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Entertainment: Cinema
Film studio defends 9/11 trailer
Photo: United 93 is directed by British filmmaker Paul Greengrass. The studio behind 9/11 film United 93 is standing by the film's trailer, despite audience complaints. The film focuses on the fourth hijacked plane which passengers attempted to retake from hijackers before it crashed in Pennsylvania on 11 September 2001. "We expect that some moviegoers will have a strong response to its images and narrative," Universal Studios said in a statement. A New York cinema has pulled the film's trailer after it upset viewers. The trailer, which is being shown on about 3,000 screens across the US, contains documentary footage of the two planes hitting the World Trade Center twin towers in New York on 11 September 2001. The AMC Loews Lincoln Square 12 cinema in Manhattan decided not to show the trailer after customers complained they found it distressing. "I don't think people are ready for this," said manager Kevin Adjodha. The film, which will be launched at New York's Tribeca film festival next month, gives a real-time account of the plane's hijack until its crash 90 minutes later. Universal Studios believes the realistic nature of the trailer is necessary "so that those who elect to see the film will be prepared for the experience".
Photo: United Airlines flight 93 crashed in Shanksville, Pennsylvania Bereaved families: Director Paul Greengrass, whose films include The Bourne Supremacy and Bloody Sunday, worked closely with the bereaved families of victims of the United Airlines flight. "We are very supportive of the film," said Tammie Rosen, publicist for the Tribeca film festival, where the film will debut on 25 April. The film festival was set up by Robert De Niro to help revitalise Manhattan's economy in the wake of the terrorist attacks. Families of the victims will see the film ahead of the premiere, while Universal Pictures has pledged to donate a proportion of the film's earnings to the Flight 93 National Memorial.
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Da Vinci poster taken off church
Photo: The film will be premiered at the Cannes Film Festival on 17 May. Church attacks: Reverend Marco Fibbi, a spokesman for Rome's Vicariate, the Italian capital's church authority, said the poster had been "causing a problem". He said: "This movie is not reputed to be particularly appreciated by ecclesiastic circles." The Vicariate had written to the Ministry, calling for the poster to be removed. The removal of the poster is the latest attack on Dan Brown's work by Catholic Church officials. On Good Friday, the preacher for the papal household denounced theories which he said made huge profits in denying the teachings of the Catholic Church. Catholic group Opus Dei, which is portrayed as murderous and power-crazed in the book, has asked for a disclaimer to be placed on the film. The film, which stars Tom Hanks and Audrey Tautou, is scheduled for release on 19 May. The book has sold more than 40million copies worldwide. 9/11 film opens Tribeca festival The Tribeca film festival, founded by Robert De Niro, opens on Tuesday with the world premiere of a movie about the 11 September terrorist attacks. United 93 is set on the plane which crashed in Pennsylvania after its passengers fought with hijackers. Continues on P. 2 |
A
giant poster promoting The Da Vinci Code film is to be removed from a Rome
church following complaints. The Italian authorities are to take down
the advert, which was put on scaffolding covering the Church of St
Pantaleo while it underwent renovation. The church's rector, Reverend
Adolfo Garcia Duran, said the poster advertised "something that is against
Christ and against the church". The novel claims Christ's bloodline was
covered up by the Catholic Church.
The Interior Ministry, which owns the church and awarded the
renovation contract to an external company, said the poster would be
removed in the next week. The poster, which features a picture of Da
Vinci's Mona Lisa and the film's title, was plastered across the church's
scaffold-covered facade. 
