“Underwear Two”
“Daddy, is that Shrek One or Shrek Two?”
“That’s Shrek Three. We already have that at home. Do you wanna watch that instead of renting a movie?”
“Daddy, there’s Spiderman Three! Or is that two?”"Yep you’re right. That’s Spiderman Three. But that’s too scary for you to watch. You wouldn’t like it. Let’s find something that you would like.”
“Daddy, is that movie called Underwear Two, or Three?”
Most likely that will be the last time I bring my two year old, or my five year old into Blockbuster Video. I had noticed it before, but it never jumped out at me quite like it did that day. There are some unbelievably risqué covers two feet from the ground within that store. This particular one showed an early twenties girl in her underwear and several guys gawking at her. Just what I want my two year old to grow up seeing and asking me about.
As I walked around more, not only did I realize the amount of female flesh I was now uncomfortably noticing, but I also realized all the demons, dragons, monsters and blood littering the covers of crappy movies no one should even entertain the thought paying actual money for. I realized that these little eyes I was leading around were actually observing this garbage, and not only that, but he thinks it’s real. He thinks Veggie Tales is real. Why wouldn’t he think the bloody woman with no shirt on and a noose around her neck isn’t real?
I’m not sure Blockbuster thinks through the placement of their video boxes other than alphabetical, but you’d think the logic of putting the horror section right next to the children’s section would dawn on someone. You’d think, but I guess not.
two words…NETFLIX… I realize it’s actually one word with 2 syllables but it sounds more powerful when you start the sentence with ‘two words!’
Good call. After walking through the video store, I sometimes feel dirty. There’s a lot of trash out there for us to watch. Sadly, there are people paying to watch it.
Yeah, we had to stop bringing the kids in a while back due to that. The horror section is now continually scattered throughout the entire store along with very scantally clad women. It’s a shame!
Jamiey
My oldest daughter to me during a recent CSI episode…”Cover your eyes Dad!”…sadly I oblivious till she said something…it’s prime-time in our living rooms as well.
I’m a movie-lover – I am usually the one in a group that knows all about what is coming out, what they’re about, and if they would be good to see. I also cannot remember the last time we rented a movie. (Upon further reflection, it was last August. I rented Hot Fuzz to watch on the airplane while flying to Scotland.)
Somehow, I don’t feel cheated for not seeing the movies. Or the soft-porn cover art.
i’ve made this same comment to my wife numerous times…which is why we don’t go there anymore.
good call!
i use blockbuster online.
It’s disturbing though, all the violence towards women in horror films.
ours is actually pretty well arranged. the store used to be three stores in a strip mall, so what was formerly one of the stores is now a room seperated by a half wall…. that has all the kids movies on one half, and the video games on the other.
we do the online thing for the movies i want to see, then exchange them for the kids ones, so thats usually the only section we hit in person.
now if they would be more family friendly in their candy display location… lol
I’m totally with you… I drive my wife crazy when we go to the movie store…
What makes me sick to my stomach is that teenagers generally pride themselves on staying up-to-date on culture, which usually means staying up on all the newest movies…
And I walk through there and almost want to cry at the thought that the average teenager has watched most of that crap…
And then the Lord reminds me that those are the people I see every day, and that life isn’t a joke or a game.
I’ve written this blog post in my head about a dozen times before, so thanks for beating to the punch!