The Mummy 3: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor recently debuted in Chinese cinemas.
Many people were very disappointed (especially the people who liked the first two movies) and many Chinese were also very angry. Here is an example of some of the topics that recently appeared on many Chinese BBS forums:
Made by American dogs Mummy 3 insults our country’s founding emperor, can you still put up with it?
Crappy, motherfucking, trash American director, actually made this insult to China’s founding emperor movie, that trash director is simply smearing our country, smearing our ancestors, and you guys can still put up with it?
Motherfucking saying our founding emperor, Qin Shi Huang, is a 3 headed weird dragon, changing our Chinese ancestor’s good image into a dragon, smearing into worthlessness. All Chinese people know that the dragon is god in our hearts, but he vilifies the dragon into a monster! Also, that trash actor old witch [Michelle Yeoh] lived 2000 years and gave birth to a 2000-year-old daughter and gave her daughter to an American! Fucking Motherfucker! Moreover, that crappy trash American director even made it so those ten people can completely kill our China’s founding emperor and all of the emperor’s millions of soldiers! Once again, I despise the America.
There were people who agreed and were outraged also. However, there were also people who thought these people were overreacting. Below are some of the more interesting or funny comments:
From Baidu Tieba (“Post Bar”):
If you are a motherfucking Chinese, bump these kind of posts!!!
If you are the Sick Man of Asia then do not bump!
Motherfuckers, Chinese emperor’s life and death is beyond the control of foreigners to decide…
I hope Jet Li (my idol) will no longer make these kind of movies! I am depressed!
Trash movie. I do not understand why Jet Li is always doing these types of movies. Is he willing to do anything just to make money? I look down upon him.
Even though Qin Shi Huang contributed to uniting the six kingdoms, do not forget, your own history acknowledges that he was a tyrant. I think if this movie deified Qin Shi Huang, you would turn around and still be angry~! There are still a lot of people who just follow the crowd. Can you not just watch this purely as a movie?
Sigh, you people really have issues, insisting that a movie must be historically accurate…pretending like you are all so patriotic, really really, from where I stand you are all a bunch of clowns. Even with a normal science fiction movie, you guys can drag out so many things. It is a good thing movie stars do not think like you guys, otherwise they would only make domestic movies in the future. It is a good thing SARFT does not think like you guys, otherwise we would only be able to watch domestic movies in the future. Even if we had foreign films, we would not be able to see any Chinese presence/influence. Good thing you guys are the minority, otherwise China will never make progress.
I remember during 9/11, there was someone who outrageously said “Bombed so well, why not bomb more of them?”; I still remember the foreign teacher’s sorrowful expression…so from that point on, I had an awareness that China will never earn others’ respect so long as we have that kind of countrymen.
Everyone watch your manners! Foreigners simply do not know Chinese history! It is not necessary to scold them!
Really cannot figure out what you mental retards are thinking!!! This is only a movie, why insist on adding so many unnecessary elements! Movies are simply to be enjoyed, and this is not even an epic film or a historical drama, it is just an entertainment film only!! Do we not have movies in China that belittle foreigners, but have others ever said anything!! I just discovered there are some people who simply like to blindly motherfucking cause commotion, but know absolutely nothing, understand nothing, and just like to motherfucking stand on the side stirring up trouble! Your type of people like to anonymously express those small-minded opinions, right? Very well, I will also anonymously scold your type of rubbish!! Go eat shit!!!
There is no need to criticize here!
If you want to criticize, criticize the movie!
Do not make it into an issue between two countries!
This kind of movie simply should not be shown in China’s movie theatres! Simply cannot stand capitalist countries messing with our Chinese traditional culture! This is simply cultural imperialism!
I motherfucking endured it. Once our country gets strong, I will motherfucking go play [George] Washington!
Comments from KDS, “Yesterday saw Mummy 3, a review” and “Have you guys seen Mummy 3? I have been struck by lightning!!“:
Three words: A complete mess!!!
Tarnishes the reputation of the first and second movie! Dammit.
No wonder that original actress did not continue her role, the script was really terrible.
The Terracotta Warriors spoke English…
Well, the “wu mao dang” can find a way to argue that English originated from ancient China…
You bunch of babies.
When the State Administration of Radio, Film, and Television (SARFT) wanted to disallow this movie [from being shown in China], everyone criticized SARFT. Now that the movie was allowed to enter China, everyone criticizes the movie.
Should the Egyptians be angry with 1 and 2 also?
I thought it was pretty good.
The unimaginable thing was that several thousand year old tomb guards could speak fluent English.
So stupid~~random Chinese and English~~one moment speaking Chinese another moment speaking English~~surprisingly they used English when summoning the dead from under the Great Wall…wow, even dead people are learning English now…that is not easy!
The key thing is that the director is different. It was not the same director as the first and second movie. He did not have the same skill.
Actually, 1 and 2 were also ridiculous, only thing is you are not Egyptian~~~
No big deal, after watching 1 and 2, Egyptians felt the same way as we do right now.
In short: American movies about Chinese history absolutely cannot be be viewed as historical movies.
Luckily I only spent 5 RMB and did not go to the cinema to watch! It really is bad!
And the dragon is even a Western-style dragon, with wings!
Very and extremely disappointed~~~suffered waiting for so long, only for it to turn out like this~~sigh…
A very disgusting movie~~~
Comments from Tianya, “Qin Shi Huang, you have been wronged–Mummy 3: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor discussion“:
Why watch movies with so many burdens?
Americans also make fun of and smear themselves too.A nationality that easily feels wronged is an insecure one, and one that will be difficult to progress.
Saw it, it is simply the trash of the trash, bump for the LZ…
Lou zhu emphasizes Americans too much. Because it was made by Americans, he feels uncomfortable and thinks we have been made fun of by Americans.
You really have thought too much.
Relax, it is just a commercial film, do not think it was made by Americans. They probably did not even think of making fun of you when they were making this film.
Too much self-pride is equivalent to an inferiority complex.
Remember Mel Gibson’s Braveheart and The Patriot also made British people feel hurt, particularly English people.
Mummy 1: High priest defeated by this American.
Mummy 2: Scorpion King defeated by this American.
Mummy 3: Qin Shi Huang defeated by this American.If it continues along these lines..
Mummy 4: Great Caesar resurrected, then defeated.
Mummy 5: Genghis Khan resurrected, again defeated.
Mummy 6: Napoleon also resurrected, again defeated.
Mummy 7: Even Hitler resurrected, and goes on to being defeated.All the way up to Mummy 1000, every dead famous character has been resurrected once and all were destroyed by this mighty American once.
Once the Americans can no longer think of anyone to resurrect and destroy, they will let God be resurrected, the Sun God be resurrected, Athena be resurrected, Tathagata…I cannot wait~~~
Just stop whining here. Real patriotic people should stop going to the cinemas to watch these American blockbusters. Each year, American blockbusters make so much money in China.
Let us use a practical method to show America that no Chinese will go watch the movie, so the Chinese box office = 0. We will only watch the pirated version!Show our dissatisfaction in the same way as the recent Microsoft lawsuit against the Tomato Garden fake Windows XP.
I do not believe this movie smears Chinese people. On the contrary, Chinese people fought against Qin Shi Huang, defeated Qin Shi Huang’s army, revolutionized ancient China, no longer obeying dictatorship, they were people with courage and backbone, they were China’s glory and honor.
As for the Chinese people scolding this film, they are China’s disgrace.
Most of the Chinese who had a strong reaction have servility in their bones.
If your pride was hurt by something like this then should the Egyptians have all died a few hundred times already? With so many movies made around the world, should the Germans have died a thousand times?
According to reliable sources: “Mummy 4: Resurrection of Emperor Mao.” According to the source, it is currently in the planning stages…
The story will take place in the future in 2076, the 100th anniversary of Mao’s death, where Mao is resurrected, surrounded by tens of thousands of Red Guards, another Cultural Revolution breaks out, human civilization faces an unprecedented threat, can Brendan Frasier save the world this time???
…???
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This discourse is quite interesting! I think that people should take into account that this is NOT a historical drama, it’s a fantasy movie. Chinese should be flattered that their history is considered colorful enough to be the crux of a bigtime fantasy series sequel.
I think that the Mummy 1 and 2 were better, but this is not a reason to get bent out of shape.
Yeah, it makes me wonder if any Egyptians were offended by any of these movies.
YOu must be one of many blind white americans (or white
boy) who didn’t see the subliminal messages projected by
Jewish sublime Hollywood. Again again again n again we
see this—-Whiteboy gets asian girl. Two very popular
chinese actors, Jet Li and handsome Russell Wong. Russell Wong portrayed as a rotten corpse! Jet Li is melting , rotting, on his knees in front Jew-Brandon Fraizer and other white boy—they’re standing tall watching this asian man rotting to death while asian women are standing along side of them. Yes, I do have a
white girlfriend and get laid…many xxx.
YOu must be one of many blind white americans (or white
boy) who didn’t see the subliminal messages projected by
Jewish sublime Hollywood. Again again again n again we
see this—-Whiteboy gets asian girl. Two very popular
chinese actors, Jet Li and handsome Russell Wong. Russell Wong portrayed as a rotten corpse! Jet Li is melting , rotting, on his knees in front Jew-Brandon Fraizer and other white boy—they’re standing tall watching this asian man rotting to death while asian women are standing along side of them. Yes, I do have a
white girlfriend and get laid…many xxx.
Americans tend to gleefully change everybody’s history for the purposes of big money in the movie industry. Add that to the obsession of creating ridiculous sequels with outrageous storylines for big money and you end up with something like Mummy 3.
Well, Americans create fictional history and put it in movies whereas the Chinese government creates fictional history and puts it in school textbooks…..and then it encourages the Chinese people to complain about Japanese Textbooks…similar how magicians use misdirection to fool their audiences.
You chinese are pussies
Yet the first two movies were popular in China. Shouldn’t the Egyptians be pissed off in the same way about those other movies? How can people like the first ones and be so angry about this one which simply follows in the same spirit.
It is certainly not meant to be anti-China. In fact, the Chinese emperor was used because he is so famous and known world wide. Would the movie be as interesting if it focused on some minor leader from early Uzbekistan? This is an example of Chinese “chip on the shoulder” syndrome… the ability to see offense where none was intended.
I know how strongly Chinese feel about the whole “sick man of asia” label and I agree that that is an infuriating and insulting thing but by reacting so over the top to something that was done with no insult intended only highlights an inferiority complex.
China is not the “sick man of Asia” China is the “self-important drama queen of Asia.”
“This is an example of Chinese “chip on the shoulder” syndrome… the ability to see offense where none was intended. ” – GAOSHAN
SOOOOOOOOOOO TRUE!!!!
Being half Berber I can emphasize with the Chinese. Many people in Egypt felt the first two mummy films were condescending to aspects of Egyptian history and portraying Egyptians as weak, needing the “white man” to save them. I do think one needs to take into context that this is a movie and should not be taken too seriously. Sadly however, most people learn about history and culture of other nations solely through hollywood movies which tends to present some false realities of that culture.
“Why so serious” —–Joker, Heath Ledger
the premise of the movie reflects the stereotypes and negative sentiments of the western world toward a rising china:
evil HAN emperor resurrects to take over the world and a brave white American must stop the ‘yellow peril.’
I’m surprised the chinese government doesn’t recognize this and OKed it for domestic showing.
I’m surprised Chinese people (or anyone) give a rat’s ass about these movies.
I watched Mummy 3 last night and didn’t like it. Very disappointing.
Almost every Hollywood Chinese / martial arts-type movies are the same …. lame American trying to learn kung fu in like a week, falls in love with pretty Chinese girl, beats kung fu master, beats the villain, becomes hero, wins girl’s heart.
I think the only redeeming martial arts movie was KungFu Panda.
I have watched this movie in a theater. Boring. Maybe it’s because that part of Chinese history is not as exotic as Egyptian’s in my eyes. Dark night is much much better.
The original poster must watched too much Onion.
Dark Knight rocked but I think it was banned here.
I wonder if Chinese people would get pissed to see Batman going to Hong Kong and abducting Lau, the mob’s accountant….
Chinese people should just stop watching American movies because they can’t handle them.
They can just keep watching Titanic and Forest Gump over and over and over again….
Gaoshan,
“It is certainly not meant to be anti-China. In fact, the Chinese emperor was used because he is so famous and known world wide.”
hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha. He isn’t. He is as famous “Worldwide” as Mr. Whipple.
Typical Da LU REN response. They can’t see anything that doesn’t make them look awesome without pulling out flags and having a parade. Every time I see a white guy on television they make him to be a monkey. I watched a TV show where foreigners could “SPEAK” Chinese. Quality questions like
1 How about the first time you used chop sticks
2 Do you like OUR China
3 Why did you Americans invade Iraq under the false pretense of WMD’s (of course the guy was from Australia)
Then let’s take into account that most foreign stories in China involve China historically (although not probably) destroying foreign invaders who have evilly sought to give rice to poor Chinese orphans (that they threw away), because they gave them a bible.
I’m so tired of the constant whining of Chinese likening everything we do as an insult to them. I doubt very seriously any American has said to a Chinese to their face “He can’t do math, he is a foreigner” or He couldn’t possibly understand America, we are TOO COMPLEX”
Seriously I watched a documentary on the cultural revolution last night and the only difference between then and now is instead of screaming “Mao Zhu Xi Wan Sui” they are screaming “Zhong Guo Jia You” same same
Dude, I totally feel the same way….
@ fcuk da lu ren:
You ever stop for a moment and realize the chip on your shoulder is about as ridiculously massive as those on the Chinese people you feel an incessant need to criticize?
Geez man, read some of the encouraging comments above and relax.
Kai,
I wouldn’t expect you to understand, you get away under the radar no matter what you do. And yes, I appreciate the positive comments. I don’t know if you are an ABC or what, but after 10 years in China I have learned one thing.
1. Chinese hate foreigners (insert country)
I imagine if you faced the kind of racism I do on a daily basis you might just have a chip on your shoulder as well.
Chinese do seem to divide people into 2 categories:
Chinese people and Foreigners
Americans aren’t perfect by any means but at least we will call Chinese people Chinese and Mexican people Mexicans…(KKK minority excluded because they don’t represent the majority of Americans).
I understand.
I’d just rather not think of it as one-dimensional “Chinese hate foreigners” because there’s plenty of evidence that many Chinese very much admire, look up, and are attracted to foreigners as well (for many reasons, both “good” and “bad” of course).
I guess the key here is rising above it all, or them. If they’re going to have a chip on their shoulder towards your race, the idea is to not reciprocate to fundamentally prove you’re better than them. It isn’t necessary, it is idealistic, but you can’t say it doesn’t make sense, right? Otherwise, wouldn’t you be the same as them and thus every bit deserving of your own contempt?
You’re right that I fly under the radar far better than you (and its nice that my Gravatar lets you see that). I don’t and won’t take being Chinese for granted. At the same time, it is not as if I do not face racism as well when I’m in countries where “Asian” is not the predominant race, such as the United States. It works both ways, which is why rising above it all is that much more important, both on a personal level and for society as a whole.
In fact, I’d argue that I have it worse than you. Being caught between two worlds, two cultures, two societies, and two sets of values I have to criticize, defend, and get bitched at by BOTH sides whenever one side is right or wrong in accordance to my personal synthesized set of beliefs.
At least you get to resign yourself to being firmly on one side and not having to deal with actually intimately understanding what the other side thinks/feels. It is easier that way. Ignorance is bliss.
I often think of myself as the sardonic cynic, so I find it a bit odd trying to champion ideals here. LoL.
I wouldn’t say, “Chinese hate foreigners” because I’ve been treated pretty well by Chinese people during the 3.5 years I’ve lived here…but I do think that many of them are xenophobic, fanatically nationalistic, and eager to criticize other countries while being unable to accept ANY form of (constructive) criticism whatsoever…and that is strange to me because I’m American and I like America but when I was a student a lot of my peers and I would criticize various aspects of America in class…not pat ourselves on the back and wave flags around…
it’s some kind of marketing ploy, like paying people to queue up for playstation or something. those are fake commentors paid to stir up controversy so that everyone rushes to watch a really bad movie.
RE fuck da lu ren:
I can see that you must had a very bad experience with Chinese pepople whether in China or in other countries.
To your comment that “Chinese people hates foreigners” is totally false.
Maybe some Chinese people dislike foreigners but you cannot stereotype and say that ALL Chinese people hate foreigners.
I am Chinese and I live in Canada, I am from Da Lu and I have lived in China, and unfortunately I do not hate people that are not Chinese, in fact I love them just like how I love Chinese people.
And the same is with millions and billions of other Chinese people.
What an absurd over-reaction by some of the Chinese! I can’t believe the hate venom being spewed out by these ultra=nationalists! Get a grip! Its the movies.
sick and tired watching arguments and counter-arguments raised around similar topic…….i mean those in the comments
@ fcuk
I am not saying that there is ANY excuse EVER for blatant bigotry in any form but consider how isolated these people are and the sort of drivel they’ve been fed about foreigners and their legitimate distrust of foreigners from generations of wars and colonialism. I am a born and bred ABC and I understand that China is a contradiction – there is so much growth in all areas yet so much of their society is backwards.
I do not know how you came to live in China but after a decade, if you hate it that much, why do you not opt to leave? I’m not saying this to be facetious but I assumed that you would have some means to get out of there, bespecially if these feelings have been stewing for so long. If you are an American born in China, then perhaps you are feeling what generations of Blacks in the US feel.
If you think about it, only in the presence of growth can there be anyone who is “backwards.”
I’m pretty sure fcuk da lu ren actually loves China deep in his heart. It would explain why he’s here and why he visits this website regularly. Like most “anti-China” China residents, he is just disproportionately more vocal about the aspects of China and Chinese that annoy him…which is entirely understandable. One can inherently appreciate, even love, something yet be consistently frustrated and disappointed when its flaws persist.
I mean, that’s why liberals in America who whine incessantly still continue to live there, right? (Conservatives never really whine about moving out of a country, they only threaten to kick others out).
The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor’
Starring Brendan Fraser and Jet Li, a series’ latest offers special effects and spectacle more than a sense of fun.
By Kenneth Turan, Times Film Critic
kenneth.turan@latimes.com
“THE MUMMY: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor” has the longest title of the trio of modern “Mummy” movies as well as the most elaborate set pieces and most extensive special effects. Bigger, however, does not necessarily mean better, and though the new film has some good things, it does not have enough of them to make the third time the charm.
Despite some 1,000 visual-effects shots and more skeletons than a ride at Disneyland, this latest “Mummy” adventure, set in China instead of Egypt, is not nearly as much fun as 1999’s “The Mummy” or 2001’s “The Mummy Returns.”
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It’s not as if those films were small and delicate flowers better suited to a slot at Sundance. They were also envisioned as high-grossing popcorn movies, but as written and directed by Stephen Sommers (who returns as a producer here), they had a genuine sense of off-handed fun that the new version strives for but can’t recapture.
Instead, as directed by “The Fast and the Furious’ ” Rob Cohen and written by Alfred Gough and Miles Millar, this new “Mummy” can’t shake its pro forma feeling. The Gough and Miller plot is certainly serviceable, but the film’s feeble attempts at banter are on a par with the writers’ best-forgotten work on “Shanghai Noon” and “Shanghai Knights.”
It’s not just the script that’s a sticking point here; there are problems with some of the acting as well. Brendan Fraser, returning for his third go-round as intrepid archaeologist Rick O’Connell, is noticeably uninvolved with the role this time. Maria Bello, stepping in for Rachel Weisz as the plucky Evelyn, loses some of her naturalness to her British accent. And Australian Luke Ford, as the couple’s grown-up son Alex, is nothing to write home about.
Given all this, it’s fortunate that the film’s trio of Chinese stars, not burdened with fake-jokey dialogue, come off well. Jet Li is appropriately fierce as the emperor of the title, Mr. Ruthless when it comes to ruling China, and Isabella Leong does her best as Alex’s mysterious love interest. Best of all is Michelle Yeoh, who radiates integrity in every role she takes on and who holds our attention as a powerful sorceress.
In some ways “The Mummy’s” prologue, set in 50 BC and featuring only Chinese actors, is the best part of the film. Moving briskly, it introduces the dread emperor, modeled loosely on the real-life Qin Shi Huang, who left behind a huge army of terra cotta soldiers, and details the start of his rivalry with Yeoh’s sorceress.
Then, sadly, the film moves forward to 1946, with Rick and the missus “retired from the espionage game” and bored silly as a result. Unbeknown to them, son Alex is in China, rashly digging up the tomb of that evil emperor, who is a good bet to enslave all mankind if he manages to come back to life. Naturally, Alex’s parents end up getting involved, and all hell threatens to break loose.
Considerable time and money have no doubt been invested in the film’s numerous action set pieces — some fierce Yetis (don’t ask) are especially effective — and the best thing about “The Mummy” is the sense of spectacle and epic scale director Cohen, cinematographer Simon Duggan and production designer Nigel Phelps bring to the proceedings. If it weren’t for all that inept banter, this might have been a different film indeed. As it is, when Evelyn O’Connell insists that “there’s something terribly romantic about raising the dead,” she’s speaking, regrettably, only for herself.
Helllo the second movie already stinks to high heaven!
“I know how strongly Chinese feel about the whole “sick man of asia” label and I agree that that is an infuriating and insulting thing”
This shows part of the problem- it WAS an infuriating and insulting thing. If you asked people living in the west what ’sick man of asia’ referred to, I doubt many people would know what you were talking about.
Kai, disproportionately vocal is the way to put it. Beautiful phrasing.
I am also tabbed often as being similar to Fcuk DaLuRen, but I am much more diplomatic about it. I refuse to paint every individual with the same brush, yet if I was to paint the entire populace, it would be in a negative light. WHy? Experience…
I and people like me are tired of the instant glaze on the eyes and ad nauseum repetitious phrases that erupt from the average Chinese when any challenge to the party rhetoric is voiced.
Everyone has their own private opinion which they will argue and defend amongst Chinese (or on a Chinese language board), but let a foreigner be present or the conversation be in English…and the Pavlovian response kicks in.
I can almost hear the buzzing, “Protect the Queen!! Protect the Queen!!!”
“I and people like me are tired of the instant glaze on the eyes and ad nauseum repetitious phrases that erupt from the average Chinese when any challenge to the party rhetoric is voiced.” – Veer Left
I AM WITH YOU 100%
The movie was sick and unbearable. I can understand all the negative Chinese reaction. The people involved with this movie should be embarrassed, coming out right before the Olympics as it did…
Movies made in US about Americans and some other culture all have the similar ending. Americans always win, exotic Asian woman needs rescuing from white man, blah blah blah. Americans never learn cultural sensitivity. They always think they are the center of the world and just by interested in someone’s culture, that culture should feel flattered because they are interesting and important enough for Americans to divert 2 seconds of attention. (Exhibit A: Veer Left’s 1st comment. By the way, you showed me the true meaning of “nothing is impossible.” I thought it was impossible for people to actually be so cocky and condescending.) Also a disclaimer: I am not saying all Americans are that way.
This movie is a model on how to condescend to other cultures. Why shouldn’t people feel fricking offended? Can’t americans feel offended if someone made a movie glorifying the british army to bringer of justice when they are fighting in the independence war and made the independence army look like a bunch of unorganized immoral red necks who lost almost every battle (of which the last part is actually historically accurate)? What if they made one about glorifying the bravery of the terrorists who executed 9/11? Can you still use the argument “it’s only a fricking movie and be mature and stop being insecure”? Some dumbasses above thinks Chinese are not allowed to be outraged and they are the most immature people on the planet if they do.
Also, ChinaSMACK, you misrepresented the opinion, even though you did put on a “disclaimer”. A lot more people are offended and there are far better arguments for why they are offended. Why do you try to filter and sweeten the Chinese opinion, to accommodate your trollish foreign readers?
@fcuk Da lun ren
Don’t know what to say to you without cussing.
@Kai
Obviously he doesn’t love China deep in his heart. You have to believe there exist trolls on the internet who, for the only reason of spewing hate message towards China and Chinese people, hang around Chinese blogs and news.
@Stu
Yeah, I agree there is almost no one still putting that label on Chinese people, but there is obviously a lot of disrespect towards China and Chinese people because some people still think China can’t do anything right. They still think China can only produce cheap low quality junk in sweat shops, and other than the noveau riche there are only the extremely poor who are the “true” face of China, and all Chinese people are brainwashed zombies whose opinions are immature and do not matter, and Chinese are racists who severely oppress their minorities, blah blah blah….
My suggestions to those who view the movie as an insult:
1. Don’t take it so seriously, the intent, even if misguided by your standards, was to glorify and show off Chinese culture, not to tear it down.
2. Americans were emphasized because this is an American movie. Make no mistake, white people will always be the main characters in 99% of American movies, and therefore, white people will always win. Say what you will about making the Chinese the bad guys, I guess, but several were also the good guys. Really only one Chinese person with speaking lines (Jet Li) was a bad guy. Michelle Yeoh, the younger Chinese girl, and the general or whatever, were all good guys. Right? And the reality is… Qin Shi Huang or whatever his name is WAS a bad guy historically. Yes, he was a legendary and important figure, but he was a tyrant by all accounts.
3. Yes the movie sucked, but it’s just meant to be mindless entertainment, and for many people worldwide it succeeded.
4. To those who said “What if someone made a movie glorifying the actions of the terrorists bombing on 9/11″
That is extremely different because that is an extremely recent event that took place several years ago, as opposed to this movie, which is based on a fictional story written solely for the movie based loosely on a character in ancient Chinese history from thousands of years ago.
5. Most Americans bear absolutely no ill will toward the Chinese whatsoever… That “Sick man of Asia” label is an unfamiliar term to most. We recognize that China is a bright and powerful country and most look forward to our expanding partnership. Chinese Americans are often called the “Perfect Minority” because of their contributions to the economy and culture of America, compared to other minorities. I am not saying we should give Chinese preference, but we do. That being said, some conservatives hate anything not American, and many old people are skeptical of China because of having fought against China several decades ago, and also some still haven’t gotten over Tiananmen Square.
6. If I had a dollar for every time someone took a ridiculously ethnocentric position focusing on some latent inferiority complex on this site, I’d be able to pay for the rest of my engagement ring this week. How do you think Americans like looking all over the internet and not finding a single site without mindless, tasteless, thoughtless smears against us? We’re not all bad, this movie wasn’t put out by our government as an attack on you.
Build a goddamn bridge and get over it.
Looking at the comments, i see a strong diversity of opinion amongst the Chinese commentators with a decent thoughtful to idiot ratio. Do bear in mind that people in China aren’t PC-trained to Western standards, yet still managed to be broadly warm hearted and friendly to foreigners.
If you take offence at the negative comments, I suggest you need to grow a thicker skin and fúck off the Internet until you do (how often you hear peeps whinge about Chinese “thinskin” and then get worked up cos we hurt their fragile sensibilities).
Take a fúcking look at Daily Kos, Freeper and Stormfront. Left wing, right wing, extremists; all the fúcking same. Everybody hates us, cos we are apparently uniquely “nationalistic”.
What a fúcking joke.
Kai,
Appreciate your comments and I think you pretty much articulated what I am feeling. I have done more than my part in this country and have been spat on along the way which is why I choose to whine as opposed to give up or systematically fight as many people in this country as I can.
I can also understand your being in the middle as I am sure often you must defend why you are not siding with the “motherland” even though you are not a mainlander (although I don’t know if you are I assume you are not).
Veer Left is right also about the glazed look in people’s eyes. Its the assumption of we are “too stupid” or “can’t understand China” or “we look down on China” insert a comment that we are tired of. You work your hardest to try to learn a language, integrate with the local customs (that are not morally compromising) and yet you are still “jiu shi yi ge lao wai”. IT gets old and yes I understand what blacks must have and probably still endure.
Going back to the reason why this post was started in the first place I will say this. If a fictional movie can prompt such angry response, you have to wonder what would happen if the TRUTH about some Chinese history was ever to come out. I have heard that in western countries local Chinese stop watching the news and return to China Daily or other DA LU run agencies because they cannot endure the bombardment of the negative (yet true) news coming about China.
Just some thoughts
Chinese people just can’t understand AMERICAN MOVIES….because they are foreigners.
Only MEI GUO REN can understand American movies….Zhong guo ren bu ke neng!!
Oh, I’m being sarcastic by the way.
To Haha,
Challenge you to show me a movie, tv show, newspaper article where China does not show herself to be the victor or the in the right and the west is not evil or the loser.
And for your info, we see anti american movies all the time…. we even make them (see Syriana) so maybe you should take a deep breath, read Mao’s book and cover yourself naked in a Chinese flag and sing your national anthem.
Trollish foreign readers? Dude, what are you on the website for then? Go back to SINA and talk about how great you are.
I wonder if there are any Japanese heroes in Chinese movies…
@ Haha:
I’m just giving him the benefit of the doubt. Suffice to say, I agree that there are incorrigible trolls on the internet and I’ve wasted plenty of my time sparring with them at places like GVO.
Personally, I’m of the opinion that this is very squarely a fictitious comedy movie and any attempt to take it seriously or historically accurate is downright silly. Therefore, I’m wholly reassured to see any comments from Chinese netizens echoing that sentiment. If chinaSMACK or Fauna is biased towards the selection and translation of thousands of comments to pick out those that would reduce the unnecessary misunderstanding, chest-thumping, and needless bickering between the two “sides,” I have to admit I’m somewhat glad for it. As it is, the media and internet are full of instigation and the ensuing hatred.
If there’s anything China and the Chinese need is better PR to show the world that Chinese people can indeed laugh at themselves and are not all a bunch of insecure whiny brats. Just like fcuk da lu ren, we have to acknowledge that the fenqing and anti-Westerners in China also are disproportionately vocal. It’s nice to be reminded that there are “others.” We’re reminded because Fauna takes the time and effort to translate the comments she did, showing us that not all Chinese are “insecure” or “brainwashed” against foreigners. Really, both sides often take themselves way too seriously.
Now, if you feel the arguments over Mummy 3 are so critically important to greater mutual understanding and cooperation between the Chinese and the Americans, I really think you should translate them and post them up, ideally here so both sides are adequately represented to your liking. I say this with all due respect so please don’t misunderstand me as being critical of you and your complaint. I simply think it would be a far more constructive and contributory move than accusing her of “accommodating” her “trollish readers.” Wouldn’t you agree? That’s what the comments are for, right? To contribute to the discussion?
Finally, comparing Mummy 3’s portrayal of Qin Shi Huang as a fantastical, element-wielding, shape-shifting, supernatural tyrant that wants to enslave the world to any possible movie trying to take a comedic spin about 9/11 is stretching it, don’t you think?
Come on, man…
As an American, I feel like that forum discussion could easily happen on an American board like youtube. I see some stupidly patriotic people, but I also see many rational individuals telling them to quiet down.
I feel like I’m looking in a mirror here.
“(Exhibit A: Veer Left’s 1st comment. By the way, you showed me the true meaning of “nothing is impossible.” I thought it was impossible for people to actually be so cocky and condescending.) Also a disclaimer: I am not saying all Americans are that way.”-Haha
Condescend? Moi? Where?
BTW. Just because I’m not screaming for Yankee blood doesn’t mean I am an American.
This movie has to be viewed in context. If there were a bunch of other movies made in which the hero is Asian and the villain is White, then people wouldn’t be so upset about this movie. But time after time, in Hollywood movies the White guy is the hero and the Asian or Arab guy is the villain. And there’s always some Asian chick who falls for the White guy while running from the evil Asian men. It’s irritating.
@fcuk dalu ren. Being a white-looking half Chinese guy who lived in China for a year, I can sympathize with what you’re saying. However, racism towards Chinese exists in equal measure or more from the western world, though usually in less obvious ways. Also, Chinese mainlanders will act really proud in front of westerners, but oftentimes they privately have an inferiority complex. The way to tackle this is to get beyond the concept of race entirely. Race is a social construction. We are all human and have equal capacity for intelligence. To paraphrase the Vietnamese Zen monk Thich Nhat Hanh, you can spend your whole life railing against racism. However, it is much better to cultivate knowledge of who you are, to understand the ground of your being so that you aren’t as bothered by what other people think, and you can walk in full confidence of who you are. Part of this is accepting that people will not understand you until after getting to know you for a long time, and even then they may not totally understand who you are. That’s why it’s vital that you be certain of who you are. One way to do this is meditation, because it helps us realize the emptiness of thoughts.
That being said, although I love Chinese culture and am ethnically half-Chinese, I’m not sure if I will ever live in mainland China, simply because it’s so hard to get past peoples’ stereotypes about “foreigners.” I don’t blame them, but I know that it would make me irritated if I lived there for a long time.
“And there’s always some Asian chick who falls for the White guy while running from the evil Asian men.”
To me this sounds like art imitating life.
How many White dudes in America have Asian gfs compared to the number of Asian dudes dating white women (in any country) ?
I hope that doesn’t racist because I’m just calling it as I see it.
Holy shit, who would have thought that Mummy 3 would necessitate the wisdom of monks like Thich Nhat Hanh…
i thinking in most movies Jet Li usually scores white chicks… but he is a cool bro. Most Chinese guys aren’t, unfortunately for them, if they just chilled they could be, looks have nothing to do with pulling babes, but like everyone in China, they all just be too uptight.
Your food good, your bitches a little uppity but fine little skinny cuties, music sucks dat be sure, ping pong is alright… stop moaning on all the time
Relax yellowman, you culture be fine, you just not be chill. Too busy counting that dollar money … greedyman! Stop thinkin blue BMW, start thinkin how to put it all together
i’ve heard that movie was totally a failure to Jet Lee, if that’s true, i feel sorry for him once again, last time it was because of ‘the forbidden kingdom’.
Oh dear God, the Forbidden Kingdom…
*shudders and curls up into a ball*
that s just so silly talking this!so much noise for nothing.An action movie talking about mummies insults China?So what about all those spaghetti-mafia movies about italians?Or those racist remarks about indian I saw in some chinese movies?
Jet Li is a intelligent martial artist that should make chinese people being proud to be chinese,expeccialy for how he looks at the Dalai Lama.
Saw this on the big screen in Hong Kong and had a lot of fun. The laughs were split between the action and the Australian kid’s Chinese. Not a great movie, but taking offense…?
Commie Chinese dogs are too patriotic for their own good. Their collective National Education worked too well.
Patriotism is a very terrible mental illness. Symptoms include putting too much emotion and meaning to a piece of cloth (flag). Tone it down.
[Patriotism is a very terrible mental illness. Symptoms include putting too much emotion and meaning to a piece of cloth (flag). Tone it down.]
Good advice for those annoying American nationalists who go crazy with “USA!USA!USA is NUMBER 1!!!”
I agree.
I’m American and it sincerely irritates me to see Americans act that way…too much patriotism is bad in any country.
In recent years I think I’ve felt patriotic around these 3 moments:
1.) 9/11
2.) America winning GOLD in men’s basketball in the 2008 Olympics (the only event I cared about)
3.) The election of President Obama
The rest of the time I try to have my own individual identity that isn’t based on my (default) nationality.
Geez man, some people need to relax… its a movie, get over it. Every f*king chinese made movie i’ve ever seen puts foreigners in a bad light and makes them look evil, not to mention the daily news.
Yeah, but only Chinese people watch Chinese movies so obviously no one is going to complain…..that and most people probably wouldn’t care….
“the premise of the movie reflects the stereotypes and negative sentiments of the western world toward a rising china:
evil HAN emperor resurrects to take over the world and a brave white American must stop the ‘yellow peril.’
I’m surprised the chinese government doesn’t recognize this and OKed it for domestic showing.”
Thats exactly why they DID let it through, its stirs up patriotism in China. And it worked.
“Seriously I watched a documentary on the cultural revolution last night and the only difference between then and now is instead of screaming “Mao Zhu Xi Wan Sui” they are screaming “Zhong Guo Jia You” same same”
Exactly. The cultural revolution never stopped, its still going, just using a different method, but Chinese people obviously don’t care, they don’t learn from mistakes they just repeat them. Seriously, I have given up caring about it, you cant say anything bad about China at all without being attacked, they would rather get all crazy and anti-foreign about a movie rather than fix their own problems. When China collapses and people lose jobs and houses as a result of this apathetic attitude to their own problems I’m gonna be laughing my ass off, stupid blind fools.
Anyway, show me a single Chinese made movie that doesnt involve foreigners being evil, immoral, or just stupid. They don’t even need movies to tell them how bad we are, they are taught it in kindergarten, primary, high, and university.
The Promise featured a Japanese actor and a Korean actor in the roles of the two male protagonists.
Seven Swords featured two Korean main/side characters.
“…show me a single Chinese made movie that doesnt involve foreigners being evil, immoral, or just stupid. They don’t even need movies to tell them how bad we are, they are taught it in kindergarten, primary, high, and university.”
the same can be said about Hollywood movies (Ming the Merciless, Fu Manchu, Long Duck Dong, Hop Sing, etc. etc.) that involve Asians being evil, immoral or just stupid. Whites are taught that they are the saviors of the world from backward natives.
Recent Hollywood movies or Hollywood movies made during the Cold War and Red Scare(s) ?
@Rushnikus
As opposed to fanatical Missionaries spreading the Word of God, today we have jerks like you spreading the Word of Whities. Oh joy!
past excuses for western imperialists who wage war against the world include:
- Christiandom
- Empire, Progress and the fruits of civilization
- Democracy, freedom and human rights
Face it, you may of changed your religion/ideology but you are still self-righteous sobs who will always conjure up some excuse however contrived when it’s convenient to wage war and murder innocents.
future excuses (my conjecture only for you amusement)
- Environmentalism: Death to the Defilers of Gaia!!!
- Veganism : Death to the Meat-eaters!!!
- Homosexuality: Pink Jihad! Death to Breeders!!!
Without downplaying the military, economic, and cultural imperialism of ‘the West,” I honestly don’t think Asians, much less the Chinese, can ever claim to never have fought to impose their own ideology on others.
@Kai
Yeah, but we don’t pretend we gonna napalm their villages for their own good. It takes serious gall (and brainwashing) to hand wave away 200 years of atrocities across the world, and then turning around pretending to be holier than thou and then invade some more countries all over again.
Somehow, its always some Righteous Whities on the side of Good, and if they ain’t then some cheap empty words 300 years later ought to settle it.
It’s the same script, same actors, just update Christianity to Democracy and we have the sequel.
I saw the movie, it was a typically hollywoodified story (while they were using the Qin Shi Huang stories as a reference, they clearly called the Jet Li character something else).
Not a great movie, but I feel like its just as insulting to foreigners as to chinese, so everyone should be happy :)
@ mtm:
No, maybe not napalm, but the Chinese have done plenty of other things that are ethically questionable to further their own interests in the name of ideologies like unification, patriotism, communism, sovereignty, social harmony, etc.
If you’re referring to the United States with the “200 years of atrocities” comments, let’s not forget that the same sentiment can be applied to China’s “5000 years” of history. Worse yet, much of those atrocities were committed in the name of “China” by “Chinese” people against “Chinese” people. If you weren’t referring to the United States, the point still stands.
Look, both “sides” have blood on their hands and both “sides” has shit that stinks. I don’t think us Chinese are really in any position to use moral blackmail against “the West.” Them, us, we should all learn to accept with maturity the fact that wrong is wrong. Just because others have done terrible things does not excuse our own terrible actions. Americans claimed to learn waterboarding torture methods from the Chinese during the Korean War. Does that mean it is okay for them to torture? No.
Anyway, you’re forgetting that China, the CCP, the Chinese constitution, and the Chinese themselves all profess to want “democracy.” The issue is not democracy itself, it is in the terms of how it will be adopted over time. If you’re upset with the ideological imperialism, I think you’re going to have to learn to accept it. We live in an age where information spreads beyond borders. Good ideas that appeal to people will do so. Likewise for bad ideas. People will make their own decisions. Most people fundamentally like the idea of democracy, but they may logically fear the consequences of it. Currently, the haves in China fear what the have-nots will do if there were democracy. Until the majority of China are “haves” instead of “have-nots,” it is unlikely the “haves” will want a democracy that threatens what they have. They will choose to support whatever system that protects their interests and right now, however flawed it may be, the single-party system looks more promising than democracy. It is almost like choosing the lesser of two evils.
Grow up China :-D
waaaahh… long reply, now i’ll have to activate my other braincell.
Ok, I think you might be missing my point. I do actually with most of what you wrote, but do remember that I was addressing Rushnikus’ comments. Re-read his 2nd paragraph.
>>If you’re referring to the United States with the “200 years of atrocities”..<<
nope, I was referring to the entire Western world. Its only fair considering respective populations and remember it’s mainly Western countries that are shitting on us from on high.
So lets do a quick summary:
-Invasions: most of the planet except a few spots like Thailand,
-Slavery: need i expand on this?
-routine mass mutilation: see Belgians in the Congo
-liberal free market for pharmaceuticals: see Opium Wars,
-use of “divide & conquer” tactics to aggravate racial conflicts: Bantu vs Hutu (originally one people), “Martial races” etc
-Genocide: Brits twice in Africa, another alleged in Australia, multiple unfinished attempts by various western parties where ever uppity color folk misbehave. Gold however goes to the Germans for clinical efficiency.
-Unequal Treaties: http://news.sina.com.cn/china/2000-08-14/117127.html
Also oft overlooked is sheer robbery of tax revenue, for example at Chinese customs which was misappropriated to totally upgrade the Royal Navy with spanking new boats, I mean imagine China had that navy!
I have to confess that I used to be a “self hating Chinese”. In the eyes of some, I still am. I still suspect that Chinese people are at some levels amoral savages. I feel they must be so because only a savage could survive the nightmare of the last 200 years. On the other hand, Westerners are monsters of conceit and self-deceit. They CHOOSE to be that way.
I saw this on Peking Duck which I felt described the present Chinese society beautifully:
“I admire its purity. A survivor unclouded by conscience, remorse, or delusions of morality.”
Note that I am an optimist: things are improving, but I wouldn’t consider replacing amorality with the bogus morality of Freepers or Democratic Underground to be an “improvement”.
grow up, China…..emulate the USA and you too can be as wonderful and desirable!
The negative bbs comments remind me of African Americans who are fed up with how hollywood and the media have a tendency in potraying AA’s in a negative light.
@ mtm: LoL, I like your style.
Alright, so to clear things up, we agree and your point was that you just wanted to be angry at Rushnikus. Let’s take a look at his second paragraph:
Exactly. The cultural revolution never stopped, its still going, just using a different method, but Chinese people obviously don’t care, they don’t learn from mistakes they just repeat them.
This is true of many people, but given the Sanlu incident, this seems particularly true for China right now. On one hand, we do care, but either enough people do not care or we don’t care enough that these mistakes get repeated.
Seriously, I have given up caring about it, you cant say anything bad about China at all without being attacked, they would rather get all crazy and anti-foreign about a movie rather than fix their own problems.
This is an understandable observation, just as it is understandable that some Chinese found The Mummy 3 to be offensive. Some might think it silly, but at least the reaction can be understood and isn’t just completely random.
When China collapses and people lose jobs and houses as a result of this apathetic attitude to their own problems I’m gonna be laughing my ass off, stupid blind fools.
Refer to first sentence.
Okay, so I’m glad I caught myself possibly being wrong about the 200 year thing referring to Americans (though their ~200 years of youthful history makes that an easy assumption). I thought you might have meant the rip-roaring centuries of Western imperialism, but I wasn’t sure.
Either way, my overarching point is that I think this tit for tat “well, you did all these evil things to us” bickering is at best unproductive and at worst makes us Chinese look like we’re obsessed with playing the victim card. Yes, we were victims. Now, we can either sit nursing our insecurities all day bitching and blaming the West for all of our problems both past and present OR we can get real, accept that much of our past and current situation is our own fault, shut up, and do something about it.
You see, one of the major reasons we Chinese, as a civilization, fell behind “the West” is precisely because we shit on them from on high long ago. Once upon a time, we were arguable the world’s most advanced civilizations while the “white barbarians” were still running around in their clans pillaging wenches. What happened? Well, we thought we were better than everyone else, that they were not worthy of our interest, and we squandered it all away by being complacent or fighting ourselves while those same “white barbarians” somehow enlightened themselves and industrialized into globe-spanning military powerhouses.
Both Dr. Sun Yat Sen and Mao Zedong knew this (they just had different, competing ideologies) and that’s what they endeavored to rectify, to bring us together, to shake off our old arrogant habits, and modernize us so we can compete for our place in the world. More importantly, they didn’t do it all so we can sit around whining about our grievances with white people.
Winners do something about their problems. Losers only bitch. It is my personal opinion that too many Chinese would rather bitch than make a difference in their society. Now, there are reasons for this, and I don’t expect every individual to be a revolutionary, but seriously, we bitch a lot. Hu Jintao would rather trot around the globe making deals with emerging African nations and sourcing oil–the blood of development–from Middle-Eastern powers than sit around whining. The only reason why he and the CCP allow or foster normal people whining? Because it solidifies their power base, and that legitimacy is something they do need. Were it not for that, all this bitching makes us look rather petty.
Your “quick summary” proves my earlier point: You’re looking at history selectively, ignoring all our own past offenses and mistakes, and just trying to highlight and blame the West only. Let me try to balance things out for you:
Invasions: We Chinese have invaded and waged wars for thousands of years.
Slavery: To this day, we have children slaving away in sweatshops and coal mines.
Mass mutilations: What? Never heard of Chinese torture or even self-inflicted fashion trends like foot-binding?
“Liberal free market for pharmaceuticals:” What about Myanmar and the few other weak states we exported melamine-tainted milk to? They had no idea they were drinking poison. We at least knew opium was bad. Need I say more?
Divide and Conquer tactics: You’ve got to be kidding me. This is one of the time-tested tactics of the CCP in just about anything against its interests! Why do you think the atheistic CCP appointed a different Lama to replace the Dalai Lama?
Genocide: How can you even bring this up knowing full well how China has been popularly associated with the “genocide” in Darfur? Are you just asking for trouble? Oh sure, we’re not killing those people with our own hands, we’re just giving the government the money to buy the weapons (also from us) to do so.
Unequal Treaties: You’re kidding me, right? This is the best you have? This is what is going to prove beyond a doubt that “the West” is evil incarnate and us Chinese are always the poor, innocent victims?
Okay, I hope you’re getting the point of how pathetic it is for us Chinese to continuously laundry-list grievances towards the West. For their part, most of their textbooks and education systems (most certainly in universities) address if not outright criticize their imperialist mistakes and offenses. What about China? We seem to gloss over if not outright pretend our own mistakes for the past 50-60 years do not exist and the only reason our textbooks detail the villainy of the KMT or our imperial history is only to prop up how the CCP “liberated” us.
This is not about being a “self-hating Chinese.” In fact, the only people more pathetic than insecure whiners are those who loathe themselves. Never forget who you are and where you come from. Winners can see their own problems and change. The worst losers wish they weren’t themselves. The West can be hypocrites, yes, but hell, we’re hypocrites too. We did not survive the last 200 years because we were savages, we survived because we are survivors, and hopefully because deep down inside, we know we overcome these hardships, and we know we deserve to be here.
We’re all fucking hypocrites. We’re all capable of the worst atrocities. When are we going to stop pointing fingers and making excuses? Again, I ask: Just because the West did (and does) terrible things, does that excuse us?
“I admire its purity. A survivor unclouded by conscience, remorse, or delusions of morality.”
Either you misunderstood this description on The Peking Duck or you’re a heartless, amoral, the ends-justify the means, conceited bastard. Being a survivor is good, but being without conscience, remorse, or a sense of morality is not necessarily a good thing for most of society.
“On the other hand, Westerners are monsters of conceit and self-deceit. They CHOOSE to be that way.
That just gives you away, mtm. I’m sorry but that statement is patently absurd of you. How can you see the problems that continuously plague China such as the recent Sanlu incident and have the audacity to call Westerners “monsters” saying “they CHOOSE to be that way.” Then what are we? Did all the horrible Chinese people not CHOOSE to be this way? Are we not guilty of racial/cultural arrogance and conceit? Do we not often blind ourselves to our own failures and shortcomings?
Comments like your’s contribute to the misunderstanding and hate-speech that fuels the antagonism between China, the Chinese, and the rest of the world. Can we please show the world that we’re better than this?
The West has idiots and so does China. You seem like an educated person. Now please be one. You’re better than this.
All of these pathetic fen qing are also waiting to be defeated by the MIGHTY AMERICAN!
you mean the EX-mighty Americans! Their empire has fallen and they’re too poor and struggling to survive to engage in more foreign wars.
Has the American Empire fallen?
I think it will eventually but I don’t think it has yet….China still has a lot of catching up to do.
come on, it’s just something for fun. focus your attention on serious issues OK?
Holy Shit people, this is a MOVIE!
Agreeing with mtm, the people spitting vitriol about this film need to grow a thicker skin.
The rise in Chinese nationalism disturbs me immensely.
If China is to develop into a great superpower, the Chinese must learn to be able to listen to opinions, whether negative or positive, and be able to take part in constructive debate. Too often, negative opinions are taken too personally and are seen as an affront to Chinese people rather than policies. Maybe it’s because China is unique in the sense that culture, nationality and ethnicity are so closely intertwined.
It seems that since the reporting of riots in Tibet this year, nationalism has gone into overdrive and any slight hint of anti-Chinese sentiment is followed up by a disproportionate backlash. It seems that China and the West have become even more polarised than before. The result is an unwavering, sometimes xenophobic nationalism and denial of problems mentioned by Western media.
From what I’ve read, many Chinese mainlanders don’t even acknowledge there is a problem in Tibet, believing it to be Western propaganda trying to split up China. Many don’t want a democracy, thinking it’s the West trying to impose its ideology onto China. Believing that anything Western is inherently bad is a serious obstacle in its development, if not a backward step.
I think the thin skin comes from, in addition to nationalism, the fact that Chinese mainlanders have been sheltered from criticism or voices of dissent for too long due to government censorship. Am I right in believing that before the reporting of the riots in Tibet, media that reported unfavourably on China were censored? The majority of Chinese didn’t really know much or care about Western opinion on China? They weren’t aware about how negative foreign media are? It must have come as a bit of a shock to many that the foreign media are so far from towing the CCTV line of singing the party’s praises.
It is inevitable that the economic growth will slow. The country cannot go down the fully capitalist route because it will undermine the party’s ideology. When this happens, the party’s legitimacy will be called into question. Am I right in thinking that when the government realised the reaction against the Tibet riot reports stirred up a wave of nationalism, they were more willing to loosen their grip on censorship to exacerbate the situation? And haven’t the people (esp. netizens) unwittingly been mobilised as a pawns to fight and defend the government’s actions and ideology, whether good or bad? It seems to me that the government is jumping on the nationalist bandwagon to its meet its own ends in order to secure its legitimacy. If they are not careful, the people will be too busy defending China against foreigners to watch what their own government is doing.
Ms_Chef makes a lot of excellent points….I totally agree.
maybe Chinese nationalism will subside if China-bashers would lay off with the extreme demonization. Even patriotic Americans get defensive when the US is bashed by foreigners or liberals, who are automatically labeled ‘traitors’ and ‘commies’.
At Anonymous,
You fail to realize that China bashes, vilianizes, and portreys America as the great evil every day. The fact of the matter is that our dirty laundry is out in the open every day for everyone to see. China now must face the same thing as she emerges on the world stage. The difference is, though I will agree sometimes it is a bit much, the US media gives China far better and fair coverage than China does the other way around. Chinese State Controlled media is always crying about China bashing, when in fact most of the time it is just reporting what is REALLY going on in China. Then we get a bit sick and tired of China “Standing UP” to the media and demanding apologies like children.
You know what, no one in America is getting China 514 license plates, like China did when 911 happened. The average Chinese can’t take critisizm so they lash out and “blame” the “western” media. That right there shows your ignorance as the term “western” is not even defined by the many different cultures you lump into the “west”. Take a look at yourselves before you start accusing us of being “anti China”. We don’t stage massive rallies in YOUR country and abuse your people like you did during the torch relay.
“The fact of the matter is that our (American) dirty laundry is out in the open every day for everyone to see.”
That’s totally true.
Fcuk, you start with a decent point but you work things up more than you calm them down. This is a fun spirited blog.
Some nationalistic Americans are so fcuked up in believing their government is virtuous and benevolent. In reality, the US has been overtly and covertly involved in mayhem around the world protecting the interests of their ruling elite. When faced with these truths (BLOWBACK-the Costs and Consequences of American Empire by Chalmers Johnson), people like fcuk go into denial and start screaming COMMIE PROPAGANDA.
You can’t understand America unless you are American (according to Chinese “logic”)…yes, I’m being a smart-ass.
To Anoymous,
I would expect a Chinese to understand or fully comprehend what I wrote, maybe I need to dumb it down.
We KNOW that we do things that aren’t right (that is why you see our own people protest wars etc, do they do that often in China?)
You say the “west” bashes China and that causes the Chinese to be nationalistic etc…. The fact is that you guys are all whipped up into fervor over situations that are historically irrelevant to today’s modern China (built by the west).
Then you bloat your chest and pound sounding off how great you are, and when someone points out something, you cry like babies and say everyone is bullying you.
@ Selling cows… I’m not the person or persons all worked up with nationalism about a Hollywood movie. Seriously, these people have little man syndrome beyond belief
Right, a lot of (not all) Chinese people seem to ASSUME that Americans think and behave like Chinese.
From my experiences I feel like the majority of Chinese people support most of their Government’s policies…maybe I am wrong but I really feel this way.
In America, everything seems 50/50 to me. No matter what happens about half of the people will support it and half will argue against it.
Just my opinion…
Take easy!If you don’t like the Hollywood big movies,nobody will compel you~~~~~~~~~
Sometimes,Hollywood is a tool which compel people of others country to accept the notion of USA
Chalmers Johnson’s would have a little more clout if he wasn’t such a blind panda licker. He came to China, saw shiny cities and big malls and went back to the US and declared “the future has arrived”.
The Chinese just like having something Western to pick on.
I was at a conference at the London School of Economics — so this was no bunch of dummies. The talk was about Tibet, so of course people got riled up.
A Chinese lady stood up and declared — declared! — that Westerners could not criticize Chinese rule in Tibet so long as Beijing was filled with Coca-Cola ads and her daughter kept watching the Disney cartoon Mulan. She complained about factual errors in Mulan, Americans destroying Chinese culture through Mulan, etc. etc.
Come on. Mulan is a cartoon. How can you compare that to an entire government policy on Tibet? (My husband is French. I don’t see him getting offended by Ratatouille).
If responded that if this Chinese lady really hated American culture, why would she buy it, bring it home, watch it and give it to her children? Nobody was forcing her. Nobody was stopping her from teaching her daughter proper Chinese history instead.
She didn’t say anything after that. Actually, she didn’t speak to me again for the rest of the conference!
Who takes a movie like Mulan seriously?
Geez, are any Disney cartoons supposed to be historically accurate?
Like is life a musical? People break out into spontaneous songs and choreographed dances out of nowhere?
Obviosly not realistic….duh.
Dude, mainlanders have no sense of logic. They portray us as evil invaders or blundering barbarians and then get all riled up about a movie that has not tried to make a REAL historical connection. If Hollywood did that it would be about Ying Zheng butchering millions and throwing them into pits as well as burning all the books in the country (hey sounds kinda like recent history)
@fcuk da lu ren
You’re always complaining about how Chinese accuse the west of China-bashing. But you chose the screen name “fcuk da lu ren” and you constantly leave racist comments on this site.
What are you so mad about? You’re not in China anymore. Why can’t you get over your unpleasant experience there?
Americans are petty and nationalistic, so why do you expect Chinese to be different? What’s the story with you, man? Did you go to China with some big dreams which were subsequently shattered? I pity you.
@ Observer,
If you are not a Da LU REN, then you are probably an overweight English teacher delighting in the fact that you can now get women in China and therefore love China.
I have in fact had my fair share of unpleasant experiences in China, hence I left. Racist? Yeah a little, but nothing compared to the hoards of Chi Mates that daily rattle on about America. And I don’t agree with your statement that most Americans are nationalistic and petty. Most of us are better balanced than that.
You pity me? Everybody needs to vent bro, I’m quite content with my life now and just letting off a little steam.
@da lu ren
I agree that everybody needs to vent sometimes, but I think you’re going overboard. To all the Chinese visitors to this site, you’re playing into their worst fantasies about China-bashing foreigners. Think about the consequences of your venting, both for you and others. Don’t you think you’d be happier if you could come to peace with your experience in China?
By the way, I am an American who lived in China teaching English. I went to China out of interest in the culture and language, which I studied in America. It was a difficult experience being stared at every day and after I got in an argument with a local there was even a rumor going around that I look down on Chinese people. I was angry often. But after coming back home I realized that there were many things about China I missed, like being able to walk around at night without worrying for my safety. I also realized that most Americans truly are biased when they talk about China.
I don’t know what part of America you live in, but racism is alive in well in many parts of America. How do you think it feels to be a Chinese student in middle America and constantly be told how his country must be a horrible place?
I also think you should understand that many Chinese will put down America when they meet an American, and aggrandize China. However, when no foreigners are around they will be much more critical of China and praise other countries more. So you should not take Chinese people’s comments to you as being racism, but more of a failed attempt to stand up for their country. Some Chinese also have an inferiority complex with foreigners, and like to put down the foreigner’s country in the beginning of a conversation. At first this made me angry, but then some Chinese friends helped me to understand that this was done out of an inferiority complex. Some Chinese automatically assume that foreigners look down on China. I wouldn’t call this racism. There is some truth to their belief, and the rest is a pitiable inferiority complex.
@ Joyce:
Rock on, I’m glad you called her out and put her in her place. Such idiocy needs to be squashed whenever possible.
@ fcuk da lu ren:
I agree with Observer in the sense that you are playing into their fears and reinforcing their stereotypes of foreigners. Just as they shouldn’t judge all foreigners by your example, we shouldn’t judge all Chinese by the example of a few either…but yet stereotypes exist and they do a lot of harm to cross-cultural understanding. I won’t begrudge your freedom to vent (everyone does it sometime), but hopefully you’ll take Observer’s advice and maybe try to vent more constructively.
@ Observer:
Yes, that inferiority complex is excruciatingly frustrating.
All i can say is, people who watch movies should take it as mere entertainment and not take it personal. I’m not siding on any, But it’s all just a matter of understanding different cultures and respecting them. I don’t see it as disrespect on the americans side, its just entertainment, making money,doing something different and all that crap. Jet Li didn’t even object to that role because he is smart and mature enough to know that. Jet Li has been playing lots of legendary roles of chinese characters and he surely won’t tarnish that reputation just for a silly fictional film. So chinese people shouldn’t be so paranoid into thinking that western people are doing this to hurt ya all. Americans like to trash things just for fun, even thrashing their own president. No offense, but again, that’s cultural and there’s nothing wrong with all that. So please, I respect your feelings but please grow up.
The worst that Chinese nationalists have done (not including idealogical atrocities during the cultural revolution) is verbal assault and pelting eggs at embassy buildings. They are hardly extremists like Islamic fundamentalists who issue death sentences to those committing ‘blasphemy’ to their faith and culture.
Or Korean nationalists who chop off their pinkies or massacre national birds to protest Japanese nationalists.
True, islamic fundamentalists are much more dangerous than Chinese nationalists and, to their credit, I do find Chinese people, in general, to be peaceful and not violent or hostile towards foreigners.
I really hate being stared at everyday and people shouting “Hello! Hello!” but at least no one is shouting insults at me in English or trying to pick a fight.
That’s one of the things I do like about the people here….Americans are much more violent.
Hollywood does the same thing to all of history. It’s not like they’re sitting there, picking on China, trying to make a statement. They do the same thing to US history. Stop being babies about it.
It’s not like ancient Chinese history has anything to do with modern China anyway.
It’s a movie. It’s all there for shits and giggles. Don’t get your panties in a wad just because a foreigner killed the shit out of a bunch of clay dudes. You do realize that those terra cotta soldiers weren’t actual soldiers, right? I mean, I could single-handedly annihilate that entire army, and I have no prior combat training.
As for a three-headed dragon…well…I doubt I could kill that, but then again, dragons (yes, even Chinese dragons) never existed. That’s where Hollywood comes in.
Stop being such nationalistic sissies.
The movie is so funny, like YOUR Nationalistic feeling. Why are YOU so pride???These tradition make you sick!!!!!!!!
Racist much?
@ Kai
Mate, I can’t remember how I came to be reading this website but for some reason couldn’t stop reading until I arrived at this ‘leave a Reply’ box. It is really unusual for me to feel compelled to post a response to any rediculously over analysed and emotionaly charged comment thread for a movie.
You are (and are well aware of) the fact that you are educated, balanced and articulate.
The amount of time and effort you spend writing on this topic is really strange.
How about focusing your efforts and energies into a forum where your lingustic skills would be of far greater benefit than they are here to a pack of monkeys that argue because they wish to counter their own stupidity and insecurities.
You are wasting your time here. You are better than this. Instead of remining in the comfortable position of having the majority of your opponents in this debate as your intellectual inferiors, you should break out and place yourself in a position where you can develop instead of stagnate.
Remember, this thread is about stupid American trash movie; the audio visual equivalent of a TV dinner.
What a waste.
By the way, I live in Beijing and have done so for the last 3 years. It has it’s moments.
Chris
@ Aussie Chris:
Wow, this thread was from eons ago so I don’t even remember what was discussed in this thread. Nonetheless, I’m sure the discussion dealt with issues beyond just whether “Mummy 3″ was an awful movie or not. LoL.
I’ve always been someone who liked discussions but like a cliche, I’ve learned to stop caring as much as I grow older. That pretty much means I’ve become more realistic than idealistic with regards to the power of words. Some people are hopeless and I’m sure they feel the same about me, and it is something of a dead end.
That said, I can assure you I dedicate most of my brain cells and time towards more meaningful and fruitful pursuits but I do occasionally get lured into battling trolls. Fortunately, I’m happy to say that there are still level-headed chaps running about who sometimes reaffirm my suspicion that not everyone in the world or on a website (such as this) are idiots.
It is a bit mean of me (and a character flaw I presume) that I sometimes enjoy putting an idiot in their place (at least subjectively in my heart). I like to think there are at least some people who don’t comment but read and think “thank god someone said something.” Sometimes I’m the guy who says what is obvious. Sometimes it is someone else, and I’m the one who gets to just read and feel there is some hope in the world because at least one other person out there was willing to say what needed to be said, even if that means telling the idiots that they are, well, idiots.
Anyway, I trust you understand and I thank you for your compliments. For your sanity, I encourage you to avoid the other posts, especially those where I am bashing my head against the wall against a character that goes by the name of “@nn” or “R0bert Bl@ck.”
Cheers, mate.
In the movie, they’re not talking about Emperor Qin shi huang. They talk about emperor Han (Han tai zu Liu Bang?? lol) these americans they don’t even know chinese history and they put shit films into the market. really pityfull
Should Americans know Chinese history?
If so, shouldn’t they know the history of EVERY country? What makes China’s history so special?
And who has time to become an expert in the history of every country and, to be philosophical, how accuarate are most “historical” accounts anyway??
Nah, let’s not make a big deal out of it. It’s not a big deal at all. I saw that movie and this is what I saw and seems to concurr with everyone out of the movie theatre, regardless of thier nationality (saw it in america). Jet Li was AWESOME!!! He was an excellent actor and his role was portrayed perfectly and he made viewers love the Emperor, or admire him. Every other main character sucked big time (Michelle Yeoh was kinda ok). They sucked, thier acting sucked, thier roles sucked, and the logic that bound the movie together sucked. Brandon Frasier hasn’t aged a fucking day since the Mummy I but he now has a son older than 20 years. He has a different wife (nothing you could do about that since the actor died but you could say she died from disease or something in the movie). The bad Chinese general was pummelled by a yeti, hit with a rocket, bombed and exploded in a car, but still arrived for the final fight. Fucking Terminater 4! And don’t even mention when that Tibetan bitch called in a coordinated Yeti strike. Everyone in the theatre laughed thier asses off! By the end, everyone wanted to see Jet Li kill everyone. Oh, and the love story sucked, not just because she was asian ans he was white so it was a bit insulting but the actors sucked, the lines sucked, and the “romance” was the most cliche piece of shit I had ever seen. In the end, it was a mediocre movie only because Jet Li was excellent; if he was not there, people would have walked out of the theatre in mid way.
Its just a movie! How many times we chose a monster’s head to be our icon when we play some games? Does it mean we are trying to insult ourselves? If we really want other countries to respect us, then stop crying each second about how other nations hate us, that’s not true! If you have proud inside of you, you will know that can not be taken by anything one or anything!
Dragons are cool…I wish I was one.
One person said that the west don’t know the history of China probably true mostly.
Do the Chinese ”know” the history of China Tiananmen Square.for instance???????
Yes, a bunch of evil white westerners attacked tianamen square in 1989 and the glorious chinese army destroyed them.
All hail the CCP!
If a Chinese company makes a movie like this about George Washington, I will definitely watch it!
Just look at Metal Wolf Chaos: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metal_Wolf_Chaos
Every American I know of who’s heard of that thinks it’s hilarious.
Wow, so funny to read some of the Chinese reactions to The Mummy 3….I never watched any of those movies in their entirety…and who takes movies like “The Mummy” seriously?
One Chinese person wrote, “A nationality that easily feels wronged is an insecure one, and one that will be difficult to progress.” and I have to agree.
All this sensitivity and lashing out I see from Chinese people EVERY SINGLE DAY makes me think they are really, really insecure….
Well, America(or the U.S.A) sucks indeed. But i dont think people should make a big deal about a shitty movie. the mummy sucks and most american writers tend to fuck up things *cough* dragonball evolution *cough* they even fuck up their own history in those old western movies….anyhow its very childish to get upset over a movie because its not like it really happened or anything.
i honestly thought this movie was kind of random. for the sole reason that The Mummy 1 and 2 were set in Egypt. i saw this and i was like: what? they have mummies in china? (sorry, not sure if china really does have mummies) anyhow. i was just too happy to find that Michelle Yeoh, Jet Li and freaking RUSSELL WONG were in the movie.