Movies and TV shows are a very interesting part of the Chinese life. I’m dividing this into several sections because there are lots of things to explain.
Movies in the Cinema
There is no movie rating system in China, unlike the rigid G/PG/R system of America. The powers that be screen a movie, and if they think it is appropriate for the general masses to see, then it goes to the theaters. Only a certain number of foreign movies are allowed in a cinema per year. Sometimes, a movie will show in theaters for a week or two, and then be taken out for no apparent reason. When we have asked why this happens, a possible answer is that they realized it was really ok for everyone to watch, or that it wasn’t popular and they didn’t want to waste one of their few slots for foreign movies on it.
Movies on the Internet
We have been able to find tons of popular movies on Chinese websites like youku.com, which is just their version of youtube.com. Sometimes they have Chinese subtitles, which is great for showing kids in class, and sometimes they are cam copies with Arabic dubbing (haven’t figured why it’s in Arabic..). One of the most common issues when trying to find a video is that the title had been translated into crazy Chinglish. For example, the new version of The Karate Kid is on the Internet as “Kung Fu Dreams”. The titles of movies are translated into Chinese as best as possible, but when they translate them back to English it creates a new translation. We have found that the best way to find a movie online is to try to find the Chinese translation and look it up that way. When all else fails, we ask for help from a Chinese person!
TV Shows on the Internet
When I came to China, I was worried that I would be unable to watch my favorite TV shows. Turns out I had nothing to worry about. I have been able to find almost every episode of all the series I like to watch back online on one website or another. Usually I have to deal with Chinese subtitles blocking part of the scene, but I’ve gotten quite used to then. One particular website has people uploading the episodes of the series in order, soon after they show in the US. I am considering continuing to use said websites when I get back home to the States, I’m getting spoiled without having to wait for commercials!
Movies and TV Shows in the Stores
Here we come to the most interesting section of all (to me at least). Only a month or two after most movies come out in the States, we can buy decent, if not very nice BluRay versions of movies. Same with TV shows, as soon as the season is finished, it is for sale. There are two copies available of most movies, one being a cheaper decent copy, the second being an actual copy in a box like we purchase in America. But why pay 28 yuan for the box, when you can buy a good copy for 10 yuan? The we come to the whole legality thing. If you try to mail a DVD from China to the west, they will tell you no. If you try to carry a DVD onto a plane out of China, they will tell you no again. Originally, we thought this was because they were illegal copies. Recently, though, I learned the (most likely*) truth behind it. Distribution of movies in China is controlled by their Army. The Army buys the film distribution rights for China, and then sells them at cheap prices. You know when you watch a movie, and the Federal Warning says “This movie is for private viewing only”? Well the videos sold here are for “Viewing in China only” which is why they don’t want them sent out of the country, but also why they can sell movies on the side of the street without and repercussions. Now, does this mean I cannot take home the approximately 150 movies I have purchased since I have been here? Nope, just gotta put em in my checked baggage among my American bought movies, and I should be as good as gold.
*Why most likely: This reasoning has been researched by one of the teachers who has lived here for 4 years and is married to a Chinese woman. However, there is still a possibility of some error in translation.
Movies in the Cinema
There is no movie rating system in China, unlike the rigid G/PG/R system of America. The powers that be screen a movie, and if they think it is appropriate for the general masses to see, then it goes to the theaters. Only a certain number of foreign movies are allowed in a cinema per year. Sometimes, a movie will show in theaters for a week or two, and then be taken out for no apparent reason. When we have asked why this happens, a possible answer is that they realized it was really ok for everyone to watch, or that it wasn’t popular and they didn’t want to waste one of their few slots for foreign movies on it.
Movies on the Internet
We have been able to find tons of popular movies on Chinese websites like youku.com, which is just their version of youtube.com. Sometimes they have Chinese subtitles, which is great for showing kids in class, and sometimes they are cam copies with Arabic dubbing (haven’t figured why it’s in Arabic..). One of the most common issues when trying to find a video is that the title had been translated into crazy Chinglish. For example, the new version of The Karate Kid is on the Internet as “Kung Fu Dreams”. The titles of movies are translated into Chinese as best as possible, but when they translate them back to English it creates a new translation. We have found that the best way to find a movie online is to try to find the Chinese translation and look it up that way. When all else fails, we ask for help from a Chinese person!
TV Shows on the Internet
When I came to China, I was worried that I would be unable to watch my favorite TV shows. Turns out I had nothing to worry about. I have been able to find almost every episode of all the series I like to watch back online on one website or another. Usually I have to deal with Chinese subtitles blocking part of the scene, but I’ve gotten quite used to then. One particular website has people uploading the episodes of the series in order, soon after they show in the US. I am considering continuing to use said websites when I get back home to the States, I’m getting spoiled without having to wait for commercials!
Movies and TV Shows in the Stores
Here we come to the most interesting section of all (to me at least). Only a month or two after most movies come out in the States, we can buy decent, if not very nice BluRay versions of movies. Same with TV shows, as soon as the season is finished, it is for sale. There are two copies available of most movies, one being a cheaper decent copy, the second being an actual copy in a box like we purchase in America. But why pay 28 yuan for the box, when you can buy a good copy for 10 yuan? The we come to the whole legality thing. If you try to mail a DVD from China to the west, they will tell you no. If you try to carry a DVD onto a plane out of China, they will tell you no again. Originally, we thought this was because they were illegal copies. Recently, though, I learned the (most likely*) truth behind it. Distribution of movies in China is controlled by their Army. The Army buys the film distribution rights for China, and then sells them at cheap prices. You know when you watch a movie, and the Federal Warning says “This movie is for private viewing only”? Well the videos sold here are for “Viewing in China only” which is why they don’t want them sent out of the country, but also why they can sell movies on the side of the street without and repercussions. Now, does this mean I cannot take home the approximately 150 movies I have purchased since I have been here? Nope, just gotta put em in my checked baggage among my American bought movies, and I should be as good as gold.
*Why most likely: This reasoning has been researched by one of the teachers who has lived here for 4 years and is married to a Chinese woman. However, there is still a possibility of some error in translation.
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