Movie News

The BBFC has just re-rated two Indiana Jones films as 12A compared with all previous releases being PG.

Raiders Of The Lost Ark is a 1981 USA / UK action adventure by Steven Spielberg
Starring Harrison Ford, Karen Allen and Paul Freeman

A 2021 cinema release has been passed 12A uncut for moderate violence, threat, horror.

Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade is a 1989 USA / UK action adventure by Steven Spielberg
Starring Harrison Ford, Sean Connery and Alison Doody

  A 2021 cinema release has been passed 12A uncut for moderate violence, horror, threat.

It seems that the BBFC is inflating ratings, especially when there is  some sort of fashionably woke concern. Perhaps parents will now subtract a rating level to get a more realistic rating estimate.

Otherworldly forces take over Horror Channel with Supernatural Week , eight nights of ghostly scares highlighted by the Channel premieres of Paranormal Activity , and creepy body horror, It Follows .

The special event, running from Saturday 15 May - Saturday 22 May, also sees the return of genre favourites such as demon chiller Firstborn , John Carpenter's classic car-rage chiller Christine , the twisted supernatural gasper Sinister , the star-studded supernatural cult classic Flatliners , the paranormal chiller The Quiet Ones , and Sean Byrne's devastating ride into psychological trauma, The Devil's Candy .

The week gets underway on Saturday 15th with a movie directed, photographed, produced, written, and edited by Oren Peli, Paranormal Activity . This is a found footage masterpiece which picked up the genre where The Blair Witch Project left off. Katie and Micah, a carefree couple, become haunted by an unseen presence in their house. They decide to investigate the increasingly bizarre and escalating intrusions by setting up a video camera to capture evidence of the demonic presence in their house, only to find much more than they ever imagined. The low-budget horror film, shot in a week, became a global phenomenon and ushered in a new era of low budget tech inspired 'found-footage' movies. John Carpenter drives a Stephen King classic to the big screen on Sunday the 16th, Christine . High school geek Arnie Cunningham falls in love with "Christine", a bright red 1958 Plymouth Fury which has seen much better days. Setting himself the task of restoring the car to its original condition, Arnie has become consumed with passion for the sleek, rounded, chrome-laden car. His friends are horrified but it's too late - anyone seeking to come between them becomes the victim of Christine's horrifying wrath. John Carpenter's classic car-rage chiller stars Harry Dean Stanton.

Ascendant is a 2021 Australia Sci-Fi mystery fantasy by Antaine Furlong (as Anthony Furlong)
Starring Charlotte Best, Jonny Pasvolsky and Susan Prior

A young environmentalist wakes, trapped, kidnapped in the elevator of a super high-rise building at the mercy of her tormentors

The original age rating from the Australian Censorship Board of MA15+ for strong themes and violence was reduced on appeal to M for mature fantasy themes, violence and blood detail. Note that MA 15+ would be likened to a 15A in UK terms whereas M would be likened to a PG-15 in US terms.

Australia's Classification Review Board explained:

In the Classification Review Board's opinion, Ascendant warrants an M classification because the themes and violence can be accommodated within context. The other classifiable elements can be accommodated at lower classifications.

It is the view of the Classification Review Board that the themes and violence within Ascendant were justified within the context of a fantasy narrative, and within this context they were of moderate impact.

It is for the above reasons, that the Classification Review Board has decided Ascendant warrants an M classification as the impact of its classifiable elements is no higher than moderate.

Rocky IV is a 1985 USA sport drama by Sylvester Stallone.
Starring Sylvester Stallone, Talia Shire and Burt Young.

Director Sylvester Stallone produced a PG-13 rated Director's Cut in 2021, whereas the original was PG rated.

The Director's Cut has been rated PG-13 for violent sports action and brief strong language.

The MPA notes: EDITED VERSION. CONTENT IS DIFFERENT FROM "PG" RATED VERSION, BULLETIN NO. 876 (1985).

Summary Notes

Rocky Balboa accompanies his friend Apollo Creed to the ring in a boxing match against a Russian Boxer named Ivan Drago. Drago is too strong for Creed, and unfortunately kills him in his match. Balboa blames himself for Creed's death and is determined to defeat Drago in a boxing match. He gains the help of Creed's former manager, Duke and travels to U.S.S.R. to take on Drago.

United Artists Releasing