The Monster Hunter movie has been pulled from Chinese cinemas, due to a joke being perceived as mocking the people of China.
As previously reported, the film contained a line which enraged Chinese audiences. While altered in the Chinese subtitles, the original English has a character joke “What sort of knees are these? Chi-knees.” The line was said by Chinese-American actor Jin Au-Yeung (also known as MC Jin), while pointing to his own knees.
Despite the play-on-words, Chinese audiences felt it referenced an old rhyme from English-speaking nations (“Chinese, Japanese, dirty knees, look at these” followed by pointing at breasts or mockery of Asian features). This resulted in Chinese fans review bombing Monster Hunter: World.
Now, CNN Business reports the film has been pulled from Chinese cinemas just days after the film premiered. In a post on Chinese social media platform Weibo, Capcom reportedly apologized to fans.
“After hearing everyone’s feedback about the movie, we have collected your opinions and have relayed them to the relevant companies. Capcom has always been devoted to providing good quality games to players and we hope not to disappointment you in the future”
Translation: CNN Business
CNN Business also reports that fans have been so outraged, they felt the film was attempting to humiliate China. At least one person on social media reportedly called for actor MC Jin to “apologize to the public.” One Chinese film critic, Uncle Yuan, reportedly rejected the film being pulled over the lines. “Why was the movie pulled? Because [we are] not confident about our culture?”
You can find the full rundown (via a prior trailer video description) below.
“Behind our world, there is another: a world of dangerous and powerful monsters that rule their domain with deadly ferocity. When an unexpected sandstorm transports Captain Artemis (Milla Jovovich) and her unit (TI Harris, Meagan Good, Diego Boneta) to a new world, the soldiers are shocked to discover that this hostile and unknown environment is home to enormous and terrifying monsters immune to their firepower. In their desperate battle for survival, the unit encounters the mysterious Hunter (Tony Jaa), whose unique skills allow him to stay one step ahead of the powerful creatures. As Artemis and Hunter slowly build trust, she discovers that he is part of a team led by the Admiral (Ron Perlman). Facing a danger so great it could threaten to destroy their world, the brave warriors combine their unique abilities to band together for the ultimate showdown.”
Monster Hunter premieres in the west on December 30th, 2020.
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Image: Rotten Tomatoes
