Hindus want “Angels and Demons” movie rated as “R”
May 6th, 2009 - 1:55 pm ICT by Sampurn WireHindus have censured Classification and Rating Administration (CARA) of USA for assigning upcoming film “Angels and Demons” a PG-13 (Parents Strongly Cautioned) rating, which they stress deserved R (Restricted) rating.
Acclaimed Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, said that this film was unnecessarily playing with the sentiments of the faithful for mercantile greed. He has urged CARA to reconsider its earlier rating decision and raise its rating to “R” (Restricted: Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian)
Zed, who is president of Universal Society of Hinduism, further said CARA should ask the makers of “Angels and Demons” to insert a disclaimer in bold letters in the beginning and towards the end of the movie explaining that it was purely the work of fiction. Same information about its fictional character should be included in all the publicity material and trailers.
Rajan Zed stressed that cinema was a powerful medium and it could create stereotypes in the minds of some audiences, especially the younger ones, who were passing through an impressionable phase. We did not want our next generation to be growing up with a distorted view of religion.
Zed argued that faith was something sacred and attempts at belittling it hurt the devotees. Filmmakers should be more sensitive and careful while handling faith related subjects. Movies like this brought more confusion and helped creating stereotypes in the minds of some audiences.
Replying to the question of why Hindus were concerned while the movie deals with Roman Catholic Church, Rajan Zed said that despite our seriously different traditions, we were all fellow seekers of the Ultimate Reality and we were all headed in the same direction. So, we should help each other on our journey towards truth and have some sort of trust and mutual loyalty.
Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) and National Association of Theater Owners operate the movie ratings system and a board of parents who comprise CARA gives ratings. Founded in 1922, the MPAA serves as the voice and advocate of the American motion picture, home video and television industries from its offices in Los Angeles and Washington DC. Its Board includes Paramount, Sony Pictures, Twentieth Century Fox, Universal City Studios, Walt Disney Studios, and Warner Brothers. Dan Glickman is the Chairman.
“Angels and Demons”; a Sony-Columbia-Imagine mystery based on Dan Brown’s novel and directed by Ron Howard with Tom Hanks, Ewan McGregor, Ayelet Zurer; is being released in most of the world on May 13-14-15 next.
Roman Catholic Church, headed by His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI, is the largest of the Christian denominations. Hinduism, oldest and third largest religion of the world, has about one billion adherents and moksha (liberation) is its ultimate goal. -Sampurn Media
- Hindus censure "Angels and Demons" movie - May 02, 2009
- Hindus back Catholics' call for meatless Fridays - Mar 07, 2011
- Hindus welcome Catholic-Jewish dialogue, calling it 'step in the right direction' - Mar 13, 2011
- Hindus decry derogatory remarks against Roma in Hungarian Parliament - Feb 18, 2011
- Hindus urge Vatican to be more kind to Catholic women - Jul 17, 2010
- Hindus want Romania President to apologize for 'racist' Roma remarks - Nov 06, 2010
- Hindus laud Vatican for inviting Muslims, Jew, & women in Synod of Bishops - Oct 12, 2010
- Hindus okay for participation in Pope's religious peace summit - Jan 02, 2011
- Calling "forgiveness begging" "step in right direction", Hindus urge Pope for "white paper" on sex s - Jun 13, 2010
- Hindus critical of Pope charging for Glasgow mass - Jul 28, 2010
- Hindus laud Pope's interest in solar-powered electric "popemobile" - Dec 03, 2010
- Hindus condemn dismantling of Gypsy camp in Rome - Apr 24, 2011
- Hindus want religions join hands to tackle poverty - Jan 02, 2011
- Hindus laud Pope for lunching with poor & seek a unified action on poverty eradication - Dec 27, 2010
- Catholics back Hindus protesting over mockery of Lord Ganesh by Carrey on NBC - Feb 05, 2011
Tags: adult guardian, angels and demons, angels and demons movie, bold letters, distorted view, fellow seekers, fictional character, hindu statesman, hindus, motion picture association of america, mutual loyalty, nevada usa, pg 13, publicity material, rajan zed, rating administration, roman catholic church, universal society, usa today, younger ones