Cleanflix

Although the premise might sound movie-geek esoteric, Cleanflix turns out to be a thought-provoking examination of how Utah entrepreneurs—without Hollywood permission—made a cottage industry out of creating CleanFlicks DVDs of mainstream blockbusters. Company founder Ray Lines led a push for snipping anything offensive or R-rated for churchgoing Mormon viewers (sex, swearing, and tolerance for homosexuality were cut, although sometimes hideous violence was given the green flag). A fast-growing CleanFlicks business and distribution network (with surprisingly slick and sophisticated ads) suffered from internal discord, competitors, and the David/Goliath struggle against giant (angry) studios. But when Lines (whose clumsy deletions often turned scenes incoherent) reminds us that the movie industry routinely generates cleaner edits for airline and network-TV airings, he makes a point in this compelling look at questions of copyright, corporate strangleholds, and viewer-versus-artist freedom. Why can't Latter Day Saints (or Amish or Muslims, for that matter) have ready access to preferred versions of media if they want? Despite the sense that filmmakers Andrew James and Joshua Ligairi don't favor CleanFlicks, the well-spoken censors here actually come off as the underdogs (perspectives from Utah-based academics and others round out the presentation). The disc cheekily presents Cleanflix in two versions—one with the uncensored clips, and one “clean” via digital blurring and audio bleeping. DVD extras include an audio commentary and deleted scenes. Highly recommended. Aud: C, P. (C. Cassady)