Mr. Fibbs, last weekend I was looking for a movie to go to with my visiting sister, her 19 year old son (homeschooled, innocent) and my 80 year old mother. I didn’t know much about any movies out right now, so I looked at your movie reviews. Looked at all your reviews, and read your full page info on “Away We Go”. I deeply regret reading this, because I believed that this was a good movie by your rave review.

I was appalled at the first scene of oral sex and him talking about how she tasted. My sister and her son-at her sons request -got up and left to go to a different movie at that time. My mother, husband and I decided to stay, hoping this was not going to be the tone of the whole movie. It got worse with the woman screaming about her boobs that reached to her feet, the woman breast feeding her 2 boys ages 4years and 2 years, and we got up and left when it started talking about sea horse mating rituals. I’m sorry, but when did sick, depraved humor and strong sexual content and language amount to a A+ movie??????? Granted, it was rated R, but so is every other movie nowadays, and I have never been so offended by an R rated movie. If this is what you consider a great movie, I will NEVER look at your reviews again.

By the way, I looked at your bio and saw that you write for Christianity Today. Wow, I don’t get that.

You have a responsibility to let the readers know when movies are as twisted as this one, especially if you claim to be a Christian.

Sincerely,

Rose, Alex, Jean, Val and Joe

BRANDON’S RESPONSE:

Rose,

I’m sorry you feel I steered you so wrong. It is always so hard knowing what to warn people about and what can go unsaid. Believe me, it is very different for different people. I usually trust that people look to critics for insight into the technical and artistic aspects of the production and investigate on their own the MPAA’s rating (which did warn of language and sexual content for this film). Generally, I will warn Gazette audiences only when the offensive material is so beyond the norm as to shock even those who might be used to such material.

As someone who watches half a dozen films a week, I can tell you that “Away We Go” is actually quite tame. Don’t get me wrong, I respect your position and am not lessening your disgust or offense. It is simply to say that, if I’m reading between the lines of your letter correctly, you don’t go to R-rated movies all that often and trust me, there are plenty out there from which you and I would walk away disgusted.

For me, films with objectionable content can still earn a high rating if what they are showing is truthful and strives for a higher purpose than base carnality. If they are showing depravity for depravity’s sake, then I am no more interested in watching it than you are. But if the situation speaks the truth, is authentic and reflects life as it really is, not how some might wish it to be, then I respect and often reward that. That doesn’t mean we must all like or endorse the film, but it certainly doesn’t disqualify it as being automatically worthless as you would seem to suggest.

You’re right, I do also write for Christianity Today and I “wear” a very different hat when reviewing films there. CT requests a run down of offensive material in a way that a secular newspaper does not require. My friend Lisa, who reviewed the film for CT, could have spared you the time and money as she altered her readers to the very things that concern you.

I apologize that you feel you were misled and that members of your family were also offended. If you so chose to never consult my reviews again, I understand and can point you to several critics who may be more up your alley. Might I suggest my friend Jim Judy who runs just the sort of service you might be interested in at www.Screenit.com.

I hope you find what you’re looking for, if not with me, then with others. I suggest you use my or any other critic’s review as a jumping off point but not the end all and be all of your research.

Good luck,

Brandon

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