Worst thing ever

[puggyd]

www.cleanfilms.com/

Is this legal? Thist website is the most moronic thing I've ever seen. They edit DVDs down to a PG rating and then rent them to people. The edited version of "Death to Smoochy" would be what, about 10 minutes long? Honestly, some people... They even appear to edit some movies that were PG to begin with but didn't quite meet their standards. Look, if you object to a movie, don't watch it, but please don't hack it up.

I'm almost tempted to buy one to see if it's as bad as I think it is...

[Head Mutant]

Well, I'm not one to promote any kind of movie censorship-by-editing, but if you're going to suddenly get huffy about that company, then you might want to step back in time to also prevent airline- and TV-edited versions of films. Sure, those were done by the film studio and these by a seperate company, but both are truncating the film from its original vision.

[Uber]

There are actually a few shops like this. I know there's a store near work that is part of the "Cleanflicks" chain. They've been in operation for over a year, and do a fair amount of business from what I see in the parking lot. Of course there have been the lawsuits back and forth between such chains and the Director's Guild of America. These lawsuits are expected to run well into 2004 before any final verdict on whether or not this practice is legal. Yes, they are selling/renting copies of the movies, but they also maintain a library of the originals (1 original per copied movie that they have), so is it really illegal?

Anyway, my personal feeling is that if people want the option of a "clean" version of a film, then they should have that option. But I should also have the option of watching the unedited version on TV. Quid Pro Quo, folks. Of course, if you want to be a troublemaker, Cleanflicks will "clean up" your movie for a fee, so you could always send them a copy of Showgirls just to see what the "clean" version is.

[Al]

Even if they have the original copy, the FBI warning at the beginning of every movie pretty much states that making a copy (or edit) of the movie and selling it for profit without the consent of the director/studio is illegal. At least I believe that's the gist of it. So unless they're giving away the edited movies for free (which may also be the opposite of legal), then they have to be in violation of something.

Al
-I could be wrong, though. I usually just fast-forward through that part

[Lissa]

Or if they DO have the consent of the director/studio, I would imagine.

I actually wouldn't mind that. There a few movies that a "clean" edition would be great. Of course, I wouldn't get to choose what I edit..., but there are several movies I've seen and thought "did they really need to include that scene?" I'm not trying to be a prude, but I just think there are some movies that would be a little more family friendly (and the funny thing is, I'm often thinking of adults- do YOU want to watch that 10 minute sex scene in Reloaded with your mother? Ewww.) if they hadn't included certain scenes that (adn this is important) do nothing to really advance the plot.

Okay. Rambling. Onward to bed.
Lissa

[Genetic Mishap]

Reminds me of that fan edited version of the Phantom Menace I heard about a few years back...
Y'know what? Just have a generic movie editing business- not whittling down movies to PG, just whittling them down to slightly less sucky- and we'd be millionaires.

[holyhandgrenade]

This sort of thing is really popular in places like Utah, where there are a lot of conservative Mormons that don't want to rent anything explicit. I actually think it's a good idea, not because I would ever use it, but because there is a demand out there for this type of thing. It's not as if they're doing this in a mainstream videostore and renting it out as the real thing (like the Blockbuster cut of Requiem For a Dream). I have my version, and someone else has theirs.

As for the copyright thing, they're not selling it, just renting it out, so the laws get fuzzy in this area. Some of these places get around any issues that are brought up by operating as a co-op, with each customer paying a small fee to become a part owner of the store. Thus, they all own the edited tapes/DVDs, so they changes made are to their own property, thus, it is perfectly legal.

[Uber]

Hey there holyhandgrenade, and welcome to the Mutant Forums. People round here are nice, and we enjoy more points of view on all the various and sundry topics discussed. As my neighbors back home would say: Sit a spell and we'll have us a good ol' time.

Not speaking for all the "clean movie" houses, but I know CleanFlicks does sell edited movies. The kicker is you either buy the movie and send it to them for editing, or they buy the movie for you, edit it, and ship it to you. Pretty interesting concept, as it's no different than if you were to take your copy of The Phantom Menace to a place that did video editing just to get the "Whoopeee" taken out of it.

I really see no problem with people who want to clean up a version of a movie, just so long as that movie doesn't replace the original release of a movie. And this is a two-way street as well. Much like I don't want someone replacing all copies of Phantom Menace with the example mentioned above, I don't like George Lucas's declaration that the only version of the original trilogy from now on will be the Special Edition released in 1997. It's all about choice, folks. Don't try and rewrite what has already been written. Think of it as books from a library: If you choose not to read a chapter of a book, don't rip it out of the book, for the next person may want to read it. In addition, if you want to scribble in the margins, please buy your own copy of the book to do so. Make sure the original work is there unmolested for all to enjoy it.

[PoolMan]

PuggyD said:

The edited version of "Death to Smoochy" would be what, about 10 minutes long?

A ten-minute version of Death to Smoochy would have been fine with me.

[Robert]

I'd love to see an edited version of Clerks. Just to see how long the film is cut to. You can have the opening and closing credits.

<Edit>

[PoolMan] ON A BIKE! Have you seen the price of these? Or are all DVD's in America around that price?

[Rett Mikhal]

I'm just curious why this thread is stuck considering it's four years old and that website doesn't even exist anymore.

[Al]

I was kinda wondering that myself.

I imagine it's all part of devious master plan by someone on staff and they're just waiting for us to figure out all of their intricate machinations. Or it was a mistake.

But knowing this band of motley degenates? Machinations. Totally.

[pfrsue]

I'm not permitted to explain, but I will tell you that it has nothing to do with the whereabouts of Jimmy Hoffa. Nothing at all. D'you hear me? NOTHING!!!!! Capische?

Good.

That is all. There's nothing more to look for at here.

[Rett Mikhal]

Not permitted? What is this, Vietnam? Sounds awfully cloak and dagger to me...

Then again it could just be a wild bantha ch- if I complete that line I will HAVE to shoot myself.