Blaze Heatnix Posted August 18, 2016 Share Posted August 18, 2016 1 minute ago, RandomJC said: Because WoW is incredibly popular in China, so they weren't banning that movie. It's a popular game and also a popular IP. So, that's probably why... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WrathOfHan Posted August 18, 2016 Share Posted August 18, 2016 From what I understand magic is fine in China as long as it isn't possession or ghosts. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cannastop Posted August 18, 2016 Share Posted August 18, 2016 21 minutes ago, Baumer loves Dory said: I'll be seeing it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arlborn Posted August 18, 2016 Share Posted August 18, 2016 30 minutes ago, WrathOfHan said: From what I understand magic is fine in China as long as it isn't possession or ghosts. I've read something like that a while ago as well. Not sure if true, but yeah, the Enchantress used possession. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kathemy Posted August 18, 2016 Share Posted August 18, 2016 The technical reason a film like Ghostbusters would be banned in China and not the Harry Potter franchise is that Chinese censorship prohibits works of art encouraging superstition. It's based on old censorship rules from then-Marxist China, especially its atheism. Films containing "God", "gods"... films suggesting there is some sort of empiric reasoning behind the worship of deities... are denied on principality. Generally speaking "magic" could offend but "ghosts" and "gods" are viewed as worse. And of course it doesn't help with Katana and her Japanese flag. It should be noted that China has deep grievances against Japan such as their refusal to apologize for the Nanking massacre. (Actually signed up just to respond... Might talk more about other things.) 16 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nova Posted August 18, 2016 Share Posted August 18, 2016 27 minutes ago, Kathemy said: The technical reason a film like Ghostbusters would be banned in China and not the Harry Potter franchise is that Chinese censorship prohibits works of art encouraging superstition. It's based on old censorship rules from then-Marxist China, especially its atheism. Films containing "God", "gods"... films suggesting there is some sort of empiric reasoning behind the worship of deities... are denied on principality. Generally speaking "magic" could offend but "ghosts" and "gods" are viewed as worse. And of course it doesn't help with Katana and her Japanese flag. It should be noted that China has deep grievances against Japan such as their refusal to apologize for the Nanking massacre. (Actually signed up just to respond... Might talk more about other things.) Thank you for this elaborate explanation! I've been wondering the specifics for so long and felt dumb when I wasn't explaining things properly/felt like I was being offensive. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daxtreme Posted August 18, 2016 Share Posted August 18, 2016 49 minutes ago, Arlborn said: I've read something like that a while ago as well. Not sure if true, but yeah, the Enchantress used possession. Again, Scarlet Witch used possession in Age of Ultron as well. I just don't see how Suicide Squad can be banned because the Enchantress is a witch who used possession when you have a character like Scarlet Witch who can use possession as well in another movie that passed the censors. Most likely: SS got banned for another reason, not Enchantress. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BluRayHiDef Posted August 18, 2016 Share Posted August 18, 2016 34 minutes ago, Kathemy said: The technical reason a film like Ghostbusters would be banned in China and not the Harry Potter franchise is that Chinese censorship prohibits works of art encouraging superstition. It's based on old censorship rules from then-Marxist China, especially its atheism. Films containing "God", "gods"... films suggesting there is some sort of empiric reasoning behind the worship of deities... are denied on principality. Generally speaking "magic" could offend but "ghosts" and "gods" are viewed as worse. And of course it doesn't help with Katana and her Japanese flag. It should be noted that China has deep grievances against Japan such as their refusal to apologize for the Nanking massacre. (Actually signed up just to respond... Might talk more about other things.) Welcome aboard, matey! And thanks for the answer; it cleared quite a few things up. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
somebody85 Posted August 18, 2016 Share Posted August 18, 2016 Sausage Party was so fucking creative. The two deepest movies I've seen this year were both animation (Zootopia, Sausage Party). Loved it. It didn't stop me from stopping to get food afterwards though. Long live original ideas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kathemy Posted August 18, 2016 Share Posted August 18, 2016 (edited) 1 hour ago, Daxtreme said: Again, Scarlet Witch used possession in Age of Ultron as well. I just don't see how Suicide Squad can be banned because the Enchantress is a witch who used possession when you have a character like Scarlet Witch who can use possession as well in another movie that passed the censors. Scarlet Witch is a mortal being, Enchantress is an immortal evil spirit that's been worshipped as a God. That probably stepped on a few toes, not that it is the only offensive thing to Chinese authorities. Perhaps it's harder to explain why Thor was allowed since you could argue he's an Asgardian God, but the films actually are pretty clear with them being mortal, they live and they die, they use technology etc etc. For an example of a movie which would Never Ever be allowed in China see "Constantine." And thanks for the positive response to last post, I actually thought I was being a bit vague. Edited August 18, 2016 by Kathemy 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ecstasy Posted August 18, 2016 Share Posted August 18, 2016 2 hours ago, Kathemy said: The technical reason a film like Ghostbusters would be banned in China and not the Harry Potter franchise is that Chinese censorship prohibits works of art encouraging superstition. It's based on old censorship rules from then-Marxist China, especially its atheism. Films containing "God", "gods"... films suggesting there is some sort of empiric reasoning behind the worship of deities... are denied on principality. Generally speaking "magic" could offend but "ghosts" and "gods" are viewed as worse. And of course it doesn't help with Katana and her Japanese flag. It should be noted that China has deep grievances against Japan such as their refusal to apologize for the Nanking massacre. (Actually signed up just to respond... Might talk more about other things.) Well thank you. That explains a lot. It's good to know the distinctions they make when denying a movie there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daxtreme Posted August 18, 2016 Share Posted August 18, 2016 41 minutes ago, Kathemy said: Scarlet Witch is a mortal being, Enchantress is an immortal evil spirit that's been worshipped as a God. That probably stepped on a few toes, not that it is the only offensive thing to Chinese authorities. Perhaps it's harder to explain why Thor was allowed since you could argue he's an Asgardian God, but the films actually are pretty clear with them being mortal, they live and they die, they use technology etc etc. For an example of a movie which would Never Ever be allowed in China see "Constantine." And thanks for the positive response to last post, I actually thought I was being a bit vague. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dxmatrixdt Posted August 18, 2016 Share Posted August 18, 2016 7 hours ago, Gopher said: Am I still the only person here who's seen Nine Lives? I've thought about that movie at least 10x more than I've thought about Suicide Squad. Y'all should go Saw it today at 5:20 for $5. We get $5 Tuesdays and Wednesdays. It was nearly sold out in about a 50-60 seat theater. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dxmatrixdt Posted August 18, 2016 Share Posted August 18, 2016 7 hours ago, Gopher said: Am I still the only person here who's seen Nine Lives? I've thought about that movie at least 10x more than I've thought about Suicide Squad. Y'all should go Saw it today at 5:20 for $5. We get $5 Tuesdays and Wednesdays. It was nearly sold out in about a 50-60 seat theater. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dxmatrixdt Posted August 18, 2016 Share Posted August 18, 2016 Guesses for today. Suicide Squad (-28.5%) - 4.46 Sausage Party (-23.7%) - 3.76 Pete's Dragon (-27.4%) - 2.60 Bad Moms (-18.5%) - 1.58 Jason Bourne (-21.5%) - 1.48 Secret Life of Pets (-19.4%) - 1.32 Foster Florence Jenkins (-21.3%) - 0.88 Star Trek (-19.4%) - 0.82 Nine Lives (-32.9%) - 0.51 Nerve (-15.6%) - 0.45 Lights Out (-12.3%) - 0.41 Ghostbusters (-16.2%) - 0.33 Ice Age (-25.4%) - 0.31 Finding Dory (-12.4%) - 0.22 Anthropoid (-13.0%) - 0.15 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miketheavenger Posted August 18, 2016 Share Posted August 18, 2016 6 hours ago, Kathemy said: Scarlet Witch is a mortal being, Enchantress is an immortal evil spirit that's been worshipped as a God. That probably stepped on a few toes, not that it is the only offensive thing to Chinese authorities. Perhaps it's harder to explain why Thor was allowed since you could argue he's an Asgardian God, but the films actually are pretty clear with them being mortal, they live and they die, they use technology etc etc. For an example of a movie which would Never Ever be allowed in China see "Constantine." And thanks for the positive response to last post, I actually thought I was being a bit vague. Thanks for clearing that up. I'm still wondering whether you think Doctor Strange will be released in China since it's also about "magic". 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kathemy Posted August 18, 2016 Share Posted August 18, 2016 11 minutes ago, miketheavenger said: Thanks for clearing that up. I'm still wondering whether you think Doctor Strange will be released in China since it's also about "magic". I'm almost certain it will. No production company has better ties with China than Disney, and their decision to censor Dr. Strange's Tibetan upbringing is a political statement which has won them huge favor with the Chinese government. They probably know exactly what they can get away with, and what not, to secure a release. In other words, "travelling the astral planes" and "bending reality", sure. Summoning and convening with angels and demons, not so much. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maitch Posted August 18, 2016 Share Posted August 18, 2016 (edited) I am still not sure what the difference is between magic and a super power in China. Couldn't they just change the dialog to calling it a super power in China in the over-dubbing process. I mean, I could easily make a cut of SS, where I removed every part about gods and just rebranded Enchantress's powers to be super powers instead of magic. It wouldn't change the film very much. Edited August 18, 2016 by Maitch 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kathemy Posted August 18, 2016 Share Posted August 18, 2016 Does anyone want to make a guess how higher the int'l will be than the domestic box office? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
a2k Posted August 18, 2016 Share Posted August 18, 2016 Hoping for not less than 4.3 for SS (-31%). 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...