Monday 22 June 2009

Double Standards


On Friday, the British Board of Film Censors (I mean Classification, apologies) gave BRUNO an 18 certificate. The filmmakers were apparently offered the choice of cutting the film for a 15, but declined.

It seems to me that the BBFC suffers from the double standards that allow unlimited violence and gore into a 15 (or even 12A) certificate, but bans teenagers from seeing sexual references on screen.

Both Ali G Indahouse and Borat had 15 certificates, so what's so different now?

It seems only yesterday that the uproar over allowing the disturbing The Dark Knight a 12A occurred. Have they learnt nothing? Meanwhile, super-violent CGI films like Terminator Salvation and Transformers 2 get 12As. So violence is better than sex? Come on, people.

2 comments:

  1. I do agree that if Bruno is 18 because of the gay content thta is ridiculous;also 12 year old boys are uncivilized enough wothout the likes of Transformers encouraging the trait.Any idea whether Bruno's going to be an R-18 in the US?I've always beeen amazed at the range of films I can take my American grandchildren to see in the States without any obvious harm.Most people I know would simply make do with an'extremely violent' or 'outright pornography' advisory,and then use their own common sense.

    Having said which I think Borat was an extreme contender in 'comedy of cruelty' genre against all the ordinary,rather naive people who are now suing in their droves;(interestingly none of the people who expressed outright racist views have sued).I found it a puerile exercise,and won't be going to see it,and I suspect many gay people will share my views:but my opinion is not relevant when it comes to censorship

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  2. I am not completely sure whether the 18 was because of the gay element or because of the extreme stunts that Cohen pulls off. But it seems to me violence always gets a break.

    In America, it's an R, which means people under 17 can watch it with an adult.

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