The Hunger Games…Passed 15 uncut by the BBFC for video

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See article from bbfc.co.uk

The Hunger Games is a 2012 US Sci-Fi action film by Gary Ross. With Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth. See IMDb The International Version has just been passed 15 uncut for strong violence and threat for: UK 2012 Lions Gate Online UK 2012 Lions Gate Video The UK Version, the result of pre-cuts and a further 7s of cuts by the BBFC was passed 12A/12 for intense threat, moderate violence and occasional gory momentsfor: UK 2012 Lions gate Online UK 2012 Lions Gate Video UK 2012 cinema release UK 2012 cinema release [IMAX] It will be interesting to see the release pattern for the DVD and Blu-ray.

A Bit Blacker…BBFC pass an uncut version of Woman in Black

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See article from bbfc.co.uk

The Woman in Black is a 2012 UK/Canada/Sweden ghost story by James Watkins. With Daniel Radcliffe, Janet McTeer and Ciarán Hinds. See IMDb UK: Passed 15 Uncut for: UK 2012 Technicolor/Momentum video The BBFC commented: The film was originally classified 12A for cinema release and 12 for video release after visual cuts, visual darkening and sound reductions were made in a number of scenes. This is the uncut version of the film, restoring the cuts and reductions originally made, and has been classified 15 for strong supernatural threat and horror. It is not yet clear what versions are planned for the UK 18th June release

Dracula Prince of Darkness…Hammer classic now restored and released on Region B Blu-ray…Re-release with corrected audio synch

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See trailer from youtube.com See further details at Melon Farmers Video Hits: Dracula Prince of Darkness

Dracula: Prince of Darkness is a 1966 UK horror film by Terence Fisher. With Christopher Lee, Barbara Shelley and Andrew Keir. See IMDb UK: Passed 15 uncut for: UK 2012 Hammer/Studio Canal Restored Version [with Corrected Audio Synch] R2 DVD/RB Blu-ray at UK Amazon for re-release on 30th April 2012 It is widely reported that the master used for March 2012 release exhibits audio sync errors of up to 1 second. this is apparent on both Blu-ray and DVD disks and seems to be most obvious during the first 15 minutes of the film. This is now corrected for a re-release on 30th April 2012. Extras: Commentary featuring Christopher Lee, Suzan Farmer, Francis Matthews & Barbara Shelley World of Hammer episode Hammer Stars: Christopher Lee Back to Black Super 8mm Behind the Scenes footage Restoration comparison Trailer Double bill Trailer Original USA Titles Original Print UK Theatrical Titles. Previously Cut: The cut cinema version was passed 15 without further BBFC cuts for: UK 1999 15 rated Warner VHS UK 1993 15 rated Lumiere VHS UK 1992 15 rated Warner VHS UK 1966 X (16) rated cinema release The BBFC cuts were: A close-up of blood coming out of the stake in Barbara Shelley’s chest has been removed – in the censored print loss of soundtrack has been bridged with an additional reaction shot of Francis Matthews against the wall which appears to be the taken from another shot of him in this position but at a slightly different speed After Dracula cuts open his chest, about 5s-10s of footage of Susan Farmer gradually coming closer to him has been removed presumably on the grounds that this makes it clearer that she was going to drink the blood on Dracula’s chest. The offscreen shout which ends Dracula’s advances appears against a different on-screen image in the cut version (because the original footage is missing) after not before Farmer has fainted Update: Restored Titles 8th February 2012. See article from blog.hammerfilms.com On the subject of main and end titles. Both our restoration partners and ourselves are doing everything we can to ensure that Hammer films are restored from the very best available materials. Often these materials are of the US rather than the UK version, which leads to a search for viable first and last reels so that the UK titles can be restored. Dracula: Prince of Darkness was restored from an original cinema negative featuring US main titles but UK end titles. Using the first reel of a badly-damaged print as a source, Pinewood Studios have done a fantastic job restoring the original UK main titles, meaning that the final restored film has UK titles at the beginning (Associated British Productions Limited Presents // A Hammer Film Production) and the end (A Hammer Film Production produced at Bray Studios, England // Released through Warner-Pathe Distributors Limited). Studio Canal and Hammer plan further restorations on such films as George Gilling’s The Plague of The Zombies and The Reptile. Update: Statement from Hammer Films offering replacement disks re audio synch error 7th March 2012. See article from hammerfilms.com Notice from StudioCanal UK regarding faulty Dracula Prince Of Darkness Blu-ray/DVD Double-Play discs: We recently discovered a small audio synch issue within a couple of scenes of the Dracula Prince Of Darkness discs that were released on the 5th of March. This problem occurred at the authoring stage where a fix was not implemented despite being supplied. With this in mind we will be replacing any discs that have this issue present. Please send your proof of payment and your address to enquiries@vdcgroup.com and we will endeavour to send a working replacement to you promptly. Update: Further improvement to be added to replacement disks re audio synch error 21st March 2012. See article from blog.hammerfilms.com The center sequence in the opening flashback scene of the film is from the 4-perf negative of DRACULA aka HORROR OF DRACULA. That film was shot on the full 35mm frame and intended to be screened at 1.66:1. To make it all fit together, the filmmakers reduced the size of the flashback scene from DRACULA and added a diamond-shaped smoke-effect mask. The result is that there’s a real issue with the grain: it is very tight and crowded due to the shrinking of the 1.66:1 image. In addition, the overlay of the larger and more exaggerated grain of the 2-perf smoke effect creates all sorts of problems once the image is digitised and compressed. We did some research and have found an alternate encoding software package that will enable us better to tweak the opening sequence and create an improved encode. We have already completed several tests, and although it’s not perfect (it never could be, due to the workflow from 2-perf OCN to encoded Blu-ray) we feel that we have obtained a better result with less posterization. StudioCanal will replace this scene on the revised discs (with sound synch corrections) which will be available in April. We hope you like it! …Read the full article

Dark Shadows…BBFC and MPAA rate Tim Burton’s comic horror

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The U.S. rating for Tim Burton’s Dark Shadows has been confirmed. The supernatural movie officially secures a PG-13 rating from the MPAA due to comic horror violence, sexual content, some drug use, language and smoking. Meanwhile the BBFC has similarly passed the film 12A uncut for moderate violence, horror, gore, sex references and soft drug use. Based on a 1960s’ Gothic soap opera, Dark Shadows centers on Barnabas, a wealthy playboy who owns the Collinwood Manor. One day, he made a big mistake of breaking the heart of vengeful witch Angelique, who then turned him into a vampire before burying him alive. Two centuries later, Barnabas is accidentally freed from his tomb. The vampire returns to his mansion only to find that his once-grand estate has fallen into ruin. He must now struggle to restore his family’s glorious era while having some run-ins with various monsters, witches, werewolves and ghosts. The film is set to open at cinemas on 11th May 2012.

Maniac Cop…New Arrowdrome DVD release of William Lustig’s classic cult film

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From our exclusive feed with Cult Labs See trailer from youtube.com See further details at Melon Farmers Video Hits: Maniac Cop

Maniac Cop is a 1988 US action film by William Lustig. With Tom Atkins and Bruce Campbell. See IMDbThe Theatrical Version was passed 18 uncut for: UK 2012 Arrow/Arrowdrome R2 DVD at UK Amazon released today on 16th April 2012 UK 2011 Arrow R0 Blu-ray at UK Amazon Previously Cut by the BBFC The Theatrical Version was passed 18 after 5s of BBFC cuts for: UK 2000 Synergy R2 DVD UK 1991 Channel 5 VHS UK 1989 Lazer VHS UK 1988 cinema release The BBFC cuts were: The cut is to the shower scene and involves Robert Z’Dar getting stabbed in the back with a knife. It’s a shot of the knife going in and out again Also cuts to the torture of Z’Dar as his face gets carved with a knife. Promotional material: Police brutality never felt so good! Notorious video nasty creator William Lustig and B-Movie legend Larry Cohen return to the dirty streets for a unique high speed collision of the slasher movie and police thriller in Maniac Cop, a blood splattered tale of brutal cop vengeance from beyond the grave. When reports come in of a man in a police uniform committing gore drenched bloody murder on the city streets, officer Jack Forrest (Bruce Campbell) stands accused. Now, with few friends, powerful enemies and a psychopathic slayer still at large, it’s up to Jack to prove he’s not guilty and bring down the killer. Now, Arrow video brings the Maniac Cop back from the 80s video vault to stalk the night time streets once more, looking for fresh victims… DVD Features a reversible sleeve of original artwork a collector’s booklet! an interview with star tom atkins trailer

Visions of Ecstasy…Now resurrected on UK DVD

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See more at Melon Farmers cuts details: Visions of Ecstasy

Visions of Ecstasy is a 1989 UK erotic short by Nigel Wingrove. With Louise Downie, Elisha Scott and Dan Fox. See IMDb Passed 18 uncut for nudity and sex involving religious images for: UK 2012 4Digital/Redemption R2 DVD at UK Amazon released today, 2nd April 2012 Previously Banned Previously banned by the BBFC for: UK 1989 Axel VHS The BBFC decision was subsequently appealed to the Video Appeals Committee who upheld the ban. The decision was later confirmed by the European Court. DVD Features Included with this historic film is a 40 page, booklet written by the films director, Nigel Wingrove, in which he explains how the film came to be made, the effect its banning had on his life and future work, and how his continuing battles against film censorship led eventually to the resignation of the BBFC’s then director, James Ferman, the legalisation of pornography and a general relaxations of film classification overall. Also included on this DVD are the director s first erotic short film, Axel (1986) and his nunsploitation feature, Sacred Flesh (2000), in which a Mother Superior struggles with her sexual desires in a series of imagined dialogues with Mary Magdalene will her mind torments her with images of sexual perversion, lesbianism and sadomasochism. Sacred Flesh was cut by 25s by the BBFC when it was submitted in 2000. Additional extras include extensive stills, press gallery and interviews.

Pink Flamingos…The BBFC agreed to pass John Water’s gross comedy at 18 uncut in 2008, but unfortunately the release was cancelled

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Thanks to goatboy From BBFC’s excellent case studies from sbbfc.co.uk See further details at Melon Farmers Video Hits: Pink Flamingos See trailer from youtube.com

Pink Flamingos is a 1972 US crime comedy by John Waters. With Divine, David Lochary and Mary Vivian Pearce. See IMDb The BBFC agreed to an uncut 18 rated DVD release in 2008 but the release was cancelled. The BBFC addressed the 3 remaining cuts: Probably the most difficult scene was the one featuring a man assaulting a woman with live chickens. However, a careful viewing of the scene suggested that the handling of the chickens, although rough, was no stronger than other scenes of animals being manhandled that had been passed in other films. Furthermore, although the chickens were killed, the killing was quick and clean and therefore not in breach of BBFC policy on animal cruelty. The scene showing a man masturbating and injecting semen into a woman’s vagina was grotesque and repulsive, rather than erotic. Although the Board had previously expressed concerns about the non-consensual nature of the scene, the datedness of the film and the lack of credibility of the scene, argued against intervention.  With regard to the sexual violence in the scene, the Board’s conclusion was that the scene was so over-the-top and so divorced from reality, that the likely response was disgust, shock and horror, rather than arousal. The brief explicit fellatio could be justified by the wider context of the film, in that the whole purpose of the film was to shock, disgust and amuse (in a blackly comic fashion), rather than to arouse, and the explicitness of the image was important in creating the film’s effect. Previous Versions Released uncut for the pre-cert video: UK 1981 Palace VHS After a long delay, out of fear of a BBFC rejection, the video was eventually passed 18 after 3:04s of BBFC cuts for: UK 1990 Castle VHS The cuts, justified on grounds of sexual violence, degradation, animal cruelty, and obscenity, were: Cuts were made to remove sight of chickens being roughly handled and killed during a bizarre sexual assault on a woman. [The chicken is crushed between the copulating lovers]. Cuts were made to reduce a scene in which Channing the butler masturbates over a captive woman and injects semen into her vagina with a syringe Cuts were made to reduce a scene in which a man flexes his anus in close up, making it look as if the anus is singing. Cuts were made to remove all sight of Babs fellating her son in explicit detail Cuts were made to remove sight of Babs eating real dog excrement. The elastic singing anus cuts were restored for: UK 1997 cinema release Then the excrement eating cuts were additionally restored for: UK 1999 EIV VHS

Don’t Go in the House…First uncut UK video nasty release set for ArrowDrome DVD

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See trailer from youtube.com See further details at Melon Farmers Video Hits: Don’t Go in the House

Don’t Go in the House is a 1979 US horror film by Joseph Ellison. With Dan Grimaldi, Robert Osth and Ruth Dardick. See IMDb Passed 18 uncut with all previous BBFC cuts waived for: UK 2012 Arrow R2 DVD at UK Amazon released today 26th March 2012 ArrowDrome DVD Features: Reversible sleeve of original artwork trailer, teaser booklet by horror expert Anthony Timpone! Previously cut by the BBFC Passed 18 after 3:07s of BBFC cuts for: UK 1987 Apex VHS The BBFC cuts were again Cuts to nudity and close ups of the scene involving a naked girl in chains being set on fire Previously banned as a video nasty Passed X (18) after extensively reduced shots of nudity and graphic close ups from the scene of the chained woman being burned alive, for: UK 1980 cinema release The cut cinema version was first released on pre-cert video for: UK 1982 Arcade VHS The uncut version then followed on pre-cert video for: UK 1983 Arcade VHS The video was then banned as a nasty in July 1983, but was dropped in March 1984 after promises that only the BBFC approved version would be sold. Summary Review: A Bit Lacklustre A slasher film about a victim of child abuse (Dan Grimaldi) who grows up to become a maniacal construction worker. He stalks women at discos, takes them home, then hangs them upside-down in a special steel-walled room and sets them on fire. Don’t Go in the House gets off to a fairly good start, but after the first murder scene things begin to slowly fall a apart and it goes from a good movie to an average movie that never is able to get off the ground. The screenplay written by Joseph Ellison, Ellen Hammill and Joseph R. Masefield starts off well enough with some good insight into the mind of the villain, but there comes a point to where the story never moves forward and in a sense it feels like the same scene is playing out over and over again. Don’t Go in the House isn’t a terrible film, but it’s just a bit lackluster, while it does have it’s moments it just never reaches its full potential.

Night of the Bloody Apes…The first uncut release of video nasty set for a future release from Nucleus Films

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Thanks to Will See article from bbfc.co.uk See further details at Melon Farmers Video Hits: Night of the Bloody Apes

Night of the Bloody Apes is a 1969 Mexican horror by Rene Cordona Jr. With José Elías Moreno, Carlos López Moctezuma and Armando Silvestre. See IMDb It has just been passed 18 uncut for strong gore, violence, nudity and sexual violence, with previous BBFC cuts waived and distributor cuts restored for: UK 2012 Nucleus DVD Previously Precut A heavily pre-cut version was passed 18 without BBFC cuts for: 2002 Film 2000 DVD 1999 Sovereign/Satanica VHS In 1999 the video was released on the Satanica label, in a version that was obviously taken from Vipco’s planned cut version (Vipco’s logo remains). This time the distributor removed every single violent scene before submitting it to the censors. Strangely the scene where the doctor assistant is killed contains several shots of a completely different character being killed, whose demise doesn’t happen until a few scenes later in the film. See pictorial cuts details from movie-censorship.com: Cuts to Julio’s surgical transplant operation to receive an ape’s heart Extensive cuts to Julio’s attack, rape and murder of a woman in a hospital room Cuts to Julio’s murder of man by slashing at his throat and then fleeing. Cuts to Julio’s assault on a woman in the park who gets stabbed in teh stomach. Cuts to a man getting his eyes gouged out. Cuts to a second heart surgery operation. Cuts to Julio ripping a man’s head off. Cuts to Julio scalping a man. Cut’s to Julio crushing a male nurse’s face Video Nasty It was released nearly uncut in January 1983 by Iver Film Services. By November 1983 it had been listed as a video nasty and suffered a successful prosecution. It remained on the list throughout the panic and so became one of the collectable DPP 39s. Summary Review: Pretty Grim A mad scientist attempts to cure his son’s leukemia by doing the first ape-to-human heart transplant. He decides to put a gorilla’s heart into the lad and orders his flunky to prepare the gorilla!. There is actual footage of a graphic open heart surgery inserted in the ape operation scenes. This of course causes the boy to turn into a big stinky man-ape… The film is a very cheap Mexican ‘horror’ and it is pretty grim.  And really most of the film is so comic book and likeable, dammit, that you can forgive the rather shoddy idea of using said transplant footage as a main point of sale. People say that really bad films are funny to watch because they are so bad. I have only found this to be the case with one film before now, Death Wish 3, but now Night Of The Bloody Apes has become one of my pet films. A desert island treasure.

Dracula Prince of Darkness…Hammer classic now restored and released on Region B Blu-ray…But reports of audio synch errors

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5th February 2012. See article from cinemart-online.co.uk See trailer from youtube.com See further details at Melon Farmers Video Hits: Dracula Prince of Darkness

Dracula: Prince of Darkness is a 1966 UK horror film by Terence Fisher. With Christopher Lee, Barbara Shelley and Andrew Keir. See IMDb Studio Canal have teamed up with Hammer to restore the classic Dracula: Prince of Darkness. UK: Passed 15 uncut for: UK 2012 Hammer/Studio Canal Restored Version R2 DVD/RB Blu-ray at UK Amazon released today on 5th March 2012 Update: It is widely reported that the master used for this edition exhibits audio sync errors of up to 1 second. this is apparent on both Blu-ray and DVD disks and seems to be most obvious during the first 15 minutes of the film. Extras: Commentary featuring Christopher Lee, Suzan Farmer, Francis Matthews & Barbara Shelley World of Hammer episode Hammer Stars: Christopher Lee Back to Black Super 8mm Behind the Scenes footage Restoration comparison Trailer Double bill Trailer Original USA Titles Original Print UK Theatrical Titles. Previously Cut: The cut cinema version was passed 15 without further BBFC cuts for: UK 1999 15 rated Warner VHS UK 1993 15 rated Lumiere VHS UK 1992 15 rated Warner VHS UK 1966 X (16) rated cinema release The BBFC cuts were The second of three shots of blood pouring onto Dracula’s ashes, together with a linking shot of his servant, has been deleted A close-up of blood coming out of the stake in Barbara Shelley’s chest has been removed – in the censored print loss of soundtrack has been bridged with an additional reaction shot of Francis Matthews against the wall which appears to be the taken from another shot of him in this position but at a slightly different speed After Dracula cuts open his chest, about 5s-10s of footage of Susan Farmer gradually coming closer to him has been removed presumably on the grounds that this makes it clearer that she was going to drink the blood on Dracula’s chest. The offscreen shout which ends Dracula’s advances appears against a different on-screen image in the cut version (because the original footage is missing) after not before Farmer has fainted Update: Restored Titles 8th February 2012. See article from blog.hammerfilms.com On the subject of main and end titles. Both our restoration partners and ourselves are doing everything we can to ensure that Hammer films are restored from the very best available materials. Often these materials are of the US rather than the UK version, which leads to a search for viable first and last reels so that the UK titles can be restored. Dracula: Prince of Darkness was restored from an original cinema negative featuring US main titles but UK end titles. Using the first reel of a badly-damaged print as a source, Pinewood Studios have done a fantastic job restoring the original UK main titles, meaning that the final restored film has UK titles at the beginning (Associated British Productions Limited Presents // A Hammer Film Production) and the end (A Hammer Film Production produced at Bray Studios, England // Released through Warner-Pathe Distributors Limited). Studio Canal and Hammer plan further restorations on such films as George Gilling’s The Plague of The Zombies and The Reptile. Update: Statement from Hammer Films offering replacement disks re audio synch error 7th March. See article from hammerfilms.com Notice from StudioCanal UK regarding faulty Dracula Prince Of Darkness Blu-ray/DVD Double-Play discs: We recently discovered a small audio synch issue within a couple of scenes of the Dracula Prince Of Darkness discs that were released on the 5th of March. This problem occurred at the authoring stage where a fix was not implemented despite being supplied. With this in mind we will be replacing any discs that have this issue present. Please send your proof of payment and your address to enquiries@vdcgroup.com and we will endeavour to send a working replacement to you promptly.