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06
January 2007
Mel
Gibson Row Causes
Ratings
Rethink
Italy
may change the way films
are rated after its
cinema review board
ruled that
Mel
Gibson's
graphic epic Apocalypto
was suitable for all
ages.
A
consumer group has begun
a legal attempt to
change the certificate
so under-14s do not see
its violence.
Culture
minister Francesco
Rutelli said he would
look on Monday at the
current system, which
was "now 45 years old
and no longer suited to
current
times".
Apocalypto
- rated 18 in the UK -
depicts the decline of a
Mayan
kingdom.
It
features violent scenes
of human sacrifice, and
censors in countries
including Germany,
Poland and Hungary have
also considered it
unsuitable for those
aged 17 and
below.
Viewers
in France must be at
least 12. However, some
countries - including
Belgium, Finland, Sweden
and Denmark - have yet
to release the
film.
Apocalypto
opened in Italy on
Friday with a universal
rating.
But
consumer group Codacons
said it would appeal
against the ratings
decision in
court.
"The
film is probably very
beautiful and well
done," Carlo Rienzi, the
organisation's
president, said.
"However, minors must be
protected more than the
economic interests of
film production
companies."
Mr
Rienzi claimed his group
was not advocating
censorship, but would
seek court action to
have children younger
than 14 banned from
attending the
movie.
The
film entered the North
American box office
chart at number one and
has earned a Golden
Globe nomination for
best foreign-language
film.
Last
month Italy's board of
censors, which is
usually made up of
parents, industry
experts and a
psychologist, gave it a
universal
rating.
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