China and 007 finally meet

China is finally going to allow their theatres to show a 007 film, after getting past government censors. Casino Royale, featuring actor Daniel Craig as the world's most famous movie spy, will be the first Bond film ever to legally play in China.

A premiere red carpet event has been planned in anticipation for the film's belated release, with Craig expected to attend.

Royale will be shown in Chinese cinemas uncut and uncensored, according to Sony, the film's distributor. It is interesting to note that the country is allowing to screen a movie whose theme is gambling, while any form of gambling is banished in mainland China.

"What we told them is, we are fighting a common enemy, terrorists," said Li Chow, Sony's China head. "That was well accepted."

But one part of the original film has been slightly altered to better sit with China's fragile relationship with the western world. Actress Judi Dench, who plays "M", said that she had to re-dub one line. In Britain, she says, "Christ, I miss the Cold War", but in China, she says, "God, I miss the old times."

Source: Telegraph Media Group