UK's current system of film classification

PROs

• protects children from what they're not supposed to see yet.
• set guidelines let film makers know what to follow.
• parents can't complain as all films are classified.
• can compare films that have similar classifications.
• examiners represent a diverse society which makes it relevant to society.
• the guidelines are updated every year.

CONs

• assumes that all children are the same.
• makes children think the world is perfect.
• bland films.
• films can change the boundaries for classification.
• films take on role of moral guidance.
• age is not a key factor in determining response to a film.

Do you think the way films are regulated is sensible, useful to society and achieves its aim of protecting the vulnerable and upholding the law?

In some ways, I think the way the films are regulated is very sensible and useful. The fact that the examiners are diverse means that most opinions of society are heard. Although people in a society break rules, it is important for there to be rules and guidelines. 

Regulation does manage to protect the vulnerable however, if the rules aren't taken into account then they become useless. It is becoming increasingly easier for 12 year olds to watch a '15' in cinema as ages are not regularly checked. In my own personal experience, I managed to watch an '18' film in cinema when I was 16 years old.

Also, if a child is unable to watch the film in cinema as they are too young, there is nothing stopping their parents buying the DVD for them or for the child to just watch it online. With digital TV being so common in homes, the child can easily purchase films they should not be watching via the "on demand" facilities as long as they know the PIN code.

Is there anything you think could be done to improve the system? 

In my opinion, there isn't much that could be done to improve the system as I think that the problems don't lie mostly within the rules but mostly whether the rules are being upheld. Also, I think that classifying by age is probably not the best way as younger generations are becoming more desensitized but I couldn't suggest another way for the BBFC to do it.

However, there are a lot of services that the BBFC provides that people don't know about. For example, there is a website where parents can find information on the age ratings and why certain films received certain classifications.