"The Hunger Games," starring Jennifer Lawrence, will be released on March 23.

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Seven seconds were cut from "The Hunger Games" at the request of Lionsgate U.K.

Source: "A number of cuts were made in one scene to reduce an emphasis on blood"

With the cuts, Lionsgate U.K. was able to release the film as 12A (the British equivalent of PG-13)

EW.com  — 

The British Board of Film Classification has mandated that seven seconds of cuts be made for the U.K. distribution of “The Hunger Games” in order for the film to receive a 12A rating (the British equivalent of the MPAA’s PG-13).

According to the BBFC’s official listing for the movie, seven seconds were cut at the request of distributor Lionsgate U.K. to remove “an emphasis on blood and injury” in order to lower the rating and attract younger audiences to the film.

Details of the cuts requested by the distributor were as follows:

“A number of cuts were made in one scene to reduce an emphasis on blood and injury. These cuts, which were implemented by digitally removing sight of blood splashes and sight of blood on wounds and weapons, were made in accordance with BBFC Guidelines and policy. An uncut ’15’ classification was available.”

With the cuts, Lionsgate U.K. was able to release the film as 12A, as opposed to 15, with the consumer warning: “Contains intense threat, moderate violence and occasional gory moments.”

The film, starring Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth, will be released on March 23.

See the full article at EW.com