Censorship: Sons of Anarchy

LazyFecker

I just bought the SoA series 1-3 box set from HMV, and its flipping censored to the extent that on one of the disks literally half the show has been cut out.

This is, imo, the best series out there at the moment, but its availability to watch on irish or english tv doesnt seem to be the best, hence why i bought the box set. But im really disappointed, as its a bit awkward following a show with full scenes cut out. Cant bring myself to watch season 2 onwards, and i think its best to bring the Box Set back to the shop.

Irish censorship is usually pretty good, and i know that a friend of mine got the uncensored version of season 1 a few years ago, so i dont know why this is so heavily censored. Somebody suggested to me that it may just be that the box set was taken from an American channel (i think he said ambc?) which censors programs.

Does anyone on here know where you can buy uncensored versions of DVDs that aren't pirated?

Cheers guys

Clareman

Check for extended scenes or directors cut in the special features, I got a box set years ago that I thought was cut as well, it was just that it was playing a cut version by default and had to change it

Yamanoto

I'd be pretty sure IFCO has been nowhere near your DVD, aside from classifying the release.

LazyFecker

Yea it is unlikely that it was censored here in Ireland. i believe that the whole UK release was censored. However i cant find anything official on it, its just hearsay on forums that i came across when i typed "sons of anarchy box set uncut".

Despite my best efforts in searching, i cant seem to find any trustworthy sites selling the uncut version- even internationally.

LazyFecker

Clareman wrote: »

Check for extended scenes or directors cut in the special features, I got a box set years ago that I thought was cut as well, it was just that it was playing a cut version by default and had to change it

thanks for the advice, but i dont think that this is the case. i have checked through all the options on the dvd and all that i could find was an option for a narrator in one of the episodes.

VinLieger

Yeah i seriously doubt it was IFCO, most likely the UK for some bizarre reason, best off just sourcing the dvds from the states

Solair

IFCO hasn't 'cut' a film in a very long time. They've had a sense that a film should be presented 'as is' as it's supposed to be an art work.

They'll up the rating rather than cut, where as the UK authorities will modify a film to make it fit a lower rating sometimes.

brian_t

LazyFecker wrote: »

i believe that the whole UK release was censored.

According to the BBFC website all the DVDs were "passed with no cuts made".

http://www.bbfc.co.uk/search/?searchwhere=db&q=Sons%20+of+Anarchy

BaconZombie

They also have not "banned" any films, they have just refused to rate shows/films which means that are technically illegal to sell in Ireland.

Solair wrote: »

IFCO hasn't 'cut' a film in a very long time. They've had a sense that a film should be presented 'as is' as it's supposed to be an art work.

They'll up the rating rather than cut, where as the UK authorities will modify a film to make it fit a lower rating sometimes.

Miguel_Sanchez

IFCO can only rate what they're submitted. Sounds like the company did the cutting themselves and released them. It seems odd to me that they'd do that though.

Were the scenes missing particularly violent?

CastorTroy

I suppose a good indication of the violence would be the closing scenes of Season 2 Episode 1. If they were to cut anything I would say it's a possibility that would be edited

Boom_Bap

My DVD set I got in HMV is not cencored at all.

What's missing?

LazyFecker

Jeff_Lebowski wrote: »

IFCO can only rate what they're submitted. Sounds like the company did the cutting themselves and released them. It seems odd to me that they'd do that though.

Were the scenes missing particularly violent?

yea, somebody told me that the whole uk batch may have been censored by the company itself to make it available for younger viewers.

The scenes that were cut were violent yes... but they also leave in other violent scenes. Also sex scenes have all been cut out, whilst light nudity and sexual content have been left in.

It seems to have been cut to fit into the English 15's rating.

LazyFecker

Boom_Bap wrote: »

My DVD set I got in HMV is not cencored at all.

What's missing?

I checked with HMV, and all they have is the censored version. Its not there fault, it just seems to be the only one made for the UK market.

The censored version is still violent, and has adult content, but its just that when you start cutting out full scenes that were intended to be added, the production/viewing becomes a little bit awkward (eg at the end of the first series, it randomly and without explanation shows Tig with a gash on his head. The previous seen was cut out of how he got the cut).

I originally didnt even cop on that box set i bought was cut, its a brilliant show, but something just "felt off" about it. Then i realised that content was missing.