New York, NY -- An Italian-American group is ready to sink an upcoming animated movie from Dreamworks which depicts a Mafia-like band of underwater sharks.

"Sharkslayer" features the voices of Mob movie veterans like Robert DeNiro and "Sopranos" star James Gandolfini who play characters with Italian-sounding names like "Don Lino."

Members of the Italic Institute of America are worried the final product will give kids the impression that all Italian-Americans are Mafia thugs.

Institute Chairman John Mancini says the Mob stereotype is unfounded and "a gimmick" which gets people into theaters.

In September, the Institute shot off a letter to Dreamworks head Steven Spielberg, asking how, "...Dreamworks reconciles the story's grossly unfair equation of Italians and organized crime with the sensitivity you reserve for various other ethnic and racial groups?"

Spielberg hasn't responded yet, but Mancini says he hopes his group will get a chance to review the film and prevent any further defamation of Italian-Americans.

Solve puzzles and create your dream aquarium! Search through a dazzling trip down memory lane.

More Weird News From 2003-10-14 The day's offbeat stories from around the world. • 'Great Pumpkin' Tips Scales At Weigh-Off • Signs You Have A Haunted House • Eye Expert Gives The Evil Eye To Novelty Contact Lenses • Italian-American Group Wants To Sink Shark Mafia Movie • Around The Weird: Bizarre News Briefs • Flash Lites: Rip 'N' Read Pop Culture Recap • They Said It -- Do You Believe It? • Yes Guitarist Also Leads Prog Rock Partridge Family • Will 'Pez Pop' Replace Bubble Gum? • 'Soul Train' Host Dorian Gregory Dances To His Own Drummer • Classic Tv Stars Are Real Cards   « Current Weird News Stories