Censorship - WTF?

[CerberusIV]

British Airways being "sensitive".

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/film/3389357.stm

British Airways has cut a mention of the 11 September attacks from their in-flight version of romantic comedy Love Actually because it may upset viewers.
The airline has removed a line in which Hugh Grant talks about the "messages of love" in calls from the doomed planes.

A BA spokeswoman said they made the edit "because of the extremity" of the events of 11 September, and said their cut did not detract from the film.

Producer Duncan Kenworthy reportedly called the decision "ludicrous".

The offending line comes at the start of the film, when Hugh Grant talks about the love shown at airport terminals in a voice-over.

'Terrible events'

"When the planes hit the Twin Towers, as far as I know, none of the phone calls from the people on board were messages of hate or revenge.

"They were messages of love."

The BA spokeswoman told BBC News Online: "We have done a very small edit to the beginning of the film.

"It was felt that it was justified given the terrible events of the day."

But Mr Kenworthy told the Sunday Telegraph: "If it's OK to watch on American television it should be available for viewing on airlines."

He added he was "contractually obliged" to deliver a version that was acceptable to the airlines.

So airlines are starting to pretend 9/11 never happened in case it upsets the passengers? What next - Holocaust denial?

[Sarxis]

I think many would agree that anything that reminds flyers of terrorists highjacking and crashing airliners is not a good thing; at least while they are in the air.

[-Jrabbit]

Then don't play the movie.

BritAir =

[DaShi]

This is a start in the right direction. Next, get rid of all of Hugh Grant's line, then get rid of Hugh Grant.

[Whaleboy]

As much as my love of free speech is potent and causes me to despise this decision of BA, my hatred of Hugh Grant is all consuming and gives me the great desire to head to the cinema with a hunting rifle.

[The Andy-Man]

well, the movie seems so bad I am sure that the passangers won't mind it being a little bit shorter. Hell, they wouldn't mind if the fist 90mins were cut.

[Snotty]

Just loop the bit with the guy from 'my family' in it.

[-Jrabbit]

Summary of this thread --

Censor 9/11 references? NO WAY.
Censor Hugh Grant? TOTALLY.

[Hueij]

They did the same thing with Rain Man even before 9-11.

[Tingkai]

Originally posted by -Jrabbit
Then don't play the movie.

Please! I got drag to that movie by a woman I'm trying to sleep with and it was the worst piece of crap from Britain that I've seen in years. The weird thing is that it was also depressing. The only bits that were solid was where a guy was depressed about his wife who just died and a woman who finds out her husband is having an affair. The "feel good" sh!t was completely unbelievable. And Hugh Grant was naturally crap.

The only redeeming value was that I did sleep with the women. But to be honest, I don't know if it was really worth sitting through the movie.

[Tattila the Hun]

Reminds me of AIRPLANE!, the movie, where they show footage of test crashes as in-flight movies.

[Japher]

Censorship is just wrong. People should say whatever the **** they want to say, no matter where or when...

Edit: Hey!!! What the ****, what is this ****!!! Am I being sensored

[The Viceroy]

Actually, I think you'll find that ALL inflight movies are cut !!! and all airlines pick on bad aircraft experiences if they can not just British Airways.

The most important thing for BA is the safety of its passengers, and although you may not believe it, some passengers really cannot handle such matters, you only have to look at the decline in American passengers since 9/11 ..

I don't think BA is denying 9/11 at all, and as an employee, I can tell you its seen this company turn upsidedown .. I just don't think they want to take the risk of upsetting some people ..

If you want to see the reference to 9/11 .. take the movie out

[CerberusIV]

I posted the story because I find it kind of depressing that there are people who have to ignore that fact that they may just possibly not reach their destination when they get on an aircraft. The same people that think policemen on the beat cuts crime, the NHS can be saved by politicians and never stop to wonder how we got into this mess in the first place I suppose.

Presumably also the same people who are sufficiently brain dead to be able to sit through a movie featuring Hugh Grant.

[The Viceroy]

ha ha ha .. yes. . your not wrong about people who watch Hugh Grant films

At the end of the day though,all people are passengers, and we have to cater for them .. shame we can't have an option for "Weak of mind version", "uncut directors full blood version".

let the passengers choose I say .. I'll pop it in the sugestion box. . and see what happens