January 09, 2006

Disappointing Decision By Local Salt Lake Cinema

CNN.com - Utah megaplex balks at 'Brokeback' - Jan 8, 2006

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (AP) -- A movie theater owned by Utah Jazz owner Larry Miller abruptly changed its screening plans and decided not to show the film "Brokeback Mountain."

Quick Insert: While I disapprove of the decision, I personally don't believe that it had anything to do with Larry Miller and everything to do with theatre management.

Listing of all published theatres in SLC showing Brokeback Mountain.
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Commentary: When you look at the above picture, notice the "We will I.D." portion above the sign. I can attest to the fact that they do I.D. if you look at all borderline 18. I've never been I.D.'d but I don't look borderline 18. I have, however, seen many other kids who do look borderline 18 (or is it 17 for an R-rated film in the U.S.?) who have been asked for I.D. and been denied access because they were underage.

With this in mind...

Not showing the film does two things:

* Increase awareness of the films existence
* Make the theatre management look like idiots

I'm not sure if this is the only place in the U.S. that has done something as stupid as agreeing to show the film, and then making a last second decision not to show it. But it wouldn't surprise me if it was. As much as I enjoy living in the SLC area, there is definitely a sense of ignorance that tends to permeate throughout the local mentality. The belief that "If we hide the world from them, they won't have the temptations that come from being shown the world." is ridiculous. I've spent my life being exposed to the world the way it is, and while I've definitely made my share of bad choices, I've also become a wiser, more compassionate person because of these mistakes.

If the law's state "No one under 18 (17?) is admitted without a parent" and these laws are strictly enforced, then let the parents make those decisions. I've been exposed to homosexuality my entire life and yet I still very much prefer the opposite sex to my own. That's not going to change. However, having several close friends who are gay I can tell you that it wasn't a film like 'Brokeback Mountain' that was the cause of their homosexual tendencies. It was their homosexual tendencies that were the cause of their homosexual tendencies.

Hiding the fact that there are gay people in this world doesn't reduce the chance of someone discovering that they are gay. What it does do, however, is increase ignorance and breed hate.

Are you sure that ignorance and hate are a desirable replacement for...

Oh wait...

They wouldn't be a replacement for anything. They are just in addition to what's already naturally set in place.

Like homosexuality.