Why Chinese censorship crackdown hurts all movie lovers

The Chinese government is being very careful about which Western movies allows its people to see, even blocking the latest Spider-Man — which will hurt the industry, Duncan Lay writes.

When China announced its crackdown on “sissy men” and Western-style entertainment last year, it failed to provoke much in the way of outrage.

Many probably didn’t care what happened in Chinese movies and TV shows. And some that should have cared about these new “masculine only” gender rules didn’t say anything.

Recently, the crackdown stepped up. Classic 1990s sitcom Friends was re-released, with all gay and lesbian characters cut out. Ross’s ex-wife, who divorced him after coming out as a lesbian, now no longer exists.

It’s ironic that a series we now see as too white and straight is still too much for the Chinese censors.

So we should care. And now the consequences are going to start hitting movie fans where it hurts – in the eyes.

Yes, the chickens are coming home to roost. And none of them has dared to use hair gel.

Previously, China was a hugely valuable market for Western movies.

But now the Chinese government is being very careful about which Western movies it allows its people to see.

The past three Marvel movies, including Spider-Man: No Way Home, have been blocked. And when they do allow one to sneak through, it is often given a release date months after the rest of the world.

Tom Holland in the latest Spider-Man movie Spider-Man: No Way Home.

Again, once upon a time that would not have mattered. But thanks to the Covid pandemic, movies are going out to streaming in a matter of weeks.

Once they are streaming, the pirates rip them off instantly.

Ironically, while the Chinese government employs an army of censors that descend on any criticism like a swarm of locusts on crack, it doesn’t worry about piracy.

So by the time a Western movie does arrive – often with bits cut out of it like Friends – many of those who want to see it already have.

Meanwhile, the CCP is encouraging people to watch “patriotic” films such as The Battle at Lake Changjin, a reimagining of a Korean War battle that sees a handful of Chinese heroes defeat a huge army of fat Americans. It also somehow managed to avoid having any actual Koreans in it.

Still, anyone who has watched the diabolical Windtalkers or U571 will know that a lack of historical accuracy has never bothered American war movies.

Naturally this year there has been a Changjin 2, where the Americans are even fatter.

But without access to China’s box office, there will be fewer sequels for Western movies. And fewer special effects as well.

Already under pressure from streaming services and with audiences in many countries reluctant to return to cinemas, being cut off from a major source of cash is going to hurt.

Sure the blockbusters will still look brilliant but the mid-range movies are going to suffer, especially the fantasy and sci-fi movies that need plenty of effects. Some won’t get a green light. Some will have to make do with a limited budget. Others won’t get the sequel they need or deserve.

I fear that because President Xi and his cronies don’t like men wearing make-up, things are going to look ugly.

Doctor Strange defeats Elrond in Lord of the Trailers

I did enjoy the Super Bowl this week but the action on the field paled into insignificance compared to the real battle – the one between the two hot new trailers that dropped.

On one side, in sorcerer red, is Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, and on the other, in elven green, is Amazon’s The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.

First off, those titles are just too long and the pair of them need to be sent to the sin bin.

Doctor Strange 2 got the ball first and packed in a lot of fascinating stuff.

It also sounded a warning to get that Disney+ subscription if you want to know what is going on.

First up, the good. Patrick Stewart is making a return as Professor X from the X-Men. That means we can look forward to new X-Men movies, although without Hugh Jackman as he said he has hung up his Wolverine claws.

We are also going to see the introduction of America Chavez, the first female Latino superhero as Strange’s ally.

There’s also going to be lots of Strange – and I’m not just talking about Benedict Cumberbatch.

As well as some seriously trippy effects, we’re going to see multiple versions of the character, good, bad and one of my favourites – Zombie Doctor Strange.

Benedict Cumberbatch in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Picture: Marvel Studios

Then we get to the homework. Wanda (Elizabeth Olsen) is going to feature heavily and if you didn’t watch the Marvel series WandaVision, you are going to be more confused than a three-year-old who’s been sent to a round room and told to stand in the corner.

And is Wanda going to be a hero? A villain, or both? And what about Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris), who got her powers in WandaVision and who seems to be in this one?

Strange is also made a prisoner by what looks like the Time Variance Authority from the series Loki.

Finally there’s speculation that Captain Carter (Hayley Atwell), who became a super soldier in the TV show What If?, could make an appearance – as well as Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool.

After that impressive effort comes Amazon’s LOTR, which features elves, dwarfs, men, monsters and an impressive musical score.

This story is set some 2500 years before the events of the books and the Peter Jackson films. It’s based on several appendices, which are always my go-to for the real story. However, its obvious reliance on CGI has left many fans unimpressed.

The YouTube comments have been harsh, with tens of thousands writing a Tolkien quote: “Evil cannot create anything new, it can only corrupt.”

Ouch. Probably not what Amazon was hoping for when it poured a billion dollars into the show.

Ironically it’s not a real quote.

What Tolkien actually wrote is a description of how Orcs are made: “When a daddy Orc really loves a mummy Orc …” Sorry, sorry. Wrong quote. “The Shadow that bred them can only mock, it cannot make: not real new things of its own.”

Kinda the same, but the feeling is there. So I’d say that game was pretty one-sided. Strange 40, Rings of Power 3.

Now we just have to look forward to the rematch, when they actually screen and we can see how strange Strange is and how much power the rings have.

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