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MichaelB wrote:Serious question: if BBFC classification wasn't compulsory anyway, would you have distributed the uncut version, given the widespread impression that it unarguably infringed the Protection of Children Act?

For this particular 35 year old film, which has been released uncut and available on continental Europe and in the US since its release, we would have had no qualms at all releasing it uncut. The UK and the BBFC have looked ridiculous for years with regard to their attitude to this scene in this film.

I was involved with screening this film before it was given its 18 certificate in 1991, and we were warned by the distributor to be very careful indeed with that scene in the absence of proper legal advice. Granted, as a cinema we were probably more vulnerable than a DVD label, because it would only have taken an upheld complaint to the local authority for our operating licence to be put in jeopardy - but it would still be a gamble.

Totally understand all this happening at the time, but post-internet, post-globalisation, post-EU enlargement, if we're the only country in the world that still believes this sort of thing seriously breaks the law then there's probably something wrong with our view.

Which is why I'd like to see the full legal advice that the BBFC received - hopefully they'll reveal it nearer the time.

The wording would be interesting but I doubt it will be the truth - which is that they look absolutely ridiculous in the eyes of the world, and are toothless in the face of the internet. They have to backtrack on these things every year to try and keep 3 steps behind and to prevent open guffaws.

Studio Ghibli's "Whisper Of The Heart" 11/21 BD/DVD

Takeshi Kitano's "Outrage" 11/14 BD

peerpee wrote:Totally understand all this happening at the time, but post-internet, post-globalisation, post-EU enlargement, if we're the only country in the world that still believes this sort of thing seriously breaks the law then there's probably something wrong with our view.

What's the situation in Japan? We always used to get a massive Japanese turnout to our screenings, and I understood that it was broadly the equivalent of rep cinemas in Paris being packed with British tourists every time they showed A Clockwork Orange - the film certainly hadn't been shown uncut in its native country before the 1990s. Has it been since?

The Long Good Friday
Withnail and I

MichaelB wrote:

peerpee wrote:Totally understand all this happening at the time, but post-internet, post-globalisation, post-EU enlargement, if we're the only country in the world that still believes this sort of thing seriously breaks the law then there's probably something wrong with our view.

What's the situation in Japan? We always used to get a massive Japanese turnout to our screenings, and I understood that it was broadly the equivalent of rep cinemas in Paris being packed with British tourists every time they showed A Clockwork Orange - the film certainly hadn't been shown uncut in its native country before the 1990s. Has it been since?

Although DVDs claimed "Completely Uncut", it was quite wrong, as mosaic covered up stuff, but the length of the movie was full, and there was no optical reframing, as done when it was out theatrically in Japan. A re-release of the DVD is coming out next month, but I doubt anything has changed...

peerpee wrote:The wording would be interesting but I doubt it will be the truth - which is that they look absolutely ridiculous in the eyes of the world, and are toothless in the face of the internet. They have to backtrack on these things every year to try and keep 3 steps behind and to prevent open guffaws.

Which makes me think of that recent news story about the government having done a deal to allow format shifting to take place, allowing consumers to legally transfer their CDs to iTunes and iPods for the first time (I assume that it was done simply to give the Lib Dems something to announce).

Wasn't La belle noiseuse the first film in Japan with the copious nudity shown un-mosaiced?

Anyway, here's to Human Centipede 2 coming to the UK in 2047!

Anyway, here's to Human Centipede 2 coming to the UK in 2047!

It will come to the UK many years before that via fiber and mail order

manicsounds wrote:Although DVDs claimed "Completely Uncut", it was quite wrong, as mosaic covered up stuff, but the length of the movie was full, and there was no optical reframing, as done when it was out theatrically in Japan. A re-release of the DVD is coming out next month, but I doubt anything has changed...

I did see the Criterion DVD and BD selling at an import shop in Osaka -- for about $80 (!!!).

I'm actually amazed that someone at Optimum had the nous and wherewithal to resubmit IN THE REALM OF THE SENSES and sort this out once and for all. It's just... so unlike them (with their 400-a-year shovel-em-out approach). Kudos to whoever was responsible!

peerpee wrote:I'm actually amazed that someone at Optimum had the nous and wherewithal to resubmit IN THE REALM OF THE SENSES and sort this out once and for all. It's just... so unlike them (with their 400-a-year shovel-em-out approach). Kudos to whoever was responsible!

Absolutely seconded - I didn't particularly want to import the Criterion edition, partly because I thought Customs still had the film on its hit list (I know someone who had a DVD seized, so within the last decade or so) and also because I'm not multiregion yet and can't realistically see that happening for a very long time. So it's good news all round.

You can't play any Criterion BDs??? -- Nice players can be had for £199 from Multiregion Magic. Well worth it!

He has a Cambridge Audio Azur BD650 (an Oppo BDP-80 clone), so he can get a mod kit from Ebay for less than $40.

peerpee wrote:You can't play any Criterion BDs??? -- Nice players can be had for £199 from Multiregion Magic. Well worth it!

Yes, but it's not just £199, is it? The handy thing about being locked out of the US and Japanese markets is that I'm not tempted to send them lots of money for their discs.

perkizitore wrote:He has a Cambridge Audio Azur BD650 (an Oppo BDP-80 clone), so he can get a mod kit from Ebay for less than $40.

For the record, "he" isn't me. I've no idea who "he" is, mind.

I had the same philosophy regarding going region free. It definitely opens up a world of releases that was once closed off, which also requires one to open up their wallet.

mfunk9786 wrote:I had the same philosophy regarding going region free. It definitely opens up a world of releases that was once closed off, which also requires one to open up their wallet.

Exactly. And while Region 1 was so much better than Region 2 back in 1999 that I'd have been mad not to go region-free with my first DVD player, the gap between Regions A and B is narrow enough for me not to be that bothered. There've been a few brief twinges - Criterion's Stan Brakhage set, for one - but not enough to persuade me to splash out.

Put it like this: I'm sure my next Blu-ray player will be multiregion, but the original is working just fine for now.

Sorry Michael, i was under the impression you owned a Cambridge Audio BD player...
I shouldn't be calling you 'he', though.

I ended up popping into Tesco a month or so ago and picking up their defunct Technika BRSS10 Blu-ray player for £30 (normally around £50) as it was the last in shop. 4 digits entered and multi-region compatible. I'm sure it pales compared to some of the classier blu-ray players, and it's noisy as hell at times, but it killed two birds in that I'm broke enough that I previously felt I couldn't afford to go Blu and I can now pick up some of the amazing releases from around the globe. I'd certainly recommend it if it can be gotten hold of as a tide over.

I'm sure it pales compared to some of the classier blu-ray players

I wouldn't be so sure. I imagine it won't be so good with SD DVD and 1080i discs, but with 1080p BD, it's not impossible for them to release a player that plays what's on the disc perfectly.

bigP wrote:I ended up popping into Tesco a month or so ago and picking up their defunct Technika BRSS10 Blu-ray player for £30 (normally around £50) as it was the last in shop. 4 digits entered and multi-region compatible. I'm sure it pales compared to some of the classier blu-ray players, and it's noisy as hell at times, but it killed two birds in that I'm broke enough that I previously felt I couldn't afford to go Blu and I can now pick up some of the amazing releases from around the globe. I'd certainly recommend it if it can be gotten hold of as a tide over.

Thanks for the heads up, I might get one of those as a backup to my Oppo, you never now what happens...

David M. wrote:

I'm sure it pales compared to some of the classier blu-ray players

I wouldn't be so sure. I imagine it won't be so good with SD DVD and 1080i discs, but with 1080p BD, it's not impossible for them to release a player that plays what's on the disc perfectly.

It's my first player and I've not really viewed Blu-ray anywhere else before so I have nothing to compare image quality with, but on the whole, i'm very happy with the £30 spent. I've run a few Region B Blu's through it as well as Criterion's The Makioka Sisters and was very happy with the image for both and SD looks noticeably stronger in all area (compared to my DVD player at least).

perkizitore wrote:Thanks for the heads up, I might get one of those as a backup to my Oppo, you never now what happens...

Hope you find one. They seem to be leading to dead ends online but given how many Tesco stores there are in the UK (last count in Reading was 12 of varying sizes) I imagine these are still floating around dirt cheap.

Honestly, I think that a £30 Multi-region BD player can't be really bad, in the sense that it already do a lot for this price.

In France, we don't have any Multi-region player so easily, or we have to modify it with a chip, putting it around 600€. Or we can import a Region A player, but it would be at least $100.

I'm really happy with my Panasonic BDT110, but it was still $120.

I genuinely think you had a marvelous deal here, and surely you won't regret it.

I got the Tesco one earlier in the year and it hasn't failed me since. Best £50 I've spent this year.

BluRay.com on Kind Hearts.

It looks like Canal have done another fine job, as they have with Lavender Hill Mob,Whisky Galore and Went the Day Well.

tojoed wrote:It looks like Canal have done another fine job, as they have with Lavender Hill Mob,Whisky Galore and Went the Day Well.

And with Ice Cold in Alex as well, though over 2 hours of Anthony Quayle in a particularly unflattering pair of short shorts was pushing it.

The Cruel Sea looks extremely good as well (though the film itself wasn't quite my cup of tea). The only real howler they've put out this year is the Don't Look Now Blu.