Buttmunker

details from Barnes & Nobles (says "Rated R" and 1:37:00)

DVD Release: 01/14/2003
Original Release: 1971
Rating: R
DVD Release: 01/14/2003
Original Release: 1971

Product Details
Features: New making-of documentary by Melvin Van Peebles; Remastered in Dolby Digital 5.1 and Dolby Digital Stereo; Filmography; Chapter selection; Original theatrical trailer; Coming attractions
UPC: 799106426
Source: XENON
Region Code: 1
Sound: Dolby Digital Stereo, Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround
Language: English
Time: 1:37:00

details from Amazon (Rated X, and 97 minutes)

Language: English
Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)

Number of discs: 1
Rating X
Studio: Xenon
DVD Release Date: January 14, 2003
Run Time: 97 minutes

I'm stupid - is 1:37:00 the same as 97 minutes?? Or are there indeed two different versions? Or maybe B&N doesn't know it has a X rated movie for sale??

Giles

well according to the MPAA database there were both a X (self applied) and R-rated version (which was submitted to the MPAA for a theatrical rerelease in 1974), but the 30th Anniversary edition is indeed the original 97min X-rated version, which it blatantly states on the dvd cover.

Buttmunker

LoL - to Simpsons episode Sweet Seymour Skinners Baadasssss Song. now I can make a connection. Prior to, I just though it was a weird episode title.

Mondo Kane

Any idea on what was taken out for the R-cut?

Buttmunker

That's a moot point, right, since both Amazon and Barnes & Nobles are selling the same version "X."

Giles

I haven't seen this in awhile, but as I recall there's a graphic sex scene that might have been trimmed for the sake of the R-rating.

darkside

Well the movie starts with him as a boy (played by his son Mario I believe) having fairly graphic sex with an older woman so that right there could be the reason for the X. I have the Criterion Laserdisc of it still.

Mondo Kane

It's funny because Van Peebles certainly seemed to impose that the movie recieved the X-rating because
But nowdays, it seems like the only controversy is the sex scenes. Which, I do admit, are still a little boundary-pushing to this day. Of course, there's the mentioned child/adult scene, but that "duel" with the biker just seems to go on forever.

Sex Fiend

As it says on the cover:

"Rated X by an all-white jury."

Really, I think it was more of a self-imposed "anti white-establishment" marketing ploy, rather than legit rating.

darkside

Agreed. I also forgot that we didn't get all our bullshit sexual hangups until the 90s. The nudity in the movie would have been an R in the 70s and 80s.

Giles

Criterion released this on laserdisc... that's news to me. ?!

Buttmunker

I want to see this movie...not for the phoenomenal acting (there isn't any - I think Peebles speaks six words in the entire movie); not for the amazing story arc - I want to see this bad ass having sex with every woman in the picture! I want to see those women whitering and moaning to his 10 inches. This movie is said to have "unsimulated sex scenes," which means the SEX IS REAL! No ACTING!!

I was expecting something hot in Coffey with Pam Grier (now that's a woman I wish did nudity scenes) - but it was just an attempt at being an action movie. It wasn't half-bad, but there was no sex.

darkside

Disc number 316.
Very cool cover art as well.

Giles

are there extras - if so, what are they?

darkside

I'll check the disc when I get home, but I don't remember there being much on it.

CinemaNut

This movie sucked on SOOOO many levels. And to think Bill Cosby helped fund this crap and what he speaks for today basicly telling blacks Not to act like the very people depicted in a film he helped to fund. LOL!

Mondo Kane

?
She shows plenty of skin in that one. Including a memorable striptease (I wonder how many male-heartattacks this one caused in theaters) but yeah, the viewer only gets to see the climax of the lone sex scene.


It's puzzling at first because Van Peebles' previous works were much more "complete" and "professionally" done. No flaws in the comedic Watermelon Man and no complaints for the avant-garde Story of a three day pass. But when you run into SSBS, you just have to ask yourself, "What the hell is this?"

But it makes somewhat sense once you check out the quite-brilliant Baadasssss!.
In order to work cheap and stay as far away from the Union as possible, Van Peebles hired a mostly porn crew to make the movie and even disguised the movie as a porno just so the backers wouldn't panic about the politcal message. Plus it's a safe bet that this movie never had a proper script otherwise Cosby would've most likely had objections!

CinemaNut

I agree that Watermelon Man was okay. But at least for me, I dont care how clever anyone is in getting a film made, if it turns out to be crap I aint impressed: Example: A really good crap will plop right out with almost no wipage - as opposed to a bad crap with lots of wipage and smell...but ultimately when ya look into the bowl its CRAP

Josh-da-man

"What is this filth-flarn-filth?"

CinemaNut

The fact Cosby never publicly stated his regrets while telling other blacks how to conduct themselves - oh and that little thing about his adultry that sprung an ILLEGITIMATE child from his loins, only serves to make him a hypocrite. Hey, you're human and make mistakes like all - but to have the balls for PREACHING to others how to live ther lives is comical. Same goes for Jesse "The Rev" Jackson...preaching one thing from 9-5 and screwing and making bastard kids from 7 -10