So how do you avoid the BBFC? Well if you watch pirated movies, then very easily. If choose not to however, then it's a little harder.

For many of the newer HK films, it is very easy to buy original HK VCDs and DVDs from your local Chinatown or from various sites on the web. For older titles not available on digital format, it's a little trickier. One idea is checking around various satellite channel schedules. German TV channels seem to show a lot of HK movies, especially kung fu classics and they're also usually shown in widescreen too. Films I've seen on German Satellite include Master Strikes, Invincible Armour (Uncut!), Cheetah on Fire and New Legend of Shaolin.

The only drawbacks are the terrible German dubbing, the presence of adverts and the fact that there is a possibility that they'll be cut too. Still this could be the only chance of viewing some movies without paying for a dodgy copy.

On a domestic front, Channel 5 continues to amaze me with their showing of uncut action films. For instance the Steven Seagal film Marked for Death included all the bone-breaking scenes cut from the UK video release, while the Patrick Swayze film Road House included the (cut) throat ripping scene. Although they don't show HK movies yet, you never know... 

Back to video, if you go abroad, have a look around some video shops. A few years ago in France I picked up an original copy of the Shaw Bros film Challenge of the Masters. Although dubbed in French it was in widescreen and fully uncut. It was also nearly half the price of an average HK-UK video release (about £7).

However if a few seconds of footage do not bother you or your viewing pleasure much then do buy the UK versions! Besides there are many uncut HK - UK releases, most of which are fantastic examples of HK cinema. For the most, only the lower budget, and in particular the Cat III films are subject to a more stringent level of censorship. If the video distributors could, they'd release every film uncut, but unfortunately the censorship of their films is beyond their control. So that's it - keep supporting HK- UK distributors and if you can't, try not to buy pirated copies (save that for Hollywood films)!

Hmmm on hindsight I might have stated the obvious in the above article, still I hope it's a little useful! In the meantime follow the links below.

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