Houston Community News >> Rush Hour 3 Movie
7/31/2007 HONG KONG - CHINESE
officials have expressed concerns about scenes involving Chinese gangsters in
Jackie Chan's new action police comedy Rush Hour 3, casting doubt on the movie's
release in the country, a Hollywood trade magazine reported on Tuesday. Variety
magazine said on its Asia website that Chinese officials believe Rush Hour 3,
which features Chan and Chris Tucker combating Chinese gangsters in Paris, is
'fundamentally anti-Chinese'.
The 'Rush Hour' series revolves around the racial humour derived from the
pairing of a Chinese (Chan) and black American (Tucker) police officer.
China's Film Bureau often asks foreign filmmakers to edit scenes they consider
offensive.
Censors recently cut scenes of Chow Yun-fat depicted as a bald, scarred pirate
in Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, saying the images insulted China's
people, state media reported.
The Chinese government carefully screens foreign media content and allows in
only about 20 foreign films a year.
Variety said Chinese officials won't offer filmmakers a chance to edit Rush Hour
3.
Chan's JC Group owns the distribution rights to Rush Hour 3 in Hong Kong and
China.
JC Group Senior Vice President Solon So said New Line Cinema was in charge of
distributing the movie and he did not know its status in China.
New Line Cinema has not yet commented on the Variety report, and China's Film
Bureau did not answer inquiries.
Rush Hour 3 is scheduled to be released in the US Aug 10.
(Contributed by AP)