MELBOURNE - The Classification Board, which rates all films released in Australia, has received 19 complaints about ‘Land of the Lost’ in the two weeks since its release, making it the most complained-about film this year.

The movie, starring Will Ferrell, received complains about its sexual references and coarse language, along with objections that its PG (parental guidance) rating was inappropriate, reports the Herald Sun.

“Parents should ignore the inaccurate PG rating Australian censors have given Land of the Lost,” News.com.au quoted Herald Sun critic Leigh Paatsch as saying in his review of the film.

“This tripe will just rot the minds of children,” he said.

Another movie, which received 19 complaints this year, was the graphic novel adaptation ‘Watchmen’, released in March.

Even though it carried an MA15+ rating (barring under-15s without a parent or guardian), some viewers objected to its violence, nudity and a particularly violent sex scene.

Horror movie ‘My Bloody Valentine’ received 12 complaints, most from under-18s upset that the R18+ rating meant they couldn’t legally see it.

Others believed the violence and scares warranted a less restrictive rating.

Another R18+ horror film, ‘Seed’, which went straight to DVD, received complaints about its graphic opening scene, which featured actual footage of animals being skinned alive.

The footage had been supplied by the animal rights activist group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

Heist film ‘The Bank Job’, which starred British tough guy Jason Statham, received seven complaints about sex scenes and nudity.

It was rated MA15+ and carried the advice that it contained “strong coarse language and sexual references”.

Figures released this week by the British Board of Film Classification, showed almost half of all complaints received in Britain last year were about ‘The Dark Knight’.

A different classification system in the UK means the box office-topping Batman film was approved for over-12s. Complaints about violence in the film indicate many thought this too low.

‘The Dark Knight’ received 364 complaints as it earned 111 million dollars at the British box office.

Other most complained-about films in Britain last year were Adam Sandler’s comedy ‘You Don’t Mess with the Zohan’ for its violence and sex-based humour, and Keira Knightley’s period drama ‘The Duchess’, which featured a scene of marital rape. (ANI)