UK Classifications

Jarvio

So, the first 15 bond films (DN-TLD) are rated PG in the UK.
LTK is rated 15.
And GE onwards are all rated 12.

I did some research, and apparently the '12' certificate did not exist in the UK until after LTK was released.

This makes me ask this question:
If the '12' certificate existed from the start, then would have the first 15 bond films be rated '12' instead of PG?
Or would have LTK been rated a '12', whilst the first 15 films remained a PG?

What do you think?

BIG TAM

LICENCE TO KILL got a raw deal back in 1989 in the UK. It didn't really warrant a 15 rating but a PG was felt too light for its content. In truth, LICENCE TO KILL contained nothing new to the Bonds, but because it was perceived as more realistic & less fantasy it got the higher rating. In truth, it was one of those scapegoat titles plucked by the BBFC every now & then to make an example of. They did the same with RAMBO III the year before. Cinema once again the whipping boy for all society's ills. A baffling era of UK cinema.

I must admit to not understanding the point of the 12A rating. In effect it's really no different to PG in its intent. We're now at a point in the UK where we simply have too many ratings.

Sorry for my ramble & back to your question. I think the PG rating was fine for all the Bonds, even LICENCE TO KILL. With all its gory shark attacks, JAWS was the equivalent of a PG in 1975 so I'd say that same rating would have been more than sufficient for dear old 007.

FelixLeiter ♀

The 12A was designed so that parents could judge whether they felt it was appropriate to let an under 12 see a film that has more sexual references, swearing or violence than could be allowed in a PG. All 12A films get a 12 rating on home releases because younger children are more likely to get hold of films otherwise.

It does seem a daft system. I'm glad we have the 12 rating, although LTK would still probably have got a 15. There is a chance it could have got a 12 with some cuts. The problem with both the 12 and 15 ratings IMO is that they are difficult to enforce and the lines between them seem increasingly blurred (there was a big fuss over The Dark Knight I believe). No one under 16, probably 17 will carry ID so it really is the cinema's discretion about judging someone's age.
I was always very glad for looking a bit older as from age 10 my friend and I went to 12A movies several times every school holiday. )