In a not entirely surprising move, the upcoming release of the film version of EL James’ phenomenally successful Fifty Shades Of Grey has become the subject of some controversy.
On this occasion, it has come from focus groups who have asked film-goers to boycott the release of the film and donate money they would have spent on a ticket to domestic violence shelters.
I must admit that I’ve never read the book although it is more than likely I will see the film at some point, as I am far more of a film nerd than a book nerd. The controversy surrounding it does not surprise me but one wonders why such a campaign is being orchestrated now rather than earlier during the book’s initial run.
If reports and reviews are to be believed, the film version is apparently a relatively faithful version of the source book and therefore should have been similarly targeted. It’s a noble cause, no doubt about that, but one that could have done with being highlighted over a longer period of time.
On the flipside, however, should the film be every bit as terrible as is being reported in a number of quarters, just as much as the original book apparently is, maybe it should just be left alone to the critical panning that everyone expects.
But with at least one huge name BDSM porn company apparently softening its approach as a direct result of the success of James’ book and attempting to grab some of those Fifty Shades dollars, the predicted huge box office hit could further alter the BDSM porn landscape. Time will tell.
