This scene is the Pitts.

Married couple Mr. & Mrs. Smith (Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie (-Pitt)) were getting bored with their quiet domestic life, even though they are secretly both assassins, hopping the world and killing for hire. Their separate lives collided when each found out their next target is their own spouse.
*SPOILER ALERT* As it turns out, neither are very good assassins, because they just can’t seem to kill each other, but do an excellent job of tearing their house apart. For anyone who hasn’t seen this movie, know that before this sex scene, they spend a good amount of time trying to kill each other with automatic weapons, knifes, and other household items.

Mrs. to Mr:
“You still alive, Baby?”

Okay, so this sex scene starts off with the end of violent foreplay, and them dropping (err, throwing down) their weapons and aggressively ripping off each others clothes. They violently throw each other around, smashing into walls, counters, and …glass, apparently. The sound of things crashing in the background adds to the idea of mixing sex and violence, which makes parts of this scene only available in the “Unrated” version of the film. The already hurt and bloody pair gasp, grunt, groan and moan their way onto the glass covered kitchen island to simulate penetration (making this part “unrated”) and Mr. proceeds to choke Mrs. (to which, it appears, she likes) to finish (themselves and the scene) by shedding new light on “rough sex”.

They collapse on the floor in exhaustion, and she SLAPS him in the face, and then laughs at him. What a Bitch! A hot bitch...but still a bitch...
They then share a “tender” moment of him ogling her body, and then, a knock at the end of the scene means they have to haul ass to escape people who are trying to kill them. So much for spooning…

This scene (like so many others) is dark in lighting, incredibly unrealistic, and includes the ever-popular cheesy music (this time I think its bongos and a violin...) This scene also falls into the we-can-put-it-in-the-commercials category, and probably makes Jennifer Aniston cringe every time she thinks about it. The ploy to add sexuality into this movie wherever humanly possible is borderline ridiculous (left), but what else would you expect when you put the two hottest celebrities on-screen together…an actual plotline and amazing acting?

Yes, the scene is a major selling point of this film, especially since the movie came out during the Pitt-Aniston break-up (along with The Break-Up), but the reality of it, lets just say the ending to this movie was almost as believable as the sex scene.

Cheating? pphfff.. Who Cares? It's "True Love".

Alright girls, this one’s for you (and all the boyfriends who have ever been “Notebooked”). Now, I am really NOT one for sappy movies, but this love story sucked me in when I was on a Nicholas Sparks fascination in like, eighth grade and read everything he ever wrote (because the book is always better). This movie made girls all over America swoon for Ryan Gosling’s character Noah (and Ryan himself) who has got to be the most romantic man on the planet (if only he were real). The ever popular sexy-kiss-in-the-rain scene comes after a seven-year pining (it’s fourteen in the book) for his high school sweetheart Allie (Rachel McAdams) who’s now engaged. When she comes back to their hometown (right before her wedding) to see the house Noah basically built for her, they fall passionately back-in-love and now Allie has a “tough” choice to make (yea, right). Watch the whole scene.

It is interesting that even though she is cheating on the man who has only ever treated her right, the audience’s investment in the characters make them root for her to cheat on him, because with Noah, its “true love” (*sigh*).


So after the romantic kiss, they turn into primal sexual beings who rip off each others clothes and take their signature leap-on-top-of-him pose as their wet, naked bodies bash against walls and stairs to get to the bedroom (which was much better than the first time they attempted to have sex in high school and got interrupted, yelled at, and forbid to see each other). They finally make it to the bedroom, and apparently taking off pantyhose is hot. Who knew.

The one thing keeping this scene classy is that the only thing Allie is wearing is a string of pearls. The lighting is dark, the music is cheesy (what…do I hear flutes?) and her line is pretty laughable; “You’ve gotta be kiddin’ me. All this time that’s what I’ve been missin’? Let’s do it again”. Then, this sex scene ends with …another sex scene! And he’s actually getting so much sex that he needs food to “regain his strength”. That is, until his girlfriend knocks on the door, and, as realistic as this is, Allie invites her in for tea!

The whole thing is pretty funny, but girls everywhere love this scene, and so, I guess I should too, right? The long involved back-story of these characters make this scene (and all the pent up passion of star-crossed lovers) seem romantic (even though, hey it broke up a marriage, sorry, engagement in the process). But it's not really cheating if it's your one true love, right?

P.S. Notice the picture of the movie vs. the picture on the sidebar – Ryan’s beard was edited out because nobody liked the look. Poor, Ryan.

Sexy Spartan Lust

Sex scenes in dramatic, action-filled movies are usually much different than other genre's, and two interesting "anti-chick-flick" films come to mind: 300 and Troy . This video contains both movies sex scenes, but please ignore the cheesy pop music in the background..and warning--there is nudity. (This link is a longer version of just the 300 scene)

In 300, this passion-filled scene between King Leonidas and Queen Gorgo of Sparta is interesting because it contains elements that make this hardcore grope-fest what society deems "tasteful". For starters, the scene is done in black and white, and mixes in dark pulsing voids (basically between sex positions). The subtle background music is in tune with their heavy breathing, while the Queen's perfectly windblown hair stays flawless, even though the sex is so passionate that she has to claw her nails into his back. I find it interesting that this scene contains nudity (only female, however), and the positions are that of rough sex (as opposed to sweet sex), but the scene still comes off incredibly classy. The dynamic of their relationship is so rich and involved within this movie, its no wonder there is insane heat between the sheets.

In Troy, the sex scene with Orlando Bloom is intercut with other scenes, taking away an element of passion and privacy, and is done in color (however, lit by candlelight...how realistic). The woman is the aggressor in this scene, as opposed to Queen Gorgo's submissive nature. This is definatley a scene of "sweet" sex, cementing this notion with Orlando's line "Till the day they burn my body, I will love you" (How, umm, romantic...)
In Brad Pitt's scene, the woman appears to be the aggressor (by, well, attempting to kill him), but Brad turns the option of a violent death into a sexual invitation and makes the act more about him. We will see that this theme of violence mixed with sex comes up alot in Drama and Action films (as well as all great tragedies).

So, which sex scene is the most "tasteful"? What are the key elements in dividing scenes from sexy acceptable to slutty inept? Is it the element of passion and love what seperates a great sex scene from basic porn? Directors have many different techniques to make a sex scene just right. This is how most actors feel when they are given bad (or not enough) direction. Directors must work hard to have the right tone, show just enough (but what's too much?) and attempt their best shot at sexy yet tasteful. Are these movies successful?

Sex Scenes...without SEX?

Have you ever watched a sex scene where the couple doesn’t touch? Although I do not recommend this movie, I find the main “sex scene” in 40 Days and 40 Nights very interesting. This movie is entirely about sex (or the act of trying NOT to have it), yet the three main sex scenes are so varied and unusual, it makes this movie very intriguing. The main character, Matt Sullivan (Josh Hartnett) vowed to give up sex for Lent (giving off Christian values, yet in a very un-Christian setting and without the normal “rules” of Lent) and ends of meeting Erica (Shannyn Sossamon) at a laundry mat, and of course, falls in love.

This first sex scene is of Matt getting it on with a girl while he envisions the ceiling collapsing around him because of his unresolved issues of an ex-girlfriend (and the reason for his sex-strike). We are apparently supposed to feel bad for the poor stud that can have sex with whoever he wants, whenever he wants, because it’s simply tearing him up inside.

The second sex scene I find interesting (SPOILER ALERT) is at the end of the movie when his ex-girlfriend tries to rig the office-pool going on and ties Matt to the bed to rape him. It is interesting that in this rape scene Matt is forced into nonconsensual sex, but the depiction involves no negative consequences for the rapist, and makes the victim appear to be at fault. She wins the money and leaves him there for Erica to find. Nice girl, eh?

The last scene I want to explore is the most interesting (watch scene here), and possibly the only one in the movie with actual human emotion (and somewhat decent acting). Since Matt has sworn off any sexual contact (including kissing), him and Erica use a flower to express the way they feel about each other. Clothes come off, which you think would make it harder for Matt NOT to sleep with her, but instead of focusing on his needs, he focuses on hers (a nice change from most movies). Petals fall, and the sensation of Matt blowing the petals across her, apparently makes her orgasm (yea, not very believable, but makes for a highly sexual scene without sex).

This is a very interesting notion in mainstream media, because this is one of the very few sex scenes that contains no kissing, no touching, (and no awkward/fake grinding) yet appears very sensual. Can we even call this a “sex” scene if there is no actual sex taking place? What then, are the elements needed to create a sex scene, and where did those notions come from? …Any thoughts?

Searching for that "deeper" connection...

Okay, this post may seem a little random, but stay with me. I want to discuss something that I find interesting within sex scenes; the importance of kissing, and the significance of saying “I love you”. Three sex scenes come to mind:

The one we already know is Kevin and Vicky in that famous teen-sex comedy, American Pie, where Vicky doesn’t want to have sex with her high school boyfriend until he tells her he loves her. Holy Cliché, Batman! This one is straightforward and makes for that crazy-awkward sex scene.

Moving on to a classic, prostitute Julia Roberts can’t kiss "client" Richard Gere in Pretty Woman, because kissing is totally inappropriate, even though she is sleeping with him. This is a common rule amoung prostitutes (so I hear), because the act of kissing is known to be more, well…“intimate”. I wonder if the idea of kissing, or the importance of “the first kiss” had anything to do with the build-up of the climactic kiss at the end of every great movie. Think about it, it’s just another body part touching someone else’s, where as sex is…well…deeper. Why is kissing so out of the question when you are spending the night naked and engaging in sexual activity with someone…shouldn’t THAT be more personal?

This brings us to the most interesting of the three, psycho Swimfan Erika Christensen and hot Jesse Nicholas getting busy in the pool, before she goes all Fatal Attraction on him. Here's a short clip of that scene, and the trailer.

So, he has a girlfriend, and he’s cheating on his girlfriend with a blonde he barely knows who ends up being obsessed with him. For anyone who has seen this movie, you can just see him saying, “It seemed like a good idea at the time…”

So, they’re having sweaty sex in the school pool when Erika tells Jesse that she wants to have him say that he loves her. “Ben…tell me that you love me. You don’t have to mean it, just say it…” Okay, if this didn’t set off some kind of WARNING alarms for him, I don’t know what would. Then she uses that against him later, to his response “You told me to!”

What is the obsession with hearing that someone loves you during sex (or during a sex scene)? I would have thought that our society had separated the two so much that it wouldn’t even be an issue anymore, yet many other movies contain scenes where the woman just wants to hear that she is loved (before she gives it up). The link between kissing and love in sex scenes is fascinating, and brings up questions of emotional attachment in a society where “casual sex” is a phrase thrown around an awful lot…Thoughts?

"This one time, at Band Camp..."

Since teen-sex comedies are the topic of choice this week, I thought I would focus on the first American Pie. The movie that ruined apple pies for me forever, coined the term MILF, and compares on an infamous level with Porky’s shower scene (with peeping-tom teenage boys spying on a girls’ locker room), this film makes you cringe with jaw-dropping embarrassing moments (most of which could have been avoided by simply locking a door).

The last scenes of the movie contained four separate and very interesting sex scenes in it’s climax, of the four main guys trying desperately to lose their virginity at the Armageddon of high-school sex opportunities, prom.

The first couple that I find the most interesting is Vicky and Kevin. Vicky, a “normal” teenage girl with romantic notions of the perfect time and place to have sex for the first time, is told by her sexually advanced friend that sex isn’t a rocket launch, and she should just do it already.

She wants to hear Kevin tell her he loves her, and convincers herself by the counter argument that she would probably just go to college and do it with some random guy in a dorm room. Kevin doesn’t know if he loves her, and tells his friends five minutes before prom party that he’s scared. Yet, they end up going through with it. It is awkward to watch because… it’s just plain awkward. I mean, starting sex off with “how should we do it?” isn’t exactly hot. Kevin tells her what she wants to hear (those three little words) and after an uncomfortable and clumsy passion-less night, they BREAK UP IN THE MORNING. Like they couldn’t have realized that they wouldn’t work after high school BEFORE they had sex. Their happy-break-up-present was a terrible first time...congratulations. Geez, even Finch and Stifler’s mom had more exciting sex (which made pool tables even hotter)

Next, Heather (choir girl) turned Oz (rugby jock) into Mr. Sensitive, only to fall in love and spend the night in an actual beautiful “perfect” setting, because they didn’t try so hard to make it “perfect”. And, after his terrible anti-Casa Nova line, “Suck Me, Beautiful” I never would have thought he could just spend a night with a girl.



This brings us to Jim. After he raped a pastry and came too times too soon with Nadia, he ends up at prom with Michelle, ultimate band geek who turns out to get freaky with him in a children’s bedroom (how ironic). Instead of Vicky’s “tell me you love me,” Michelle just wants Jim to say her name, Bitch!

Through sex scenes, this film actually teaches teenagers a few important lessons in sex. First off, the film very explicitly promotes the use of condoms. Also, “perfect moments” don’t exist when they try to be planned. On top of that, a passion-filled night can happen with someone you don’t expect, and falling in love is possible without sex. All in all, the movie’s raunchy nature gives teens what they want by making them feel like their doing something wrong. What more could you want in a teen-sex comedy?

Teen Sex Comedies

Okay, now that we have the historical stuff out of the way, we can dive into a genre of film that we are all familiar with…the ever –famous teen sex comedies. "Usually structured around a crude story about a group of high school or college students who want sex, and featuring plenty of nude or near-nude female bodies but no close-ups of genitals, sex comedies are like the nonalcoholic beer of porn.” There is nothing like half-naked teenagers seeing who can get drunk, get high or get laid more than their friends.


From Animal House (1978) and The Last American Virgin (1982) to Road Trip (2000), Mean Girls (2004) and The American Pie (1999-03) holy trinity of teen sex comedies, teen viewers flock to this genre like strippers to a pole because it’s an acceptable way to surrender to visually stimulating hormonal urges. American pop culture has bred sex-seeking generations, and by adding comedy into the mix, these films give teenagers (and adults) the stimulation and sexual gratification they crave, without crossing the line into full-blown porn. “And it’s hard to appeal to the groin and the funny bone at the same time; the movies are, with a few exceptions, witless.” These films are popular because of their sexual content, not their great acting, tender moments, or clever plotlines (because there aren’t any).
My next post will dive into some of the most popular sex scenes within these comedies, and reveal what makes these scenes so dynamic, entertaining, and unforgettable.