How can everybody be so sure that the version of the film given to the MPAA is any different to the one given to the BBFC? Where is the evidence for this?
Firstly, it's standard practice as to how they did the screening process. EON showed a rough cut of the film to both the MPAA and BBFC to know what they'd have to cut, then edited the rough cut accordingly (different according to each's demands) so when they submitted the cuts, there were two different sets. That's standard process for studios rating their films.
Part of the reason the MPAA rated the film much earlier is that less editing work had to be done on the film - it was a much easier job to put together a final cut. For the BBFC, more work had to be done, and that's why we've gotten the rating so late.
Furthermore, insiders *I* trust long ago said this would happen. Named exactly that BBFC had required the torture scene be altered and left everything else untouched, and then described that what was going on with the US cut was that the steamy sex scenes were being touched up but the torture scene was left untouched.
