China has banned Hollywood movie “The Departed.”
The Departed, based on Hong Kong movie “Infernal Affairs,” was a great blockbuster hit in US. Directed by Martin Scorsese and featured heavyweight stars like Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon and Jack Nicholson etc., the movie already received multiple Golden Globe Awards nomination and is seen as hot favorite for Oscar as well.
It’s said that China film board requested that some part of the movie with sensitive issues (the trading of fire arms etc.) to be edited, but Scorsese refused to do so… and thus lead to the banning.
Looks like it’s going to be a big loss for both the Chinese movie fans and the film distributor.
January 2nd, 2007 at 3:32 am
Is it really a surprise that a regime like the Chinese one can’t stand the slightest critical viewpoint on any of their political methods? Shame on them! It’s “juuuust” a movie, but that regime proves that it may even be the truth!
January 7th, 2007 at 7:06 pm
Well said. Didn’t their government ordain priests without the blessing of the Vatican? Well, to think that they are considered to be an economic power and with booming economy…really wondering what’s the deal???
January 8th, 2007 at 1:27 am
I am not sure about China’s politic development… what I feel that it’s always sucks when politics are mix with entertainment and perhaps cultural issue. Banning the movie won’t stop anything, with the internet nowadays it will just encourage people to do illegal downloading… or even go for pirated copies.
January 10th, 2007 at 3:44 pm
Hey folks, that’s Communism. No surprise. But ya know, I believe China is slowly being forced to loosen up to the point of being Communism in name only.(in the traditional sense anyway) with internet chat rooms so popular in China and Democratic western ways creeping into the population mindset, and China’s burgeoning economy and future looking ahead, Traditional Communism is slowing fading there I believe. They really have no choice. The ball is rolling. JMO :)
January 10th, 2007 at 5:39 pm
Not sure if communism is the right word joe… seeing it from a different perspective it’s hard to say who’s right or wrong, it’s a matter of choice.
January 13th, 2007 at 2:14 am
I understand yur point Yummy. I use the word Communism as a descriptive term of ideas because generally the PRC is regarded as a Communist regime historically. Mao took his socialist cues of from Marx and Lenin.
But regardless, I think the idea I’m presenting here is “censorship” and Chinese government like some other ’sociallists’, ‘communists’ or what ever the acceptable term would be, have traditionally controlled what the people see and hear. I myself know many Chinese who despise the government, it’s policies, and everything it has put the ‘good’ people of China through over the decades in the name of the revolution.
People ultimately want to be able to watch, listen to, think and say out loud in the open without being banned, punished, imprisoned or ridiculed. Especially in this day and age. It’s why so many throughout history have tried to escape repressive goverments as refuges. Yummy Celebrities and Entertainment, as a supporter of the arts and forum for people’s opinions should appreciate that most of all… And once people have had a little taste of freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom to think out loud, or even when they see that others have that freedom, then it’s hard to turn back the wheel.
As China’s government becomes more interactive around the world, it is slowly but surely changing it’s ways towards more individual’s freedoms rather than trying to control the population as a whole. That’s why I say China is fast becomming (in historical descriptive terms) Communist in name only, but not so much in ideology anymore. And I think it’s a good thing for China and it’s people long term. Although there are always going to be old regime people in every goverment who will try to hold back change as long as they can. History has shown change is inevetible.
No offense was meant. I used (as so many do) “Communism” as a historical descriptive term of government ideas and policy only. Hope I’ve clarified myself. :)
January 13th, 2007 at 2:57 pm
I actually agree to China controlling the freedom to an extend. China is a large country, with different people, different culture and different political maturity. If they go for complete freedom the country will be in chaos… India is a classic example of democratic but chaotic country where the rich is getting too rich while the poor suffering too much. I sure hope China won’t fall into that situation… so some control of freedom is a must.
China is changing, it’s inevitable as you said… but in a healthy pace so far. Even though I distaste any banning on movies, but irony thing is my country Malaysia is famous for movies banning as well.
January 14th, 2007 at 2:46 pm
I agree totally Yummy. A democratic society is something that has to be eased into carefully. Especially if people have never known it. Russia was a perfect example. They were’nt really ready for it and were esentially forced into it . Once the people didn’t have the govt telling them what to do, when and how, they were basically lost and went into deep recession and depression. They are still struggling with it.
A place like America practically developed their democratic form of Govt from the ground up so they grew into it. The U.S. Constitution is a document rthat has survived for over 200 years because the people who wrote it basically developed it’s ideas out of their own experience with repression from the King Of England at that time.
But I think China will not suffer the same fate as Russia or even India as you say, because it is a slow developing process which is good, and to China’s credit, it is allowing it’s people to experience some freedoms and exposure to cultures of the free world. Also China is already engaging in more and more trade around the world. I believe China is on the road to good success as a partner in the free world and a future participant in democratic ways for it’s people. The people of China deserve no less.
Even in the arts, despite the banning of that movie, China is slowly allowing it’s creative people more freedom. For example, Chinese movie directors like Zhang Yimou were banned from showing his movies in his own country even 10 to 12 years ago because of some of the messages in his films that were not always pro-government and had to shoot alot of his films in secret. But now with all the international success he is receiving lately around the world, he is becomming more recognized and accepted in his own country.
The banning of this movie “Departed” is just a reminder that China still has a way to go in breaking out of the old out-dated way of governing. But as we both have pointed out, it’s a slow process and I hope for positive things for China, it’s people, and it’s relationship with the rest of the world.
January 17th, 2007 at 11:53 pm
It’s “Infernal Affairs” not “Internal Affairs”.
January 18th, 2007 at 1:18 am
You are right Abc… thanks for the correction.
January 18th, 2007 at 3:02 am
Bannning the Departed is a good idea. The Departed is a remake of Infernal Affair so the Chinese audience is not missing much. It would probably an insult to the Chinese people anyway. The West would never distribute a modern Chinese movie, rather most of the movie that makes it way into theater are the ancient martial art epic picture that caters to the stereotype of the orient. How many of you seen the original Chinese version? Thought so. So f… the Departed.
If people want to watch the movie they are still about to in the black market. Chinese authority doesn’t go around and putting people in jail because they watched a movie. The government just won’t endorse it and why should they. What’s in it for them and the country? Nothing……
It is funny to hear people criticize other developing country. It is always easy to look down on people and criticize than to look in and sympathize. China needs to protect its market or else America and the rest of the west will pillage the country like they have done in the past.
Democratization doesn’t happen over night, if it does the country is likely to be a puppet government of the West and to be exploited. A democracy needs informed citizens and middle class majority. A democracy that doesn’t meets those criteria impede progress. If you go to china, you’d probably never find a communist anywhere. Communism is a dead.
January 18th, 2007 at 11:51 am
Nicely said Chinese guy, I can’t disagree with what you said actually… are you from China?
January 18th, 2007 at 2:30 pm
Well, …I understand all that’s been said here, but I gotta respond with a little defense. I’m not Chinese. But then again, you aren’t American. I can’t argue with one Chinese person’s opinion based on his or her knowledge of their own country as Yummy pointed out so accurately. Nor would I try,… which is why I said earlier that I personally know some Chinese fresh from China who see things the other way. They are glad to be in America, they don’t hate it, and appreciate the opportunities it gives them to live and work there, and they want to assimilate. But they are also supportive of the people in their homeland and hope for a good future for them. And I I know alot of Chinese people have differing views about their own government and other governments, just like Westerners do about their own governments and other governments. People all have individual thoughts and each is entitled to them rightfully, just like you, and just like me. (That’s my democratic way of thinking of course. )
China’s market is growing, fast. And I can tell you right now, protectionism in a global economy won’t work. Especially if it’s based on hatred. And we are in a global economy. The U.S. has already fought with itself about protectionism and found out it it ain’t gonna happen. In fact, the U.S. is one of China’s largest consumers of it’s goods. U.S. buys and trades with China more than anybody. The U.S in return is a large provider of resources and technology developement. For instance, China is hungry for concrete and steel to build it’s ever growing infrastructure. The U.S. has it to sell. Investors are literally pouring money into China’s economy. And remember, China already is deeply invested in the U.S. also. It has been for years and years. And it owns alot of U.S interests. So, who’s got the most potential to do some pilaging?!?!
China is going to be a big player in the 21st century. It’s GDP is already 3 times that of the U.S. But they are not gonna do it by themselves. Things don’t work like that any more. It’s always gonna be a give and take, like it or not. Alot of people and companies are going to become millionaires from China’s expansion, both inside China and outside. And It’s time for people to wake up, get out of the past, stop hating, and start accepting, that China IS changing and the whole world is gonna be involved, east , west , north and south.
We talk about sterotypes and we talk about westerners pilaging. Well that is in itself a stereotype to an extent. We all know conquering and pilaging has gone on in past centuries by all races and nations. China experienced it from the Brits, the west, and even earlier within it’s own borders between the Emperors and Mongol warriors, etc etc,. And they sure as hell experienced it during Japanese occupation in WWll (which led to Mao’s revolution). And make no mistake, there were westerners there trying to help during that occupation. So, pilaging was hardly just a western phenomenon. But, I know it’s kosher these days to paint America and the west as the ‘only’ bad guys that ever existed. With all the mid-east crap and everything, America is in a prettry bad light. And it’s always ok to attack the rich nations in general just because we can. But that’s just the way things go I guess.
An example is just like the young man who made the comment here the other day about America being a “fake friend” to the Philipines. Well none of us were around in the late 30’s and early 40’s, but I guess the U.S. could very well have chosen to leave those islands in the hands of Imperial Japanese towards the end of the war. But instead, Mac Arthur made a promise he’d return with troops and in 1944 the U.S. did liberate Phillipines from the Japanese, then helped them modernize with bridges, railroads, buildings, and sent doctors to help wipe out cases of malaria and yellow fever. So, I find it hard to see where America wasn’t at least a pretty good if not a damned good friend. And if that young man were to ask some Chinese people of that time who survived places like Nanking, I’m sure they’d tell him, “Sonny boy, America was about as good a friend as your country could hope for at that moment in time.” But like I said, if you’ve been taught to hate then it isn’t gonna really matter. And besides, no matter how much help you get from outside, if there’s corruption within, then a country’s gonna have problems anyway.
I’m all for China growing and succeeding, as I already described. And I’m very interested in Chinese culture. But at the same time, like I said, you’re Chinese and you know about your country from your unique perspective, I know alot about America, it’s history, and it’s relationships with the world from my perspective, good AND bad. Times change, new people come along, new economies and governments are born, and the world moves on. Let’s move on with it.
Oh and by the way, I ‘DID’ say China (the government) was Communist in name only, but not so much in practice and that it was changing. So we agree, You bet, Communism is dead in China. And it is very, very unlikely that China will be ‘anybody’s’ puppet as it moves towards democratization, and there won’t be any pilaging either. That’s just not gonna happen. China is not that weak, so give them a little more credit than that.
January 19th, 2007 at 4:21 am
Here’s some interesting figures regarding China’s huge growing economy that I wanted to share.
First, I was a little off about China’s GDP(Gross Domestic Product) it’s actullay a liitle over twice that of the U.S., not 3 times. But hey, it’s getting there, give it time.
Also, China has a trade surplus of billion the U.S. whereas the U.S. has a trade deficit with China. (In other words, China is exporting more goods to the US than the US is exporting to them, that means China is making more money off the U.S comparatively. {the America haters should love that, lol}
China’s economy is growing at a staggering rate of 9% a year. In plain English, that means “by leaps and bounds”.
China’s demand for raw materials in enormous.
China buys 9% of the world’s oil (and rising), 25% of the world’s aluminum, 33% of the world’s iron, (that’s a whopping one third), and get this, China buys 40% of the world’s concrete and cement. (That’s almost half!)
China’s rapid growth has prompted $72.4 billion in foreign investments to be put into Chinese companies. It’s surprising that Chinese companies had started opening so many IPO’s (initial public offerings) into U.S. stock exchanges. China wants U.S. investors.
China has $124 billion in foreign currency reserves compared with the US who only has $40 Billion.
China has a savings rate of 34%. US has 0%
Warren Buffet, the world’s second richest man and probably the smartest investor alive has put $70 million into China’s largest oil company, Petro China.
Microsoft invests $100 million a year in China.
General Motors (GM) says it will purchase $4 billion of Chinese goods and give $6 billion to it’s operations.
General Electric has already created over 12,000 jobs for Chinese people in it’s operations.
Motorola has already put more than $3.6 billion into the Chinese econmy.
Ford Motor Co. says it will put more than $1 billion into China next year.
As Chinese people get more jobs they are in more demand for things like air conditioners, Televisions, microwaves, DVD players, computers, cell phones, ipods, automobiles, and credit cards, etc etc.
Alot of American money is helping China grow right now. Yes it’s investments, but that is how commerce works. No body just gives that kind of money away. You invest money with other people to help them and at the same time hope for a reward on your investment. And even then there’s no guarrantee you won’t lose it all. And like I said, China is already heavily invested in the United States of America. China owns billions and billions of dollars in U.S. stocks, bonds, and treaasury notes.
China is experiencing something similar to what Americans experienced a hundred tears ago during the industrial revolutiion. And as Chinese workers start to find more jobs, it won’t be long before the Chinese government is confronted with the issue of Unions. That’s right, although the workers are starting to get more jobs and make a little more money, the people moving in from the country aren’t making as much money as they could, and they will start to demand higher wages. Workers unions don’t exist yet because the government doesn’t allow it because it would give the workers too much power, but they more than likely will someday. This is one area where the PRC will have to decide whether to depart from it’s old ways or not.
March 9th, 2007 at 3:57 pm
1. It’s said that China film board requested that some part of the movie with sensitive issues (the trading of fire arms etc.) to be edited, but Scorsese refused to do so… and thus lead to the banning.
Yeah, not just to the movies from other countries, but to their own movies, too. Many Chinese movies produced in China got cut or rejected due to similar issues. The question is, American master Scorsese even didn’t mention to his copying action, not to mention showing thanks. Is that democracy? I bet Chinese people have their reason for pirating. I just don’t like either of them.
2. Alot of American money is helping China grow right now.
Yeah, would you please show the data of profit they got from such a big market? Many Chinese people have only $3000 annual income, but they have higher life quality than $30,000 annual income in the U.S., at the sacrifice of space. Which kind of life is better? It depends on how we look at it. To know the truth, just take a trip to China and don’t compare the life in New York with a nowhere place in the mountains.
3. protectionism in a global economy won’t work. Especially if it’s based on hatred. And we are in a global economy.
I totally agree. However hard the different governments will try, consuming power is the decision maker of economy. by the way, there are seven continents on the earth, not just Europe and U.S.
4. China is experiencing something similar to what Americans experienced a hundred tears ago during the industrial revolutiion.
Yeah, but just similar on the surface. China has a lot of more problems (for example, corruption! damn corruption!!!) Americans didn’t need to face to before, and a lot of more advantages Americans would never own.
5. what I feel that it’s always sucks when politics are mix with entertainment and perhaps cultural issue.
Totally agree and totally totally agree.
6. But now with all the international success he is receiving lately around the world, he is becomming more recognized and accepted in his own country.
I do feel the improvement of Chinese government in the recent years, and I believe the best government, no matter what they are, is the one who helps its people with better life.
The question I have been thinking about recently is: how to judge which kind life is better? It, all, depends.
By the way, I am a Chinese student with several years experience in the U.S., and the attitude to American culture has been changing from admiring, got shocked, got pissed off (why they need to lie about their ages or what what, the social cues *_*), learn to understand, now appreciate the differences between two countries with various cultures. I believe this kind of discussion, even debate, will help us to see the world more clearly with global perspectives.
Thanks for sharing.
March 9th, 2007 at 4:28 pm
Thanks for sharing as well jasminetea.
One note on Scorsese though, his production company bought the remake copyright for Infernal Affairs… whether he decides to show appreciation or not is up to him, he did pay for using the original story though.
May 13th, 2007 at 7:42 am
I support Chinese government in this ban.
May 18th, 2007 at 8:19 am
Forgot about the bad portrayals of China, what about the RACISM in this film? I understand Nicholson’s character is supposed to be racist, but some of the things he says is just horrible and over the line. Especially when this movie owes so much to the original.
May 18th, 2007 at 10:29 am
Well… typical American movie, it ain’t complete without some curses and bad mouth.