MovieChat Forums > Stand Up Guys (2013) Discussion > rape is no big deal, right?

rape is no big deal, right?

posted 12 years ago by kghispredi
94 replies | jump to latest

They encounter a young woman who was
1. kidnapped
2. beaten up
3. gang-raped
4. left naked and gagged for hours in a car trunk

After the release she doesn't go to the hospital (it's physically impossible she wouldn't be in the state of shock) or her family or police, she goes to munch on some burgers with a group of strangers, car thieves. All that with a "annoyed but up for revenge" act that would be better suited if a classmate stole her boyfriend or slashed her tires.

I'm not the one to argue for sensitivity, feminism, whatever, but this is not only stupid and unconvincing, it's insulting to rape victims and sending a message that rape is no big deal. Just get something to eat and you'll be fine.

[–] MovieLoverXX 11 years ago

Honestly, is that a serious question? When did they ban humor? When did the land of the free speech turned into land full of wannabe-offendeds.

Look at the events lately...

Couple of weeks ago a women called Adria Richard created a big mess in the tech community out of a stupid dongle joke. Obama was criticized left and right just because he said a woman was beautiful! You think this movie insults rape victims because it shows a gang-raped girl walking within hours.

If you want to know the fact, while rape is heinous crime that would leave a devastating psychological and physical damage on the victim, not many of the rape victims would stay crippled in hospital for days. Well that is in the real life.

On the other hand, this is a movie full of exaggerations. Did you belief on that treatment for the overdose of performance enhancement tablets too?

If you really want to take a message about rape from this movie, it is here..
1. Rape is a crime so serious that, even if you got only hours more to live it is still worth to spend a big part of those hours to help the victim in the revenge.

2. Rapists deserved to be punished by their nuts cracked and genitals mutilated.

Isn't this message strong enough for you?

[–] Brokenail22 11 years ago

I foudn that strange too.

They went "half-dark" on this, just implying the rape. They should have found another way to make them be "white knights".

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www.abner-dee.com

[–] 11 years ago

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[–] Indifferent_Observer 11 years ago

When did they ban humor? When did the land of the free speech turned into land full of wannabe-offendeds.

I think this happened around 2004, but possibly earlier..

People who ignore history are doomed to repeat it.

[–] emncaity 10 years ago

Oh, waah. It's still the "land of free speech," unless somebody from the government has come to toss you in jail for saying what you wanted to say.

[–] wintermute115 11 years ago

sexual impulse is as strong in men as hormones and hot flushes are in women. It's an uncontrollable urge.

That's like saying that men's impulse to commit violence is uncontrollable, and therefore murder is just one of those things that happens.

Any yet, despite being an adult male, I have never raped or killed anyone. Never even been tempted. I guess I'm some kind of inhuman freak, right?

[–] 11 years ago

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[–] wintermute115 11 years ago

No, they're both equally easy to control, for normal, non-psychopathic people.

If you have found yourself unable to prevent yourself from raping people, I strongly suggest you speak to a psychiatrist and the police (in that order).

[–] kabosse 11 years ago

^This.

___________________________________________
I want the Daily Poll back on the imdb homepage.

[–] jacowium 11 years ago

Dude, should you ever get falsely accused of rape, then these posts of yours are not going to be helpful in your defence. I hope, for your sake, it will never come to this. However, if you really believe that man's urge to rape is not controllable, then perhaps, do not delete your comments - the prosecution will be delighted.

Please click on "reply" at the post you're responding to. Thanks.

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[–] OMERZEN 11 years ago

and half of the movie is "eating at the restaurant"
and all personnel are on watch..on duty till morning.

no wonder raping isn't a big deal!

[–] 11 years ago

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[–] RDionysus 11 years ago

Of course it wasn't realistic; very few things in the movie were realistic:

-the fact that Pacino served 28 years for robbery (many murderers serve less time)
-the fact that 'Claphands' didn't have Pacino whacked in prison at some point (the movie explains it away by saying that he relished him serving the full term, but c'mon, a lot can happen in 28 years: Margolis could have died, Walken could have died, even Pacino could have died-- all of which would have deprived Claphands of his revenge)
-one second Arkin is sucking oxygen, then a half hour after they "spring" him from the old-age home he's stunt-driving and engaged in a high speed chase with the police
There are a lot more examples, but you get the idea.

Regarding the rape, first, it's only implied-- exactly what they did to her is not described at all. Second, its only purpose is as a plot setup for the guys to go and tangle with some bad guys, and to avenge the "damsel in distress" (and also to let her exact her own revenge). In this respect (and in the context of the movie) it's not "no big deal"; instead it's treated as an affront to their collective sensibility, and worthy enough to rouse them into their first act of violence since getting back together.

So no, it's not realistic, but neither is it something which is made entirely light of.

[–] nfaust1 11 years ago

No, it's just stupid and unconvincing. and not an insult to victims. An insult the the writers, perhaps. Nor do I think it's "sending a message," which is a term I hate when applied to a film. I agree that rape is a serious crime and those who have been victims of it should be allowed the time and space to deal with the rapists and heal. But this is a movie. It's uses the gang rape in a way that does not particularly fit reality, just as most movies (even some good ones) underplay or glamorize all forms of violence.

[–] chicago85 11 years ago

Wouldn't have waited 28 years for revenge. I invite you to go to wikipedia and look up Roger Touhy. He was one of the last Irish American mobsters in Chicago who refused to roll over for the Italian mafia.

In 1933 he was sent to prison on a trumped up kidnapping of "Jake the Barber." It was a complete farce as everyone knew there was no kidnapping. He was in prison, sentenced to 199 years, until 1959 on this trumped up charge.

After finally winning his release he was killed 22 days later entering his sister's Chicago home. Two Mafia hit men shot him and a Police detective acting as his bodyguard. The detective who showed them his badge was shot 3 times with a shotgun and Touhy twice. He told a reporter before he bled to death "I've been expecting it. The bastards never forget."

[–] ulysses1904 11 years ago

"...sending a message that rape is no big deal"? I never understood people who use that expression about TV and Hollywood sending messages. Is anyone on the planet so impressionable and lacking in moral values that the scene in question in this movie would have any effect on their behavior? Modern entertainment is the equivalent of a frat-boy farting contest, nothing more. Don't go looking for "messages" or life lessons in any of that crap, that's what indie films are for. ;-)

[–] gerob-387-187089 11 years ago

Look, I suspended my disbelief while watching this movie cause it was so obviously a (male) fantasy (seventy-something dude who needs an oxygen machine blowing two young women's minds? Sure). I thought some parts were really funny. But yeah, the rape thing was weird and unnecessary. I don't like when rape (which happens mostly to women) is used to make us like the male characters more. That was the point of that scene - you get to enjoy a bang bang torture scene because it's all in defense of a woman's honor! It isn't humorless to not enjoy crappy filmmaking shortcuts. And you aren't an anti-PC badass for defending Hollywood's "right" to treat rape in a clumsy way.

And hookers are women. Even if they've been raped before, rape is always going to be traumatic. After being gang raped, she probably would've needed to be hospitalized because her insides would have been torn up.

Every woman in that movie was there for T&A except the "good woman" nurse and the sweet granddaughter (although we got plenty of tit shots of her too). Sylvia was first shown trussed up and naked, which was done for male viewers to find titillating. Pretty gross considering what has just happened to that character. Do even rape victims need to be presented as *beep* to the audience?

When dudes in this very comment section are saying rape is a natural urge or implying that most prostitutes do sex work because it's something they really wanted to do, well, yeah, I worry about the mass media our population consumes.

[–] mochuck 11 years ago

After being gang raped, she probably would've needed to be hospitalized because her insides would have been torn up.

You don't know much about the female reproductive system do you? Having a baby is harder than being gang raped and that doesn't tear your insides out (well sometimes but not usually).

Ignorance never settles a question
Benjamin Disraeli

[–] gerob-387-187089 11 years ago

You know that female medical student who was gang-raped in India? She died from her injuries.

This is why we need to realize that sex and rape are two completely different things. Sex with several men would be fine - because you're willing and your body is thus prepared for it.

Gang rape is an act of violence. That character had been beaten up, tied up. Have you ever had sex where the girl needed to switch positions because it was hurting her? That doesn't happen with rape. The rapist does whatever they want to the victim. That's the point. The point is to cause pain, to control the other person. One way they prove rape happens is by looking at vaginal scarring. Gang rape can require hospitalization.

And childbirth is not harder than gang rape because gang rape is a horrific act of violence that has profound physical and mental effects on the victim, while childbirth is a natural act. Yes, childbirth has its negatives, but they are *different.* And MOST women tear during childbirth. That's why you usually can't have sex for six weeks after giving birth since everything has to heal.

Oh,and here's something I bet you didn't know about the female reproductive system: the clitoris is actually several centimeters wide, and most of it is under the skin, down the labia majora. It's waaay bigger than the little nub. Spread the word!

[–] mochuck 11 years ago

Yeah she didn't die from the rape though. She was beaten to death. I am a woman and a Registered Nurse and midwife and I have given birth. Most women don't tear during childbirth. You have no idea of what you're talking about.
Yes rape is traumatic, physically and emotionally but in most cases it does NOT require hospitalisation from the rape alone. There is usually other violence involved to allow the gang rape to occur. There may be some vaginal contusions from forced penetration but it doesn't rip a woman's insides out as you state.
Oh and thanks for the tip about the clitoris but I actually have one and it is nowhere near several centimetres wide. Its not even a centimetre wide. I'm not sure where you got your sex education and anatomy lessons from but its not from a reliable source.

Ignorance never settles a question
Benjamin Disraeli

[–] hark_matriarch 11 years ago

I am in total agreement with you.

Please read my review of this movie also.

[–] monstermayhem32 11 years ago

I was glad that Sylvia got her revenge against her attackers.

[–] sadeceuyeyim 10 years ago

I hope one day my son (and of course i hope my children) would say something as much as you said the things about your father. Salute to you

[–] hark_matriarch 10 years ago

Hi, thanks, like in 'Elizabeth' scene, with Cate Blanchete .
"I am my Father's Daughter." ;) Cheers my friend

[–] emncaity 11 years ago

Yeah, apparently not. I thought exactly the same thing through that whole part of the movie.