January 30, 2006

'Fearless' too violent says Singapore

(Posted In Action Asia Drama Film News Martial Arts )

Fearless_brown.jpgWell, this is too bad. In Singapore, Jet Li's Fearless became the first Chinese New Year movie to be given a NC-16 rating on account of the violent content of the film. No one under the age of 16 is permitted to see the film in cinemas. And it isn't like you can sneak into the theatre either as identity cards are checked before a person can enter the cinema. Rough.

A Buena Vista International spokesman told The New Paper: 'We were not expecting such a rating as Fearless actually has a positive message for teenagers - that violence is not the key to solving problems. We thought it would get a PG rating.' Director Ronnie Yu said, 'I felt that with the troubling number of disaffected youth in China today and with the run-up to the Beijing Olympics in 2008, now was a good time to examine the concept of sportsmanship. It is a martial arts film about the futility of violence... I want young people to come out of the theatre feeling seven feet tall, not because they've just seen someone beat somebody up, but because they have just seen someone refrain from killing.'

So part of the one group that Jet Li is trying to reach out to the most isn't able to see the film with the message he is trying to reach them with.

» Posted by Mack at January 30, 2006 11:02 PM
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Reader Comments

In contrast, neighboring Malaysia gave FEARLESS a U (for general audiences) rating. Great for the cinema chains but maybe not so great for audiences -- since my viewing of the movie yesterday afternoon was punctuated by the sound of children's comments and crying (in addition to "adults" talking on their celphones and to one another)...! ;(

» Posted by YTSL at January 31, 2006 05:22 AM

Yeah. I'm all for rating systems and such. But, something has to be said for dumbass parents who don't even know their own child's tolerance level or bring the kids anyways b/c they're too wild for the babysitters to control.

My two worst experiences were Alien 3 [boy that was a long time ago] and Spirited Away. Why on earth anyone would take a young child to Alien 3 is beyond me. They were terrified. I can sort of understand Spirited Away. Ignorance mostly. Hey! Look a cartoon for the little one. And then No Face came along. Hoo boy!

» Posted by Mack at January 31, 2006 08:47 AM

I've heard stories from my friends about seeing kids at Hostel. Now that's messed.

Anyway, I can't wait until it comes out in theatres in Toronto. It's being distributed by "Focus" right? I just hope it won't take too long.

» Posted by ChrisP at January 31, 2006 09:13 AM

SOme twit brought his child to Haute Tension and another brought two to Cabin Fever. Nothing like an occasional dose of grotesque violence and quasi-explicit sexuality to nurture the delicate little mind of a child on.

» Posted by Marten at January 31, 2006 01:29 PM

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