Big BBFC News: Dual rating clause dropped!

[2099net]

Previously, for some unknown reason, the BBFC stopped distributors releasing an extended or redited version of a film on video or DVD if the re-editing resulted in a higher rating than the previous version.

The logic of this old ruling is quoted:

Their reasoning behind not allowing dual ratings was two-fold, IIRC: The didn't want people to accidentally pick up the wrongly rated version to show to kids (I know this has happened in the States, for example, where 'Excalibur' exists in a child-friendly and a full-on cut), and they didn't want younger kids realising there was a higher rated version and being 'tempted' to try to see it.

However, the BBFC have now dropped this demand, meaning films can now be released in 2 cuts without having to worry about ratings. Now, the cynic in me expects this may have something to do with the upcoming Lord of the Rings: Return of the King EE release, which I'd place money on being a 15 rating. Just like the 12A certificate was introduced due to Columbia moaning about Spider-Man initially getting a 15 rating, I bet this dual release policy change is due to New Line/Entertainment in Video (the UK New Line distributors) moaning about LOTR: ROTK EE.

Anyhow, from a Disney point of view, it means the long withdrawn Mulan DVD can now be released (with a higher certificate and no re-editing) and on a non Disney point of view expect a Goonies DVD release from Warner soon too (the 'fake' hanging in the prison break at the start bumped the film to a 12 while the previous video - which was released before the 12 rating was introduced - was a PG).

[Matty-Mouse]

Does this also include commentary tracks?

[2099net]

I guess if a commentary track contains content which makes it unsuitable for the certification of the film, the distributors have the option of editing it to keep the certificate or releasing it at a higher certificate, even though only the supplement is pushing the rating up.

I'm not sure this was part of the old dual release policy - George of the Jungle 2 is rated U on both DVD and VHS (Blackstar), but the actual DVD has the following:

PG
Parental Guidance. General viewing, but some scenes may be unsuitable for young children.
Feature: U, Bonus: PG

So the old ruling didn't seem to stop the George of the Jungle 2 DVD release. While most e-tailers are listing the DVD as 'U', the cover does have a big 'PG' symbol on the cover while the VHS has a 'U' (which just goes to show how pointless the old policy was). I also think; but I'm not sure; that the commentary on one of the Doctor Who discs resulted in a higher certification than that of the actual episodes.

There was an issue with the Bridget Jones Diary DVD commentary. It played the soundtrack underneath the commentary and this was the wrong soundtrack by mistake - it included a naughty'C' word which was clearly audiable, which was replaced with 'Cow' on the actual DVD release's proper soundtrack. This was withdrawn when the BBFC found out. Not because of the dual rating clause, but because the 'C' word automatically upped the certification which wasn't reflected on the DVD's cover - It's illegal for a retailer to sell discs with no or incorect BBFC ratings.

You can read about the original cut to the soundtrack here.