"Fifty Shades of Grey"

Last Saturday, a bunch of us went out for a group Valentine's "Date Night"--nothing original, just  the usual dinner & a movie.

The theater was a zoo. The long-awaited adaptation of "Fifty Shades of Grey" was showing on three screens. The lines went around the block.

Comprised of 80% women, audiences forked over $85 million domestically during the 3-day weekend making this "romance" the biggest February opening in movie history.

Yep--it toppled former record holder "The Passion of the Christ" as the top ranking movie premiere. While the picture may be a huge success for Universal Pictures, it's a mega disaster for young American women.

In fact, many countries banned the film for its "unnatural" and "sadistic" content including: Malaysia, Indonesia, Kenya, China, United Arab Emirates and parts of Russia.

The theater actually had to ask patrons to leave their whips, duct tape and spurs (spurs?!?) at home.

Anti-pornography watchdog group Morality in Media argues that the movie's 'R' rating "severely undermines the violent themes in the film and does not adequately inform parents and patrons of the film's content."

The National Center on Sexual Exploitation calls "Fifty Shades" a movie "about sexual abuse and violence against women that sends the message that sexual violence is enjoyable."

Since when does sadomasochistic torture pass for romance? And no, we did not see this movie.

Our choice? "Old Fashioned", a romantic, unrepentantly faith-based flick you'll be urging your dating-age children to see.

A wise woman once said: "So disturbed by how popular this series (Fifty Shades of Grey) has become with mainstream women. It's as though the enemy has us sitting in pots on the stove while he slowly turns up the heat. Our children will be the ones to reap what we've sown--a society that has no idea about right or wrong, good or evil." --Rachel, Christian Post commenter

The apostle Paul warns:

"When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, your lives will produce evil results: sexual immorality, impure thoughts, eagerness for lustful pleasure, idolatry, participation in demonic activities, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, divisions, the feeling that everyone is wrong except those in your own little group, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other kinds of sin. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the kingdom of God" (Galatians 5: 19-21).

News:

• ABC News: "Teens Mob Mall After Being Denied Entry to 'Fifty Shades'"; 100 teens rushed the theater because the 'R' rating required the viewer to be at least 17.
• New York Daily News: N.J teacher, the mother of 2 young children, has sex with six 14- & 15-year old male students. Makes sex tape.
• LA Times: Super bug linked to 2 deaths at UCLA Hospital; 179 potentially exposed.