Films which you think were give the wrong rating

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giratalkialga

25-05-2015

It's interesting to see how times change and that as we become more desensitized to violence, sex and swearing, the ratings criteria for films at a certain age category is becoming less strict (rightly so IMO; I'm glad that we're being treated like adults again after Ferman left around 15 years back).

Older films are having their ratings dropped quite frequently and I can think of quite a few films that which in the past were passed (or even cut) at 18 being downgraded to 15 uncut; some cases of the latter (formerly being cut at 18) include Evil Dead 2, Mad Max and Lethal Weapon 2.
However, some feel that the ratings being assigned these days are too lenient and in other cases, too strict.

Share your opinions on which films you think were given too high or low ratings and why (using spoiler tags if needed)

giratalkialga

25-05-2015

I think that Gone Girl was very tame for an 18 and could have instead been a strong 15. It fell right between 15 and 18 for me and a 16 rating, like Ireland has, would've been perfect for it. Yes, there were a few c-words but contrary to what the BBFC thinks, that wouldn't traumatize a modern 15 year old.

Spoiler

I was very surprised that Ireland gave it a 15 on DVD b/c I can think of a lot of films that are the other way around:
Kick-Ass (UK 15, IE 18)
Dark Knight (UK 12, IE 15)
Cheap Thrills (UK 15, IE 18)
Anaconda (UK 15, IE 18)

Here are a few with lower IE ratings than UK ones:
The Good, The Bad and The Ugly (UK 18 on video, IE 15) - it got a BBFC 15 for the 2008 cinema release
Die Hard 2 (UK 18 on video, IE 15) - the uncut version got a BBFC 15 for the 2013 cinema release.
Curse of Chucky (UK 18, IE 15)

giratalkialga

25-05-2015

I think that the Dark Knight should have been a straight-up 12 in cinemas instead of a 12A. I don't see a problem with 12-14 year olds seeing it.

Giving it a 15 would be going a little bit too far

rfonzo

27-05-2015

The Alfred Hitchcock Collection is rated as an 18, but I can only think of Psycho having a "gory" scene but when you buy the film individually it is a 15. I can't of any other films he did with Universal Studios that are rated as 18?

Gort

27-05-2015

Originally Posted by rfonzo:
“The Alfred Hitchcock Collection is rated as an 18, but I can only think of Psycho having a "gory" scene but when you buy the film individually it is a 15. I can't of any other films he did with Universal Studios that are rated as 18?”

Does it contain Frenzy? If so, that'd explain it. Graphic sexual violence tends to warrant such a rating.

stripedcat

28-05-2015

Originally Posted by giratalkialga:
“I think that Gone Girl was very tame for an 18 and could have instead been a strong 15. It fell right between 15 and 18 for me and a 16 rating, like Ireland has, would've been perfect for it. Yes, there were a few c-words but contrary to what the BBFC thinks, that wouldn't traumatize a modern 15 year old.

Spoiler

The only other 18-ish part I could think of was the box cutter scene, but I've seen far bloodier violence in 15 rated films (Kingsman and The Last Stand come to mind)

”

As you pointed out in your spoiler - I think that is the reason that it is an 18. Albeit, a film that I would say is a lower end 18.

Going on to other films, I think "Last of the Mohicans" being a 12 is wrong. The violence in it is too strong for that kind of rating - especially

Spoiler

. It should have been rated 15 when it was first out(yeah, and I know it was when it got released on video - but that was before the 12 was allowed on video).

I'm not entirely sure that the first Godfather should be a 15 nowadays. There is some pretty strong bloody violence in it - namely, the two scenes that I can say

Spoiler

dbob

28-05-2015

I am constantly amazed at how violent the 12A has become. I watched the latest Wolverine and was shocked as to what now passes as okay for kids to view. Lots of killing, bloodshed, stabbing, slashing and all topped off by a guy being stabbed in the neck with a pen. Now for 12 years and up this is all probably fine, but for all those parents taking their little kids (under 10s) to see a superhero movie I think it's too much violence and killing.

More the fault of the parents in this case, but I think what used to be a 15 has now become the new 12A. Personally I think the 12A is the worst thing to happen in censorship. I would prefer a 12A to mean 12 upwards only, the whole thing of 5 year olds being able to watch stuff like the Dark Knight is just ridiculous.

theonlyweeman

29-05-2015

Originally Posted by dbob:
“I am constantly amazed at how violent the 12A has become. I watched the latest Wolverine and was shocked as to what now passes as okay for kids to view. Lots of killing, bloodshed, stabbing, slashing and all topped off by a guy being stabbed in the neck with a pen. Now for 12 years and up this is all probably fine, but for all those parents taking their little kids (under 10s) to see a superhero movie I think it's too much violence and killing.

More the fault of the parents in this case, but I think what used to be a 15 has now become the new 12A. Personally I think the 12A is the worst thing to happen in censorship. I would prefer a 12A to mean 12 upwards only, the whole thing of 5 year olds being able to watch stuff like the Dark Knight is just ridiculous.”

Did you see the extended cut? Because that's a lot bloodier than the cinema version. And the DVD certificate is a 12 (12A is the theatrical certificate, it does not exist on home video), so nobody below the age of 12 should be watching...

theonlyweeman

29-05-2015

Originally Posted by giratalkialga:
“I think that the Dark Knight should have been a straight-up 12 in cinemas instead of a 12A. I don't see a problem with 12-14 year olds seeing it.

Giving it a 15 would be going a little bit too far”

The 12 doesn't exist as a theatrical certificate, only on home video.

It surprises me how much controversy that caused, given Batman Begins was basically a horror movie, and I personally thought BB was far more disturbing. Worth noting that it got the equivalent to a 12A in most of the world, and the UK is the only country where it really caused any controversy.

Asarualim

29-05-2015

I thought exactly the same about the recent Robocop remake. it was a 12A and there were small children with their parents in the screening I was at. One of them had their hands covering their eyes for most of it, the other was quite visibly upset by some of the scenes. I think it should have been a 15,.

I agree we do need a 12 certificate at cinemas rather than a 12A, to stop bad parents taking their kids to see such movies.

dbob

29-05-2015

Originally Posted by Asarualim:
“I thought exactly the same about the recent Robocop remake. it was a 12A and there were small children with their parents in the screening I was at. One of them had their hands covering their eyes for most of it, the other was quite visibly upset by some of the scenes. I think it should have been a 15,.

I agree we do need a 12 certificate at cinemas rather than a 12A, to stop bad parents taking their kids to see such movies.”

Agreed, some parents are just too stupid to be trusted. I saw Edge of Tomorrow last year which although comic book in style with a bit of humour, it's still pretty violent and quite intense. Someone had thought it was okay to bring what looked like 6-7 old boy with them!

grazey1985

29-05-2015

I remember going to see snow white and the huntsman. It was a 12a. Full of really young kids there about 4-5 year old (probably because of Kirsten Stewart and Chris hemsworth). The amount of kids that was screaming and crying really ruined the experience. Biggest laugh I got was when parents complained about the rating to cinema staff and demanded refunds because it was too distressing for their kids.

Namira

29-05-2015

Can't believe Jaws was only rated PG! Also surprised Titanic was only rated 12 because of subject matter.....and boobs.

Dalekbuster523

29-05-2015

Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows Part 2 should have been a 15.

Wall.E should have been a U.

Daniel Dare

29-05-2015

Originally Posted by Namira:
“Can't believe Jaws was only rated PG! Also surprised Titanic was only rated 12 because of subject matter.....and boobs.”

Has it really? Blimey, that's a bit of a come down from an 'X'.

roger_50

29-05-2015

I agree about Last of the Mohicans. One of the more ridiculous ratings by the BBFC.

Not just the graphic scalpings and bloodletting earlier in the film, but the final scene where Magua dies and you see a close-up shot of that giant axe bursting through his spine and out his bare back. With grisly sound effects. It's a 15-rated scene in a 12-rated film. Why?

But again - the BBFC seem to have some weird alternate rating system with historical films. I've never really understood it, all it does is breed confusion - especially for parents trying to judge whether a film might be suitable for their children.

Ænima

29-05-2015

Their highest rating in Sweden is 15, my girlfriend's always telling me she thinks we are oversensitive here

I agree.

Will_Bennetts

29-05-2015

Rambo (2008) should have been an 18

grazey1985

29-05-2015

Originally Posted by Dalekbuster523:
“Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows Part 2 should have been a 15.

Wall.E should have been a U.”

Wall e was a u. There is absolutely nothing that would qualify a15 rating for deathly hallows.

dbob

29-05-2015

Originally Posted by Will_Bennetts:
“Rambo (2008) should have been an 18”

It was an 18

giratalkialga

30-05-2015

I think that the original Carrie could be a 15 these days (it last got rated in 2001).

*spoilers for both the 1976 and 2013 versions below*

Spoiler

giratalkialga

30-05-2015

Frenzy is the reason for the overall 18 rating.

Dalekbuster523

30-05-2015

Originally Posted by grazey1985:
“Wall e was a u. There is absolutely nothing that would qualify a15 rating for deathly hallows.”

I thought it was a PG.

I think Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows Part 2 should be a 15 because of all the deaths in it.

grazey1985

30-05-2015

Originally Posted by Dalekbuster523:
“I thought it was a PG.

I think Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows Part 2 should be a 15 because of all the deaths in it.”

There is plenty of deaths in 12 certificate films. None of the deaths in hallows are too graphic for a 15.

Inkblot

30-05-2015

Went to see French drama The New Girlfriend yesterday. Was surprised to see the 15 cert at the start. Afterwards, looked it up on BBFC and amongst other things:

"There are some strong images of nudity, including brief sight of an erect penis and full frontal female nudity."

Which would probably have earned it an 18 and/or cuts in the past. But as a story it's no more than a 12A. In France it's a U.

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