Censorship in Qatar-Avatar
Ok, now I've been in Qatar now for over 4 years and for the most part I've accepted that this place is a little different, especially in regards to freedom of speech & censorship, then back home. So when I go to a movie I know to expect the kissing/sex/nudity scenes to be cut. No problem, for the most part that stuff can be lifted from the movie without to much of the plot being lost.
However, this weekend I went to see Avatar in IMAX 3D and my only response is WTF! Every five minutes a scene was cut, sometimes multiple scenes in a row so that the you were missing whole sentences, action sequences, etc. At several points it was so chopped up you had no clue what was going on! And it's not like this was some sex filled movie! In fact from what I could tell there was only one kiss scene (and they left most of that in). NO from what I could tell they were cutting out the F word and anytime a little too much alien butt or tit (if you could say the aliens had tits) showed. It was atrocious! It completely ruined the movie! Frankly I wanted my money back, because when I pay to see a movie I want to see the whole movie!
I don't get it. I know this country pretends to have high moral standards, but would it be too difficult to say if you don't like to hear the f word or see a little nudity or kissing don't go see this movie? Or buy the spliced DVD version from Saudi when it comes out? Why bother to watch half a movie in the theaters?
And while I'm at it, why do you think it's ok to show SAW 4 to 13 year olds, with it's blood and guts then show a tit. What is worse for kids to see? Unimaginable violence or a tit? Frankly I'd rather my kids see a boob on a cartoon alien then some guy get his head ripped off in some blood and guts fest.
I just don't get it.
when I went and saw Harry Potter, they cut the kissing scene. It was between two 13 year olds and quite innocent. BUT they showed the kiss during the previews...go figure.
I hope they will grow up correctly.
The kids are like hot steel which you can shape it the way you like.
But later on the environment around the steel will play a rule in keeping this steel good or no.
The good maintained steel will live longer but that one which is exposed to bad environment may get corroded or broken.
Most parents will always care about their children even if their children reaches 50 yrs old or more, it is natural phenomena, can you prevent the sky from raining? Or the sun from raising?
What is worse? is ofcourse is the violence seen
Rating should be there and it is also the parents responsibility to take their kids to any movies.
Yes I agree we lack here the proper rating system.
As a general rule moderate movies should be allowed.
See the movies sends messages some are good and bad so decide which message you want to read.
If you are curious then you want to read them all.
We should blame here the person who knows that X movie and go to see it!!
At the theater on Saturday I was shocked to see a group of kids no older then 11 going in to see Saw IV! I mean that movie would give me nightmares!
"We submit to the majority because we have to. But we are not compelled to call our attitude of subjection a posture of respect." Ambrose Bierce
What we really lack is a proper rating system. A one that’s actually implemented!!!
I mean what is worst for 10 years old boy , a kissing scene or violent one?
Last week I was really astound to see a group of teens in the philosophic drama epic “AGORA”!
and what they censored in that movie. The Honeymoon parts.
that sucks. I boycott Qatar theater and will go for torrents.
I’ve been to ‘Avatar’ when it was first screened, There was very little censoring
I think the best time to go to movies here is when it's premiered
Censoring was really bad in “Time traveler’s wife” :(
Ok then Straight Arrow, there should be movies for people who are ok with swearing and nudity and movies for those that aren't. They shouldn't be trying to make all movies for kids, because some are not meant for kids.
"We submit to the majority because we have to. But we are not compelled to call our attitude of subjection a posture of respect." Ambrose Bierce
no nothing yet. but if you find plz send me a text msg right away.
What are these sadness that surrounds you?
Nic You do not like things please say it,
Olive when I say my opinion then there is no contradiction.
See some people asked me what do you think about Qatar when it comes to selling wine in hotels and bars?
I always answer him here are the mosques for those who want pray and there are the bars for those who want to drink.
If we look back in the history we will see that science and development will always grow in any condition.
Science have never been ended, and the evidence is the day to day new discoveries.
It is my responsibility to teach my children and tell the them what is good and what is bad.
Some may say I have done the impossible to let my kid be good person but now he/she is bad.
This reality parents can be good but kids are bad and grow bad, and vice versa.
We must do our part so that we do not feel we are responsible or guilty for spoiling them.
Darude..well other than the "christmas lights" effects...
Any release of aria & lucy in IMAX 3D?
right olive, that was the reason for the cut.
@ straight or khalid: please just open your eyes wider enough to notice what kind of movies have been shown lately.
can you tell me what would a 14 y.o group of kids see in a movie like Revolutionary Road????????? i wasn't surprized by seeing them leaving after 40 minutes of the movie, but they've already paid, and the cinema owners got what they want.
stop claiming responsibility to secure the kids and the adults by preventing nudity scenes, it's about respecting movies ratings and enforcing it on EVERYONE, not that qatari boys can enter any movie because the girl at the ticketing is scared, or just indifferent.
Yalla!
The alien chick could have had bigger ones....though her backside was ok...lol
Call me dumb....but I never realised the movie was cut. Honestly....there is always half of the alien-chick's boobs sticking out....
...ok maybe they cut out the "mating scene" with hero...but they showed how to mate with horse...lol
was that all you were watching???
No movie is cut by any country for time constraints. When movies are distributed, the movie's characteristics are specified, including its duration. So the cinemas can plan the viewing time and sessions accordingly.
The only reasons movies are subjected to cuts rather than the original director's cut is censorship and that is a sad reality in Qatar where not even Doha's Tribeca Film Festival was speared from the big brother's scissors.
Aussiedad I would lean towards time to, but where they cut makes no sense. There are places where you could cut a scene and nobody would lose the plot, but these cuts took place in the MIDDLE of some scenes, ie: Alien female jumps up to kick a dog type creature, splice while she's in mid-air, suddenly the fights all over and you've no idea what happened and they come back in mid sentence.
All I can assume is there was a flash of CGI butt that someone found inappropriate.
"We submit to the majority because we have to. But we are not compelled to call our attitude of subjection a posture of respect." Ambrose Bierce
Can we have a flag as irrelevant post option added?
You're contradicting yourself Khalid and make no sense. There's loads of movies that are brought in here that don't use clean words, all those horror movies that Qatari's are so fond of for example. Obviously people want to watch them and not have them all cut up and lose the story, so why not leave them alone, why censor them? If you don't approve of the movie don't go see it.
"We submit to the majority because we have to. But we are not compelled to call our attitude of subjection a posture of respect." Ambrose Bierce
aussiedad,
LOL...are you being serious or sarcastic?
Here we think and believe the best solution is not to bring such a movies at all.
An american movies which are good and use clean words are most welcome.
I am sure that who has an adult child would never like to bring something bad at his home right!!
If you know that illegal things or doing things improperly would lead to a disaster would you bring these things to your home?
Olive you are right when you say it is more simple not to come to the movies.
If some one tells me Khalid I went to that bar and there were ladies who nocked me out, I will tell him it is your mistake who told you to go the bar it was more simple not to go to the bar.
I am not saying all ladies who go to the bar are bad, it is a western culture, for example many good british people spend some of their time in the pubs on a regular basis.
Not all are bad when you see some one bad.
Not all are good when you see some one is good.
If you want to reflect your country in a good way then be good because each one is an embassador of his country.
For example
If X person is encouraging prostitution this does not mean that his/her country is doing the same.
But when 10 or 100 of X person are encouraging prostitution then I would say that his / her country could have the same approach but necessary true.
I'm leaning towards the fact that it has been edited for time reasons. I saw it in mid December and did not notice any significant cuts in story/action.
Perhaps they didn't realise initially the problems they would have with turnaround time between showings.
I was planning to change my usual routine of watching downloaded stuff to go and see this at the Imax 3d for the special experience. Thanks for letting me know olive.I'll wait and watch it on blu-ray when it comes out instead. I would prefer to see the whole movie, rather than missing parts of it for the 3d experience.
Or here is a simpler solution Khalid, if you don't want to see a movie with nudity in it, don't go see that movie.
"We submit to the majority because we have to. But we are not compelled to call our attitude of subjection a posture of respect." Ambrose Bierce
If I was in the Authority position in the Cenima I would have seen the movie first and then decide if it is worth it to be shown here in our cenima or not.
It is normal to cut all the scenes which contains nudity, because Qatar is an Islamic country, if you want un cut movies you can buy DVD's and this is a simple solution.
Nic can you please mintion 5 of these sad realities?
It is my responsibility to answer you.
hence and went and rechecked the movie at City Center. Thje result was the same. I think the theatres here are finding the movie a bit too long and hence have taken up their scissors. The censorship bit might not be well thought of.
Source:
- A study Conducted by FriedUnicorn - Vol I (September,1999)
Why are you still being disappointed after 4 years?! You should know better about the sad reality that surrounds us here!
movies are like a painting, who wants to see la gioconda with a duct tape on her cleavage????????????
I think movie makers should boycott Qatar cinemas.
Yalla!
Olive, THANK you for bringing this on, yes it was frustrating, i was simmering out of anger every time a cut is done, this is crazy, they don't care for children, if they do they wouldn't allow then to watch a +18 arabic movie just because it's arabic. SO SILLY, and stupid.
we really should do something about this, censorship in an Aliens movie???????????????????????????
WTF, who cares if an alien shows a but or a tit?
except sick minded censorship people!
Yalla!
I think it was more than 15 minutes, when I went it was only 2 and half hours long, when it's meant to be 3 hours... I agree, it was extremely choppy.. incredibly frustrating
Or buy an Epson, Christie Digital or Toshiba Projector with USB Port and projector screen...then download all movies that u want and watch it through your own home threatre :D
"BRING IT ON SUPERCHAKA!!!"
When did you see it? I know from a friend that when it first came out it wasn't cut. She saw both versions.
"We submit to the majority because we have to. But we are not compelled to call our attitude of subjection a posture of respect." Ambrose Bierce
I've seen the movie; the normal screen and the 3D and nothing from what you said happened. I think you are exaggerating :)
Cheerio
They are protecting the innocent people from the ills of the world. We do not know what is best for us so its best the censors remove bits that might blow our minds...
Surely they could have cut out 15 minutes so it didn't appear so choppy. What a crock.
"We submit to the majority because we have to. But we are not compelled to call our attitude of subjection a posture of respect." Ambrose Bierce
A colleague of mine said that they cut the film by 15 minutes because they're trying to show it every 3 hours here, and the movie is 3 hours long in itself. So they needed some transition time to get people out of the theater, clean it up and get the new people seated for the next showing. So they cut some out of the film.
That sounds reaosnable to me, but I do think that they should be required to advertise that they are showing a cut/trimmed version. That way, consumers can make an informed choice about whether to spend the QR 55 to see it here or wait until they're back in their home country and see it in all its uncut glory.
But I won't hold my breath...Qatar doesn't have a great track record when it comes to transparency...
"If you're looking for sympathy, you'll find it between sh*t and syphilis in the dictionary."
- David Sedaris
eeehhh, Olive, have you seen a movie "Funny people"? My hub and I watched it last summer in Canada.. there were no any other words in the movie rather then F words.. My hub said: I am wondering if they ever bring this movie to Qatar? I said: I don't think so, otherwise they had to cut whole movie except of movie title at the beginning and actors listing at the end, and even during this time they will have to shut up the sound...
..as i mentioned on FB, i will sacrify 3D, but at least i will understand what's going on there ..:):) probably tonight, or tomorrow...
*********************
"What lies behind us and what lies before us are small compared to what lies within us."
Oliver Wendell Holmes
Well it's nice to see the State of Qatar encourages illegal downloading. :P
"We submit to the majority because we have to. But we are not compelled to call our attitude of subjection a posture of respect." Ambrose Bierce
good that i never went to see it then.. i'll just watch at home, doesn't matter if it's just on a regular tv.. I've had the copy all along, just haven't found the time to watch it yet..
will download 3d version :D
There is no plus 18? Yes it's completely censored. And the worst part about this movie is that you HAVE to see it in the theaters cause it's in 3D!
"We submit to the majority because we have to. But we are not compelled to call our attitude of subjection a posture of respect." Ambrose Bierce
yet.
have they censored it all even the +18??
if yes then i dont want to watch :/