James Bond outflanked by Chinese authorities as Skyfall is censored

http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2013/jan/17/james-bond-chinese-authorities-skyfall

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Record-breaking Bond film Skyfall is due for release in China on Monday, but reports are surfacing that scenes have been censored and altered to make it acceptable to the Chinese authorities.

The main casualty of the culling is a scene that occurs during the Shanghai-set sequence, in which French hitman Patrice (played by Ola Rapace) shoots a security guard after entering a skyscraper. The scene has apparently been cut in its entirety. In addition, the Chinese subtitles have changed the meaning of dialogue between Bond and bar hostess Sévérine (Bérénice Marlohe) in a Macau casino, removing a reference to her becoming a prostitute at a young age.

Re-editing of imported films is not uncommon in China, where scenes deemed offensive were removed from the likes of Men in Black 3 and Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End. Perhaps more problematic, however, are attempts by the authorities to protect homegrown films from Hollywood competition by delaying releases. Skyfall, which has so far taken $1.03bn at the global box office, was originally scheduled to come out in China last November, but was pushed back to 2013 to allow two state-backed historical epics, Back to 1942 and The Last Supper, a clear run at Chinese audiences.

Skyfall's travails come despite a relaxation of the strict quota system for US films enforced in Chinese cinemas, agreed after high-level negotiations between the two countries last year. The US had accused China of not complying with its obligations under World Trade Organisation agreements by preventing access to the $2bn-plus Chinese box office. However, in February 2012 – following talks between US vice-president Joe Biden and Xi Jinping, his Chinese counterpart at the time – a deal was struck allowing more 3D and large-format films into the country.