Somebody Think of the Children
Film Censorship

Public discussion on censorship at UNSW – 16 October

Margaret Pomeranz will join copyright lawyer Raena Lea-Shannon to discuss censorship and film classification at UNSW tomorrow, 16 October. They’ll be focusing on the movie Mysterious Skin (R18+) which was described as a “how-to manual of sexual abuse” by some family groups as well as SA A-G Michael Atkinson. The OFLC didn’t agree. They found...

Australian Customs seize adult Brady Bunch spoof

When it comes to videos being seized by Australian Customs, Refused-Classification remains the best source of information (if not the only). This week they write that Not the Bradys XXX and Learning the Ropes #1: Male Submissive have both been confiscated by the ACS: ‘…We can inform you that Will Ryder’s hardcore BRADY BUNCH spoof...

Why adult stores sell banned films and magazines

Two Brisbane adult stores have been fined for selling Category 2 magazines and films classified as X18+ and RC. Queenslander’s can legally watch and purchase such material, but it is illegal for QLD stores to sell it. That creates a big problem and not just for retailers in the Sunshine State — for stores in...

Umbrella’s ‘definitive’ R18+ Deep Throat is censored

Refused-Classification.com draws attention to the fact that Umbrella Entertainment’s R18+ DVD release of the porn classic Deep Throat is censored, despite being marketed as the ‘definitive release.’ Whilst it isn’t edited, all the hardcore sex in this version is zoomed out. Speaking of Umbrella, they also just released Linda Lovelace for President: ‘A makeshift political...

Space Chimps reclassified ‘G’

Space Chimp fans worried about the future of their beloved film have a lot to smile about today. The Classification Review Board has reclassified the animated ‘classic’ as ‘G’ and tagged it with consumer advice that ?some scenes may scare young children.’ If the PG rating and ‘threatening scenes’ warning was putting you off, now...

Space Chimps under review, Two Hentai films banned

Does anyone have any idea why Space Chimps is under review (PDF) by the Classification Review Board? It’s currently rated PG (Mild threatening scenes) and though I’ve never seen the film, it seems like a reasonable rating for an animation about chimps in space. Maybe too harsh a classification, maybe not harsh enough? Who knows...

Watch on Censorship criticises Salo decision

Turns out that seven members of a thirteen member classification panel voted no to releasing that awful ‘sadistic sex movie’ Salo. Like all of us, Margaret Pomeranz from Watch on Censorship isn’t impressed. Here’s what she had to say in today’s Brissy Times: “Salo is a film by a significant filmmaker but there are some...

Salo stays banned

Between 1993 and 1998, Salo was classified R18+ in Australia. You could see it in select cinemas. Before that it had been banned since 1976, and in 1998 the QLD Attorney General saw to it that be banned once again. Fast forward 10 years and nothing has changed. Shock’s submission to have the upcoming Criterion...

Psychological Society calls for The Happening to be classified R18+

A few weeks back Simon Chapman, a Professor in Public Health at the University of Sydney, warned that health organisations were upping the ante to have smoking banned in films. He questioned whether movies, books, drama and entertainment should be seen as part of some ideological state apparatus for promoting health, to be appropriated at...

X18+ cull on the horizon?

Refused Classification has an interesting snippet from Senate Estimates held May 27. In regards to the ’emergency’ ban on pornography in certain areas of the Northern Territory, Labor Senator Trish Crossin asked whether expanding the ban to include all of the NT and the ACT had been discussed. Classification Board Director, Donald McDonald, and Assistant...

Smoking on screen: Banned, R-rated?

Simon Chapman, a Professor in Public Health at the University of Sydney who specialises in tobacco control, warns that many of his colleagues in the health profession are seeking to have smoking in films either banned or classified R18+. He writes in Crikey: ‘The Australian Medical Association now suggests that state and federal government funding...

Adult Shop loses R18+ appeal

Some adults are offended by seeing other adults have sex (creating offspring must be such a dreadful task…). But are those same people representative of broad community values and standards? The Federal Court says yes. Adult Shop has lost a legal battle to have an X18+ rating overturned for the adult film Viva Erotica. The...