sex scenes, if that's your cup of tea!

Do we need to watch him having sex?

Don't worry, you probably won't have to see Elton having sex. Probably a much younger actor playing him though.

Why the need for so many movies these days to show any sex scenes?

Right. We had enough of that in the 1970s. We can replay them whenever we feel the need.

@oldman who said;

"Why the need for so many movies these days to show any sex scenes? Are these filmmakers trying to be 'edgy?'

Enough is enough."

I also am an old man, 78 on my next birthday, and I have known for years that the sex drive in most humans is secondary only to our survival instinct. I am also not easily offended and prefer hearing and seeing truth.

Pornographic films aside, sex scenes are never necessary.

Change never to rarely and I am inclined to agree. I think Hollywood producers are creatures of habit. Car chase. Check. Love interest. Check. Sex scene. Check.

Sex scenes used to draw in viewers because actual pornography was hard to come by in pre-internet days. Most people weren't inclined to enter seedy little porn shops or have suspicious looking brown envelopes delivered to their homes. So people got their titillation from mainstream films.

Now those days are long gone, which is why films are either cutting sex scenes entirely or trying to compete with porn by getting more graphic. The fact is, people having sex is possibly the least interesting thing about them from an outsider's point of view. It's just not that interesting, except as a masturbatory aid (or educational device for some people.) As the former, mainstream films cannot compete with hardcore porn that caters to specific whims, and doesn't need to carry a good storyline as well.

So yeah, I think most films could cut their sex scenes and replace them with something that moves the story forward or brings the viewer in.

Like eating sausages. 

Perhaps not the best metaphor, given the subject matter.

Grew up straight in San Francisco (1980's in my 20's) and sexuality was everywhere . Sorry but I don't get a lot of the comments about being uncomfortable. I've heard them all before but come'on... Get over it, sex is sex. If your a bottom, top, bi, gay, straight... it's sex and you are sexual. I've apologized to so many people for being straight, I know they wanted to .... me but, I was born straight, no choice in the manner. For the record, if I ever change my sexual preference... I'm a top. The world has too many bottoms already.