Ad featuring Angelina Jolie ordered off UK TV (AP)

[TWiley]

Ad featuring Angelina Jolie ordered off UK TV (AP)

LONDON - A TV ad showing actress Angelina Jolie firing weapons must not be shown because it could be seen as condoning gun violence , Britain's advertising watchdog said Wednesday.

The Advertising Standards Authority said the ad for the DVD version of Universal Pictures' 2008 action flick "Wanted" breached ad codes and should not be broadcast.

The film follows the initiation of an office drudge Wesley Gibson (played by James McAvoy ) into a mythical group of super-powered assassins. The ad for the DVD release shows McAvoy and co-star Jolie wielding pistols, a shotgun, and generally spraying scene after scene with bullets.

The authority said the ad — which juxtaposes images of gun violence with Jolie showing off her bare back — "could be seen to condone violence by glorifying or glamorizing the use of guns."

It was unclear what practical effect, if any, the ruling would have. The "Wanted" DVD was released in Britain nearly six months ago.

The advertising authority has no power to enforce its writ, but it can refer advertisers to Britain's Office of Fair Trading for legal action.

Universal did not immediately return an e-mail Wednesday seeking reaction to the authority's ruling.

The ruling underlined Britain's sensitivity to gun crime.

There were 59 firearm-related homicides in England and Wales in 2006-2007, compared to the more than 10,000 gun-related killings reported by the FBI in the United States in 2007.

But public concern was heightened in Britain after the shooting death of an 11-year-old boy in 2007. The murder drew national attention and prompted much soul-searching over whether the country's already strict gun control laws were tough enough.

Story Here: http://movies.yahoo.com/news/movies.ap.org/ad-featuring-angelina-jolie-ordered-off-uk-tv-ap


With only 59 firearm-related homicides in England AND Wales in 2006 - 2007 compared to 10,000 reported by the FBI in the United States, maybe we should form a commission to study their success.

[RaleighNCDUer]

1. While it might seem reasonable for the ad to not display gun violence -

I really don't see how it is possible to advertise that particular film any other way. Really.

[rvablue]

2. Good, I'm glad someone finally checked her on her hypocrisy...

she runs around the world for the UN bringing attention to the evils of war and violence and then flies back to Hollywood to strap on her guns and shoot everything that moves for millions upon millions of dollars. It's only pretend, right? So what could be the harm in that?

Well, years after they are made, those movies end up on DVD in developing, poor countries where they are viewed by young men worldwide and have a very negative influence of both trivializing the effects of deadly violence while glamorizing it.

She's a hypocrite and I'm glad someone called her on it.

[Fumesucker]

3. Who in life is not a hypocrite?

Hypocrisy is not a binary condition, it is one of infinite gradations.

IMO, we are all hypocrites to one extent or another, no one is perfect.