Introduction
This is a psychological thriller, “Fatal Attraction” (1987), where an extramarital affair escalates to craziness and brutality. In “Enough” (2002), directed by Michael Apted, the woman flees an abusive marriage and does not wait for someone else’s help. I will discuss the crimes against persons (Title 14), including kidnapping, sexual offenses, arson, stalking, false imprisonment, assault/aggravated assault, battery/aggravated battery, robbery/aggravated robbery, burglary/aggravated burglary, and domestic abuse. This analysis will examine how these problems are presented in each film, revealing possible effects that everyday folks may experience regarding the judicial process system.
Title 14 Crimes Against Persons in the Criminal Code
The Criminal Code chapter on Title 14, Crimes Against Persons, includes several crimes meant to ensure public safety. Stalking is considered criminal because it is usually unwanted attention, which in most cases makes one feel like his life is in danger. For example, stalking may involve constant and unexpected followings as well as continuous, unnecessary, and unasked-for presents and messages to a person.
The term false imprisonment is synonymous with detaining someone against their will, restricting their freedom to move around, and, for instance, forcibly committing an individual into a space that they do not want to remain or leave. Additionally, assault is defined by the state as a crime against people’s bodily integrity, implying that another person fears harmful and unwanted contact. For example, in this case, raising a fist may be treated as assault. An aggravated assault constitutes either the act of using a weapon or inflicting grave damage to the body that escalates the degree of the crime.
As opposed to assault, battery denotes an act that leads to physical injury by actual touching or striking. Battery is defined as intentionally striking another individual with a clenched fist in an elevated position. Aggressive battery, a worse offense, occurs when an individual causes significant harm or uses a dangerous object. Furthermore, Robbery means appropriating another person’s property by force and intending never to restore it (Lu, 2020). This encompasses the use of weapons or inflicting injuries while committing the act. Aggravated burglary is a more severe version of burglary that consists of elements associated with intrusion using guns or other weapons.
In addition, “domestic violence” refers to many offenses that take place in families and among close friends, such as physical, psychological, or financial abuse. The definitions and cases provide the basics for understanding the offenses in Part One, Title 14 – Crimes against Persons in the Canadian Criminal Code.
Legal Cases Related to Crimes in the Movies
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Stalking:
As per law, stalking constitutes repeated harassing acts that create a sense of fear in the victim. This is exemplified by the 1999 California v. Richard Farley, where his stalking obsession caused physical violence, which attracted him a punishment. Alex’s pursuit of Dan resembles stalkers’ ability to terrorize their victims. The protagonist is fighting for justice as ‘Enough’ portrays domestic violence that mimics legal challenges. Such instances and films depict a recognition by the law that both stalking and domestic violence are very grave crimes that carry a significant penalty.
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False Imprisonment:
Legally, it is an act of confining a person without legal authority in a criminal manner. The 2015 incident at Spring Valley High and its subsequent controversy are an illustrative demonstration of this phenomenon. Consequently, there was a public protest, and the officer faced the court. Slim, who suffers false imprisonment in “Enough,” represents the legal concept of being imprisoned. She struggles to set herself free, showing what kind of emotional and physical constraints go along with the legal one and how coercive control can be associated with false imprisonment.
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Assault/Aggravated Assault:
According to law, assault is committed by intentionally causing fear of imminent harmful or offensive contact. It is an upgraded version (aggravated assault) whereby severity is incorporated in the form of weapons use. In 2014, after assaulting his wife in the People v. Ray Rice Case, an NFL player was punished by law (Lu, 2020). In “Enough,” Slim is subjected to the most horrendous depiction of rape in a marital abuse context. However, the movie reflects the psychological and physiological burden characteristic of the legal definitions of assault. Slim’s suffering matches everyday lawsuits on how violence affects, and he seeks fairness during complications.
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.Battery/Aggravated Battery:
The battery is legally defined as voluntary infliction of injury resulting in offense or harm. Sentences for Aggravated battery include severe damage and use of a weapon. During the trial of Chris Brown, who assaulted Rihanna in 2009, the singer was fined because of battery. The character of Slim is portrayed as undergoing battery in her abusive marriage as a form of emotional and psychical strain in “Enough.” It illustrates the seriousness associated with a battery and the actual legal outcome. This Slim’s character brings out the sadness caused by the battery and the law’s role towards this battery.
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Robbery/Aggravated Robbery and Burglary/Aggravated Burglary:
Robbery means stealing from a person’s property that one intends to make perpetual. They also include things like the use of weapons in aggravated theft. It entails unlawfully breaking into a building to commit a crime. Aggravated burglary incorporates more elements. For instance, in the State v. Smith (2007 robbery case) and People v. Diaz (2015 Burglary case). The legality aspect of “Enough” can be explained using the antagonist’s acts, which resemble robbery and burglary. This includes depicting emotional and physical effects that support legal definition. Such cases and depictions only show how grave such crimes can be to the victim.
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Domestic Abuse:
Domestic violence law covers issues touching on physical, psychological, and financial abuse in an intimate relationship. The complexity of the legal problems related to domestic violence can be illustrated by the 1993 trial of O.J. Simpson, who was accused of murdering his wife, Nicole Brown Simpson (Lu, 2020). The movie characterizes Slim as having an abusive relationship in “Enough.” Although not purely about proceedings in a courtroom, this gives an insight into the problems faced by victims of child abuse through the legal system. Depiction resembles similar troubles with a call for legal protections and the provision of shelter to victims of domestic violence.
Analysis of Legal Issues in “Fatal Attraction”
- The concept of legality is depicted concerning an illicit romance turning deadly in “Fatal Attraction.” The movie shows how the passion between the lovers turns sour, but it diverges quite a bit and exaggerates the actual court proceedings. Alex Forrest’s actions, including stalking and violence, may be embellished to create drama (Feldman et al., 2019). Exaggeration distorts public perception, making people see the world as more threatening. Such a possibility exists because the movie may increase false awareness of legal issues and their nature. This could provoke unjustified panic, confusion, and incorrect perception of the law and inter-personal relations.
- “Enough” legal analysis.
The depiction of the legal in “Enough” concerning domestic violence is partially accurate but with quite significant drama additions. It paints a realistic picture of how it deals with the mental and physical challenges of breaking out of an abusive situation. Fast and aggressive resolution might need to fit better into the standard lengthy judicial procedures. Although it may misrepresent and overdramatize the law, the film can immensely impact common perception and understanding of the issue. This may help viewers understand how domestic cases operate and help them appreciate specific case dynamics; however, any such Programme has to be supported by correct legal information to eradicate possible misconceptions.
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Comparative Analysis
While “Fatal Attraction” and “Enough” are movies that deal with legal matters, especially involving very heated interpersonal conflict, they do not use the same approach.
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Similarities:
Two prominent legal matters are considered in both movies. They include stalking and domestic abuse. They portray in detail the psychological and bodily consequences of these acts, highlighting their severity for victims. The conflicts also lead to the involvement of the law in the characters in the two sagas.
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Differences:
The legal resolution also has different types. It is fast and focused on single issues. Fatal attraction usually solves all the legal problems quickly while focusing on sensational quarrels and retaliations. On the other hand, there is a mono-story called enough. It is a detailed court case depicting the protagonist receiving care from the justice system.
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Overall Impact:
The two films are both educative regarding legal issues, but while “Enough” covers broad aspects of legal solutions in domestic violence survivor’s trials, the other presents narrow details involved in the process. Nevertheless, regarding legal cases, “Fatal Attraction” is likely to increase fears and misconceptions about stalking and punishment as severe as that.
Conclusion
Legal issues depicted in the movie Fatal Attraction and Enough include crime against humanity, stalking, false imprisonment, assault and battery, robbery, and even domestic violence. Other specific legal precedents, such as California v. Richard Farley stalking and People v. Ray Rice assault, were also considered. However, it emerged during the discussion that despite having dealt with significant legal issues, the “Enough” painted accurate reflections of reality, relating legal complexities proceedings and empowering survivors as per their character. Unlike “Fatal Attraction,” whose presentation of legality was heavily In summary, it presents how the accurate portrayal of conflict-ridden situations depicts peoples’ issues amongst themselves in the movie.
References
Bouffard, L. A., Bouffard, J. A., Nobles, M. R., & Askew, L. (2021). Still in the shadows: The unresponsiveness of stalking prosecution rates to increased legislative attention. Journal of Criminal Justice, 73, 101794. https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/jcjust/v73y2021ics0047235221000143.html
Feldman, R. C., & Misra, P. (2019). The fatal attraction of pay-for-delay. Chi.-Kent J. Intell. Prop., 18, 249. https://scholarship.kentlaw.iit.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1225&context=ckjip
Makmur, Z., Arsyam, M., & Delukman, D. (2021). The Final Destination’s uncomfortable vision of environmental ethics. Journal of Advanced English Studies, 4(2), 76-82. https://jaes.journal.unifa.ac.id/index.php/jes/article/view/105
Lu, F. (2020). Kansas Sentencing Commission FY 2014 Annual Report: Analysis of Sentencing Guidelines in KS. https://cdn.oits.ks.gov/media/docs/sentencinglibraries/annual-reports/fy2020annual-report.pdf?sfvrsn=9313d631_3
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