Moore's film given R rating; group urges boycott of film, threatens theater owners

In yet another obstacle to obtaining the widest possible release for Fahrenheit 9/11, Michael Moore's Bush-bashing film has received an R rating from the MPAA.

The MPAA blames "violent and disturbing images and ... language", but Moore responded:

"It is sadly very possible that many 15 and 16-year-olds will be asked and recruited to serve in Iraq in the next couple of years," Moore said in a weekend statement.

"If they are old enough to be recruited and capable of being in combat and risking their lives, they certainly deserve the right to see what is going on in Iraq."

Lion's Gate Films' Tom Ortenburg added, "There's nothing in this film that is any more disturbing than what people see on the nightly news."

Maybe I need my tinfoil hat on, but I find it pretty suspicious that this film, which Moore carefully put together for the widest possible audience, is now found to be "too disturbing" for fifteen- and sixteen-year-olds. Have these people taken a look at the stuff they've okayed in recent years for this age group??

Moore is appealing the rating. Let's hope the MPAA sees reason. But no doubt they're feeling the same pressure that led Disney to refuse to distribute the film in the first place.

You can see the trailer for the film here.

Meanwhile, a group calling itself Move America Forward is urging people to contact movie theaters and ask them not to show Fahrenheit 9/11. Via Orcinus, we learn that the Move America Forward site is owned by Russo, Marsh, and Rogers, a PR firm with extensive Republican ties. Check it out on What Really Happened, and pay special attention to the updates. (Ever notice the lengths to which these people go to disguise who they really are?)
Atriosprovides a list of contacts for Russo, Marsh, and Rogers; contact them and let them know what you think.

Please visit the Move America Forward site and contact the theaters listed to let them know you support the showing of Moore's film. It's getting all too easy to censor works that Dear Leader and his loony followers don't like, too easy to shut out dissent. According to What Really Happened, some theater owners are already reporting death threats. It's important that they know how many Americans believe that freedom of thought and expression are core values for America.

Comments

[Move America Forward is a sham]

Some useful links for the Move America Forward so-called 'campaign':

Disinfopedia: http://www.disinfopedia.org/wiki.phtml?title=Move_America_Forward

What Really Happened: http://www.whatreallyhappened.com/moveamericaforward.html