VietNamNet Bridge – Audiences are becoming increasingly proficient in detecting which movies are cut artlessly by censors, and increasingly irritated as a result.

Angelina Jolie in “Beowulf”

The list of movies which audiences recently have complained were cut unconvincingly include Sex and the City, Wanted and previously Shoot’ Em up, Knocked Up, L’amant, and The Piano.

Most recently, audiences jumped on the case of Painted Skin, a Chinese movie. This film has some scenes that depict sexual relations between the lead actor and actress. These scenes are said to be “hot” but nice, not vulgar at all. In Vietnam, these scenes are heavily edited – perhaps more than in China.

However, Chau Quang Phuoc, in charge of public relations of BHD, a film reporting company, said Painted Skin was bought from a Chinese partner and that the version had been censored already by Chinese agencies. Phuoc said the Vietnam Cinema Agency didn’t cut any more scenes.

He refused to say whether the removal of a lot of scenes had affected the movie or not.

Phuong Ha, from HCM City, said censors should respect movie works because each detail has its own value. If the movie is allowed in Vietnam, censors should let the audiences enjoy the entire, completed work.

“It is necessary to have a system to classify films based on audience members’ ages and give warnings to audiences; it is not necessary to cut films,” Ha said.

This summer, Sex and the City was introduced in Vietnam, for adults only, but some scenes were still cut. Many viewers complained that it is absurd to cut a movie for adults. The original film is 148 minutes long but in Vietnam it is only 120 minutes. All scenes and words involving sexuality by female characters around the age of 40 were cut.

A female film director said this was more acceptable because the story is still clear and understandable. Moreover, Vietnamese audience’s cultural angle is different from American audiences’.

However, “Even elderly and picky audiences still want to watch a full version,” said the director, who asked to remain anonymous.

However, censors seem to be confused in their job. In late 2007, Beowulf was imported into Vietnam. This movie has some nude scenes of Angelina Jolie and some violent scenes, but as the directors used magic to make real scenes look like animation, the movie was widely screened as an animated film for children.

(Source: Dat Viet)