Basketball game NBA 2K20 comes under fire for depicting gambling game

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The basketball game NBA 2K20 has made the news as the European games rating group PEGI and the US equivalent, ESRB, have been considering how to rate content depicting gambling.Neither of the two rating organisations flagged NBA 2K20 for gambling, simulated or otherwise. PEGI explained its reasoning saying that the gambling content descriptor doesn’t apply because the mini-games involved in NBA 2K’s MyTeam mode don’t actually encourage and/or teach the use of games of chance that are played/carried out as a traditional means of gambling. The reply from PEGI acknowledges that the agency had seen the announcement trailer of NBA 2K20 and noticed the controversy it has caused. However, the board’s representative noted that the controversial imagery played a central role in the trailer, but it may not necessarily do so in the game, which has not yet been released. PEGI notes that this isn’t gambling, per se, in that nothing is really wagered in the slot machine, wheel of fortune and pachinko mini-games, and whatever is won has value only as game content. Wheel/slot spins and ball drops are earned through gameplay and can’t be bought, so nothing is really wagered. For the ESRB, these mini-games aren’t even simulated gambling. In its rating summary for NBA 2K20 , the game’s only content descriptor is mild language, as apparently the words hell and damn are in some dialogue. PEGI says that the controversy over the game’s trailer is part of an internal discussion that PEGI is having for the moment: The games industry is evolving constantly (and rapidly in recent years). As a rating organization, we need to ensure that these developments are reflected in our classification criteria. We do not base our decisions on the content of a single trailer, but we will properly assess how the rating system (and the video games industry in general) should address these concerns. Interestingly enough, the trailer posted by 2K Games’ United Kingdom YouTube account has since been taken down . It’s still live on the main NBA 2K YouTube channel. NBA 2K20 launches Friday, Sept. 6 on PlayStation 4, Windows PC, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch.

Day of Action to Save Net Neutrality…July 12th. Internet-Wide Day of Action to protest against US corporations trying to take control of the internet

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See battleforthenet.com

US media censors at the FCC want to destroy net neutrality and give big cable companies control over what we see and do online. If they get their way, they’ll allow widespread throttling, blocking, censorship, and extra fees. On July 12th, the Internet will come together to stop them. Websites, Internet users, and online communities will come together to sound the alarm about the FCC’s attack on net neutrality. We’ll provide tools for everyone to make it super easy for your followers / visitors to take action. From the SOPA blackout to the Internet Slowdown, we’ve shown time and time again that when the Internet comes together, we can stop censorship and corruption. Now, we have to do it again! See battleforthenet.com

A Serbian Film…Released uncut on US DVD

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See article from invinciblepictures.com

It is reported that the US distributor,  Invincible Pictures, will be releasing an uncut Limited Edition DVD of A Serbian Film. This will be the first uncut release featuring an English language friendly version. Some reports suggest that the release will be DVD only but the Invincible Pictures website also lists a Blu-ray version. US: Uncut and MPAA Unrated for: US 2012 Invincible Pictures R1 DVD at US Amazon released on 22nd May 2012 but only just in stock

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

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

Immortals 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.

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

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US Blue Underground 30th Anniversary Edition R0 Blu-ray via UK Amazon and at US Amazon US Blue Underground 30th Anniversary Edition R0 DVD via UK Amazon and at US Amazon

Maniac 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: US Blue Underground 30th Anniversary Edition R0 Blu-ray via UK Amazon and at US Amazon US Blue Underground 30th Anniversary Edition R0 DVD via UK Amazon and at US Amazon 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.

Axed…Unrated Hatchet II release suffers an early end

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Based on article from huffingtonpost.com

For 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.

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

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

Salon 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: UK 2008 Argent R0 DVD at UK Amazon 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.

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

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The uncut region 1 DVD is available at US Amazon

The 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.

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

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

The 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!

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 2009Read the Latest Cuts Info on MelonFarmers.co.uk

The 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 Amazon:  Darkest 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.