-

Although James Cameron’s Avatar may continue to sweep the box office and garner stellar word-of-mouth reviews, there remain those who are less than pleased with the visually stunning pic.

While most of the world’s cinemas have released Avatar with a PG-13 rating attached, Fox will be releasing the film in Italy with unrestricted access. Generally, Italy releases movies with one of two restrictions attached: under 14 not admitted, or under 18 not admitted.

The fact that Avatar is making it into theaters sans restrictions on who can see it has Italian parents up in arms. Two different organizations, Moige and AGE, are both protesting the general admission release of the film when it was released in the U.S. with a more restricted admission due to “intense epic battle sequences and warfare, sensuality, language and some smoking.”

Moige, an organization for parents, argues that the film’s rating should be increased, saying that even President Obama complied with the film’s PG-13 rating and accompanied his daughters—both under age 13—to see Avatar. According to the group, this suggests that Italy’s rating system “represents a discrimination against the protection of Italian children.”

The children’s advocacy organization AGE also argues that Italy should change its rating system, and adopt a system closer to that used in the U.S.

Avatar is being released on over 900 screens in Italy, which only adds to the distaste the rating has left in the mouths of Italy’s parents.