Reader comments
'Musical' switched for 'Sex' in Megaplex mix-up
217 comments | Read story
kenglish | 6:14 a.m. Oct. 28, 2008
Funny, but even the wardrobe in "HSM" isn't legally acceptable in
some Utah High Schools.
Andy | 7:36 a.m. Oct. 28, 2008
Haha! My friend works at this theatre as a projectionist and told me of this
mistake! There were some angry mothers!
Anonymous | 8:21 a.m. Oct. 28, 2008
I read this article just now, and thought that I might enjoy watching the
"Sex Drive" Film; all that the Moms had to do was just leave the
theatre with their kids; everyone is just to sensative these days. There was
really no reason to complain.
Comments continue below
Anonymous | 8:25 a.m. Oct. 28, 2008
Wont somebody think of the children!!!
arc | 8:45 a.m. Oct. 28, 2008
If I had been there, I would have been ticked. This theatre has made some
mistakes before.
It is still one of the best theatres around here.
It is still one of the best theatres around here.
Once it's in, it's in. | 8:47 a.m. Oct. 28, 2008
Those children will never have it out of their minds. Sad.
DCH | 8:51 a.m. Oct. 28, 2008
I think I smell a lawsuit coming... ouch!
What? | 9:00 a.m. Oct. 28, 2008
T&A has to be better than HSM3.
Amber | 9:01 a.m. Oct. 28, 2008
That is seriously hilarious.
Utah | 9:03 a.m. Oct. 28, 2008
People in Utah need to grow up!
James | 9:13 a.m. Oct. 28, 2008
Although it's not what they were looking for, I am sure that ANY movie
would be better than HS Musical.
Shouldn't be... | 9:13 a.m. Oct. 28, 2008
a big deal. It was a mistake. It should be the end of the story. That would be
really disappointing if it goes any further.
Mistakes | 9:15 a.m. Oct. 28, 2008
Let he who has made no mistakes in their life throw the first stone. Geeez, the
theater made an honest mistake. Yes it was unfortunate and, yes, I would have
been upset too had I been there. But, the theater has acknowldeged the mistake
and made an attempt to right their wrong with free movie passes and concession
passes. This world is too quick to judge and too slow to forgive. Give them
the benefit of the doubt. Let's get over it and move on. Maybe you can
use it as a teaching moment with your kids that that type of material is
unacceptable by leaving the theater quickly. You could also use it as a moment
to teach kids perspective and that everyone makes honest mistakes....rather than
writing in to all the newspapers and calling your lawyer to get the lawsuit
ready!
For 8:21 | 9:16 a.m. Oct. 28, 2008
Dear Anonymous (if that's really your name),
Yes, the parents could have taken their little kids and just left the theater.....except they paid money expecting to see HSM3 and they didn't get what they paid for. The fact that they didn't leave doesn't mean they're stupid - it means they want to get what they paid for.
If you paid money to watch Sex Drive and HSM3 was shown instead, would you just get up and leave? I doubt it.....so give these parents a break.
Yes, the parents could have taken their little kids and just left the theater.....except they paid money expecting to see HSM3 and they didn't get what they paid for. The fact that they didn't leave doesn't mean they're stupid - it means they want to get what they paid for.
If you paid money to watch Sex Drive and HSM3 was shown instead, would you just get up and leave? I doubt it.....so give these parents a break.
a Mom | 9:16 a.m. Oct. 28, 2008
"I read this article just now, and thought that I might enjoy watching the
"Sex Drive" Film; all that the Moms had to do was just leave the
theatre with their kids; everyone is just to sensative these days. There was
really no reason to complain."
Did you read the article at all? It said that the first few minutes of the movie showed nudity, and that the parents couldn't get their children out of the theatre before they were exposed. Do you sit on the edge of your seat at all times just waiting to rush your children out of the theater? Duh.
Did you read the article at all? It said that the first few minutes of the movie showed nudity, and that the parents couldn't get their children out of the theatre before they were exposed. Do you sit on the edge of your seat at all times just waiting to rush your children out of the theater? Duh.
Jeffrey | 9:19 a.m. Oct. 28, 2008
What a wonderful opportunity for parents to start early at making their children
feel dirty and ashamed about the natural parts of life!
The Rock | 9:20 a.m. Oct. 28, 2008
Just boycot the merchants of smut.
Why should decent people give their dollars to business that are polluting our culture?
Why should decent people give their dollars to business that are polluting our culture?
Anonymous | 9:22 a.m. Oct. 28, 2008
Those poor children. This is the worst thing that could have possibly happened
to them. I am going to boycott that theater! Thats all we need is the movie
theaters pumping smut into our kids brains.
please | 9:28 a.m. Oct. 28, 2008
oh please
a law suit ? lets clog our courts with tripe, they don't have anything better to do
children are exposed to this type of stuff daily on TV and magazines, it's what sells everything
apologize, offer refunds and comp the movie tickets and stop being a bunch of whiney babies
a law suit ? lets clog our courts with tripe, they don't have anything better to do
children are exposed to this type of stuff daily on TV and magazines, it's what sells everything
apologize, offer refunds and comp the movie tickets and stop being a bunch of whiney babies
Mom | 9:47 a.m. Oct. 28, 2008
I would have been VERY upset! Popcorn and tickets DO NOT MAKE UP for their
mistake!
Normally I am opposed to lawsuits, but for this I would make an exception.
Normally I am opposed to lawsuits, but for this I would make an exception.
Hey Rock.. | 9:50 a.m. Oct. 28, 2008
If we boycott the merchants of smut... guess what, there wouldn't be anyone
left!! No internet, no cable TV, no Hollywood, modern clothing, perfume, music,
sports, etc... just a bunch of boring, terrified little rabbits huddling around
a candle waiting for the darkness to close in around them. How about starting
with a boycott against corrupt government and biased media and then work our way
to smut?
Anonymous | 10:10 a.m. Oct. 28, 2008
What about the option of just asking your children to close their eyes! The
mistake is unfortunate, but it's not the end of the world or the
"worst thing that could have possibly happened to them". There are
much worse things in our world than brief nudity.
Explicit? | 10:10 a.m. Oct. 28, 2008
This article explains that the opening scene contains nudity. The woman
interviewed in the article says the opening scene was "Sexually
Explicit"... well, that's not exactly the same thing. Sexually
Explicit movies aren't very common in Utah theaters, and when it
occasionally gets there, it's NC-17 (or 21+ only, at some Sundance
screenings). I haven't seen "Sex Drive" so I can't comment
on the opening scene but I am so dang tired of people getting their fur up over
nudity!! I mean come on, do these people bathe with their clothes on? They
were born, so they must have been nude at least one time in their lives!!! It
must be horrible to have such low self esteem that one considers nudity morally
offensive.
Legal Advice | 10:13 a.m. Oct. 28, 2008
This is horrible�the only inappropriate stuff a kid should
have to see is what was left on their dad's computer...or their mom's
Victoria Secret magazine. Oh, and maybe standing in the supermarket line.
Oh...also on the I-15 billboards. If you think it's the first time these
kids were "exposed" to this kind of stuff then your naivety is
dominating your life. It's WRONG that it happened...but CLEARLY was a
mistake. But I guess somehow suing them will erase the pictures from their
minds? That's not what I learned in Sunday school last week. Turn the
other "eye" and get over it.
Paul Gibbs | 10:17 a.m. Oct. 28, 2008
Patrons were immediately aware that something was wrong when they noticed that
the people onscreen could act.
Stupid Parents! | 10:28 a.m. Oct. 28, 2008
You cannot possibly convince me that these parents sat through the entire series
of trailers which I am SURE were not typical Disney trailers, THEN sat through
the opening credits complete with a movie TITLE, and STILL did not have time to
take their poor, innocent children out of the theater before the nudity showed
up. Sorry, I'm not falling for it. If you couldn't tell within about
TEN seconds (literally) that the movie you were seeing was not HSM3, then you
seriously should not be taking your kids to movies. Unless the nudity was
actually during the opening credits (which I have personally never seen to be
the case), then you have no right whatsoever to complain... Come on...!
Previews, Lawsuits, and Magic | 10:30 a.m. Oct. 28, 2008
What about the previews? Wouldn't the first clue that a more adult film
would be showing be the type of previews that were shown? I know when I've
been to children's movies I've seen children's previews, action
movies have action previews, horror movies and horror previews.
Nobody should be filing a lawsuit over this. This is the kind of junk that makes our legal system inefficient and corrupt. If people would be honest and less selfish, our society would funtion much more smoothly. High health care costs? Because of lawsuits and doctors covering their butts. Paying too much for retail goods? You are paying for the stuff that other people steal. If you think going to a movie is expensive now, just file a bunch of lawsuits over a mistake like this and then watch out.
We can't always control what we are exposed to, but we can control how we react. Living in a bubble doesn't make you a good person. I've like basketball my whole life. When Magic Johnson got HIV I was young, and my dad used it as an opportunity to explain to me a little more about life. Don't overreact, just react constructively!
Nobody should be filing a lawsuit over this. This is the kind of junk that makes our legal system inefficient and corrupt. If people would be honest and less selfish, our society would funtion much more smoothly. High health care costs? Because of lawsuits and doctors covering their butts. Paying too much for retail goods? You are paying for the stuff that other people steal. If you think going to a movie is expensive now, just file a bunch of lawsuits over a mistake like this and then watch out.
We can't always control what we are exposed to, but we can control how we react. Living in a bubble doesn't make you a good person. I've like basketball my whole life. When Magic Johnson got HIV I was young, and my dad used it as an opportunity to explain to me a little more about life. Don't overreact, just react constructively!
re :Mom | 10:37 a.m. Oct. 28, 2008
you go girl
lets make'em pay for this mistake
lets make'em pay for this mistake
k | 10:37 a.m. Oct. 28, 2008
Did this particular screening not have trailers? The trailer pack for a film
like Sex Drive would be drastically different from one for High School Musical:
3. Shouldn't that have been a tip off?
re: Paul Gibbs | 10:40 a.m. Oct. 28, 2008
Your post is the only intelligent comment I have read so far !
K | 10:51 a.m. Oct. 28, 2008
It is sometimes is hard to tell when the trailer's end and the movie
begins. And the trailers are often approved for all audiences, even when the
movie is meant for a more mature viewer. Often a movie will start with a scene,
then you sit through several minutes of credits. So they may not have realized
the movie starting was a different one.
Hardly something to get upset about. It was a simple mistake and the theatre provided vouchers to the audience to make up for the mistake. They changed their procedure to ensure it wouldn't happen again. Too bad they couldn't start the movie over - and skip the credits so the patrons could all see the movie they intended to see. The article didn't tell us if the people actually got to see the Disney movie at some point.
Hardly something to get upset about. It was a simple mistake and the theatre provided vouchers to the audience to make up for the mistake. They changed their procedure to ensure it wouldn't happen again. Too bad they couldn't start the movie over - and skip the credits so the patrons could all see the movie they intended to see. The article didn't tell us if the people actually got to see the Disney movie at some point.
SLC gal | 10:55 a.m. Oct. 28, 2008
LOL!!!!!!! I don't care who you are - that's funny - unless you live
in Provo....
Opening Scene | 10:56 a.m. Oct. 28, 2008
Can someone who has actually seen Sex Drive please tell us what exactly happens
in the opening minute or two? I have a feeling this is much ado about nothing.
k | 11:49 a.m. Oct. 28, 2008
I guarantee the trailer pack for Sex Drive was quite different from HSM:3. I
took my sister to HSM:3 last week and it was all bubblegum, not to mention a ton
of Disney marketing (obviously).
Sex Drive is more in the vein of Superbad and American Pie, which, if you've seen the opening sequences of, you can imagine how this one started out. I bet it was a cold lead in, no opening credits, just straight into the film.
IMDB doesn't have any info about the first few minutes, but hopefully someone will comment because I am curious.
Sex Drive is more in the vein of Superbad and American Pie, which, if you've seen the opening sequences of, you can imagine how this one started out. I bet it was a cold lead in, no opening credits, just straight into the film.
IMDB doesn't have any info about the first few minutes, but hopefully someone will comment because I am curious.
JR | 11:50 a.m. Oct. 28, 2008
It's actually illegal to show sexually explicit material to children, which
is why the whole rating system started in the first place. Depending on the
nature of the material (I haven't seen the movie) the theater could have
opened itself up to criminal prosecution.
While some of you may think this is silly, it's actually a very serious mistake.
While some of you may think this is silly, it's actually a very serious mistake.
Hollywood | 11:53 a.m. Oct. 28, 2008
Yes, Jeffrey, I guess by your logic, children should be fed nothing but porn
from the time they are born. After all, sex is natural. In fact, why have any
age limits? Why stop at just the suggestion of intimacy or even at full nudity?
Give them the hardcore stuff as early as possible so they'll develop
healthy attitudes towards sex.
As the father of a young child, I'd be upset at the mix-up, especially since "Sex" apparently begins with nudity and sex scenes. Oh, and I'm not embarassed by sex. I've already answered my child's questions to date and will continue to do so as she matures, but always at an age appropriate level.
I'd rather decide the age at which to discuss the biological details, not have it foisted upon me by having my children view material which has, by it's very own rating by the MPAA, been deemed inappropriate for children. And I'm sorry, you cannot compare billboards or a scantily clad person in-line at the supermarket to nudity and sex in a movie.
Lawsuits are not the answer, but I understand the anger & concern coming from the parents over the mixup.
As the father of a young child, I'd be upset at the mix-up, especially since "Sex" apparently begins with nudity and sex scenes. Oh, and I'm not embarassed by sex. I've already answered my child's questions to date and will continue to do so as she matures, but always at an age appropriate level.
I'd rather decide the age at which to discuss the biological details, not have it foisted upon me by having my children view material which has, by it's very own rating by the MPAA, been deemed inappropriate for children. And I'm sorry, you cannot compare billboards or a scantily clad person in-line at the supermarket to nudity and sex in a movie.
Lawsuits are not the answer, but I understand the anger & concern coming from the parents over the mixup.
Utah Code | 12:07 p.m. Oct. 28, 2008
The parents could press the issue in the police. Section 76-10 of the Utah Code
specifically spells out penalties for an offense such as this.
Latter Day Saint | 12:10 p.m. Oct. 28, 2008
I am absolutely appalled at this "mistake". The poor children who were
exposed to this filth will now not be able to take the sacrament for months.
Whoever played this disgusting trick, I hope it was worth it for you. I hope you aren't planning on going on a mission.
Whoever played this disgusting trick, I hope it was worth it for you. I hope you aren't planning on going on a mission.
ashtrash | 12:15 p.m. Oct. 28, 2008
Parents have the right and the responsibility to educate their children on this
kind of topic. Dang straight this is a big deal! I would be so mad if it was
me, and I don't even have kids yet!
Badly written | 12:18 p.m. Oct. 28, 2008
from the last paragraph, I submit this sentence:
"For future movies."
/slow clap
"For future movies."
/slow clap
C'MON LARRY MILLER | 12:27 p.m. Oct. 28, 2008
C'MON LARRY MILLER .. HOW COULD YOU SHOW GARBAGE LIKE THIS AT A THEATER YOU
OWN...
OH YEA..... THE LOVE OF MONEY
OH YEA..... THE LOVE OF MONEY
Re: Trailers | 12:32 p.m. Oct. 28, 2008
I would have to agree that there was probably some equally
"questionable" material in the trailers before the movie even started.
A few months ago, I took my 3-year-old to see Wall-E, and we accidentally
walked in on the beginning of what I later learned was "Hellboy 2"...
we didn't even make it through the entryway (~10 sec) before I realized we
were in the wrong theater! If parents of kids were still sitting there after
3-4 "general audience" trailers advertizing PG-13 and R movies, then
part of the blame lies on them.
re: for 8:21 | 12:46 p.m. Oct. 28, 2008
"Dear Anonymous (if that's really your name),"
awesome. just awesome.
awesome. just awesome.
Lighten up! | 12:53 p.m. Oct. 28, 2008
It was a mistake! This world has more important issues to worry about than a
mistake at the movie theater. Ask your kids to close their eyes and tell the
manager it is inappropriate. Or cover the projector with your coat. A
law-suit? Give me a freaking break. You are bankrupting our country by suing
everyone for everything. The only ones getting rich are oil companies and
ambulance chasing lawyers. Get a grip and let it go.
Forgive and Forget | 1:08 p.m. Oct. 28, 2008
Come on parents! You need to learn how to forget about this mistake that the
theater made. The theater realized quickly that they had made a mistake and
tried to make up for it. You would be making and even BIGGER mistake if you were
to bring this to court. Don't be so hypocritical, unless of course
you've never made a mistake.
LHM | 1:35 p.m. Oct. 28, 2008
So how is it that Larry H will show a movie like "Sex Drive" but
boycott "Zach and Miri make a porno" I think there is a double
standard, if he doesn't show one movie that has the theme of two friends
making a porno to earn money then how could he show a movie about teenagers
traveling cross contry to have sex with someone they met on the internet?
RJ | 1:45 p.m. Oct. 28, 2008
I don't think this is "the worst thing that could have happened."
That is a little extreme. I admit, that parents should have realized that the
trailers were not for a Disney film. The first ten minutes of the film can be
viewed on several sites online. The "Summit Entertainment" logo comes
on the screen, then goes directly into the male actor talking to a female in a
chat room. If this were HSM3, Disney would have appeared. It is obviously not
HSM3. Common sense would have told you to leave. The nudity is a male backside,
a brief flash (about a second long) which occurs after a brief "love
scene" under the sheets. That scene occurs at about 3 minutes, and the
brief flash of a butt is at 4 minutes. Plenty of time to have gotten up and
left. It was a stupid mistake, leave it at that.
Hatuletoh | 1:45 p.m. Oct. 28, 2008
Ah jeez. Some of you people could become millionares by converting coal into
diamonds using nothing but your own senses of righteous indignation. I am a
parent, and I prefer to use these moments to draw the distiction between what is
acceptable to us, and what is acceptable to the rest of the world, and why that
matters.
You might as well just lock your kids in a box so that they won't be "exposed" to anything you don't approve of. Heaven forbid you try to equip them with understanding to know the difference between appropriate entertainment, and media garbage. I want my kids to be able to differentiate between Michelangelo's "David" and Hollywood's "Sex Drive". Both have nudity; one is inspiring art, the other is filth. Important to understand the difference.
All that being said, I'd have expected an apology and some popcorn.
You might as well just lock your kids in a box so that they won't be "exposed" to anything you don't approve of. Heaven forbid you try to equip them with understanding to know the difference between appropriate entertainment, and media garbage. I want my kids to be able to differentiate between Michelangelo's "David" and Hollywood's "Sex Drive". Both have nudity; one is inspiring art, the other is filth. Important to understand the difference.
All that being said, I'd have expected an apology and some popcorn.
Grant Smith | 2:05 p.m. Oct. 28, 2008
I went to see a kids movie at the Megaplex 17 at Jordan Commons once and the
previews seemed a bit bizarre. Before the movie could start, an employee came
in and announced that they had the wrong film in the projector. We had to wait
a few minutes and then they got the right movie showing.
I took my kids to another movie at a Cinemark dollar theater and they started showing a PG-13 movie instead. I had to go out and find an employee and then we had to watch a bit more of the wrong film before someone got in the booth and started the correct film.
I've also seen trailers loaded upside down and backwards, with even the sound playing backwards. Mistakes happen. It's got to be worse when the projector's digital and a mistake can be as simple as a click of a button.
As for "Zach and Miri", I'm sure Megaplex is avoiding it because of the perception that it's normalizing pornography. There's already been a lot of controversy just over the title alone. Some people have refused to display ads for the film.
I took my kids to another movie at a Cinemark dollar theater and they started showing a PG-13 movie instead. I had to go out and find an employee and then we had to watch a bit more of the wrong film before someone got in the booth and started the correct film.
I've also seen trailers loaded upside down and backwards, with even the sound playing backwards. Mistakes happen. It's got to be worse when the projector's digital and a mistake can be as simple as a click of a button.
As for "Zach and Miri", I'm sure Megaplex is avoiding it because of the perception that it's normalizing pornography. There's already been a lot of controversy just over the title alone. Some people have refused to display ads for the film.
hey Moms I got news 4 U | 2:13 p.m. Oct. 28, 2008
check the lyrics out on that ipod your son or daughters got ..
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