Posted on 05/16/2006 7:24:25 AM PDT by killjoy
Christians win right to censor Da Vinci Code
The police censorship committee in charge of movies has agreed to censor the climax of the movie The Da Vinci Code, even though the distributor promised to put a special notice on all copies stating the film was a work of fiction.
Thai censors and a group claiming to represent Thai Christians watched the movie today. After the special showing, police agreed to cut the last 10 minutes of the film.
A spokesman for the Evangelical Fellowship of Thailand told the AP that the group objects to the part of the film that mentions Jesus having heirs alive today. Under today's agreement, Thais won't see that part of the film in the theatre.
The Evangelical Fellowship of Thailand, the Seventh Day Adventists Foundation of Thailand, and the United Christian Church of Baptism of Thailand had joined fellow Asian Christian groups from India to the Philippines in urging their governments to ban the film, claiming it distorts the Bible.
Only Thailand capitulated.
"Without the warning to audiences, the movie should not be shown in Thailand," Manote Cheangsuk, chairman of Evangelical Fellowship of Thailand, told a press conference. "If (the movie) is not true, it cannot be shown."
Ironically, American filmmakers complained just yesterday that local censorship is a reason why audiences buy pirated VCDs and DVDs. Tienchai Pinvises, executive director of the Motion Picture Association (MPA) of Thailand specifically mentioned blurring out smoking and drinking in TV presentations of movies, but presumably cutting out parts of a movie also would apply.
In the Philippines, the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) approved the showing of the controversial film in this predominantly Christian country.
Malaysian Christians disagreed completely with their Thai brethern, and said Malaysians were intelligent enough to figure out it was Hollywood.
The movie is the adaptation of a murder novel. The story unveils a group which is trying to shield the world from a secret - that Jesus Christ was actually married to Mary Magdelene, who recurs n the Christian Bible, the New Testament.
The author of the book, the moviemakers and star Tom Hanks all have made it clear the entire story is fiction. That wasn't enough for a tiny group of Protestants, who convinced the police they were acting for all Christians in Thailand, even though almost all Thai Christians are Roman Catholic.
The capitulation to the group was by the censorship committee of the Police Registration Division.
"As far as calling for protests or boycotts is concerned, that is not necessary," Malaysia's Lim said. "If Christians know their own faith, they will be strong enough. We can leave it to their discretion as to whether they would rather watch the movie or not. That is their free choice."
In the Philippines, Condoliza La Guardia, chairman of the MTRCB said that while they rated the movie R-18, they did not see anything that would merit the banning of the film.
"I don't think it (showing of the movie) will have any adverse affect on our religion," she said. "Its mainly an entertainment movie, a suspense thriller."
La Guardia said that those groups who were lobbying against the showing of the movie can always urge people not to watch it.
"It's their choice, they can always persuade their friends not to watch the movie," she said.
A senior government official and several Catholic bishops condemned the movie, which is based on the book of Dan Brown, as blasphemous.
So they only agree to a disclaimer if there is a threat of censorship?
No way! Those sensitive muslims got really mad about a few silly cartoons.
Hey, but Christians are fair game. Let's insult their religious views.
Is "Opie" short for "Opus Dei" Taylor?
Cutting out the last 10 minutes of the movie is no different than Comedy Central censoring South Park for showing Mohammad.
If they cut out the ending, why even show the movie?
As the article states, other elements of American films (like smoking and drinking) are routinely censored (even Disney censors smoking in their old cartoons FOR the US to the point of absurdity, specifically where Pecos Bill rolls an "invisible" cigarette now).
And muslims make the same sort of distortions about Christians as this movie does. Perhaps Lim would feel different about a different religion.
As it stands, censorship appears to be common in Thailand and to isolate this film's editing without putting it into perspective with other films passed and rejected tells us nothing. Except to try to make it seem like these filmmakers are being victimized in ways other filmmakers are not.
Except Comedy Central didn't censor the bit in that episode about Jesus defecating on the American flag.
What other religions are impuned in the Da Vinci code?
So those kids really did walk through the warerobe closet to Naria???
Yes, there is censorship of some scenes in movies in Thailand. The same is done in the US except it is done by the MPAA to get a rating. There is a big difference between cutting out scenes and removing the entire final 10 minutes of a movie.
I guess I will just have to go down the street and buy a pirated copy on DVD for $2 US....
I do not know what the Thai standard for free speech is. I am only familiar with the US.
I understand that European libel laws are quite different from the US. Bill Clinton's book had to be censored for the British edition because of some of his statements about Ken Starr (I believe claiming Starr's motive).
I think French cases may go so far as to require a person writing an autobiography to get a written clearance from people mentioned in the book.
How would we handle an adventure movie that purported that the Protocols of the Elders of Zion were genuine? Can Germany make a summer blockbuster than claims the Holocaust is all a racist hoax?
Generally, when a movie is censored here, it is because of alcohol, drugs, smoking, excessive violence, or sex. You can compare it to what is done in the US in order to get a better rating by the MPAA. Slicing off the entire ending of a movie is just stupid.
How would we handle an adventure movie that purported that the Protocols of the Elders of Zion were genuine?
Why should it be handled any differently than any other movie? Fiction is fiction. What about 'JFK'? Should that have been banned?
Anybody else listen to The Jesus Christ Show last Sunday?
It was amazing the way Jesus blew the DaVinci Code to smithereens !!!
http://www.kfi640.com/pages/streaming.html at 8 to 11 AMCT
hows it end? (I'm betting on Dan Brown in front of the Pearly Gates stammering)
The historical facts themselves easily refute the contrived historical assertions of this piece of fiction.
The scary thing is that alot of people would actually do this in the U.S. if they could.
By definition, historical facts refute most works of fiction.
I'm wouldn't be surprised if there were people in the US that would sanction this ...
I'm glad society and law has progressed beyond inquisitions
By definition, historical facts refute most works of fiction.
True, however, Dan Brown's book, fiction, he says is based on a historically true premise.
His so-called, "historical premise" it also fiction that he tries to pass off as true.
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