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Censorship and certification of films has always been a contentious issue. Should the public be allowed to choose what they see? The BBFC has always tried to keep the boundaries as blurred as possible to allow context and implied meaning to legislate what is shown in 18 rated films. It is true that it has been more lenient over the past few years and that films that would have been un-acceptable under past guidelines are now released without cuts. However, the leniency of the board when it comes to material aimed at lower age groups has until now always been stricter. No PG film can contain bad language, sex or violence. The 12 certificate has always been limited to one or two sexual swear words or a brief non graphic sex scene. In some ways the twelve certificate was obsolete before it was introduced in that any child attending secondary school is almost certain to hear far more severe swearing than that which would appear in a 12.
The fact that the board has no actual legal power over cinemas to enforce these regulations is one which is not totally understood by many. The case that has recently brought this issue to the public’s attention is that of the new Spider-man film. While the film was classified by the BBFC as a 12 because of its strong fantasy violence four local authorities overruled the decision because of parent demand and re-certified the film as a PG. To me this seems a strange decision because the climax of Spider-man is quite powerful and although the violence would have looked tame in a 15 certificate it is certainly too brutal for a PG. The controversy surrounding such films as Straw Dogs which until recently have remained banned in this country seems rather shallow. If parents want to protect their children from films which they deem unsuitable, i.e. 15 and 18 rated films, then they should not argue when a decision such as this is inconvenient. There is something fundamentally wrong with the way the country is governed when this can be allowed to happen. The BBFC’s decision should be final.
Censorship is an issue which will never easily be resolved. The BBFC is stuck between two groups those which wish no unsuitable material to be available and those who wish there to be no censorship. I don’t think there are many people who believe that under 15’s should be allowed to see powerful and explicit films which they may not fully understand. This is another debate, when does film and reality merge. Personally I watch a lot of films and have never found myself tempted to hurt anyone because of what I have watched but there are people who have cited this as their reasons for murder. The main point I am trying to make is: does censorship work. In many ways it doesn’t because until every parent is responsible enough to follow BBFC guidelines then the system is failing. There is nothing that can be done about this but it must be a very difficult juggling act for those at the BBFC.
The public outcry (only four areas including my own), has led to the BBFC completely rethinking the 12 certificate. It is alleged that they had been thinking of doing this for a long time but the Spider-man fiasco has prompted them to bring forward their plans. According to the Empire web site (www.Empire.co.uk) the plans mean that the certificate will no longer mean that no one under the age of 12 will be admitted. Instead it is to be made advisory and cinemas will be asked to only let in children with a responsible parental guardian. This will no doubt be a very similar rating as the PG-13 rating in the US. This means that cinemas will have to try and determine whether a parent is responsible of not, something which will not happen. Although this is only the beginnings of change, it is the public who had better decide on what their children can see.
The fact that the board has no actual legal power over cinemas to enforce these regulations is one which is not totally understood by many. The case that has recently brought this issue to the public’s attention is that of the new Spider-man film. While the film was classified by the BBFC as a 12 because of its strong fantasy violence four local authorities overruled the decision because of parent demand and re-certified the film as a PG. To me this seems a strange decision because the climax of Spider-man is quite powerful and although the violence would have looked tame in a 15 certificate it is certainly too brutal for a PG. The controversy surrounding such films as Straw Dogs which until recently have remained banned in this country seems rather shallow. If parents want to protect their children from films which they deem unsuitable, i.e. 15 and 18 rated films, then they should not argue when a decision such as this is inconvenient. There is something fundamentally wrong with the way the country is governed when this can be allowed to happen. The BBFC’s decision should be final.
Censorship is an issue which will never easily be resolved. The BBFC is stuck between two groups those which wish no unsuitable material to be available and those who wish there to be no censorship. I don’t think there are many people who believe that under 15’s should be allowed to see powerful and explicit films which they may not fully understand. This is another debate, when does film and reality merge. Personally I watch a lot of films and have never found myself tempted to hurt anyone because of what I have watched but there are people who have cited this as their reasons for murder. The main point I am trying to make is: does censorship work. In many ways it doesn’t because until every parent is responsible enough to follow BBFC guidelines then the system is failing. There is nothing that can be done about this but it must be a very difficult juggling act for those at the BBFC.
The public outcry (only four areas including my own), has led to the BBFC completely rethinking the 12 certificate. It is alleged that they had been thinking of doing this for a long time but the Spider-man fiasco has prompted them to bring forward their plans. According to the Empire web site (www.Empire.co.uk) the plans mean that the certificate will no longer mean that no one under the age of 12 will be admitted. Instead it is to be made advisory and cinemas will be asked to only let in children with a responsible parental guardian. This will no doubt be a very similar rating as the PG-13 rating in the US. This means that cinemas will have to try and determine whether a parent is responsible of not, something which will not happen. Although this is only the beginnings of change, it is the public who had better decide on what their children can see.
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Censorship and certification of films has always been a contentious issue. Should the public be allowed to choose what they see? The BBFC has always tried to keep the boundaries as blurred as possible to allow context and implied meaning to legislate what is shown in 18 rated films. It is true that it has been more lenient over the past few years and that films that would have been un-acceptable under past guidelines are now released without cuts. However, the leniency of the board when it comes to material aimed at lower age groups has until now always been stricter. No PG film can contain bad language, sex or violence. The 12 certificate has always been limited to one or two sexual swear words or a brief non graphic sex scene. In some ways the twelve certificate was obsolete before it was introduced in that any child attending secondary school is almost certain to hear far more severe swearing than that which would appear in a 12.
The fact that the board has no actual legal power over cinemas to enforce these regulations is one which is not totally understood by many. The case that has recently brought this issue to the public’s attention is that of the new Spider-man film. While the film was classified by the BBFC as a 12 because of its strong fantasy violence four local authorities overruled the decision because of parent demand and re-certified the film as a PG. To me this seems a strange decision because the climax of Spider-man is quite powerful and although the violence would have looked tame in a 15 certificate it is certainly too brutal for a PG. The controversy surrounding such films as Straw Dogs which until recently have remained banned in this country seems rather shallow. If parents want to protect their children from films which they deem unsuitable, i.e. 15 and 18 rated films, then they should not argue when a decision such as this is inconvenient. There is something fundamentally wrong with the way the country is governed when this can be allowed to happen. The BBFC’s decision should be final.
Censorship is an issue which will never easily be resolved. The BBFC is stuck between two groups those which wish no unsuitable material to be available and those who wish there to be no censorship. I don’t think there are many people who believe that under 15’s should be allowed to see powerful and explicit films which they may not fully understand. This is another debate, when does film and reality merge. Personally I watch a lot of films and have never found myself tempted to hurt anyone because of what I have watched but there are people who have cited this as their reasons for murder. The main point I am trying to make is: does censorship work. In many ways it doesn’t because until every parent is responsible enough to follow BBFC guidelines then the system is failing. There is nothing that can be done about this but it must be a very difficult juggling act for those at the BBFC.
The public outcry (only four areas including my own), has led to the BBFC completely rethinking the 12 certificate. It is alleged that they had been thinking of doing this for a long time but the Spider-man fiasco has prompted them to bring forward their plans. According to the Empire web site (www.Empire.co.uk) the plans mean that the certificate will no longer mean that no one under the age of 12 will be admitted. Instead it is to be made advisory and cinemas will be asked to only let in children with a responsible parental guardian. This will no doubt be a very similar rating as the PG-13 rating in the US. This means that cinemas will have to try and determine whether a parent is responsible of not, something which will not happen. Although this is only the beginnings of change, it is the public who had better decide on what their children can see.
The fact that the board has no actual legal power over cinemas to enforce these regulations is one which is not totally understood by many. The case that has recently brought this issue to the public’s attention is that of the new Spider-man film. While the film was classified by the BBFC as a 12 because of its strong fantasy violence four local authorities overruled the decision because of parent demand and re-certified the film as a PG. To me this seems a strange decision because the climax of Spider-man is quite powerful and although the violence would have looked tame in a 15 certificate it is certainly too brutal for a PG. The controversy surrounding such films as Straw Dogs which until recently have remained banned in this country seems rather shallow. If parents want to protect their children from films which they deem unsuitable, i.e. 15 and 18 rated films, then they should not argue when a decision such as this is inconvenient. There is something fundamentally wrong with the way the country is governed when this can be allowed to happen. The BBFC’s decision should be final.
Censorship is an issue which will never easily be resolved. The BBFC is stuck between two groups those which wish no unsuitable material to be available and those who wish there to be no censorship. I don’t think there are many people who believe that under 15’s should be allowed to see powerful and explicit films which they may not fully understand. This is another debate, when does film and reality merge. Personally I watch a lot of films and have never found myself tempted to hurt anyone because of what I have watched but there are people who have cited this as their reasons for murder. The main point I am trying to make is: does censorship work. In many ways it doesn’t because until every parent is responsible enough to follow BBFC guidelines then the system is failing. There is nothing that can be done about this but it must be a very difficult juggling act for those at the BBFC.
The public outcry (only four areas including my own), has led to the BBFC completely rethinking the 12 certificate. It is alleged that they had been thinking of doing this for a long time but the Spider-man fiasco has prompted them to bring forward their plans. According to the Empire web site (www.Empire.co.uk) the plans mean that the certificate will no longer mean that no one under the age of 12 will be admitted. Instead it is to be made advisory and cinemas will be asked to only let in children with a responsible parental guardian. This will no doubt be a very similar rating as the PG-13 rating in the US. This means that cinemas will have to try and determine whether a parent is responsible of not, something which will not happen. Although this is only the beginnings of change, it is the public who had better decide on what their children can see.