Egypt bans "too religious" Matrix ~ BBC News 11 June 2003

Global blockbuster The Matrix Reloaded has been banned in Egypt because of its "violent" content and because it tackles "religious themes". The country's censorship board said the film's storyline, about the search for the creator and control of the human race, may cause "crises". Violent scenes also had the potential to "harm social peace", a statement said.

The country's most senior film committee, made up of 15 critics, academics, writers and psychologists, watched the sequel on Monday. A statement said: "Despite the high technology and fabulous effects of the movie, it explicitly handles the issue of existence and creation, which are related to the three divine religions, which we all respect and believe in."

The movie "tackles the issue of the creator and his creations, searching the origin of creation and the issue of compulsion and free will," it said. "Such religious issues, raised in previous times, caused crises. Violence also played a part in the decision", the committee said. "Screening the movie may cause troubles and harm social peace," according to the statement.

One Egyptian critic, Wael Abdel Fatah, said: "The press launched a campaign to stop showing the movie, saying that it reflects Zionist ideas, and promotes Jewish and Zionist beliefs."

Yong sez: No comment.