The MPAA Censors our Taxi to the Dark Side Poster

As executive producer of Taxi to the Dark Side, I am appalled at the Motion Picture Association of America' censorship of the poster for our documentary because its depiction of the reality of the Bush policy of torture is too disturbing. This acclaimed film, which has already won numerous festival awards, including best documentary at the Tribeca Film Festival, and is shortlisted for the Academy Award, is the single most important movie of 2008, the campaign year.

Comments

[daddysboy]

The unspoken irony is that if the MPAA really wanted to censor art in order to protect children they would never have allowed a movie like "hostel" to be distributed. The truth about torture isn't something that children should be protected from in any case. Torture is something we should be able to tell our children that we don't do. The horrible reality of that poster is that it clearly, honestly depicts Americans participating in acts that most of us abhor. If we are going to participate in crimes against humanity I at least think we should be able to see and talk about it.

[PeteBogs]

that poster is actually pretty tame... I think the MPAA needs to just stick to rating movies (and doing that better) and leave the marketing alone... the SAW posters with teeth on hooks were absolutely disgusting... this was a purely political decision, not one based on what's appropriate for family viewing...

[drblack]

What do you expect from Bush Corp. (CEO D. Cheney)?!
Bush has had the FCC make it illegal to say Goddamn, Christ or Jesus as exclamations. They sure won't allow any questioning or exposure of their treasonous and criminal actions.

[hopesprings]

I guess the MPAA has joined the cadre of US organizations, agencies and corporations that obsequiously bend over to the Bush Cabal's every wish and demand.
Bush is now Mr. 29%, yet every one from democratic congresspeople to the heads of the media conglomerates still cowtows to him and his cronies as if they were kings.
Hope you can publicize this atrocious decision by the MPAA - to call attention to the fact that censorship of ideas is alive and well in Bush's America.

[Ramus]

This will be good for the film. They could make a poster like the other and "redact" the three figures..and write "redacted" on it. Just talking about the banning of the promotional poster will get more people to see the movie. Of course our media is censored..but hey we have the internet(s)...for the time being! Lets all go see this movie and talk up this poster thing..Make it a hit.

[Ginzaman]

Remember torture is legal here. So of course it's censored. What do you expect?

[TekBoss]

Of COURSE it's distrubing. That's the F***ing point! (The MPAA are Idiots!)

[fantagor]

After seeing the poster, I must conclude the MPAA's decision is bald-faced politically motivated censorship.

It is the height of subtly and taste. No blood. No nudity. No bad language. Just three figures retreating into the sun. What it suggests is disturbing but not untrue. And it requires an adult mind to truly see it for what it is.

Randy

[Stoyver]

Its like our honesty-challenged Preznit says "we don't torture"*.

*We only use interrogation methods that neocon lawyers define as not torture. No detainees have been disemboweled to date.

[FW]

In other countries they do not have a significant portion of the population behind bars, nor do they drug test people so they can work in a feakin hardware store (or other work places for that matter. You still think this is a free country!
I guess it is if you are a gun hugger!

[lovethesinner]

CENSORSHIP: plain and simple.

Go get them Sidney.

And film it, (you might end up with an even more important movie than the one you're defending.)

[jqmes]

Since when can the MPAA tell you what you can and can't put on a poster?

This is (used to be) a free country.

Make the poster you want and put it up. No one can stop you from doing that, dude.

[AmorDeCosmos]

I just yesterday watched the documentary called "This Film is Not Yet Rated", which goes to great lengths to expose the rationale behind the MPAA's censorship of films. It was an excellent documentary- informative and entertaining. I was already not-a-fan of the MPAA, but now I am convinced that the entire rating system (and the anonymous cabal that controls it) is unconstitutional at best. At worst, it may be a criminal conspiracy. Check it out.

[dnels14]

WOW! THAT EXPLAINS IT ALL. THE LOOK ON DARTH VADERS FACE IS TELLING..THE DARK SIDE OF THE FORCE IS NOT TO HAPPY WITH THE EMPIRE STRIKING BACK...

MAY THE FORCE BE WITH ALL DEMOCRATS 2008 AND BEYOND

[bigpaws23]

Sorry Sidney, it's not censorship. Last I checked, MPAA was not a government entity. It's a membership organization and you could withdraw your membership if you're so hurt.