Attack of the Clones Cut in UK 481
MartyJG writes "The British Board of Film Classification has demanded a cut in Ep2 AOTC for a head-butt. I don't know which is more extreme: UK viewers insisting on viewing the US version for 1 second of extra film, or that a 1 second cut means the difference between a '12' (~PG-13) and a 'PG' certificate. For some reason the distributors must think fewer people would see the film if it was a '12'. The film report is on the BBFC website."
Not the first time (Score:5, Informative)
- U - Any age
- PG - Parental Guidance - If you are under 12, you have to be with a parent to see it
- 12 - 12 yeras or over
- 15 - 15 years or over
- 18 - you get the idea...
These are all legally binding (i.e. the cinema will get fined if they let a 10 year old into a 12 film). Basically, if AotC got a 12 cert, then Lucas would loose all those kids who he seems to be aiming at, and it would be less £££ (or $$$) for George.Re:PG vs. 12 certificate (Score:3, Informative)
It's kind of interesting that cutting bits off people is OK, but headbutts are out....
Re:Not the first time (Score:2, Informative)
Episode IV was "G" (Score:5, Informative)
It's in the cantina scene -- when Obi Wan shuts up the guy who'd been bugging Luke ("I'll be careful." "You'll be dead!"), we see a quick cutaway to a severed arm lying on the ground. In hindsight, it looks sorta out of place -- no characters in view, etc., just an arm on an unidentifiable floor.
At least, this is what I remember being told way back when...
You can see the clip in a TV spot (Score:5, Informative)
Headbutts vs Light sabres (Score:5, Informative)
To quote the BBFC rating for a 12
Imitable techniques
Dangerous techniques (examples include: combat, hanging, suicides) should contain no imitable detail. Realistic and contemporary weapons should not be glamorised.
and for a PG
Imitable techniques
No glamorisation of realistic, contemporary weapons. No detail of fighting or other dangerous techniques.
So I reckon this is why a head butt would be enough to get a PG and light sabres and laser guns don't make a big deal.
Re:Not the first time (Score:5, Informative)
Local government has the absolute right to allow or disallow a film to be shown in local cinemas in the UK. To make things smoother, there's a policy that there will be little or no meddling in what films can be shown as long as the BBFC rates them and cinemas agree to restrict access according to the ratings. Cinemas who do not comply risk being unable to show films, either because the local council will withdraw their right to do so, or (more often) because the cinema chain will remove troublesome managers to prevent exactly this kind of showdown from happening.
Occasionally ratings are ignored and censorship goes ahead anyway: many local councils banned Life of Brian and also The Last Temptation of Christ, though generally the public doesn't stand for this kind of thing: bus tours were organised to neighbouring towns and counties where the films were being allowed to be shown. On the flip side, many art house cinemas are able to show films that aren't rated, if they have a liberal enough local council.
The BBFC ratings do have a legal mandate in one area, videos (and DVDs) where during the early eighties, the Thatcher regime responded to a "moral outrage" panic fanned a hysterical press about so-called slasher movies and passed a law making the ratings compulsory for video cassettes, and forcing sellers of video cassettes to abide by the certificates. There's at least one film, The Exorcist IIRC, that isn't available on video because the BBFC refuses to rate it.
Incidentally, on your rather specific definition of PG: PG is a voluntary code in more ways than one - there's no requirement that a parent accompany the child, and I recall seeing films when I was below that age without needing a parent to come with me. It was assumed that my parents had given me the necessary "guidance". This may have changed in the last 20 years, but I'm pretty sure I'd have heard if it had.
Re:PG vs. 12 certificate (Score:3, Informative)
In response to someone around here who said PG is is for accompanied by adult, thats not true, PG is only an advisory in that its recomended that the parent be aware of the film before letting their child watch it, but they can watch unattended.
Re:Does anyone else find it interesting... (Score:2, Informative)
Actually, that would be a wonder since it is a commonly held (but innaccurate) perception as (for example) this graphic from the Telegraph shows
chart [telegraph.co.uk]
No question it is an amusing notion that crime is so much higher in the US because of its inherently violent movies but amusing != true. The truth is there has been a downward trend in crime in the US (and a corresponding upward trend in Europe) for more than the last decade - I'm not assigning any particular meaning to this statistic, just pointing out that perception in this case doesn't reflect reality.
Re:PG vs. 12 certificate (Score:2, Informative)
It was setup (in 1912 ) by the Film Industry to bring some consistency to film censorship.
In the UK Cinemas are licenced by the Local Authority (Council). Each council has the final say about who can see which films with what cuts. In practice the BBFC classifications are routinely and almost universally accepted by all local councils - but they can and do overule the BBFC on occassion. The two most famous, recent examples are "Crash" (which was banned in some areas) and Mrs Doubtfire (which was rated by the BBFC as "12" but many councils reduced this to "PG").
Any cinema breaking the rules imposed by the Council could find its cinema licence withdrawn.
The BBFC has a quite seperate role for Videos and DVDs - where it is given authority by statue to censor these for the whole country. It is quite possible (and not uncommon) for the same film to have different certificates and different cuts for Cinema and Video release.
Re:PG vs. 12 certificate (Score:3, Informative)
I also remember hearing once that some movies that are worried about getting an NC-17 intentionally put in scenes that are way over the top, so that they have things they can cut easily to bring down their ratings. It's a fairly corrupt system all around it seems.