Space Chimps under review, Two Hentai films banned
August 2, 2008 – 8:43 pm
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 in this country.
Meanwhile, two Hentai films have been banned. Bondage Mansion and Holy Virgins were two of four Siren releases all rated R18+ in Australia, but after an application for review from Bob Debus (Minister for Home Affairs) was received, those two titles were banned (PDF).
Refused-Classification.com writes:
The result is two titles are banned, one has its consumer advice altered, and the other escapes with no changes. What the Review Board decisions confirm is that as long as none of the characters are portrayed as being below eighteen then it is okay to show hardcore sex in these features.
In June, EzyDVD was advertising Bondage Mansion in their latest releases section next to a Bob The Builder DVD. Sure you could blame the alphabet, but c’mon — the box cover of Bondage Mansion next to Bob was a bloody scary sight.
9 Responses to “Space Chimps under review, Two Hentai films banned”
What got me was that JB Hi-Fi were selling the Siren hentai titles right next to or one shelf above the family friendly Studio Ghibli DVDs (Hayao Miyazaki films like Spirited Away and Howl’s Moving Castle) in the anime sections of nearly all of the local stores I visit. Recipe for disaster if ever I saw one.
If you belive the following post on Madman’s messageboard, JB have bowed down to complaints and removed ALL of Siren’s hentai DVDs. You may want to follow that up; http://madboards.madman.com.au/viewtopic.php?p=730440&highlight=#730440
By Matthew on Aug 3, 2008
Mike - Space Chimps is being released as a GAME…
http://www.spacechimpsgame.com/
Games are interactive and can upset children especially if they make reference to attention seeking senators and dictators !
By Bob Bain on Aug 3, 2008
@Matthew: Cheers for the JB tip off.
@Bob: What’s worse: Kids or chimps playing the Space Chimps game? They might try and fly into space.
Still, it doesn’t explain why the movie is under the microscope
By Mike on Aug 4, 2008
“Still, it doesn’t explain why the movie is under the microscope”
From what I understand and from perusal of the game it appears to promote “kicking alien ass”.
By Bob Bain on Aug 4, 2008
Typical of those aliens. Political correctness gone mad, I tell you!
By Mike on Aug 4, 2008
Rated G in the Republic of Ireland
http://www.ifco.ie/ifco/ifcoweb.nsf/ReleaseDateLookup/2CCD8ADC786F4D9580257491004EF59C?OpenDocument&OpenUp=True
Mild comic animation ‘violence’ and occasional very mild vulgarity.
OVER 18
We operate on the basis that, as adults, persons who are eighteen and over should be free, subject to the law, to watch what they wish.
However, we will also supply information on ‘Over 18′ films to adults through this website on the basis that practical consumer advice is appreciated by the public.
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Ireland is a member of the European Union and most traces of censorship have been abolished.
————————
Are many films banned today?
No, things have changed a lot since 1923, when the Irish Film Censor’s Office was first established and the Official Censor was seen as the moral guardian of an emerging and deeply conservative state.
Of more than 50,000 film censorship decisions to date, about 2,500 theatrical films have been banned, while about 11,000 have been cut, but this was largely pre-1965.
However today, there is a general recognition that, so long as it is within the law, adults should be entitled to decide for themselves what they would like to see when they go to the cinema.
===================
source…
http://www.ifco.ie/
By Bob Bain on Aug 5, 2008
@Bob: What would you say to the argument that without censorship, there would be absolute anarchy?
By Mike on Aug 5, 2008
“What would you say to the argument that without censorship, there would be absolute anarchy?”
Please read my LJ entry 5th November 2007 (as an example - I’ve been writing in varius forums for many many years.
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http://bobbain.livejournal.com/180057.html
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There’s a lot more on my views and opinions with regards to anarchy as replies to other people’s LJ postings.
Please note the comment that I made at the end of that posting.
I am (at heart) an anarchist
It’s hard to join “the party” however as here’s a tendency in anarchic thinking not to wish to form political or social organisations - especially those that involve government and control !
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There is almost no censorship in many European countries (such as France and Ireland) and I don’t believe that any of these has been described as anarchistic states - that is states of non-control and non-intervention where the focus is on freedom of thought and freedom from artificial controls over people.
I was brought up reading literature on Anarchy from books brought home by my elder brother.
There was NO censorship of commercial video tape in Australia between the years 1976 to 1984 - which is when the Wran government introduced it’s silly legislation that is ignored completely in the marketplace.
There is also NO OBLIGATION in the United States for films to be classified. It is an option and not a government requirement as it is in Australia.
Much of the world is free of censorship !
It is a shackle that binds this nation into servitude.
There is an implied criticism of anarchy in your reply. Anarchists do not regard anarchy as something evil. Those of us who truly believe in the principles of “no censorship” believe it from the heart.
Bob
By Bob Bain on Aug 5, 2008
6 August 2008
MEDIA RELEASE
Space Chimps classified G upon review
A three-member panel of the Classification Review Board has unanimously determined that the film Space Chimps is classified G (General)wwith the consumer advice ‘Some scenes may scare
young children’.
In the Classification Review Board’s opinion Space Chimps warrants a G classification because
“While there are some scenes that may scare young children, those scenes can be accommodated
within the G classification because they have a llow sense of threat or menace” said cclassification Review Board Convenor, Maureen Shelley.
“However, the Classification Review Board believes that consumer advice should alert parents to these scenes”.
Material classified G is suitable for a general audience.
The Classification Review Board convened today in response to an application from Roadshow Films to review the PG (Parental Guidance) classification made by the Classification Board on 11 July 2008
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http://www.classification.gov.au/resource.html?resource=1056&filename=1056.pdf
By Bob Bain on Aug 7, 2008