Evolution Reference Hurts Volcano Film

16 minutes ago Movies - AP

CHARLESTON, S.C. - IMAX theaters in several Southern cities have decided not to show a film on volcanoes out of concern that its references to evolution might offend those with fundamental religious beliefs.

"We've got to pick a film that's going to sell in our area. If it's not going to sell, we're not going to take it," said Lisa Buzzelli, director of an IMAX theater in Charleston that is not showing the movie. "Many people here believe in creationism, not evolution."

The film, "Volcanoes of the Deep Sea," makes a connection between human DNA and microbes inside undersea volcanoes.

Buzzelli doesn't rule out showing the movie in the future.

IMAX theaters in Texas, Georgia and the Carolinas have declined to show the film, said Pietro Serapiglia, who handles distribution for Stephen Low, the film's Montreal-based director and producer.

"I find it's only in the South," Serapiglia said.

Critics worry screening out films that mention evolution will discourage the production of others in the future.

"It's going to restrain the creative approach by directors who refer to evolution," said Joe DeAmicis, vice president for marketing at the California Science Center in Los Angeles and a former director of an IMAX theater. "References to evolution will be dropped."


DHR - I am speachless.

honestly i think that they're vastly underestimating their audience. Aren't the IMAX theatres usually at the Science Museum anyway?

Our country simply cannot afford to allow the creativity of IMAX directors to be stifled!

I don't know if any of you know this. But Jesus fucking HATES volcanoes.


Seriously. "I know him. And he does".

It always starts small.

People are going nuts, I tell you.

Must be something Bush, Inc. is putting in the water.

fp

I think about creating stuff sometimes, but it passes. I'd suck at the God thing.

I thought IMAX was those really BIG screens.

Yeah I don't think that Conservative Christians are rocking on over to Fernbank (Science Museum in the ATL) that often. But there is a IMAX at the Mall of GA.

"Jesus hates Volcanoes, but loves the fucking GAP!"

Exactly. This seems more like an excuse for self-censorship to me.

those who forget the past are doomed to repeat the scopes trial.

Yes, and it seems to be getting worse.

Good Gawd...cue the banjo music.

Hee Haw!!!! That der is fuuuuuny. So is our market economy, unless I'm reading the original post wrong.

By the way, is that the same sort of apple that hit Newton, or is it a stronger, more fit apple that's managed to survive? Kinda hard for me to tell from the cartoon. Plus I'm online at The Gap and their monitors are crap.

yeah, you know more about this than i do: would people in your area that would be interested in an IMAX movie about volcanoes be offended by mentions of similarities between microbial and human DNA? i just feel like even the most profoundly christian volcano-enthusiast would see that as "hey, neat" and not feel like it ran contradictory to the whole of his spirituality. i just can't conceive that it would really be an issue. would it?

I feel that theatres on the coasts and the Northeast should have pulled Passion of the Christ as it offended my atheistic beliefs, or lack of beliefs as it were...

you lack atheistic beliefs?

All the theaters in my area refused to show F9/11, but had no problem playing Passion of the Christ.

Its not so much believing in something as a lack of belief in anything.

No, chase, I don't see it as an issue and I really don't see the problem. I'd like to see the thing, and I'm in the South (DEEP). Matter of fact, I'd like to see this and I've never laid eyes on Joe Vs. The Volcano. Give us Southerners the benefit of the doubt just once.

that's what i was saying. if the supposed audience is volcanophiles in charleston then they can probably hold two ideas in a head at once. maybe it would be different if it was a movie about christianity and then they stuck some volcanoes in it.

Got that, but I always thought that was agnosticism whereas atheism was a firm belief that a higher power doesn't exist.

Yeah, I was asking for the general population to give us the benefit of the doubt. not you. I got your drift and agree.