Watership Down would be rated PG nowadays

Hell, I was subjected to this film and 'Threads' as a kid.

How we all scoffed that it was going to be another Disney...

The teachers had the last laugh. ;)
 
I'm bumping an old thread because the BBC has printed this story again about Watership Down going from a U to a PG. I read it today and got reminded of the thread I posted years ago. If the film got switched to a PG at the time I posted this thread (2016), then it means it has been a PG for 7 years, so why are they reprinting an old story? It even quoted 2016 now and using the same phrases e.g. "arguably too strong" like in my OP.

The date on this article says 11 hours ago, so will show up as 21st July 2023 in days/years to come.

www.bbc.co.uk

Watership Down given new PG rating with language and violence warnings

The animated children's classic film will now carry a "bad language" and "mild violence" warning.
www.bbc.co.uk
 
It was always pretty savage, surprising it was ever U looking back. Bad language too!

The violence is real though, anyone who's got rabbits and gone through the process of introducing and bonding them....absolutely ruthless little beasts when they fight, try to rip each others throats out.
 
www.bbfc.co.uk

Watership Down

Over fifty years ago saw the publication of one of the most enduring and popular children’s books, ‘Watership Down’. Read this case study to find out more about the classification history of the 1978 film adaptation.
www.bbfc.co.uk www.bbfc.co.uk
 
Pawnless Endgame said:
If the film got switched to a PG at the time I posted this thread (2016), then it means it has been a PG for 7 years, so why are they reprinting an old story?
Click to expand...

In 2016, the article was based on the head of the BBFC saying it 'would be PG if it was resubmitted' - it actually was resubmitted in 2022 and so has actually now been reclassified.
 
Gunni Parker said:
There are a lot of films in my opinion that should be reviewed by the BBFC.

Starting with the Indiana Jones films. They're all quite violent.

*Raiders of the lost Ark:- People getting cut up by propeller blades/spiked through the face, shot in the head and most importantly skin melting off.

*Temple of doom:- Monkey brains, hearts getting ripped out and multiple children getting savagely whipped plus Indy getting possessed.

*Last Crusade:- Multiple people getting shot, a man squished by a Tank, beheadings and a man getting aged to death.

*Crystal skull:- This film is a 12 and nothing violent happens in it compared to the first 3. Well, one dude gets ate by ants. That's it.
Click to expand...
I know this is an old post but it's worth noting that this has actually happened now. ROTLA was reclassified as a 12A a couple of years back.
Pawnless Endgame said:
I'm bumping an old thread because the BBC has printed this story again about Watership Down going from a U to a PG. I read it today and got reminded of the thread I posted years ago. If the film got switched to a PG at the time I posted this thread (2016), then it means it has been a PG for 7 years, so why are they reprinting an old story? It even quoted 2016 now and using the same phrases e.g. "arguably too strong" like in my OP.

The date on this article says 11 hours ago, so will show up as 21st July 2023 in days/years to come.

www.bbc.co.uk

Watership Down given new PG rating with language and violence warnings

The animated children's classic film will now carry a "bad language" and "mild violence" warning.
www.bbc.co.uk
Click to expand...
If you read the full article it explains this to some extent:
"The BBFC updates guidelines every four to five years in order to "continue to meet the expectations and values of people across the UK".
The next consultation is scheduled for this year, with any required changes coming into effect by 2024."
So the reason the story has been recycled is because they are about to update guidelines again.

Note that the 2016 article states "For it to receive a different rating, however, it would have to be re-submitted to the BBFC - something Austin said would only happen if the title was acquired by a new distributor who wished to re-release it.". So that probably explains why it was not switched to a PG in 2016, as presumably there was no new distributor attempting to re-release it.

My personal opinion is that it should not be a U.
 
SpellowHouse said:
Gah, hate films with a political message. Watership Down was a rubbish film. Hated it. :mad:

Should have been rated UA - Unsuitable for All.

:cry:
Click to expand...

I remember being traumatised by this and Creature from the Blue Lagoon. Still I think it’s due a hollywood remake, along the lines of The Young Ones “Bambi”.
 
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