Censor board cuts kissing scenes in Daniel Craig starrer James Bond 'Spectre'

Ariel Lynch

02:15 | Monday, Nov 23, 2015

Veteran actress Shabana Azmi today said that the censor board's decision to shorten the kissing scenes in James Bond movie "Spectre" was arbitrary. That aside, I would definitely recommend it, as it is a great formative arc for James Bond as a character, and leaves few stones unturned for those looking for a deep plot, thoughtfully drawn out performances, and an entertaining, suspenseful, worthy addition to the James Bond franchise. Now comes Spectre, a movie that capitalizes on the efforts of character building demonstrated in its immediate predecessors but also returns the franchise to its glory of the formulaic James Bond film.

The Censor Board is controlled by India's nationalist government and has turned a disapproving eye on films with steamy sex scenes.

"Its taking a stand against a couple of things", Luhrssen says, "against the all-pervasive surveillance state which is a danger in our world right now given technology and its also a warning against techno-utopians".

New Bond girl Lea Seydoux, who stars opposite Daniel as Bond's accomplice and love interest Dr. Madeleine Swann, nearly lost out on the part after flailing in her first audition. But the length of the kisses were found to be unnecessarily excessive.

"The studio either had the choice to accept the cuts or apply for an A certificate, which significantly cuts down reach and exhibition". "I feel it's a mockery of the freedom of a filmmaker...Nihalani as chairman of the censor Board can't behave like an official spokesperson of a political party".

"#Spectre is an internationally applauded film, bt again #PahalajNihalani messes it up by shading it with his own thought process". It's Indian audiences who are the lucky beneficiaries of the munificence of the country's censor board chief, who recently made headlines for his fanboy tribute to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Earlier this year, the 47-year-old was flown away from the film's set in Austria to undergo an operation on his knee, which had previously been badly damaged.

"Nihalani can not take the board members and the film industry for granted". We get to know Franz Oberhauser (Christoph Waltz) is the big boss, and we get very little info on how and why he became the villain of villains.

November came crashing into theaters this weekend, finally pushing the lingering successes of a weak October out of the way and setting up what is likely to be one of the stronger holiday seasons at the box office.

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