BBFC

The BBFC was made to classify films into specific age ratings so that it can be aimed at certain age groups in cinemas based on how violent and what references it has in the film. They get their funding from the distributors that pay them to review the film.

Normally DVD's are submitted and are viewed by one single person in a room set up to be like a home to understand the home viewing feel. If it is a foreign language film a translator will be called in to help but films are usually viewed alone. If issues are raised then it is debated at weekly meetings. Issues could include-general context - plot, characters, outline of individual scenes.  Timings of key moments, including camera angles, type of shots, on- and off-screen moment.    Bad language, sex and drug references and so on.

Issues raised over classifying a film are:

Violence,Sex,Sexual Violence,Drugs,Horror, Imitable Behaviour,Discrimination and Language.

The Dark Knight had a controversial age rating because of it having vast amounts of violence which smaller children may not be accustomed to. Also some of the scenes were brought up by members of the public for being to violent, like the pencil scene which some people thought was quite bad. The Jokers character also came under scrutiny as his affliction with knifes was quite worrying for people in the UK has it has a problem with knife crime.

The guideline for a 15 certificate are that there is strong language allowed and sexual references in context to the narrative, however repeated and frequent use of unnecessary language isn't allowed, violence is allowed.