Horror & the 15 certificate

[vincenzo]

The subject of headbutts has always been a hit-and-miss one with the BBFC. They were cut from films such as The Matrix (for a 15), yet left intact in Miss Congeniality 2 (12-rated), the Oliver Reed Three Musketeers (U rated) and The Living Daylights (PG rated). The latter features a very graphic headbutt.

Curiously a headbutt was allowed in the first Shrek, yet cut from the sequel for the same U certificate.

[The Reaper Man@Cult Labs]

I watched Lethal Weapon 2 The Director's cut the other night,it looked as if there was still cuts.....

[nekromantik]

What do ya guys think about The Hitcher original, it was rated 18 back in 2003 I think.
Would it still be a 18 today?
Im not so sure about this one.

[vincenzo]

I would rate The Hitcher as a 15.

Originally Posted by reaper72

I watched Lethal Weapon 2 The Director's cut the other night,it looked as if there was still cuts.....

Yes there are. The UK releases of 2 & 4 still feature the same cuts as before.

[Stephen@Cult Labs]

Originally Posted by vincenzo

The subject of headbutts has always been a hit-and-miss one with the BBFC. They were cut from films such as The Matrix (for a 15), yet left intact in Miss Congeniality 2 (12-rated), the Oliver Reed Three Musketeers (U rated) and The Living Daylights (PG rated). The latter features a very graphic headbutt.

Curiously a headbutt was allowed in the first Shrek, yet cut from the sequel for the same U certificate.

The BBFC say all things are taken in context but I dont believe this for a second.I think it's all down to the individual examiners and what they personally find acceptable.The issue of headbutts is a prime example.Star Trek 6 (rated PG) had a headbutt,Judge Dredd (rated 15) had a headbutt removed).as far as I'm concerned,a headbutt is a headbutt.Remove them all or keep them all but to have one in a U certificate film and then cut one from a 15 film is just ridiculous.

[vincenzo]

Yes some BBFC rulings were curious to say the least. 'Piss' was cut from the old 'A' (PG) rated Convoy, yet allowed in the U-rated (cartoon!) Watership Down the same year.

The brilliant Licence To Kill was cut for violence by the BBFC (for a 15) though Dalton's headbutt to Benicio Del Toro wasn't among the cuts.

[Stephen@Cult Labs]

And look at Licence To Kill now.Exploding heads,Bloody shark bitten stumps and minced legs....all with a 15 certificate

[vincenzo]

Yes some of that was cut for the cinema release (as well as the opening whipping, and the burning Sanchez) though fully uncut now.

Bond-wise (or ernie-wise) the Roger Moore era seemed to get away with a heck of a lot for an 'A' (PG). Even gun caressing (Man With The Golden Gun) and imitable techniques (Live And Let Die).

I would have rated Craig's Casino Royale as a 15. Even with the BBFC (dialogue) cut.

[Stephen@Cult Labs]

Wasn't the Casino Royale 1 disc dvd or maybe it was the 2 disc actually the full uncut version? I thought I read that somewhere? I may have dreamt it

[Stephen@Cult Labs]

I was right about Casino Royale.Found this on IMDB...

Region 2 British DVD releases vary in the torture scene: in the single-disc release (D6-43508-UK-S), the film is 138.22 mins and is missing Le Chiffre placing the knotted rope on Bond's shoulder and saying to him, "Such a waste", and at least one low-level shot of the rope coming in for impact; in the double-disc collector's edition (D7-43508-LC-S), the film is 138.35 mins and has these brief additions, plus the sound effects here seem enhanced / more violent.