The kids wanted to see the latest Harry Potter and I couldn’t face it so dropped them off at the multi plex for that while I went to see this one instead. I’d heard it owes a debt to Argento in terms of style and I can see that certainly. It does have something of the Giallo about it but more in the Frightened Woman or Footprints mould than Deep Red or The Bird With the Crystal Plumage to be honest. Visually it is very dark but also stark. Almost visceral in fact, which matches the content perfectly.
No surprises to hear that I am no expert on Ballet but I had a friend at university once who had spent many years of her early life heavily involved in it and what she told me about the obsessive nature of it came through very strongly in this film. Indeed, it can be seen as its main theme and driving force. It turns out that all those tutus and feathers are a big cover up for blood, rivalry and manic obsession. No wonder it lends itself so well to this kind of psycho drama. All in all it makes for a powerful and entertaining film.
Natalie Portman does a fine job in the lead role and it was nice to see Vincent Cassel as the charismatic and powerful choreographer. Haven’t seen him since Blueberry and good to know he looks as much like Mickey Hargitay as ever.
Two things that really surprised me about the film. Firstly, the incredible grainy look to it. In the past I would have put this down to a film stock choice but now I guess it was a post production decision. Either way, it does give the film an almost down and dirty look and feel. Secondly, call me old fashioned but I can’t believe this film got a 15 certificate. God only knows what you have to include to get an R rating these days. Apparently lesbian sex, foul language and bloody murders are not enough. How times have changed. When I was a teenager a single F word or Stephanie Beacham getting her tits out was enough to get any film an X certificate. Don’t mind for myself of course but I don’t think I would want my 15 year old daughter seeing this. Thankfully, she opted for Harry Potter.
I just checked, Phil, in Belgium it has a KT rating, which means children are allowed to see it (KT = Kinderen Toegelaten, Children allowed). It only has a blue 12 certificate, whichs means children under the age of 12 may enter, even though the board thinks the material is not suitable for them (if the 12 icon is red, they’re not allowed to enter)
[quote=“scherpschutter, post:502, topic:2027”]I just checked, Phil, in Belgium it has a KT rating, which means children are allowed to see it (KT = Kinderen Toegelaten, Children allowed). It only has a blue 12 certificate, whichs means children under the age of 12 may enter, even though the board thinks the material is not suitable for them (if the 12 icon is red, they’re not allowed to enter)
Wow, that does surprise me. I thought 15 was a bit of a stretch but 12?
Apparently Lesbian oral sex is ok as long as it’s simulated. :o
It’s a very well made film but no way is it suitable for kids in my opinion.
I assume kids won’t like to see it anyway. Half of the cineplex audience was pissed off by the film cause whatever they expected, it was not what Black Swan gave them.
But I know of a fifteen-year-old girl, who only watches “mainstream” films, who went to see this and enjoyed it. I too, (although I haven’t seen it) am quite surprised at its rating, if IMDb’s “Content Advisory for Parents” is indeed correct. And the lastest Harry Potter isn’t that bad, Phil.
I saw True Grit this evening and enjoyed it very much. However, the ending was very Coen Brothers and the morbidity didn’t sit well with me in view of everything which had gone before. For me, the best thing about the movie was seeing the Coens’ crisp versions of scenes I was already very familiar with. The cast was great and I thought Bridges did a fine job of filling a role which the Duke had previously filled so well. I felt like his version of the Rooster Cogburn owed a little to John Wayne’s, but managed to be his own at the same time.
When all is said and done, I remain convinced that the Coens could have better spent their time on something a bit fresher. It almost doesn’t matter how accomplished a piece of filmmaking it is, because Wayne’s version is so iconic.
Hadn’t been to the cinema in months and have now been twice in one week. :o
Last night’s visit was with the wife to see The King’s Speech and was a satisfying experience on two fronts. Firstly, the film was very good and you can see why it is up for awards all over the place. But secondly, it was really nice to be in a mostly full auditorium made up of a largely mature (40 plus) audience. Just goes to show that if they make films for grown ups they will come out to see them. Hollywood take note.
May make this cinema going lark a regular activity. The wife and I used to go a lot before the youngest kids came along and we both really enjoy it. Plus, True Grit has just been released here so another visit is definitely on the cards.
[quote=“Phil H, post:503, topic:2027”]Wow, that does surprise me. I thought 15 was a bit of a stretch but 12?
Apparently Lesbian oral sex is ok as long as it’s simulated. :o
It’s a very well made film but no way is it suitable for kids in my opinion.[/quote]
Sex scenes are no problem to get a FSK 12 rating in Germany. Over 10 years ago there was a TV movie shown at 20:15 with a detailed lesbian oral sex scene (and a very erotic one it was), and I can’t remember that there were any of the usual complaints.
Keinohrhasen, a huge and deserved box office hit, raised a controversy cause it got a FSK 6, but contains some nudity (even a full frontal one) and much “dirty” talk about how to lick and what women think about licking and similar things. It then was re-rated to FSK 12.
Times really are different I still remember back when I was a Kid and they put something so tame as L’anatra all’arancia/Duck in Orange Sauce/Pato com Laranja with Monica Vitti and Bouchet on national TV, was a real scandal.
Even worst was when just a few years later. also on the public channel, not on a late hour but after 10.00PM, they put Ai no Korida/O Império dos Sentidos from Nagisa Ôshima that was a major scandal with major political implications, (National TV, was under governmental administration, and back then was the only channel here), the Church everyone talking about it for days, was a major issue.
Now only give us a few laughs to remember how things were back then
It seems you Germans have a very lax rating system. I’m against “Hays Code” style censorship or the American version where violence is OK so we’ll give it PG-13, but sex is dirty and nasty and it must get NC17. There are certainly scenes in some films, that (if I did, which I don’t) had children, I wouldn’t want them to see. There’s a fine line between being too harsh and too lax. The BBFC in Britain, in my opinion, generally get the decision right, although there are exceptions.
Several films like 9 Songs by Michael Winterbottom which include a few hardcore sex scenes are btw only FSK 16. Which surprises me.
But why not? As John said above, it is only sex, things which all people (well most) do, or at least should know how it looks.
And the reality is anyway that every minor doesn’t have any problems today to watch pornographic pics and films via the net or DVDs.
Yes Germany’s ratings are very easy on sex and sexual references/humor but very strict on violence. Always been that way as far as I can see. I think its actually ok. I’d rather my son grow up to be horny than a murderer There are many old movies that received FSK18 ratings which would no way be rated that now though.
[quote=“Stanton, post:511, topic:2027”]Several films like 9 Songs by Michael Winterbottom which include a few hardcore sex scenes are btw only FSK 16. Which surprises me.
But why not? As John said above, it is only sex, things which all people (well most) do, or at least should know how it looks.
And the reality is anyway that every minor doesn’t have any problems today to watch pornographic pics and films via the net or DVDs.[/quote]
Anyway I don’t imagine myself watching 9 songs with a son of mine with 16 years old (if he steal it from my collection thinking I didn’t notice, well that’s different), I guess I must be old fashioned.
You can’t compare ratings for older films with newer ones. These older films get now easily FSK 16 for DVD, and would get mostly a FSK 12 if released nowadays, if these were new films.
And the FSK is also not very strict concerning violence. A film has really to be very violent to get FSK 16, and very nasty and extremely violent to get FSK 18.
Apart from the usual slasher films FSK 18 is pretty seldom used.
Right… I noticed the only new FSK18 DVDs are the really gruesome horrors…The difference is, I’m guessing, in the states many films that get a 13 rating for violence probably get 16 in Germany. For sexual reference/nudity in Germany whats 12 is probably 18 here…
In any case for our children we (the parents) are the ones who make the age rating, its gonna be an issue for me in a few years more important now that the kids have easy access to everything.
Not that I’ve became traumatized by that ;D, but I still remember not sleeping that well as kid, after seeing some now real soft stuff (but maybe not for 8 years old kids) from Blake’s 7 series (and Space 1999 also) the dummy’s scene from Barbarella, and I still recall those scenes one by one, I was scared for weeks with that shit.
Once upon a time in the West was just seen. I still have goosebumps from the final duell.
First time I have seen it in a cinema but the probably 6th time I have seen it. It is even better when you know, which line comes next and what scene to look forward to. I love this film and it is my favorite Western for sure. Might not be my favorite Spaghetti, as it is almost larger than all the other ones and does feel like an american Western at times.
And I love Harmonica he is the truly man with no name and even lesser words.
Great Cinema experience
