I first learned about 2012 during a visit to the States this past summer and was instantly sold on the doomsday scenario. Though it stars John Cusack and Danny Glover (as the United States President no less. What happened to Morgan Freeman? Oh right, he was in the Elijah Wood abortion that was Deep Impact), the real star for me is the premise of cataclysmic disaster befalling humanity, and I greatly anticipated the movie’s release many months later, though not without some consternation of knowing I wouldn’t be able to watch it in an American megaplex but instead possibly over PPStream on my itty-bitty laptop screen. The next thing I know, months have passed and I’m caught by surprise that 2012 movie posters are appearing throughout Shanghai, heralding it as one of the few movies China has allowed into the country this year. Excellent. And so, I went to watch it, plopping down 60 RMB for a evening showing in Shanghai, though unfortunately not on an IMAX screen.
Rumors of Censorship Persist
There have been quite a few reports commenting at length on 2012 pandering to Chinese audiences, making the Chinese out to be the saviors of humanity, and thus escaping China’s censors. Interestingly, there are rumors amongst Chinese that the movie they’re seeing is still edited, that scenes involving flooding of China (one specifically being Tiananmen Square) were cut. Having seen the movie in a Chinese theatre, I can attest to several scenes that looked tampered with, where dialogue seemed to jump, but I’m not sure if those were just bad edits by the filmmakers. Therefore, I can’t confirm the validity of those rumors and suspect them to be just that: rumors. That, however, is what’s so interesting and says tons about mainland Chinese self-awareness, that they may be bitter enough with their own censors that they’ll propagate, believe, and perpetuate such rumors. I’m with them. I almost wanted to return my ticket if I was paying to see an incomplete film. Principles, man, principles!
Pandering to Chinese Audiences
Rumors of censorship aside, the other big issue is the aforementioned “pandering” to Chinese audiences, the alleged portrayal of Chinese greatness and benevolence. Uh what? Did we watch the same movie? I didn’t see squat that made China look good. Let me address the big plot points these reports mention:
‘The task would be impossible if given to any other nation.”
I didn’t see Americans “exclam[ing] that entrusting the Chinese to build [the arks] is the wisest decision“. I saw business as usual, that being China continuing to be the world’s factory. It’s not so much the wisest decision as the obvious decision. It wasn’t China being the “savior to the world, prying it from the edge of impending doom,” it’s just that China is the only nation with enough man-power to possibly build humanity-saving arks in under two years. Who else would you give the project to if you needed tons of labor, secrecy, and expediency? The United Auto Workers union? A Chinese even quipped, “Wait, I thought Americans wouldn’t trust Chinese product quality? Why would they have us build them?” OMG, they used lead paint in these arks! The Chinese are waging chemical warfare against us even in the end of days!
The People’s Liberation Army descends from the skies to offer help to Americans
I didn’t see the People’s Liberation Army helicopter dropping down to offer help. I saw it landing only to pick up those who possessed the one billion euro green boarding pass, as agreed, and no one else. Sure, he saluted, but that’s what soldiers do. If your “400-seat threater broke into a full-house applause“, believe me, it had little to do with how the movie positively portrayed the Chinese and everything to do with simply seeing your country and people making an appearance in a big-budget Hollywood blockbuster. Don’t forget, that saluting PLA officer (who, by the way, spoke remarkably American English) took the rich fat Russian and his fat twin sons but then proceeded to leave the “American survivors” to freeze to their deaths in the freakin’ Himalayas! Yeah! Go China!
China among the first nations to save those poor refugees
I didn’t see China as “among the first nations to open the gates” of its ark towards the end of the movie “to admit more refugees” (aka, the rich bastards whose own scheduled Ark #3 was damaged by a collapsed roof during the latest tremor and thus rendered unusable). We don’t even know if China had its own ark, as it seemed to be only a contingent of the people and nations aboard one of the eight arks headed by and represented by one of the G-8 nations. For all we know, the Chinese in that group of nations on that ark could’ve said, “Hell no! You crazy?!? Don’t open the gates!” but were nevertheless overruled by the others. It wasn’t a benevolent “China” that proactively did the compassionate thing versus a refusing selfish “America”, it was general human compassion winning over general selfish self-preservation. Heck, it was a black American who played the role of humanity’s conscience, was it not?
Seriously, what else was there in 2012 that could be misconstrued as being pro-China? Nothing really. In fact, the usual Hollywood romanticized ascetic Tibetan Buddhist monks probably got more screen time than the Chinese. Of course, I don’t think there were any egregious portrayals of China and the Chinese (at least on the surface, and a Tibetan grandma chopping off a chicken’s head off-screen for dinner doesn’t count, PETA) but what’s all this nonsense about 2012 praising or pandering to Chinese audiences? Give me a break. Anyone, Chinese or otherwise, presenting this movie as “pro-China” is egotistically reading way too much into an otherwise dumb but dazzling movie. Sorry.
Still Worth Watching
That said, Roland Emmerich’s 2012 is still marginally better than, say, Alex Proyas’ Knowing. Both are 2009 films about the end of the world but only the latter descended into preachy pseudo-religious pseudo-science (yeah). The former just remains steadfastly focused on delivering edge-of-your-seat digitally-generated calamities with a half-hearted reminder that 1) life isn’t fair, and 2) who gets to live on says something about us as a society. Oh, and the kids in the latter were a lot more annoying.
2012 is about 2 hours and 40 minutes long, available in mainland China theatres in English with Chinese subtitles. Note that there are several portions of the movie where the characters speak other foreign languages, which are subtitled in Chinese but not English. Despite the cliched plot, as a special FX movie, 2012 is still worth plopping down some cash to enjoy on the big screen of a cinema.
Trailers and Previews:
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A review of the 2009 Chinese film on the Nanjing Massacre that proved to be shocking as expected, but not the propaganda film that many foreigners feared.
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“That part took place in Japan, assholes.” Characteristic of her witty self, Shanghaiist Editor Elaine Chow drops a final a-bomb insult after expressing...
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Review of the film adaptation of Jia Mai’s espionage thriller novel starring Zhang Hanyu & Zhou Xun as spies fighting the Japanese-controlled puppet government.
Nanjing! Nanjing! Movie Excellent, Made Me Cry Like A Little Girl 
Quote: Elaine Chow on Chadni Chowk to China 
The Message (风声): Spooky & Sordid Chinese Espionage Thriller 
Judging by those two videos you posted: Has Roland Emmerich never heard of New Zealand? A country that has a history of making special effects look, like, actually real? Because what I just saw was less than rubbish. You expect me to believe that’s the best Hollywood can come up with these days? If so, then Hollywood might as well just sink into the sea and leave things to people who can actually make films.
Thoughtful indie film “Primer” – $7000
CG dominated Hollywood crap – $200 million
Watching the movies with a bunch of geeky friends who understands the (pseudo)scientific babbles, priceless.
There are something money can’-oh you get the rest.
Heh, very true, but come now, you know you enjoy some mindless CG Hollywood blockbusters too! ;) Cheers.
“提示: This clip has been blocked in your region”
Strange, which clip and what region? I don’t think I’ve ever experienced that with Youku before.
The bottom clip, and the region is California, USA. I’ve experienced this often in China, when I use my VPN. Sometimes, when I’m really REALLY cheap and don’t wanna buy the DVD (perfectly legit I’m sure), I just catch whatever series on Youku. However, gotta remember to exit the VPN before I do so, cause alot of stuff gives you this message
Okay, so you’re in China but on a VPN that shows you’re in CA, USA, right? I rarely use a VPN or proxy but I’ll have to test that out. I sometimes run into an error message on Youku videos but I can’t remember if I was on a VPN/proxy when that happened. Usually, I just immediately hit refresh and it ends up working (but again, don’t recall if I was on VPN or if it was just a China internet hiccup). Either way, they’re just trailers, you might as well go on YouTube or the official website to see the original ones anyway.
Check out PPStream though if you’re really cheap. Much more reliable than bootleg DVDs in my experience.
I’m with you. I just saw the movie in the US, expecting to see scenes “praising” the Chinese. And frankly, nothing. (And I’m a little offended by the notion that China could only manage to finish a few arks in the 3 years we were given.)
The film-makers intentionally made this a “multi-national” movie. There were scenes to make Russian and American nationalists cheer (and groan), too.
Oh, and if you want to call out what scenes you thought might’ve been cut, I’ll try to remember what we saw here in the US. I can certainly confirm there’s absolutely no scene whatsoever showing Tiananmen Square being flooded.
Cheers, I think they were just rumors amongst the locals and I can understand how easy it is to believe those rumors. Every other report claims nothing was cut. I wish I could remember more details about the scenes I felt were particularly jumpy but I can’t, so I can’t really describe them enough for you to tell me if you saw the same or not.
“there are rumors amongst Chinese that the movie they’re seeing is still edited, that scenes involving flooding of China (one specifically being Tiananmen Square) were cut.”
I saw this movie in Hong Kong and there was no such TSQ scene. Hong Kong generally does not give a rat’s ass about what they censor in mainland China (ref “Lust, Caution”), so I will bet that there was no such TSQ scene If anything, it would be an unmitigated fiasco if Hong Kong edited that out when it can be seen in the US of A.”
Yes, they love making up rumors to rile people in China — it is known as the art of ‘trolling’.
Roland, no idea where these rumors originated from but like I said, I heard it from and amongst the Chinese first. Also, lol, I think the art of trolling expands far beyond merely pissing off people in China!
I would suggest that watching America drown is too much of a Chinese fantasy to warrant censorship – even if a few other countries get sucked under in the process.
And no – I haven’t seen it (yet).
Only if you think “Chinese fantasy” = some fat White guy who thought Giraffes and some over-rated oil paintings are more valuable than a “few Chinese workers”.
Thank you for building our ark, now please go quietly and die in a corner while us White dudes sail into the sunset with our own fucking zoo and art galleries.
Our conscience noted that his room could of sheltered ten people in there. Obviously keeping a few rich White people in the “quality” of life that they are accustomed to was more important than saving lives. shitard.
Can’t wait for the new “Red Dawn”! I wonder if it will get any cuts in China? :P
From what I’ve seen, a Singaporean newspaper first reported it. But I don’t know which source it used.
on an unrelated note, what the hell does “Ip man” mean? I get the leaf name, but wtf is Ip?
Cantonese.
…though I think Intellectual Property Man as a franchise totally has potential.
Make sense.
But have you noticed that the movie at least tells the world one thing, that is, “Without China, nobody can survive”, no matter whether it’s its purpose?
>the movie at least tells the world one thing, that is, “Without Indian scientists, nobody can survive”
Fix’d
well china does owns pretty much the US in terms of finance, japan and the arab states do too.. its not surprise if recent holywood movies are sucking up to the chinese now..
If you owe the bank $5000 the bank owns you, if you owe the bank $5,000,000,000,000 you own the bank.
I read that somewhere :)
I’ve seen 2012 in both a North American theatre and in Beijing. There were several scenes that I recall being cut in the version in Beijing, and I wasn’t even looking for it at the time.
Those include:
1) After the plane crash in China, our heroes are approached by Chinese military who raise weapons against them after they don’t seem to have tickets for the ships. The raising of the weapons is cut out.
2) At the beginning of project in China, when we see a mountain side being blown up, a government figure gathers a crowd and asks who can read, write, and weld. Others are roughly handled by the Chinese military. Also cut.
I can confirm I didn’t see those scenes in Shanghai but can anyone else confirm that there were such scenes in the film shown outside China?
Yeah, I saw those scenes. It’s kinda foolish that they would cut those though
hdzone的中文版都有。
I so agreed with you, in most of the respects, except the one you mentioned at last “as a special FX movie, 2012 is still worth plopping down some cash to enjoy on the big screen of a cinema.”
I mean, come one, I have become so numb about watching so-called big-budget blogbusters that are made mainly of CG. That says, I didn’t really enjoy this stupid movie.
Not to mention I felt a sense of humiliation since I am a Chinese national, the story line basically sucks. Lots of stupid scenes and cliche conversations had made me wanting to ask Hollywood for refund of the the ticket and, especially, my precious 2 hours and 40 mins.
Overall, it wasn’t at all a quality movie. I don’t think I am ever going to the cinema and watch CG movie from that on.
Haha, fair enough, but you know, people have a different appreciation for things and I happen to enjoy seeing how special effects improves over time.
“We don’t even know if China had its own ark, as it seemed to be only a contingent of the people and nations aboard one of the eight arks headed by and represented by one of the G-8 nations.”
Nine arks actually. :T
and don’t forget the hundreds of “Shanzhai” arks floating all over the place.
You got that right.
Btw, I like your sarcasm… really.
May I also add… If the world decided to shift its manufacturing base to another country other than China, there wouldn’t be any “shanzhai” stuff floating around.
Love it! (The movie, I mean).
60RMB for a movie ticket??? Gasp.
I had the misfortune to watch this on my apartment building’s ‘movie channel’ – I think the building manager got hold of a pirated DVD from one of the residents.
Anyway, it sucked.
Suspension of disbelief was suspended; never more so than at the suggestion that China (in its current nationalistic, hegomonic manifestation) would build life-saving arks and let any foreigners on board. Unless the intention was to enslave them, of course.
It is possible I missed a few salient details – the mute button was used extensively for the last two hours. In fact I’m still not clear; did Hu Jintao get safely on board? Was the Dalai Lama confined to steerage?
Right, because China has a history of enslaving people by the color of their skin.
Hi,
Why do people think 2012 will be the end of the world? I mean what if the Mayans ment that was the end of the way things worked now. Sort of age unlike that of the previous ones. That this new age starting at 2012 will not be a repeat cycle like before. Strange movie idea though.
It’s all bull. And if you haven’t realized it yet, the movie doesn’t show the “End of the World” but exactly what you mentioned, a “change of plans”. In other words, god decided to restart the game.
2012 presents a strange and bizarre confluence of multiple beliefs, mythologies, traditions, predictions, prophecies, and even cosmologies. Never before has one period of time (or even one date — December 21, 2012) been the object of so much dooms day speculation.
What would have really happenned when the world leaders contracted China to build their 3 arks, the Chinese workers would ramp up production after business hours and produced a dozen “counterfiet” arks and the whole Chinese population would have floated away to a bright future!
I believe that Chinese people can make those arks because they do have a lot of people to do labor, plus there is 1.3 billion in population. But to have it in 2 years man, it is kinda not realistic. I wondered why they chose China instead of Europe or somewhere else. I am Chinese but what are the US peoples’ purpose in trying to please the Chinese in that movie. Gosh..
I remember thinking: “Why in the hell are the Chinese letting all these foreigners into their country?” It doesn’t make any sense. Supposedly they had like 400K seats on the arks, and their letting these Americans run the show?
What a bunch of pathetic primitive racist yankies! So what if the movie praises chinese or China? There’re hundred of yanki movies portrating yankies as the God of the world even when there are the devils.
As someone who is born and grew up in who called the western world, I know very well the west is simply a fake civillisation with fake human right, fake free speech. Almost all we see in the main stream here are white supremacy propaganda.
There is only free speech as far as it is praising the white or patronising the non-white, there is human-right as far as it doesn’t harm the benefit and the greed of the white.
Nice try bud. Did you collect your 5 mao?