What The Government Doesn't Want Us to See.....

With all the protests and brouhaha regarding the release of 'The DaVinci Code' this past weekend in the States, the same film has been released in Shanghai with little protest from all parties. The movie causing the controversy on our side of the world is not the one headed by the 'life is like a box of chocolates' Tom, but by the 'couch jumping, anti-ritalin but probably should be on it' Tom, as highlighted in the attached article. Needless to say, it may be a while before we get to see big-screen images of Tom Cruise recreating our daily Shanghai routines (ex. running into low-hanging laundry, avoiding the expectorating locals, etc.) Fortunately, we live in a country with no scruples when it comes to intellectual property rights, so we pretty much have access to low-cost, high-quality DVD copies of both movies that we can watch in the comfort of our own home.

'Mission' Gets Extra Scrutiny Over Release
Shanghai Daily
Angela Xu

THE eagerly awaited film "Mission Impossible 3"- about a third of it shot in China - is being scrutinized for the third time by the State Film Bureau to decide whether and when to release it, Paramount Pictures' Shanghai Office said yesterday. One media report said it may not be shown because of a negative image of Shanghai. But the film office accused the local newspaper of fabricating a report that the film starring Tom Cruise may not be shown on the Chinese mainland because it shows an unflattering image of the city. The report said the movie, which was filmed for a month in Shanghai, did not give sufficient attention to modern life and skyscrapers and showed underwear and tattered clothes drying on bamboo poles. It also depicted the police as slow and dull, the report said. A decision on release has not yet been made. But a film insider reportedly said some unspecified lines and language by actors would have to be changed and indicated that Paramount had agreed, opening the way to release. Fang Chunhua, a spokesman of the office, said the State Film Bureau is examining the film strictly because nearly one third of it was shot in China. The film was sent for a third examination last Friday. "We will inform the media about the result as soon as possible," Fang said. "The previous report is purely fictitious." A State Film Bureau insider said some domestic film distributors had favorable comments on "Mission Impossible 3" and predicted domestic income might exceed 100 million yuan (US$12 million), according to Shanghai Evening Post. The insider said it was quite possible to show the film on the mainland, but some actors' lines need to be changed. But he did not identify them. "Mission Impossible 3" isn't the only foreign film that needs cutting and changes. The State Film Bureau decides what changes are needed to make foreign films suitable in China. "Sometimes political content, violence and eroticism are cut or changed," said Wu Hehu of United Cinema Lines, the city's largest cinema chain. So far, China doesn't have a movie rating system. If the new movie is approved, it could be released in mid-July.