Frankie Spano
06-12-2003, 09:07 AM
CAIRO, Egypt, June 12 — Citing objectionable religious themes in the latest Keanu Reeves blockbuster, “Matrix Reloaded,” Egypt’s censorship board has banned the movie.
THE MOVIE, which has been wowing audiences elsewhere overseas after hitting U.S. screens last month, follows on the success of the original “Matrix,” released in 1999, a mind-warping tale of software-created cities run by ruthless machines.
According to box-office returns for overseas last weekend, the movie earned more than $42 million from 5.5 million admissions at 9,400 screens in 62 countries, raising its cumulative gross to $300.6 million.
This time around, the hero Neo (Reeves) leads his trusted band of warriors inside the matrix to prevent the destruction of the human stronghold of Zion, built deep inside the earth.
But Egypt’s censorship board felt the movie could subject viewers to “crises.” In a statement, the board declared that “Matrix Reloaded” touches on subjects considered sacrosanct to the religiously conservative Islamic nation.
“It explicitly handles the issue of existence and creation which are related to the three divine religions, which we all respect and believe in,” it said.
Other problems, according to the statement, include that the movie “tackles the issue of the creator and his creations, searching for the origin or creation and the issue of compulsion and free will.”
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Not all American action movies are banned in Egypt, although the original “Matrix” also was considered too risky. Currently, Egyptian newspapers are offering blaring advertisements for “X2: X Men United” and “A Man Apart” with Vin Diesel, the latter promising “non-stop explosive action.”
However, as with all Western movies here, all sex scenes are cut, and even kissing is banned.
THE REASONS
Movie critic Mahmoud Kassem screened the movie as an observer with a panel of philosophers, professors of literature, writers, critics and psychologists.
And although he disagrees with the concept of censorship, he said he understood the reasoning behind their decision.
“Islam rejects presenting God in human form,” and the movie shows a character who portrays the creator carrying on an extended conversation with the star of the movie.
Therefore, the creator is given human characteristics, if only a voice, he said.
“Most (censors) are of the opinion they don’t want to allow the kind of movie which touches on creator and creation. They felt that a movie portraying God in human form or voice would be destructive to moviegoers. ”
Although he is personally against banning the movie, Kassem says the vast majority of viewers are uneducated people who uncritically accept what they see.
The censors also cited violence as another cause to ban the movie, stating that it may “harm social peace.” But Kassem acknowledged the amount of violence in the movie was not enough to present a convincing argument and served as a pretext.
WAITING FOR ‘THE MESSAGE’
However, human rights advocate and editor-in-chief of Cairo Times Hisham Kassem (no relation) said violence should be the only criterion for banning movies.
“There is no clear value system on which to censor movies. It depends on political circumstances and the mentality of the censors.”
While extremely violent movies may be released for public viewing, others are banned for violating religious beliefs, he noted.
But not everybody is upset about being denied the right to see the blockbuster. Maged Helmy, a father of teenage boys, applauds the ban.
“We are trying to raise our kids according to certain rules and traditions, and probably these kind of movies are giving them corrupt ideas.”
And for any distraught Egyptian moviegoers, they may just have to be patient.
“The Message,” a movie about Muslim Prophet Mohammed that had been banned for 20 years, has only now been released in Egypt.
By Charlene Gubash
NBC NEWS
THE MOVIE, which has been wowing audiences elsewhere overseas after hitting U.S. screens last month, follows on the success of the original “Matrix,” released in 1999, a mind-warping tale of software-created cities run by ruthless machines.
According to box-office returns for overseas last weekend, the movie earned more than $42 million from 5.5 million admissions at 9,400 screens in 62 countries, raising its cumulative gross to $300.6 million.
This time around, the hero Neo (Reeves) leads his trusted band of warriors inside the matrix to prevent the destruction of the human stronghold of Zion, built deep inside the earth.
But Egypt’s censorship board felt the movie could subject viewers to “crises.” In a statement, the board declared that “Matrix Reloaded” touches on subjects considered sacrosanct to the religiously conservative Islamic nation.
“It explicitly handles the issue of existence and creation which are related to the three divine religions, which we all respect and believe in,” it said.
Other problems, according to the statement, include that the movie “tackles the issue of the creator and his creations, searching for the origin or creation and the issue of compulsion and free will.”
Advertisement
Not all American action movies are banned in Egypt, although the original “Matrix” also was considered too risky. Currently, Egyptian newspapers are offering blaring advertisements for “X2: X Men United” and “A Man Apart” with Vin Diesel, the latter promising “non-stop explosive action.”
However, as with all Western movies here, all sex scenes are cut, and even kissing is banned.
THE REASONS
Movie critic Mahmoud Kassem screened the movie as an observer with a panel of philosophers, professors of literature, writers, critics and psychologists.
And although he disagrees with the concept of censorship, he said he understood the reasoning behind their decision.
“Islam rejects presenting God in human form,” and the movie shows a character who portrays the creator carrying on an extended conversation with the star of the movie.
Therefore, the creator is given human characteristics, if only a voice, he said.
“Most (censors) are of the opinion they don’t want to allow the kind of movie which touches on creator and creation. They felt that a movie portraying God in human form or voice would be destructive to moviegoers. ”
Although he is personally against banning the movie, Kassem says the vast majority of viewers are uneducated people who uncritically accept what they see.
The censors also cited violence as another cause to ban the movie, stating that it may “harm social peace.” But Kassem acknowledged the amount of violence in the movie was not enough to present a convincing argument and served as a pretext.
WAITING FOR ‘THE MESSAGE’
However, human rights advocate and editor-in-chief of Cairo Times Hisham Kassem (no relation) said violence should be the only criterion for banning movies.
“There is no clear value system on which to censor movies. It depends on political circumstances and the mentality of the censors.”
While extremely violent movies may be released for public viewing, others are banned for violating religious beliefs, he noted.
But not everybody is upset about being denied the right to see the blockbuster. Maged Helmy, a father of teenage boys, applauds the ban.
“We are trying to raise our kids according to certain rules and traditions, and probably these kind of movies are giving them corrupt ideas.”
And for any distraught Egyptian moviegoers, they may just have to be patient.
“The Message,” a movie about Muslim Prophet Mohammed that had been banned for 20 years, has only now been released in Egypt.
By Charlene Gubash
NBC NEWS