Fifty Shades of Grey

Disclaimer: For mature audiences. Those uncomfortable with sexual content should not read.

British author, E. L. James really pushed the envelope with his Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy; an erotic novel that includes elements of sexual practices involving bondage/discipline, dominance/submission, sadism/masochism, as explained by Wikipedia.

What woman doesn't enjoy a filthy, romance novel? I can honestly say that I'm probably one of the few women who wasn't under the trance that was cast by this explicit piece of work. I will, however, say that from what I've read of the first installment, it is a well written book. My opinion aside, nearly every woman from 16 to 60 has raved about Fifty Shades of Grey. And when it was announced that the international best-seller would be making its debut on the big screen, those same women nearly lost their panties in all of the excitement.

But can Fifty Shades of Grey make the transition from a novel to a movie? I'm not so sure. And this is why. 

There is a certain air of privacy that comes with reading a book. In most cases, you have this experience alone. And in my opinion, that is why Fifty Shades of Grey has done so well. Women can indulge in this taboo novel in complete privacy, without having to share the experience, that might otherwise be embarrassing or uncomfortable if it was to be experienced in a group. Will fans want to further indulge in the Fifty Shades experience by sitting in a crowded movie theater and watching the novel play out on a big screen? That's Debatable.

Let's say, for arguments sake, that not one single fan is embarrassed of witnessing soft porn while among a large group of women. Onto my next point. Even if Fifty Shades fans are completely and utterly comfortable watching the novel as a movie, what sort of rating will the movie produce? In my opinion, a novel like Fifty Shades of Grey should rate X as opposed to R, for the simple fact that there is an abundance of graphic sexual content throughout the book. That of course is if, and only if, the movie follows the novel. Otherwise, a PG 13 rating would most likely be appropriate, depending on how much content they gloss over.

In the event that the movie follows the novel, the audience that is permitted to see an R rated film is somewhat reduced, therefore causing potential profit decline. And the potential for profit decline is far more likely is the film is rated X or above. But in order to ensure a PG 13 rating, producers would have to cut and/or fluff a great deal of the more graphic content featured in the novel. Content that women have been lusting after since the first Fifty Shades novel was published.

So which direction do you go? Keep all the juicy details and lose a portion of your viewing audience because of the rating, or skimp on the graphic scenes and risk disappointment from loyal fans? All in all, I believe that Fifty Shades of Grey is risking its popularity and praise by attempting a transition to the big screen. But hey, there is reward in risk sometimes, right? Maybe it will pay off in the end. After all, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo made the transition beautifully. I believe it's all in the execution.

Have you read Fifty Shades of Grey? Are you excited for the movie?