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6.04.2010

china knows about red dawn, and they're not happy

I was wondering how long it would take before someone in China got wind of the Red Dawn remake. Well, they're aware of it, and people ain't happy, thanks to a couple of editorials in one of the leading Chinese state-run newspapers: "Red Dawn" remake irks Beijing. Well, what did you think was going to happen?
"U.S. reshoots Cold War movie to demonize China" and "American movie plants hostile seeds against China," read the Monday and Tuesday editorials in the Beijing-based Global Times, whose daily circulation, in Chinese and English editions, is about 1.5 million.

Coming on the heels of secretary of state Hilary Clinton's China visit, the commentaries said the $42 million film, directed by Dan Bradley and starring Connor Cruise (son of Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman), "is deeply rooted in Americans' fear of China's rise."

"Despite the world's focus on U.S.-China relations in the strategic and economic dialogue and their increasing economic connections, China can still feel U.S. distrust and fear, especially among its people. Americans' suspicions about China are the best ground for the hawks to disseminate fear and doubt, which is the biggest concern with the movie 'Red Dawn,'" one commentary said.
I imagine this movie will not be allowed to screen in China. I'm betting MGM probably isn't even going to try. You've got a millions of people mad at your movie, and the release is still half a year away. Smart.

I recently acquired a copy of the script, and indeed, it is quite possibly "the most unnecessary, irresponsible Sinophobic film in America's history." It seems that the producers were really interested in scaring the crap out of America. And China is the boogeyman.