Saudi allows cinema again, but only cartoons

Middle East Times ^ | October 17, 2005

[nickcarraway]

RIYADH -- Some 20 years after public screenings of films were banned, the first cinema will open next month in ultraconservative Saudi Arabia, but showing only cartoons, a source from the firm handling the project said on Sunday.

The cinema will open for women and children at a Riyadh hotel at the Eid Al Fitr feast at the end of the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan on November 2 or 3, said the source who requested anonymity.

The source said that the move was made possible following an agreement with Riyadh municipality.

The pan-Arab Saudi newspaper Al-Hayat said on Sunday that the 1,400-seat cinema will hold three one-hour shows to screen foreign cartoon films dubbed in Arabic every evening. It estimated that more than 50,000 people would visit the cinema during the two-week Eid break.

The paper said that the project was a prelude to the start of real cinema screenings for all in Saudi Arabia, given that cafes in main cities already show films, sports games and video clips on large television sets.

Cinema was once shown in private clubs in Saudi Arabia until all public screenings were banned because they were considered against Islamic law in the early 1980s.

Saudi Arabia is the only country to have banned cinema houses in the Muslim conservative Arab Gulf region.

[WestVirginiaRebel]

Wait until they see Bugs Bunny cross dressing...

[SevenofNine]

OMG rack it ROFL Thanks for laugh DAMN they ban movies I could understand R movies BUT MAN even Cartoons SHEESH

[nickcarraway]

Mohammed Mouse in Steamboat Willie.

[A message]

Lets see, can't drink, can't go to movies, women dressed in burkas.

No wonder these people blow themselves up.

[dighton]

Arabia Felix, oh hell . . .

[Flux Capacitor]

This is a bad idea. Don't they realize how sick and depraved cartoons are?

[Hexenhammer]

Probably not any cartoons starring Porky Pig or Winnie the Pooh's Piglet

[SevenofNine]

Yeah you are right LOL!

Come think of it I hope they don't score the rights of South Park or Matt and Trey be hunted down and hide like Samon Rishdide LOL!

Remember Matt is Jewish or one of SOuth Park guys

[nickcarraway]

But, I've never seen Bugs eating pork.

[Stayingawayfromthedarkside]

Wil they show Aladdin?

[Hank Rearden]

Show the Moos South Park.

[rwilson99]

I have a feeling Wile-E-Coyote will be quite a hit.

[Navy Patriot]

I hope this dosen't end up like Cinema Rex, Abadan.

[F15Eagle]

Should go over with a bang.

And those desert scenes will be popular, too, I should think.

I think "Acme" will be modifed, with an "h" and a "d" added.

Road Runner will be labeled a Zionist conspiracy.

[A message]

I have a feeling Wile-E-Coyote will be quite a hit.

Wile E. Coyote, Super Genius

I like the sound of that.

Chuck Jones on Wile E. Coyote & Road Runner, from Chuck Amuck:

Here were some of the rules we obeyed in the Coyote-Road Runner series:

* Rule 1. The Road Runner cannot harm the Coyote except by going "Beep-Beep!"

* Rule 2. No outside force can harm the Coyote - only his own ineptitude or the failure of the Acme products.

* Rule 3. The Coyote could stop anytime - if he were not a fanatic. (Repeat: "A fanatic is one who redoubles his effort when he has forgotten his aim." - George Santayana)

* Rule 4. No dialogue ever, except "Beep-Beep!"

* Rule 5. The Road Runner must stay on the road - otherwise, logically, he would not be called Road Runner.

* Rule 6. All action must be confined to the natural environment of the two characters - the Southwest American desert.

* Rule 7. All materials, tools, weapons, or mechanical conveniences must be obtained from the Acme Corporation.

* Rule 8. Whenever possible, make gravity the Coyote's greatest enemy.

* Rule 9. The Coyote is always more humiliated than harmed by his failures.

* (Rule 10.) The audience's sympathy must remain with the Coyote.

[Loud Mime]

Hey, here's a french cartoon!

[Sunnyvale CA Eng.]

[Loud Mime]

I have a feeling Wile-E-Coyote will be quite a hit.

Especially if he's wearing a yamaka.....

[Bon mots]

[Bon mots]

Here's one of my favorite Arab themed Bugs Bunny cartoons.
Ali Baba Bunny

Hassan Chop!

[Caipirabob]

Lets see, can't drink, can't go to movies, women dressed in burkas. No wonder these people blow themselves up.

LOL! I think I woke up the whole family laughing at that one!

[E Rocc]

They can start with the Simpsons, then Ren and Stimpy, then South Park, and work up to Hentai >:)

-Eric

[DaveLoneRanger]

I remember watching an old Bugs Bunny cartoon on a "Catholic" television station. At one point, Bugs pops out of his hole while Elmer Fudd's hands are stuck, and snips Elmer's suspenders, causing his pants to fall down and reveal the classic (modest) polka-dot underpants (kind of like long boxers) and corset. Elmer scowls at the camera and says "Don't waff; I'll bet pwenty of you men wear one of dese," yanks the trousers back up (somehow they are fixed instantly) and takes off after Bugs. The strange thing is, the Catholic channel cut the entire scene out. I'd seen the episode before, so it was funny to think of Catholic network executives issuing the directive to cut the shocking scene from the program.

[GladesGuru]

South Park Returns! ! ! !

[RebelBanker]

I wonder if "Team America: World Police" qualifies as a cartoon?

OTOH, how about "Tripping the Rift"?