Wait, don’t get distracted by the topic of this discussion first because basically it doesn’t play as much of an important role here. Anyway, I’ll get to that later but instead, I would like you to focus on one local made movie called “The Last Communist”. It might sound a little heroic to some as it reflects “The Last Samurai” by Tom Cruise. But in fact, it is a semi-musical which connects to the former head of the Communist Party of Malaya and the movie was banned because its timing was not right to appear in conjunction to some political anniversary and the coming ‘Merdeka’ celebration. For your information, we celebrate our Merdeka on 31st of August and while I'm writing this, it’s May the 25th
Well I'm not in rage because I'm not going to watch that movie anyway, but it makes me really wonder whether movie banning/censoring is truly necessary. With some free time to spend, I found out that
Malaysia has banned quite a number of films which I really don’t think is truly necessary. (Access the list here)
Let me ask a very sincere question. How many times have you accessed the internet this month? Is it lesser than the number of times you went to the cinema? If the internet opens the possibility to access violent, pornographic, politically and religiously sensitive issues, does it mean that we should ban the internet too? Ok, you might think that the internet is not as ‘public’ enough like cinemas where it can be accessed in ‘public’ places by almost anyone. This fact is not wrong if it was ten years ago but now, I believe you should redefine ‘public’ because having an internet access at home means a lot more ‘public’ today. Which is more convenient, browsing at home or queuing at ticket counters?
If you have watched “The Da Vinci Code” you are considered one of a lucky one because firstly, the movie is quite entertaining and secondly, you can't get to watch it if you stay at countries like
Solomon Islands because it was banned. It makes me wondering why our country permits an uncut original version country-wide when (if you still remember) “The Passion of Christ” was banned. Aren’t both discussed religion more religiously as a comparison to our “The Last Communist”? Hmm… is it a different type of discussion, or a different type of religion we are talking about here?
Anyway, let’s move to Kill Bill. If you still remember that you have seen Kill Bill here in
Malaysia, you are only half correct because the first episode was banned but Kill Bill 2 was screened nationwide. Similarly, it happens to ‘Blade’ and ‘Underworld’ too. Why? The sequel didn’t shed much blood? Think again. And since Kill Bill 1 was banned, how many have watched it? And until here I believe you should get the idea of ‘public’ now
Today, it’s not a matter of banning the internet but a matter of whether we will, or will not use it ‘incorrectly’. Similarly, it’s not a matter of banning a movie but whether on we will, or will not watch it. Anyway, I'm wondering whether I will be caught or this material will be banned one day. Anyhow, I respect and appreciate the ‘openness’ of the world wide web.
Access The Da Vinci Talks (Part 1) here
