The BBFC is a non-governmental organisation that classifies the age suitability of films shown in Britain, it is also mandatory for every film to be classified before it can be published. This control the type of content British viewers can see, though it is helpful as it empowers parents and restricts very young children from being exposed to nudity or very extreme violence. The certification of the movie depends on the levels of nudity, language, violence e.t.c. 

 

Hot Fuzz is rated a 15 due to very strong language and strong comic bloody violence. An example of comic bloody violence is when the owner of the flower shop is impaled through the neck with a pair of gardening shears and blood squirted out as she eventually died. This certificate means that only people aged 15 and over can buy, rent or watch this film in the cinema and on DVD/Blu-Ray. This is controlled by people’s identifications being checked by ticket sellers. Other aspects of 15 films include strong violence, drug taking and sexual activity. 

 

The trailer ratings range from U to 12A released between July 2006 and March 2007. This allows the producers to play trailers before watershed, as the less explicit ones will not be too alarming. It also appeals to the regulations of different countries.

 

Having a voluntary role with cinema films, the BBFC receive funds in due to film companies. These film companies pay fees in order to have their film's certificate. The government doesn't pay these funds, this makes the BBFC independent of the government and the laws that relate to films. Although UK cinema films don't require a certificate, it is highly likely that without a certificate, cinemas would not show the particular film. 

 

The main Classifications that the BBFC take into consideration when rating a film is: the film’s context; the theme; if there are drugs involved; discrimination; language; sex; threat and violence. 

 

Ethical and Legal Constraints in Hot Fuzz

 

Hot Fuzz contains gory, drinking and violent scenes the scenes were considered to be a rated 15. The humorous scenes would've drawn less attention from the gory side of Hot Fuzz. For example when they fought in the supermarket, fighting in supermarket added the comical effect to the scene. Or when Angel and Butterman were chasing Skinner the Chief the effect of having the goose there made it humorous.The underage drinking and use of strong language (Ethical) are seen as acceptable as it was rated 15. The content and humor had a greater impact on the audience. The underage drinking and use of strong language would both be deemed acceptable for a rating of 15 as, once again, the film’s comedic elements and its content has a greater impact on the unprepared audience. For example, at the pub, Angel is prepared to quick the underage boys out by asking their ages. The murder and violent scenes could be considered as legal constraints because the film displayed underage drinking, from a real life view it could be condemned as wrong because it damages the body and may lead to death as the young body may not be able to handle it. Young people are considered in a streotypical view that they are not responsible or mature drinking for them would be viewed as incorrect. 

 

The BBFC and the public 

 

The BBFC often keeps in touch with the public in order to get their opinion debates about film classification published. Guidelines are what they have done and what they use based on wide public consultation. Another way for the BBFC to provide information to the public is via podcasts or links that lead to extended information.

 

 

To the BBFC:

 

LANGUAGE

There are several uses of strong language (‘f**k’ and ‘motherf**ker’) throughout the film, plus two of very strong language (‘c**t’); one written as part of a list, and another used in a casual, unaggressive context.  “The repeated use of strong language immediately to a 15 classification. There are some 15 uses of variants of f**k”.

 

VIOLENCE

There are some scenes of strong comic horror and bloody violence, with exaggerated levels of blood and gore. These include a huge pointed piece of masonry dropped from a church roof onto a man’s head, landing with a large blood splash. In a fight scene a man is thrown onto the spire of a model church, so that it pierces his chin and the spire protrudes through his mouth with bloody details visible – although the man continues to talk. A masked axeman bloodily attacks several people, decapitating some of them. 

 

Representation

The British police officers and Britain in Hot Fuzz are represented in many different ways. Hot Fuzz has given the impression that it's an Americansied Britsh film that mixes in different genres together (comedy and action) that are presented by a sense of different elements that feel distinctly British. The film highlights the British against the American Cop/Action films against the British, through the use of characters like the police officers. It also highlights the streotypical notions of Britishness as British 'cops' are seen as lazy and laid-back in comparison to the 'Bad-Boys' fast paced thrilling action that portray cops in American films. Hot Fuzz also shows elements of Britishness; village life, elderly women, pubs, dialect. Angel's character is a complete contrast to this; he is determined and always ready for work as we see in the very first scene, as we see that his uniform is always neat and clean. The police officers and Britain in Hot Fuzz are represented in many different ways. 

 

Hypodermic Needle Theory:

 

Also called the The Magic Bullet theory this is when the message of the media texts is injected into the audience and how they react to it; like a drug it has a predictable effect like a drug as it brainwahes the audience. The theory treats the audience as passive - consuming texts and the messages they contain and reacting to them almost automatically. 

 

For Hot Fuzz for example for the comical effect of it, they would expect the audience to laugh at scenes such as with the swan. Police chasing a swan isn't something you'd see everyday so the first reaction would be laughter.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Two-Step Flow Model:

 

Also known as opinion leaders. This idea suggests that there are some people in society who have a particular understanding of the media products and who lead public opinion. Critics or TV presenters (are examples of opinion leaders) take an active role as audiences, making their own decisions and that the rest of the audiences are passive, taking in the opinion leaders have said. 

 

For the same scene most would consider this funny and humorous, while others would cosider this overdramatic and not needed. The Daily Mirror gave the film a 2/5, others have said that this was a brilliant movie as it was part of the Cornetto Trilogy. "the brilliant minds behind Shaun of the Dead successfully take a shot at the buddy cop genre with Hot Fuzz. The result is a bitingly satiric and hugely entertaining parody" ~review by Rotten Tomatoes. 

 

Uses and Gratifications Model:

 

This theory gives more credit to audiences, saying that they make choices about media texts guided by what they want from them. It shows that we make choices on what media texts we want to consume and what we want to get out of them: such as escapism, information, personal identity and voyeurism. These show that audiences are active and that they make their choices and enjoy media text for what they can get out of them. 

 

In this scene one way audiences would make their opinions would be to view the scene, analyse the content/meaning and genre and then make an informrmed decision about it. Adults may consider this scene to be 'childish', so they would look down on it, the younger audience may like the scene as it is enjoyable and light hearted. This audience would be viewed as Active.