« On Original Nazis | Main | On What Happens Next »
March 23, 2005
On Free Speech (a continuing series) ...
From the Associated Press (first three paragraphs) :
IMAX theaters reject film over evolution
IMAX theaters in several Southern cities have decided not to show a film on volcanoes out of concern that its references to evolution might offend those with fundamental religious beliefs.
"We've got to pick a film that's going to sell in our area. If it's not going to sell, we're not going to take it," said Lisa Buzzelli, director of an IMAX theater in Charleston that is not showing the movie. "Many people here believe in creationism, not evolution."
The film, "Volcanoes of the Deep Sea," makes a connection between human DNA and microbes inside undersea volcanoes.
Now, non-government owned theater operators have the right to show or not show anything they want, and I, for one, applaud their decision to pander to the lowest common denominator of science-challenged religious fanatics. If these operators want to double-bill “Triumph of the Will” and “Birth of a Nation” and give out free sheets and boot polish, well, that’s their prerogative. “Monty Python’s Live of Brian?” I’d think they’d pass. I wonder how much money they made off of allowing under-aged impressionable little gun toting kids to see America’s favorite R-rated ultra-violent clusterfuck, “The Passion of the Christ.”
Oh, and before some wise-ass tells me “But evolution is only a theory,” well, pal, all of science is just a bunch of theories, constantly being challenged, revised, and updated. Mathematics is just a theory, but I’ll bet your church will take a check nonetheless.
Posted by Mike Gold at March 23, 2005 03:04 PM
Trackback Pings
TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.malibulist.com/mt/mt-tb.cgi/2679
Comments
Too bad they won't show this. I live in the south, am a Christian and frankly if one films short comment is going to rupture your mind then you are in sad shape. I love IMAX films and National Geographic and NPR and frankly, knowing that alot of the south is babtist and that they believe strongly in what they believe, I really don't think that showing the film would matter. By the way, it totally pisses me off that blue sky laws exist in NC because of religion. It is logically absurd to be in line at 11:50 with a bottle of wine for dinner that night and being told "oh no. Not until noon on Sunday". It's ok with me if other people who share a similar faith orientation to mine feel better if they wait until after 12 but it shouldn't stop me from buying 10 minutes or 5 hours earlier. What is so magical about the 11pm to noon Sunday period? And so it goes with the IMAX movie-give me the choice
Posted by: polloman at March 23, 2005 03:20 PM
Mike, for once you are absolutely correct: non-
government owned theatre operators have the right to
show or not show anything they want. BTW, did any
theatre actually give out free sheets and boot polish? Or were you just going over the top to make
a point, like Ann Coulter frequently does?
Posted by: nash at March 23, 2005 05:29 PM
Oh, I pine for Ann. I lust for Ann. She was talking about running against Chris Shays for the Republican Congressional nomination out here, but she changed her mind and I've never forgiven her. That hussy.
Posted by: Mike Gold at March 23, 2005 05:34 PM
I lust for her too. If she goes for old skinny
bald guys, I just may have a shot. Maybe I could
seduce her with my Grimjack collection....
Posted by: nash at March 23, 2005 05:54 PM
Good point.
Maybe I can seduce her with a special one-of-a-kind laser color printout of GrimJack: Killer Instinct #4.
Posted by: Mike Gold at March 23, 2005 05:57 PM
Awww, now that's just no fair...
Posted by: nash at March 23, 2005 07:06 PM
Wait....Ann Coulter is female? With THAT Adam's Apple? I always thought ze was a drag queen. I'm so confused!
Posted by: Cory!!Strode at March 24, 2005 10:16 AM
"Pandering to the lowest common denominator" pretty much describes a large portion of the entertainment industry. Money talks. Heck, I'm guilty of dutifully going out to the theaters year after year and shelling out a large chunk of change to see the latest installment of the Stars Wars blahga -- despite the consistent evidence that Lucas should have stopped after one in a row.
Posted by: Rick Oliver at March 24, 2005 01:03 PM
I'm not sure they are being pevented from showing it, so much as trying to appeal to the audience they have. The more money it takes to create and present a piece of art, the less likely it is going to challenge any conventional beleifs. (not that all art should be controversial, but you get what I mean.)
I'm pretty sure Charleston won't be on any of my vacation plans...
Oh, and I'm stealing this line: "Mathematics is just a theory, but I’ll bet your church will take a check nonetheless."
Posted by: JR Judt at March 24, 2005 04:04 PM
I live in 18121 Las Vegas, Nevada. Have you been here before?
Posted by: Ein Lo Sechel at September 23, 2006 04:28 AM