Is there something to the Mockingjay ban in Thailand and last-minute cancellation in China?
Fans in these Asian nations have been looking forward to seeing the movie, as have Hunger Games fans the world over. However, as the first half of the Hunger Games finale hits theaters, there seems to be concern that the movie could stir up a real life revolution.
"Hunger Games" installment pulled in Thailand after protest using movie's three-finger salute http://t.co/kRdBRvtEoe pic.twitter.com/2r347RCKeb
— NBC News (@NBCNews) November 20, 2014
— NBC News (@NBCNews) November 20, 2014
According to the Associated Press, citizens in Thailand who oppose the military coup, which occurred in May, have adopted the three finger salute as a gesture of protest.
The Thai government has a ban in place which effectively forbids ANYONE from making the gesture in public.
This @TheHungerGames salute seems innocent, but 5 university students were detained for it: http://t.co/3MOwwOFdYC pic.twitter.com/pH4hArwPUd
— New Day (@NewDay) November 20, 2014
— New Day (@NewDay) November 20, 2014
Army officials admitted that the students were held for several hours for "attitude adjustment" purposes, although the meaning behind that has yet to be explained.
The punishment has not deterred angry citizens, who see Mockingjay and the other Hunger Games movies as a source of inspiration.
Thai cinema chain pulls 'Hunger Games' because of the 3-finger salute http://t.co/Jp8SHE79yu (Thanyarat Doksone-AP) pic.twitter.com/hSN92HbzoH
— TIME.com (@TIME) November 20, 2014
— TIME.com (@TIME) November 20, 2014
However, Apex Cinemas gave their own reason for the removal of Mockingjay, saying that the company was concerned that their theaters were being used for "political movements."
While it's not an outright ban, China has allegedly cancelled a Mockingjay premiere indefinitely.
There are an ongoing series of protests in Hong Kong. Though support for pro-democracy activists has waned, some believed the themes in Mockingjay worried Chinese censors.
Coming soon to a theatre in China: Delays, disappointments – but not 'Mockingjay' http://t.co/0fRUMco02w pic.twitter.com/DiEeNf73wU
— Report on Business (@globebusiness) November 20, 2014
— Report on Business (@globebusiness) November 20, 2014
There are reports Mockingjay will indeed hit Chinese theaters in 2015.
However, this conflicts with claims that China has unofficially moved to ban Mockingjay by canceling the movie's premier indefinitely.
The China release of #TheHungerGames: Mockingjay — Part 1 has been delayed until next year. http://t.co/HiO2N9X73G pic.twitter.com/Kb6zWsMoOv
— Variety (@Variety) November 18, 2014
— Variety (@Variety) November 18, 2014
Those items which are viewed as advocating the subversion of government authorities, a category that Mockingjay falls into, could be seen as highly vulnerable to censorship.
[Image Credit: MOVIECLIPS Trailers]
