Movie News

Shrek 2 is a 2004 USA family animation comedy by Andrew Adamson and Kelly Asbury
Starring Mike Myers and Eddie Murphy and Cameron Diaz.

BBFC category cuts were required for a U rated release for cinema and home video. Later the film was passed PG uncut for 4K Blu-ray in 2022. Uncut in the US with an MPAA PG rating.

The previous BBFC category cuts for a U rating was to remove a surprise headbutt.

UK: Passed PG uncut for mild bad language:

• 2022 Universal Steelbook R0 4K Blu-ray at UK Amazon

Promotional Material

Everyone's favourite larger-than-life hero returns in the Oscar-nominated Shrek 2, which has been hailed by critics and audiences alike as even better than its Oscar-winning predecessor! "There are so many jokes and jests, not even a jelly bellied ogre could consume them all in one sitting," proclaims USA Today. Happily ever after never seemed o far far away when a trip to meet the in-laws turns into another hilariously twisted adventure for Shrek and Fiona. With the help of his faithful steed Donkey, Shrek takes on a potion-brewing Fairy Godmother, the pompous Prince Charming, and the famed ogre-killer, Puss In Boots, a ferocious feline foe who's really just a pussycat at heart!

Extra Content: SECRETS OF SHREK 2 - SPOTLIGHT ON PUSS IN BOOTS FILMMAKERS' COMMENTARIES - FAR FAR AWAY IDOL - MUSIC VIDEOS Blu-ray Exclusives: The Animators' Corner - Shrek's Interactive Journey II

Born to Fly is a 2022 China action drama by Liu Xiaoshi
Starring Yibo Wang, Jun Hu and Yosh Yu

The story of a special operations team headed by elite pilots , being ordered to test new fighter jets. Test flight after test flight, they continue to challenge the sky and the limits of themselves.

With hot young Chinese test pilots and heart-stopping aerial acrobatics, Born to Fly was supposed to be China's answer to Top Gun: Maverick. The wildly anticipated action flick stars Wang Yibo, a pop star turned actor (think China's Harry Styles), and was written and directed by Liu Xiaoshi, who cut his teeth making popular promotional videos for the Chinese military. Produced in full cooperation with the People's Liberation Army Air Force -- much as Maverick was with the U.S. Navy 204 the film showcases China's most advanced stealth fighter jet, the J-20.

So, when Born to Fly was officially scheduled for release on Sept. 30, the day before China's National Day holiday, many analysts were bullish on the tentpole's prospects to become China's next proudly nationalistic military blockbuster.

But Born to Fly was mysteriously grounded just days before its planned opening. The film's producers, including major studios Alibaba Pictures and Bona Film Group, put out a vague statement saying that the release would be postponed in order to present better production effects. No further details were provided and no update has been given.

Chinese authorities never comment directly on censorship decisions, but the word within the Beijing film industry is that Born to Fly's producers were made to realize that their movie's stunts and visual effects were far inferior to Top Gun: Maverick's and that the Chinese version risked ridicule in comparison -- all of which would have been most unwelcome, even politically dangerous, given that the two films are, in part, propagandistic displays of the United States' and China's military strengths.

Joyland is a 2022 Pakistan drama by Saim Sadiq
Starring Rasti Farooq, Sarwat Gilani and Ali Junejo

As the happily patriarchal Rana family craves for the birth of a baby boy, the youngest of the Rana men secretly joins an erotic dance theatre and finds himself falling for a fiercely ambitious trans starlet. Their impossible love story slowly illuminates the entire Rana family's...

Alina Khan, who stars in Joyland, the first major Pakistani film to feature a trans actor in a lead role, said:

I've been very sad. There's nothing against Islam and I don't understand how Islam can get endangered by mere films.

Joyland, which is Pakistan's contender at the Oscars, was set to go on national release, but was banned following pressure from hardline Islamic groups who called the film repugnant.

Mushtaq Ahmad Khan, a senator in the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) party, called Joyland cultural terrorism and criticised the government for the shameless act of allowing its release:

 I condemn it and will use every legal step to stop Joyland's release. Glamourising transgenders in Pakistan, as well as their love affairs, is a direct attack on our beliefs.

Cancelling the film's licence, which puts its Oscars' contention in doubt, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, said:

Written complaints were received that the film contains highly objectionable material which do not conform with the social values and moral standards of our society and is clearly repugnant to the norms of 'decency and morality' as laid down in Section 9 of the Motion Picture Ordinance, 1979.

Joyland has been hailed on the festival circuit. It was the first Pakistani film to be selected as an official entry at Cannes in May, winning two festival awards and receiving a standing ovation in a packed Salle Debussy theatre.

Update: Unbanned after cuts

21st November 2022. See article from easterneye.biz

Pakistani film Joyland has been unbanned by the censor board of Pakistan after making several scenes were cut.

The full censor board has allowed the local screening of Joyland. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif formed a cabinet committee to look into the matter after some schools of thought had objected to the movie.

Update: Re-banned in Punjab

30th November 2022. See article from hrw.org

Less than 24 hours after the national government's decision to unban Joyland, the Punjab government blocked the film's release in the province.

The Punjab Information and Culture Department explained that the Punjab government decided to re-call Joyland in the wake of persistent complaints received from different quarters.

The Sunday Times featured an interview with the new president of the BBFC alongside CEO David Austin. The article ran with the headline:

Natasha Kaplinsky, chief censor: where I'll draw the line on sex and gore The shining star of Noughties news and Strictly talks about her new job

Of course if you want to know where she'll draw the line you'll have to pay up. Thankfully other news sites have reported on BBFC utterances but haven't detailed any actual quotes answering the headline question of where lines will be drawn. MSN reported on the interview:

Kaplinsky told The Sunday Times Magazine that her background as a journalist will make her stronger when watching the tougher stuff she will have to view in her job.

She is an ambassador for Save the Children and president of Barnado's, and sees the BBFC role as a logical extension of her charity work. Shifting societal attitudes

As its president, Kaplinsky will be a member of the board of directors and will chair the Board of Classification, which meets monthly and oversees all matters relating to classification, including the most complex and controversial of cases.

Kaplinsky also told the magazine that being a child at the moment is very tricky due to the nature of online activity:

I definitely wouldn't want to grow up again. I'm fully aware of the influences that our children are under -- they're bombarded by this content constantly -- and yet we're able to provide a safe space for them. We've always relied on the classification system to do that.

She cautioned how online is largely unpoliced, and that's a worrying situation as a parent: you see how it influences their behaviour.

When she took on the role in September she said it was crucial that children's welfare is at the forefront of policy decision-making and this is central to the BBFC's efforts in the online safety space. She added:

The challenges that young people face now in the UK are greater than ever before -- and I am committed to giving voice to their needs.

Infinity Pool is a 2022 Canada/Hungary/France Sci-Fi horror by Brandon Cronenberg
Starring Mia Goth, Alexander Skarsgård and Amanda Brugel

Originally the movie was MPA NC-17 rated, but the producers decided to appeal for an R rating.

The Classification and Rating Administration's (CARA) Appeals Board tied in a vote to change the NC-17 rating to R but a two thirds majority is required to change the rating and so the NC-17 rating was maintained.

The producers then decided to cut the movie for an MPA R rating.

It is not yet clear if the cuts will affect international releases.

Summary Notes

James and Em Foster are enjoying an all-inclusive beach vacation in the fictional island of La Tolqa, when a fatal accident exposes the resort's perverse subculture of hedonistic tourism, reckless violence and surreal horrors.

Versions

cut		US: Cut and MPA R rated for graphic violence, disturbing material, strong sexual content, graphic nudity, drug use and some language.
uncut		US: Uncut and MPA NC-17 rated for some graphic violence and sexual content

Beyond Fury is a 2019 UK action film by Darren Ward
Starring Dani Thompson, Giovanni Lombardo Radice and Jeff Stewart

Ex-Mercenary Michael Walker and his pregnant girlfriend Claudia are brutally attacked. Now with Claudia and the unborn child dead, Walker reverts to his military training to hunt down and serve his own kinda street justice.

A BBFC submission was in process but presumably it will be cancelled now.

A Day of Violence is a 2010 UK crime thriller by Darren Ward
Starring Giovanni Lombardo Radice, Nick Rendell and Christopher Fosh

Mitchell Parker lies dead on a morgue slab. In life, 'Mitchell' served the low ranks of Debt Collectors, surrounded by all the filth and scum that the world had to offer. He thought his luck was in, when on a routine collection he stumbles across 100,000 in cash.

Passed 18 uncut by the BBFC in 2010 for very strong language, strong bloody violence and strong sex.

Sudden Fury is a 1997 UK action drama by Darren Ward.
Starring Chris Barfoot and Antony Dobson and Adam Light.

Intent on seizing control of South East England's cocaine business, small-time crime boss Randall hires notorious hit-man Walker to take out his competition. When Randall betrays the hit-man, however, the tables are turned.

Passed 18 uncut by the BBFC in 2003.

Direct Darren Ward has reported on Facebook that the planned UK Halloween release of his Crime Trilogy has been cancelled after supermarkets decided that it was too violent to be put on sale. He wrote

I signed a contract with a UK distributor back in June for THE CRIME TRILOGY that covered the UK, Australia & New Zealand. However due to the violent content of my films, the distributor has pulled out resulting in the termination of the contract.

BEYOND FURY and the other two movies WILL NOW NOT BE RELEASED on HALLOWEEN and probably will never see the light of day in the UK.

It deeply saddens me that after everyone's hard work and effort on a movie that has won 6 International awards, has been cast aside due to the simple fact that Supermarkets won't stock them.

What the Supermarkets fail to remember is that when released in 2010 A DAY OF VIOLENCE got to number 10 in the ASDA film charts across the country!

To end on a positive BEYOND FURY will see release in Germany, Austria & Switzerland in 2023!

#LookAtMe is a 2022 Singapore gay themed drama by Ken Kwek
Starring Yao, Yao and Pam Oei

A Youtuber posts an irreverent video trolling a megachurch pastor, in defence of his gay twin brother. He is vilified by society, tried in court, and pitted against a culture that threatens to destroy his family.

Singapore International Film Festival (SGIFF) has retained banned film #LookAtMe in its official selection, despite the fact it cannot be screened in the country.

Directed by Singapore filmmaker Ken Kwek, the film was handed a local exhibition ban last week on the grounds that it supposedly denigrates a religious community and has the potential to cause enmity and social division in Singapore's multi-racial and multi-cultural society, according to a joint statement by the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY).

Produced by Eko Pictures, the feature received its world premiere at the New York Asian Film Festival (NYAFF) in July where it proved one of the buzz titles of the event and received a special mention for the performance of Malaysian-born, US-based actor Yao (aka Thomas Pang) who plays the dual role of twin brothers.

The film's production team had previously planned to submit an appeal in a bid to overturn the ban. But after learning more about the IMDA appeals process, which includes a $355 (S$500) fee, they chose not to challenge the decision.

The film's festival run continues and it is scheduled to screen at upcoming festivals in the US, Australia and Thailand.

Pakistan's government has revoked the Central Board of Film Censors' independent capacity, granted under the previous government in 2020.

The censor board will now come under control of the information minister.

Mad Monkey Kung Fu is a 1979 Hong Kong action comedy by Chia-Liang Liu
Starring Chia-Liang Liu, Hou Hsiao and Kara Wai    

Always cut by the BBFC for animal cruelty.

Summary Notes

A disgraced former Kung Fu expert makes a living as a merchant with the help of a hot headed friend. When the men are harassed by gangsters, the merchant decided to teach his friend monkey boxing so they can defend their business.

Versions

uncut		US: Uncut and MPAA R rated for: 2011 Arc Entertainment R1 DVD at US Amazon #ad
cut: 28s run: 115m pal: 110m		UK: Passed 15 for strong violence, injury detail afterBBFC cuts: 2022 Arrow Film Distributors Ltd video The BBFC commented: This work had compulsory cuts made, removing a scene of animal cruelty in which a monkey was harmed. Cuts were made in accordance with BBFC Guidelines, policy, and the Video Recordings Act 1984, which applies the standards of the Cinematograph Films (Animals) Act 1937. UK: Passed 15 after 28s of BBFC cuts: 1995 Made In Hong Kong VHS

The Dirty Dolls is a 1973 US crime drama by Stu Segall
Starring John Alderman, Denise Drake and Esther Abbott    

Exists as a cut Smut Without Smut version and an an uncut version titled The Dirty Dolls.

Summary Notes

Johnny, a psychopath, puts together a gang made up of young teenage girls to commit crimes for him. Everything is going well until one day, during a diamond robbery, the girls are forced to take two hostages and bring them back to the hideout along with the loot. Furious, Johnny ...

Versions

uncut run: 72:56s pal: 70:01s

UK: Passed 18 uncut for sexual violence, strong sex, nudity, very strong language 2022 101 Films Smut Without Smut Vol. 1 [The Dirty Dolls + Smut Without Smut] (RB) Blu-ray at UK Amazon #ad See BBFC board meeting minutes from July 2022 [pdf] from darkroom.bbfc.co.uk : Re a scene of sexual violence from 1973 exploitation film THE DIRTY DOLLS. In the clip, a kidnapped woman is sexually assaulted by two other women, with sexualised nudity and a focus on the attackers' pleasure. BBFC Classification Guidelines state that intervention may be required at the adult category where material presents a credible harm risk to individuals or, through their behaviour, to society. This may include portrayals of rape or other non-consensual sexually violent behaviour which make the violence look appealing; reinforce the suggestion that victims enjoy rape or other non-consensual sexually violent behaviour; or which invite viewer complicity in rape, other non-consensual sexually violent behaviour or other harmful violent activities. The Board considered whether the THE DIRTY DOLLS was in breach of the guidelines, and ultimately concluded that the film's depiction of sexual violence was so lacking in believability and credibility that it did not represent a genuine harm risk requiring compulsory cuts to the film. Accordingly, in line with the BBFC's guiding principle that adults should be able to choose their own entertainment provided the content is not illegal or harmful, the Board agreed that THE DIRTY DOLLS could be classified 18 uncut.