ABSTRACT
Virtually everyone perceives the powerful changes taking place in movies. Most realize the increasing levels of violence and sex in films. Realistic depictions of contemporary sexual mores are becoming scarce while bleak, dystopian narratives of contemporary life proliferate. Today’s postmodern thrillers express angst, pessimism, anger, violence, and chaos. Movie censorship, currently rendered through the MPAA, shoulders much of the blame for increasing movie violence. Today’s dystopian features include The Road to Perdition, Rambo, the Saw series, Independence Day, Hostel, Hannibal, Gladiator, and The 300, many of which are fine films, yet each reflects deep social conflict centered around the current Production Code.
