Grotesque Is Too Grotesque for Viewers.

[koontz1973]

Originally Posted by witheygull

Your post prompted me to read the wikipedia article on the BBFC. You are correct in stating local councils have the authority for banning theatrical showings of a movie, but the BBFC's classification (or lack thereof) is what is ultimately binding for a film's eventual video release. If the Board refuses classification for a video release, then the selling of that movie is illegal and the film is effectively banned from distribution in any format other than theatrical film prints.

What constitutes being too sick, you ask. I think that is something that each person must determine for themselves. I can watch any fictional piece of violence and be fine with it, but I avoid images of real violence because they are often too troubling for me. I'm sure there are many people who refuse to see something like Grotesque, Saw, or Hostel because they believe it will be too violent for them, but then they turn around and watch real violence, such as the video of Nick Berg being decapitated, without batting an eye. I think that real violence is what is too sick and that fictional violence is a matter of taste.

You say we need to decide for ourselves what we deem to being to sick. Fictional violence nowadays with films like Saw is OK as it is obvious that it is set within a film world. Personally, I love violent bloody acts in film, but I do draw the line when violence serves no purpose, which the BBFC claims it does not within this film. Censorship is not bad. Would you like the F word said during Sesame Street, naked woman have sex during at 3 in the afternoon when your 6 year old girl is watching. No sensible person would, but this is censorship of a kind. Personally I like the way we do things now, guidelines are set down by most countries and any film maker trying to claim ignorance of these is deluding themselves. I am glad we have bodies to give us ratings as this gives us all a chance to understand what we will see in the cinema.

Just checked Wiki like you and your country has actually banned more films than the UK.