Warner Bros Cancels Dark Knight Screening in China

by rpshen | December 29, 2008 at 12:37 pm

817 views | 18 Recommendations | 10 comments

I thought by now it is fair to assume that everyone has seen the Dark Knight at least once. Apparently not in China ...at least not legally. It is official, Chinese viewers will not be seeing the second highest-grossing US film in the cinemas.

The Chinese government is infamous for censoring American films. In the past, they have blocked the screening of Brokeback Mountain for its homosexual content. Memoirs of a Geisha was also cut due to Chinese actresses playing Japanese geishas. Where exactly did the Dark Knight go wrong?

Citing "cultural sensitivities in some elements of the film," Warner Bros. said in a statement on Friday that it has cancelled the release of the 2008 hit in mainland China.

It did not elaborate on what it meant by "cultural sensitivities," but the New York Times speculated that the Hollywood studio may have been concerned Chinese censors would be offended by scenes shot in Hong Kong, including those in which Batman, played by Christian Bale, nabs a Chinese money launderer.

Another potential point of conflict, it noted, was a brief appearance by Edison Chen, the Hong Kong singer and record producer who appeared in sexually explicit photographs posted on the internet in 2008.

Does this cancellation really matter? I mean, there must be tons of pirated versions of the Dark Knight on the streets of China.

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Film-Book dot Com

at 00:08 on December 30th, 2008

Thanks for using the photo from my Flickr account in your story rpshen:

http://www.flickr.com/people/30693123@N04/

Regrading your article, too much censorship on China's part.

I guess China didn't like that a Chinese accountant in The Dark Knight is the Chief Investor for Gotham City's worst scum.

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iamJas

at 00:14 on December 30th, 2008

http://flickr.com/photos/alljerry04/ My Flickr Album

My Batman Collection

http://flickr.com/photos/alljerry04/2731545195/

http://flickr.com/photos/alljerry04/3140787448/

The Dark Knight is the best movie I've ever seen in Taiwan.

Jordan Yerman

at 06:55 on December 30th, 2008

It matters to Warner Bros, who loses out on a gargantuan distribution deal...

ansky5423

at 07:04 on December 30th, 2008

Photo by Veronica McKenna
Taken in Copenhagen, Denmark

ansky5423 has contributed a photo to this story.

Srinath TV

at 12:37 on December 30th, 2008

Saw this movie in Austin, TX. thats my ticket :)

Great movie

Srinath TV has contributed a photo to this story.

ar lee (not verified)

at 18:03 on December 30th, 2008

Took the blockbusters picture of a giant Dark Knight poster while going to see it on Imax in New York. I saw the movie 4 times and IMAX made it even greater.

Lord Vladek

at 02:26 on December 31st, 2008

Lord Vladek has contributed a photo to this story.

ArianAldang

at 13:58 on January 1st, 2009

This is just a poster of the movie. I found it online and thought it looked great. Hopefully this will help the Chinese viewers enjoy a great movie.

ArianAldang has contributed a photo to this story.

wesdorris

at 17:41 on January 3rd, 2009

wesdorris has contributed a photo to this story.

Nick Britt Loves Movies

at 18:11 on January 8th, 2009

This is probably my fav pic of the dark knight and im glad to share it with every one. but i gotta give a shout out to my fav band coldplay. so everyone LISTEN TO COLDPLAY!! and rpshen just wanted to say ur beautiful! PEACE!!

Nick Britt Loves Movies has contributed a photo to this story.