Is Nudity ever neccessary?

[SapphirePrima]

I know there's more guys than girls on this board but do you guys ever think nudity is ever necessary for a film. I was watching Idlewild the other day and there were a scene where there was no reason for a girl not to have a shirt on. That got me thinking does anyone ever think nudity is necessary for a film that is not NC-17/M?

 

[Abaddon]

sometimes it helps convey vulnerability in a character.

 

[JLBats]

I'm going to have to go against you this time, Sapphire.

Nudity is DEFINITELY necessary in erotic thrillers.
And let's face it, that scene in Sideways would have been a lot weaker if the couple had just been having dinner or something.

Lot of grey area.

 

[Warhammer]

It is sometimes, depending on what point is trying to be shown or on what situation, for example, a love scene. Usually, a love scene benefits and shows a strong bond/relationship between two main characters. But that's just me. When they just throw it out there for no apparent reason (except Horror movies), then it's unnecessary.

Spoiler

Sometimes I think, Hell, I'm a guy, so if the girl looks good, I ain't got a problem with that.

 

[Abaddon]

I'm going to have to go against you this time, Sapphire.

Nudity is DEFINITELY necessary in erotic thrillers.
And let's face it, that scene in Sideways would have been a lot weaker if the couple had just been having dinner or something.

Lot of grey area.

There was really no need to see Thomas Haden Church's ass.

 

[Speedball]

no...
I don't think nudity actually adds something to a story.
And not all nudity is nice to look at (remember About Schmidt)

 

[kytrigger]

While it may not always be necessary (and I agree that most times it does seem to just be thrown in there for the hell of it), it can be more realistic. If you have a love scene in a movie (or particularly, a scene of the people in bed afterwards) it quite normal for there to be nudity. Most times people are having sex, or just afterwards, they are naked. Yes you can cover it up with a sheet or something, but that is technically just as pointless if a film is trying to be like real life.

 

[CConn]

Like 90% of the time, it isn't. In my experience, at least.

However, there is instances where it has been used effectively. Personally, I thought the sex scenes/nudity in A History of Violence actually helped the story (except for that shot of Lane after she's out of the shower...that was pointless).

 

[Bat Attack]

Is it true that if a film shows a mans penis for more than 5 minutes it gets an NC-17 rating?

 

[SapphirePrima]

I'm going to have to go against you this time, Sapphire.

Nudity is DEFINITELY necessary in erotic thrillers.
And let's face it, that scene in Sideways would have been a lot weaker if the couple had just been having dinner or something.

Lot of grey area.

What kind of erotic thriller do you mean?? Black Dahlia like?

 

[The Shredder]

no...
I don't think nudity actually adds something to a story.
And not all nudity is nice to look at (remember About Schmidt)

Or Big Mamma's House.

 

[Bat Attack]

Black Dhalia sucked.

 

[NewYorkSpider]

sometimes it helps convey vulnerability in a character.

Agreed.

 

[SapphirePrima]

Is it true that if a film shows a mans penis for more than 5 minutes it gets an NC-17 rating?

I don't know why but I laughed at this

 

[Bat Attack]

Is it because I said penis?

 

[SapphirePrima]

sometimes it helps convey vulnerability in a character.

I remember watching something about Fatal Attraction and Glenn Close didn't want her breast shown in the movie but then she said something like it showed the characters vurnability.

I have more of a problem when it's like an extra on the screen for like 3 seconds and theres no reason for it.

 

[JLBats]

What kind of erotic thriller do you mean?? Black Dahlia like?

I'm speaking, in particular, about the '80s subgenre, with stuff like Basic Instinct, etc.

Also, the L-shaped covers on beds sometimes take me right out of a scene. So sometimes nudity can just make things a ton more naturalistic.

 

[Abaddon]

I remember watching something about Fatal Attraction and Glenn Close didn't want her breast shown in the movie but then she said something like it showed the characters vurnability.

I have more of a problem when it's like an extra on the screen for like 3 seconds and theres no reason for it.

Yeah, usually it's there without any real purpose. Nudity in action movies isn't necessary at all.

 

[Warhammer]

Or Big Mamma's House.

That's a comedy.
It was supposed to be funny.

 

[SapphirePrima]

I'm speaking, in particular, about the '80s subgenre, with stuff like Basic Instinct, etc.

Also, the L-shaped covers on beds sometimes take me right out of a scene. So sometimes nudity can just make things a ton more naturalistic.

I see what you're saying, but a scene can be ruined when nudity is missing to you?

 

[JLBats]

I see what you're saying, but a scene can be ruined when nudity is missing to you?

Not ruined, but when they seem to be going out of their way to hide nudity it can take me out of the moment.

 

[MurphyMan]

Yes, I believe nudity is necessary in many different aspects of not just film, but Art in general and it has always been. Take a look at "Shakespeare In Love," which fused parts of literature and a literary art figure with a story people could understand and relate to. It showed how nudity can be needed in films, if you saw that movie and it was a PG sugarcoated family picture it would have ruined the story and experience you felt as a viewer. Now, there is a difference between Nudity in say, "Romeo & Juliet" by Franco Zafferelli in 1968 and the sort of ways filmmakers use nudity today. If it is used to make the art of two emotionally connected characters moment of passion realistic is one thing. To just use it for the sake of Nudity is another. I see nothing wrong with showing the human body to a certain point in mainstream films for the proper reasons. The human body is natural and should not be made to seem like something people need to be sheltered from. However, tossing in the human body just because you think it will make more viewers enjoy the film because of some skin, instead of writing in or filming more insights into characters or the story in general is not really right in my opinion.

 

[I Am The Knight]

I don't think nudity is really necessary. I mean, within the right context of course, it's a welcome addition, but it seems that most of the time it can be added just because of horny dudes/gals. (Mostly dudes.)

 

[SapphirePrima]

This topic goes into how in the US we are so strict about nudity and language in the media while in other countries they show it all the time with no problem. Then I ask myself if I lived in France would I care who boobs I saw on Tv?

 

[The Shredder]

That's a comedy.
It was supposed to be funny.

Same goes for About Schmidt. But the point still stands.

Funny? Yes.
Appealing? No.