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You know what I dislike about these activist groups that boycott art or cinema? Most of the time, these individuals haven't even seen the work.  They hear of a controversial topic or racy theme and draw these wild conclusions and make firm, final decisions on the fates of these works. It happened last month with "Tropic Thunder" when word spread that Ben Stiller's character in the film dropped the term "retard" numerous times.  It's like when you hear gossip from someone and act on it right after; without context, ideas and claims seem much nastier.

And now "Hounddog" has found its theater run terminated. AMC (American Multi-Cinema, Inc.) Theatres has decided to remove "Hounddog" from all of its screens across the nation due to a supposed "controversial rape scene" with young starlet Dakota Fanning. This isn't new for AMC. A few years ago they banned "The Aristocrats" from playing on any of their screens. That film (a documentary) had no images of violence or sex. Just lots of swear words.  Ho-hum.  And at least "Tropic Thunder" had enough Hollywood weight to keep itself in theaters long enough to become a bonified blockbuster. Not so much for "Hounddog."  Fortunately, I was able to see a screening of the film before its demise.  And you know what? All the speculation is overplayed. Big time.

If anything, I found the film interesting for all the wrong reasons. Take David Morse's (bless him) distracting wig. It reminded me of Jeremy Irons' fake teeth in Billie August's "The House of the Spirits." What were they thinking??

But back to the rape scene.

I found it oddly gripping. When it came, I found myself smiling at the way Director Deborah Kampmeier chose to shoot it. A close up of Dakota's hand near a rusty nail against the mud or the point of view looking up at a hole in the shed ceiling. Nothing groundbreaking or controversial. Anybody remember the bottle of peroxide and wooden rod used on Charlize Theron's ass in "Monster"? Now that shook the shit out of me.

So why all the controversy? Is it because Fanning is the untouchable Shirley Temple of our time? Or is it more primal--rooted in undisclosed fears of violence on a specified race?

I remember the African American daughter of Samuel L. Jackson in Director Joel Schumacher's "A Time To Kill" getting a bloody and visceral rape scene in that film--bloody feet, rope and all. A real bruiser.  No one made any fuss of her there (or that segment of the film) and I'm pretty sure she was at a younger age at the time than Dakota right now.

But I digress. 

I might piss of some of those activists if I keep talking. 

COMING IN OCTOBER: The Underrated Series