Comments on: AVATAR (Partially) Banned in China http://www.altfg.com/blog/censorship/avatar-banned-in-china-990/ The Oscars, film awards, new releases, Los Angeles screenings, movie classics, gay movies, film festivals, box office, foreign and independent films Tue, 22 May 2012 06:34:28 +0000 hourly 1 By: Lydia http://www.altfg.com/blog/censorship/avatar-banned-in-china-990/#comment-485918 Lydia Wed, 20 Jan 2010 12:18:10 +0000 http://www.altfg.com/blog/?p=21055#comment-485918 Can the media just report the facts and stop speculating for political ends? If China does intend to ban the film due to political reasons, Avatar wouldn't have been shown in China AT ALL. Quite disgusted by the way the media puts itself in charge of political correctness. Can the media just report the facts and stop speculating for political ends? If China does intend to ban the film due to political reasons, Avatar wouldn’t have been shown in China AT ALL.

Quite disgusted by the way the media puts itself in charge of political correctness.

]]> By: Andre http://www.altfg.com/blog/censorship/avatar-banned-in-china-990/#comment-485894 Andre Tue, 19 Jan 2010 17:40:44 +0000 http://www.altfg.com/blog/?p=21055#comment-485894 Brandon, You make an excellent point -- and I did look for other sources on the matter. The "Los Angeles Times" posted something as well, but the sources seemed to be the same as those for "The Guardian." The only reason I wrote this brief piece is because "The Guardian" had reported it -- and as far as newspapers go, that's a reliable one. But then again, considering that 21st-century China looks more like a capitalist, right-wing dictatorship than a communist one, chances are the issue here is actually $$$. Maybe civil unrest was an afterthought. I'll do some more research on the topic, and if needed, I'll amend the post. Also, as per the "Guardian" piece, China has relatively few 3D/IMAX theaters. That's why it's keeping "Avatar" in those. And that's why the title reads "(partially) banned." Brandon,

You make an excellent point — and I did look for other sources on the matter. The “Los Angeles Times” posted something as well, but the sources seemed to be the same as those for “The Guardian.” The only reason I wrote this brief piece is because “The Guardian” had reported it — and as far as newspapers go, that’s a reliable one.

But then again, considering that 21st-century China looks more like a capitalist, right-wing dictatorship than a communist one, chances are the issue here is actually $$$. Maybe civil unrest was an afterthought. I’ll do some more research on the topic, and if needed, I’ll amend the post.

Also, as per the “Guardian” piece, China has relatively few 3D/IMAX theaters. That’s why it’s keeping “Avatar” in those. And that’s why the title reads “(partially) banned.”

]]> By: Brandon http://www.altfg.com/blog/censorship/avatar-banned-in-china-990/#comment-485893 Brandon Tue, 19 Jan 2010 16:41:17 +0000 http://www.altfg.com/blog/?p=21055#comment-485893 Where is the evidence that the film is "banned"? I have read all the news on this topic in the last 2 days and the closest anyone has gotten (The Guardian) is to say that Hong Kong's "Apple Daily" reported that Beijing's Propaganda Chiefs ordered the film taken off the big screen in China starting January 23. As far as the reasons why, everything I have read has been pure speculation. The Telegraph had a story posted for a while claiming that the reasons were because the film might incite "civil unrest" and that it was garnering too much profits -- but then that article was taken down from the Telegraph's website. It would be nice if there was some actual investigative reporting on this subject instead of mere speculation. The speculation seems to be based on reactionary impulses that China would "ban" another movie, but I think "ban" is the wrong word to use here. If they really wanted to "ban" Avatar, they wouldn't have let it be shown in theaters at all. Where is the evidence that the film is “banned”? I have read all the news on this topic in the last 2 days and the closest anyone has gotten (The Guardian) is to say that Hong Kong’s “Apple Daily” reported that Beijing’s Propaganda Chiefs ordered the film taken off the big screen in China starting January 23. As far as the reasons why, everything I have read has been pure speculation. The Telegraph had a story posted for a while claiming that the reasons were because the film might incite “civil unrest” and that it was garnering too much profits — but then that article was taken down from the Telegraph’s website. It would be nice if there was some actual investigative reporting on this subject instead of mere speculation. The speculation seems to be based on reactionary impulses that China would “ban” another movie, but I think “ban” is the wrong word to use here. If they really wanted to “ban” Avatar, they wouldn’t have let it be shown in theaters at all.

]]> By: Lillian http://www.altfg.com/blog/censorship/avatar-banned-in-china-990/#comment-485892 Lillian Tue, 19 Jan 2010 15:06:35 +0000 http://www.altfg.com/blog/?p=21055#comment-485892 The US should put the same restrictions on Chinese films. This is depriving american companies of revenue and is against free trade. Better yet, tax all chinese goods until they change the rule. The US should put the same restrictions on Chinese films. This is depriving american companies of revenue and is against free trade. Better yet, tax all chinese goods until they change the rule.

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