Hollywood pandering to China is killing blockbusters

Zazen

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I just watched Independence Day here in China and there were people laughing during some scenes with horrible product placement. It was quite obvious while watching this film that the studios are really counting on China's box office. They even put Angelababy in the film who is a huge star over here.

I think studios are too focused on movies doing well in China. They play it safe in order to get past censorship and by partnering with China they always put some random actors in who are never given proper character development and it just comes off as cheap.

It all started with Iron-Man 3 having special scenes in it for Chinese audiences but since then it's gotten worse. Transformers: Age of Extinction is probably the worst example of this. But now with Disney purchasing Star Wars you see it in their films as well. The weakest scene in The Force Awakens imo was the scene with that stupid tentacle monster and the random Asian actors (wtf was that? They're not even Chinese. Maybe they thought Asians would like this?) who all had no point in being there. Hopefully Donnie Yen and Jiang Wen are not wasted in the upcoming Rogue One.

Oh and let's not forget all that controversy surronding Doctor Strange. A character was changed just to please China.

This is a trend that is just going to become more and more noticeable as time goes on.

If people make good movies, audiences around the world will go to see it regardless. Hell, look at Titanic. It's a film I don't really care for but the movie is hugely popular in China.
 
China supposedly has over 31,000 movie screens according to reports and will become the largest Box office Market by 2017. Hollywood is a not stupid it is greedy but successful businesses in general are greedy and know what are the key Market trends.
 
China supposedly has over 31,000 movie screens according to reports and will become the largest Box office Market by 2017. Hollywood is a not stupid it is greedy but successful businesses in general are greedy and know what are the key Market trends.

Oh I totally get that but I think American audiences are getting watered down products as a result.

People complain about there being so many PG-13 blockbusters but I think China is a main reason behind that decision. We had a lot of R movies in the past when the domestic box office was the main source of income. Times have changed but hopefully Deadpool's success woke some studious up.
 
Oh I totally get that but I think American audiences are getting watered down products as a result.

People complain about there being so many PG-13 blockbusters but I think China is a main reason behind that decision. We had a lot of R movies in the past when the domestic box office was the main source of income. Times have changed but hopefully Deadpool's success woke some studious up.

True but I guarantee some greedy execs are also looking at Deadpool and saying that's 100-200 mill we missed out on by not being allowed in China.
 
I don't blame them.

Warcraft has made 30 million here so far and 400 million in china. These numbers might be a little off I'm just going off memory, but they're basically in the right ballpark. I think it was like 150-160 million to make. So while it's bombing hard here, it's actually going to make a profit because of china.
 
I'm more surprised they're not making two cuts of films. Try to blow away crowds in both markets by pandering to their respective wants.
 
I don't blame them.

Warcraft has made 30 million here so far and 400 million in china. These numbers might be a little off I'm just going off memory, but they're basically in the right ballpark. I think it was like 150-160 million to make. So while it's bombing hard here, it's actually going to make a profit because of china.

I think you meant 400 international, the film made 215 million in China so far. But yeah, I guess China does keep certain franchises alive. Pacific Rim and hopefully Warcraft. I guess there is a good side to China having a big influence too.
 
I'm more surprised they're not making two cuts of films. Try to blow away crowds in both markets by pandering to their respective wants.

I was thinking the exact same thing. Just make a few specific Chinese scenes and a 'Chinese cut' and make bigger profits in both markets?
 
Corporatism has been killing Hollywood for close to a few decades now. The China shit is just a next stage development of that.
 
Oh I totally get that but I think American audiences are getting watered down products as a result.

It's not far different from how videogames got "watered down" to please murrica and mainstream murrica as clear new main targets during PS3/360 era, and now again to please SJW american trends

Well, SJWtardness is ruining tv too or i will not get Idris Elba as Roland Deschain and The Hound forced to be some kind of mangina girl-power manifesto

As sad it is if you like this or that kind of media, whatever does more money get a reasonable priority, in other words deal with it

Aside that marketing focus group that lead to recycles and age rating (the lower they can get age-limit, the better for them) are ruining hollywood.
That and sequels/reboots
 
You only notice it because now it's also pandering to a different culture. Hollywood has been pandering to viewers in general because viewers are the one that makes them the money. With global economy shifting and Hollywood movies being global, this is just inevitable. If you don't like it, watch indie films where global market has very little influence over them.
 
I don't blame them.

Warcraft has made 30 million here so far and 400 million in china. These numbers might be a little off I'm just going off memory, but they're basically in the right ballpark. I think it was like 150-160 million to make. So while it's bombing hard here, it's actually going to make a profit because of china.

All that tells you is that the Chinese have no idea how a movie should be crafted.
 
Corporatism has been killing Hollywood for close to a few decades now. The China shit is just a next stage development of that.

I agree and also would add that Hollywood doesn't always know what might make money or what the people might want. Look at Passion of the Christ. No studio would take it on for Mel Gibson so he had to pool money together and make it himself. It went on to make 611 million. Think about that shit. This is a country with millions of Christians and no movie studio would take on the film even with one of their own big names, Mel Gibson, directing it.
 
Imagine what will happen when the Chinese buy UFC
 
Imagine what will happen when the Chinese buy UFC


It will be Godzilla vs King Kong with Optimus Prime vs Pacific Rim as co main...


Micheal Bays of the world would rejoice
 
Exactlt bro. I get that its a business, but theyre trying too hard and too obvious and it ruins it for me a bit.


...especially since China is bullying the rest of asia. War is coming folks. (off topic i know)
 
All that tells you is that the Chinese have no idea how a movie should be crafted.

This isn't aimed at you, but this is one of the reasons I like this shift. It feels like these days most Americans want to be amateur critics instead of just watching movies to enjoy them. It's like when they get to the theatre their goal isn't to have fun and escape for a couple hours, it's to nitpick and judge so they can be Siskel & Ebert for their friends. In this regard, maybe the Chinese are doing it right.
 
Well, tough. We're gonna have to deal with it. We are no longer the financial end-all be-all on the globe.

Our sensibilities will adapt. One can always go back to watching movies that focus on the actual story.
 
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