007 World Too Much For Israel
The new James Bond movie The World Is Not Enough was more than enough for ultra-orthodox Jews in Israel whose religious feelings prompted a touch-up of steamy billboards, promoters said on Wednesday.
Female lead Sophie Marceau's sexy evening dress was repainted with sleeves and instead of leaning against co-star Pierce Brosnan, she was hidden behind the barrel of his gun.
"To my regret, it is forbidden in our country to depict on billboards a girl dressed in a sleeveless top or in any way touching a man," said Ben Kalifi from the Globus Group, the film's promoters in Israel.
"It is unbelievable that in a free country, we are forced to live as if we are in Iran," he said.
American posters for an earlier Bond film were retouched to lengthen hot pants into Bermuda shorts after protests in some parts of the U.S.
The latest Bond film opens in Israel on Thursday at a record 33 cinemas. It has already shot to number one in the ratings in the United States where it opened last weekend, taking $37 million at the box office.
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