Sex Scenes in Books or Film

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X-rated films are about as sexy as a three-day corpse. They do nothing to engage the mind. They get some people off, sure, but movies are more passive than books, which require a willingness to pick up the book and an ability to read on the part of the 'viewer'.
 

swolf

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But you're all speaking about porn movies in general, and I agree 100% percent with you. Most porn movies are useless as far as story and plot are concerned.

However, that doesn't mean that individual scenes are devoid of eroticism (most of them are, but not all.) My comment was more directed at the seemingly prevailing opinion that explicitness detracted from eroticism in a visual medium. Would you agree with this? If a film showed explicit penetration, and not just glimpses as some NC-17s do, would that add or detract from the eroticism of the scene?

For example, the 'hand' scene in Titanic. If Cameron had explicitly showed them having sex, would the scene be more or less erotic?

IMO, mainstream Hollywood movies depict sex at the same level of explicitness as romance novels, not at the level of erotica.
 
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I often say the biggest sexual organ in the body is the brain (or mind). If you make me think, you stand a better chance of turning me on.

With the hand, I know what's happening. I don't need to be shown. If I was shown, I'd feel patronised. That's not to say all sex on screen is bad - hell no. What I mean is, don't talk down to me. Show me the characters' reactions. I'd rather see a hand, a lip being bitten, a widening of the eyes, than a penis going into a vagina.

Most penetrative scenes are samey. Show me what's individual about the characters and you'll intrigue me.
 

veinglory

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Honestly I have watched plenty of porn, but I cannot think of a stand out scene in the sense of being erotica. It is hot but in a mechanical way without believeable characters or acting.
 

thethinker42

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Honestly I have watched plenty of porn, but I cannot think of a stand out scene in the sense of being erotica. It is hot but in a mechanical way without believeable characters or acting.

This. No scene from a porno has ever stuck with me quite like some of the scenes I posted in the OP.

I used to edit porn videos for a living. It was rare - and I do mean RARE - to see something I would consider sexy. Sexual? Sure. Sexy? No. And this was amateur stuff, with couples who knew (and in most cases, loved) each other...but it was just so mechanical. Even with the amateurs, it really felt like they were doing everything they did for the camera, not each other.

When I write erotica, I do include the tab A/slot B stuff, but I try to focus more heavily on the feelings, responses, little things, etc. Basically, all the stuff that was missing from the videos I worked on.
 

kuwisdelu

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First of all, in the US at least, the X-rating isn't around anymore. It's NC-17. And if we're talking about real movies and not porn, then an NC-17 rating is pretty much a kiss of death, since it means most stores and theaters aren't going to show it or stock it.

In the US, most erotic films (in contrast to porn) tend to be released "not rated" rather than submit and receive an NC-17 rating. This goes for a lot of non-erotic films that just happen to feature sexual situations that are too graphic for R (Requiem for a Dream is a good example of that).

I'm not entirely sure what you mean when you say "X-rated film" since it's been forever since any film's been released in the US (I'm not sure how foreign ratings systems work) that was rated "X."

However, there are some great explicit erotic films out there that aren't porn and do engage the mind.

I think it's quite a shame that the MPAA rating system is so fucked up and place so much emphasis on sexual content over violence, or that so many places refuse to stock NC-17 movies. There aren't nearly as many good erotic movies out there as there could be.

In any case, a great erotic film is The Dreamers. (Don't bother with the R-rated version; get the NC-17 one.) Did I mention Eva Green?

ETA: And of course, right before I post Wayne has to go and find an actually-X-rated film....
 
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swolf

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First of all, in the US at least, the X-rating isn't around anymore. It's NC-17. And if we're talking about real movies and not porn, then an NC-17 rating is pretty much a kiss of death, since it means most stores and theaters aren't going to show it or stock it.

In the US, most erotic films (in contrast to porn) tend to be released "not rated" rather than submit and receive an NC-17 rating. This goes for a lot of non-erotic films that just happen to feature sexual situations that are too graphic for R (Requiem for a Dream is a good example of that).

I'm not entirely sure what you mean when you say "X-rated film" since it's been forever since any film's been released in the US (I'm not sure how foreign ratings systems work) that was rated "X."
Now you're just arguing over semantics. Everyone knows what an 'x-rated film' is, including you, despite the fact that the MPAA doesn't hand out that ruling any more.

I think it's quite a shame that the MPAA rating system is so fucked up and place so much emphasis on sexual content over violence, or that so many places refuse to stock NC-17 movies. There aren't nearly as many good erotic movies out there as there could be.
I disagree. The MPAA ratings reflect how people judge movies. Most people would let their children see a movie like Rambo instead of one with naked people in it. It's not the rating system's fault for reflecting those views.

In any case, a great erotic film is The Dreamers. (Don't bother with the R-rated version; get the NC-17 one.) Did I mention Eva Green?
I agree. Loved the movie. The slow scan up Green's reclining body was my personal sex-scene highlight.

Short Bus is the most explicit 'non-porn' film I've ever seen, so much that the 'non-porn' could be argued. Unfortunately (for me at least) most of the action was guy on guy (on guy).
 
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thethinker42

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Another scene that comes to mind: the love scene from Ask The Dust. The film as a whole sucked, but the love scene - minus Salma Hayek pausing for a lovely hacking cough - is awesome. (If Youtube would cooperate, I'd pull up a link, but it's being evil this morning...if anyone has better luck, please feel free to post the link)

Very sensual, focuses a lot on their reactions to each other and the little details. One in particular that stands out in my mind is her hand moving down his back while he's on top...on its own, it doesn't sound like much, but watching it gave me goosebumps. :D Very sensual, sexy scene.

Oh, and the fact that it's Colin Farrell and Salma Hayek doesn't hurt anything either... :D
 

kuwisdelu

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I disagree. The MPAA ratings reflect how people judge movies. Most people would let their children see a movie like Rambo instead of one with naked people in it. It's not the rating system's fault for reflecting those views.

That doesn't change the fact that giving an NC-17 means most places won't stock or show the movie. A "not rated" film will do better. Ratings should be more objective, IMO.

Either that or people are just stupid prudes. Could be both. ;) :Shrug:
 

kuwisdelu

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Now you're just arguing over semantics. Everyone knows what an 'x-rated film' is, including you, despite the fact that the MPAA doesn't hand out that ruling any more.

Well, semantics are important. If someone says "X-rated," I assume they're talking about a pre-1990 film, and even then it doesn't necessarily mean it's pornographic, which is what most people assume/mean when they say "X-rated film." It's lazy semantics, and as writers, we're better than that.
 

swolf

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Well, semantics are important. If someone says "X-rated," I assume they're talking about a pre-1990 film, and even then it doesn't necessarily mean it's pornographic, which is what most people assume/mean when they say "X-rated film." It's lazy semantics, and as writers, we're better than that.
No, in general usage, 'x-rated film' doesn't mean a pre-1990 film.

As a writer, my job is to communicate with the reader, not force semantics upon them that they don't understand. If I used the term 'x-rated film', pretty much every reader is going to know what I'm talking about.

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/x-rated

Main Entry: X–rat·ed
Pronunciation: \ˈeks-ˈrā-təd\
Function: adjective
Date: 1970
1 : having a rating of X; broadly : relating to or characterized by explicit sexual material or activity <an X–rated book>
2 : obscene, vulgar <an X–rated gesture>
 

kuwisdelu

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Since we're talking about movies, I think it's natural to assume X refers to the MPAA rating, and the MPAA stopped using the X rating in 1990, so it naturally follows that I would assume it's a pre-1990 film.
 

Satori1977

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Well, I'd shove my foot in Tarantino's mouth. At least then he'd STFU.

As for Clooney...:D...[doesn't get banned]...


From Dusk Til Dawn. Love that movie. George doesn't always do it for me, but in that movie, YUM. Not sure if it is the guns, the bad boy act, or that amazing tat. What were we talking about??
 

Satori1977

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I find it fascinating that when asked to list their favorite erotic movie scenes, no one in a group of erotic writers chose an explicit scene from an x-rated film. (Some NC-17s in there with slightly more explicit scenes than a regular R, but nothing close to 'real pornography'.)

It's interesting that those of us who have chosen to write about inserting Tab A into Slot A (or B or C) - using eloquent euphemisms of varying specificity, of course - consider it more erotic to hide that act in a visual medium.

Because most x-rated films are NOT erotic. Not to me at least. Yes, it is real sex, and you get to see everything. But it isn't just the sex that makes it hot. It is the chemistry between the people, the looks, the words. In a porno, it is just fucking (and usually really horrible acting and stupid plotlines). That just takes me right out of the movie and ruins the mood. Sex, in an of itself, is not always enough to be sexy.
 

thethinker42

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I find it fascinating that when asked to list their favorite erotic movie scenes, no one in a group of erotic writers chose an explicit scene from an x-rated film.

I've rarely found sex scenes in X-rated, pornographic, etc., films to be all that sexy. Quite honestly, I think it's at least partly because non-X-rated films by nature are more limited in terms of what they can show. They have to rely on more subtle means to show the viewer what's going on, etc...and those more subtle means have more of an effect -- at least on this particular viewer -- than a penetration shot or a set of bouncing boobs. An explicit, no-holds-barred sex scene is certainly hot...but it won't stick with me and have me getting goose bumps an hour later the way a scene would that involves two characters exchanging a suggestive, sexual-tension-fueled look.
 

pandora1983

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*sighs* I just found a new favorite thread.
First off...thinker42 Totally with you on the James McAvoy front....James McAvoy....hold on Im taking a minute.....or two....okay Im back. He just oozes talent and thats what makes the sexual tension so palpable in his movies. Atonement...Becoming Jane etc.
I wont be redundant and list previously mentioned scenes...just a few moments and why they worked for me.
Some Kind of Wonderful...probably the first kissing scene to get me hot n bothered just from a kiss.
When Watts is teaching[pretending to be amanda] in the garage. yep. It was the evolution of the kiss and the introduction of awareness...add that detail of his hand on her jeans and I was hooked.

can i just say the entire movie of moulin rouge..lol..but ewan macgregor in the elephant love medley was particularly effective and affecting. The emotion behind the lyrics from that first we should be lovers to the second we should be lovers...i think i wore out my A-B button on the remote with that one

Ive got more...Ill be back
 

Underthelivingmoon

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.

Then there is Bound, which had a very steamy sex scene but the scene where Violet and Corky first get together is just too hot for words. It is all about what isn't being said, and then what is.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EceT6XUMpI4

That is my favorite movie. The scene, right after the one you mentioned, where they are in the truck and Jennifer Tilly leans over, cups Gina Gershon's face and flicks her tongue across her lips.... *whimpers a little* Quite possibly one of the sexiest things that I have ever seen.

Oh, the part in Secretary where Maggie Gyllenhaal is crawling down the hallway... I've never done that but I wouldn't mind trying it.

Monster was a great movie but the sex scenes didn't do anything for me. I thinks it's because they made Charlize Theron and Christina Ricci looks so unattractive to portray the actual killer and her girlfriend. *On a side note, a woman donated $140,000 to ONEXONE charity in order to kiss Charlize Theron for 20 seconds- although Charlize started the kiss a little early ;) That kiss was pretty hot*
 
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Great thread. Looking forward to reading more!
 

Successful Writer

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X-rated films are about as sexy as a three-day corpse. They do nothing to engage the mind. They get some people off, sure, but movies are more passive than books, which require a willingness to pick up the book and an ability to read on the part of the 'viewer'.


I agree with you about porn. An ex-boyfriend and I had this discussion, he thought porn was entertaining and well thought out (I still don't get it). But love scenes that express emotion along with the sex...is something entirely different.
 
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Emotion, of course, doesn't just have to be love; I just want to make that clear. It's sex completely devoid of any emotion that's porn to me - no love, hate, anger, passion, jealousy, vengeance. Just moving body parts.
 

CMKY

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Am I the only one that's just a tad disappointed there are no scenes from Teeth listed in this thread?