Elton John slams Russian cuts to 'Rocketman' gay scenes

[rooster59]

Elton John slams Russian cuts to 'Rocketman' gay scenes

 

FILE PHOTO: Elton John and his husband David Furnish attend the UK premiere of the Elton John biopic 'Rocketman' in London, Britain, May 20, 2019. REUTERS/Simon Dawson/File Photo

 

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Elton John on Friday criticized Russia's reported censorship of gay sex scenes in the new movie musical based on his life, "Rocketman," calling the decision "cruelly unaccepting of the love between two people."

 

John and the makers of "Rocketman," which depicts the warts-and-all rise to fame of the gay British musician, issued a statement after Russian media reported that scenes involving gay sex and drug taking had been cut from a screening in Russia.

 

"We reject in the strongest possible terms the decision to pander to local laws and censor 'Rocketman' for the Russian market," John and the filmmakers said.

 

"That the local distributor has edited out certain scenes, denying the audience the opportunity to see the film as it was intended, is a sad reflection of the divided world we still live in and how it can still be so cruelly unaccepting of the love between two people," their statement added.

 

The English-language Moscow Times on Friday quoted a Russian film critic who had seen the film at its May 16 world premiere in Cannes as saying that several scenes, totalling about 5 minutes, had disappeared from the Russian version.

 

They include a male sex scene featuring actor Taron Egerton, who plays John, and a photograph during the closing credits in which the "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" singer is pictured with his real-life husband David Furnish, who was a producer on the film, film critic Yegor Moskvitin was quoted as saying.

 

The movie, which has won warm reviews, began its worldwide rollout earlier this week.

 

John, 72, a prominent gay rights campaigner, has previously spoken out against a 2013 law banning the dissemination of "gay propaganda" among young Russians.

 

In 2015, Russian President Vladimir Putin said he would be willing to meet with John. Although the singer played a concert in Moscow in May 2016, no meeting with Putin took place.

 

(Reporting by Jill Serjeant in Los Angeles; Editing by Matthew Lewis)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-06-01

Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking Thailand news and visa info

[smedly]

He's complaining about Russia 

 

what about Rotherham and other enclaves in the UK and across Europe

 

Are the police upholding UK law evenly across the country

 

Have any young girls or boys been set on fire for speaking out about abuse or being gay

 

as clerics keep preaching - western values are destroying Islam - quoted from a young Muslim girl on the BBC after the Manchester bombing

[Baerboxer]

7 hours ago, smedly said:

He's complaining about Russia 

 

what about Rotherham and other enclaves in the UK and across Europe

 

Are the police upholding UK law evenly across the country

 

Have any young girls or boys been set on fire for speaking out about abuse or being gay

 

as clerics keep preaching - western values are destroying Islam - quoted from a young Muslim girl on the BBC after the Manchester bombing

 

A school in Birmingham is being targeted for teaching it's pupils about homosexual relationships, transexuals etc. A court has now issued an injunction to prevent them protesting in the streets around the school, which the police have said they will enforce with arrests if necessary.

 

The man leading the protests does not have any children at that school. But he has vowed to continue protesting and lead the "fight". He is a Muslim activist who stirs up other Muslim parents and demands only things acceptable to Islam can be taught.

 

By 2022 all primary schools in the UK will be required to teach pupils about homosexual relationships, transexuals, etc etc. as part of their social education. It will be interesting to see how Muslim agitators respond to this and the reaction of LEA's and school heads. In the past LEA's and many school heads have been over backwards to accommodate Muslim demands - such as Halal meat, no pork products, clothing requirements, and of course the ignoring Christmas that some did. Now they are on a collision course.

 

 

[spidermike007]

Putin and Russian society are cowardly and fearful. Doing this just outs them as weak and rather out of touch with reality. Let's pretend alternative lifestyles do not exist. 

 

Just more fake puritanism from guys who would not know pure if it bit them on the butt 

 

Russia is so weak. 

[timendres]

Like many performers, and athletes, etc., love their work, could not care one wit about their personal lives. Elton should simply be happy his film is shown at all.

[smedly]

2 hours ago, Baerboxer said:

 

A school in Birmingham is being targeted for teaching it's pupils about homosexual relationships, transexuals etc. A court has now issued an injunction to prevent them protesting in the streets around the school, which the police have said they will enforce with arrests if necessary.

 

The man leading the protests does not have any children at that school. But he has vowed to continue protesting and lead the "fight". He is a Muslim activist who stirs up other Muslim parents and demands only things acceptable to Islam can be taught.

 

By 2022 all primary schools in the UK will be required to teach pupils about homosexual relationships, transexuals, etc etc. as part of their social education. It will be interesting to see how Muslim agitators respond to this and the reaction of LEA's and school heads. In the past LEA's and many school heads have been over backwards to accommodate Muslim demands - such as Halal meat, no pork products, clothing requirements, and of course the ignoring Christmas that some did. Now they are on a collision course.

 

 

yes I've been following that on the BBC

 

I can see muslims doing their usual stunt and moving to a region in the UK and demanding some sort of independence - that is what they do because they cannot integrate in countries were laws are outside the scope of islam - the question I have to ask is - why did they want to live in the UK were we do not follow sharia law, it is not compatible with their beliefs and unless they are willing to comply then they need to go somewhere else - perhaps Russia 

Edited June 2, 2019 by smedly

[Pilotman]

Like his music, but like all 'artists' he is too self absorbed for my taste. Why these people think everyone is interested in their over the top and often sordid little lives and back stories defeats me.  I wouldn't go to see this movie. And I won't get started why he, and that Jagger creature, should end up with Knighthoods, what a joke. 

Edited June 2, 2019 by Pilotman

[jinners]

3 hours ago, Baerboxer said:

 

A school in Birmingham is being targeted for teaching it's pupils about homosexual relationships, transexuals etc. A court has now issued an injunction to prevent them protesting in the streets around the school, which the police have said they will enforce with arrests if necessary.

 

The man leading the protests does not have any children at that school. But he has vowed to continue protesting and lead the "fight". He is a Muslim activist who stirs up other Muslim parents and demands only things acceptable to Islam can be taught.

 

By 2022 all primary schools in the UK will be required to teach pupils about homosexual relationships, transexuals, etc etc. as part of their social education. It will be interesting to see how Muslim agitators respond to this and the reaction of LEA's and school heads. In the past LEA's and many school heads have been over backwards to accommodate Muslim demands - such as Halal meat, no pork products, clothing requirements, and of course the ignoring Christmas that some did. Now they are on a collision course.

 

 

It may mean that a few will leave. Every cloud and all that...

[geoffbezoz]

50 minutes ago, Pilotman said:

Like his music, but like all 'artists' he is too self absorbed for my taste. Why these people think everyone is interested in their over the top and often sordid little lives and back stories defeats me.  I wouldn't go to see this movie. And I won't get started why he, and that Jagger creature, should end up with Knighthoods, what a joke. 

If they didn't or don't have their own private companies registered for tax purposes in the UK and hence liable for all taxes on their world wide earnings  to HMRC then why should they have a UK recognition award ? Yes it may be for services to the music industry world wide but a total disservice to the welfare state of the UK to whom they are depriving of their taxes. Unfortunately knighthoods awarded these days are not awarded on moral grounds.

[Bundooman]

Russia makes cuts to "Rocketman" gay scenes...…..

 

and 'pouff' - they were gone!

[NoshowJones]

3 hours ago, Pilotman said:

Like his music, but like all 'artists' he is too self absorbed for my taste. Why these people think everyone is interested in their over the top and often sordid little lives and back stories defeats me.  I wouldn't go to see this movie. And I won't get started why he, and that Jagger creature, should end up with Knighthoods, what a joke. 

Sir Peltin Elton. 

[bender92]

No one wants to see gay seX scenes. It's about his music.

[Jingthing]

No one wants to see gay seX scenes. It's about his music.

Wrong. The movie is about his life. Music and everything else. You're confusing it with a concert movie.

 

MOVIES

 

Rocketman Doesn’t Break Ground, but It Does Kick Up Dust in Sparkly Heels

 

The Elton John movie fuses the music biopic with the jukebox musical.

 

 

 

 

 

https://slate.com/culture/2019/05/rocketman-movie-review-elton-john-biopic-gay-representation.html

 

Sent from my Lenovo A7020a48 using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

 

 

 

[Jingthing]

Russia makes cuts to "Rocketman" gay scenes...…..
 
and 'pouff' - they were gone!

Sophomoric would be too generous.

Sent from my Lenovo A7020a48 using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[Jingthing]

Like his music, but like all 'artists' he is too self absorbed for my taste. Why these people think everyone is interested in their over the top and often sordid little lives and back stories defeats me.  I wouldn't go to see this movie. And I won't get started why he, and that Jagger creature, should end up with Knighthoods, what a joke. 

It's going to be big at the box office. Yes people are interested.

Sent from my Lenovo A7020a48 using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[daveAustin]

4 hours ago, Pilotman said:

Like his music, but like all 'artists' he is too self absorbed for my taste. Why these people think everyone is interested in their over the top and often sordid little lives and back stories defeats me.  I wouldn't go to see this movie. And I won't get started why he, and that Jagger creature, should end up with Knighthoods, what a joke. 

Look to the day when the anachronistic honours list is abolished, along with the outdated peerage.

 

Up to Russia. Do what you want, but how come we've reached the stage where this is required watching and if one questions it, they are considered homophobic, bigoted etc etc.

[Jingthing]

Look to the day when the anachronistic honours list is abolished, along with the outdated peerage.
 
Up to Russia. Do what you want, but how come we've reached the stage where this is required watching and if one questions it, they are considered homophobic, bigoted etc etc.

It's not required watching!
You buy a ticket and then you choose to watch.
Russians are getting cheated if they do that.

Sent from my Lenovo A7020a48 using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[joecoolfrog]

14 hours ago, smedly said:

yes I've been following that on the BBC

 

I can see muslims doing their usual stunt and moving to a region in the UK and demanding some sort of independence - that is what they do because they cannot integrate in countries were laws are outside the scope of islam - the question I have to ask is - why did they want to live in the UK were we do not follow sharia law, it is not compatible with their beliefs and unless they are willing to comply then they need to go somewhere else - perhaps Russia 

Obviously you are an expert so please enlighten us to exactly what Sharia law is ( including its different components ) and to which degree each of these is implemented in various muslim majority countries.

[canuckamuck]

The Queen movie was good because they minimized the sex and made it more about an artist's mind. Rocketman could have that potential, but because it is following (cashing in on) one of last year's best movies it will be hurt by the comparison. I don't know if Elton's talent is a match for Mercury's genius and talent. But I like both of their music portfolios.

[smedly]

1 hour ago, joecoolfrog said:

Obviously you are an expert so please enlighten us to exactly what Sharia law is ( including its different components ) and to which degree each of these is implemented in various muslim majority countries.

go look it up - start with all countries in the ME ????

[amykat]

Ive never heard men complaining when two women are having sex or getting sexual together in a movie.  Seems you enjoy that homosexual activity???  But act like your eyes got raped if you view two men kissing or rolling around in a bed ...???  Get over it ...put on your big boy panties men!!!

[Kadilo]

17 hours ago, Bundooman said:

Russia makes cuts to "Rocketman" gay scenes...…..

 

and 'pouff' - they were gone!

Hilarious

[Pilotman]

1 hour ago, amykat said:

Ive never heard men complaining when two women are having sex or getting sexual together in a movie.  Seems you enjoy that homosexual activity???  But act like your eyes got raped if you view two men kissing or rolling around in a bed ...???  Get over it ...put on your big boy panties men!!!

It's not about the sex scenes per see, not to me anyway.  It's that if the movie, and therefore his life, is defined by having to portray gay sex, then he devalues his music and belittles all that he has achieved in his life. I love sex, its very important to me, but it doesn't and never could define me.   

[freebyrd]

I haven't seen the movie and won't, did it include him marrying Renate Blauel in 1986? I have known a few Gay men, decent people, but they didn't try and scam others that they were straight. As Pilotman said earlier, EJ is self absorbed.

Edited June 3, 2019 by freebyrd

[Jingthing]

2 hours ago, Pilotman said:

It's not about the sex scenes per see, not to me anyway.  It's that if the movie, and therefore his life, is defined by having to portray gay sex, then he devalues his music and belittles all that he has achieved in his life. I love sex, its very important to me, but it doesn't and never could define me.   

That's absurd! If a biopic of a straight guy showed a straight sex scene, would that mean the film is defining that man by straight sex!?! You reveal an extreme bias -- that there is something wrong with being gay, that there is something wrong with gay sex. You can have that bias but it needs to be recognized for what it is -- an indefensible DOUBLE STANDARD.

Edited June 3, 2019 by Jingthing

[Jingthing]

5 hours ago, canuckamuck said:

The Queen movie was good because they minimized the sex and made it more about an artist's mind. Rocketman could have that potential, but because it is following (cashing in on) one of last year's best movies it will be hurt by the comparison. I don't know if Elton's talent is a match for Mercury's genius and talent. But I like both of their music portfolios.

No gay sex please, we're British (or Russian, or whatever). 
What century is this? 

[canuckamuck]

1 hour ago, Jingthing said:

No gay sex please, we're British (or Russian, or whatever). 
What century is this? 

I said minimizing it made the movie better. It was obviously still critical to the plot in Bohemian Rhapsody.

I don't know how much of a factor Elton's sex life is to his life story. But I am hoping the movie focuses on the things that made him a legend.

[Pilotman]

2 hours ago, Jingthing said:

That's absurd! If a biopic of a straight guy showed a straight sex scene, would that mean the film is defining that man by straight sex!?! You reveal an extreme bias -- that there is something wrong with being gay, that there is something wrong with gay sex. You can have that bias but it needs to be recognized for what it is -- an indefensible DOUBLE STANDARD.

Absolute rubbish.  I have read the reviews on the movie.  Apparently it focuses  to a major degree on John's gayness and on explicit gay sex scenes throughout his life.  My point is that he is a musician, why do those scenes define him to such a degree that he gets upset when some countries delete them?  It wasn't needed in the excellent Queen movie, so why is it so essential in his? It would be exactly the same if some world renowned straight musician spent a great deal of time in his bio movie depicting straight sex and then gets upset when the censors get involved. I don't give a toss about his sexuality, I just wonder why he makes such a big deal out of it, in a movie about him as a musician.    

[ThaiBunny]

4 minutes ago, Pilotman said:

Absolute rubbish.  I have read the reviews on the movie.  Apparently it focuses  to a major degree on John's gayness and on explicit gay sex scenes throughout his life.  My point is that he is a musician, why do those scenes define him to such a degree that he gets upset when some countries delete them?  It wasn't needed in the excellent Queen movie, so why is it so essential in his? It would be exactly the same if some world renowned straight musician spent a great deal of time in his bio movie depicting straight sex and then gets upset when the censors get involved. I don't give a toss about his sexuality, I just wonder why he makes such a big deal out of it, in a movie about him as a musician.

I understand he has responded by saying that as he hasn't lived a "PG13 life" the movie is true to his character; you're asserting the movie is about his "musical career" not his "life", others believe that the one is tightly bound to the other

[Jingthing]

9 minutes ago, Pilotman said:

Absolute rubbish.  I have read the reviews on the movie.  Apparently it focuses  to a major degree on John's gayness and on explicit gay sex scenes throughout his life.  My point is that he is a musician, why do those scenes define him to such a degree that he gets upset when some countries delete them?  It wasn't needed in the excellent Queen movie, so why is it so essential in his? It would be exactly the same if some world renowned straight musician spent a great deal of time in his bio movie depicting straight sex and then gets upset when the censors get involved. I don't give a toss about his sexuality, I just wonder why he makes such a big deal out of it, in a movie about him as a musician.    

Maybe watch the movie first which I will do. 

I still think you're expressing a bias and in this case without having even watched the film.

I can say as a young men when Elton "came out" as a "bisexual" of course that's what many gay people did back then, I already loved his music, but living in an oppressive homophobic culture it was a good feeling for me that such a major pop star went even that far. So yes I DO think his sexual identity is an important part of his life story and along with sexual identity, sometime sex is involved. 

 

Of course anti-gay Russian dictator Putin wouldn't want young Russian gay people to feel that it's OK to be gay.

Edited June 3, 2019 by Jingthing