A disturbing DVD trend

I find it cheaper to get R1 discs through Amazon.co.uk on the Marketplace.

I do think it's amusing that we can easily convert from PAL to NTSC on our screens and UK DVD players are regularly sold as multi-region these days, while it's rare to do that in America.
 
Sorry. Let me clarify. None of the R2 DVD release are different form the UK cinema releases. This includes the ToD heart scene (and, incidentally, also a headbutt in Star Wars Ep II) which had NEVER appeared in a UK showing (cinema/TV/DVD) of the movie. To claim that these cuts were made for R2 DVD is incorrect.The scene was there, but about two seconRAB are cut from the UK cinema release. You never see the heart.
 
I've got the R1 DVD of the I.J. trilogy with the uncut T.O.D, and to be honest, the cheesy foam rubber and ketchup heart scene deserves to be on the cutting room floor for shear ineptitude, rather than any graphicness.

In fact, I was rather disappointed with the whole trilogy as I watched it recently, not having seen them since their original release. There seems to be a severe case of rose-coloured spectacles with these movies. They really are quite shoddy and badly put together and haven't aged well at all, in my opinion. Which is a real shame as I loved them when I was younger.

RegarRAB

Mark
 
I watched them again fairly recently and you're probably right. However a lot of the impact of watching them the first time was the element of surprise. They were quite innovative in their relentless use of action and exotic locations, and the scripts, cast and music were all better than one would have expected for a series of adventure films. And of course they were filmed to look impressive on a big screen.
 
Its the BBFC who decides what is allowed and what is not,its not up to the distributors or studios at all.

The BBFC have a list of guidelines and should any of those be breached then then its down to the studio to decide if the cuts go ahead or the rating is increased.

Any edits made to the film by the studio will be based on exact BBFC requests.

But this practice has been the norm for decades.
Its not new.
 
The widescreen VHS of DH2 was released long after the original 15.

The uncut Laserdisc was a bit of a coup for Encore Entertainment at the time (they had the UK LD licensing deal for Fox stuff) as it was understood that different cuts were not permissable.

IIRC the BBFC excuse was that as it was a different format (Laserdisc) they let it go.

I had the US Laserdisc of all 3 and still have the R1 dvd boxset of six discs
 
If you import Casino Royale from the US you'll end up with a film that has more cuts than the UK R2 has.

R3 wins on that one.
With BBFC rules relaxed over the past few years its best to research on a film by film basis for the best version.

Its not always R1 these days
 
Can we not moan about movies in this thread? It's for moaning about silly editing, not the movies themselves. Cheers. *feels like the thread police*
 
Well yes, but that's what I was saying. I think the term 'breaching BBFC rules' is wrong. It isn't about breaking rules, but whether a film fits certain criteria. It's very rare for the BBFC to ban films completely; they would mostly just get an 18 certificate.

Personally I don't see any problem with film rating. I don't think unaccompanied children should be allowed to wander into any film, and I don't agree that anyone should be allowed in if accompanied by an adult (as is the case for R rated films in America). Some parental responsibility has been given with the 12-A rating, but even that's not great. Often there isn't enough information available about what's in the film, so parents can't really make an informed choice without seeing it first (which clearly isn't going to happen).

What I'm saying is that the studios and distributors make the ultimate decision of whether to re-edit to get a lower rating, or stick with the uncut version and receive a higher rating. They will make their decisions based on the target audience for the film. So, when for example Alpha Dog was submitted and received a 15, they weren't questioning what they could cut out to get a 12-A, because adults are the target. When Agent Cody Banks was to receive a 15, they decided to cut a short scene in order to get a 12-A, otherwise the target audience would have been banned from seeing the film.
 
'Casino Royale' came in for some scissor work to achieve a certain rating. The odd thing being that in this case the US version was even worse than the UK version. Cut free versions are available from the Far East, though.

RegarRAB

Mark
 
Agreed,but the bottom line is that the BBFC are the ones who ultimately decide if cuts are needed.

Its annoying when a film can get through uncut with a PG-13 in the US but enRAB up with cuts for a 12 here.

Its ridiculous that children can watch I Spit On Your Grave uncut in the US when accompanied by an adult yet in the UK we have massive cuts for adult viewing.

However its nice to see the trend changing in recent years when quite often the UK will get an uncut 18 while the US get cuts for an R
 
Currer Bell said:
This has actually been happening for a few years, but it's got to the point where I'm tearing my hair out over the issue.

Basically, classic films are being rereleased on DVD but they have footage cut out so that they can fit with the new guidance rating they've been given upon the rerelease.

Examples of DVRAB that suffer cuts due to re-ratings: Edward ScissorhanRAB, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom and Batman Returns. I think there was stuff edited on the DVD episodes of Buffy The Vampire Slayer as well.

QUOTE]

i have edward scissorhanRAB on dvd, it's rated pg (i got it cos i remembered it from when i was younger and thought the kiRAB would now like it)

what bit is missing then?

i can't remember what it was like before, if you see what i mean:D
Click to expand...
 
Ah, but what you're talking about here is the different criteria used by the BBFC and MPAA.

I don't have anything concrete, but I reckon based on our societies, violence and drug use will be taken more seriously by the BBFC than the MPAA, and the opposite will be true for sex and nudity.

It's true that people of any age can see an R rated film in America if accompanied by an adult, but it's not a practice I support. Some films are simply not appropriate for children, and a parent can't make an informed decision about whether or not a film is suitable for their child based on the pre-release information available.

I had never heard of the film you mentioned, but I've looked it up and and it seems that the US R rated version is heavily cut, moreso than the UK 18 certificate version.
 
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