In China, James Bond Is Censored Not Stirred

Transcript

STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:

In today's last word in business is: censored, not stirred.

(SOUNDBITE OF MOVIE, "SKYFALL")

DANIEL CRAIG: (as James Bond) Bond, James Bond.

RENEE MONTAGNE, HOST:

The new Bond film "Skyfall" is now playing in the world's second-largest movie market - that would be China - and some 007 fans are furious about the nips and tucks Chinese censors have made to the movie.

INSKEEP: The Wall Street Journal reports that censors edited some scenes - scenes involving prostitutes, as well as politics, and a scene where Chinese character is shot by a hit man. All this has led to a conspiracy theory spreading on the Internet. The theory is that Chinese officials may have changed the movie to make it less interesting and therefore less of a box office threat to domestic movies.

MONTAGNE: Well, if there is a conspiracy, it doesn't look like it's working. On Chinese social media sites, many commented that they just buy pirated versions of the original, uncensored movie and watch it at home.

That's the business news on MORNING EDITION from NPR News. I'm Renee Montagne.

INSKEEP: And I'm Steve Inskeep.

(SOUNDBITE OF JAMES BOND THEME SONG) Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.