Walmart Selling "pro-family" DVD Player

[eclipseSD]

RCA DVD Player w/Clearplay

Hollywoood Reporter Article

RCA Instruction Book

I'm sorry, but this is crossing the line between protecting a child from questionable graphics and blatantly censoring a film when it doesn't

Director's intent is more important than making sure little Johnny can see a botched version of a questionable film. I am glad that films such as "Requiem for a Dream", "Schindlers List", "Passion of Christ", and "Saving Private Ryan" will be protected from this process, because tampering with their content would be tampering with the message of those films.

Why does your 8 year old have to watch a tampered version of "Terminator 3" now? Why not just wait until he's 11 or 12 and show him the full version?

As a matter of fact, I think "Requiem for a Dream" should be manditorily shown uncut to every middle schooler in the country. Drug usage among teens would go down 50%.

JMHO

 

[AspiringCindy]

This doesn't surprise me one bit! Walmart is also the money behind the groups that are trying to push vouchers in the public education system!

 

[Bob Slydell]

Can't say that it interests me, but if RCA feels that there's a market for it, I say go for it.

 

[Octoberbride03]

I'm quite sure there is a market for it because i know of parents who are just too darn lazy to monitor their kids veiwing habits themselves like mine did when i was a kid(not referring to anyone on these boards btw). I'll do my own movie policing when i have kids ty. And i think the same thing about the stupid V-Chip in tvs as i do about this thing.

And as far as Walmart being the money behind private school vouchers, what the heck does that have to do with this? And if they are the money behind it why hasn't it even gotten off the ground in most states? Frankly, the voucher system would be the only way my Dh could afford private school and I'm all for it.

But i won't dare shop Walmart. Can't stand their labor practices.

(Sorry for the hijack)

 

[RitaZ.]

The fact that it's made by RCA will keep me from buying it. Seriously though, I think a lot of families will probably go for this. I'm not interested in owning one though.

I'm sorry, but this is crossing the line between protecting a child from questionable graphics and blatantly censoring a film when it doesn't

Since these units will be used primarily in homes, then parents (consumers) have the right to watch, not watch or censor what is watched by their children in their homes. I seriously doubt that parents take the "Director's intent" into consideration, nor should they have to, when allowing their children to watch certain movies.

 

[6_Time_Momma]

Originally posted by eclipseSD
RCA DVD Player w/Clearplay

Hollywoood Reporter Article

RCA Instruction Book

I'm sorry, but this is crossing the line between protecting a child from questionable graphics and blatantly censoring a film when it doesn't

Director's intent is more important than making sure little Johnny can see a botched version of a questionable film. I am glad that films such as "Requiem for a Dream", "Schindlers List", "Passion of Christ", and "Saving Private Ryan" will be protected from this process, because tampering with their content would be tampering with the message of those films.

Why does your 8 year old have to watch a tampered version of "Terminator 3" now? Why not just wait until he's 11 or 12 and show him the full version?

As a matter of fact, I think "Requiem for a Dream" should be manditorily shown uncut to every middle schooler in the country. Drug usage among teens would go down 50%.

JMHO

I guess I am not quite sure why you are so upset by this? If RCA wants to manufacture it, good for them. If people want to buy it, go for it. If you don't like the idea, then don't buy it. I'm not trying to make you mad, but I just don't see why you would be upset if other people do?

 

[Bob Slydell]

Originally posted by RitaZ.
The fact that it's made by RCA will keep me from buying it. Seriously though, I think a lot of families will probably go for this. I'm not interested in owning one though.



Since these units will be used primarily in homes, then parents (consumers) have the right to watch, not watch or censor what is watched by their children in their homes. I seriously doubt that parents take the "Director's intent" into consideration, nor should they have to, when allowing their children to watch certain movies.

The original product offered by CleanPlay was a violation of copyright laws in that the original movies were modified (read: cut) and reissued to consumers as "clean" versions. From what I understand, the DVD's aren't altered in this new version, so no, there really isn't any legal problems.

I still can understand the directors' concern in that there's generally reasons why a given scene is in a movie, and eliminating those scenes (or parts of scenes) might well leave the viewer confused. But that's a problem for the consumer, not the director, IMO.

 

[feenie]

We rented a PG movie the other day and they had quite a lot of swearing in it. If the movie had not had so much language, it would have been fine for a older child to watch. While I don't plan on running out and purchasing one of these DVD players, I can understand why someone would want one.

Is the feature that deletes the violence/language... something that can be switched on and off as the movie/viewer requires??

 

[Bob Slydell]

Originally posted by feenie
We rented a PG movie the other day and they had quite a lot of swearing in it. If the movie had not had so much language, it would have been fine for a older child to watch. While I don't plan on running out and purchasing one of these DVD players, I can understand why someone would want one.

Is the feature that deletes the violence/language... something that can be switched on and off as the movie/viewer requires??

Yes, according to the article in one of the links provided, the various (four, I think it said) filters could be mixed and matched. And each filter had different settings, so you could determine your "threshhold" of what's acceptable/not acceptable for language/violence/etc.