Another controversial Christmas topic: Love Actually

[robinb]

I've never seen it but I just added it to my Netflix queue because of this thread.

 

[frndshpcptn]

Love this movie. It's a must watch for me every year.

 

[goofyintoronto]

Not a fan because there are too many story lines.

Yep. I hate movies with too many story lines.

 

[U2_rocks!]

Yep. I hate movies with too many story lines.

Maybe that's why I didn't really get it at first - it was hard to follow it all. But the second time I watched it everything was a lot more familiar, and all the time I was watching it I was trying to remember what had happened to each character. It was fun! I got a lot more out of it the second time - I was able to see the connections between all the different storylines more easily (because they were familiar) and therefore I got a lot more of the emotional side. I felt like I had more invested in each character.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

haven't seen it. and my favorite Christmas movie is "Die Hard" so I'm not sure I'd much like it. but I guess if Die Hard can be a favorite Xmas movie, so can this one.

 

[skater]

I love the movie, except for the Snape/Professor Trelawney storyline. It's clearly a "Fluff" movie, so yeah, Hugh Grant as the Prime Minister is a bit of an exaggerated stretch. But, I watch it for Colin Firth's story.

I totally forgot the "nude scene" people are talking about, until you described it. But, then, I'm not a parent, looking for movies to watch with kids or teens. I don't think of this as a movie even AIMED at kids or teens. It is obviously an adult-themed movie. (Adult-themed not meaning porn. But, about the complexities of adult relationships, other than the Liam Neeson & son storyline. It has unrequited love, another guy who gets it on with many women, AND there is a storyline about infidelity. Clearly not kid appropriate subject matters. ) Not every film is meant to be watched with kids. Even when they are "fluff." Even when they are Christmas movies. Adults need fluff and eye-candy too.

The film was given an R rating by the Motion Picture Association of America. Not PG or even PG-13.

All very logical. When a movie is rated R, I research it to find out why. If its just language, I am comfortable watching it with my kids. We watched The King's Speech with my youngest when it was in theaters. We loved the movie, and the only reason for the R was a lot of cursing in one scene (if I'm remembering correctly ).

 

[SurferMom]

There is a point missed.

I know the movie is rated R, however, it didn't have to be.

Having that couple create a relationship out of a bizarre, funny or awkward meeting could have been done without the porn line….

Demand is what has driven the massive increase in children's movies in the last fifteen years that, before that, did not exist for two more decades because film producers said parents wouldn't go.

They were wrong.

They are wrong about this too.

 

[elgerber]

Love it!!! My dd loves it too, she had seen the TV edit, until I bought it last Christmas and we watched it together for the first time (she was a few days shy of 18 at the time). She knew the storyline and what was coming, but had totally not remembered that the man in that storyline is none other than her beloved John Watson from Sherlock LOL!!!
I love Colin Firth and Liam Neesons stories, and Hugh Grant is always adorable! Emma breaks my heart...

 

[puffkin]

There is a point missed.

I know the movie is rated R, however, it didn't have to be.

Having that couple create a relationship out of a bizarre, funny or awkward meeting could have been done without the porn line….

Demand is what has driven the massive increase in children's movies in the last fifteen years that, before that, did not exist for two more decades because film producers said parents wouldn't go.

They were wrong.

They are wrong about this too.

Wow....ok while I agree the nudity didn't have to be in there....BUT THIS IS NOT A KIDS MOVIE. Geesh. I thought it was cheeky and funny and drove home the point that love can happen anywhere even in the most untraditional places. In fact the most traditional family in the movie had the most heart wrenching storyline. Would I still like the movie if that nude couple met somewhere else....sure. But again, THIS IS NOT A KIDS MOVIE and it is rated R to boot. Even if they took that scene out and toned the language down enough to get the PG-13 rating, would it make the movie more appealing to families? Its about adult themes and relationships, not Santa Claus and gumdrops. Stick to the Hallmark Channel if you want that type of stuff (nothing is wrong with Love Actually or the Hallmark channel....just different strokes for different folks).

 

[Handbag Lady]

I love the movie and that particular scene is quite funny and awkward and sweet. I thought it was well-played.

 

[elgerber]

Bravo! This is exactly what I came here to say.

Not every Christmas movie has to be geared toward kids. It's like those parents who took their kids to see "Bad Santa" and were shocked at the content.

Ha, I somehow missed this the first time I read through here. Totally different topic, but this is another Christmas movie I LOVE!!! This one my dd will not watch with me LOL, maybe with friends sometime, but not with me.

 

[chiefmickeymouse]

I love it, DH thinks it's a sappy bit of drivel. That's ok, I think watching football is an enormous waste of time (after all, they have to do it all over again next year anyway) and he loves it.

My favorite parts are the guy who goes to Wisconsin and the part with the has-been singer and the stupid song re-make. We lived in England when "Love is All Around" was a huge hit and it was never not on the radio, so the Christmas re-make just kills me.

 

[kaytieeldr]

haven't seen it. and my favorite Christmas movie is "Die Hard" so I'm not sure I'd much like it. but I guess if Die Hard can be a favorite Xmas movie, so can this one.

Yeah, my favorite Christmas movieis Lethal Weapon.

There is a point missed.

I know the movie is rated R, however, it didn't have to be.

Having that couple create a relationship out of a bizarre, funny or awkward meeting could have been done without the porn line….

But the screenwriter, director, and producer clearly disagree with this POV.


eta: I went searching. The Asian version doesn't include the controversial suplot. Another suggestion was to edit it oneself into a pleasing version, then watch with others.

 

[DisneyChula]

There is a point missed.

I know the movie is rated R, however, it didn't have to be.

Having that couple create a relationship out of a bizarre, funny or awkward meeting could have been done without the porn line….

Demand is what has driven the massive increase in children's movies in the last fifteen years that, before that, did not exist for two more decades because film producers said parents wouldn't go.

They were wrong.

They are wrong about this too.

They could have changed the storyline, but then it may have become a movie that no one was interested in making or seeing. The fact is that the producers chose to make the movie as it was.

There are plenty of people that share your opinion. However, there are just as many people that enjoyed and continue to enjoy the movie for what it is. It made plenty of money so I would wager that they (the producers and fans of the film) would probably disagree with your assessment that they were wrong.

 

[bookgirl]

I was going to go post a youtube of my favorite scene:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdIRmDmDUnk

then I saw this and thought, no that's my favorite:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yd_fcyg1Fdk

but then there was this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTHksT8tv2Y

and this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBDEN5AFmWU

but I also really like love the ending:

SPOILER you see how some of the relationships end:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEQPXDGRaEk

Love (all this movie) Actually including the Porn storyline


Oh and just for fun sometimes I have to remember that yes there was a lobster at the birth of Jesus.......

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9chdp8izEtk

 

[skylizard]

Wow....ok while I agree the nudity didn't have to be in there....BUT THIS IS NOT A KIDS MOVIE. Geesh. I thought it was cheeky and funny and drove home the point that love can happen anywhere even in the most untraditional places. In fact the most traditional family in the movie had the most heart wrenching storyline. Would I still like the movie if that nude couple met somewhere else....sure. But again, THIS IS NOT A KIDS MOVIE and it is rated R to boot. Even if they took that scene out and toned the language down enough to get the PG-13 rating, would it make the movie more appealing to families? Its about adult themes and relationships, not Santa Claus and gumdrops. Stick to the Hallmark Channel if you want that type of stuff (nothing is wrong with Love Actually or the Hallmark channel....just different strokes for different folks).

 

[lisah0711]

I love the movie, except for the Snape/Professor Trelawney storyline. It's clearly a "Fluff" movie, so yeah, Hugh Grant as the Prime Minister is a bit of an exaggerated stretch. But, I watch it for Colin Firth's story.

I totally forgot the "nude scene" people are talking about, until you described it. But, then, I'm not a parent, looking for movies to watch with kids or teens. I don't think of this as a movie even AIMED at kids or teens. It is obviously an adult-themed movie. (Adult-themed not meaning porn. But, about the complexities of adult relationships, other than the Liam Neeson & son storyline. It has unrequited love, another guy who gets it on with many women, AND there is a storyline about infidelity. Clearly not kid appropriate subject matters. ) Not every film is meant to be watched with kids. Even when they are "fluff." Even when they are Christmas movies. Adults need fluff and eye-candy too.

The film was given an R rating by the Motion Picture Association of America. Not PG or even PG-13.

 

[Feralpeg]

Love it! DD and I've watched it multiple times!

 

[Airship Ariadne]

I voted Other...I like it because when DW watches it I can go play video games undisturbed for an hour and a half...but if I had to sit through it ...shudder.

 

[Straitlover]

One of my favorite parts is the school play where they have so many kids they have to come up with all kinds of animals in the manger scene so everyone has a part. Lobster, octopus, etc -