MarkD
03-10-2012, 03:38 PM
During the film's launch in China, the Hollywood blockbuster Avatar (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avatar_%282009_film%29) is reportedly being pulled from nearly 1,600 2-D screens across China, to benefit the wide release of this film.[11] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confucius_%282010_film%29#cite_note-nytimes-10) Instead, Avatar will continue to be shown on the fewer, but more popular 900 3-D screens throughout China, which has generated over 64% of the film's total ticket sales in China.[11] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confucius_%282010_film%29#cite_note-nytimes-10)[12] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confucius_%282010_film%29#cite_note-latimes-11) The Hong Kong (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hong_Kong) newspaper Apple Daily (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_Daily) speculates that the Chinese authorities were worried Avatar had seized the market share from domestic films and noted that many of the vacant cinema slots will be replaced by Confucius,[13] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confucius_%282010_film%29#cite_note-12) and the film would be "drawing unwanted attention to the sensitive issue" concerning forced evictions of Chinese homes.[12] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confucius_%282010_film%29#cite_note-latimes-11) However, China's State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_Administration_of_Radio,_Film_and_Television ) responded by stating it was a "commercial decision", and because the "box office performance of the 2D version has not been great."[14] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confucius_%282010_film%29#cite_note-13) However, due to low attendance for Confucius, and high demand for Avatar, the Chinese government reversed their decision, and allowed Avatar to remain on some 2-D screens in China. This choice appeared to be at least partly based on the financial performance of the two films, with Avatar grossing nearly 2.5 times more money per day.[15] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confucius_%282010_film%29#cite_note-14)