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Technology & Innovation — January 19, 2010

Blocking Avatar

China has banned showing James Cameron’s Golden Globe winning fantasy and CGI-fest Avatar and has instead opted for a patriotic biopic on the life of Confucius.

“Golden Globe, Shmolden Globe. You know a movie’s a real phenom when the People’s Republic of China censors it—and tells theaters to play ‘a patriotic biopic on the life of Confucius’ instead. The Hong Kong Daily Apple (translated and summarized in The Telegraph) reports that, though James Cameron’s saga of hair sex and perfect CGI breasts was expected to earn 500 million yuan ($73 million) at the Chinese box office, the state-run China Film Group changed its mind and decided to allow only the 3D version of the film in—a de facto ban on general distribution since so few Chinese theaters have 3D equipment. The Apple continues: ‘The Central Publicity Department is said to have issued an order to the media prohibiting it from hyping up Avatar. … Reportedly, the authorities have two reasons for this check on Avatar: first, it has taken in too much money and has seized market share from domestic films, and second, it may lead audiences to think about forced removal, and may possibly incite violence.’”

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