Spidey’s Too Scary

The British Board of Film Classification [BBFC] is facing a mini-revolution after four English councils changed the rating of Spider-Man from the BBFC-recommended 12, to a PG rating, allowing younger children to see the film. East Anglia was the first to lead the break, after a cinema owner challenged the rating leading Breckland and North Norfolk councils to exercise their right to change the rating to a more child-friendly PG. 'I think it's a victory for common sense,' said the owner of 5 cinemas Trevor Wicks. That decision was quickly followed by Yarmouth council who declared that the film showed only 'fantasy violence' but was not suitable for the under-8s. Last night, Tameside Council in Manchester were the fourth borough to change the rating. The councils' decisions were met with withering scorn today by the BBFC who declared that; 'Spider-man is possibly the most violent film which is aimed at a young audience that the BBFC has classified.' 'The levels of violence make the film a borderline '15' rating,' said Sue Clark, head of communications, 'and most certainly not suitable for a 'PG' rating which would allow very young children to view the film.' The BBFC went on to criticise Columbia TriStar over their marketing of the film to young children. 'Hollywood has carried out an aggressive world-wide marketing campaign aimed at young children when the film is not suitable for them.' The last time a British council changed a film's rating was back in 2000, when a local authority in Gloucestershire changed the 15 rating for Billy Elliot to a 12.