‘Logan’ becomes the first film in China required by law to carry warnings
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I remember the pain I suffered growing up when films I really wanted to see were approved with R ratings — it literally meant I had no chance in hell of buying tickets.
That’s why I was so shocked when I found out that China doesn’t have a film rating system, meaning 13-year-old Andy could have waltzed into any film at any cinema unhindered. Maybe that would have taken the fun out of it, who knows?
I must admit, though, that part three in Marvel’s Wolverine series — “Logan” — would not have been one of them.
But that didn’t stop the film’s creators from purposefully pursuing an R-rated release in the United States, after finding out last year with Deadpool that the dreaded R wasn’t a death knell, and on the contrary might be a profit booster.
This also acted as the impetus for me to go and see the film here in China, since I’m quite interested in the play between the world’s two largest film markets — the US and China — and how filmmakers and governments work together to release a single film in two very different markets, under very different conditions.
The question: How exactly would purposefully increased blood, gore, foul language and nudity go down with the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television, who would ultimately accept or reject the film from entry in the world’s second-largest film market?
Although China doesn’t have a film rating system as such — meaning that no one at a Chinese cinema will be asked for proof of age to see any film — all films need to be suitable for all audiences, although in practice I’ve seen young kids in Chinese cinemas watching films they’d never be allowed entrance to back home.
This led to a massive 14 minutes being cut from “Logan” before hitting cinemas here in China, which means the film lacks the claws — mind the bad pun — it has back in the US.
Wolverine has effectively been de-clawed here in China, if some of the footage I’ve seen online from the original film is anything to go by.
Guideline for audiences
But there’s another interesting development: “Logan” has become the first film released in China required to feature a warning on all printed material, and on cinema and movie ticket websites and apps, that younger children should be supervised by an adult — despite the massive cuts.
This is thanks to a new law which states that if a film “might cause physical or psychological discomfort for minors or other audience members, notice should be given.”
The interesting thing with this new law, though, is that it’s still just a guideline for audience members, who will face no questioning or restrictions at ticket booths when taking young children to see such films.
This is because films have already technically been cut, edited or otherwise altered to promote morality and social harmony.
Which means that part of the 14 minutes cut from “Logan” included a gratuitous piece of nudity — a young female member of a bridal party flashes her breasts at Wolverine — that many back in the United States said was awkward and out of place anyway, clearly included just to help achieve the now valuable R rating.
The American release of “Logan” also featured excessive swearing which, too, was largely hacked for the Chinese version. I do remember seeing a lot of “jiangui” and “qusi” subtitles, which was fun.
However, interestingly, “Logan” wasn’t the very first film to feature prior warnings that content might not be suitable for younger audience members, despite the new law only taking effect on March 1.
That honor went to the filmmakers of Mel Gibson’s “Hacksaw Ridge,” who last year voluntarily added a warning for the film’s Chinese release, stating that the movie should not be watched by those under the age of 12. In the end only 30 seconds was cut from the original version for release here.
As the Chinese box office becomes ever stronger and more valuable — it’s set to overtake the US soon — more and more changes will be made, not only to foreign films when they’re released in China, but to their original versions as American filmmakers strive harder to please audiences — and the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television — here.
It’s an interesting time.
Editor’s note:
Andy Boreham comes from New Zealand’s capital city, Wellington, and has lived in China, off and on, for the past four years. Now he is living in Shanghai earning a master’s degree in Chinese culture and language at Fudan University. He welcomes your feedback on all of the issues he covers — you can reach him at andy.boreham@shanghaidaily.com.
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