Release from Associated Press last Friday 20 Oct 2006:
The movie stars Simon Yam, Anthony Wong, Richie Jen and Francis Ng.KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia -- Malaysia has banned Hong Kong director Johnnie To's new triad movie, "Exiled" citing excessive violence, a news report said Friday.
The movie, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival last month, was originally scheduled for release in cinemas here Thursday, but failed to get the nod from the censorship board as it was deemed to contain excessive violence, The Star newspaper said.
The report didn't give details. No one at the censorship board could be immediately reached for comment.
The movie is set in Macau -- a Chinese gambling haven near Hong Kong -- in 1998, and focuses on two hit men from Hong Kong sent to take out a renegade gang member who's trying to change from a life of crime.
Movies screened in Malaysia must abide by a censorship code that forbids sex, excessive violence and provocative handling of topics such as race and religion.
Banned films have included Steven Spielberg's Holocaust film "Schindler's List" and "The Prince of Egypt," a 1998 animated epic about Moses.
1 comment:
Unsurprising, considering that the majority of Johnnie To's thriller/action films are banned. The Mission, Hero Never Dies, PTU etc.'
(the only one I remembered being shown was Breaking News, and the much butchered Election)
Which is a pity, considering that he is, in my opinion, the most versatile and technically amazing Hong Kong director today.
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