The joy of sex (scenes), or in my case no thank you I'm British!

[Porkchopexpress]

An obscure title to an obscure thread, I talk to you my fellow film lovers about one of my most loathed elements in modern cinema/ The 'sex scene'! This thought came to me while watching the awkward sex scene between Eminem and Brittany Murphy in '8 Mile', I was embarrassed for them!

It all started in my youth when as a child I was enjoying 'Conan the Barbarian' when all of a sudden Arnie is on top of the witch in her shack, there is heavy breathing and nudity, I turn to my father , innocent and wild eyed.

"What is he doing?"

"Erm because he's so heavy, he's trying to squash her for information!"

"OK Dad!"

Ever since I've found sex scenes incredibly uncomfortable in films for the most part, I'm not a prude, I have many leather bound books, but it's the mock sincerity of it all, the terrible emoting that ensues in 99% of 'sex scenes'.

Now I know there are well publicised catastrophes of carnal celluloid, whether it be 'Showgirls' pool seizure or 'Basic Instinct's' Michael Douglas doing sex and likewise the "Are they or aren't they?" of cinema like 'Don't look now', right up to the abysmal wank of '9 songs' wooh penetration, great.

But do sex scenes really have a place in a film, alright in 'Basic Instinct' it is the point of the film, but I just cringe completely when I see actors simulating the beast with two backs.

So my question to you is what are the best or worst in these mini genres of film?

I can tolerate the synth powered love making in 'Terminator' as at least it's a major plot point.

But think of the slow motion hanky panky in 'Watchmen', the sweaty car in 'Titanic', the gratuitous same sex loving of 'Bound' (Le gasp!), 'Wild Things', anything basically.

Is the problem just me? Do I need counselling?

[jaykays hat]

I always cringed when watching sex scenes in films when I was a kid but I still cringe now if my kids are watching a film that happens to have a love scene in it. My son is 10 next week and I just sit there waiting for the 'what are they doing' question. I was cringing watching The Other Guys as it had quite a few sexual references in it.

Maybe it's the stiff upper lip in us?

[pinkdegu]

Sex scenes bore me now. They always look so fake. Nobody actually does it like that.

And as for the question of "what are they doing" from small children, my mmum used to say "They're playing trucks".

That was the answer to the same question that was asked when animals were shagging at the zoo. Or when the dog started getting horny with my little sister when she was a toddler.

My answer now would be "its a dominance thing".
Everyday I watch my animals (mainly my rats who are all the same sex) mount each other and thrust like little rockets. They're just doing it to make themselves look more dominant.

As you get older, I think you either get embarrassed or get bored.
I got bored.

[Jonesy]

I always like the sex scene in The Big Easy for some reason. One of the more natural depictions of the awkwardness of sex.

Don't mind sex scenes, on the whole, as long as the people involved are easy on the eye. I hate them between ugly people. Call me ugliest, but that's the truth.

[Ancient One]

Im not making ANY comment on this.

[Jeffbiscuits]

I'm not averse to the occassional sex scene or some tasteful on screen nudity. Has to be tasteful though otherwise it's just porn.

[fortunesfool]

They are very difficult to do well. I agree with Jonesy that The Big Easy has a very memorable sex scene because it was so natural and fumbly. The 'air hostess' scene from Ken Russell's Crimes of Passion is also burned into my mind for all manner of reasons.

And of course, Team America

I agree though that sex scenes are often uncomfortable viewing, especially in the cinema. The joy of cinema is often linked with our own voyeuristic tendencies though. Make of that what you will.

[Cinetalk]

I never really find sex scenes uncomfortable to watch, and there is something to be said to those well photographed sex scenes. I do love some of the classic power ballad 80s ones though. Top Gun for example.

[whereistheline]

Sex scenes are a tough thing to get right, they either seem unrealistic and too choreographed. My favourtie sex scene has to be in Delicatessen though, no actual sex shown, but it is by far the most amusing.