Egypt Bans Jim Carrey God Flick

Authorities have banned the American film "Bruce Almighty,'' starring Jim Carrey and Morgan Freeman, from being shown here in Egypt, saying it infringes on God's sacredness, the state film censor said Friday.

Madkour Thabit, who heads the state-run censorship body responsible for audio and visual productions, criticized the movie for featuring "actors playing the role of God."

"The name of the movie -- 'Bruce Almighty' -- indicates that there is someone who can do anything and everything," Thabit said in a statement faxed to The Associated Press. "Such traits belong only to God."

Censorship authorities decided Wednesday to ban the film in Egypt. The movie's distributors have the right to complain against the banning.

The 2003 comedy, which also stars Jennifer Aniston, revolves around Carrey's character -- a TV reporter who complains to God for not helping him.

God played by Freeman introduces himself to Carrey's character and gives him a shot at being God for a week.

Thabit said one of the most "dangerous" reservations he had with the movie was the bid by Carrey's character to "write a book for humanity similar to the Holy Bible and the Quran."

"In another scene from the movie, he (Carrey) manages to take a monkey from inside a person, indicating that he is capable of creation, which is only God's domain," Thabit added.

In June, Egyptian censors banned the international box office hit "The Matrix Reloaded" on religious grounds, saying it explicitly challenged the topics of existence and creation.