THE GREAT RAID - MOVIE BOSSES PLAN TO APPEAL RESTRICTIVE RATING

Bosses at movie studio Miramax plan to appeal the restrictive R rating given to its World War II film THE GREAT RAID in the US.

The movie, about the rescue of American prisoners from a Japanese war camp in the Philippines in 1945, received its rating - which requires under 17s to be accompanied by an adult guardian - because of "strong war violence" as well as "brief language".

Director JOHN DAHL says, "The only way to capitalise on the historical importance of the film is to make is accessible to young people, which will only be successful if the (Motion Picture Association Of America) allows us to reach them."