The Expendables cut for UK release

In the build-up to the release of Sylvester Stallone’s ensemble action epic The Expendables, there was considerable speculation in the US over whether the film would be a ‘hard R’, as Sly himself described it, or whether it would be cut for a PG-13 certification and a potentially wider audience.

Fears that almost every violent scene would be trimmed at the behest of a cash-hungry distributor proved unfounded, however, and the MPAA granted The Expendables an R rating for “strong action and bloody violence throughout, and for some language” – in other words, exactly what action fans were hoping for all along (the presence of language, as opposed to utter silence or perhaps incoherent mumbling is also a relief - this is a Sly Stallone film, after all).

For The Expendables’ UK release, meanwhile, the story is altogether different. A quick look at the film’s entry on the BBFC website states "This work was cut," and that the edit was made "at the request of the distributor to achieve a particular category."

Rather than release the movie uncut as an 18 certificate, Lionsgate has chosen instead to remove a brief scene which shows a character "sadistically twisting a knife into a guard's neck" in order to acquire a 15 rating.

Given the brevity of the moment in question – as far as we can tell, the excised footage amounts to little more than two seconds – it’s perhaps understandable that Lionsgate would want to go for a lower certification. It also allows it plaster the word 'Uncut' on the eventual DVD release.

With or without the sadistic knife twistings, we’re greatly looking forward to seeing The Expendables nevertheless. But we may already have given you that impression...

BBFC