Compulsive Viewing…A new uncut US Blu-ray release of David Cronenberg’s masterpiece Videodrome

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US 2010 Criterion RA Blu-ray via UK Amazon and at US Amazon

Videodrome is a 1982 Canada Sci-Fi by David Cronenberg. See IMDb The US release is uncut and MPAA Unrated for: US 2010 Criterion RA Blu-ray via UK Amazon and at US Amazon US 2004 Criterion R1 DVD via UK Amazon and at US Amazon The cut R Rated Version was passed 18 without BBFC cuts for: UK 2002 Universal R2 DVD UK 1990 CIC VHS UK 1983 cinema release The Unrated Version was however passed 18 uncut for: UK 1999 Universal Laserdisc The US cuts for an R Rating were: During the screening of Max’s (James Wood) Samurai Dreams video a shot of a dildo is very much shortened The first appearance of the Videodrome programme is slighter shorter as it loses a glimpse of pubic hair and a female victim being strangled The sequence in Harlan’s (Peter Dvorsky) lab after the Rea King Show uses a toned down take of a woman being whipped. Nickie’s (Debbie Harry) ear piercing loses several shots; Max moving the needle across Nicki’s body, Nicki’s cry of ‘God’, the needle being pulled out of the ear, a close up of the other ear being pierced and a pan to reveal Max & Nicki making love afterwards. The scene of Max shooting his second partner is slightly shortened. The death of Convex (Les Carlson) does not show his innards briefly erupting. Review from UK Amazon: Surreal Cronenberg has achieved a huge cult following with his take on horror and science fiction. It’s sophisticated, often controversial, and always incisive. He dissects contemporary society by looking into the day after tomorrow and giving a caustic spin to the commonplace – the motor car, the condominium, the television. In ‘Videodrome’, James Woods plays a Canadian television entrepreneur, a man who provides material – usually suspect, often porn – for cable TV. In the course of his seedy research he finds a pirate broadcast of a strange, compelling programme. The torture and masochism he glimpses as the programme hisses and breaks up is … well, it looks real. Or is it just incredibly well made, with the interference and fluctuating picture quality just an example of good engineering and clever directing, simulating clandestine status to give the show a bit of edge? A disturbing, thought-provoking, hugely entertaining film. Like many of Cronenberg’s movies, though, you’ll either love it or hate it. He’s a man who doesn’t seem to allow much room for a middle way. If you enjoy the unusual, if you appreciate the surreal, if you like to be challenged and explore irony, this may be a movie you’ll love.

The Victim Mafia…Italian Euro MP tries to get the video game Mafia II banned

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Based on article from gamepolitics.com

Euro MP Sonia Alfano lost her father to the mob in 1993. She is also the president of Italy’s association for the families of Mafia victims. She has now come out against the video game Mafia II, claiming that it trivializes the violence and murder committed by organized crime. She is fighting to get the game banned in Europe. Last week she asked the European Commission to consider banning the game. Alfano recently said in an interview: It really, really hurts. We can’t allow this to happen, our wounds are still too fresh. These games transform the Mafia, a reality of death and destruction, into a thrilling and hands-on virtual pastime. Even if momentarily, players identify with brutal killers and for us who have experienced violence firsthand, it’s appalling. Take Two defends the game and compares it to other entertainment based on organized time. Alan Lewis, Take-Two’s vice president for corporate communications and public affairs said: Mafia II tells a compelling story about organized crime in America — a subject that for decades has been featured in award-winning movies, television shows and novels such as The Godfather and The Sopranos.  We fully and completely stand behind our creative teams and products, including Mafia II.

PEGI App…Mobile database of games ratings and reviews

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Based on article from ukie.info See also article from itunes.apple.com

UKIE, the trade body for the UK’s video games and interactive entertainment industry welcomes the launch of a new PEGI app that will for the first time allow UK consumers to access age ratings and reviews for games in one place from their handheld devices. The new free app has been created by PEGI S.A., the organisation that manages the pan-European age rating system for video game content, and it is available for iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad immediately, with an Android version launching soon. The app allows consumers to browse the database of all the video games that have received a PEGI rating (16,000+ games) and get detailed information about the game and the type of content. When looking up information about a game, the app not only provides the age rating and detailed advice about why a particular rating was given, but it is also possible to read reviews and see screenshots of the video game, provided by independent video games website Eurogamer.net. The app features specific search filters to allow users to search per platform and/or age rating. The age label clearly indicates the age suitability of a game. Content descriptors and specific consumer advice indicate the main reasons why a particular rating is given to a video game (eg. bad language, fear, violence, etc.).