The ridiculousness of movie censorship in LOS

**The Gentleman Scamp** · 07-02-2008, 01:12 AM

This is one of the more irritating and plain stupid of the idiosyncrasies of Thailand, but I just went to see Sweeney Todd, the demon barber of Fleet St, at Major Phrom Phong.

The movie is good but sadly ruined as the Thai censors have blotted out all the scenes of graphic violence - not that I'm a huge fan of people getting there necks slashed, but I paid to see the whole movie as Tim Burton intended to dish it up, and and they censored out many of the highlighted scenes of the movie with obvious bluuring.

The US and Britain have their own censorship guidelines and there should be an age limit in Thailand instead of blurring out all the guns, smokes, knives, tits and fannies.

Of course I can turn on the TV and watch the local news where people lay mangled and run over on the streets with their guts hanging out, but heaven forbid I see a highly stylized theatrical musical release displaying violence.

I'll buy a pirate next time, though that could well be the same which would add 100 baht to my wasted cash... Is there anywhere in Thailand you can see the unspoiled version of the film on the big screen?

I don't think thread qualifies as a Smegesque 'Why are they not like us' rant - I think this is as valid as it is stupid beyond belief.

**Texpat** · 07-02-2008, 01:15 AM

I agree it's ridiculous. They even censor cartoons.

Can't help you though, don't watch many movies.

**EmperorTud** · 07-02-2008, 01:20 AM

There is a screener version out on DVDR so it will be on Xvid etc. Master not as yet.

I unfortunately enjoy the cinema but the censorship is ridiculous so I go less often than I'd like. I don't want to watch a movie that is missing 20 minutes so I'll wait and d/l the DVDR.

They even censor cartoons such as the Simpsons on daytime TV here (cut scenes, blurring out drawings of guns and alcohol etc).

**Thai Pom** · 07-02-2008, 09:03 AM

Scamp,

Thanks for the Post, I will buy a pirate version now. TP

**colourful-era** · 07-02-2008, 09:04 AM

some of the censors just seem a little naiive as to what they censor and what they don't.

I've seen films with blatant drug abuse going on in all it's glory yet the man puffing on a cigarette has his hand pixelated.

Are they trying to imply that drug abuse does not occur in Thailand or what?

**chitown** · 07-02-2008, 09:06 AM

I wa laughing the other day watching HBO.

Then they covered a women's breasts with the blur - she was being given CPR

Not erotic in the least!

**colourful-era** · 07-02-2008, 09:16 AM

for a country whose economy runs on pussy they have an odd attitude towards film censorship.

**Fstop** · 07-02-2008, 01:11 PM

This is why I don't go to the movies in Thailand. I download everything or buy it on the street. About a year ago there was a film on tv and two dudes were smoking cigarettes. They blurred out the ciggies, and at the top (in Thai) it showed a message that said smoking was bad for your health.

Didn't know they censored the Simpsons. That's just hilarious.

**peterpan** · 07-02-2008, 01:20 PM

Its just typical Thai hypocrisy, you can have a bookstand showing models in baby advertisments, their nipples blacked out, right out side a joint where damsels are dancing while displaying their pussy.

**The Gentleman Scamp** · 07-02-2008, 04:45 PM

This leaves me wondering if I have to re-view all the good movies I've seen in Thailand next time I'm back west - maybe I missed something.

**mad_dog** · 07-02-2008, 05:03 PM

The worst was Roman Polanski's Oliver Twist there was a scene in the notorious Gin Lane everyone was smoking and drinking so they blured the whhole screen. It was impossible to even see people talking.

**slimboyfat** · 07-02-2008, 05:18 PM

Luckily now here in Singapore they have a ratings system. In the old days all the movies in the cinema were rated PG and cut to hell. I remember going to watch that movie Seven and it only lasted about 45 minutes and didn't make any sense whatsoever.

**Fstop** · 07-02-2008, 05:45 PM

I think the DVDs are okay - never had a problem with the censoring of nudity/violence/bad habits. But if you get a VCD - they'll censor it. Was watching "Knocked Up" with the g/f the other night on VCD, and there's a scene where the fire alarm goes off, and the dude picks up this huge bong and carries out of the house --- they blurred that. I'm not sure if you can even get bongs in Thailand - never seen 'em outside California.

**Frankenstein** · 07-02-2008, 07:14 PM

^They're made from bamboo, similar to this one:

**Bluecat** · 07-02-2008, 07:30 PM

Originally Posted by peterpan

Its just typical Thai hypocrisy.

Reminds me of what I read in a Thai Airways magazine quite a few years back.
Western men talk a lot about having mistresses but few do it.
Thai men do not talk about it but everybody does it
See no evil, hear no evil, well, do no evil...

**The Ghost Of The Moog** · 07-02-2008, 08:57 PM

Breasts should be encouraged

I dont understand why many gogo bars in Bkk feature girls in bikinis. Its ridiculous.
They don't 'pay the cops'.......so....solution bar owners....pay the cops. .....simple.

**EmperorTud** · 08-02-2008, 01:05 AM

Originally Posted by durianfan

I think the DVDs are okay - never had a problem with the censoring of nudity/violence/bad habits. But if you get a VCD - they'll censor it. Was watching "Knocked Up" with the g/f the other night on VCD, and there's a scene where the fire alarm goes off, and the dude picks up this huge bong and carries out of the house --- they blurred that. I'm not sure if you can even get bongs in Thailand - never seen 'em outside California.

I've seen them on sale in Malls such as Seacon and MBK. They are also available on Khao San Road.

**Texpat** · 08-02-2008, 01:11 AM

Originally Posted by Frankenstein

I'm afraid you're going to have to blur out that little girl in the background.

**Loombucket** · 08-02-2008, 09:36 PM

I like the way they blur out the ciggie and beer ads during the bike racing on tv. Three guys come around a corner, past an ad, next minute there's a new guy in front and you've missed the best bit.

**cali kid** · 09-02-2008, 12:16 AM

Originally Posted by durianfan

I'm not sure if you can even get bongs in Thailand - never seen 'em outside California.

You've got to know that the word BONG is Thai.........

**chinthee** · 09-02-2008, 11:07 AM

Originally Posted by cali kid

Originally Posted by durianfan

I'm not sure if you can even get bongs in Thailand - never seen 'em outside California.

You've got to know that the word BONG is Thai.........

A big plastic Sprite bottle works best cut up a bit.

Thread: The ridiculousness of movie censorship in LOS

Thread Tools

Display

The ridiculousness of movie censorship in LOS

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

Posting Permissions