To some this might not be too big of a deal, but to me it is. You see, the classic films like the Godfather had little profanity and was very csucessful. So to say "well...profanity makes the characters more believable or more real" is not right at all. The sam goes with Scarface, Casino, Goodfellas and most of the modern mafia movies in general. Enough is enough!

I agree to a point but the profanity makes these programs more realistic. This is how these guys act and talk. The Godfather is a very romantic view of the mob - smart, intelligent, family men. In real life though they are thugs.

I disagree with Turi, because the Godfather was convincing enough to me how ruthless the mafia is without all the profanity. Look at The Godfather III, Lo and behold more profanity and what do we have here? Lower ratings! ***gasps***

My point is simply this: profanity, sexual content, and violence can be pressent without display, take Casino for example. The "vice scene" that was terrible and never should have been permitted. That is way too graphic and inhumane. This story is naratted by DeNiro and Pesci, they could have easily informed the audience what happpened without showing that!

This is what makes The Sopranos so unique. It does what other shows does not. It adds nothing but realism in my opinion.

Mick

PS> Welcome to the BB!

I doubt any profanity in Godfather III influenced any ratings. Godfather III had so many problems with it that's why it didn't live up to the first two films. The story line was mediocre and complicated, alot of people dislike the fact that FFC's daughter played Mary and a cousin-cousin relationship all helped mold the fate of that film. You cannot blame it on any swearing.

The vice scene in Casino is awesome. It just sounds like your a little squeemish. You're gonna have to toughen yourself up a bit.

OMG, something should be left out because it is graphic/gorey? No offence but that is very stupid to do in show biz. And it wasn't even that gorey IMO. You didn't actually see an eye pop out. All that happen was some blood squirts.

The Godfather is a more dramatic tale where as the Sopranos is like a modern day look into the life of mafiosos. Not only that, but the time periods are different. Profanity doesn't bother me, its just language.

definitely 2 different times we're about. Godfather times were a time when profanity wasn't all that necessary or common in everyday language, whereas Jersey and this new time period, we have gangsters saying all the fuckin shit they need to get their points across.LOL.sorry.

Thats fuckin ok Peepee Say whatever the fuck you damn want. And your right, profanity was a damn hell a lot different. I mean, those bastard gangsters say all the motherfucking shit they need to make a simple damn point. :p

I don't mind all the profanities, in Goodfellas and Sopranos, but there's one thing I don't like in the Sopranos, I picked up on this after seeing only one episode: The way the filmmakers flaunt with nudity too much. I mean in other films, okay, but in Mafia films, it's just disrespectful! Godfather managed the apollonia nudity scene really well and nicely, but Sopranos is just needlessly sleazy.

Again, yet another reflection of the time periods. Then again, the novel described Fredo as somewhat premiscuous, so go figure.

I'm going agree with cheese on this one, as far as the over use of profanity. I believe Hollywood has taken many things too far including sexuality and violence, however, there are ratings clearly indicated on these films saying "Rated R, Rated PG-13, Rated NC-17...etc" You have the choice to watch it or not. Personally, I like the older mafia films better than these new ones, but that is my opinion. Thank you.

PS. When you think about it, what do you think will be in a "mafia film"...violence, profanity, and sexual content, but I agree they should tone it down a bit before they water down the plots.

-Lucky

I do agree to an extent that the sexual content should not be emphasised as much. Take into consideration that at the time of The Godfather et al violence and bad language, as well as sex scenes were not considered to be the norm--just think of the controversy sparked by a couple of seconds of a horse's head in a bed!

Cinema has come a long way, and violence these days is, in films, as normal as a bit romance.

If you don't like it, don't watch it. Nobody is forcing you. I see your point about the sex, but the violence only adds realism to the show, instead of romanticising the whole genre, much like other films have.

Mick

You and Lucky are right about ratings and the choices to watch these movies and programs, but come on. You have to admit a lot of what they show on regular TV can removed. Ok, here is an example, when Sharon Stone goes down on Pesci in Casino, we all know what was going on and they didn't show it. Why can't movies be more like the older classics, like Little Caesar, there's a classic and for it's time, I'm sure it was said to be graphic, but now a-days it's just plain rediculous what they can show on regular TV as far as I'm concerned! There's no "rating" there. The older movies have great plots and story-lines without the crap that you see now, that is all I am saying. Look at Road to Perdition, that wasn't as gory and the language wasn't as bad, only in a few given scenes. Why not chalenge the audience's imagination and thought by letting us figure it out, we aren't stupid, we know what is going on in many situations without seeing it.

Because at the time, vulgarity was very taboo. Back then you could have gotten arested for flirting with a married woman (it happened to Frank Sinatra). Today, people are more down to earth. In the words of George Carlin, "There are no such thing as 'bad words'. I hate it when people say bad words, bullshit! It's the context." :p

The Godfather and Road To Perdition are two overextravagant Hollywood movies. They are bloated artpieces that have themes and messages behind them. To say that they are realistic or that they are up to date is an opinion I strongly disagree with, especially since they take place in the 30's, 40's, and 50's. Sopranos also can not be considered realistic, but at least it tries. I wouldn't believe it if they didn't curse or use any type of profanity in the show, becuase this is supposed to be a gritty, no holds barred look at a New Jersey mob. To want it changed, is just being selfish to all the people who want to watch a show where nothing has to be censored. If your prerogative is to see bland, censored, and unrealistic shows and movies, watch ABC, NBC, and CBS.

And profanities are just expressions. It's sad to see people get so offended by words that mean so much, and can produce emotion and feeling, that other words have such a hard time conveying.

I want real, not fake.

Don Vercetti, as always you have brought up some interesting points. Generational gaps have a lot to do with what is accepted and what is not, but I am not willing to discredit all those phenomenal performances of the likes of Al Pacino, Marlon Brando, Robert Duval, Gregory Peck, Edwards G Robinson (to name a few) and many others just because when they performed their roles certain elements weren't permitted because of society's stance. That is absurd and I do not consider their performances to be “fake” either mobbingformoney. Picture The Godfather &The Godfather II being done today was certain contents are allowed. Say they added more graphic violence, more blood and gore, more profanity, more sexual content; I guarantee we would not see the same results. In regards of “being down to Earth” let me remind you that movies are actors portraying fictional and real life characters, sure they are to make it as realistic as possible, but there needs to be reason kept. This is movies we are talking about, not real life. We can get the picture without all the details, in fact many of the older productions (classics I might add) use talking instead of illustrations, (e.i. “so and so was raped and murdered” instead of showing the scene) do you see where I am coming from? :p


PS...it doesn't take much thought to say 4 or 5 cuss words in a single sentence and doesn't illustrate much intelligence, and these underbosses and don and what not aren't stupid, so why add stupidity?

Of course this just your opinion. You seem to be to discounting the millions of fans of the Sopranos who like seeing the show for what it is, a gritty mob drama, balanced by family issues. You are also making hypothetical situations up. Of course anyone could make hypothetical situations wondering how the Godfather could be now, but until you give me proof of this updated Godfather, it would be better to stick to the main parts of your arguments. You also don't have to remind me of why these movies are made. It's for entertainment value, and that's exactly what they do. Do I find the Godfather and Road to Perdition to be good movies? Why yes I do, but they portray internal conflicts between the protaganists in the story. And I don't understand what you meant by having reasons for having a movie of T.V. show realistic. It isn't enough to know that it takes time in present New Jersey? I didn't know the show was about a couple of nuns in a convent. I am for one am not going to be ignorant to the changing times, and be mad just because they say profanities and use gore to illustrate a point. Do they do it for shock value sometimes? Sure they do, but that doesn't mean it should be stopped just because a few people can't get with the times and enjoy a T.V. show for what it is, and not try to stop the fans who actually can enjoy a show like the Sopranos.

There is nothing stupid about bad words. Shit, piss, fuck, c*nt, cocksucker, motherfucker, and tits. If you were to ask me, I would say that last sentence had no bad words because I believe there are no bad words. And personally, I think that movies that go HEAVILY into detail are good. The more detail the better. What is so wrong with these words and WHO made them bad. Some guy had to come along and say, "I don't like these words." Nothing makes these words bad except people. I don't think J Pesci's character in Casino was showing stupidity because he said "fuck" almost twice in every sentence.

What's with the " :rolleyes: "

What do you mean?

The director has the points he wants to convey, and how he wants to convey, be it based in a time period, personal opinion or whatever. He will proceed to convey these points in his show in a way he thinks best suits the times, his opinions and his surroundings. This not always happens, but it only makes sense that it does. If a viewer does not like it, he then does not like the piece for the piece. If The Sopranos had no language it would not be The Sopranos, same applies to the physical nudity simuntaneously.

Researcher, how can you judge a show, or pick up a certain abuse that the show does after seeing one episode? One episode?

Why don't you all give this topic a rest? Cheese I agree with you to a certain extent, but If you do not like what you see and what you hear, no one is putting a gun to your head to compel you to watch anything. I've said my peace. Thank you.

-Lucky

Why don't you.

He most likely understands that but feels what's he been complaining about should stop because it offends him.

The Godfather is in now way comparable to The Sopranos. Times are changing, and these were made for different generations. The Godfather would be terrible if it had swearing in it, yes, but if it was made today it wouldn't be nearly as good anyway, even without swearing. And if it did have swearing in it, we would know no different.

Oh, and Lucky Luciano, please do not give this thread a rest; it's nice to se some discussion going in this forum for a change.

Mick

Kind of tough to answer!!! It would be laughable if Tony Soprano and crew didn't use profanity, because it wouldn't be realistic at all. Do they overdo it? Perhaps! I'd be ok if they toned it down a little, but the language would not stop me from watching/enjoying the show. I suppose I'm old fashioned, but in my view, the nude/sex scenes are not always necessary, but again I still watch the show. On the other hand, the violence, as "shocking" as it may be at times, doesn't bother me!! Go figure!!


TIS

You know TIS, now that you mention it, those nude and sex scenes can get a bit disturbing at times. Especially ones with Tone and his mistresses. Not pleasant when watching with your Mom.LOL. But I guess its the essence.I dunno..anyway, those damn girls from the Bada Bing! have saggy boobs..

Even on that "Godfathers" show just on, they said the mafia portrayed in The Godfather is not like the real mafia. They said, "They portray the mafia as a romantic family type mafia when in real life, they are much more vicious."

I wanted to see Carmella Soprano naked on the Episode 22 ( From here to eternity ).

I want to see Melfi and Carmella naked.. With lots of baby oil, and action.