Film Censorship Board of Malaysia: Difference between revisions
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The Board watches the uncensored film or programme and decides whether its content is acceptable for a [[Malaysia]]n audience. The film receives approval only after the Board is satisfied that the film (either without cuts or with cuts required by the Board) satisfies the rules under which the Board operates. |
The Board watches the uncensored film or programme and decides whether its content is acceptable for a [[Malaysia]]n audience. The film receives approval only after the Board is satisfied that the film (either without cuts or with cuts required by the Board) satisfies the rules under which the Board operates. |
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Any film passed with compulsory cuts must have the cuts made by the distributor before the film is released. This is accomplished either by having the studio produce an edited version (in the case of digital screenings) or by physically removing the offending section on the film itself (resulting in a temporary A/V sync problem and the digital audio reverting to the analog stream for a while). Screening films with compulsory cuts in it's unedited form can make the distributor and cinema operator legally liable.<ref> |
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{{cite news | title = |
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GSC to explain screening of uncut version of "Aire Libre" | url = http://http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/11/12/nation/20111112204105&sec=nation | newspaper = [[The Star]] Online | location = Malaysia | date = 2011-11-12 | accessdate = 2011-11-13 | quote = Golden Screen Cinema Sdn Bhd (GSC) and the distributor of Aire Libre have been asked to explain why the film was screened to the public without cuts. }} |
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</ref> |
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Films banned by the Board include ''[[Daredevil (film)|Daredevil]]'', ''[[Homerun (film)|Homerun]]'', ''[[The Prince of Egypt]]'' and ''[[Bruno]]'', though some were passed for release on optical media. |
Films banned by the Board include ''[[Daredevil (film)|Daredevil]]'', ''[[Homerun (film)|Homerun]]'', ''[[The Prince of Egypt]]'' and ''[[Bruno]]'', though some were passed for release on optical media. |
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==Films being censored/banned== |
==Films being censored/banned== |
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Although nearly all the films below have been classified as 18 (equivalent to R in US<!-- though |
Although nearly all the films below have been classified as 18 (equivalent to R in US<!-- though can be almost equivalent to NC-17 should local cinemas refuse admission to under-aged patrons regardless of adult accompaniment -->), some films are subjected to censorship by the Film Censorship Board of Malaysia due to content deemed inappropriate to the general Malaysian population. The list below shows some films censored since 2010 (though by no means this is a complete list). |
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! Year !! Movie Name !! Reason for censoring |
! Year !! Movie Name !! Reason for censoring |
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|2010||[[Season of the Witch (film)]]||Partially censored due to frightening scenes. (DVD release is stripped down and from a local distributor.) |
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|2010||[[The American (2010 film)|The American]]||Partially censored due to some sexual content in the movie. |
|2010||[[The American (2010 film)|The American]]||Partially censored due to some sexual content in the movie. |
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|2011||[[Limitless]]||Partially censored due to some sex scenes in the movie. |
|2011||[[Limitless]]||Partially censored due to some sex scenes in the movie. |
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|2011||[[Source Code]]|| (DVD release seems to be from a local distributor, and has the "stripped down" characteristic of only the English audio track and and English/Malay/Mandarin sub tracks) |
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|2011||[[Sanctum (2011 film)]]|| Film is released only on DVD by local distributor; Blu-ray not available (sticker shows LB) |
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|2011||[[A Chinese Ghost Story (2011 film)|A Chinese Ghost Story]]||Partially censored due to the mild sex scene in the movie. |
|2011||[[A Chinese Ghost Story (2011 film)|A Chinese Ghost Story]]||Partially censored due to the mild sex scene in the movie. |
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|2011||[[Fright Night]]||Partially censored due to profanity, sexual and brutal violence content in the movie. |
|2011||[[Fright Night]]||Partially censored due to profanity, sexual and brutal violence content in the movie. |
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|2011||City on Fire||Partially censored due to some sexual content. <!-- Somewhere around the first 1/3 of the film, the "social talk" in the truck is cut to them shaking hands |
|2011||[[City on Fire (2011 film)]]||Partially censored due to some sexual content. <!-- Somewhere around the first 1/3 of the film, the "social talk" in the truck is cut to them shaking hands--> |
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|2011||[[Paranormal Activity 3]]||Partially censored to meet the standard of PG-13 in Malaysia. |
|2011||[[Paranormal Activity 3]]||Partially censored to meet the standard of PG-13 in Malaysia. |
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|2011||[[Real Steel]]||Despite the "No Cuts" guarantee on newspaper advertisments, the very few instances of profanity may be censored at the distributor/cinema operator's discretion. |
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|2011||[[Tower Heist]]||The only cut part was after the "Chinese" (eventually revealed to be a Korean) woman accepted the present, making a suggestive sound which may be censored at discretion. |
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|2011||[[Aire Libre]]|| |
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|2011||[[You Are the Apple of My Eye]]||Partially censored due to some sexual and nudity content. |
|2011||[[You Are the Apple of My Eye]]||Partially censored due to some sexual and nudity content. |
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Revision as of 09:49, 13 November 2011
The Film Censorship Board of Malaysia is a Malaysian government ministry that vets films. It is under the control of the Home Ministry.
The Board was established under the Film Censorship Act, and its role was revised in 2002 under an updated version of the Act. Any film that is to be screened in Malaysia must be certified by the Board. Under the provisions of the Act, no one is allowed to view any film that has not been licensed by the Board.
The same Act also bans the posession and/or screening of pornography or provocative materials. Screening of such films in public even in good faith can subject the screener to fines/imprisonment. [1]
The Board watches the uncensored film or programme and decides whether its content is acceptable for a Malaysian audience. The film receives approval only after the Board is satisfied that the film (either without cuts or with cuts required by the Board) satisfies the rules under which the Board operates.
Any film passed with compulsory cuts must have the cuts made by the distributor before the film is released. This is accomplished either by having the studio produce an edited version (in the case of digital screenings) or by physically removing the offending section on the film itself (resulting in a temporary A/V sync problem and the digital audio reverting to the analog stream for a while). Screening films with compulsory cuts in it's unedited form can make the distributor and cinema operator legally liable.[2]
Films banned by the Board include Daredevil, Homerun, The Prince of Egypt and Bruno, though some were passed for release on optical media.
Rating system
Since 15 May 2010, the following ratings have been used:
| Symbol | Description | TV screening time |
|---|---|---|
| U | General viewing for all ages | Anytime |
| PG13 | Parental guidance is suggested for viewers under 13 | Not allowed between 6:00 to 10:00 AM (weekdays), 6:00 to 12:00 PM (weekends) |
| 18 | For aged 18 and above only | 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM |
Films being censored/banned
Although nearly all the films below have been classified as 18 (equivalent to R in US), some films are subjected to censorship by the Film Censorship Board of Malaysia due to content deemed inappropriate to the general Malaysian population. The list below shows some films censored since 2010 (though by no means this is a complete list).
| Year | Movie Name | Reason for censoring |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | The American | Partially censored due to some sexual content in the movie. |
| 2010 | Stool Pigeon | Partially censored due to the moderate sex scenes in the movie. |
| 2010 | Piranha 3D* | Heavily censored for 6 minutes due to the sexual content, nudity and frightening scenes. |
| 2010 | Skyline | Partially censored due to sex scene in the movie. |
| 2010 | Unstoppable | Profanity censored in theatrical screenings to match PG-13 rating standard of Malaysia. Blu-ray release has its audio track intact. |
| 2011 | Burlesque | The movie is rated PG13 in most countries but it is rated 18 in Malaysia due to the strict censorship. |
| 2011 | No Strings Attached | Heavily censored for 7 minutes due to sexual content and nudity. |
| 2011 | The Mechanic | Partially censored for 4 minutes due to some sexual and nudity content in the movie. |
| 2011 | Drive Angry 3D* | Heavily censored due to the strong brutal violence and some sexual content. |
| 2011 | Black Swan | Partially censored due to the sexual and nudity content. |
| 2011 | All About Love | Partially censored due to the lesbian materials in the movie. |
| 2011 | Scream 4 | Heavily censored due to the strong, bloody, violent content of the movie. |
| 2011 | Love and Other Drugs | Heavily censored due to the strong sexual content in the movie. An alternative theatrical release poster is used for advertisment in Malaysia instead of the poster used in US. |
| 2011 | Limitless | Partially censored due to some sex scenes in the movie. |
| 2011 | A Chinese Ghost Story | Partially censored due to the mild sex scene in the movie. |
| 2011 | Bridesmaids | According to Cinema Online, this movie is apparently banned in Malaysia. However, the movie is still heavily censored although it passed the censorship board afterward. |
| 2011 | Wu Xia | Partially censored due to the frightening and fighting scenes. |
| 2011 | The Hangover 2 | Partially censored due to the sexual and nudity content in the movie. |
| 2011 | Blitz | Partially censored due to sexual content. Audio is only available in analog optical stereo. |
| 2011 | The Loan Shark | Some of the sex and violence scenes are censored in this local production movie. |
| 2011 | Glee The 3D Concert Movie | Some of the scenes are censored to match PG-13 rating standard of Malaysia. |
| 2011 | Horrible Bosses | Heavily censored due to the strong sexual content and language used in the movie. |
| 2011 | Conan the Barbarian | Partially censored due to some sexuality and nudity content in the movie. Violent portions of the film are intact. Suggestive lines are not subtitled. |
| 2011 | Final Destination 5 | Partially censored due to brutal violence. |
| 2011 | Colombiana | Partially censored due to sexual content and brutal violence. |
| 2011 | Fright Night | Partially censored due to profanity, sexual and brutal violence content in the movie. |
| 2011 | City on Fire (2011 film) | Partially censored due to some sexual content. |
| 2011 | Killer Elite | Partially censored due to profanity, violence against children, and some nudity and sexual content. |
| 2011 | Paranormal Activity 3 | Partially censored to meet the standard of PG-13 in Malaysia. |
| 2011 | You Are the Apple of My Eye | Partially censored due to some sexual and nudity content. |
| 2011 | Immortals* | Partially censored due to some sexual and strong violence content. |
- *3D format is not available in Malaysia due to high expenses of having the studio produce an edited version of the film for Malaysian screenings. [3]
Should the Board insist that the film be released censored even on optical media, the film is released on (subbed) VCDs and stripped down DVDs containing local distributor logos and even the Censorship Board's approval number printed on the back cover (unlike stickers used for films passed without cuts). All foreign-language audio tracks are removed and only the English (usually left intact), Malay and Mandarin subtitle tracks are available. Special features might be stripped out as well. The resulting product is thus priced significantly cheaper than import DVDs and can be easily identified.
Blu-ray releases of censored films are not available in Malaysia. Such items have to be purchased from overseas and can be subject to random Custom's inspection, which will require an Application for Permit Exemption (Pemohonan Pengecualian Permit) letter to be submitted and approved.
See also
References
- ^
"Sex video case: Datuk T trio fined for showing obscene film (Updated)". The Star Online. Malaysia. 2010-06-24. Retrieved 2011-08-12.
[...] fined RM3,000 [...] and RM1,500 [...] respectively, for openly displaying an obscene film at Carcosa Seri Negara on March 21 [, 2010].
- ^
"GSC to explain screening of uncut version of "Aire Libre"". The Star Online. Malaysia. 2011-11-12. Retrieved 2011-11-13.
Golden Screen Cinema Sdn Bhd (GSC) and the distributor of Aire Libre have been asked to explain why the film was screened to the public without cuts.
{{cite news}}: Check|url=value (help) - ^
Lai Swee Wei (2010-09-09). "Censorship issues uncensored". Retrieved 2011-08-12.
I've initially decided not to release "Piranha" in 3D. Looking at the genre of the title, we were expecting some cuts. When there are cuts, the biggest problem we face would have to be sending it back to the U.S. for editing. When it goes back to the U.S., the cost does not support it and the time frame of post production to bring it in was not sufficient. That was why 3D didn't make it for "Piranha".
{{cite web}}: line feed character in|quote=at position 119 (help)
External links
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