A low-budget horror film has caused a stir among politicians in Italy after teenage cinemagoers were traumatised by the movie.

Paranormal Activity, a box-office hit in Italy, has caused terror among youngsters.

An Italian news agency reported that emergency services took dozens of calls, especially in southern Naples, from cinemagoers shocked by the film.

Several panic attacks lasting more than half an hour took place, an emergency response worker said: The most serious case is that of a 14-year-old girl who was brought to the hospital in a state of paralysis.

The Italian parents' association noted that admission to the movie is restricted in the United States, Britain, Germany and The Netherlands and asked for an age limit of 18 in Italy.

Defence minister Ignazio La Russa said: For the past two weeks a trailer has been shown obsessively on TV, and is terrifying thousands of children.

Alessandra Mussolini, granddaughter of the Italian fascist dictator and head of a parliamentary committee on children, said the film had highly distressing content and was causing panic attacks and psychological problems among youths. I don't think we can ban Paranormal Activity now, but surely we need to study how to warn parents of the risks their children are incurring.

See BBFC comments from bbfc.co.uk

The BBFC have passed the UK cinema release 15 uncut with the following comment:

Paranormal Activity is a US horror film that presents as a case history conveyed through hand-held camera footage seemingly filmed by the performers and which relates how a young American couple are threatened by paranormal manifestations in their new house. It was passed 15 for strong language and threat.

At 15, BBFC Guidelines for language state that There may be frequent use of strong language (eg 'fuck'). and this film contains strong language that fits within this guideline and the frequency of which exceeds the 12A/12 rubric.

As for horror, this film's content exceeds the 12A/12 Guideline which states that Moderate physical and psychological threat may be permitted, provided disturbing sequences are not frequent or sustained.. This film features frequent strong threat and menace from the opening minutes until the final scene as the couple's camera records offscreen sounds and manifestations that graduate in frequency and intensity to the point where the threat becomes tangible and physical. The film's hand-held camerawork lends the horror and intensity a greater sense of realism and immediacy as the film's power is not reliant on gore or special effects but instead, credibly depicts an unknown force with growing power overwhelming the lives of a young couple in a realistic domestic setting. The lack of sadistic or sexualised elements meant that the film is permissible at 15, but the strength, frequency and sustained nature of the threat and terrorisation meant that it was not allowable at 12A/12.

Paranormal Activity also contains an oblique moderate sex reference to unseen sexual activity, additional mild sex references and mild language.

The Green Berets is a 1968 US war film by Ray Kellogg and John Wayne

The 2010 Warner Blu-ray is uncut but with a 12 certificate.

Previously the Warner video of 1986 and video/DVD of 1998 were rated PG uncut.

The 1968 cinema release was cut by the BBFC

From cuts details on IMDb

• edited shots of a man impaled with a tree branch

Chaw is a 2009 South Korea horror by Jeong-won Shin

The BBFC cut the 2010 Optimum DVD by 8s: Cuts were made to remove sight of unsimulated cruelty to animals (a boar being chased and attacked by dogs; a live deer strung up and struggling on a frame; a live eel being cooked).

The Notorious Bettie Page (2005) is a smart, funny and engaging look at the life of one of the first pin-up sensations, the titular Ms Page. Well acted and flawlessly directed (Harron creates a perfect 50's woman's film feel and mixes black and white and colour without drawing attention to it), the film tells it's story in a matter of fact way that mirrors Page's own outlook and delivers an interesting study of a society on the brink of change.

See article from cinemascream.wordpress.com

Some time ago I wrote about Mary Harron's fantastic film The Notorious Bettie Page… well, to be honest, I spent most of the time having a moan about the rather harsh 18 cert. bestowed upon the film by the BBFC. Anyway, in true disgusted of Tunbridge Wells style I emailed the BBFC the following…

Having recently viewed The Notorious Bettie Page (Mary Harron, 2005) I was somewhat perplexed by the 18 rating. Looking on the BBFC website the only comment I can see regarding the rating is contains sexual fetish theme.

Considering that the Irish Film Classification Office (IFCO) have given the film a 15 rating ('15A in cinemas) due to moderate violence, sex/nudity and language (The further information on their website notes just one expletive and their guidelines for the 15A rating state that mild/moderate sexual activity/nudity is acceptable, particularly when portrayed positively.) I was wondering if you had any more information on the decision and the reasoning behind the 18 rating?

…and here is the BBFC reply…

Our classification decisions are carefully considered and made in line with published Guidelines and the available research evidence...

Our Guidelines for sex at 15 state that: "Sexual activity may be portrayed but without strong detail. There may be strong verbal references to sexual behaviour". It was recognised that THE NOTORIOUS BETTIE PAGE is an intelligent and rather sweet-natured film which stays within our '15' criteria on a number of issues (eg. nudity and sex). However, it was ultimately judged that placing a work that dealt with S&M and other fetish activities at '15' would confound public expectations of the our classifications. Although THE NOTORIOUS BETTIE PAGE is not a 'sex work', its detail of fetish activity just pushed this work to the 18 category. At '18' our Guidelines state that the BBFC "will not normally override the wish that adults should be free to chose their own entertainment, within the law."

Chief Assistant (Policy)

…which seems to suggest that no matter what the 'content' the subject matter is all that matters and some things, especially country matters, are just plain taboo.

Some Italian parents are giving a big thumbs down to Avatar, the second highest grossing movie of all time.

The MPAA gave Avatar a PG-13 rating for intense epic battle sequences and warfare, sensuality, language and some smoking.

When Avatar begins playing in 910 Italian theaters, it'll do so without restriction.

As reported by Variety, the organization at the center of the debacle is Mogie. They claim, the decision represents a discrimination against the protection of Italian children.

In the UK, the cinema release was rated 12A (under 12s allowed if accompanied by an adult). The BBFC explained their decision:

Avatar is a 3D science fiction action adventure film about a man whose genetically engineered human-alien hybrid has been grown on a planet and is intended to persuade the indigenous population to relocate and allow the human military to drill for valuable minerals. It was passed 12A for moderate violence and intense battle scenes.

At 12A, violence guidelines state that Moderate violence is allowed but should not dwell on detail. There should be no emphasis on injuries or blood, but occasional gory moments may be permitted if justified by the context. This film contains some battle scenes where characters are killed or injured and which show arrows piercing bodies, fight scenes where characters are occasionally heavily kicked or punched, and a fight scene between a man wearing a large metal body armour suit and repeatedly stabbing a fantastical creature. However, these scenes do not generally feature gory images, lack stronger detail and do not emphasise injuries or blood as blows or points of impact are generally impressionistic or occur offscreen, so these scenes are allowable at 12A but exceeded PG allowances.

As for the intense battle scenes, PG guidelines note that Frightening sequences should not be prolonged or intense. Fantasy settings may be a mitigating factor. The occasional intense battle scenes towards the end of the film are prolonged and intense and include scenes where the heroic characters are attacked or threatened. Although the context is clearly fantastical, it does not mitigate against the aggressive tone and overall impact which may disturb a child aged around eight or older, so these scenes are not allowable at PG although such scenes are not frequent and are not the sort of sustained disturbing sequences that would exceed the 12A horror guideline.

Avatar also contains some moderate and mild language; occasional scenes showing an older character smoking, which is not promotional or glamorous; a mild and oblique verbal drug reference and a very mild sex reference when a female character states that she and a male character are mated.

 

Street Trash is 1987 US comedy horror by Jim Muro Jr

Arrow have just re-released the uncut DVD. The BBFC waived their cuts for the 2000 Maingrip DVD.

Previously the BBFC cut 6s from the 1987 Avatar video

From cuts details on IMDb:

• edits to shots of a woman's melted breast
• edits to  a close up of a severed penis.

Review from US Amazon: Lots of Fun

The ultra-low-budget exploitation flick Street Trash certainly lives up to its name in more ways than one. Not only is it rather trashy when it comes to generally poor or histrionic acting, bawdy humor, gore, and several lingering flashes of T&A, but it is also one of the few films set in New York City's skid row that was actually filmed almost entirely in authentic skid-row venues.

The centerpiece of the paper-thin plot is a case of decades-old hooch called Tenafly Viper, discovered in the miasmic basement of a skid-row liquor store by the store's proprietor. The unscrupulous vendor decides to exploit his seemingly serendipitous find and pad his pocket by selling the stuff to local winos for a buck per bottle. But unbeknownst to him and his unwary customers, the stuff has gone sour and has transmuted into a volatile toxin that literally melts those who consume it into a pile of day-glo goo.

Though Street Trash is blatantly and disgustingly lowbrow, it is nonetheless wildly entertaining and, from a technical standpoint, very well made. The make-up FX are skillfully and artistically executed, and never have latex appliances looked so simultaneously gross and hilarious. The action does lag in a few spots, but most of the time there is a constant flow of either gore, skin, or bawdy gags. Also, in contrast to many near-zero-budget exploitation films, the cinematography is fabulous, director Jim Muro shot the entire film using a rented steadicam, and he was so skilled at it that he went on to become one of Hollywood's greatest steadicam operators. The editing is near perfect, making Street Trash look like a more mainstream, bigger-budget film.

Sick? Yes. Foul? For sure. Gross? Often. But its also a lot of fun. Street Trash is definitely not for everybody, but for those who enjoy exploitation horror flicks from the 1970s and 1980s, Street Trash is definitely one of the best.

Daybreakers is a 2009 Australia/US horror by Michael Spierig & Peter Spierig

Thanks to utternutterman

The BBFC cut 6s from the 2009 cinema release:
Company made three cuts to remove shots focussing on very strong gory violence, in order to achieve a 15 classification. Cuts made in line with BBFC Guidelines. An uncut 18 was available.

During post-production, the distributor sought and was given advice on how to secure the desired classification. Following this advice, certain changes were made prior to submission.

The BBFC further explained their 15 rating:

Daybreakers is a science-fiction horror film about a future world that is populated almost entirely by vampires and where the humans are either harvested for their blood or live in secret underground resistance movements. It has been passed 15 for scenes of strong, gory and bloody violence.

The film contains several scenes where vampires are killed in extremely gory fashion, with copious bloodshed and including images of severed limbs and decapitations. The guidelines at 15 state that violence may be strong but should not dwell on the infliction of pain and injury and that the strongest gory images are unlikely to be acceptable. Many of the violent scenes in the film show the blood as almost black and this lessens the impact of the bloodshed and allows these scenes to be contained at 15. The scenes at the film's climax, in particular, show both vampires and humans being torn apart but these shots are all in the distance and very rapidly edited with much of the stronger detail carefully masked.

Daybreakers also includes some strong language and a brief scene of female nudity

James Cameron has generously prepared a little something special for the eager movie fans that watch his latest blockbuster, Avatar when it comes out on DVD.

Apparently, there is going to be an extended version of the scene in which human Jake Sully in his Na'vi body and the chief's daughter Neytiri have sex. The Na'vi are the native people of the planet Pandora.

While Jake and Neytiri's romantic coupling is alluded to in the theatrical release, the extended scene is said to be more graphic.

The scene was left out of the theatrical release so that the film could maintain its PG-13 rating.

Tender and Perverse Emanuelle is a 1973 France sexy thriller by Jess Franco

The BBFC cut 1:11s when the Redemption video was submitted in 1994

Thanks to Peter:

• At 67 mins - In sex scene, remove all sight of man's erection and woman masturbating him and of man's hand in woman's crotch.

10 Things I Hate about You is a 1999 US comedy by Gil Junger

The BBFC cuts were waived for the 2010 Buena Vista DVD/Blu-ray.

Previously the cinema release of 1999 and Buena Vista video releases from 1999 to 2007 all suffered the same cut:

• The BBFC removed a scene where a balisong (butterfly knife) is opened up.

Peking Opera Blues is a 1986 Hong Kong comedy action film by Hark Tsui

The BBFC waived the cinema cut for the 2005 Medusa DVD.

Previously the BBFC cut the 1986 cinema release by 10s

Thanks to Bleach

• Reel 5 - In torture sequence, remove all sight of interrogator's hand rubbing sand and salt water over and into woman's lacerated back.

Fruits of Passion is a 1981 French/ Japanese film by Shuji Terayama

Cuts waived when DVD resubmitted in 2005 by Nouveaux Pictures.

Previously the Nouveaux Pictures video/DVD was cut when submitted in 1998:

Thanks to Bleach:

• At 5.5 mins - After slavemaster stretches whip with cracking sound, cut away to remove sight of woman bound to wheel being whipped with flowers, resuming on woman eating from bowl on floor.
   
• At 8 mins - After O has her body painted, reduce rough sex scene with Sir Stephen by removing her pained protests in CU and cries of I can't, I can't! as she shakes her head vigorously, suggesting that this is non-consenting sex, resuming on shot looking down their bodies.
   
• At 38 mins - When Sir Stephen watches her have sex with a butcher who approaches her and takes out his limp penis, remove side view of her taking his penis into her mouth by mixing from dark shot of it about to enter mouth to later point when it is wholly concealed inside her mouth as his hooked hand comes down to wipe across dissolve, finishing with tight 2-shot of oral sex with penis concealed and Sir Stephen appearing between them as voyeur.

Evil Dead Trap is a 1988 Japanese horror by Toshiharu Ikeda

Cut when submitted by Artsmagic in 2002 with the following BBFC comment: Compulsory cuts required to two close shots of a knife cutting flesh in a sexualised context.

From cuts details on IMDb:

• Removed close up shots of a crucified woman's breasts being cut with a knife.

Review from US Amazon: Intelligent Horror and Graphic Gore

Warning their are scenes of intense violence contained within in this movie. However if you can stomach the gore this movie has a lot more to offer than you're standard hack and slash effort. There is a wonderfully intense atmosphere pervading the whole movie. The deaths are imaginative and are handled extremely well.

The influences although obvious (Argento, Ramai and a brilliant tribute to Fulci), Japanese director Toshiharu Ikeda adds his own twist to the proceedings. If you are fed up of limp offerings that fail to deliver the goods then check this excellent film out.

Vampyres is a UK 1974 horror film by Joseph Larraz

The 2003 'Uncut Re-edited' Version from Anchor Bay was passed without BBFC cuts

Note: avoid the US Anchor Bay DVD which is noted as cut even though it proclaims otherwise

The 1975 cinema release was cut by about 3 minutes by the BBFC.

The Rank video version was cut when submitted  in 1989.

From cuts details on IMDb:

It was pre-cut as per the cinema release but lost a further 26s with BBFC edits to:

• a lesbian shower scene
• sexual thrusting during the sex scene between Fran & John
• the stabbing of Rupert
• blood being licked from John's arm wound
• close ups of Fran & Miriam's naked bloody bodies in the pre-credit scene
• the stripping and stabbing of Harriet in the cellar

Amazon Review: Quality-looking film

A pair of bisexual women living in a dark, decaying mansion have a craving for blood and sex. Hitchhiking in long black cloaks, they lure men home and then take them to bed, slash them with knives, and dump the bodies, making it look like a car wreck. They like one guy so much they keep him around for days and he knows something bad is happening, but he's not sure what. Some people camping nearby also suspect that the women are up to strange things....

The violence is strong even though there's more blood than gore, plenty of sex and nudity, and some very lyrical, beautiful scenes. The ending throws a whole new, darker twist on the proceedings and ties it all together nicely. It has kind of a "Hammer Films" look to it, but the storyline is more along the lines of Jean Rollin. Even though the budget was small, this is a quality-looking film.

Christiane F is a 1981 West German drama by Ulrich Edel

All cuts waived when video/DVD re-submitted in 2000 by Second Sight. The uncut version was also passed 18 for Arrow in 2009.

Previously cut when video submitted by Polygram in 1986

• Cuts were for supposedly instructional shots of heroin preparation and injection.

The cinema release of 1981 was cut by 12s

See review from IMDb : Disturbing

I really wasn't prepared for this film, or was I? I had been recommended it, and told it was disturbing, but it certainly had a massive effect on me.

Christiane F is the true story of a girl who gets seduced by the German nightlife and David Bowie, and slowly drifts onto heroin.

There are several disturbing parts of this movie. The heroin/prostitution scenes are disturbing, but I didn't get disturbed by these as much as I did the story. The media would have us believe that heroin users and dealers are monsters and don't have a right to live. The people in this movie are real, and easy to identify with.

I definitely recommend this movie

Secrets of Sex is a 1970 UK fantasy by by Antony Balch

The BBFC passed the 2009 Odeon DVD 18 uncut

Previously the 2 similar cinema versions of 1970 were passed X after cuts.

Promotional material from UK Amazon

The first DVD release of this bizarre journey through the battle of the sexes. Released UNCUT for the first time. Digitally remastered from the original negatives in original widescreen ratio.

Directed by acclaimed exploitation filmmaker Antony Balch. Celebrated filmmaker Antony Balch directs one of the most idiosyncratic and unforgettable British movies of all time the film the censor tried to stop!

From beyond the grave, a 1,000-year-old mummy (voiced by Valentine Dyall) narrates a series of kinky stories to illustrate the age-old battle of the sexes. From cosmic thrills, supernatural kinks and swinging permissiveness, this is boy versus girl in a hip, psychedelic mix of vintage glamour and grotesque horror.

Ghost in the Shell is 1995 Japan/US anime by Mamoru Oshii.

The 2.0 Redux Version was passed 15 uncut for the 2009 cinema release and 2009 Manga DVD/Blu-ray.

The 2.0 Version has had mixed review from fans.

See article from en.wikipedia.org

Ghost in the Shell 2.0 is a reproduced version of its original 1995 counterpart. For the films Version 2.0 release, all the original animations were re-produced with latest digital film and animation technologies, such as 3D-CGI. The original soundtrack was also re-organized and re-recorded.

Japanese music composer Kenji Kawai, who orchestrated the score for the original 1995 production, remixed the Version 2.0 soundtrack in 6.1 Channel Surround.

To complement the new soundtrack, Japanese voice dialogue was also re-recorded, with some variation from the original script to make use of more recent colloquial phrases in modern speech. Notably, the original male voice actor for the character of the Puppet Master, Iemasa Kayumi, has been replaced by the female voice actor Yoshiko Sakakibara

Previously the Theatrical Version was passed 15 without BBFC cuts for the 1995 cinema release and 1996 Manga video.

Review from US Amazon: Nicely cleaned-up

A 1995 movie based on the manga that was called by some the second coming of Akira. I can't help but agree with that.

So here we are almost 15 years later and we now have Ghost in the Shell 2.0, which is not a sequel but a redone version of the first movie. The colors have been changed and some CG has been brought in to replace the old animation.

The animation has been nicely cleaned-up. This is one of the best animated Blu-rays out there, up there with Cars, Wall-E, and Akira. While consistency is off thanks to the new computer graphics, new colors and old animation, but this is not the fault of the transfer.