Oscar Nominations 2018

[Ray de Galles]

Finally got around to seeing 'The Shape of Water' at the weekend, I was in slack dad sole charge of my teenage daughters and it was the only thing that interested all three of us in any of our local cinemas. I was mildly intrigued about the film rather than desperate to see it abut ended up liking it far more than I expected to. A load of great performances and wonderful direction, sound and visuals. One of those films that's grown on me more in the couple days since I saw it too, may go back and take my wife as I think there may be a lot there to pick up on a second viewing.

It's darker and more adult than I was expecting but my daughters enjoyed it too, being a year either side of the 15 years of age recommended by the certification.

[Fussbudget]

The 15 certificate is not just a recommendation (unlike 12A), and while I'm sure you know your 14-year-old well enough to decide if she was mature enough to see that film, the cinema shouldn't have let her in and could lose its licence if it repeatedly fails to enforce age ratings.

[Ray de Galles]

Yes, I know the 15 certificate is a legally binding one (I was asked their ages when we handed our tickets in for the first time I can recall and lied that they were both 15 or over) but was trying to not make that the issue.

Obviously it's not a Logan/Deadpool high end 15 with graphic violence so I was happy for both of them to see it.

[Fussbudget]

Fair enough, but I don't think that's obvious at all based on the subject or Del Toro's previous films.

[Aitch]

Surprisingly, Shape of Water is a 16+ rating here in Holland. I had expected it to be 12+. I thought it was a very old-fashioned film, life affirming, moralistic, apple pie stuff. If it had been shot in black and white Lauren Bacall could have played the female lead.

[Ray de Galles]

Fair enough, but I don't think that's obvious at all based on the subject or Del Toro's previous films.

Strangely, I've managed to have something of a blind spot on Del Toro before, having only seen Hellboy II (I know, not even the original, I must have ended up on a completely random trip to the cinema and that was the only thing that appealed) and 'Crimson Peak' by him before.

I know 'Pan's Labyrinth's reputation (both in terms of quality and the darkness of tone & content) but have never actually managed to sort myself out to see it , when I finally do I'm worried it could never live up to it's reputation.

That said, the "obviously" came from the fact that even someone with a cursory knowledge of 'The Shape of Water' would know that the violence isn't of the intensity of the films I mentioned above (both of which were going towards an 18, in my opinion).

[Ray de Galles]

Surprisingly, Shape of Water is a 16+ rating here in Holland. I had expected it to be 12+. I thought it was a very old-fashioned film, life affirming, moralistic, apple pie stuff. If it had been shot in black and white Lauren Bacall could have played the female lead.

SPOILER ALERT






Really? The masturbation, multiple tortures, severed fingers, inter-species sex, animal decapitation and devouring, tearing off of the reattached but now gangrenous fingers, racism and homophobia included?

I realise I could be seen as contradicting my post directly above but it contains elements you would not have seen so graphically portrayed in the fifties, however much the look of the film is a stylised throwback and the central idea is a twist on fairy tale tropes.

[Aitch]

OK, tone it down a bit. The details may have been uncomfortable but the general thrust was life affirming. On the whole it would do no more to pervert a 12 y.o. than the average Tom and Jerry cartoon. That the good guys win in the end comes as no surprise. There is a lot of empathy for the oppressed but aspirational little people who are Doing the Right Thing. The most unnerving aspect was the urinal green colour scheme.

Edit: "Tone it down a bit" refers to the film, not your comments. Sorry for any confusion, not meant to be offensive.

[Ginger Yellow]

Going back to the page one discussion, Cannes has banned streaming only films from competition.

[The Awesome Berbaslug!!!]

I learned something today. I thought that the age certification didn't really apply if brought by a parent. I can't imagine that anyone would even be asked here.

[Ray de Galles]

Anything below 12A is purely advisory, children under 12 can see a 12A but only with an adult, 15 and 18 are strict minimum limits.

[Lang Spoon]

Is it right that you can bring the bairns to an r-rated movie no matter their age Stateside? Seeing as just about everything barring porn or Hot Foreign Action is below NC-17, that seems kind of fucked for a country that can’t handle swears or shagging in Ultraviolent network shows.

[ursus arctos]

Yes

Not on my list of our top 1,000 problems, though.

[Lang Spoon]

Quite.

[Lang Spoon]

I learned something today. I thought that the age certification didn't really apply if brought by a parent. I can't imagine that anyone would even be asked here.

But did you ever get brought underage to a film by your folks? Mine tried to get me into License to Kill at about 13 but me and a friend had to go to some Police Academy bollocks instead as the box office was having none of it.

I also looked about 10. But with spots. Could get 15s from the video shop by 10 but, and non porny 18s by about 13. Sure who else would have watched most of their shitey horrors and b movies but kids?

[Ginger Yellow]

Is it right that you can bring the bairns to an r-rated movie no matter their age Stateside? Seeing as just about everything barring porn or Hot Foreign Action is below NC-17, that seems kind of fucked for a country that can’t handle swears or shagging in Ultraviolent network shows.

US ratings aren't legal requirements at any age level (outside of things that are just banned for obscenity). It's entirely between the MPAA and the exhibitors. But, yes, even on a private basis, an R rating is 17 or accompanied by a parent or guardian.

[Gerontophile]

But did you ever get brought underage to a film by your folks? Mine tried to get me into License to Kill at about 13 but me and a friend had to go to some Police Academy bollocks instead as the box office was having none of it.

I also looked about 10. But with spots. Could get 15s from the video shop by 10 but, and non porny 18s by about 13. Sure who else would have watched most of their shitey horrors and b movies but kids?

I saw Cabaret when I was 7 or 8, I think, in the cinema. Admittedly my sister was baby-sitting me while she worked at the (Hillhead Salon) cinema, so it probably doesn't count. I loved it. Fairly sure it was an X or an AA.

[Lang Spoon]

That film is pure brilliant. Can imagine it working as a kid as well, the creepy compere and the likes. Surely an X but.

[Lang Spoon]

Where was the Salon? Was it between Kersland St and Byres Rd (now a fake beardo hipster joint with old school consoles upstairs to play if you’ve forgotten how to be a person in the pub) or on Ashton Lane (now the Grovesener)?

[Gerontophile]

Hang on while I googlemap it:

Vinicombe Street I think.

[Lang Spoon]

Aye, that’s now the pretend cool spot Hillhead Book Club opposite the Cool glaze tile but derelict old garage (soon to become a Starbucks, or is it Nandos? type thing). Owned by the same cunts who mistreat their staff and underpay them all over Glasgow (G1 Group- Stefan King really).

[Gerontophile]

I think the building must be a heritage site of some sort, as it looked like that 40 years ago too. Although it's a deal cleaner in that picture.

[Lang Spoon]

They must have demolished the cinema and kept the foyer (as they have done with the big Deco Odeon on Renfield st- the plain brick cinema bit is now a stumpy 12 storey office block that’s really wanting to be 20) cos it’s a fairly narrow space. Unless the auditorium was tiny.