pontram Shortbus is very high on the list of my most beloved movies. I can not avoid to call it a masterwork. And why is that so ?It is a deeeply human movie. It has so many facettes, like comedic, sensual, pornographic, sad, senseful, atmospheric, toughtful, and many other things. It's a vibrant view on the lifes of some outsiders or people who don't fit in functionwise, and are searching for magic in their live, which is provided through the club shortbus as a catalysator. The movie is much too far off the main road to be swallowed in one session. It has to be watched sometimes, so one can find always new aspects and details.While going very deep into some sad or explicit situations, Shortbus alwas stays lighthearted, not taking itself too serious. Acting is partially phenomenous, it's often more being than acting, so that I had the impression of sitting between those characters and watching them living, losing, hurting and hoping.In the end, I am always a bit sad the movie is such a loner in the landscape. The concept is so easy, and not even its creator managed to make a follow-up. It's the actual proof that modern cinema can be glorious, intelligent, erotic, sensitive AND enjoyable. I do not want to believe that this proof will be the only one in decades.We need at least a couple more movies like this, since we are all existing through sex and emotions, and we should enjoy the short time we have. At least, I need. And because I always feel good and lighthearted, in a way healed, after watching Shortbus.

Paul Magne Haakonsen I didn't think that this movie was as explicit as it turned out to be. I thought it was just a comedy with a sexual theme. So when real sex started showing on the screen I was quite surprised. I am not a prude or easily offended, but I think the movie would have been equally good, if not actually better, if they had opted to do the movie without real sex scenes.They story follows the lives of a couples therapist unable to get an orgasm, a homosexual couple looking for a way to spice up their relationship, and a dominatrix who is unable to connect to anything. Their lives and fates become entwined as they visit an underground club of carnal lust named "Shortbus".It should be said that the story is well-written and equally well put to the screen. And the characters were colorful, vivid and full of life. The story is driven by a myriad of strong characters and individual stories.As a character-driven story it is extremely important to have a cast of talented actors and actresses. The actors and actresses in "Shortbus" were really doing good jobs with their given roles and characters. Especially Sook-Yin Lee (playing Sofia) and Paul Dawson (playing James) were putting on fantastic character performances."Shortbus" is a very interesting movie story-wise. I just think tit was a shame that director John Cameron Mitchell decided to go for real sex scenes. Personally, I think it just gave a very unnecessary sleazy taint to an otherwise impressive movie.

Irishchatter I just feel like I wanna get sick, there is too much sex involved, it should honestly be a Pornography movie because it's not a normal movie! I like romantic movies gay or straight but, this is so lazy and badly done that they think they can get away with adding in too much sex scene's. It's ridiculous and disturbing!Also I couldn't understand why they added the buildings in cartoon versions and leave the Statue of Liberty as it always looks. The buildings are like so badly drawn that a small child can draw way better than that! Whoever created this movie, they are definitely away with the fairies! Then you see a scene where young people are doing BDSM and this was happening from the apartment that is beside Ground Zero. I found this so deeply offensive because I find that the characters just didn't care and performed sex anyway. I feel so bad for the 9/11 victims families because it felt like a smack in the face that they mentioned Ground Zero without feeling empathy. Who on earth thought it was a good idea to video that scene?! I would've just filmed that scene somewhere else, it wasn't right! I have to say, this is the worst film I've ever came across in my life, 9 years later! I regret looking at this in the first place!

hjames-97822 Is anyone else sick of being told John Cameron Mitchell (JCM) is some kind of genius? He's just another sex obsessed freak. Spare me the wine and cheese colored reviews from people about this dopey film. You know some people will find value in anything if you let em think about it long enough.It's pornography. I know pornography when I see it. In college I had a job as an adult book store clerk for a year and I guarantee you I know porn. There's little on this subject I have not seen, heard or smelled live in the movie arcade. It's a free country. Porn has a place. But don't think I can be tricked into believing that a porn film is "art." Mitchell must have failed potty training because he is obsessed with this subject. I won't bore you with the list, but every conceivable sex act you can imagine (short of drawing blood) is committed to film here. Nothing--zero--is left to the audience's imagination. We are all reduced simply to watching. No involvement on our part required.The one thing you can say about pornography is that it's honest. It's not phony. It is just what it claims to be without pretense. Actors know what they are doing and why they are there--the money shot. Shortbus is the opposite. It's porn masquerading as "film." Bull hockey.To audition so called legitimate actors to portray these scenes in the name of artistic license is at best disrespectful to them. To direct actors trying to further a legitimate career in the act of producing their own bodily fluids and then eating them and, presumably the bodily fluids of others is almost unconscionable. (Bodily fluids-Yes, just what you think it is.) I'm only surprised one or more of these people didn't leave the set with an STD.I rate this "D" for "Disgusting." Not for the sex or nudity. Been there and done that. But I don't like a phony con job Mr. Mitchell. Grow up.