China censors M:i:3 prior to opening in theatres July 20

When M:i:3 opens in theatres on July 20th on the Chinese mainland viewers will be watching an alterated version of the film we saw here on our shores. Turns out that scenes that gave an unwelcome impression of the city of Shanghai have been cut from the film. Speculation [repeat... Speculation] is that scenes with "a car chase and shootings on the streets of Shanghai" and "laundry hanging from balconies" on bamboo poles are those recommended for editing.

The State Administration of Radio, Film and Television [SARFT] had put forward a recommendation for changes to the The China Film Group Corporation [CFGC], the films Chinese distributor. The deputy manager of the film exhibition and distribution arm of the CFGC, Weng Li, would not confirm which scenes had been cut from the film but he has confirmed the edit: "It's sure that the movie has been somewhat cut."

What's odd about this is that bootlegs of said movie have already been available for the past month for no more than $1 US. Obviously pot-cams the films are low-grade quality but people are still buying it. So, yeah, cut some scenes but folks have been watching the movie for the past month with the scenes included and will do so for another 7 weeks until the movie opens in theatres. "The inferior pirated DVDs won't have influence on the movie's box office," Weng said. Okay then. You believe that Weng.

You know what you get when you re-arrange the letters in SARFT? FARTS! Something to ponder.