Blobster

Sorry if this is a SIAL, but the other night channel 5 showed the Matrix. During the scene where Morpheus fights Agent Smith in the bathroom a number of headbutts were exchanged before the fight got going.

On my DVD copy and also on the version I saw at the flicks last Wednesday (cough)geek(cough) these headbutts had been cut.

Can anyone shed light as to why?
Was channel 5 showing the US/region 1 version?

Blobster
Puzzled and really ought to get out more.

rik1471

It does look like a R1, or at lease 18 certificate version which was shown:

Cuts
R1 - (America) - No Cuts
R2 - (Japan) - No Cuts
R2 - (United Kingdom) - Yes - This film has been cut by 10-15 seconds for UK release in order to obtain a 15 certificate. The BBFC could have passed the movie uncut with an 18 certificate, but Warner Brothers wanted the cuts to make it a 15 certificate so it would appear to a wider audience (and to make them more money).
The cuts are as follows -
Cut 1: During the bathroom fight between Morpheus & Agent Smith, Morpheus head butts Smith knocking his sunglasses off. Smith retaliates with three head butts to Morpheus.
Cut 2: During the subway fight between Neo & Agent Smith, Smith head butts Neo twice whilst their arms are locked.
Cut 3: During the subway fight between Neo & Agent Smith, Neo head butts Smith twice whilst their arms are locked.
As a direct result of these cuts the Audio Commentary and Isolated Score were out of sync with the rest of the film, they therefore had to be dropped from the UK Region 2.
R4 - (Australia) - No Cuts

carl

So who in the BBFC decided that:
fighting=OK
headbutts=18 cert
?

DJ Dunk

iTrader: (5)

Can't beat a good quality headbutt The finest comeback ever invented. Especially useful for that smarmy, know-it-all down the pub.

Him: 'My car is faster than yours . . blah . . blah'
You: 'Thats nice' BOSH ! . . . claret and cartilage everywhere.

Not that I advocate violence in any form of course

Hobo_Jojo

we always get fed ****e here

dfullerton

Well my wing Chun instructor says the Butt is the way to go,

carl

Odd how people being shot and killed doesn't make it an 18 cert, but people being headbutted does

boxst

Carl:

I guess the logic goes: Not everyone can get hold of guns, but a head-butt is something that an "impressionable" youth could emulate.

Steve.

Hobo_Jojo

yeah, but so is kicking someone in the face but they dont cut that out