Movie Posters Slammed For 'Glamourising' Guns

Two posters advertising an action movie have been slammed by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) for "glamorising" guns and violence.

One of the posters advertising 'Wanted' showed Angelina Jolie holding a gun pointed upwards, and her co-star James McAvoy with a gun in each hand, pointed towards the viewer.

Seventeen complaints were made to the ASA, and of these, seven also objected on the grounds the posters were unsuitable for children.

The second poster featured Jolie draped on a car bonnet, holding a gun, along with some text which read "Six weeks ago I was just like you… and then I met her… and my world was changed forever."

Universal Pictures, the movie studio behind the picture, said the film was based on a comic book, with the adverts reflecting that style. It said the stars were in 'stylised' poses and the posters reflected this.

However, the ASA ruled the posters were unsuitable to be seen by children, and glorified violence.

In a ruling, the ASA said: "We acknowledged most viewers would understand the posters reflected the content of an action film.

"However, we considered, that because the ads featured a glamorous actress, action poses, several images of or related to guns and aspirational text, they could be seen to glamourise the use of guns and violence."

(JM)