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| Darren Aronofsky's Noah falls foul of censors in Malaysia | Darren Aronofsky's Noah falls foul of censors in Malaysia |
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| Biblical epic Noah has been banned in Malaysia after Darren Aronofsky's film was deemed to be in violation of Islamic law. | Biblical epic Noah has been banned in Malaysia after Darren Aronofsky's film was deemed to be in violation of Islamic law. |
| The Malaysian Sun says that censors outlawed screenings to avoid causing offence to the country's majority Muslim population. Noah has already been banned in a number of Islamic countries, including Indonesia, Qatar, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, over concerns that its depiction of a prophet runs contrary to religious law. | The Malaysian Sun says that censors outlawed screenings to avoid causing offence to the country's majority Muslim population. Noah has already been banned in a number of Islamic countries, including Indonesia, Qatar, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, over concerns that its depiction of a prophet runs contrary to religious law. |
| "The movie is banned because for us Muslims, we believe in Prophet Noah (Nabi Nuh) and, according to Islamic teachings, it is prohibited to act out any characters of a prophet," chief censor Abdul Hamid told the Sun Daily. "Any depiction of any prophet is prohibited in Islam." | "The movie is banned because for us Muslims, we believe in Prophet Noah (Nabi Nuh) and, according to Islamic teachings, it is prohibited to act out any characters of a prophet," chief censor Abdul Hamid told the Sun Daily. "Any depiction of any prophet is prohibited in Islam." |
| Malaysia has a population of 30 million, 61 per cent of whom are Muslims. Indonesia is the world's most populous Muslim nation with a population of 237 million. | Malaysia has a population of 30 million, 61 per cent of whom are Muslims. Indonesia is the world's most populous Muslim nation with a population of 237 million. |
| Noah also caused controversy prior to its US release. US fundamentalist Christian groups were reportedly dismayed at Aronofsky's decision to produce a loose adaptation of the Bible story rather than a literal retelling. The studio Paramount later issued a statement making clear that the movie is not intended as a direct translation. | Noah also caused controversy prior to its US release. US fundamentalist Christian groups were reportedly dismayed at Aronofsky's decision to produce a loose adaptation of the Bible story rather than a literal retelling. The studio Paramount later issued a statement making clear that the movie is not intended as a direct translation. |
| The film, which stars Russell Crowe as the antediluvian patriarch, has nevertheless performed superbly at the US box office since opening on 28 March. It opened at No 1 in North America and has so far taken $178m worldwide. | The film, which stars Russell Crowe as the antediluvian patriarch, has nevertheless performed superbly at the US box office since opening on 28 March. It opened at No 1 in North America and has so far taken $178m worldwide. |
| Also starring Jennifer Connelly, Emma Watson and Ray Winstone, Noah debuted in the UK on Friday to decent reviews. | Also starring Jennifer Connelly, Emma Watson and Ray Winstone, Noah debuted in the UK on Friday to decent reviews. |
| The Guardian's Peter Bradhsaw labelled it a "big, muscular movie", while the Observer's film critic Mark Kermode said it was a "preposterous but endearingly unhinged epic". | The Guardian's Peter Bradhsaw labelled it a "big, muscular movie", while the Observer's film critic Mark Kermode said it was a "preposterous but endearingly unhinged epic". |