Melon Farmers Blog

Watching UK Censors

Immortals…US release of uncut R Rated DVD and Blu-ray

Read more Latest UK Cuts at MelonFarmers.co.uk

See trailer from youtube.com
See further details at Melon Farmers Video Hits: Immortals

Immortals Henry CavillImmortals is a 2011 US fantasy by Tarsem Singh. With Luke Evans and Henry Cavill. See IMDb

US: Uncut and MPAA R Rated for:

  • US 2012 20th century Fox 2D/3D RA Blu-ray just released on 6th March 2012 at US Amazon
  • US 2012 Universal RA Blu-ray just released on 6th March 2012 at US Amazon
  • US 2012 Universal R1 DVD just released on 6th March 2012 at US Amazon

Cut in the UK

UK:Passed 15 after BBFC cuts for category for:

  • UK 2012 Universal R0 Blu-ray/DVD
  • UK 2012 Universal Steelbook 2D/3D R0 blu-ray
  • UK 2012 Universal R2 DVD
  • UK 2011 cinema release

The BBFC consumer advice reads:

  • Contains strong bloody violence

The BBFC commented on their cuts:

Company chose to make cuts to reduce violence in order to achieve a 15 classification. Cuts included:

  • removal of the bloody focus on a throat being cut
  • reducing the focus on young women dying, having been burnt
  • reducing the focus on eye gouging
  • removing the shot of a beheading, and
  • ‘reducing some focus on large splashes of blood resulting from characters being killed.

An uncut 18 classification was available.

11 March, 2012 Posted by | BBFC cuts, US Uncut | , , | Leave a Comment

Maniac Released…New US 30th Anniversary release for William Lustig’s Maniac

Read more Latest UK Cuts at MelonFarmers.co.uk

Maniac 30th Anniversary Region NTSCManiac is a 1980 US serial killer horror by William Lustig. See IMDb

The US release is the uncut Theatrical Version and is MPAA Unrated for:

Previously the Theatrical Version was passed 18 after 58s of BBFC cuts for:

  • UK 2006 Anchor Bay R0 DVD
  • UK 2002 Anchor Bay R0 DVD

The BBFC commented:

  • Cuts required to reduce length of sexualised strangulation sequence by half
  • and to remove shots of a knife played over and stabbing into female flesh with sexual connotations.

The BBFC banned the 1998 Exploited video.

The BBFC banned the 1981 cinema release.

Review from US Amazon: Shocking

I’m not easily shocked or impressed with most horror films. This is definitely a film that will leave you thinking. The main reason being the main character Frank Zito aka Joe Spinell plays the most realistic psycho/deranged person I’ve ever seen on film. The whole time I was thinking is this guy really insane? Either this guy is a genius actor or he’s really nuts. That’s how real he is in this role. His presence will creep you out. He’s the biggest weirdo I’ve ever seen on film.

The story focuses on frank the serial killer and his killings and insanity. He calmly stalks his pray through the streets of NYC. I don’t know how he manages to fool some of the people in this film but he does. They treat him like a normal guy until he tries to kill them when they least expect it.

Some of the scenes are gruesome, but they will keep you on the edge of your seat. You will be able to put yourself in both franks shoes and feel the victims terror as she is stalked and hides from Frank… Especially the subway bathroom scene. That’s an intense scene. Frank keeps on killing till the end when his own demons finally come back to haunt him.

Any horror fan should have this in their collection. I can see why it was banned in Germany and England. They were probably scared of it, considering how realistic it was.

9 November, 2010 Posted by | New Releases, US Uncut | , | Leave a Comment

Axed…Unrated Hatchet II release suffers an early end

Read more US Censorship News at MelonFarmers.co.uk

Based on article from huffingtonpost.com

hatchet 2For a brief moment this past weekend, the impossible happened – the unrated Hatchet 2 opened in over 60 theaters and became a cause for celebration among horror film fans, who viewed the release as a possible way to break the seemingly arbitrary MPAA chokehold that they see as part of the decline of the horror genre.

Hatchet 2 is one of the few times in the last twenty-five years that an unrated film has gotten any sort of theatrical release and the horror launched a Twitter and Facebook campaign to support it.

Leading horror website DreadCentral.com had even asked fans to buy tickets for Hatchet 2 online even if they aren’t near a theater showing it as a way to send a message to Hollywood that there’s a market for unrated horror.

That dream barely made it through the weekend; the theater chains that were carrying Hatchet 2 pulled it without explanation by Monday morning. It’s tough to really know the specific box office numbers since several theaters – in Canada, specifically — wound up pulling the film right away due to fear of being fined for showing an unrated film, says Green. We’re hearing that others decided to only show Hatchet 2 at specific times due to the hassle of having to have someone guard the cinema door to check IDs. When I saw the film in Los Angeles there was a guard at the door for the entire movie checking ticket stubs and IDs where necessary. It was kind of crazy.

6 October, 2010 Posted by | US News, US Uncut | , , | Leave a Comment

Nazi Censors have had their Day…Salon Kitty gets an uncut US release on Blu-ray

Read more Latest UK Cuts at MelonFarmers.co.uk

US 2010 Blue Underground R0 Blu-ray at US Amazon for release on 23rd November 2010

Salon Kitty Blu ray Helmut BergerSalon Kitty is a 1976 Italian/German/French erotic Nazi drama by Tinto Brass. See IMDb

Full Length version passed 18 uncut with all cuts waived for:

The US release is uncut and MPAA Unrated for:

  • US 2010 Blue Underground R0 Blu-ray at US Amazon for release on 23rd November 2010

Previously an Abridged Version was passed 18 without BBFC cuts for:

  • UK 1993 Redemption VHS

And before that, the film was passed X with BBFC cuts for:

  • UK 1977 cinema release

Press information re the uncut UK DVD from The Associates:

Depraved, decadent, damned and uncut for the first time ever!

The most shocking and controversial of Italian director Tinto Brass’ films presents a serious, unflinching depiction of moral decay within the Nazi Party at the time of World War II, and of how power ultimately leads to corruption.

The fully restored Director’s Cut of this notorious film is now available on DVD, presented in its original widescreen format, completely uncensored and featuring 21 minutes of never-seen-before footage. Finally, the extremely disturbing, bordering-on-the-hardcore content can be seen as originally intended by the film’s director, Tinto Brass.

SS Officer Helmut Wallenburg (Helmut Berger) is instructed by his superiors to set up an elite brothel, the eponymous Salon Kitty, especially designed to serve high-ranking Nazi officials and foreign diplomats. In order to cater to the clients’ darkest perversions and desires sufficiently, Wallenburg is also charged with finding and rigorously training twenty beautiful and intelligent women, who are not only dedicated to the ideals of National Socialism but are also prepared to perform the most extreme acts of debauchery imaginable. What these prostitutes and their customers don’t know is that the brothel is bugged and is being used to collect intelligence and to monitor the clients’ loyalty to the Nazi Party.

As well as boasting superb performances by Helmut Berger  and Ingrid Thulin, Salon Kitty also features beautiful cinematography and sumptuous sets that provide a stunning showcase for the work of twice Oscar winning production designer Ken Adam.

24 September, 2010 Posted by | New Releases, US Uncut | | Leave a Comment

The Alcove…New uncut US Severin release of noted Italian erotica

Read more BBFC Cuts and Bans at MelonFarmers.co.uk

The uncut region 1 DVD is available at US Amazon

Alcove Laura GemserThe Alcove is a 1984 Italy erotic film by Joe D’Amato

The BBFC cut the 1995 Jezebel video and 2001 Nouveaux video by 1:45s.

Perhaps the cuts were to do with the old stag film mentioned in the review

See review from IMDb: Surprisingly well-crafted

An English soldier (Cliver) returns home from the Zulu war with the daughter of a tribal king (Gemser) as his slave (a gift that he was given for saving the kings life). Not at all pleased with being a slave, the Ebony princess plots her revenge starting with the seduction of the mistress. Jealousy spreads like wildfire and before you know it, she has turned the household into a lustful frenzy of sex and hatred.

I can’t give away too much more or it would ruin the story, but there are plenty of little twists along the way. Speaking of twists, this film is actually far more twisted than it sounds. One of the more disturbing moments being a sequence about the filming of an inquisition-themed porno that turns into the sadistic rape of a lesbian / virgin by the filthy and none too bright gardener.

Sporting tons of full-frontal nudity, simulated lesbian and straight sex and some hard-core (as seen in an old stag film), this has the sleazy goods to go along with the D.H. Lawrence-ish setting and atmosphere, and is definitely recommended for fans of such.

3 March, 2010 Posted by | BBFC cuts, US Uncut | , , | Leave a Comment

Breeding Censors…Old MPAA cuts to David Cronenberg’s The Brood

Read more BBFC Cuts and Bans at MelonFarmers.co.uk

The uncut region 2 DVD is available at UK Amazon
The uncut region 1 DVD is available at US Amazon

Brood DVD Oliver ReedThe Brood is a 1979 Canada horror by David Cronenberg

The BBFC passed the US Unrated Version for the 2005 Anchor Bay DVD without cuts for an 18 rating.

Previously the US R Rated Theatrical Version was passed uncut for the 1979 X rated cinema release, 1992 Video Gems video, 1997 Arrow video, 1998 Polygram video and 2005 Anchor Bar DVD.This version was cut by US film censors at the MPAA to achieve an R Rating

From version details on IMDb

28 seconds of footage deleted from:

  • the ripping and licking of the foetus
  • the mallet murder of the old lady
  • shots of the dead schoolteacher’s battered face

Review from UK Amazon: Cronenberg get noticed

The Brood was David Cronenberg’s third feature release and the film that got him noticed outside Canada and the horror genre. With heavy weight actors Oliver Reed and Samantha Egger, Cronenberg’s excellent script – Oliver Reed said it was the best written part he had had since The Devils – and a story more psychological than outright horror, though there are a few gory scenes, Cronenberg was onto a winner.

This is a film that stays with you long after the final credits have rolled. There are many influences playing through the film, the brood children are reminiscent of the dwarf from Don’t Look Now, Howard Shore’s excellent strings only score a nod to Bernard Herrman’s score for Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho.

Get this DVD now! it should be in your collection, quick before some idiot does a remake with CGI brood and no plot or subtext!

26 October, 2009 Posted by | MPAA Cuts, US Uncut | , , | 1 Comment

Blu-ray Ripper…Blue Underground USA to release The New York Ripper on Blu-ray

The uncut all regions Blu-ray is available at US Amazon for release on 29th September 2009
The uncut all regions Blu-ray is available via UK Amazon for release on 29th September 2009
Read the Latest Cuts Info
on MelonFarmers.co.uk

New York Ripper Blu-rayThe New York Ripper is a 1982 Italian film by Lucio Fulci

The Notorious Fulci film is slated for its first release on Blu-ray. Blue Underground in the US will release an all regions Blu-ray version on 29th September 2009.

When submitted in 2007 for a UK DVD release, the film was shorn of 34s with the following BBFC comment: Cuts were required to remove sexualised violence (a naked and bound woman’s stomach and breasts being mutilated with a razor)

See review from US AmazonDarkest and goriest

The New York Ripper was a great Italian horror film from Lucio Fulci, the film was filled with plenty of gruesome death scenes and lots of sleaze, sex and nudity in fact its probably one of the sleaziest Italian horror flicks I’ve ever seen. It was also notorious for being banned in the U.K. This is easily one of Lucio Fulci’s darkest and goriest films out there (O.K. maybe not THE goriest, I still think that Cat In The Brain holds that title), there is one scene that was quite sick and perverse that’s guaranteed to make you squirm, yes I’m talking about the “Golden Toes” scene.

When an old man finds a prostitute’s severed hand under the Brooklyn Bridge the police decide to do a little investigating. It seems that the victim was heard speaking to a strange duck-voiced man. As the murders add up the police detective who’s investigating the case recruits a psychology professor to help find out who this Donald Duck voiced maniac could be

This is a typical Fulci flick which means that the plot gets thinner during the course of the film and the bad acting which was adequate especially for this type of film could have been better but that’s not important, if your a hardcore Fulci or exploitation fan then you’ll obviously love this as the death scenes were quite brutal and very nasty.

I have to admit that I really liked this film a lot and it was one of Fulci’s best, while not a classic like Zombi 2, it was still great and enjoyable.

31 July, 2009 Posted by | BBFC cuts, US Uncut | , | Leave a Comment

Women in Prison…New US uncut release of triple bill

New US uncut release of triple bill

The uncut region 1 DVD is available at US Amazon for release on 30th June 2009


Women in Prison Triple Feature

  • Women in Cell Block 7 is a 1973 Italy/US prison drama by Rino Di Silvestro.

It was released uncut on DVD in the UK by Blackhorse in 2005 under the title of Hell Prison

  • Escape from Hell is a 1980 Spain/Italy drama by Edoardo Mulargia.

The BBFC cut 3:46s from the 1988 Sheptonhurst video also under the title of Hell Prison.

  • The Hot Box is a 1972 Philippines/US action film by Joe Viola

The BBFC cut 3:30s when the Xtasy video was submitted in 1987

5 June, 2009 Posted by | US Uncut | , | Leave a Comment

BBFC Prey…New US uncut release of Norman J. Warren’s Prey

The uncut region 1 DVD is available at US Amazon for release on 30th June 2009

PreyPrey is a 1978 UK horror by Norman J. Warren (Anchor Bay)

The BBFC cuts were waived when the 2004 DVD was submitted by Anchor Bay UK

Previously the 1978 cinema release and videos from 1986 (Stablecane) and 1995 (Arthouse Productions) were similarly cut by 11s.

  • Cut to reduce shots of Anders feasting on a girl’s body.

See review from IMDb: Norman J Warren, I salute you

I like this film. I like it a lot. I like it because it makes me incredibly nostalgic for a period in British cinema that has long since passed. The 1970′s. A time when irreverent and irrelevant schlock like this could get made. I like it because it is monumentally silly yet eerily compulsive, possesses a truly odd atmosphere, and at one point it actually frightened me.

It was made in 10 days with whatever change the crew had in their back pockets. It’s very entertaining.

How I wish up-and-comers would make stuff like this rather than the Tarantino and ‘Trainspotting’ tributes that they STILL are.

Norman ‘J.’ Warren, I salute you.

2 June, 2009 Posted by | BBFC cuts, US Uncut | , | Leave a Comment

Slaughtered by the BBFC…New US uncut release of Slaughter High

Slaughter HighSlaughter High is a 1986 UK/US horror by George Dugdale  (Locus)

The BBFC cut 32s when the video was submitted in 1987

From cuts details on IMDb

  • Cut to remove shots of nudity and burnt breasts during the acid bath and electrocution killings.

Review from US Amazon: Not to be taken seriously

Some of the other reviewers were way too critical with this movie. Slaughter high is not to be taken seriously.

The reason I like this flick is that it is just down right amusing with the creative (yet sometimes outrageous when taking logic into consideration, i.e. the bathtub scene) death scenes, the cheesy soundtrack, and like others have said, the obviously British actors poorly trying to speak like Americans. go into it with a light frame of mind and ignore all the rules of what makes a good movie. this movie is just so bad that it’s good.

24 May, 2009 Posted by | BBFC cuts, New Releases, US Uncut | , , | Leave a Comment

   

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