There are some stories I come across that just seem so absurd and ridiculous. This is definitely one of them. The poster for director Alex Gibney’s documentary ‘Taxi to the Dark Side’ which is primarily about the torture practices of the U.S in the Middle East has been rejected by the MPAA due to the fact has been deemed “unacceptable.”
If you can look above, the poster has two AMERICAN soldiers walking with a hooded detainee in between them.
Variety gives us this quote from an MPAA spokesman:
“We treat all films the same. Ads will be seen by all audiences, including children. If the advertising is not suitable for all audiences it will not be approved by the advertising administration.”
After reading this quote, I burst into laughter. So you’re telling me the MPAA can accept one sheets posters from the ‘Saw’ series each year which have severed body parts in the posters, yet a poster cleverly depicting the reality of what is going on in the Middle East is too SCARY for children?
Look at the poster. What child is even going to know what that is about? Just call like it is. It’s censorship! I have seen way worse posters in theatres. In fact, I found out what cunninglinus was when I asked my mom what was happening to Linda Fiorentino in the poster for ‘Jade.’ (click the title to see what I mean)
I totally agree with what director Alex Gibney had to say:
“Not permitting us to use an image of a hooded man that comes from a documentary photograph is censorship, pure and simple,” said producer, writer and director Gibney. “Intentional or not, the MPAA’s disapproval of the poster is a political act, undermining legitimate criticism of the Bush administration. I agree that the image is offensive; it’s also real.”
In my opinion there was no need to reject this poster, and I think it’s outrageous that the MPAA would use children as an excuse instead of saying what the REAL reason as to why it has been rejected.
What are your thoughts on this political matter?
