Results tagged “BBFC” from Birmingham Mail - Mega Movies

AS PROMISED in today's Birmingham Mail, here's a longer version of my thoughts about the latest revision of guidelines by the British Board of Film Classification.

I've also now added a few websites for further reading after a list I had compiled earlier this week disappeared into thin air off my computer.

In particular, if you're a student or school pupil interested in films, don't miss my tips about www.filmeducation.org - or see my blog from September 5, 2008 for more details.

SUCH IS the non-stop world of the movies, I've just had my first two-week holiday for a decade.

I can't wait to catch up with the third Mummy film and Space Chimps!

During my overseas break I was amused by the Daily Mail's orchestrated campaign to slam the BBFC's 12A certificate for the new Batman movie, The Dark Knight.

On Wednesday, August 6, for example, it had the headline 'Growing anger at Batman's 12A rating' beneath a strapline which read: 'Allison Pearson triggered the debate. Yesterday Iain Duncan Smith joined in. So why was the ultra-violent Batman given such a low rating'.

The next page, beneath the same strapline, had the headline 'Unaccountable, unashamed, the scandal of the faceless censors who do anything BUT censor' and the text included the now familiar line: 'Last week, Mail columnist Allison Pearson triggered the debate on this violent film, saying she was appalled that children could see it'.

But is this really where it all began....?

IINDIANA JONES AND THE KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL was classified by the BBFC on Tuesday last week, May 6.

Steven Spielberg's latest film will run to 122 minutes and 20 seconds when it opens next week on May 22 and have a 12A certificate.

This means parents will have to guess whether it is suitable for their children under this age.

Or you can read our review in the Birmingham Mail on Friday 23 to be on the safe side.

The consumer advice is that it has been 'passed with no cuts made' and 'contains moderate action violence and scary scenes'.

Not to mention Harrision Ford's creaking knees which will be 66 years old on July 13!

Fans of the existing trilogy struggling to contain themselves might want to amuse themselves in the meantime by coming up with anagrams, either for The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull or for Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.

THE latest Marvel hero Iron Man arrives on Midland cinema screens on Thursday - armed with just a 12A certificate.

This means children of any age could, in theory, be exposed to some rather heavy duty violence.

According to the BBFC, the general consumer advice is simply this: 'Iron Man contains moderate violence and one use of moderate language'.

But a more detailed explanation of its reaction is featured on the link below - though do beware there may be some plot spoilers depending on how much information you like to know about a film before you watch it.

In my view, Iron Man is only suitable for children aged 12 and over.

And, really, it ought to be a 15 given some of the explosive violence.

I particularly didn't like a scene in which a man is repeatedly stamped on, just the sort of scene which alarms me more than relative fantasy gun violence.

So what does 12A mean? According to the BBFC, the brief meaning is as follows (with more detail again on the link below).

12A - Suitable for 12 years and over. No-one younger than 12 may see a '12A' film in a cinema unless accompanied by an adult. No-one younger than 12 may rent or buy a '12' rated video or DVD. Responsibility for allowing under-12s to view lies with the accompanying or supervising adult.

But, really. How many parents are going to be caring enough to see a film first before they then decide whether to let their children go?

My eldest child is six months short of her 11th birthday, but she won't be seeing this, never mind the two younger ones.

Although I'd advise parents to stick to the 12 in the 12A - not least because the film is relatively slow I know for sure that many won't and that they'll be all to eager to give in.

As for my verdict on the film, I'm still torn between three and four stars. Find out which way I go in this Friday's May 2 edition of the Birmingham Mail when the film will be on the cover of our bumper What's On section.