Dear Hollywood,

Could you please explain WHAT IN THE WORLD you are thinking?  Why you feel the need to produce movie after movie with ridiculously gratuitous and needlessly excessive profanity, sex and violence?  A good story stands on its own merit without reducing your film to a pile of expletives, exposed flesh, casualties and property damage.  

But maybe that's your problem; you're not telling good stories.

And it's not that I'm a prude; wait, no, actually maybe I am when it comes to nudity.  I'm sitting here trying to think of a movie where nudity is necessary to improve story.  Can't it be tastefully implied without exploitation?  Is it ever necessary?

Language is another issue and I'm definitely not a prude when it comes to that! "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a darn," doesn't have nearly the impact of Rhett's famed declaration to Scarlett.  And in context and as part of a good story, even an f-bomb isn't offensive–The King's Speech is proof of that.  

[Scroll down to Conclusion on Plugged In Online's review of the movie; while I know many would disagree with me, I share Colin Firth's view of the use of language in the film.]

And violence… s i g h …violence.  Trailers for upcoming movies alone wear me out–I can't bear the thought of sitting through entire movies of mass casualty and property destruction.  Barring films of historical significance (Saving Private Ryan, Schindler's List) or maybe cultural relevance (can't think of any at the moment but I knew they're out there), is there really this insatiable appetite for death and demolition?  I realize gaming desensitizes users to this kind of thing, but not everyone games and that's not where this starts and ends.

I've seen a few movies lately (and avoided more) that might've been good had they not been laden with f-bombs or wanton sex or killing sprees.

Is this what it takes to get people to the movies these days?  Is this what people want?  WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE??

Superfluous nudity, profanity and violence seem little more than cartoonish masks for poor or non-existent story or a lazy way to garner an R rating, which typically sells more tickets.  

Shame on you.

But shame on me, too, for supporting it with my ticket purchase.  Makes me kinda sick at myself.

The thing is, there are Christian movie makers out there producing films that have done reasonably well within the Christian community over the past several years–Facing the Giants, Soul Surfer and the upcoming Courageous, to name a few–but I sure wish more good stories were being told onscreen that reached beyond the Christian sub culture.  The Blindside is a fairly recent favorite, and Raiders of the Lost Ark from years' back.  

Anyway…you made me mad, Hollywood; I'm disappointed in you.  You've got so much potential, and yet….

You'd rather take the easy way out.  

Sincerely yours,

~ Robin from PENSIEVE

p.s.  I'd like a refund, please.