Spartacus: Unbelievably Violent and Pornographic!

[CVSiN]

So, I was watching Spartacus: Gods of the Arena on Starz the other day as I was channel-surfing with my family.

I happened upon the scene (in the beginning where they showed what happened previously) where Ganakus (sp?) slices that dude's throat and the gratuitous violence made me smile, and my family really upset. They are really sensitive to violence (I'm dead serious; we walked out of Beowulf - a cartoon - because they thought it was too gory!) and it made me think about how "far" (low?) we have come in display media (TV/movies etc.); how desensitized most viewers have become to violence and sex on screen.

I swear to Cow, I saw that episode later and it was copious amounts of blood or boobies; nothing wrong with the latter of course, but for a TV show?!? Damn!

Anyone else feel that Spartacus' level of violence and sex is "too much" or a bit 'extreme' for TV? I know Starz is a "premium" channel so STFU about "don't watch if you can't handle it" BS. Using that "logic" (LOL), they should make snuff films (a la Manhunt) and put it on a "premium" channel for "discerning adults" to watch!

Where do we, as a society, that is supposedly humanE, draw the line to senseless desensitization? Is censorship a good thing? Where do we draw the line? And more importantly, who draws it?

I think it's interesting to think about that. I mean, PG-13 movies back in the day (high school in the late 90's) were considered "raunchy" and "violent" and that stuff is now in the realm of PG movies! Fifty years from now we'll have 10 year olds watching porn and execution videos during "recess"!

new to cable TV are we?

you obviously dont watch Showtime or HBO series. Dexter, Californication, Weeds, Rome, trueblood.. etc etc..
more of the same.
These are uncut series and thats what we are paying for on the premium channels.
Dont like it.. watch Disney..
sorry.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

The only way I'd watch most current "reality" shows (including the food channel) is if they raped and beheaded the losers.

 

[Gooberlx2]

Is censorship a good thing?

never

 

[Gooberlx2]

I know Starz is a "premium" channel so STFU about "don't watch if you can't handle it" BS. Using that "logic" (LOL), they should make snuff films (a la Manhunt) and put it on a "premium" channel for "discerning adults" to watch!

Except, unlike the murdered victim in a snuff film, no one's rights have been violated. Besides, there's already "Faces of Death", various war documentaries and plenty of other ways for you see real gore and murder on TV anyway.

 

[Gooberlx2]

Speaking of the show, the start of it had a particular scene with the fate of Ganakus and his wife. Does that mean the entire season is just a big flashback?

The Spartacus actor has been undergoing cancer treatment, so they had to write/insert a prequel season. I like it though. It's setting up the characters and motivations for the other gladiators.

 

[Eos]

Don't watch TV. It's just useless bullcrap anyways. I haven't watched TV since late 90's, and I haven't missed a thing.

Jupiter's cock. Someone posted in a thread where they don't have actual empirical evidence! Again!

 

[dquan97]

I watched a portion of the first episode, then turned it off after a few mins because of the violence. Haven't watched it since.

 

[Gooberlx2]

It is extremely mature. I highly doubt that the Romans were using that type of language in every day talk.

"Jupiter's COCK!!!!!"

I love the language in this show.

 

[waggy]

I watched a portion of the first episode, then turned it off after a few mins because of the violence. Haven't watched it since.

that is how a person should handle it. instead of bitching, complaining and saying how it shouldn't be on tv you turned it off and haven't watched it again.

 

[TheNinja]

I was surfing last night and caught some of it. Man, it was pretty violent and sexual indeed. It's like they didn't have a decent cast, story, or characters and thought, "hell, if we make it overly violent, and put a lot of sex in it, our demographic of males 18-34 will LOVE it". I saw:
man/man implied sex
guys eating soup with piss in it
lots of boobs
a guy getting this throat cut completely open and blood everywhere
and a guy pissing on another guy that they just beat up, while showing his actual ding dong.

That was all within about 15 minutes.

I have no problem with violence or sex, but it's basically all that show seems to be about from what I can tell.

 

[Regs]

I thought I was going to like it for just those reasons, but it turns out to be tacky and lame. The whole show reminds me that one scene in the Adams Family when bro-and-sis do the sword fight on stage. There is nothing believable in that series, even though they said it’s a "realistic" portrayal of events in those times.

 

[DesiPower]

It is extremely mature. I highly doubt that the Romans were using that type of language in every day talk.

one can suck Jupiter's c0ck on this, noone knows how they spoke, although I am sure they didn't speak English.

 

[DesiPower]

Boobies are clearly pornographic!

Hey i remember in the 2nd episode of the 1st season they even showed nude men... walking around with their c0cks hanging and stuff. Definitely XXX Porn

 

[DesiPower]

Spartacus is basically soft core porn. I can't wait until next season! :awe:

Second season is running right now and is available on netflix the same day its aired...

 

[Gooberlx2]

There is nothing believable in that series, even though they said it’s a "realistic" portrayal of events in those times.

I think they're trying to convey that the social darwinism, depravity and brutality is accurate. Obviously the effects, copious blood and probably much of the fighting tactics are not.

But then the Coen brothers said Fargo was based on a true story too.

 

[DesiPower]

Don't watch TV. It's just useless bullcrap anyways. I haven't watched TV since late 90's, and I haven't missed a thing.

lemme guess... yur one hand is more muscular than the other? :biggrin:

 

[DesiPower]

Spartacus started out so fucking unbelievable stupid. but in the end of last season it really picked up.

the acting is terrible, the dialog is terrible, the effects are terrible, the scenes and costumes are terrible, the fighting is terrible ... but something about this show has a B level quality to it that I really enjoyed.

i have the first 2 eps of this season at home but haven't watched them yet. will get around to it this weekend and catch up on ep3 probably as well.

you can suck Jupier's c0ck :biggrin:

 

[Eos]

Hey i remember in the 2nd episode of the 1st season they even showed nude men... walking around with their c0cks hanging and stuff. Definitely XXX Porn

As opposed to xxx violence?

I thought xxx MPAA ratings were designated for clear cut (not simulated) views of penetration.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

Second season is running right now and is available on netflix the same day its aired...

FYI -- Gods of the Arena isn't the second season. It is a prequel. The actual second season won't be until next year and Andy Whitfield won't be in it:

http://screenrant.com/spartacus-blood-and-sand-season-2-yman-95983/

 

[WaTaGuMp]

What else was there to do in the days of the Spartans other than fuck and fight?

 

[AMDZen]

Apparently you missed several shows on HBO, such as 'Rome' if you think this is something new on the premium cable stations. Starz, HBO, Showtime - all have quite a few shows that are going to raise eyebrows. Spartacus is no different. This is what people want.

Californications - drugs, sex, craziness
Weeds - drugs, drug dealing, sex, craziness
Rome - sex, violence

These are just a few examples - and these are the best shows on TV. You answered your question in your OP, you and your family shouldn't be watching this - the shows are aired late any way. Showtime and HBO have always had softcore porn since the 80's on later at night, and this show is on later at night and fitting the same mold. There is nothing new here.

And your last comments are downright hilarious. Not too much has changed since the 90's, as you wrongfully argue - so now somehow young kids will be watching porn at recess. LOL. Great leap there.

The only thing that has changed is the ease with which everyone has access to such content. Many didn't have HBO or these premium channels then, where as now nearly everyone does. The internet ... nothing more needs to be said.

Kids should be exposed to sex at a younger age any way, because they are going to expose themselves to it easier now with new media and the internet. The fact that they aren't is why teen pregnancy is so high. The more you try to hide it even though its everywhere in their world, the more they will get misinformation in regards to birth control and the like.

 

[jtvang125]

It seems these premium channels are trying to push the sexual explicitness to the limit. I have several of the premium channels and every night after 10 on showtime there's those softcore porn. Zoomed out bush shots are no surprise on these types of shows but last weekend there was a scene with a fairly closeup shot of the chick with her legs open.

 

[WaTaGuMp]

Boardwalk Empire needed moar bush.

 

[silverpig]

I'd say we are MORE sensitized than desensitized. Why? That Roman throat cutting shit actually happened in real life back then. People use to get drawn and quartered in the town square. Now if a cop pushes someone, that person can sue and retire.

 

[DesiPower]

What else was there to do in the days of the Spartans other than fuck and fight?

LOL, they are not Spartans, :biggrin: