Business

Maverick ‘for defying Chinese censors

Tom Cruise on the set of “Top Gun”.

Paramount Pictures | Sunset Boulevard | Corbis | beautiful pictures

After 36 years, the sequel to Tom Cruise the classic movie “Top Gun” is a critical and commercial success, which grossed $248 million at the global box office in its opening weekend. In Taiwanit is also glorified for another reason: dislike China.

In 2019, trailer for “Top Gun: Maverick” shows Cruise’s character, US Navy pilot Pete Mitchell, in the identical bomber jacket he wore in the original film. But two of its flag patches – represent Japan and the Republic of China, the official name of Taiwan – appear to have been replaced by other symbols.

The move was criticized at the time as an act of self-censorship to please China’s censors. Beijing considers Taiwan, a self-governing democracy with 24 million people, an inviolable part of its territory and considers it a sovereign state.

After 36 years, the sequel to Tom Cruise the classic movie “Top Gun” is a critical and commercial success, which grossed $248 million at the global box office in its opening weekend. In Taiwanit is also glorified for another reason: dislike China.

In 2019, trailer for “Top Gun: Maverick” shows Cruise’s character, US Navy pilot Pete Mitchell, in the identical bomber jacket he wore in the original film. But two of its flag patches – represent Japan and the Republic of China, the official name of Taiwan – appear to have been replaced by other symbols.

The move was criticized at the time as an act of self-censorship to please China’s censors. Beijing considers Taiwan, a self-governing democracy with 24 million people, an inviolable part of its territory and considers it a sovereign state.

Hollywood often follows Beijing’s sensibility to access and profit from the lucrative Chinese market. Last year, the “Fast & Furious” actor John Cena apologized profusely in Mandarin to his Chinese fans for calling Taiwan a country during his promotional tour for the latest film in the series.

Experts say the inclusion of the Taiwanese flag in “Top Gun: Maverick” could suggest a shift in Hollywood away from China’s culture of respecting red lines.

Aynne Kokas, associate professor of communications studies at the University of Virginia and author of “Hollywood Made in China.”

Hollywood blockbusters including Marvel movies “The eternal” and “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” was removed from the Chinese screen after directors or actors involved in the films made comments critical of China.

Chinese tech giant Tencent said in 2019 that it was investing in a “Top Gun” sequel; it was later withdrawn over concerns that supporting a film with a strongly pro-American military theme would anger officials in the ruling Communist Party, The Wall Street Journal reported last week, citing people familiar with the financing.

NBC News requested comment from Paramount Pictures as well as Tencent offices in China, where it is a public holiday on Friday, and Los Angeles.

With “Top Gun: Maverick” not being released in mainland China, the filmmakers have had more flexibility in decision-making, Kokas said.

“Especially for a movie like ‘Top Gun: Maverick’, a tribute to the US military released in time for the Memorial holiday in the US, there’s a clear motive to play for the show. the movie’s most trusted audience segments,” she said, “and it seems to have paid off financially.”

Source link

news7h

News7h: Update the world's latest breaking news online of the day, breaking news, politics, society today, international mainstream news .Updated news 24/7: Entertainment, Sports...at the World everyday world. Hot news, images, video clips that are updated quickly and reliably

Related Articles

Back to top button