The censors strike back: Classic films get stricter ratings
YOUNG fans who saw Jaws in 1975 certainly thought it was safe to go back into the cinema.
But the censors are now not so ready to agree. They have given the Steven Spielberg classic – and a host of other blockbusters including The Empire Strikes Back – stricter ratings.
They claim it is to keep up with modern attitudes. Other films to be reclassified include seemingly harmless family favourites such as Lord of the Rings, Raiders of the Lost Ark and Ghostbusters.
Jaws has seen its rating raised from PG – meaning parental guidance is advised for young children – to 12A, meaning under-12s must be accompanied by an adult. The ‘threat and injury’ in some scenes was deemed to deserve a higher age rating and 12A did not exist when the film was made a PG.
The Empire Strikes Back, from 1980, previously had a U rating – suitable for all aged four and over. It has been lifted to PG due to brief ‘moderate violence’ – including a scene in which Luke Skywalker’s hand is chopped off in a lightsaber duel with Darth Vader.
The British Board of Film Classification says the changes are to ‘keep in step with the direction in which society is moving’.
Films are reclassified only when a distributor submits them for a new release. At that point the BBFC applies its most recent guidelines. Raiders of the Lost Ark, from 1981, was PG for its video issue but last year’s cinema re-release saw it rated 12A for ‘moderate violence’ and ‘horror’, bringing it in line with the guidelines.
Ghostbusters has received a similar upgrade due to a sex scene, and Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, has also been made a 12A due to ‘regular scenes of fantasy battle involving stabbing, slashing and arrow impacts’.
The BBFC, which uses an extensive public consultation to help formulate its guidelines, points out that ratings for some films have been lowered.
The Fast and the Furious, from 2001, was dropped from a 15 to a 12A after a bloody scene was cut by the distributor. Chris Davies, BBFC compliance manager, said: ‘It is our role to keep in step with the direction in which society is moving, to ensure our standards meet the expectations of people across the UK.’