Should the Chinese be allowed to "Cut the Fat" (Please...read the details!)?

Question

First, educate yourself:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070615/ap_en_ce/china_pirates_movie

Here's my question. I don't want to talk about free speech. They don't have that in China. We don't even really have that here in America. You may think you do, but try saying "bomb" in an airport, or "fire" in a crowded theatre. My point is that every culture censors speech at some level.

What I'm saying is, let's put free speech aside and presume that all governments censor the speech, and let's, for the sake of argument, say that's ok.

Was China right to decide that Chow Yun Fat's role was "degrading" to the Chinese people? According to the Chinese government, the decision to cut the scenes was made according to China's "relevant regulations on film censorship" and "China's actual conditions."

Please...don't make the free speech argument. I already agree that China ought to permit freer speech. The point of discussion is this: Do you think their points are valid?

Answer 1

I think they missed the point that it's a pirate movie. It's about men who live on the sea, don't eat right, and don't own toothbrushes.

The images that they are calling a bad stereotype are actually rich images from Chinese history of legendary villanous characters. Yes, Sao Feng is a bit Manchu, but this is the one place in literature where that's almost HEROIC.

I mean, the two male leads are Johnny Depp and Orlando Blooom, who are both made to look good for women. And I can see how it would be a problem to dress Chow Yun Fat up like Sao Feng and put him next to good looking Anglicans. It's insulting.

But what the Chinese officials are overlooking is that Chow Yun Fat's character is not meant to be compared to Wil Turner or Jack Sparrow, but to Davy Jones and Hector Barbossa. The scarier he looks, pirate-to-pirate, the better of a POTC villain he is!

Answer 2

No, they aren't valid. This question in all acutallity is about free speech. First of all, there is really no such thing as freedom of speech or anything free because the road to freedom runs both ways; meaning, you can say what you want, but someone else, who believes the opposite can cause a huge uproar and consider it offensive, whatever it may be.

In my opinion, the true "free" people are the ones who whine about everything because it offends them or they see it wrong. If I see something that I don't agree with, I tolerate it. Why? Because this is supposed to be a free country and everyone has the right to say and express what the feel.

Answer 3

I think the Chinese should offer the movie with the fat and fatfree, and let the consumer decide.

Even if the character is transfat, let the consumer decide if they want to take the risk.

But please, please do not let anyone cut the cheese!