Does too much cursing in a movie ruin it for you?

[FelixDeCat]

Back in the day, some movies were enhanced by selective cursing throughout the movie by a particular character. For example, in the movie Scarface (which came out in 1982), the lead character Tony Montana used the F word frequently to demonstrate his anger and to be portrayed as a hotheaded firecracker with an M16A2 and a coke habit.

With this in mind I watched about 30 minutes, starting around the middle, of the movie Clerks II. The overuse of vulgarity, sexual innuendo by ALL characters and base imagery was boring, dull and unimaginative. It ruined what MIGHT have been a somewhat funny show. In reality, nobody is given the opportunity these days to carry on a long winded sexually based banter with other adults. A few words into it and the other party would be leaving, punching or shooting at you with an M16A2 after snorting some coke.

Who were they appealing too? Usually women like verbose characters that use sophisticated language in romantic situations. But this was not romantic - it was crass, tacky and frankly rather disgusting. Search your feelings, you know it to be true.

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

usually not, but I watched Observe and Report last week and it was notably vulgar to a point of being totally unnecessary, and I use the F word daily.

 

[theflyingpig]

No, but too much liberal propaganda does. Everyone knows this.

 

[FelixDeCat]

usually not, but I watched Observe and Report last week and it was notably vulgar to a point of being totally unnecessary, and I use the F word daily.

To yourself or others? I never cuss in front of anyone. And if I do, watch out.

 

[surfsatwerk]

Potty mouth is not an issue for me.

 

[JohnCU]

yea

 

[lxskllr]

Clerks 2? Isn't that bottom of the barrel kiddie humor?(I haven't seen it). I don't watch many movies, but the ones I do watch aren't terrible. I think realistic movies typically portray people realistically, language included.

I voted no. I guess it can ruin a movie, but I haven't seen one yet where it did.

 

[FelixDeCat]

Clerks 2? Isn't that bottom of the barrel kiddie humor?(I haven't seen it). I don't watch many movies, but the ones I do watch aren't terrible. I think realistic movies typically portray people realistically, language included.

I voted no. I guess it can ruin a movie, but I haven't seen one yet where it did.

They were trying too hard to be funny in Clerks 2 IMO. It had its moments when people werent cursing at each other, but it was few and far between. I struggled not to turn the channel, but I did anyway.

 

[Cogman]

Yes it does.

Cursing serves no purpose in most movies, you wouldn't even notice a "lack" of cursing, but you always notice excessive cursing. (Perhaps that is the purpose, to get your attention. However, just like every day life, if you over use it, it stops grabbing attention)

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

To yourself or others? I never cuss in front of anyone. And if I do, watch out.

mostly to myself, but also in conversation with others. I work in construction, so there is a lot of talk about the "fucking idiots" that work for us at times and he things they "fuck up".

I've gotten bad about it, but it comes without thinking anymore...

 

[Inspector Jihad]

no. i curse a decent amount in my daily language.

 

[F1N3ST]

No, lol. Unless it's censored and every sentence has a beep...I hate that.

 

[gorcorps]

fuck no

 

[Nik]

No, not at all. However, poorly placed vulgarity doesn't sound right and throws me off. Almost all of the vulgarity in Avatar seems waaaaaaaaaay wrong, but the 180+ "fucks" in Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back are perfect (and hilarious).

 

[Zebo]

Depends. If it seems unnatural, contrived and forced (deadwood) fuck yes.

 

[gorcorps]

Also, the cursing and vulgarity in Clerks is what makes it what it is. You're missing the point and the movie was not made for you

 

[Howard]

Harsh Times

 

[MovingTarget]

It can if overused. I'm not anti-cursing, but if a writer/director/whatever has to rely too much on cursing to make the film work, then the film probably is crap to begin with.

 

[BoberFett]

"What the fuck're you talking about?" - The Dude

Depends on how it's used. When a character is well written they can curse whenever needed and it just works. The Coen brothers and Tarantino have cursing down pretty well.

Most of the shitty mass market lowest common denominator comedies that come out don't know how to use it, and just throw it in randomly so that they can appeal to 13 year old boys who think f-bombs make them sound like adults.

 

[TheVrolok]

Really depends on the type of movie.

 

[DangerAardvark]

There's no such thing as overuse. There are no bad words and they only have the power you choose to give them. Also what kind of fucked up double-fucking-standard is it to give Scarface a pass but not Clerks 2? But seeing as how you don't even curse around friends I guess you can't relate to guys just hanging out, shooting the shit and talking about anal.

 

[darkswordsman17]

Depends on the movie. Something I've noticed is how adult/mature movies are being labeled because of them depicting scenes of someone cussing and making a scene in public. That's not a good description. More or less, they're being lauded for being like real life just because they have excessive cussing in certain situations. The Weather Man was one movie (the camel toe stuff was cringe worthy in that movie). The Squid and the Whale is another one. Sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn't. It might be more realistic, but in a way it just ends up really awkward (which I think they're going for, only it doesn't really necessarily work). Kinda like the sex in A History of Violence. Just something off about it.

 

[Locut0s]

No, but too much liberal propaganda does. Everyone knows this.

I relish the thought of the months and years you will spend in the depths of my torture chamber.

 

[Inspector Jihad]

There's no such thing as overuse. There are no bad words and they only have the power you choose to give them. Also what kind of fucked up double-fucking-standard is it to give Scarface a pass but not Clerks 2? But seeing as how you don't even curse around friends I guess you can't relate to guys just hanging out, shooting the shit and talking about anal.

hahaha :thumbsup;

 

[moshquerade]

Yes, it does. You can easily sense when it's overkill and then it just sounds stupid.