Though James Cameron's "Avatar" has broken Chinese box office records, it seems the Chinese government is not as enamored of lithe, blue aliens as its people — reportedly pulling the U.S. film from over 1,600 screens and replacing it with a $22 million government-funded movie about the philosopher, Confucius. Is the "'Avatar' ban" a simple case of cultural protectionism, or has the film's anti-imperial message alarmed Chinese authorities? (Watch a report about the premiere of "Confucius" in China)
This is a business decision: This action is “pretty much routine,” says Beijing-based consultant David Wolf, quoted in the New York Times. China typically allows Hollywood films to be screened in Chinese cinemas for only ten days, and "Avatar" has already run far longer. The government simply wants to ensure that “Chinese films” get a “fair percentage” of moviegoers' money. This is a “purely commercial decision.”
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