“The Matrix” certificate 15 was made in 1999 and was directed by the Wanchowski brothers and stars Keanu Reeves and Laurence Fishbourne.
In the hotel lobby scene there is a lot of unrealistic violence. Neo (Keanu Reeves) and Trinity (Laurence Fishbourne) and taking on a lot of agents. The scene starts with a close up on Neo’s boots then a shot of him slinging back his long black jacket to expose an array of weaponry. He then, along with Trinity, takes on the agents whilst cart wheeling and leaping stylishly. Everything suggests that it is all very easy for him. We see him shooting with 2 hands whilst rolling to avoid shots aimed at him. They both come out unscathed and not even out of breath and both keep an “ice-cool” persona throughout the scene.
“Saving Private Ryan” certificate 15 was made in1999 and was directed by Steven Spielberg and stars Tom Hanks and Matt Damon.
In the opening scenes we see American soldiers coming into land on a cargo ship. There is no music and all you can hear is the sound of gunfire and the last screams of dieing men. You see the men on the ship in a realistic light; they are terrified. Their hands are shaking, their whole bodies are shivering and the viewer feels a real sense of tension. When we first see Hanks we just see his shaking hand, his apprehension embodied, and although he is the hero in this film we are seeing him in a human light. As the camera pulls away from Hanks we see men being physically sick and crying. As the front of the transporter goes down people are immediately being shot and blood is going everywhere. The camera used is simple and it looks as though the person filming was just someone ordinary that was there, it gives a documentary type of feel. It does not try to over-exaggerate or over-dramatise the action. The use of slow motion on Hanks’ face is also important as it gives the viewer a good idea of his struggle to survive.
“The Simpsons”
Itchy and Scratchy begins with violence straightaway in the title sequence with Itchy and Scratchy whacking each other with mallets. It then continues with Itchy handing Scratchy a bomb disguised as an American football. The bomb explodes propelling Scratchy 20 feet in the air leaving only his skeleton. Other scenes of Itchy and Scratchy in the Simpsons include Scratchy being cut by a meat cleaver, shot by a bazooka and having his eyes removed and replaced by dynamite. However none of this is dramatised or made serious. There is no real consequence to Itchy’s actions because Scratchy always comes back for the next episode.
All 3 of these scenes contrast in the way they treat and portray violence. The Matrix is very unrealistic and in many ways quite silly but a lot of weapons are used and the killings are quite graphic. Saving Private Ryan is a lot more shocking but is considered less influential. But both of these are considered violent and not suitable for young children. In contrast Itchy and Scratchy is very unrealistic and the violence has no real effect and is considered suitable for young people although it is violent. Is any of this right?
They also all differ in style. The Matrix is a very Hollywood style presentation with an array of angles and effects that you would not see in real life. In contrast, Saving Private Ryan has a realistic documentary feel that shows real correlation to what you would see in real life. Itchy and Scratchy is a cartoon and is a satire on Tom & Jerry and the suchlike. It does not look realistic or serious and does not try to or want to be realistic.
Overall, I would say that the certifications of these pieces are right. Saving Private Ryan is the film that I would consider the most shocking and the film that would have the most effect on young people so I think it warrants its 18 certificate. The Matrix is very violent although I think the violence is quite unrealistic and would be less likely to effect young people so its 15 certificate is about right too. Lastly, Itchy and Scratchy is completely unrealistic and I don’t believe is very influential to young people and should be allowed on T.V in the early evening.
