UPDATES: 24th May 2009
DEBTS OF DESIRE: More Censored Hentai
NECROVISION: Censored for M-rating
Censored Hardcore DVDs
PASS OUT: Board Game Rated Category 1
Censor Flashback: DREAMS OF EROTICISM (1977)
New Consumer Advice: SAW V, X-MEN ORIGINS- WOLVERINE, TERMINATOR 3, DAREDEVIL
FRIDAY THE 13TH: Review Board Report
CHARLIE WILSON'S WAR: Review Board Report
UPDATES: 3rd May 2009
Catholic WYD Pilgrims caused HOLY VIRGINS ban
LOVE DOLL: Hentai missing Episode One
How to rate a film without even viewing it
Why THE HOWLING is R18+ in 2009, when it was M-rated in 1981
Censor Flashback: AUDITIONS (1978)
UPDATES: 19th April 2009
We're back!
NECROVISION: Banned in Australia
2009 Censorship Ministers Meeting
Australian incest books banned by the censors
WET SET Magazine #55: Censored for Category 2
Three Gay Hardcore DVDs Banned
HOME INVASION: Censored!
HOT BUTTERED COP PORN: Banned
MANPLAY 40: Banned!
Two Straight Hardcore DVDs Banned
CRY WOLF: Banned
ROCCO-PUPPET MASTER 2: Banned Again
Australian Censorship News
24th May 2009
DEBTS OF DESIRE: More Censored Hentai
Geoff continues his on-going investigation of Siren's Hentai DVDs with the 2008 release, DEBTS OF DESIRE. Once more he seems to have found evidence of pre-censorship by Siren before the DVD was submitted to the Classification Board.
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NECROVISION: Censored for M-rating
Originally banned back in April NECROVISION has now been passed in a censored version with an M (Violence and coarse language) rating.
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Censored Hardcore DVDs
HOT BUTTERED COP PORN, HUNG RIDERS II - THE HEAT IS ON, and CRY WOLF are three of the latest porn DVDs to passed in censored versions.
A cut version of Josh Eliot's HOT BUTTERED COP PORN has been awarded an X18+ (Explicit Sex) rating. Calvista originally had it banned in March.
Josh Elliot was also involved with another hardcore gay porn title that was recently before the censors. Back in 1997 he produced the Catalina Video production HUNG RIDERS II - THE HEAT IS ON. In 1998 it was banned in Australia following submission of a 75m VHS by the Victorian Police. Eleven years on and Calvista have just received an X18+ (Explicit Sex) rating for a DVD version. Considering the rules for X18+ were tightened in 2000, and the film is an adult western (meaning it contains a story and violence), then we seriously doubt this new submission is uncut.
Also passed, this time with an R18+ rating is Paul Thomas's CRY WOLF. This was originally awarded an X18+ (Explicit Sex) rating on September 4th 2008. A second submission was Refused Classification on March 13th 2009. Further censorship saw it passed with an R18+ (High level sex scenes and sexual violence) on March 27th 2009.
This demonstrates that the original X18+ version was definitely censored of some violence or dialogue before submission. Some of the plot would have been put back in (and the hardcore removed) for the R18+ version. Obviously Calvista miscalculated on their first R18+ attempt as they got hit with an RC rating.
On-line reviews mention a rape scene that was no doubt removed for the X18+ version, and put back in for the R18+. This would explain the 'sexual violence' warning in the consumer advice.
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PASS OUT: Board Game Rated Category 1
Back in March the WA Liberal MP Steve Irons spoke in the House of Representatives and called for the drinking board game PASS OUT to be banned in Australia. The game was called in by the Director of the Classification Board and was rated Category 1 on April 15th 2009.
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Censor Flashback: DREAMS OF EROTICISM (1977)
Matt has sent in a review of the 1977 Shaw Bros sex comedy DREAMS OF EROTICISM. A censored R-rated version played in Australian Chinese language theatres back in 1978.
******
New Consumer Advice: SAW V, X-MEN ORIGINS- WOLVERINE, TERMINATOR 3, DAREDEVIL
Time to look at four more titles that have been back before the Classification Board for new ratings.
SAW V: MA15+ to R18+
The US R-rated version of SAW V was passed by the Classification Board with an MA15+. However the extra violence in the Directors Cut DVD saw the rating increased to R18+.
12/08: SAW V Film (DVD) R18+ (High level violence, Blood and gore)
10/08: SAW V Film (35 mm) MA15+ (Strong violence, Blood and gore)
To see what exactly pushed it into the higher rating you can find a comparison of both versions at schnittberichte.com. Try the Google translation service if your German is not up to scratch.
X-MEN ORIGINS- WOLVERINE: PG, M, and MA15+
Here is an unusual one. The X-MEN ORIGINS- WOLVERINE game has now been classified four times, and has achieved three separate ratings from PG through to MA15+. Obviously this is a case of different versions being made available for each platform.
02/09: X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE Game (Multi Platform) MA15+ (Strong violence)
02/09: X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE Game (Sony PSP) M (Violence)
02/09: X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE Wii PS2 Game (Multi Platform) M (Violence)
12/08: X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE Game (Nintendo DS) PG (Mild violence)
TERMINATOR 3: New Consumer Advice
Six years on from its original submission and TERMINATOR 3: RISE OF THE MACHINES has seen the consumer advice attached to the M-rating go from 'Medium level violence, Low level coarse language' to 'Action violence and infrequent coarse language'.
03/09: TERMINATOR 3: RISE OF THE MACHINES Film (DVD for Blu-Ray) M (Action
violence and infrequent coarse language)
09/03: TERMINATOR 3: RISE OF THE MACHINES Film (VHS for DVD) M (Medium level
violence, Low level coarse language)
06/03: TERMINATOR 3: RISE OF THE MACHINES Film (35 mm) M (Medium level violence,
Low level coarse language)
DAREDEVIL: New Consumer Advice
Another film to see a change of consumer advice is DAREDEVIL. In six years it has gone through three variations.
03/09: DAREDEVIL (BLURAY) Film (Blu-Ray) M (Action violence and coarse
language
10/05: DAREDEVIL - (UMD FORMAT) Film (UMD) M (Moderate violence, Moderate coarse
language)
02/05: DAREDEVIL DIRECTOR'S CUT Film (DVD) M (Medium level violence, Low level
coarse language)
04/03: DAREDEVIL (said to be SPECIAL EDITION - VHS) Film (VHS) M (Medium level
violence, Low level coarse language)
04/03: DAREDEVIL (said to be SPECIAL EDITION - DVD) Film (VHS for DVD) M (Medium
level violence, Low level coarse language)
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FRIDAY THE 13TH: Review Board Report
The full Review Board report into the FRIDAY THE 13TH remake has now been released. Paramount Pictures failed in their attempt to get the R18+ rating dropped to MA15+. Instead the consumer advice was changed from:
‘High impact horror violence and sex scene’ to 'High impact horror violence, Several sex scenes'
Spoiler Warning!
Australian Government
Classification Review Board
20 February 2009
23-33 MARY STREET SURRY HILLS, NSW
MEMBERS:
The Hon Trevor Griffin (Acting Convenor)
Ms Ann Stark Ms Irina Kolodizner
APPLICANT Paramount Pictures Australia
INTERESTED PARTIES None
BUSINESS To review the Classification Board’s decision to classify the film Friday the 13th R 18+ (Restricted) with the consumer advice ‘High impact horror violence and sex scene’.
DECISION AND REASONS FOR DECISION
1. Decision
The Classification Review Board (the Review Board) classified Friday the 13th R 18+ with the consumer advice ‘High impact horror violence; several sex scenes’
2. Legislative provisions
The Classification (Publications, Film and Computer Games) Act 1995 (the Act) governs the classification of films and the review of classification decisions. Section 9 of the Act provides that films are to be classified in accordance with the National Classification Code (the Code) and the classification guidelines.
Relevantly, the Code in paragraph 5 of the Table under the heading ‘Films’ provides that:
Films (except RC films and X 18+ films) that are unsuitable for a minor to see” are to be classified R 18+, and Films (except RC films, X 18+ films and R 18+ films) that depict, express or otherwise deal with sex, violence or coarse language in such a manner as to be unsuitable for viewing by persons under 15” are to be classified MA 15+.
The Code also sets out various principles to which classification decisions should give effect, as far as possible.
Section 11 of the Act requires that the matters to be taken into account in making a decision on the classification of a film include:
(a) the standards of morality, decency and propriety generally accepted by reasonable adults; and
(b) the literary, artistic or educational merit (if any) of the computer game; and
(c) the general character of the computer game, including whether it is of a medical, legal or scientific character; and
(d) the persons or class of persons to or amongst whom it is published or is intended or likely to be published.
Three essential principles underlie the use of the Guidelines for the Classification of Films and Computer Games 2005 (the Guidelines), determined under s 12 of the Act:
• the importance of context
• the assessment of impact, and
• the six classifiable elements – themes, violence, sex, language, drug use and nudity.
3. Procedure
The Review Board met on 20 February 2009 in response to an application for review from Paramount Pictures Australia, received on 12 January 2009. The Review Board determined that the application for review was a valid application.
Three members of the Review Board viewed the 35mm version of Friday the 13th on 20 February 2009.
The Review Board considered a written submission and an oral submission, both by Mr Michael Selwyn, Managing Director of Paramount Pictures Australia. The Review Board then considered the matter.
4. Evidence and other material taken into account
In reaching its decision the Review Board had regard to the following:
(i) the application for review from Paramount Pictures Australia;
(ii) a written and oral submissions from Mr Michael Selwyn of Paramount Pictures Australia;
(iii) the film Friday the 13th;
(iv) the relevant provisions in the Act, the Code and the Guidelines; and
(v) the Classification Board’s report.
5. Synopsis
The film traces a series of murders committed by a masked Jason in the area of Crystal Lake. At the beginning of the film, a group of young adults go camping near Crystal Lake and never return home, after being set upon by Jason. Six weeks later, Clay, the brother of one of the missing camping party, goes to Crystal lake in search of his missing sister, Whitney. During his search, Clay encounters another group of college students staying in a nearby holiday home. All become targets for the serial killer.
6. Findings on material questions of fact
The Review Board found that the film contains aspects or scenes of importance under various classifiable elements:
(a) Themes – Themes of vengeance, horror and, to a limited extent, drug usage could be discerned in the film. The Review Board was of the view that, while the themes of vengeance and horror are strong, they can be justified by context. Except to the extent of the violence referred to below, these themes can be accommodated in the MA15+ classification.
(b) Violence – The Review Board concluded that there are a number of instances of violence which, both separately and cumulatively, are high in impact. They include:
.. At the beginning of the film, Jason (then a child) approaches his mother’s severed head, after she had been beheaded by a camp counsellor (the survivor of his mother’s killing spree at Crystal Lake);
.. At 18 minutes, as Ritchie walks in the forest, there is a closeup of a cut throat; Amanda is grabbed by a masked man and Ritchie runs towards her in panic. His leg is caught in a trap and there is a closeup of his mangled leg showing flesh, blood and bone detail, accompanied by screaming. Amanda is shown trussed in a sleeping bag suspended from a tree over a camp-fire, writhing and screaming as she burns. She drops into the fire and burns alive. There is a closeup of her burnt face. At 23 minutes, there is another closeup of Ritchie’s bloody leg (with a particular focus on bone detail) in the trap – he looks up as a masked man, Jason, swings a machete into his skull where it remains, with blood detail.
.. At 40 minutes, a woodcutter returns home, hears creaking floorboards upstairs, arms himself and slowly makes his way upstairs. Jason appears suddenly, armed with a machete. He lashes out at the woodcutter and cuts his neck, blood flowing.
.. At 44 minutes, Noah is driving a motorboat on the lake when he is shot through the head with an arrow. The arrow is shown protruding from the back of his head, with a bloody entry wound in his forehead.
.. At 47 minutes, Chelsea is hiding under a jetty. Jason approaches along the jetty and suddenly the machete is driven through the jetty into Chelsea’s head with such force that, as Jason seeks to withdraw the machete, Chelsea is pulled by the machete in her head up to the base of the jetty boards. There is blood flow.
.. At 50 minutes, Jason is shown carrying a body wrapped in a bag. He drops it to the ground and wields the machete to cut off the head. There is blood and bone detail.
.. At 63 minutes, Chewie is in a workshop, the window breaks and Jason appears suddenly. Jason grabs Chewie and rams a screwdriver into his neck and up into his mouth. The flesh resists the passage of the screwdriver, adding to the realism of the scene. Blood gushes from the mouth and there is a gurgling sound effect. At 68 minutes, as Lawrence enters the workshop, Chewie is shown hanging upside down from the ceiling.
.. At 70 minutes, as Lawrence is running away, Jason hurls an axe at him and it is shown protruding from his back, with blood pouring from the wound as he cries out for help. Jason reaches Lawrence, picks him up, turns him over and pushes him down onto the axe until the axe-head is shown protruding from Lawrence’s chest. There is further blood detail.
.. At 73 minutes, a young woman, Bree, is caught inside by Jason and is lifted up and suspended from a door by a hook in her back.
.. At 74 minutes, a police officer arrives and is attacked by Jason. The officer is shown with a knife protruding from one eye in closeup with blood detail.
.. On a nearby country road at night, there are several more acts of violence – at 77 minutes, a young woman’s body is thrown through the windscreen of a car and at 78 minutes Trent is stabbed through the back (with the spear protruding from the chest).
.. In a prolonged sequence from 86 minutes, Jason and Clay are shown fighting with various implements until Jason pushes Clay into a woodchipping machine, Clay’s head moving towards the cutting blades. Clay manages to throw a chain around Jason and Jason is gradually pulled towards the cutter blades. Whitney stabs Jason in the chest with a machete as he lies on the chipper conveyor belt, blood oozing from under Jason’s hockey mask.
(c) Language – Coarse language, such as ‘fuck’, ‘shit’ and variations of these terms, is used frequently. The view of the Review Board is that such language can be accommodated in the MA15+ classification.
(d) Sex – See ‘Nudity’ in subparagraph (f) below.
(e) Drug Use – There are several instances of drug usage, particularly in relation to marijuana. The Review Board is of the view that these instances are justified by context and can be accommodated in a category lower than R18+.
(f) Nudity – The film contains several instances of nudity, including:
.. Female breast nudity at 9 minutes, when a young woman bares her breasts for a young male with sexually suggestive movements;
.. At 15 minutes, a young male and young female are briefly shown naked in a tent and then by shadow on the wall of the tent, along with thrusting and sound effects;
.. At 44 minutes, Chelsea is shown topless on a motor boat and later under a jetty when Jason thrusts a machete through the boards of the jetty into Chelsea’s skull, lifting her out of the water as he seeks to withdraw the machete, exposing her bare breasts;
.. At 60 minutes, Trent and Bree are shown naked in a bedroom – she is astride Trent and they are shown in various positions from the side and back with sexual dialogue and pelvic thrusting, impliedly reaching orgasm after five minutes of film. No genitalia is shown. The Review Board concluded that the nudity contained in the film is justified by context and that sexual activity is realistically simulated.
7. Reasons for the decision
The Review Board was of the view that while certain classifiable elements such as drug use could be accommodated under the MA 15+ classification, the level of violence in the film could not be accommodated in a classification lower than R18+. The violence is sustained, realistic and high in impact, and, as such and in accordance with the Guidelines, mandates an R18+ classification for the film.
8. Summary
The Review Board determined that the film should be classified R18+, with the consumer advice ‘High impact horror violence; several sex scenes’.
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CHARLIE WILSON'S WAR: Review Board Report
Also just released is the Review Board report into CHARLIE WILSON'S WAR. The Board's decision was to increase it from:
M (Moderate coarse language and drug
references, Violence)
to
M (Moderate coarse language, drug references and violence; partial nudity)
We previously reported that Bob Debus was behind the review. However he was only acting on behalf of our old friend SA Attorney General Michael Atkinson.
Spoiler Warning!
Australian Government
Classification Review Board
2 February 2009
23-33 MARY STREET SURRY HILLS, NSW
MEMBERS:
The Hon Trevor Griffin (Acting Convenor)
Ms Ann Stark Ms Irina Kolodizner
Mr Brook Hely
APPLICANT
Minister for Home Affairs upon request of the South Australian Attorney-General,
the Hon Michael Atkinson MP – not represented.
INTERESTED PARTIES
Universal Pictures Home Entertainment and Universal Pictures
International.
BUSINESS
To review the Classification Board’s decision that the consumer advice for the
film Charlie Wilson’s War should be ‘Moderate coarse language and
drug references. Violence’.
DECISION AND REASONS FOR DECISION
1. Decision
The Classification Review Board (the Review Board) determined that the consumer advice for the film Charlie Wilson’s War should be ‘Moderate coarse language, drug references and violence; partial nudity’.
2. Legislative provisions
The Classification (Publications, Film and Computer Games) Act 1995 (the Act) governs the classification of films and the review of classification decisions. Section 9 provides that films are to be classified in accordance with the National Classification Code (the Code) and the classification guidelines.
Relevantly, the Code in paragraph 5 of the Table under the heading ‘Films’ provides Films (except RC films, X 18+ films, R 18+ films and MA 15+ films) that cannot be recommended for viewing by persons who are under 15 are classified M.
The Code also sets out various principles to which classification decisions should give effect, as far as possible.
Section 11 of the Act requires that the matters to be taken into account in making a decision on the classification of a film include:
(a) the standards of morality, decency and propriety generally accepted by reasonable adults; and
(b) the literary, artistic or educational merit (if any) of the computer game; and
(c) the general character of the computer game, including whether it is of a medical, legal or scientific character; and
(d) the persons or class of persons to or amongst whom it is published or is intended or likely to be published.
Three essential principles underlie the use of the Guidelines for the Classification of Films and Computer Games 2005 (the Guidelines), determined under s 12 of the Act:
· the importance of context
· the assessment of impact, and
· the six classifiable elements – themes, violence, sex, language, drug use and nudity.
3. Procedure
The Review Board met on 2 February 2009 in response to the receipt of two applications from the Minister for Home Affairs on 5 January 2009 to review the consumer advice for the film. The two applications, which related to the on-screen version of the film and the DVD of the film (including additional content) respectively, were considered together. No oral submissions were made before the Review Board.
Four members of the Review Board viewed the DVD of Charlie Wilson’s War on 2 February 2009.
The Review Board considered correspondence addressed to the Commonwealth Attorney-General and forwarded to the Minister for Home Affairs from the South Australian Attorney General (which annexed correspondence from a constituent relating to the film) and a written submission from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment, the original applicant for classification.
The Review Board then considered the matter.
4. Evidence and other material taken into account
In reaching its decision the Review Board had regard to the following:
(i) the Minister for Home Affairs’ applications for review of the film in 35mm and DVD format;
(ii) a written submission from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment;
(iii) correspondence from the South Australian Attorney General addressed to the Commonwealth Attorney-General;
(iv) the film Charlie Wilson’s War and additional content on the DVD;
(v) the relevant provisions in the Act, the Code and the Guidelines; and
(vi) the Classification Board’s report.
5. Synopsis
This film tells the story of how US Congressman Charlie Wilson convinced a US Congressional Committee to covertly fund the Mujahedeen’s war against the USSR in Afghanistan during the 1980s.
6. Findings on material questions of fact
While the film’s M classification was not the subject of the applications for review, the Review Board concluded that it should consider the various elements which resulted in the classification determined by the Board in order to determine the appropriate consumer advice for the film.
The Review Board found that the film contains aspects or scenes of importance under various classifiable elements:
(a) Themes – The dominant themes in the film are ‘good versus evil’, expressed in the context of Cold War politics, and the atrocities of war. The Review Board determined that these generally have a low sense of threat or menace and are justified by context. They can be accommodated in a lower classification than M.
(b) Violence – The principal scenes of violence are battlefield scenes and helicopter gunships strafing villages, villagers and Mujahedeen convoys. Several of these scenes show people on the ground scattering as the gunships fire. Generally, these scenes contain no close-ups showing blood or injuries, though in several scenes villagers are shown fleeing from bullets and burning debris falling from the sky. In several fleeting scenes a body is shown rolling down a sand dune, impliedly after being shot. The film also contains scenes depicting missiles aimed at both Russian tanks and Russian helicopter gunships, with the targets being hit and exploding.
In an early scene CIA operative Gust reacts angrily in a confrontation with his principal at the CIA and smashes an internal office window before storming off.
The Review Board concluded by majority that the violence was of moderate impact and was justified by context, thereby fitting into the M classification. The minority was of the view that the violence in the film could be accommodated within the PG classification. The minority acknowledged, however, that the violence in the film was at the higher end of violence permitted within the PG category and consequently warranted appropriate consumer advice.
(c) Language – The words ‘fuck’, ‘shit’ and ‘motherfucker’ are scattered throughout the film. The Review Board concluded that it was infrequent and justified by context, fitting within the M classification.
(d) Sex – Under the M classification, sexual activity may be discreetly implied, if justified by context.
There are some infrequent scenes where there are sexually suggestive remarks. For example, at approximately 25 minutes, Charlie is in the bath tub in Joanna’s room while she sits in her bathrobe at the mirror applying makeup when he remarks: ‘you look very good naked’. In the same scene, Charlie remarks: ‘you may be the sexiest woman ever’, and again, as Joanna passes the bath tub she presses the drain button and Charlie remarks: ‘I guess it ain’t going to be twice tonight’.
At approximately three minutes, Charlie sits in a hot tub with several naked strippers (the hot tub scene - discussed below). This scene is indirectly sexual in nature.
In addition, at 14 minutes Charlie Wilson is shown with a scantily clad woman. The woman is attempting to seduce him and he later strokes her on the stomach in a sensual manner while he speaks on the telephone. The Review Board concluded that the sexual references in the film can be accommodated in the M classification, without need for additional consumer advice.
(e) Drug Use – There are several scenes where drug-taking is implied. For example, at approximately 3 minutes as Charlie sits in a hot tub he hears a remark about Afghanistan on a nearby television set and asks a man nearby to turn it up. He responds: ‘I’m completely high’. During the hot tub scene, one of the strippers is seen in the background snorting what appears to be cocaine.
At 7 minutes, in the back of a limousine, there is a distance shot of a young woman lifting her head after appearing to have consumed cocaine.
At 14 minutes, a female impliedly smokes a marijuana cigarette.
In the course of the film, Charlie Wilson learns he is being investigated for ‘recreational drug use and for using cocaine’.
The Review Bord concluded that these references could be accommodated in the M classification.
(f) Nudity – Nudity is the element principally referred to in the letter from the South Australian Attorney-General to the Commonwealth Attorney-General as warranting a review of the film’s consumer advice. It is noted that the Classification Board did not refer to nudity in its report.
The primary incident of nudity in the film is a hot tub scene, which occurs approximately between three and six minutes into the film. At the start of the scene, a woman disrobes and is shown naked side-on stepping into the hot tub to join a group comprising Charlie Wilson, another male and two other young women. Two of the women in the hot tub are later identified as strippers. It is implied that they are all naked, other than one of the women who is wearing a bathing costume.
As they all sit in the hot tub, the bare breasts of the two strippers can be seen just below water level and periodically their bare breasts are shown above the water as they shift position. Towards the end of the scene, the two strippers sit up more and their breasts become more clearly exposed.
After some banter, Charlie gets out of the hot tub – he is shown totally naked from the back as he dresses in a bathrobe.
The Review Board regarded this scene as an important scene-setter for the whole film, particularly in respect of Charlie’s character and his modus operandi. The Review Board was of the view that this scene would of itself warrant the film being given an M classification.
The Review Board therefore concluded that some reference should be made to nudity in the consumer advice, in view of the significant contribution of this scene to the overall classification of the film.
7. Reasons for the decision
As the early hot tub scene substantially informs the classification of the film and the level of nudity in the film is moderate in impact, it is appropriate that consumer advice referring to partial nudity should be given in relation. The Review Board was also of the view that consumer advice should be given in relation to the classifiable elements of coarse language, drug references and violence as they contribute significantly to the overall tenor of the film and, thus, its M classification.
8. Summary
The Review Board determined that the consumer advice to accompany the M classification for the film should be ‘Moderate coarse language, drug references and violence; partial nudity’.
Update 24th May 2009
Refused-Classification.com
Australian Censorship News
3rd May 2009
Catholic WYD Pilgrims caused HOLY VIRGINS ban
We finally have some more information regarding the controversy that saw the HOLY VIRGINS DVD banned by the Review Board in 2008. For a while Siren had been releasing titles as part of their Hentai Collection. However it all went quiet after BEAT ANGEL ESCALYER was rated in July 2008. Later that month four titles went before the Review Board, three escaped, and one, HOLY VIRGINS, was banned. Soon after that JB-Hi-Fi pulled Siren's hentai range from the shelves, and they also disappeared from Siren's own site. Now Siren have launched a new site just for the hentai titles called hentaicollection.com.au and have now gone some way to explaining the situation.
hentaicollection.com.au
News
TRUE STORY
29 Mar 2009
The Pope flies to Sydney, and a million pilgrims duly follow. Killing time between wholesome Catholic activities, said pilgrims stop off in a VERY popular music/DVD shop to peruse the latest in family entertainment.
While shopping, they find copies of HOLY VIRGINS on the shelf in the Anime section. Complaints (x100) to the store manager - and eventually the Government - ensue. The result? Surprise, surprise - the Pope and the pilgrims may be long gone, but you can't find the Hentai Collection in most stores anymore, even though these titles have been given an R rating by the Government-run Classification Board.
Welcome to the www.hentaicollection.com.au website. With enough support we'll start putting out more titles so sign up, drop us a line and send your suggestions. We want to hear what you think.
The Catholic World Youth Day was held in Sydney form Tuesday 15th to Sunday 20th July 2008. Now Siren says the pilgrims went into a "VERY popular music/DVD shop" and saw the HOLY VIRGINS cover. We've been informed that they mean JB Hi-Fi in Sydney's Pitt St. They apparently stocked the entire range and then suddenly removed them from their shelves. We actually covered this last year with this post that appeared on the Madman Forums.
Madman Entertainment
Forum Index
General Anime
Porn in my anime section?
klokwerk
Doraemon
Posted: Sat Aug 02, 2008 10:26 pm
Post subject: JB
I know someone who works at JB and can confirm that nationwide the Hentai titles have been pulled from their shelves and all orders cancelled.
They weren't told the full story. Just that they'd no longer be selling hentai. Since it's really only the Siren range that's available they'd have lost a bit of business. There were several JBs that did quite well with hentai titles.
Still, the story that all staff are hearing is that one of the high high-ups in management found out what hentai was and that we were selling them (possibly via complaining mothers and the like?) and gave the word to end it all. They either didn't like the idea of JB selling the stuff, or didn't want any more complaints.
In any case, for you hentai fans, want titles? Go to the EzyDVD website and type "hentai" in the search bar. It'll bring up the whole Siren range including the upcoming titles (as they become known to EzyDVD).
Reportedly the JB-Hi-Fi store stocked the hentai next to the general anime titles. Not a hanging offence in our opinion, after all they all clearly state they are R18+ rated. Remember you can't miss those new rating logos! Siren obviously blames JB Hi-Fi for the problems judging from this statement on their site.
sirenvisual.com.au
News
14 Apr 2009
www.hentaicollection.com.au
You may have noticed Hentai titles have been removed from our site.
The Hentai releases were badly merchandised in some retail stores which led to complaints, which led to the removal of the range.
We recognize there is a demand for these titles and we are doing what we can to continue the range. We expect to release new titles but at this stage we cannot say when - maybe in the fourth quarter this year.
In the meantime you can visit the new home for hentai: www.hentaicollection.com.au
So getting back to the timeline. Catholic World Youth Day was held in Sydney from Tuesday 15th to Sunday 20th July 2008. Lots of complaints are made to JB- Hi-Fi management, and to government, and it only takes three days from the end of WYD for Bob Debus to announce a review of four titles.
Australian Government
Classification Review Board
23 July 2008
MEDIA RELEASE
Review announced for the anime films Classes in Seduction, T & A Teacher, Holy Virgins and Bondage Mansion
The Classification Review Board has received four applications to review the classification of the anime films Classes in Seduction, T & A Teacher, Holy Virgins and Bondage Mansion.
Classes in Seduction was classified R 18+ (Restricted) with the consumer advice ‘High level animated sex scenes’ by the Classification Board on 1 May 2007.
T & A Teacher was classified R 18+ (Restricted) with the consumer advice ‘High level animated sex scenes, Violence’ by the Classification Board on 21 February 2008.
Holy Virgins was classified R 18+ (Restricted) with the consumer advice ‘High level animated sex scenes’ by the Classification Board on 11 March 2008.
Bondage Mansion was classified R 18+ (Restricted) with the consumer advice ‘High level animated sex scenes and themes’ by the Classification Board on 9 April 2008.
The reviews are in response to applications from the Minister for Home Affairs. Under the Commonwealth Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Act 1995, the Minister for Home Affairs may make an application for a review at any time.
The Classification Review Board will meet on Wednesday 30 July 2008 to consider the applications.
By the end of the month CLASSES IN SEDUCTION, T&A TEACHER, and BONDAGE MANSION were cleared. Only HOLY VIRGINS was banned. After all, this was the title that the god-botherers initially complained about. Not bad work, a two week turn around from getting upset about a DVD cover, to seeing that DVD banned in Australia. A cynic would say the whole process was pushed through so as not to upset the Catholic pilgrims.
All we can say is that it's a good job that Siren removed episode one of the LOVE DOLL hentai. The Catholics would definitely not have approved of the nuns who keep the girl as a sex-slave in the convent, watched over by the scat loving Bishop!
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LOVE DOLL: Hentai missing Episode One
Another hentai review from Geoff, this time the 2007 release LOVE DOLL. He reveals that a whole episode was removed prior to submission. Although we can't blame Siren for doing this, we still hate the way that through this the censors are able to portray themselves as banning very little. This is listed as the original version in their database. So it's thanks to Geoff that we can show that it is far from the original version.
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How to rate a film without even viewing it
In January we published the full Review Board report into the failed attempt by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment to get OPEN SEASON 2 dropped from PG to G. At the time we noted that Young Media Australia were accepted as an interested party, and argued against the reduction in the rating having not even viewed the film. Dwight took this issue up with the Classification Review Board and found that YMA based their decision on the Classification Board report, which is kind of odd considering that Sony were in effect arguing that that report was wrong. The full response is as follows.
Australian Government
Classification Review Board
12 March 2009
I refer to your enquiry of 26 January 2009 regarding the Classification Review Board's (the Review Board) review of the film Open Season 2.
The Review Board met in response to an application from the original applicant, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, for a review of the decision made by the Classification Board to classify Open Season 2 PG with the consumer advice 'Mild violence and coarse language'.
Young Media Australia have a longstanding interest in the classification of films aimed at a child audience. Young Media Australia was invited to apply to the Review Board to be granted standing as an interested party at the review hearing.
The Review Board granted Young Media Australia standing as an interested party at the review as they demonstrated that they had an interest in ensuring that parents are well informed about content included in films which are likely to be seen by a large number of children.
Young Media Australia had the option of viewing the film, but were unable to attend the viewing. Instead, they made a written submission to the Review Board and based this submission on the Classification Board report and its genera! experience in relation to the impact on children and young people of violence in films.
I hope this information assists you.
Yours sincerely
Victoria Rubensohn
Convenor
Classification Review Board
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Why THE HOWLING is R18+ in 2009, when it was M-rated in 1981
Back in February 1981 the censors awarded Joe Dante's THE HOWLING an R18+ rating. In our opinion that was probably fair at the time, considering the MA15+ option was still over a decade away. Hoyts Distribution had other ideas and appealed to the Review Board who dropped it to an M. This is the rating it carried for its theatrical release.
In 2004 Universal released it on DVD with an R18+ rating on the cover. The lack of consumer advice indicates that they were going by a pre-1989 rating. We don't believe that it was resubmitted since its theatrical run, and so would guess that the Universal's R18+ rating is incorrect. It should have still been tagged with an M. Though if it had been resubmitted it would have no doubt got an MA15+.
Which brings us to Universal's just released Special Edition which was re-rated R18+ (High level sexual violence). So why is it back up to R18+ after twenty-eight years? We think the answer is in the Classification Board's consumer advice of 'High level sexual violence'. The Special Edition disc contains something called THE HOWLING - FAKE PORN MOVIE which was strong enough to see it rejected by the British Censors in 2004. Their reasons tell you all you need to know about this four minute extra.
BBFC Report.
THE HOWLING - FAKE PORN MOVIE
Video Feature Rejected 19 March,2004.
When submitted to the BBFC the work had a running time of 3m 51s.
This work was rejected.
THE HOWLING - FAKE PORN MOVIE is a bonus feature intended for use on the DVD release of THE HOWLING. It consists of two silent sequences showing women being sexually assaulted. Brief extracts from these sequences, avoiding the most explicit and graphic elements, were employed in the film THE HOWLING during a scene set in a sex shop. In the context of the film the clips served to illustrate the degenerate nature of one of the characters. The sequences (which were specially created for the film) are presented here in their entirety and divorced from their original context. In the first sequence, a woman is assaulted by three men on top of a car bonnet. In the second sequence a woman is tied to a bed, stripped and raped by one of the men and sexually assaulted with a wooden handle. Both sequences exploit sexual violence in a titillatory and pornographic fashion.
The Board’s classification Guidelines clearly set out our serious concerns about the portrayal of sexual violence in films and videos and highlight the unacceptability of portrayals which eroticize sexual assault. The bonus feature was therefore rejected.
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Censor Flashback: AUDITIONS (1978)
We take a look back to Australian censorship during the period 1982-3 with AUDITIONS, one of Charles's Band's earliest films. Video Classics had this all set to go in 1982, but were denied a release after the censors banned it. Syme tried again the following year but hit the same wall. Now thanks to Jay we can reveal the scene that caused the problems.
Update 3rd May 2009
Refused-Classification.com
Australian Censorship News
19th April 2009
We're back!
Sorry for the long delay between updates. With the holidays out of the way hopefully we'll get back to a regular schedule. The main news on the censorship front over the past few weeks has been the never ending internet filtering debate. We're not even going to attempt to update the site to include all that has gone on. Though if by chance you have been living under a rock for the past few weeks then we suggest you check our links page for the ever growing number of sites and blogs that have been pulling Conroy's plans to pieces.
Keep those e-mails coming with tips and news. We've not heard of any customs confiscations recently. Is the ACS finally relaxing?
Okay, on with the backlog!
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NECROVISION: Banned in Australia
2008 was a bad year for games censorship in Australia with five titles being Refused Classification by the Board. Three months into 2009 and we have our first RC games of the year with the Polish made NECROVISION. It is already out in Europe where the Pan-European Game Information (PEGI) age rating system awarded it an 18+ rating for violence and bad language. It's worth noting that most PEGI 18+ rated games get through with MA15+ in Australia.
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2009 Censorship Ministers Meeting
On Friday the censorship ministers met in Canberra. The long promised games R18+ discussion paper was on the agenda, coming in a week when we learnt that yet another game had been banned by the Classification Board.
Aussie R18+ video game debate to be opened to public au.gamespot.com 17.04.09
The much-anticipated discussion paper on the introduction of an R18+ classification for video games in Australia will be released to the public by the office of the Commonwealth Minister of Home Affairs, Bob Debus, after censorship ministers stood divided over its contents at the Standing Committee of Attorneys General (SCAG) meeting in Canberra today.
It is expected that the discussion paper will propose changes to Australia's current classification guidelines and will include relevant research and literature on the classification of video games. No specified timeline has yet been given for its release.
"Because there was no unanimous agreement amongst all states and territories about the release of the discussion paper, the commonwealth is circumventing our requirements for unanimous agreement and will release the discussion paper under their own name," ACT attorney general Simon Corbell said today. "The paper will be released shortly."
It's interesting to see that one of the sticking points for Michael Atkinson is that he wants images and gameplay included in the discussion paper. Taking the content out of context is a tactic often used by pro-censorship groups.
Michael Atkinson
I believe the changes I proposed to make [the
inclusion of images and gameplay footage of games rated MA15+ and above] would
have been useful in making this discussion accessible to the majority of
Australians, for whom this debate is inscrutable."
The ministers also decided to look at the issue of the classification of online games and to...
"... develop a fact sheet on classification requirements in relation to online computer games. Ministers requested officers to consider any anomalies in coverage, consult with industry, and report back at the next meeting.
The full press release is as follows.
STANDING COMMITTEE OF ATTORNEYS-GENERAL
(CENSORSHIP)
CANBERRA, 17 APRIL 2009
DECISIONS
1. Art and the National Classification Scheme (NSW)
Ministers requested officers to develop educational materials, to assist stakeholders in understanding the application of the National Classification Scheme to artworks. To accommodate artworks which may be classified in accordance with the Australia Council Protocols, or under existing statutory obligations, Ministers agreed that: " the Commonwealth should amend the Classification (Markings for Publications) Determination 2007 to remove the requirement to display classification markings where any publication is classified 'Unrestricted' with no consumer advice, " consultation be undertaken to ensure that requirements regarding classification markings and display of classified material are both appropriate to ensure the objectives of the NCS are met, and practicable for artists and cultural organisations. In relation to publications generally, Ministers agreed in principle to amend classification legislation to provide for mutual recognition of the Director's call-in notices for publications.
Ministers also noted that the Australian Association of National Advertisers will consult with related industry bodies and a cross-section of advertisers about online advertisements depicting children, and report on its findings by mid-2009.
2. Classification of Publications and Films: Compliance and Enforcement (Cth)
Ministers considered proposals to improve compliance with the National Classification Scheme for offensive publications and films and asked officers to develop detailed proposals for reform in this area.
3. R 18+ Classification for Computer Games (Sec)
Ministers noted that the Commonwealth intends to release a discussion paper on an R 18+ classification for computer games.
4. General Business
(a) Online Computer Games (Cth)
Ministers asked their officers to develop a fact sheet on classification requirements in relation to online computer games. Ministers requested officers to consider any anomalies in coverage, consult with industry, and report back at the next meeting.
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Australian incest books banned by the censors
Two books by Australian author Charles Kevin, BET AND ZAK and SIBLING LOVE, have been banned by the Classification Board. The full story can be found here.
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WET SET Magazine #55: Censored for Category 2
Another Australian publication to run into trouble with the censors is the latest issue of WET SET. Issue 55 was banned back in February, and was then censored to achieve a Category 2 rating which was awarded in March. More details can be found here.
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Three Gay Hardcore DVDs Banned
March was not a good month for Calvista with three of their gay titles being banned by the Classification Board. HOT BUTTERED COP PORN, MANPLAY 40 - TRUCKSTOP ON I-95 / ROAD TRIP, and HOME INVASION were all rated RC.
HOT BUTTERED COP PORN is a 2007 Catalina Video production directed by Josh Eliot.
Also still banned is Titan Media's double-bill MANPLAY 40 - TRUCKSTOP ON I-95 / ROAD TRIP. This joins the still unavailable MANPLAY 37: DON'T ASK / DON'T TELL which was Refused Classification twice in November and December last year.
So far Joe Gage's HOME INVASION is the only title to have been censored and passed with an X18+ (Explicit Sex) rating.
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Two Straight Hardcore DVDs Banned
As mentioned Calvista lost three gay hardcore titles to the censors in March. These were joined by CRY WOLF and ROCCO: PUPPET MASTER 2.
CRY WOLF is a 2008 production directed by Paul Thomas. Calvista had initially had it passed with an X18+ (Explicit Sex) rating on September 4th 2008. However a second submission saw it banned on March 13th 2009. This was presumably a print that had been edited with the intention of gaining an R18+ rating. This indicates that the original X18+ version was probably censored of some footage or dialogue. We would guess that this was then put back in (and the hardcore removed) for the proposed R18+ version.
In our last update we covered Rocco Siffredi's troubles with the Australian censors following the February banning of ROCCO: PUPPET MASTER 2. Calvista then went away and prepared a censored version, but this has also been refused.
Update 19th April 2009
Refused-Classification.com
Updates: January - March 2009
