BBFC decisions you agree/disagree with...

[UpsetSmiley]

mother! rated 18 by the BBFC and IFCO, would've expected IFCO to give this a 16 for theatrical release and 18 on DVD. It's quite a tonally mature film, but most of the violence appears off-screen. The language is 15/18 level, so depending on where your opinions lie, its either a hard 15 or a tame 18.

Suicide Squad is rated 15 but I can't muster what took it to 15 level, the violence and threat is fantastical in nature and overall moderate in tone. If they can justify stronger films such as The Wolverine or Spider-Man at 12/12A then this is a no brainer 12.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Star Wars: The Last Jedi are both rated 12, but the former doesn't seem out of line with the PG guidelines. The Last Jedi I felt was a bit stronger violence wise but the comedy element is a mitigating factor, so perhaps both films could've been permissible at PG?

Silence of the Lambs was resubmitted and then passed 15 last year, whilst Halloween was re-classified with its 18 rating intact.

Dear mods: I thought I'd make a go to thread to debate the film classification boards BBFC and IFCO as they play a large part in film distribution here in the UK and Ireland. I didn't know where to put this, but anywhere outside of the UK forum wouldn't get it much attention. Although If there is a more appropriate place, please move if necessary.

[drush9999]

There's a ton of 80s and 90s action movies that were rated 18 back in the day, that should or now have uncut 15 ratings.

Actually surprised Lambs is now 15, the face wearing is particularly gruesome. Halloween on the other hand is definitely 15 rated material these days, not sure the 18 is correct.

[dallywhitty]

It's 2018 and they still censor films. And I'm not talking about trimming films at the behest of the distributor to achieve a lower rating. I'm talking about cutting films like I Spit on Your Grave because they're convinced that British citizens will turn into rapists should they see the film uncensored.

[MrChristoph]

I was amazed that 'Princess Mononoke' got away with a PG, considering the reasonably graphic violence and body horror; I've seen much tamer films get a 12/12A, although maybe the violence being inflicted on talking animals rather than people is what made it more acceptable in the BBFCs eyes.

[crazybeats]

It doesn't matter too much in this day and age, films are so easily available online and are fairly cheap to buy that you can buy anything you want uncut and have it delivered within days. I would have thought by now that ratings in this country would be advisory and everything would be uncut but the BBFC seems to be one of these organisations that's just been around for so long and done the same thing for so long that it's just part of British society. Even if the word arse is uttered on day time TV it's nothing but apologies, we as a society aren't used to mild swearing in the day time. We're not used to nudity and violence being mixed. We've always been told what to like and what not to like, what we can and cannot see and at what time.

[UpsetSmiley]

Originally Posted by dallywhitty

It's 2018 and they still censor films. And I'm not talking about trimming films at the behest of the distributor to achieve a lower rating. I'm talking about cutting films like I Spit on Your Grave because they're convinced that British citizens will turn into rapists should they see the film uncensored.

It's also a relatively obscure film unlikely to be seen by many, but the animal cruelty permits it from getting an uncut release. Maybe they can make an exception purely on historical grounds.

[DeathlyGeneral]

Never agreed with the 18s slapped on the Alien films. They're surprisingly bloodless, with Kane's death being the only big gory moment in the quadrilogy. There's some blood and gore in the rest of the series but nothing that would probably warrant an 18.

[Fnord Prefect]

Originally Posted by MrChristoph

I was amazed that 'Princess Mononoke' got away with a PG, considering the reasonably graphic violence and body horror; I've seen much tamer films get a 12/12A, although maybe the violence being inflicted on talking animals rather than people is what made it more acceptable in the BBFCs eyes.

I agree with this. Maybe the combination of animation and fantastical story kept it from being rated 12?

Watched Saving Private Ryan for the first time since it's cinema run just this evening (what a marvelous film, much proffered it second time around) and was surprised it was given a 15, graphically violent and very sweary.

IMO another case of the BBFC being soft on Spielberg is War of the Worlds which despite it's 12 is definitely nudging 15 territory.

Originally Posted by drush9999

There's a ton of 80s and 90s action movies that were rated 18 back in the day, that should or now have uncut 15 ratings.

There used to be nothing between the PG and 15 certs, plus the BBFCs changing standards, so there must be thousands of pre-90's films still stuck with a 15 certificate despite these days qualifying for a 12 or even a PG.

[professorwho]

Surprised that The Fellowship of the Ring got a PG rating. Even the superior Extended edition got a PG as well...

[dallywhitty]

Originally Posted by UpsetSmiley

It's also a relatively obscure film unlikely to be seen by many, but the animal cruelty permits it from getting an uncut release. Maybe they can make an exception purely on historical grounds.

Are we discussing the same film? There's no animal cruelty in I Spit.

Originally Posted by DeathlyGeneral

Never agreed with the 18s slapped on the Alien films. They're surprisingly bloodless, with Kane's death being the only big gory moment in the quadrilogy. There's some blood and gore in the rest of the series but nothing that would probably warrant an 18.

If I'm not mistaken, the first three films are actually rated 15 nowadays.

[gap]

I feel that The Dark Knight should have been (and indeed, should still be) a 15. Graphic, no. Intensely violent, yes.

[McCrutchy]

Originally Posted by UpsetSmiley

mother! rated 18 by the BBFC and IFCO, would've expected IFCO to give this a 16 for theatrical release and 18 on DVD. It's quite a tonally mature film, but most of the violence appears off-screen. The language is 15/18 level, so depending on where your opinions lie, its either a hard 15 or a tame 18.

I think this might be pushing it. mother! is a pretty strong film, especially once it gets going, and I think it might be a bit too disturbing for a 15, just as it's probably too disturbing for many adults. As for Ireland, perhaps it should have gotten a 16, but the Irish aren't likely to take a liberal view of what happens in that film, and it really doesn't matter too much as I doubt they could justify it at 15 on video, so it was always going to be 18 after the cinema release, anyway.

Originally Posted by UpsetSmiley

Suicide Squad is rated 15 but I can't muster what took it to 15 level, the violence and threat is fantastical in nature and overall moderate in tone. If they can justify stronger films such as The Wolverine or Spider-Man at 12/12A then this is a no brainer 12.

This reminds me of the double standard with Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, where that was 12 and then the very similar-looking Suicide Squad was given a 15 months later. It seems to me that the earlier film got much more leeway theatrically because of Batman and Superman, while the latter film's certificate made a bit more sense in the context of recent years. My feeling is that both cuts of both films should all be the same rating, and while I don't think they're particularly appropriate for younger children, the 12 and 15 certificates are increasingly being influenced by the MPAA when it comes to big-budget action films like superhero films, so just as the PG-13 rating has become a hard PG in the US, the 12 is becoming more like a hard PG and the PG is becoming more like a slightly naughty U.

I think in a perfect world, we would see several of the MCU films given PG certificates, because they are mostly harmless and only the constant frenetic action can cause trouble with young children. In that case, then I could see the above DCEU films sitting comfortably at 12, but as it is, I think they end up straddling 12 and 15, because they are so much darker and more depressing.

Originally Posted by UpsetSmiley

Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Star Wars: The Last Jedi are both rated 12, but the former doesn't seem out of line with the PG guidelines. The Last Jedi I felt was a bit stronger violence wise but the comedy element is a mitigating factor, so perhaps both films could've been permissible at PG?

I would have liked to see this, too. The original trilogy keeps being U, which is fairly ridiculous, but obviously, a precedent was set and those were rated in a different time, All three original films are really solid PG certificate films, but I don't think any of the films have reached 12 status except perhaps for Revenge of the Sith. Again, it's just another example of how the PG-13 rating and 12 certificate are being watered down somewhat simultaneously.

[Markgway]

The last two Star Wars films should've been PG.

Giving them 12s devalues both ratings.

I mean, how can Star Wars be the same certificate as The Dark Knight and Casino Royale?

Madness.

[UpsetSmiley]

Originally Posted by McCrutchy

I think this might be pushing it. mother! is a pretty strong film, especially once it gets going, and I think it might be a bit too disturbing for a 15, just as it's probably too disturbing for many adults. As for Ireland, perhaps it should have gotten a 16, but the Irish aren't likely to take a liberal view of what happens in that film, and it really doesn't matter too much as I doubt they could justify it at 15 on video, so it was always going to be 18 after the cinema release, anyway.

We definitely share similar sensibilities on the BBFC. mother! is quite like Gone Girl in which the final act of the film took it to an 18 classification.

the PG is becoming more like a slightly naughty U.

Paddington and Frozen are this in a nutshell. Paddington is the quintessential British family film, the live action, the set pieces, the cheeky humour. It's like a modern day Mary Poppins, 10-15 years ago up against Harry Potter this would've been a U easily.

I think in a perfect world, we would see several of the MCU films given PG certificates, because they are mostly harmless and only the constant frenetic action can cause trouble with young children. In that case, then I could see the above DCEU films sitting comfortably at 12, but as it is, I think they end up straddling 12 and 15, because they are so much darker and more depressing.

Most of the Marvel superhero films I've seen (not many I admit...) are tame. Guardians of the Galaxy and Iron Man 3 from what I remember felt like PGs, especially the former. Captain America: The Winter Soldier however is a solid 12. A lot of violent action, despite being undetailed and rapidly edited, had quite an edge to it. Still, I think the first Jurassic Park is more likely to upset a young child than any of the above. I know the 12A didn't exist back then, but it was more deserving of a 15 than Gremlins, and it's a PG.

[Shingster]

Trying to make sense or form some kind of equivalence between certain BBFC ratings... therein madness lies!

[SymbioticFunction]

Originally Posted by professorwho

Surprised that The Fellowship of the Ring got a PG rating. Even the superior Extended edition got a PG as well...

Surprised because it should have been a '12' or surprised because it should have been a 'U'' release?

Edit: btw Surprised me that (back in the day) Romero's Creepshow got a 15 certificate rather than 18. One Fluffy murder and the cockroach breakout are quite violent for an early 80's horror film being released in the UK. And how the heck can Jaws still be a PG film? Yes, current dvds and bds of Jaws state 12 but isn't that just because of a deleted scene?? I think the actual movie is still PG.

[Blu MacReady]

Animal cruelty and overly long excessive rape scenes should be cut, maybe not actually filmed imo. Anything else in today’s age should be passed uncut.

Ratings wise, not easy cause looking at what TV shows from 8pm onwards, anyone over 11 can pretty much see and hear everything available.

[jimidini]

I agree with them when they don't cut movies into pieces.
I don't agree with them when they do cut movies into pieces.

That is it basically.

[Ste7en]

Lots of 15 rated films I've seen lately I think should have been 18.

Can't remember which at the moment but I'm constantly surprised how much you can get away with in a 15 these days.

[CV19]

Originally Posted by dallywhitty

If I'm not mistaken, the first three films are actually rated 15 nowadays.

The Blu-rays of the first 4 Alien films are rated '18', but the more recent Covenant is rated as '15'.