V For Vendetta Plays on Chinese TV for the First Time

V For Vendetta Plays on Chinese TV for the First Time

Television audiences across China got their first look at the infamous revolutionary V, sparking strong reactions online and possibly signalling a liberalization of censorship rules in China.

By DylansMyDog - Dec 20, 2012 04:12 AM EST
Filed Under: V for Vendetta

According to the Associated Press, a Chinese TV channel broadcast the 2005 comic book movie V For Vendetta for the first time ever Friday night after which Chinese citizens took to their version of Twitter to post various quotes from the movie.

The movie, which depicts a fictional Great Britain ruled by a fascist government, was never played in Chinese movie theaters in 2005 and has not been played on Chinese TV before last week.

The AP quotes media commentator Shen Chen saying, "Oh God, CCTV unexpectedly put out 'V for Vendetta.' I had always believed that film was banned in China!"

CCTV, the only company with a nation wide broadcast license in China, denied that the movie had been banned as did members of the Chinese government; however, with it's themes about overthrowing an authoritarian ruler, the subject matter of the movie seems like something the Chinese government would have censored in the past.

It is not clear whether CCTV made the decision to air the movie independently or if they sought approval from government authorities, but CCTV producers testing the limits on censorship could be a sign that the Communist Party's new leader Xi Jinping is already working on reform.

Whatever the implications in China, this is a good reminder to Western Audiences that while V For Vendetta is a cautionary tale about what could happen here, the type of government that uses censorship, curfews and secret police to control its people is a reality for Chinese citizens.

Perhaps in the future the Chinese leaders will look back and regret letting a billion people hear the words "People shouldn't be afraid of the government, governments should be afraid of their people."

V FOR VENDETTA TV Series Rumored To Be In The Works At British Television Network Channel 4
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V FOR VENDETTA TV Series Rumored To Be In The Works At British Television Network Channel 4

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marvel72
marvel72 - 12/20/2012, 5:09 AM
a classic comic book movie,definitely in my top five dc comics movies.

1st watchmen ultimate cut
2nd batman begins
3rd superman the movie
4th the dark knight
5th v for vendetta
LEEE777
LEEE777 - 12/20/2012, 5:25 AM
MARVEL @ You the man! ; )

Big thumbs up for number 1!!!



Clint Eastwood ^5 style! : D
marvel72
marvel72 - 12/20/2012, 5:49 AM
@ leee777

hello mate,merry christmas.

how have you been?
Spideyguy94
Spideyguy94 - 12/20/2012, 5:51 AM
As a stand alone movie V For Vendetta is awesome. But as an adaptation of the comic it's a complete bastardisation.


@Marvel72 agreed. Love the watchmen ultimate cut, although it did cost my mum and dad £100 as a crimbo gift.
marvel72
marvel72 - 12/20/2012, 6:40 AM
@ spideyguy94

you got a pretty good deal on that,amazon & ebay were selling them for £200-£300.

i've seen the ultimate cut going for £109.99 on amazon but i've just noticed that they've got a collectors edition of the ultimate cut & a copy of the graphic novel hardcover edition going for £41.14.

i don't own it so i'm gonna order the collectors edition.
Spideyguy94
Spideyguy94 - 12/20/2012, 6:57 AM
@marvel72 I know, it's ridiculous. I already own 2 copies of the graphic novel. One signed by dave gibbons which I don't read to keep in good condition. The other I use to read it so it can wear down.
marvel72
marvel72 - 12/20/2012, 7:03 AM
@ spideyguy94

i've got the normal blu-ray copy of watchmen & watchmen trade paperback edition(1st printing).

i wished i'd brought the 12 issue limited series when it first came out.
LEEE777
LEEE777 - 12/20/2012, 7:18 AM
Good MARV @ Howz u been buddy?

Yeah WATCHMEN in pure gold, movie and comic books!
luffycapri
luffycapri - 12/20/2012, 7:20 AM
It is already happening here !
Spideyguy94
Spideyguy94 - 12/20/2012, 7:21 AM
@marvel72 I wasn't even alive when the original issues came out. But my uncle used to have scattered issues like 1, 4, 5, 9 and 12 but he lost them.
marvel72
marvel72 - 12/20/2012, 7:27 AM
@ leee777

not bad mate,i suppose it could be better. :D

looking forward to christmas i.e graphic novels,food & drink.

@ spideyguy94

yeah i was but i'm an old f*cker.
Spideyguy94
Spideyguy94 - 12/20/2012, 7:45 AM
@marvel72 age is just a number my friend.
DukeAcureds
DukeAcureds - 12/20/2012, 10:40 AM
V for Vendetta to air in China for the first time. Widespread rioting to folow.
DylansMyDog
DylansMyDog - 12/20/2012, 4:01 PM
Didn't main... oh well
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