Warning: do not read this post if you are easily offended
It doesn’t look like my planned excursion tonight is happening, so I thought I’d look to see what’s on at the cinema next door. Its website handily includes details of the film classification system used over here in Malaysia. Which is:
U - General viewing for all ages
18SG - For 18+ with non-excessive violent/ horrifying scene
18SX - For 18+ with non-excessive sex scenes
18PA - For 18+ with political/ religious/ counter-culture elements
18PL - For 18+ with a combination of two or more elements
Guess what Sweeney Todd is? 18PL. Presumably ‘two or more elements’ could include ’singing’.
And come to think of it, isn’t ‘two or more’ a little vague? What if you’re really offended by sex and violence, but not counter-culture or religious, elements? How do you know that the movie you’ve chosen is going to include the two you’re offended/not offended by?
Re-reading the classification list, I also think they mean ‘excessive’ as opposed to ‘non-excessive’. Otherwise, presumably, films which feature non-excessive sex and violence - such as Bambi, say, and The Sound Of Music - would be rated 18PL. Or are films in Malaysia usually sexual and violent, so they only have to warn you about the ones that aren’t?
It’s all very confusing. Maybe I’ll just stay in and watch Night At The Museum on the TV instead.
