Chinese politics and censorship (possible spoilers for films / TV)

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kingdragonfly

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#299248 24-Aug-2022 08:36

It's minor, but Chinese censors changed the ending of the Minions movie.

And don't get me started on China and "Winnie the pooh"

CNN: Chinese censors change ending of latest 'Minions' movie

According to posts and screenshots from the movie shared on Weibo, a platform similar to Twitter, censors tacked on an addendum in which [one thief], was caught by police and served 20 years in jail.

[Another thief], "returned to his family" and "his biggest accomplishment is being the father to his three girls," screenshots of the film showed.

[Normally], the film ends with the story's two thief anti-heroes, riding off together after one faked his own death to evade capture by authorities.

Numerous online commentators mocked the addendum, saying it resembled a PowerPoint presentation.
...

kingdragonfly

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#2963546 5-Sep-2022 16:47

CBR: China Tells Hollywood, Respect Chinese Culture or Get Banned

In a rare occurrence, the Chinese Communist Party commented on the tenuous relationship between the Middle Kingdom and Hollywood. The Party's Propaganda Department warned studio execs to respect Chinese culture and values or prepare to have films banned from Chinese theaters.

As reported by Bloomberg, the Communist Party central committee’s publicity department, also known as the Central Propaganda Department, released a statement through its vice minister, Sun Yeli. He said, "We hope the quality of American films can continue to be improved on the basis of respecting our culture, customs and audience behaviors... We will import from whichever countries that make better films and films that are more suitable for the taste of Chinese audience."

Even Superheroes Can't Beat the Censors

These films have, more often than not, had a major controversy attached in the lead up to their premiere dates. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, for example, which was perceived by many to be Disney and Marvel Studios' attempt to further their appeal to Chinese audiences, was hit with controversy shortly before it was scheduled for release. An interview from 2017 resurfaced, featuring star Simu Liu explaining why his family emigrated from Communist China.

Similarly, Eternals was banned shortly before it hit theaters after an old interview with director Chloé Zhao resurfaced in which she described China as "a place where there are lies everywhere." It's believed these films were barred so there would be less competition for the propaganda films theaters were ordered to screen throughout 2021.
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ezbee

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#2963585 5-Sep-2022 18:50

Well , CCP is hardly representative of 'all Chinese' at 6.5%.
Though the ones who decide what 'thought' they should follow are ever smaller.
Seems to be down to 'One Person' to rule them all again.

I can see sequel starting with a sign tacked on saying 20 years since last movie just to hammer point home :-)

I gather.
CCP police have about a 100% conviction record.

Advice seems to be if you fall foul due to say defending yourself in a pub, a car accident,
or even defending a woman being beaten on the street by abusive partner.
If over cup of tea with police they want a large payment, ostensibly to other party.
Pay it, for going to court, and near 100% conviction record, well especially if you are foreigner or even an out of town Chinese...
That Police might be collecting a commission, well better than you in prison...

So end should be,

One Minion gets caught.
Police arrange a 'cup of tea' with aggrieved party.
Minion pays huge 'compensation', a stack larger than his body from a small pocket for humorous effect.
After Minion goes free, aggrieved party gives 'large' red packet with commission to Police.

kingdragonfly

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#3033410 8-Feb-2023 12:31

: Disney removes Simpsons episode in Hong Kong that references Chinese labor camps

A fairly recent episode of The Simpsons that contains a reference to China’s use of forced labor camps has vanished from the Disney Plus streaming service in Hong Kong. First spotted by the Financial Times and later confirmed by Axios, the episode titled “One Angry Lisa” is not available to stream on Disney Plus, even though the rest of The Simpsons’ 34th season is. The episode contains a line critical of the country — “Behold the wonders of China: Bitcoin mines, forced labor camps where children make smartphones.”

Though it is a punchline in The Simpsons, China has been repeatedly criticized by external governments and human rights organizations for allegedly detaining millions of its native Uyghur population and other Muslim minorities in so-called “reeducation centers” in the northwestern Xinjiang region. Those imprisoned in these camps are reportedly subjected to torture such as waterboarding and sexual abuse as part of the Chinese government’s indoctrination programs and are exploited for cheap labor. China has continually denied these allegations.

wellygary

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#3033430 8-Feb-2023 13:40

Meh,

TBH Many countries censor/ban things those in power don't like.. usually its violence and Sex, but politics still rears its head from time to time,

ST:TNG "The High Ground" (1990) was not screened on TV in the UK for 17 years due to a throw away reference to Irish reunification

https://www.cbr.com/star-trek-tng-high-ground-unaired-uk/

ezbee

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#3034078 9-Feb-2023 15:48

Never mention an 'Empty Chair', Tibet, and many other things.

A ‘Simpsons’ Episode Lampooned Chinese Censorship. In Hong Kong, It Vanished.
The episode mocked both Mao Zedong and the government’s efforts to suppress memory of the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre.
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/29/world/asia/simpsons-hk.html

""
There, they visit the embalmed body of Mao Zedong, whom Homer Simpson calls “a little angel that killed 50 million people.” In another scene, the family passes through Tiananmen Square, where a plaque says “On this site, in 1989, nothing happened” — a jab at the Chinese government’s attempts to suppress public memory of the massacre, in which the army opened fire on students and other pro-democracy protesters.
""

The cleansing of Mao's past is very much a pattern Putin is following with cleansing Stalin.

Strangely enough CCP ban's the book 1984, but 1984 sells quite well in Russia for a fairly old once banned book.
My theory, is Russia recognize it as a blueprint for Putin's society.
So they are a bit conflicted about banning such a valuable guidebook.
Suppose they are a bit busy and will get around to it.