The Dark Knight will NOT be available in China

[djluis2k6]

Just because Batman landed in Hong Kong doesn't mean "The Dark Knight" will.

Warner Bros. decided not to release the film in China — or even submit it for censors' approval — because of "prerelease conditions" and "cultural sensitivities," the studio said Tuesday.

Warner Bros. officials may have been concerned the film — particularly scenes shot in Hong Kong, where Batman nabs a gangster — would offend censors. Hong Kong is a Chinese-ruled former British colony that maintains separate political and economic systems.

Another possible sticking point is a brief appearance by Hong Kong actor-singer Edison Chen, who appeared in lurid photos with several women this year.

Bootleg copies have been available in Chinese markets for months.

-source: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081224/...he_dark_knight

[STARSCREAM]

Thats kinda dumb. Don't see why they would be offended, its just a movie. That will cost dark knight some money.

[pcdawg]

I dont think that article is up for any truth.

Im in vacation in Hong hong China and have spotted Dark Knight blu-ray with chinese character stickers on the front cover at HMV. ON the back of the BD, chinese is listed as one of the many official subtitles by Warner.

So, it is indeed sold in hong kong china.

[md99]

Banning media of any description is pointless in this day and age thanks to the wonders of the www

[Stubblecat]

It's pretty much public knowledge that about 95% of music and movies sold in China are counterfeit.
The Dark Knight (and Chinese Democracy for that matter) will be readily available for a couple of dollars all throughout China.

[Canada]

Originally Posted by md99

Banning media of any description is pointless in this day and age thanks to the wonders of the www

apparently from what I have heard the Chinese government has a lot of control over the content on the www.

[pcdawg]

Originally Posted by Stubblecat

It's pretty much public knowledge that about 95% of music and movies sold in China are counterfeit.
The Dark Knight (and Chinese Democracy for that matter) will be readily available for a couple of dollars all throughout China.

Im not sure if you have been to Hong Kong counterfeit movies and CDs have pretty much been non-existant in shops. IN certain areas in china, yes they do have counterfeit movies, but as long as you buy from legit stores and not from street vendors, you are fine.

Canada: Yes, the china govt does control what goes in and out of the web portals. I have friends in china where they have not received my emails from large corporation domains (canadian banks).

[steve_dave]

Originally Posted by pcdawg

I dont think that article is up for any truth.

Im in vacation in Hong hong China and have spotted Dark Knight blu-ray with chinese character stickers on the front cover at HMV. ON the back of the BD, chinese is listed as one of the many official subtitles by Warner.

So, it is indeed sold in hong kong china.

China and Hong Kong are two different countries. Hong Kong may have reverted to Chinese rule but maintains its own sovereign government. Hong Kong remains capitalistic and keeps censorship to a minimum.

China, on the other hand, is an open trade communistic country. The government has a strong hold on cultural and technological ideals. This means that China only allows a small amount of US films in the country. Rather than risk being denied release, Warner decided it was easier to just not submit it.

In fact, Casino Royale (2006) was the first James Bond film to be released in Chinese theaters. The previous 20 were only available via bootlegs brought in by pirates. Many US films are only available in bootleg form for Chinese consumers.

Bootlegs are pretty prominent in Southeast Asia...but true BD bootlegs are hard to find due to cost and market penetration. Some BD bootlegs are simply DVDs with AVCHD encoding.

[Azyiu]

Originally Posted by pcdawg

I dont think that article is up for any truth.

Im in vacation in Hong hong China and have spotted Dark Knight blu-ray with chinese character stickers on the front cover at HMV. ON the back of the BD, chinese is listed as one of the many official subtitles by Warner.

So, it is indeed sold in hong kong china.

Hong Kong is a so-called Special Administrative Region, and what is banned in the MAINLAND can still be sold here in Hong Kong. That is why you still see Dark Knight BD in HK. By China, that article means the mainland.

Originally Posted by steve_dave

China and Hong Kong are two different countries.

Technically or politically speaking, that is an incorrect statement. Hong Kong IS part of China, thus they are one country.

[steve_dave]

It belongs to China as a territory but does not fall under its government. Hong Kong is like Puerto Rico. China may control it but they have no say in its overall government just like the US may control Puerto Rico but has no say in its government either.

[Azyiu]

Originally Posted by steve_dave

It belongs to China as a territory but does not fall under its government. Hong Kong is like Puerto Rico. China may control it but they have no say in its overall government just like the US may control Puerto Rico but has no say in its government either.

You really do not know the political structure in HK, huh?

Hong Kong, once again, IS part of China. Until 2047 (50 years after the 1997 handover) it remains a special administrative region, and the HK gov't has somewhat more say in what they do. However, over the past 10 years since the handover, Beijing's influences have been increasing ever so subtly; especially in both the business and legislation levels. You really think those commies would let this big piece of juicy meat run free?

HK is far from being like Purto Rico.

[steve_dave]

Thanks for the explanation.

[anomynous]

Originally Posted by Canada

apparently from what I have heard the Chinese government has a lot of control over the content on the www.

They do..........


That Great Firewall of China

[Dan Average]

Just to clarify, this only rules out a mainland theatrical release, not a video release -- video releases need approval too (except for bootlegs, obviously) but the censors are more relaxed when it comes to video content. The Departed, for example, was denied a theatrical release, but eventually came out on VCD/DVD in a cut version. And of course anyone who wants to see it now can watch it online or buy a bootleg copy, which are endemic in China -- even major department stores stock stuff like boxed sets of every single Best Picture winner.