What general film/series have you just seen.. marks out of 5

[romerojpg]

I have the Region 1 - Hard Candy standard dvd off Ebay for about £2 I think it cost for a few quid you can see if it is worth that upgrade.

[saltysam]

Assault On Precinct 13 (2005) 2.5/5

Remake can't hold a candle to the Carpenter classic but as remakes go this isn't bad an ok if dull at times actioner. The setting is the same,a besieged police station but this time rather than crazy gangs the attackers are a bunch of corrupt cops led by Gabriel Byrne. Ethan Hawke is bland in the lead and Laurence Fishbourne ok as the Criminal the cops are trying to silence. As Carpenter remakes go it's a definite improvement on the Halloween/Fog reduxes and has a decent surprise kill that while not matching the ice cream one in the original was fairly well done.worth a watch.

[gasteropod]

Inception was really good. The ending leaves you thinking! Romero, that 'spoiler' of yours is in the trailer lol, totally not a spoiler

[bradavon]

I thought that and I've not even seen the film .

[romerojpg]

Not taking any chances better to be paranoid and safe, than sorry.

[bradavon]

I went to see Inception but the queue was going out of the door. I was told Inception had sold out hours earlier (so booking online wouldn't have helped either) and Predators only had 2 seats left. The queue was going out of the door for the new Twilight movie. I've never seen anything like it. It looked like the queue for a Take That concert.

So I saw Predators: It was really good. It had a nice 80s action vibe to it (which is good), no CGI to be seen or at least it wasn't all over the bloody place (CGI is bad) and thankfully the Predators were men in suits (which is also good). It's the best Predator film since the original, obviously.

Lots of action, lots of kick ass fights and good violence for a 15. I'd have preferred more blood and an 18 rating but the 15 was fine. Thank christ it wasn't 12A. There are several really cool homages to Predator and it even references the original film, nothing towards Predator 2 though.

It's so much better than the rubbish AVP (I didn't bother with AVP2). I reckon I should check out Predator 2 again. I don't much like that one but I should give it another chance.

I'll try again for Inception in a few days. I'll book this time.

[romerojpg]

I'd have preferred more blood and an 18 rating but the 15 was fine. Thank christ it wasn't 12A.

Sadly they cut loads of shit out, the Director said he had filmed loads of full on gore scenes, and he will put them in the home version I wanted to see that stuff in the cinema cut, the fool.

[saltysam]

Batman:Under The Red Hood 4/5

Excellent DC Comics animated feature based on the Jason Todd Robin comic story,adult in nature and certainly the best DC effort since Mask Of The Phantasm.at 75 minutes too short though and it feels a little rushed at times.

[bradavon]

Sadly they cut loads of shit out, the Director said he had filmed loads of full on gore scenes, and he will put them in the home version I wanted to see that stuff in the cinema cut, the fool.

Cool. Thanks. Obviously it's because USA cinema sales rely on either the PG-13 or R rating but USA disc sales do just fine with no rating on them.

I say it quite often, "that I'll get the blu-ray" and then don't end up getting it but this one I will be. I'm undecided on Robin Hood though. I enjoyed it (more than most it seems) but it is Scott light, it should've been a 15.

[Markgway]

Sadly they cut loads of shit out, the Director said he had filmed loads of full on gore scenes, and he will put them in the home version I wanted to see that stuff in the cinema cut, the fool.

No studio will go near an NC-17.

Can't blame the director.

[bradavon]

No studio will go near an NC-17.

Oddly they will when it's on DVD/BD and given an Unrated release. The American film classification system is utterly illogical.

[grim_tales]

Toy Story 2 BD: 5/5

Excellent film Hilarious yet also genuinely sad and emotional at times. Let's hope Toy Story 3 is as good.

[Markgway]

No studio will go near an NC-17.

Oddly they will when it's on DVD/BD and given an Unrated release. The American film classification system is utterly illogical.

Unrated is not the same as NC-17. Unrated bypasses the ratings system altogether. You can get unrated films that are like PG or PG-13 level. All it means is that the MPAA haven't approved it (or that version). The problem with the NC-17 is that many theatres won't show them, papers won't advertise them, and on DVD shops won't stock them. Mainstream audiences also don't like "adults only" films. It's about perception as often the difference between an 'R' and an 'NC-17' is minimal. Commerical kiss of death really.

[romerojpg]

Nahh the chances of a mainstream film like Predators getting an NC-17 are so slim it would never happen on this earth
Predators is hardly a violent film, they could have went far, far more into gore and still got an R, remember its a 15 in the UK, a comfortable 15 at that.

They did not put out the real film in cinemas for one reason and one reason only - UNRATED, them dire words will help sell more dvds.

[Markgway]

Predators is hardly a violent film, they could have went far, far more into gore and still got an R, remember its a 15 in the UK, a comfortable 15 at that.

There's at least one originally NC-17 rated film that I can think of that's an uncut '15' in the UK.

Men of War (with Dolph Lundgren).

[bradavon]

Unrated is not the same as NC-17. Unrated bypasses the ratings system altogether. You can get unrated films that are like PG or PG-13 level. All it means is that the MPAA haven't approved it (or that version). The problem with the NC-17 is that many theatres won't show them, papers won't advertise them, and on DVD shops won't stock them. Mainstream audiences also don't like "adults only" films. It's about perception as often the difference between an 'R' and an 'NC-17' is minimal. Commerical kiss of death really.

Thanks captain obvious . I knew all that.

I meant, on DVD/BD they can release a title Unrated and get around the whole NC-17 issue but in cinemas they never release films without a rating. So are forced to cut the film, so it gets an R because lets face it the whole MPAA rating system is a joke (okay there's nothing wrong with PG-13 or lower). Whereas on DVD/BD Americans actually seem to prefer to have a release with no rating (so you've got no clue how violent/sexual it is) instead of an Adult only NC-17, that at least informs the viewer.

You're right though. There is a culture where any film, there is a perception the parent is allowed to take a younger aged person (even if it includes not having a clue how violent/sexual a film may actually be, in the case of Unrated releases). Obviously with NC-17 this isn't the case. The whole rating system needs an overhaul but there's no public appetite for it. I know if I lived in America I'd still look to the BBFC for guidance but that's more to do with my European sensibilities. It's also at least it's transport and makes sense (most of the time).

I do find it surprising though, American parents don't get annoyed at unrated titles. In a retail outlet, you pick up something that looks harmless but as it's unrated have nothing to go on.

[Shingster]

The US rating system is far more sensible than our own, the problem is it's regulated by muppets.

[romerojpg]

and film studios know not to even submit loads of stuff, not becuase they will have it cut out and given an NC-17, but for the dumb reason that kids want to see it in the cinema and idiot parents take them

Mammy Mammy!

Yes little 5 year old Billy.

Take me to see Predators!

OK little Billy, lets go.



at least in the UK 5 years olds dont pop up in many 15 or 18 rated films in the cinema

[Markgway]

Thanks captain obvious . I knew all that.

Your post gave the impression you didn't.

I meant, on DVD/BD they can release a title Unrated and get around the whole NC-17 issue but in cinemas they never release films without a rating.

If 'SAW, PART XII' was unrated it would have just as hard a time with promotion and exhibition as an NC-17.

As you say on DVD it's a different kettle of fish because dedicated stores and online e-tailers don't put on restrictions. R-rated versions are often created to keep the likes of Blockbuster happy.

I happen to think the BBFC system is about as good as it gets even though I often disagree with their ratings (oddly enough as much now as I did when they were under Ferman when they were frequently too harsh).

Romero's example is from what I can gather an accurate one. Just recently I read a post on a forum in which someone was worried about taking their 11 year old to see one of the SAW sequels in case it had nudity. No shit.

[bradavon]

The US rating system is far more sensible than our own, the problem is it's regulated by muppets.

You reckon, how so?

How can it be sensible to have a system where in reality only two ratings are ever used? It either has to fit into the PG-13 or R rated category. The NC-17 rating has no practical use to exist, for non-pornographic material.

The MPPA imposes ratings and cuts but doesn't tell the filmmaker where or why the cut/rating was imposed. They regularly are lenient on violence and heavy handed on sex, have an NC-17 rating that is only used in practise for pornography (making it otherwise worthless), although films to be released without any rating period. I appreciate the latter is probably not specifically connected to the MPAA but it should be. The list goes on.

At least with the BBFC they're always very clear why a film got such a rating, why it was cut and are as tough on sex, as they are violence.

at least in the UK 5 years olds dont pop up in many 15 or 18 rated films in the cinema

They pop up in 12A instead . I agree though, too many parents use the lower classifications as a rating system, are too bust playing with their mobile whilst the massive 12A rating appears on screen and then complain Dark Knight was too violence for little Tommy.

If 'SAW, PART XII' was unrated it would have just as hard a time with promotion and exhibition as an NC-17.

True but that's basically my point. The NC-17 from a technical perspective is basically the same as the 18 rating, yet no person in the UK is overly concerned about that rating.

As you say on DVD it's a different kettle of fish because dedicated stores and online e-tailers don't put on restrictions. R-rated versions are often created to keep the likes of Blockbuster happy.

Which is bonkers. A film should be able to be released at whatever rating and the rating will speak for itself. I specifically said retail because like you say rental stores won't touch unrated material but plenty of retail stores do.

Romero's example is from what I can gather an accurate one. Just recently I read a post on a forum in which someone was worried about taking their 11 year old to see one of the SAW sequels in case it had nudity. No shit.

OMG! WTF!

Legally am American would be able to take their 11 year old to see an R right? You've gotta love they don't care about the violence but are worried about the odd boob appearing on screen.

[Markgway]

Legally am American would be able to take their 11 year old to see an R right?

Or younger... I remember when I was kid an American woman on British TV commenting that her five year old found parts of Terminator 2 (rated R) too scary. I thought to myself: How come in America a five year old can see T2 uncut when I can't even see a cut version (I was 11 going on 12).

Their system isn't a good one because it's too easy to abuse.

[romerojpg]

If you look over at the IMDB forums it is a place so hilarious and packed full of americans you just think they have to be making everything up, people taking 5 year olds to the latest nasty horror films (o even the latest sex packed shagfest) and saying it is their right as parents if that kids wants to see Freddy slashing people to pieces! basically some parents are well mental.

Watching them defend their rights to take their little kids to see anything they want, well it is even funnier, but also sick as hell when you get your head around it that tiny little kids are sitting in American cinemas watching pretty much every single film we see over here rated 15 or 18. Can you imagine how scared, messed up some of these kids must be after seeing some of the nasty shit rated 18 over here. Can a 5 year old (or younger, imagine that) really like watching the latest Saw film? seriously crackers.

[gasteropod]

I had nightmares for years after seeing Halloween when I was about 6!

[romerojpg]

Yup and look how bloodless that is, imagine some of the hardcore stuff kids see then :S

[Markgway]

Apart from the tits Halloween is like a TV movie.

The vast majority of slasher flickers are a hundred times worse.