Why are the Bruce Lee movies "18"?

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 15 Feb 2007, 12:00

I thought about this when I saw Hapkido because some of the action/setting - at times anyway, seemed about the same level of brutality (neck breaking, throat/knee chops etc) as some of the Bruce films. No nanchukus of course, yet Hapkido was only a "15", how so is it something like "Way of the Dragon" (which isnt really very violent) is an "18"?

tom2681 · Post by **tom2681** » 15 Feb 2007, 12:41

Why is a kung-fu comedy like Snake in the Eagle's Shadow 18 ?
The mysteries of the BBFC...

I don't think it's Bruce-specific.

thelostdragon · Post by **thelostdragon** » 15 Feb 2007, 12:55

The use of the nunchucks which have always been cut before HKL released the films.

RickyTheDragonSteamboat · Post by **RickyTheDragonSteamboat** » 15 Feb 2007, 17:04

What if Bruce had used foam nunchucks instead? 15? 12? PG? BBFC sucks ASS!

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 15 Feb 2007, 17:35

The BBFC have always treated Bruce Lee harshly largely because kids and teenagers imitated him from the getgo. Whilst they've waived the censor cuts they've never admitted to being too strict with the ratings. Having said that: BOSS, FIST and ENTER probably do deserves '18's due to the strong physical violence and technique. I think WAY and GAME should be reduced to '15's though, personally. SNAKE, also, should be reduced to a '15'. Even worse is DRAGON LORD; that should be a '12' not an '18'. Madness.

thelostdragon · Post by **thelostdragon** » 15 Feb 2007, 17:51

All film boards, be it the BBFC, MPAA or the FSK in Germany are very unlogical.

"Cop Land"
BBFC: 18
MPAA: R
FSK: 12

The FSK gave "The Weather Man" with Nicolas Cage a 6 classification. That means you have to be 6 years old before you can listen to people talking about camel toes, using the F-word like dozens of times and talking about oral sex. Well...

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 15 Feb 2007, 18:05

The Dir's Cut of COPLAND was reduced to a '15' in the UK, IIRC.

It's quite bloody at the end, but there's not a lot of violence on the whole.

Killer Meteor · Post by **Killer Meteor** » 15 Feb 2007, 18:58

Interestingly, the BBFC have reversed decisions. The Terminator and The Wicker Man were 18 on video but on DVD are 15.

Bruce's films are more 15 material but the 18 rating made them seem extreme to me as a kid, especially with the black and white covers on the UK tapes

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 15 Feb 2007, 19:09

WAY should have been a 15 IMO, today. It's not very violent apart from the alley fight and Bruce v Bob Wall/Whang In Sik/Chuck TBH.
FIST is quite brutal, as is BOSS in places.. so. I dont know.

Shingster · Post by **Shingster** » 15 Feb 2007, 19:29

I'm pretty sure that Way of Dragon and Game of Death are 18 because of the amount of Nunchuk violence, maybe if the films were re-submitted today they might recieve the lower 15 rating, but I doubt it. Every few years the BBFC tend to reassess their policies and decide to become more lenient on some aspect or more strict on another, same goes for any censorship board really, so this sometimes (though obviously not always) explains appraent inconcistencies between films.

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 15 Feb 2007, 20:32

If the films were submitted fresh we'd see different ratings I'm sure.

BiscLimpkit · Post by **BiscLimpkit** » 15 Feb 2007, 20:46

grim_tales wrote: how so is it something like "Way of the Dragon" (which isnt really very violent) is an "18"?

Violence isn't really relavent when it comes to differentiating between a 15 and an 18 rating (unless it's an extreme case). As Mark and Shingster have already said, it's about how youths imitate what they see on screen.

TBH, I don't think some 21 year olds should be allowed to watch Bruce Lee films. However, our society says that by 18, we are all adults and mature enough to make our own decisions (yeah right).

I think that the BBFC would still keep all Bruce Lee films 18 if resubmitted today. I certainly would.

thelostdragon wrote:All film boards, be it the BBFC, MPAA or the FSK in Germany are very unlogical.

At the moment, the BBFC's current policies are a lot more structured than the other two. BBFC aren't perfect but far better than the PC of the MPAA and FSK.

EvaUnit02 · Post by **EvaUnit02** » 16 Feb 2007, 00:34

Lengthy threads always seem to be generated whenever film ratings are discussed here. Why? As long as the film is uncut, who gives a fuck bout the rating? We're all over 18 here.

Killer Meteor · Post by **Killer Meteor** » 16 Feb 2007, 00:46

Yeah but it wasn't that long ago I wasn't and had to rely on the whim and generosity of my parents

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 16 Feb 2007, 02:04

Isn't it the intensity of the violence? I'd say it warrants an 18. Agreed WOTD should be a 15 though.

EvaUnit02 · Post by **EvaUnit02** » 16 Feb 2007, 04:31

Ivan Drago wrote:Yeah but it wasn't that long ago I wasn't and had to rely on the whim and generosity of my parents

My parents never really cared, I could pretty much watch anything except Pr0n.

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 16 Feb 2007, 09:33

I thought Hap Ki Do was pretty intense at times, but its a 15, hence this thread

The "18" for SITES was ludicrous IMO, Heart of Dragon didn't deserve it either.
The "18" on VHS for the 1973 Wicker Man was harsh.
The UK PAL laserdisc of T2 was uncut (same as the US version) and rated "18" (AFAIK)

BiscLimpkit · Post by **BiscLimpkit** » 16 Feb 2007, 18:46

EvaUnit02 wrote:Why? As long as the film is uncut, who gives a fuck bout the rating? We're all over 18 here.

Even though some of us don't act it, yup I quite agree.

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 16 Feb 2007, 18:55

Ooooo....

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 16 Feb 2007, 23:57

Ivan Drago wrote:Yeah but it wasn't that long ago I wasn't and had to rely on the whim and generosity of my parents

Ah but you are now.

Personally I like to discuss if I think it's appropriate for kids, plus I'll be a father one day. Salty even is.

EvaUnit02 wrote:
Ivan Drago wrote:Yeah but it wasn't that long ago I wasn't and had to rely on the whim and generosity of my parents
My parents never really cared, I could pretty much watch anything except Pr0n.

And look how you turned out

p.s - Sex is bad but violence is fine. I don't get your parents logic personally but hey ho each to their own.

BiscLimpkit · Post by **BiscLimpkit** » 17 Feb 2007, 00:46

TBH, it's a bit awkward watching porn with the parents.

thelostdragon · Post by **thelostdragon** » 17 Feb 2007, 02:15

bradavon wrote:p.s - Sex is bad but violence is fine. I don't get your parents logic personally but hey ho each to their own.

Good luck with raising your kids then.

EvaUnit02 · Post by **EvaUnit02** » 17 Feb 2007, 02:33

BiscLimpkit wrote:Even though some of us don't act it, yup I quite agree.

Online behaviour is not necessarily a reflection of the real-life equivalent.

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 17 Feb 2007, 03:23

Sex is bad but violence is fine. I don't get your parents logic personally but hey ho each to their own.

Probably because it's easier to watch DIE HARD with your parents than SHOWGIRLS.

Brad: "Hey Mum, you don't mind if I shoot my load while we watch do you?"

Mum: "No problem, Bradley. Remember to use a tissue.... and close your eyes at the violent bits."

Brad: "Gee, thanks Mum. You're the best!"

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 17 Feb 2007, 18:05

BiscLimpkit wrote:TBH, it's a bit awkward watching porn with the parents.

. I can imagine that being awkward.

thelostdragon wrote:Good luck with raising your kids then.

Thanks, why? I'd always be open about sex and explain what it's all about.

EvaUnit02 wrote:Online behaviour is not necessarily a reflection of the real-life equivalent.

Too true. I bet most of us are different offline.

Markgway wrote:Probably because it's easier to watch DIE HARD with your parents than SHOWGIRLS

Who said anything about watching it with your parents???

Besides I'm willing to bet "being embarrassed" has nothing to do with some parents being against their kids watching porn, that was my point.

Bullets 'n' Babes

Why are the Bruce Lee movies "18"?

Why are the Bruce Lee movies "18"?

Re: Why are the Bruce Lee movies "18"?