BBFC strikes again: Grotesque banned

[bradavon]

They only use 18 for Porn in France too. Many of the UK's 15/18s are PGs/12s in France. I'm not sure I'd go that low myself (are they saying kids are capable/safe to watch "everything"?) but some 18s should be 15s.

The End of the Affair everyone (including the film-makers/studio) thought it would get 15 because frankly it is very much 15 territory/there's nothing in it to warrant an 18 but it did still the same. I'd love to know why. EDIT: The BBFC says "explicit sex scenes". WTF! They must've watched a different film, there's no "explicit" sex scenes. That's just dumb.

[Markgway]

I seem to recall the BBFC saying the '18' for AFFAIR had to do with the amount of buttock thrusting.

[HungFist]

Grotesque (Japan, 2009) – 3.5/5

One of the more notorious films in the recent streak of gorno movies, Koji Shiraishi’s appropriately titled Grotesque made it to the headlines when BBFC denied it classification. Cuts would not do, only total banning would protect people from its harmful effect. It’s a flashback from the era when British citizens where being charged in court for smuggling Guinea Pig movies into the country. Such feared Japanese splatter films provided inspiration for Grotesque as well – American Hostels and Saws are referred in the marketing campaign only to reach a larger audience.

While intended as a movie so violent it couldn’t be shown in theatres, Grotesque did, in fact, come a welcome surprise for a viewer prepared for a dull blood and guts marathon. While this reviewer’s personal preferences, experiences and fears no doubt played an integral role in it, Grotesque works above all on a psychological level. While minimal on storyline – only examining two people’s will to survive in the hands of a sadistic psychopath – the film succeeds in engaging the viewer. Rather than only shocking with its graphic imagery, Grotesque attempts to make the viewer bite his teeth for the survival of the characters. Whether it succeeds in it, is highly depended on each individual the viewer and their tolerance for ultra graphic imagery.

Technically the film is well made. Cinematography (shot in 2.35:1) and editing are of good quality, music is used skillfully, and special effects are extremely convincing. Yet, all these are there to serve the film’s psychological level. If that is not reached (by the viewer), the technical merits alone become meaningless, and only small bits of extreme dark humor remain. Viewers facing this situation will no doubt question the film’s value and probably see little else than shocking gore in it.

Discussing the psychological levels of a film as graphic as Grotesque may appear a bit comical, even pretentious. This is, however, exactly how many hard core horror movies work. Often not understood by easily shocked or high morale viewers, the best of the ultra violent horror movies also challenge the viewer on a psychological level – only the method is more primitive. Can the viewer endure such strong horror experience? Some viewers are scared to death by mainstream ghost stories, others fear only graphic violence. People are different, and drawing a line between acceptable and non-acceptable would be hypocrisy and ignorance – an attempt to declare one’s own moral standards as a universal truth.

Naturally, Grotesque requires a high tolerance level, as its imagery must not push the viewer out of its dark world, but rather trap him in there. Grotesque is a strong and even physically exhausting experience because it succeeds in the latter mentioned. Constantly feeding its characters – and the viewer – a glimpse of hope for survival, it keeps the participants fighting till the last scene. This element would not exist in the film if it had been intended just as degraded gore service. Admittedly, though, the film’s nature considered its target audience is strictly limited. Grotesque is a film to scare people – even the ones who haven’t seen it.

[HungFist]

US DVD and BD coming from Media Blasters on November 23, 2010
http://www.dvdmaniacs.net/forums/showth ... 603&page=2

[bradavon]

Why do you care so much what the BBFC do or do not do? It affects you not.

[HungFist]

Didn't I already answer that question last year? In this topic

[bradavon]

Possibly but you go on about BBFC as if it affects your life in some way, when you don't "even" life in Europe. Will the BBFC altering a film in some way, at all affect you getting hold of it unaltered? I'd understand if it did.

[HungFist]

On page 1:

Why do you really care btw?

As a European I have to be ashamed of British stupidity

But the reason for starting this topic was the have some conversation. I don't really care what happens or doesn't happen in the UK.

[gasteropod]

As a European I have to be ashamed of British stupidity

Well we don't even consider ourselves European

[HungFist]

As a European I have to be ashamed of British stupidity

Well we don't even consider ourselves European

Arrogant bastards

[bradavon]

I do but most don't.

[gasteropod]

You would!

[bradavon]

The whole we're not European, we're British thing is completely illogical and incorrect. You can be British and European, you can be Chinese and Asian. You don't have to be one or the other. You can even be Scottish, British and European.

It makes even less sense when it's blatantly clear we are European, so many of our sensibilities are the same as people on the mainland. Which in itself is odd because Europe a continent not a country and plenty of it's countries aren't even in The EU, so that argument quickly falls down too.

[gasteropod]

You can be British and European

But I feel British, not European (and to be even more accurate, I feel English).

[bradavon]

What's wrong with feeling all three? The entire point of Britain is it encapsulates England, Scotland, Wales and depending who you ask/where you look Northern Ireland (although it's inclusion is iffy to put it lightly). We share more Europe than we do North America.

We've had this discussion before. I don't understand why you have to only feel one. Most other European nations (although The UK is by far the only European sceptic nation) feel able to be their national identity but also European. You're not in any way saying anything negative against being English by also saying European.

[HungFist]

It also depends on in which position your country is. England has a history as one of the leading counties in the world, plus it's geographically separated from the mainland Europe. So, it's easy for Englishmen to tell Europe to fuck off.

Finland is the opposite example, we've been keen on emhasizing our Europeanism for a long time. That's because the dimwits in the US and elsewhere never really manage to draw the country borders (or rather, political influence borders) correct, and have often associated Finland with Russia / Soviet Union, and considered it another east block nation. When this happens after you've fought Russia in war with a successful 13:1 kill rate, but are still geographically stuck being a neighboring nation, you will feel sudden urge to identify youself, and especially have other identify you as, a European.

Then we have the proud French, but they're screwed cause they're so centrally located that they practically are the Europe. Although, I'm pretty sure that's how they see it also

this is a great off topic discussion. I'm sure you don't mind if I extract it into a topic of its own sooner or later. Too lazy to do it right now, though. In a few days.

[gasteropod]

The entire point of Britain is it encapsulates England, Scotland, Wales and depending who you ask/where you look Northern Ireland (although it's inclusion is iffy to put it lightly).

Great Britain + Northern Ireland = The United Kingdom.

[bradavon]

Of course, hence my comment but Northern Ireland is also referred enough as being British to make it's exclusion not entirely accurate. Is Poland in Central or Eastern Europe? It depends in what government or national document you look.

The same goes for plenty of Central/Eastern European countries being lumped together.

It also depends on in which position your country is. England has a history as one of the leading counties in the world, plus it's geographically separated from the mainland Europe. So, it's easy for Englishmen to tell Europe to fuck off.

That history is well and truly over though. Ireland is even more geographically separate from the Mainland as The UK is but they're much more pro European.

We're stronger being in than out of Europe. The UK has no chance of telling The USA to get stuffed without the rest of Europe. We've got virtually none of the power we once had (before most of us were even born).

[Shingster]

Oh shut up Brad, Great Britain = The largest Island of Britain divided as England, Scotland & Wales. There is no ambiguity here what-so-ever. Call an Irishman British and he will call you something else, as the only people who don't know what Great Britain refers to are ignorant morons who don't know how to check a simple fact via a simple internet search engine.

[gasteropod]

Yeah Brad, in the words of Keith Lemon: 'Don't be a dingbat!'

[Markgway]

You wouldn't describe Liam Neeson as British would you?

[romerojpg]

I would call him a BIG MUTHERFUCKER

[Markgway]

I would call him a BIG MUTHERFUCKER

With a particular set of skills...

[bradavon]

Yeah Brad, in the words of Keith Lemon: 'Don't be a dingbat!'

I love that show .