MovieChat Forums > Tell Me You Love Me (2007) Discussion > YOU'VE ALL MISSED THE POINT. I FEEL SAD...

YOU'VE ALL MISSED THE POINT. I FEEL SAD FOR AMERICA

posted 17 years ago by Writer01603
66 replies | jump to latest

I feel sad for America even though I'm an American born and raised, because they can't help getting their minds over the fact that sex really isn't a big deal. God. This is not pornographic because it's not met to elicit your sexual arousal, it's meant to enlighten who the characters are. Here's a fact for you. You can know a person for fifty years and know more about them with one intimate moment of sex than that entire fifty years. Standing naked and bare has an honesty to it. The sex, yes, is graphic, and even if it was real (which it isn't) that shouldn't matter. God. This prudishness of sex is quite scary, because sex is a major part of life. Sex is a major defining point in many people's life. Who we choose to sleep with and how we choose to have sex, plays a large role, in my opinion, in our own social development. So grow up, all you people out there in the world who go, Oh MY GOD There's a fake penis on the show and it's shooting a liquid. If that's all you saw in the first episode, you missed the searching emotion and the want to try and deepen an understanding into each other. Maybe you'll say I'm reading too much into it.

All I know is that this is the first show that I've watched in a long time that I look at it and can say that it has an emotional honesty and is not afraid to be real. It's better than Californication, it's truer to relationship than--I'd be hardpressed to be disproven and I welcome dissent--anything out there on television today. People who don't like this show because of the sex are about as immature as the children they fear might probably watch it. I'll say it again. All of you who are complaining have missed the point. I feel sad for America. Given the opportunity to see something of a very artisitic truth, they complain, because it's too honest. We do it all the time. We have a fear of realism. We need to conquer that and be big boys and girls now and appreciate a work of genuis when it comes along. And that--in my opinion--is what this is!

[–] 17 years ago

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[–] very3 17 years ago

prudishness over sex has got nothing to do with it. cripes sake how many seasons did sex and the city last?

I will say I dont think the show is bad and I hiope they give it breathign room, but it has a gloomy feel to it and another head shrink in a room plot device and its going to be a tough battle.

nothing to do with sex, more execution.

[–] BtVSP3 17 years ago

I was really drawn into the series. The emotions are so raw and the actors give such powerful performance. I especially loved Ally Walker and Tom DeKay's characters. This show is about emotions, not sex. Sex is just a part of those emotions. Hundreds if not thousands are going through the same thing as these 3 couples.

Sure, so of the sex is very explicit. Life is not edited for content. The handjob scene (IMO) was needed for the plot as was pretty much every other sex scene. The only one that made me crindge was the blowjob, mostly because she reminded me of my grandma. It's safe to say that HBO has given us one of their best series yet. I'll keep watching and hopefully, this show will last longer than the piece of crap John from Cincinnati did. I think it wiill there's tons of potential.

[–] tambershall 15 years ago

couldn't agree more.
a great honest series that actually touches on real issues and one of the few shows/movies I've watched where the nudity and sexual nature were necessary and intrinsic to the story, instead of the usual American gratuitous sex scene that neither adds anything or helps the movie.

And the characters of Walker and DeKay are so well done. They were absolutely wonderful ans showed real characters with real problems. I'm not married, but they acted so well and portrayed their characters' emotions so well, I just got it. Not only that, they were able to really share the vast range of emotions with very subtle and wonderfully crafted scenes. It wasn't just a scene with a couple who has trouble connecting sexually. It was the entire range, the consequences to their lives, and the vast impact of their words and actions. That was some of the finest portrayals of acting I have ever seen.
And they are able to really bring the viewers into the characters' lives and share the emotions, and trials they are going through. All I can say is BRAVO!!!

Also, I think the oral sex scene with the elderly couple was magnificently done. I too cringed at the scene because they were old. But once I got over that, I see once again how they are able to share real emotions and sexual experiences from an older perspective. It wasn't dirty. It was art. Once you get over the initial shock, you see real people, who are old and experiencing it. They share a bit of that experience with you. It was real. Great acting, and so well done.

Obviously the writers and directors are excellent and deserve applause.

[–] predator2c 17 years ago

>but it has a gloomy feel to it and another head shrink in a room plot device and its going to be a tough battle.

That's the biggest issue to me, enough with the TV shrinks already! It's a cheap way for the writers to get the characters to express their inner selves in ways that don't normally come about in normal conversations, and to give the three separate stories a link. It seemed to start with the Sopranos, which even had Tony's shrink seeing a shrink. HBO's upcoming show with Gabriel Byrne has him playing...you guessed it. But I suppose that won't have be have Byrne blowing his husband to cap off the first episode...so there's room for a variety of approaches.

[–] kva7922046 16 years ago

There are so many reasons to feel sad for America, but this show ain't one of 'em.

There's very little with the characters written as they are that allows me to connect with them. I've seen every show, and the only character's name I can remember is Palek, well, because his name is "Palek." The rest of the characters come across as professional, comfortable, sort of vapid and whiny.

I think that there's a segment of America that can identify very well with this show. Then, I think that there's the other 97% of us. In this case, I don't think it's about the sex so much as it is the show being poorly executed and lacking balance. There's almost no humor. Given the nature of the show, I wasn't expecting guffaws. Just not such a bleak and mechanical portrait of relationships that just happens to have very realistic sex scenes.

[–] rgarabedian 9 years ago

I've just saw the shows myself and I agree with you America is to stuck up on nudity, and maybe people are getting so upset about this show is that there lives are to similar to theirs so it makes them think about there's and there afraid that they've fallen into the same habits and routine.

[–] Talking_To_The_Bobs 17 years ago

If anybody's overreacting, it's you. I haven't seen any Pilgrim-like people marching in the streets trying to get it stopped.

The reason that the sex has been discussed so much is that HBO has been marketing it that way. Period. Nobody is pitching a fit about it. You're making a bigger deal out of the sex than anyone I've seen who remotely objects to it.

You're making much ado about nothing.

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http://rightonpeachtree.blogspot.com/

[–] wanderlust22 17 years ago

You're making much ado about nothing.

Please tell me that was intentional irony. ;)

[–] Chrissieluxx 17 years ago

I COMPLETELY agree with what Writer01603 is saying. Myself being a first generation American, I've spent many long periods of time abroad. The film and telivision industries there portray sex as a regular part of life, which is exactly what it is. The portrayal of nudity and sex on this show is akin to that which normal people experience. I respect the realism on this show. Many people here are complaining that this show was "Boring". But, in all honesty, it's just providing a visual outlet for a typical couples life, and that may entail uneventfulness. Anyone who's ever been in a long term relationship knows that it usually gets to a point where things can be pretty lackluster. I found it rather interesting that HBO took the chance on that kind of realism. No guns, no Manolo Blahniks, just real, relatable life. To me, that's more fascinating than anything else.

Life is far too important to be taken seriously. - Oscar Wilde

[–] swborderer 17 years ago

Hey - NoBoho just stumbled into the real reason why nobody likes this show....

"lackluster" lives portrayed on TV = "boring" entertainment

NoBoho said it and doesn't even realize it...

"I do not want to not live because of my fear of what could happen."
- Laird Hamilton

[–] 17 years ago

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[–] 17 years ago

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[–] Overmarz87 17 years ago

I agree Cortez. Sex in this show is just a gimmick. I see through this and the flimsy, poorly written script. Once the sex is over very little is left to entertain. Oh and the oldies. I think everyone can agree its gone to far when a OLD wife goes down on her OLD husband. EWWWW. Yeah im sure it happens but that is a reality i will face when i get to it in my own personal life. So the point is sex is complicated. Have i really missed anything. This is the same old stuff except with explicit sexual content. WOW! I've seen better porn then this show. Sorry Tell me you love me bored me stiff. Excuse the pun.

[–] Pipeman_Toronto 15 years ago

its gone to far when a OLD wife goes down on her OLD husband. EWWWW.

You're a fuxin ageist.

[–] raymondleggs 16 years ago

Which charachter gave the blowjob?

Which Charachter gave the handjob?

[–] cralco 17 years ago

You are a virgin mate f@#king is F@#ing and thats all you do not know anyone any better if you F#$k em hard make love or hit em in the *beep* and thats a fact.

[–] curry-parker 17 years ago

Being the married man that I am, I wholly agree with Writer, NoBo and cralco (because that was quick and to the point, don't you think?). I've always been told that only boring people get bored, so perhaps those that think this show is boring are actually expecting explicit sex and there just isn't enough to keep their feeble minds entertained. I for one think this show is a great way for longtime couples to become closer/rekindle the fire.

I believe, even though this kind of material has been in the international media for years, America as a whole just doesn't choose to accept it. As Writer said, in a way, sex is love in its most intimate form and it is needed in this series. I do agree that the 'explicit' sex (for most Americans anyway, not me) is too much. To all of you, maybe you should check all the current events or even take the safer route and stick with PBS. Sex is everywhere, deal with it.

@ Talking to the Bobs
This show is, in fact, very controversial. I have seen many people overreacting. They were just saying bad things about it on The View today. Yes, The View. I'm what 'boring' people would call a boring person. And all they were talking about was the sex. It was ridiculous.

Definition of a true 'boring' person, as I was taught: A boring person is actually someone who HAS to keep busy or entertained constantly to keep from becoming bored. Boring people tend not to be able to sit still longer than a few hours if their life depended on it, watch all kinds of tv/movies as long as there's some kind of action in it to keep them watching, predominantly listen to pop/hiphop music and would probably jump off a bridge if everyone else was doing it.

[–] 17 years ago

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[–] mmitsos-1 17 years ago

"Only boring people get bored"...that is such a dumb cliche. Circumstances, such as not having a job and, therefore, the money to go out and do the things that one really wants to do could cause someone to become "bored" with their lives. There are a lot of forces out there that sometimes prevent people who have a lot of dreams from being able to develop them....it has nothing to do with their not being fascinating people. Their being constantly denied can lead them to become bored.

[–] Jane_Doe01 16 years ago

Sex is everywhere, deal with it.

So is sex everywhere, or is American society too "prudish" to allow it to be anywhere? Hmm, you hip, "enlightened" types sure seem to have difficulty with making up your minds and being consistent on this issue(among many). All that's important is that you convince the world and yourselves that you're a "step ahead" of them though, right?

[–] deathbysexy 17 years ago

Save the condescending attitude. No one dislikes this show because they're all prudes who're afraid of sex, they dislike it because it's boring and uninteresting.

And just because relationships can become "pretty lackluster," doesn't mean I want to watch an entire TV show about it. Stop acting like just because this show is "raw" and "real" it's somehow good. Seriously, you guys defending this are just as bad as the so-called "sad Americans" who're in an uproar about the sex.

[–] nancybair 17 years ago

BRAVO Writer...my thoughts exactly!

[–] LionHearted99 17 years ago

Possibly you've missed the point. Most of the posts here are dealing with the couples portrayed in the show and their lack of emotional maturity. As I recall, this show was hyped as being "cutting edge" and sexy. Of course people are going to watch at least the first episode to see what it's all about. I think you do a major disservice to the American people by accusing them of being sexually backward.
This could have been a show where genius is apparent. Instead we get boring, whiney juveniles posing as adults and sex scenes that are as boring as watching paint dry. This show is about as "real" as "Desperate Housewives"...which I find infinitely more interesting.