NationStates Jolt Archive


Fictional character in alternative reality threatens Chinese regime and is offensive!

Zarakon
12-06-2007, 15:26
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6744245.stm

China censors 'cut' Pirates film

Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End has been censored for Chinese cinema audiences, according to trade magazine Variety.

Some scenes with Hong Kong actor Chow Yun-fat - who plays Singapore pirate Captain Sao Feng - have been trimmed.

Variety quoted local media reports that said the cuts included Chow's recitation of a poem in Cantonese.

A Disney spokesman told Variety that audiences would see a Chinese version of the film.

He added there had been cuts, but did not elaborate.

Violence

On Chinese web forums, many people have criticised the film's image of Chow's character - who is bald, has long nails and is dressed in Qing dynasty style.

They have said it is the image of the Chinese in the eyes of Hollywood producers.

China Film Group, which distributes the film, initially said it had made no cuts, then declined to comment on a Beijing News report that it had cut scenes involving too much violence and horror, Variety said.

The report said the cuts make the film difficult to follow.

"The sudden debut of the captain confused the audience at the Beijing screening," the report said.

Variety reported that the cuts included Chow's reading of a poem by Tang dynasty poet Li Bai (701-762) called Guan Shan Yue (The Moon Shining Over the Mountain on the Border).

The previous instalment in the film franchise, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest was banned by the Chinese film bureau because of scenes of cannibalism and ghosts.

Censors the Film Bureau of the State Administration of Film, Radio and Television were unavailable for comment.


This seems kind of...Well, lame is definitely the term I'd use. What's up with cutting out the poem? Does it say "Mao sucked my cock" in Cantonese or something?

And when did Dead Man's Chest have cannibalism in it? And I don't think I remember ghosts, either...
The Whitemane Gryphons
12-06-2007, 15:28
Oh, yeah. That's a real horrible Hollywood stereotype to have. Sinister looking mystery-man who can either get up and put his hand through your ribcage or else kill you with a powerful curse.

MAYBE THESE CHINESE SHOULD SEE HOW CANADIANS ARE PORTRAYED IN AMERICAN MOVIES.
Philosopy
12-06-2007, 15:29
The report said the cuts make the film difficult to follow

Well, in fairness, it wasn't exactly Shakespeare to begin with.
Zarakon
12-06-2007, 15:30
Well, in fairness, it wasn't exactly Shakespeare to begin with.

Yeah, I thought about saying something along those lines in the OP, but decided it was a little to easy.
The Ivory Jaguar
12-06-2007, 15:31
Not sure about the ghosts, but the cannibalism, while never blatant was strongly implied during that whole thing on the island. I think Sparrow had a finger on a string around his neck and bit it at some point...

Edit: And the character isn't Chinese, he's Signaporian, which I'm fairly certain are different...
Kryozerkia
12-06-2007, 15:31
Oh, yeah. That's a real horrible Hollywood stereotype to have. Sinister looking mystery-man who can either get up and put his hand through your ribcage or else kill you with a powerful curse.

MAYBE THESE CHINESE SHOULD SEE HOW CANADIANS ARE PORTRAYED IN AMERICAN MOVIES.

They make us look like a bunch of fucking hosers who drink Labatt and wearing those god-awful Kenora dinner jackets and every other word is 'eh'.
Rambhutan
12-06-2007, 15:34
Banning a film because it has ghosts in it, I suppose it is quite hard for 1,300 million people to hide behind the sofa.
The Ivory Jaguar
12-06-2007, 15:37
Also, I'm not really sure I'd call PotC an alternative reality. More like the willful suspension of reality.
Zarakon
12-06-2007, 15:37
I watched a French (I think...) cartoon one time where the statue of liberty was holding up a giant hamburger and every American character (Well....not really characters, as I remember, all the Americans were extras) were either grotesquely overweight or freakishly emaciated.

Man, you don't see me bitching about how people make Americans look.

And no, a clever response to this post would NOT be "But that's the way you guys are!". In fact, no only would it not be clever, it would unbelievably stupid and ignorant.
The Whitemane Gryphons
12-06-2007, 15:37
They make us look like a bunch of fucking hosers who drink Labatt and wearing those god-awful Kenora dinner jackets and every other word is 'eh'.

Oh, god, I know, eh?
Zarakon
12-06-2007, 15:39
Also, I'm not really sure I'd call PotC an alternative reality. More like the willful suspension of reality.

I use "alternative reality" to describe a setting that's similar to a real place during a real time, but with some differences. The setting of Fullmetal Alchemist, for example.
New Anonia
12-06-2007, 15:40
To anyone surprised by this: what the hell did you expect?
Rambhutan
12-06-2007, 15:42
To anyone surprised by this: what the hell did you expect?

The Spanish Inquisition
Zarakon
12-06-2007, 15:42
To anyone surprised by this: what the hell did you expect?

I don't know, that movie's plot probably violated some indecency statutes.
Zarakon
12-06-2007, 15:43
The Spanish Inquisition

But...but...NO ONE EXPECTS THE SPANISH INQUISITION!
Allanea
12-06-2007, 15:53
Anybody has any doubt about China anymore?

Just in case anybody in the Chinese governemnt reads this:

You are ignorant, intolerant, communist fucks, even though you have some token capitalist measures. However, your countrymen are getting richer by the second. Eventually, you will become an obstacle to the developement of the nation's wealth. And then, the multitude of new bourgeois Chinese that are now emerging will destroy you. You are fucked.

Have a nice day, Anonymous Chinese Censor Dude.