Official Weinstein Company Press Release:

New York, NY, March 24, 2011 – The Weinstein Company (TWC) announced today that THE KING’S SPEECH PG-13, the family-friendly version of its Academy Award-winning historical drama about King George VI, will open on 1,000 screens nationwide on April 1, and will be the only version available in theatres. One of the year’s most celebrated, successful and beloved films, THE KING’S SPEECH was honored at the 83rd Academy Awards® with Oscars® for Best Picture, to producers Iain Canning, Emile Sherman and Gareth Unwin; Best Director, to helmer Tom Hooper; Best Actor, to star Colin Firth; and Best Original Screenplay, to screenwriter David Seidler. The announcement was made by TWC’s President of Theatrical Distribution and Home Entertainment Eric Lomis.

Said Lomis, “We are thankful to the MPAA for their wisdom and swift action in approving the release of THE KING’S SPEECH PG-13 release. The action enables those to whom it speaks most directly – young people who are troubled by stuttering, bullying and similar trials — to see it.”

The emotional impact of stuttering that was illuminated by THE KING’S SPEECH continues to be a topic of conversation with the recent statements by Vice President Joseph Biden about his own struggles with stammering. The release of THE KING’S SPEECH PG-13 offers families nationwide access to a positive story about stuttering and overcoming obstacles and social stigmas.

THE KING’S SPEECH will be available on Blu-Ray and DVD on April 19th.

When asked backstage at the 83rd Academy Awards, Oscar winner Colin Firth told us he was strongly against it.

Q. I was wondering what you think of the new PG13 cut of the film?
A. I haven’t seen it. I don’t know anything about it. I got some secondhand information about it. Have they cut the scene? What’s the…

Q. That’s what I hear, but I hear that they’ll be screening it tomorrow, or some people are screening it tomorrow.
A. I don’t support it.

Q. Why do you not support it?
A. Because I think the film has its integrity as it stands. I think that scene belongs where it is. I think it serves a purpose. I’m not someone who is casual about that kind of language. I don’t relish I take my children to see football games, soccer. And I wouldn’t be able to, if I wanted to protect them from those kind of words at the expense of all else. I hate hearing that language around them, but I’m not going to deny them an experience of a live game. You know, it does distress me to, you know, to hear that language bawled in the ears of my kids. So I don’t take that stuff lightly. But the context of this film could not be more edifying, more appropriate. It’s not vicious. It’s not to do insult or it’s not in any of the context which might offend people, really.

It’s about a man trying to free himself through the use of forbidden words, and he’s so coy about it. I mean, I just can’t I still haven’t met the person who would object to it. So I think the film should stand as it is.

The Motion Picture Association of America, Inc. (MPAA) today announced it has named former U.S. Senator Christopher J. Dodd as its new Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Senator Dodd, who completed five terms in the United States Senate in January, will assume his new role on March 17th (St. Patrick’s Day). 

“Chris has served our country as a highly respected and accomplished Senator for over 30 years, and we are truly fortunate that he will bring his stature and talent to support the creative efforts of our filmmakers and the many people who work in our industry, here and around the world,” commented Fox Filmed Entertainment Chairman & CEO Jim Gianopulos. He added, “We’re also grateful to Bob Pisano, who has done an excellent job of leading the MPA during this transition period.”

Senator Dodd, a Democrat, represented Connecticut in the U.S. Senate from 1981 to 2011, where he was Chairman of the Senate Banking Committee and the author of the historic Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. Dodd also served as Acting-Chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee during the 2009 consideration of the Health Care Reform Act. He also was a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He has been widely respected as an effective lawmaker able to successfully reach across party lines.

“I am truly excited about representing the interests of one of the most creative and productive industries in America, not only in Washington but around the world,” said Senator Dodd. “The major motion picture studios consistently produce and distribute the most sought after and enjoyable entertainment on earth. Protecting this great American export will be my highest priority.”

“In several important ways, taking this step represents a continuation of my work in the Senate, from advancing the interests of children and families and creating and safeguarding American jobs to the protection of intellectual property and the expansion of international trade,” said Senator Dodd.

“It is also an honor to follow in the footsteps of Jack Valenti and Dan Glickman, both of whom I worked with on many occasions over the years. I look forward to working with the studios, the Association staff and all who work in our industry on the major issues facing it during this time of economic and technological challenge and global growth.”

“We conducted a thorough search to identify the very best individual to lead the MPAA,” said Sony Pictures Entertainment Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Michael Lynton. “We’re convinced we have found that person in Chris Dodd. He is uniquely qualified to represent and protect our industry globally.”

“Chris Dodd not only has the political instincts and experience, but he’s the right person to lead the film industry through its toughest challenges regarding content protection and piracy on a domestic and global scale,” said Barry Meyer, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Warner Bros.

Alan Braverman, Senior Executive Vice President and General Counsel at the Walt Disney Company and MPAA Search Committee Member added, “This is a critical time for the motion picture industry and we couldn’t be more pleased that Chris Dodd is leading our team. His vast experience in consensus-building and innovative approaches to resolving complex issues make him the ideal choice to lead this organization.”

Born in Willimantic, Connecticut, Senator Dodd attended Providence College, served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Dominican Republic, and then received his law degree from the University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law in 1972. He served in the Connecticut National Guard and the U.S. Army Reserves and practiced law in Connecticut before being elected to Congress in 1974. He also served as the General Chairman of the Democratic National Committee during the re-election campaign of President William J. Clinton in 1995-1996. Senator Dodd and his wife, Jackie Clegg Dodd, have two daughters, Grace and Christina.

Source: MPAA.org

The LA Times is reporting that the MPAA has overturned the rating for the Ryan Gosling-Michelle Williams romantic drama “Blue Valentine,” downgrading the movie from an NC-17 to an R.

A controversial sex scene that initially landed the film the NC-17 rating will not be changed.

The decision — which comes as a result of an appeal by distributor the Weinstein Co. — means that the movie can now be released to a broad array of theaters when it opens Dec. 31, and that it can be seen by people under age 17 if they are accompanied by an adult.

The Weinstein Co. cofound Harvey Weinstein and counsel Alan Friedman both presented their case in front of a 14-member board Wednesday. Gosling said last week that he had hoped to attend the appeal hearing but that he wouldn’t be able to make it because of scheduling commitments.

The film had initialy been given the strict rating because of what the Weinstein Co. said was a scene in which Gosling’s character performs oral sex on Williams’ character. The studio and director Derek Cianfrance had argued for several weeks that the scene was integral in showing the development of the couple’s relationship and that, without any nudity, it was not exploitative or gratuitous.

The MPAA said the “Blue Valentine” case marks the sixth time this year that a film’s rating has been appealed. Traditionally, the MPAA and its Classification and Rating Administration win the appeals, forcing studios either to alter their movies or live with more severe ratings.

The decision, then, marks a victory for the voluble Weinstein and avoids a potentially thorny situation in which he either would have been forced to back down and cut the scene or release the film as an NC-17, which would have limited its distribution and marketing opportunities.

The ruling comes after several weeks of media campaigning by Harvey Weinstein — a campaign that culminated in a special screening Saturday inviting members of the Hollywood community to see the film and weigh in via an online petition. Last week, Cianfrance told The Times that the appeal was a “chance to stand for something,” citing what he believed was a “form of censorship” on the MPAA’s part.

He also said he couldn’t see any way the scene could be altered without undermining the point of his movie. “Cutting the scene would have been cutting into the heart of the film,” he said.

Here’s the trailer.

Source: LA Times

The first trailer for BLUE VALENTINE, followed by a clip of the film, comes to us courtesy of Yahoo! Movies.

Earlier on Friday, Deadline.com‘s Mike Fleming reported that BLUE VALENTINE received the ‘kiss of death’ NC-17 rating by the MPAA. SO much for Bob Weinstein’s hopes of a Best Picture nomination, although there’s alot of buzz surrounding Williams’ and Gosling’s performances.

…the NC-17 is an absolute head-scratcher. I’m told the rating was given for a scene in which the characters played by Gosling and Williams try to save their crumbling marriage by spending a night away in a hotel. They get drunk and their problems intensify when he wants to have sex and she doesn’t, but will to get him off her back.

Synopsis:

Blue Valentine is the story of love found and love lost told in past and present moments in time. Flooded with romantic memories of their courtship, Dean and Cindy use one night to try and save their failing marriage. Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams star in this honest portrait of a relationship on the rocks.

From The Weinstein Co., BLUE VALENTINE will be in theaters on December 31, 2010. Visit the film’s official site here, on Facebook here and on Twitter here.

According to producer Frank Marshall over on Twitter:

LAST AIRBENDER will be rated PG…

It was only just yesterday that Paramount (via Marshall on Twitter) moved the film’s release date ahead by one day to Thursday July 1st. The new rating by the MPAA will help M. Night Shyamalan’s film substantially at the box office on the July 4th holiday weekend.  

Attention Firebenders! Visit the film’s Official Site and explore the new featured section for the Fire Nation, loaded with clips and a preview of composer James Newton Howard’s stirring score from the movie. I love the Komodo Rhinos the best! The Fire Nation also has its legion of fans over on Facebook. Check it out.

From Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies, THE LAST AIRBENDER will be in theaters TWO weeks from today on July 1st, 2010!

With word coming out today that ‘District 9,’ the Neill Blomkamp-directed/Peter Jackson-produced, alien invasion drama, would be rated R, I felt it was time to go back and take note of some other alien invasions movies that were for restricted audiences.   Surprisingly, there are very few, and the ones that are even worth noting rank in even fewer numbers than that.

As out-and-out alien invasion films go, PG-13 is a tower when standing next to the anthill made up of all the ones rated R.   The ‘Independence Day’s and the ‘War of the World’s far outnumber the ‘Faculty’s or the ‘Body Snatcher’s.

In fact, look at those two groupings of film.   The PG-13 films are more about world domination.   The R-rated films are of smaller stature, centering on a small group of people during a rather quiet invasion tactic.   The aliens that come in with lazer beams blowing wiping out city after city are, evidently, more kid-friendly than the aliens who choose their targets more selectively.   The adult-oriented alien invasions are the ones where aliens take over the human race one person at a time.

Of course, this is saying nothing to the fact that ‘District 9′ isn’t even your typical alien invasion plot, though, I’m sure, Roland Emmerich’s depiction of this same story would be drastically different.   What we have with ‘District 9′ is more of a subdued story about how humans perceive aliens landing.   There is nothing to indicate from the film’s trailer that, at any time, do the aliens turn their weapons on the human race.   It looks to be more a film about the rights of all intelligent beings than a film about massive fireballs plowing through New York City.

However, those shots from ‘District 9′ of the alien’s massive ship hovering in the sky cannot help but call to mind the monster trend of alien invasions films that ran from the late ’90s to just a few years ago.   The aliens, or the blurry images of what little could be made out of them, look like the CG creatures that could have popped up in the middle of ‘Men in Black.’   For that reason alone, people are surprised today to hear the news of the MPAA’s decision to give the film an R rating.

However, these people seem to only be taking the film’s premise at face value.   ‘District 9′ is a film about so much more than a simple alien invasion or even a simple alien crash landing.   In fact, the whole thing is going to be playing like a documentary about the rights of these aliens and how the people of South Africa, where the aliens are being held as refugees, perceive these creatures.   I’m sure the film is going to be loaded with savage violence against both human and alien alike, as well as real-life dialogue between military and civilians.   This isn’t the kid-friendly military we’ve seen in other alien films.   I don’t think Will Smith is going to be among their ranks screaming out “Darn it all to heck” whenever he gets hurt.   Expect the F bomb to get thrown around in this one.

Something else that may be surprising people about the film’s R rating is Jackson’s name being attached.   Granted, he has become a household name for the casual moviegoer for his more recent works, four films (two if you count ‘Lord of the Rings’ as a whole) that were each rated PG-13.   However, if you look at his record pre-2001, you will see five feature films all rated R, some of them incredibally gory or offensive.   Anyone seen ‘Meet the Feebles’?   That film alone puts Jackson outside the “Walt Disney-esque” category right away.

Of coure, all of this could be moot tomorrow morning if the film decides to shoot for an appeal.   Columbia/Sony also had a film that was briefly rated R earlier this summer, ‘Year One.’   However, that film was re-cut and appealed down to a PG-13.   Some doubted the distributor would even release the film had it stuck with an R.   Most of us will never know for sure, though it is easy to speculate.   Granted, ‘Year One’ cost upwards of $75 million and ‘District 9′s price-tag is around $30 million, so the chances of it keeping its R rating is better than slim.   Of course, last year’s ‘Cloverfield’ had a budget in that similar ballpark, and it shot for a PG-13.   The thought of ‘District 9′ appealing to get a more audience-friendly rating isn’t completely unfathomable.

Here is hoping, however, that the film keeps its R.   Even if that wasn’t the rating they were aiming for initially, there is a satisfactory feeling in going to see something you know isn’t going to be watered down just for the sake of getting into more theaters.   For now, ‘District 9′ is rated R, and, although it might not be the expected rating for a film of this nature, it is very, very welcome.

Word came down yesterday from Universal’s PR department (via Twitter, no less) that Sacha Baron Cohen’s new comedy, ‘Bruno,’ had been granted its R rating for “Pervasive strong and crude sexual content, graphic nudity and language.” This news comes a few weeks after the news that the MPAA had slapped the film with an NC-17.

There is no word yet on how much or what was cut out of the film in order to attain the R rating.Ă‚   However, Coming Soon.net was treated to some new stills from the film.Ă‚   In addition to the one above, we have three more.

Check ‘em out:

‘Bruno’ comes out on July 10th.

Source: Coming Soon

Yeah, that’s right. Ă‚  ’Year One’ was rated R for about a minute and a half until director Harold Ramis and producer Judd Apatow made the appropriate cuts to appease the MPAA. Ă‚  All in all, I’d say this is a good thing. Ă‚  It’s not like the film was going to feel like an R-rated comedy in the least anyway. Ă‚  They may as well go for the bank and make it a little more kid-friendly.

On Tuesday, the MPAA upheld the R rating the film initally got, despite personal appeals by Apatow and Ramis. Ă‚  At first, it seemed like the filmmakers were going to roll with the R, but, today, word came down that they had made the cuts suggested by the ratings board.

‘Year One’ comes out on June 19th.

Source THR

Evidently, Judd Apatow doesn’t have the Spielberg clout when it comes to schmoozing the MPAA on his ratings. Ă‚  Word came down last week that ‘Year One,’ the Apatow-produced, Harold Ramis-directed, caveman comedy starring Jack Black and Michael Cera had acquired an R-rating from the MPAA. Ă‚  This happens more often than you think, but the MPAA generally acquiesces after an appeal or after some minor cuts to the film.

Apatow and Ramis both personally appeared before the MPAA this week to argue against the R-rating. Ă‚  However, the MPAA stood their ground, and Apatow and Ramis are accepting it. Ă‚  ’Year One’ will be released as a R-rated film, the rating being forĂ‚  ”some sexual content and language.”

Now, this is a good thing, and it’s a bad thing if you read between the lines. Ă‚  It’s good that an R-rated comedy is coming out. Ă‚  We’ve had a lot of those over the past couple of years, but filmmakers shouldn’t fear the age-appropriate nature of some of their films. Ă‚  Apatow knows this all too well. Ă‚  His R-rated comedies are making him a ment. Ă‚  So, it’s okay that ‘Year One’ has this rating. Ă‚  It more than likely won’t make any less money than it would have despite.

What isn’t so great about this is the fact that they were clearly trying to get a PG-13 rating attached to the film. Ă‚  That tells me that ‘Year One’ wasn’t a film “going for the R,” it just happened to have enough bad elements to it that made the MPAA think that’s what it deserved.

I guess we’ll see for sure when ‘Year One’ comes out on June 19th.

Source: THR

That above screenshot of the Pizza Hut/’Terminator Salvation’ crossover promotional website reveals quite a bit about the film, doesn’t it?Ă‚   Don’t see it?Ă‚   Take a closer look.

Here:

Still not seeing what I’m seeing? How about now?

That’s right, folks.Ă‚   I guess ‘Terminator Salvation’ is officially the same rating as ‘Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.’Ă‚   We have speculated for months whether McG’s new ‘Terminator’ would be getting the PG-13 treatment or if Warner would actually have some balls when it came to this film.Ă‚   I guess commercialism won out, and it takes Pizza Hut to finally tell us the truth.

Regardless, the trailer for ‘Terminator Salvation’ is such that I am still excited for the film.Ă‚   Even though it’s not going to be a hard R, as we would all like in our ‘Terminator’ film, it still looks like it is going to be dark and serious.Ă‚   It just would be nice to know there were no limits to the film.

Source: Pizza Hut/’Terminator Salvation’ Promitional Site

Word and news about the ‘It’ remake is coming fast and furious.Ă‚   In fact, you can go right here and nominate your own candidates for who should be playing Pennywise the clown.Ă‚   Whoever does end up donning the clown makeup will have to brush up on their vulgarity, seeing as how ‘It’ will be rated R assuming WB is telling the screenwriter on the film the truth.

Dread Central caught up with Dave Kajganich, who is filling script writing duties on the film, and here is what he had to say about his vision on the remake.

“The remake will be set in the mid-1980s and in the present almost equally — mirroring the twenty-odd-year gap King uses in the book — and with a *great* deal of care and attention paid to the backstories of all the characters.”

“I think the real twist here is that my pitch to WB — which they’ve assured me they’re on board for — is that this will not be PG-13. This will be R. Which means we can really honor the book and engage with the traumas (both the paranormal ones and those they deal with at home and school) that these character endure.”

“I plan to be very protective of the book.Ă‚   The reality, though, is that WB wants to do this as a single film, so I will have to kill a few darlings to make that happen. You have my promise, though, that I will do this with the utmost humility and respect for King’s work. He’s the King, after all, and I intend to continue to pledge to him my allegiance.”

So, there you have it, straight from the screenwriter’s mouth.Ă‚   ‘It’ will be rated R.Ă‚   Judging by what Kajganich had to say above and knowing the novel pretty well, this could easily be one scary-as-hell horror film.

Source: Dread Central

‘Bruno’ was destined to get the NC-17 treatment, so now the fighting begins. Here are some of the reasons it was slapped with the NC17 rating:

Among the objectionable scenes is one in which Bruno — a gay Austrian fashionista played by Baron Cohen — appears to have anal sex with a man on camera. In another, the actor goes on a hunting trip and sneaks naked into the tent of one of the fellow hunters, an unsuspecting non-actor.

Wow, that sounds like the exact same thing ‘Borat’ did, except this time he has a different name and different accent. How original..thanks to /film for the heads up!

The MPAA releases their batch of film ratings weekly, and there was an interesting surprise in this weeks group. Ă‚  They have given ‘Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince’ a PG-rating. Ă‚  Now, granted, the first three ‘Harry Potter’ films were rated PG, but, then, the next two went up to a PG-13. Ă‚  Because of their darker nature, the MPAA felt that ‘Goblet of Fire’ and ‘Order of the Phoenix’ were not appropriate for children of all ages.

This is unusual since most franchises that go up in the ratings tend not to come back down. Ă‚  Usually, a sequel to a film will be PG-13 when the first one or the first couple were R, but it’s hardly ever been an up and then back down affair as we have here. Ă‚  It will be even stranger, because, having read the novels, I cannot imagine ‘Deathly Hallows’ getting a PG.

I can’t imagine Warner Bros. was pushing for a PG-rating due to box office. Ă‚  Four of the last five ‘Harry Potter’ films have grossed over $250 million domestic, and the one, odd man out, ‘Prisoner of Azkaban’ made $249.5. Ă‚  On a side note, it does suck that the best film of the series also made the least amount of money.

What do you think? Ă‚  Was Warner Bros. pushing the film to get a PG-rating? Ă‚  Did it just work out that way? Ă‚  Will the ‘Deathly Hallows’ take the franchise back up into the PG-13 territory? Ă‚  Let us know by commenting below!

Source: Film Ratings

As if this movie hasnt faced enough problems now people are refusing to run ad’s for it because of the word “Porno” in the title. This is completely ridiculous! I think the general public just has some type of agenda with Kevin Smith and it really makes no sense. If you dont like his movies, dont go see them but dont try and make it so other people dont know about the damn movie!

The city of Philadelphia refused “Zack and Miri†ť posters at bus stops. Similar posters at Boston bus stops have drawn complaints from a child-development expert who said they are inappropriate for children.

Smith found it ironic that the posters have been a problem. Some playfully risque ads with images of “Zack and Miri†ť stars Seth Rogen and Elizabeth Banks were forbidden by the Motion Picture Association of America, which called the ads “highly sexually suggestive and not suitable for general audiences.†ť

So Weinstein came up with posters using stick figures to represent the actors.

“The whole idea was, our hands were so tied on all previous entries we’d given them that this ad was meant to be the innocuous one that would get approved everywhere,†ť Smith said.

Rina Cutler, Philadelphia deputy mayor for transportation, said the stick-figure posters were cute and clever but unacceptable for bus shelters where schoolchildren would see the word “porno.†ť

“If they want to call the movie `Zack and Miri,’ that’s fine, but Zack and Miri cannot make a porno on my bus shelters,†ť Cutler said.

I honestly just dont understand how people can be so freakin closed minded about this stuff. I doubt that children will start walking up to it asking what the movie is just because it has stick figures. If this is all a problem maybe they should just shorten it to ‘Zack and Miri’?

That’s right boys and girls, despite rumored to get a PG-13 rating, ‘Punisher: Warzone’ officially snagged an ‘R’ rating by the MPAA for pervasive strong brutal violence, language and some drug use.

Here is a screenshot for you people that like to see it for yourself, and the link.

Despite Kevin Smith’s recent win in the battle against the MPAA for an R-rating instead of an NC-17, the “unfriendly, over-protective” ratings board is now giving Smith grief over his marketing of the movie. The above poster, set to hit the streets on October 31, will now only be visible in Canada because the MPAA doesn’t like what they see and feel it’s too much. Blow me, MPAA!

“I’ve always loved Canada and Canadians for giving us hockey,” says Smith. “Now, I love ‘em just a little bit more. For allowing tufts of hair.” — Kevin Smith during an interview with EW.com

Samuel L. Jackson has played some outstanding characters in the past: Shaft, Mace Windu and Nick Fury. Now he is trying on the voice of the people. In a recent interview with shobizspy, Jackson voiced his opinion on PG films containing strippers. Jackson said” Strippers who don’t strip..suck!”He was referencing a scene in his new film ‘Lakeview Terrace’ that has a bachelor party with three ladies who dance but remain fully clothed. Jackson added, “But this is a PG movie (actually PG-13 Sam), so there aren’t any titties. We have three strippers at this party but none of them takes their top off.” Jackson went on to add “How does that work? I’m like, come on! You could show the girl from the back, with her back bare. At least it gives a sense that she was naked. You can’t just show them in their bras and panties. You have forty drunken cops in a houseĂ‚  with three strippers? And nobody is naked? I don’t f***ing think so!†ť . My thoughts exactly!!!! Ă‚  Samuel L. Jackson …Voice of the People, well at least this geek. If you have a stripper, sex scene or streaker and you have full frontal..it’s an R, but if you need the PG rating for the studio have the back-door camera shoot from behind and squeak out the PG-13 rating.Ă‚  No more bikini beach parties. Ă‚  And before you women out there start waving signs, let me remind you about Eastern Promises and ‘Forgeting Sarah Marshall’… Viggo and Jason had their prize possessions hanging out for the world to see..so the same rules apply to the guys. ‘Lakeview Terrace’ actually shows a few butts in it,Ă‚  Sam just failed to comment on that.

The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) announced Monday the arrest of 461 alleged movie pirates – 56 caught using a camcorder in a theater – during a three-month period ending in July. [via Wired]

The announcement, which also said 1,000 optical disc burners were seized, could not be independently verified in what the MPAA is calling “Operation Takedown” – a law enforcement effort conducted jointly with local authorities and MPAA investigators.

The operation included the countries of China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand and Korea.

The MPAA said cinema workers in Thailand were now using night-vision goggles to crack down on piracy. It said Hollywood’s lobbying arm also “conducted training for cinema staff to identify camcorders and prepped enforcement officers with basic knowledge of copyright law and to identify pirated products all around Asia.”

Among the highlights, according to the MPAA: more than 4 million pirated discs seized in China, 182 burners seized in Malaysia, 39 camcorder “interdictions” in the Philippines, 548 burners seized in Taiwan, 110 people arrested in Thailand and more than 530,000 infringing files removed from the internet in Korea.

I believe ‘Dark Knight’ is one of many movies floating around on the net for the viewing pleasure.

IF YOU MESS WITH THE MPAA…..

YOU ARE GOING TO PRISON SUCKA!

Today is the day that Kevin Smith will be taking ‘Zack and Miri’ to the MPAA to appeal his twice rated ‘NC-17′. Now it seems the ‘X’ on the advertising logo seems pretty accurate.

Smith is obligated by contract to make the cuts to get it to an ‘R’ rating so if the MPAA sticks to their guns about the certain scenes that are bothering them, then he will have to cut them out. Rest assured we will get to see them on DVD, so all wont be lost if this is the case. I just wish people could accept the fact that some movies are meant to be NC-17, and to cut them down to make it an R rating just changes the movie. Cutting a couple of scenes out doesn’t change the fact that kids should not be seeing this movie. I am calling a bullshit on the MPAA.

According to News Askew Kevin Smith and Scott Mosier will sit down with the MPAA, watch “Zack and Miri Make a Porno” and then argue/defend why their movies should get a R rating. Kevin has already made cuts to the movie and I hope he doesn’t have to make anymore. Scott(Mr. Movie Geek) and others have wondered how the donkey scene and all the dirty talk of going @$$ to mouth only got a R for “Clerks 2″ I loves me some Kevin Smith but even those 2 items made me quite uncomfortable. So this weekend while you are out and about keep in mind Kevin and Scott will be fighting for you and for your cinematic enjoyment!

Also check out the Zack and Miri site for some cool pics and a screen shot from “Entertainment Weekly” that has a small tid bit o’ dialogue.