EDITORIALS

Not for nothing, but i am a young, forward thinking, cool internet user. I get the lolcats, I use Google chrome, and i understand that the movie is funny, and i like Kevin smith... (I think Guardian Devil is one of the better DD stories of all times ok?) Basically, I'm not some 50 year old conservative whiner.... But, I would prefer that the word porno not be on the side of a bus where i have to explain to my daughters what a porno is, and why two people would make one. Because anyone with kids knows the avalanche of "WHY?" that comes with any explanation. And explaining to my daughters that are not even in kindergarten yet what a porno is, and how it is made is not a conversation that is age appropriate. And if you think that in the age of the internet you can tell your child that they are too young to be told something, and that they wont go and try to figure it out on their own, then you obviously don't have children. There are some things that children don't even need to know exist. And if keeping the word porno out of the public eye means that I can stall having to explain to my kids what a dirty movie is for a few more years, then good.

I can understand why parents wouldn't want to explain what "Porno" means. I mean to tell your child that it a "grown up" word must be hard. Cuase the last time I checked, what you say goes. I mean I am sure that this movie will make Porn OK to watch anywhere. Cuase that is what Kevin Smith is looking to do. Make Porno mainstream. Which would rock mind you. But what about other movies, like SexDrive? Is that getting a bad response? Sex and the City? Deathproof? Explain to your child what death is. Cant be as bad as Porn. If you are offened my the word porn. Then oh well. To me McCain/Palin is just as bad as Porn. So lets takes down all those signs if we can't have Zack and Miri Make a Porno up. Cuase I sure the hell can't explain to a child what McCain/Palin means. Thats just too damn hard.

This is all coming from the man who excells at dick and fart jokes, opts to coin sexual terms through his movies and enjoys riling people up through sexual matters. This response isnt absurd, if anything expected. Use this as an opportunity to bond and be the parent to your child that you need to be in todays times. If you dont want this responsibility, you have no business having/raising a child, plain and simple. However, Im not necessarily for letting the word "Porno" being used everywhere anyways; half the fun of something taboo is the scandal. Whats happens to the thrill when it all gets taken away and becomes every day life? Wheres the fun in that?

The reason Zack and Miri has "porno" in the title at all is because the filmmakers thought it would help draw attention and fill seats. Generating controversy like this was something the Weinstein Company promotion machine dreamed about. That said, from reviews trickling out from preview showings at film festivals, not everyone thinks this turkey is very good, so who cares? Like this one from the Chicago Film Fest: "pathetically unimaginative in taking a raunchy concept -- two best friends make an adult movie to drum up cash -- and forcing it into a wholly conventional, low effort romantic comedy." Somebody else who watched the film in Toronto said the film is "about as transgressive as the Tijuana donkey show from Clerks II." Judging from the trailer, it looks dreary and dull. Alex, from the glowing review you gave this film, it’s clear you’re a diehard Kevin Smith fan, so not surprising you disagree. But I predict a lot of fans who expect a sexy, raunchy, adult comedy will walk away disappointed. Nearly no nudity, except for Jason Mewes' junk? Please. If you're going to make a movie like this, pushing the envelope by making it explicitly about filming an amateur porno, why couldn’t it be sexy? Good concept, bungled execution.

I explained what a porno is to all 3 of my oldest children. My 4 year old just didn't care. If a parent is seriously having a problem with this, then I fear for what else they are not going to be able to explain to their kids. "Mommy and Daddy were just... um... wrestling!" "Mommy and Daddy were just... um... drinking juice that makes them tired and loud!" "Mommy and Daddy were just... um... lighting firecrackers with a funny cigarette!" I had a harder time explaining to my kids why a show and movie called Sex and the City had Sex in the title, and why would anyone want to watch a show all about that anyway? No, I take that back. I had a harder time explaining to my kids the ending of Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.

Why are some people in America so uptight, its like the monent we see breasticles the wolves come charging, or a title with the word porno it? America is ran by a fat Catholic mother who deems sex and anything sensual has the devils work. Smith knew that this was bound to happen, people are taking the title out of context, its kinda like Glen Duncans book I,Lucifer (Sure to cause widespread controversy) which is becoming a feature film, people only see Lucifer, or The Da Vinci Code, blew way out of porportion. Porno is a word that all kids learn eventually, mabye from parents or the internet, or a movie. Parents need to dicuss this with their kids so they can understand it. Other than that quit be so uptight, we are Americans, come on! The basis of this film is that Zach and Miri are poor, and a porno is their only solution to paying off their debts, so they then decide to film adult movie called "Star Whores" then the rest is the rest. Go see it before you judge. Anyone remeber that old saying "Don't Judge a Book By its Cover." hmm?

Dear Vic, No a company should not be forced to run an add that says porno. But they are forced to take it down becuase of soomebody that didn't like the word porno. How is that fair? Think about the implications of that. Iknow thats not mentioned in this article, but it happens. I just think that people need to lighten the phuck up. ( I use Phuck cause I don't want to offened anyone by saying Fuck cause some child may read this and ask someone what it means.) AllmightyKeim

Hypocrites. They allowed Sex and the City. SexDrive

Im in Total ageement with VIC on this. The question really is how liberal do we want to get in our society? I say that as someone who is much more liberal than conservative. Remember this debate has nothing to do with the content of the film, it has to do with the title. Remember we are living in a time were the country has never been so divided. Getting news coverage from Fox and Cnbc is like living in two totally different worlds. Half this country is somewhat liberal and half conservative. The film's title will offend many people. It has nothing to do whether I agree with that or not, its just a fact. RESPECT is still an important thing! When the Weinstein company and Smith agreed on that title they knew it would meet with resistance in many circles. So now they have to live with it. I wrote a few months ago that by going with that title it will hurt its box-office alot, and if it were my money, I would have used something different because I want to maximize my profit potential. That is just smart business. Also to ALLMIGHTY- DO you want to live in a country were anything goes. Were teacher's use curse words to educate children, were you turn on TV and see hard core porn on major networks? If we continue to accept Trash over Class we put everything right into the gutter. Again I don't object to the films content but I feel they pushed it with the title! Also why do so many posters use the F-Bomb in every sentence? Ask yourself- Do you really think that's a makes us a better society or one that is so much worse than it used to be! I don't! Just my opinion!

Also to ALLMIGHTY- DO you want to live in a country were anything goes. Were teacher's use curse words to educate children, were you turn on TV and see hard core porn on major networks? *sigh* Really? I mean Really folks. Porn is a word. On a poster. Its not showing anything bad. Its not cursing at our children in a classroom. It's not raping us. It is a 4 letters on a poster. Yes i want to live in a country where anything goes. But why would you assume that means I want techers currsing at our children in school? Is it becuse you said anything goes? And why would you show pron on major TV networks? Thats stupid. That is like saying I like killing bugs, so there for I like killing children and puppy dogs. Makes no sense. This movie is rated R right? So no kids should go see under the age of 18? So whats the big deal. Oh the word P-O-R-N is the big deal. For crying out loud the poster has stick figures on it. I don't think we are a worse society, but I do think parents have gotten fucking lazy. I will not be a lazy parent. If my child ask what porn means, I will tell them, "Its an adult word that you are not to say." Just becuase your child ask you something does not mean you have to tell them everything. If you are offended by the word PORN then I am sorry. But it is a word. It's not a word like NI$$er that has hatered behind it, so don't bring up that argument. Please people open up your minds and just dont over react to every little thing in the world. It is not that big of a deal. And if I have to explain what things are not a big deal to you, then God or who ever help you. I leave you with this Pornography NOUN: Sexually explicit pictures, writing, or other material whose primary purpose is to cause sexual arousal. By this meaning there are a ton of movies that are PORN that are mainstream. I'm sorry but Star Wars gets me aroused.

JL Bullshit. You and others like you distort the meaning of the word censorship. And as far as underestimating children - do you have any? If not shut the hell up concerning it and come talk to me when you have a 7 year old. What's really funny is you guys don't take a macro look at this. Look at advertising and the media 15 years ago compared to today. In 15 years, when some of you are parents of your own kids you'll be arguing with people who are now your age who will at that time be defending posters on the side of buses showing a closeup of a teenage girl giving a guy a blowjob because not to would be "censorship." If you don't see that's what every effort at pushing the envelope leads to in the long run, you're naive. They'll be telling YOU that you're underestimating kids and they're smarter than you think and you can't shelter them forever, blah-de-fucking-blah. And then maybe you'll think back to that asshole on First Showing and think "Oh, THAT's what that guy was talking about." Vic

I guess I don't see the point I'm supposed to be missing. Companies choose not to run the ads. Fine. There's no problem with that, other than the marketing team for the film now has to come up with a way to get people to the movie without saying the full title of the movie. There's so much that an inventive marketing person can do with that, it's almost like a marketer's dream. "Also to ALLMIGHTY- DO you want to live in a country were anything goes. Were teacher's use curse words to educate children, were you turn on TV and see hard core porn on major networks?" Really? Do you really want to try and stand on this argument? Really? Taken, of course, I would find it offensive to see hard core stuff on network TV. Of course, I would approach a teacher who felt using vulgarities within a classroom setting was agreeable. But, I'm able to turn off my TV, and I am able to tell my children what I feel it is they can not watch, and do so easily. Because I'm a parent. In your example of the teacher; this obviously goes into what our reasonable expectations are of a teacher, a school, and a classroom. The removal of the ads because of complaints, IS censorship, in just about every meaning of the word. The difference in how some see it (and how others define it), is that this form of censorship is voluntary, and does not infringe upon the affected parties freedom of speech, because the censorship in question happened within an area in which an agreement between two parties was reached, and then refused, based upon what that company (the one doing the censoring) viewed as a reasonable expectation of their customers. Now, if that's explained to the film company who bought the ads for placement, and their money is refunded, then while it's still censorship, it's an acceptable form of it, based upon reasonable expectation. Since I'm sure that all here are aware that there are no "perfect" parents, but ones who do the towering task of parenting to the best of their ability, then I'm sure that we can all agree that parents who lack the ability to describe to their kids the meaning of a word on a poster for a movie that they wouldn't let them see in the first place, are parents that may need to step up their own skills a bit. If explaining the work "porno" to their kids is the most challenging task they will experience as a parent, then I fear for their relationship with their children. It's a movie. Whether it's a good or bad one, is certainly up for debate. The purpose of a movie, and its subject matter, is to allow filmmakers to push the envelope, depending on what it is they're trying to do. In Smith's case, he's taking what looks to be a couple of different subjects, making a COMEDY out of them, and hopefully ending up with a decent movie that should make me laugh. As an adult. Underestimating children, of any age, is certainly a naive state of mind. I've never underestimated any of my children, at any age in their life, in their understanding of what comes before them, within the media, or life at large. Telling someone that they can’t understand this, simply based on the assumption that they might not be a parent, is naive in its own right, basing that opinion on what may or may not be true, because of how someone is talking about a subject.

Censorship is, indeed, what is stated by that entry in wiki. I don't think I ever disputed that, and am pretty sure supports my point. The key term you're going to want to look at there is: "which may be considered" It depends on who is doing the considering. I don't think that point I was making said anything about anyone being FORCED to remove ads. The company who bought the ad space did so voluntarily, upon discovering that they went beyond what was the reasonable expectation of their customers, who in this case are BOTH the film company who bought the ad space (who's reasonable expectation is that their ads would be shown), and the company's main customer base (bus riders, baseball game watchers, etc...). I'm sure that the filmmakers knew perfectly well that they were going to get the smackdown with their ad campaign, no matter how benign they attempted to make it. Again, a point is made using what most people reasonable define as "vulgar" terms, in an attempt to try and make someone believe that the word "porno" carries with it the same weight as shit, fuck, asshole, douchebag, dingleberry, nerd, jerkface, buttwad, puritan, nazi, dick, cougar... I could go on. While I can consider the reasoning behind wanting to make this comparison, the context can't fit. Moving beyond what society deems as a reasonable expectation of entertainment and advertising, you being to whittle your original point down to a toothpick. Words are what they are. Words. The weight we allow them to carry, in the context in which we use them, are what gives them the power that they have. Concern over this, or the attitude that we should attempt to shelter young people from them, becomes one that is ever consuming. I certainly cannot say that my day to day speech is not littered with "grown up words", or that I've let a couple slip while fixing the car, and my children heard me. But, they are aware that these "grown up words", are just that. They're also aware that the reasonable expectation of both children and grown ups, is to not use abrasive language in an overblown manner. Within that same idea, refusing to allow anyone to hear or know certain words or phrases, gives those words more power, and adds a powerful mystique to them.

this is such a non-issue and there are no surprises here. Get over it. Why no complaints over the giant SEXDRIVE ads everywhere?

There are more important things to worry about.

I think this is ridiculous. People just go overboard about stupid tiny things like this. It's a word. PORNO. Oh my god ! If you don't want children to know about it then don't tell them. If you're worried about your children going online and searching the word porno then you obviously aren't that good a parent. There are parental controls on everything now, so if you think your child might want to check out what porn is online then activate your parental controls. THAT SIMPLE. And as for the child asking about what a porno is tell them "An adults movie" or " I'll tell you when you're older'. Not that difficult. And the word "porno" itself is just an abbreviation of the word pornography which I have seen in public with ads that said "pornography hurts". How come those were OK, but the word porno in a movie title is so taboo??

"Zack and Miri make a SEX tape" Problem solve since the word sex is okay. Just tell your kids that. Besides like two weeks you won't have to see the adds anymore. Okie Dokie!

I personally like the title "Zack and Miri Make an Adult Film That is Intended for Audiences of 18 Years and Older". sounds catchy to me. lol i just think this whole thing is hilarious cuz i know controversy over the word porno won't stop me or anyone i know from seeing this should-be-hilarious movie. and i doubt it will really affect anyone either.

I was wondering... what about all the so called "music" that comes out these days that talks about casual sex and shooting people. If you don't know what I'm talking about... look up Dead Wrong by Notorious B.I.G. and tell me what you think we should censor. I agree with a lot of the above posts. Porn... is a word. If a child asks what it means, tell them they aren't old enough yet, and if they say "Why?", all you have to say is, "Because I said so." Conversation over.

@Shade291 Yes, porno is a word, and yes we will have to address it to our children eventually. But, in many cases kids go to school and learn these words anyways. It doesn't take a movie preview to get them curious about what certain words involve.

@Will O Yeah the MPAA leans toward that side because of the influence Jack Valenti had on forming the MPAA. Chck out the link,,, 790@movieguys.org

FYI... film screened amazingly this week.. just too bad that all this discussion has to happen regarding its name in the first place.... Alex, could you post up the markets other than Philly that cut the advertising of the movie? And how many of them were not private groups like this Deputy Mayor of Transportation(read - TOOL)? I would be interested to know how many of the groups that are pulling it are bible-belt livin, conversative, close-minded bigots that can't look at it for what it is, a movie. THEY ARE NOT PUBLICS THAT WOULD HAVE SEEN THE MOVIE ANYWAYS, so who cares. (I live in KS and I am sure some group around here is protesting and pulling it, just couldn't find them in a list somewhere... We have bumper stickers that make fun of the conservatives here in KS, they read "Kansas: As Biggotted as you think" Why not potest the advertisment of a movie that makes our president look like more of an ass than he already is, cause I would contend that that does more damage to our children, cause now they know that people make fun of even the highest level of US government.

Kudos #40

Just watched this movie last night on DVD. It was pretty funny, but I was expecting it to be obscene after all the stuff I had read. It wasn't really. People should really get over the word porno. That is nothing compared to posters advertising violent films I have seen on bus shelters. Get over it.