20 Banned Films

The Independant recently produced a list of the 20 most controversial films ever made - all of which have been banned at various times. Some of these are really classic films, which may surprise some were ever viewed in this way. Some probably should never have been made in the first place.

How many of these have you seen? What are your thoughts on these?

http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-e...rsial-films-1768299.html?action=gallery&ino=1

A Clockwork Orange (1971)
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)
The Exorcist (1973)
The Life of Brian (1979)
The Last Tango in Paris (1973)
All Quiet on the Western Front (1930)
Caligula (1979)
The Last House on the Left (1972)
Freaks (1932)
The Evil Dead (1983)
Salo or '120 Days of Sodom' (1975)
Mikey (1992)
I Spit on Your Grave (aka Day of the Woman) (1978)
Cannibal Holocaust (1980)
Visions of Ecstasy (1989)
Faces of Death (1978)
The Testament of Dr. Mabuse (1933)
Aftermath (1994)
The Devils (1971)
Straw Dogs (1971)

Have added the NSFW, because the nature of some of these films are quite disturbing &/or could cause offence.

 

I am a massive fan of B movie cinema and horror so I have seen a lot of "video nasties". Some are brilliant but most are just over hyped trash. My thoughts on some off your list:

A Clockwork Orange (1971):

Brilliant. Ground breaking film and even more ground breaking soundtrack. I dont believe it deserved to be banned.

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)
The Exorcist (1973)

Both of these need to be appreciated in the context of their time, and both were hugely influential. I am a big fan of TCM but not so much the Exorcist. Problem with both of these is that they have been copied so many times, they have lost their shock/scare value. Not their fault of course and both hugely important films in the history of cinema.

The Life of Brian (1979)

My favourite comedy and by a mile. Love it. The fact it was banned says a lot about how messed up our society is - not how messed up the film is.

Caligula (1979)

* disguised as history. I do see any value in it outwith the boobies.

The Last House on the Left (1972)

Overrated in my opinion. Pushed the boundaries but actually very slow and unexciting. I spit on you grave was far more challenging in my opinion.

Freaks (1932)

Another ground breaker and brilliant on so many levels. One of those films that holds a mirror to society. Not quite as influential as "horror" films as quick simply it is rarely been touched. Still unique to this day.

The Evil Dead (1983)

An absolute classic. Hugely influential and lots of fun. Shame Raimi doesnt make them like this any more (also part 2 and 3 are guilty pleasures of mine. Slapstick silliness but class)

I Spit on Your Grave (aka Day of the Woman) (1978)
Cannibal Holocaust (1980)

Neither of these are nice to watch and both leave a mark on you after you have finished watching. Both blend the shock value with important social commentary, but as much as I appreciate their value, I do not find them fun or exciting in any way. But I guess they were never meant to be. Either way, I think they should not just be passed off as "shock cinema" and worth a watch, even if Im sure very few people will actually like them. Of all on your list Cannibal Holocaust is the only one that I think some of what they did on set was totally unacceptable and should not have happened.

Straw Dogs (1971)

Overrated in my opinion. I see why it was supposed to be shocking. And I see why people dislike it. But I didnt really take anything from it. I think the hype is certainly bigger than the film, especially compared to what is considered acceptable in film nowadays.

Lastly, a special mention to my favourite previously banned film - Night of the Living Dead. Great fun, great social commentary, scared the * out of me when I first saw it, and defined an entire genre of cinema. Because zombies and ultra gore have become so common place now I can see why it isnt on that list. But even so, it is arguably amongst the most influential horror films of all time when you consider what came after it.

 

Why was life of brian banned? Its one of themfunniest movies ever made.

 

Salo & Aftermath are horrible, although Aftermath is only a short, its rather disturbing

 

It was banned in several countries. In Sweden it was promoted as "The film that is so funny that it was banned in Norway!"

 

Texas chainsaw massacre is one if my favourite films ever! Agree with you sween i think its better than the exorcist too.

 

Tbh the exorcist was funny to me at the end i think its vastly overrated and expected so much more from it, takes a while to get into it as well.

 

seen 1, the life of Brian

 

I have seen 2 and a bit of another one. Texas Chainsaw Massace, Last house on the left and a wee bit of Freaks if its that thing about the circus and the weird shaped head people that sing a song "one of us one of us" I thought it looked really weird and didnt want to watch it.

 

Mainly because all the religious zealots thought it went too far by portraying Brian as Jesus. You could probably find a few interviews with Monty Phython at the time on YT. I know there was a debate when they had church leaders etc in the studio. They were not happy

 

What happens in those two you say animals are mitilated? what animals and do the actors actually attack them or whatever for real

 

I should have mentioned that a number of thiose films are no longer banned, but for a long time they were. Something like Life of Brian was banned for some years... in one town in Wales it was banned until only a few years ago. All Quiet' is another, that was banned, due to it's anti-war themes.

 

Cannibal Holocaust and Faces of Death have scenes of animals being slaughtered or beaten to death.

Thankfully I havent watched Faces of Death. I wouldnt say the people in either films were actors.

 

You have not missed anything.

 

One movie that could have made this list as well was Midnight Cowboy

 

Some of my friends are massive fan of Stanley Kubrik and Clockwork orange is all I've seen among the list, and although I don't think it had to be banned(I don't quite agree with the idea of banning movies, most of the time.), and it could be interpreted in so various ways but, to be honest, I was shocked when I saw it. I don't undervalue the film itself but can't say I enjoyed that movie. quite a difficult and uncomfortable subjects, to me.

And, I know some of the movies in the list are very famous but I still don't have the desire of seeing them...it's just because I'm always avoiding the horror movies..;;^^;;

 

I can appreciate your reluctance, especially with some of those on the list, but others it is completely absurd that they were ever banned. Take 'All Quiet on the Western Front' for example. This is a film with a strong anti-war message, but in the political context of the time (in the 1930's - between the two World Wars) the politicians in some countries such as * Germany, did not want to encourage anti-war thoughts & sentiments, hence banning the film, just as they burned books for the same reasons.

 

Yes, Taz, I do understand what you mean and that's exactly why I'm against the idea of banning movies. I really don't want to see it that the movies are treated mindlessly, especially in political way. It's just damaging the purity of art, so sad and ridiculous thing. Burning books is also disaster, which unfortunately happened many times in our history.

And btw, I now have a desire of seeing the film 'All Quiet on the Western Front',