http://en.chinabroadcast.cn/2946/2006/06/09/301@100364.htm

By Wang Shanshan

Movie theatres across the country will stop screening "The Da Vinci Code" from today, three weeks after its general release.

The withdrawal is to make way for domestic movies, Weng Li, spokesman for China Film Corporation one of the two co-distributors of the Hollywood blockbuster on the Chinese mainland told China Daily yesterday.

The decision was made in response to calls for promotion of domestic movies by the Chinese Movie Distributors' Association, the Chinese Movie Producers' Association and the Chinese Urban Movie Theatres Association last month, he said.

"We are not against foreign films," the spokesman noted. "My company will continue to arrange their screenings in China according to market demand."

A gatekeeper at the Cineplex in Beijing's upscale Oriental Plaza said: "It is surprising news. The movie has drawn the largest number of viewers in the year."

Having made 104 million yuan (US$13 million) since its release on May 19, it was well on its way to becoming one of the highest-ever grossing foreign films.

It has been reported that its box office proceeds were approaching that of "Pearl Harbor," which made 105 million yuan (US$13.1 million) as the No 2 foreign film in Chinese box office history.

"Titanic" is first, raking in 359 million yuan (US$45 million).

Before the movie was released in China, the Chinese Catholic church issued a notice to followers nationwide asking them to "firmly boycott" it, accusing the movie of going against, and distorting, the tenets and history of the Catholic church.

"The contents of both the movie and the novel are totally fictional," said the notice.

Why would they decide to stop screening the movie when it's already been shown for this long

Since they realize its fictional then why cant they just accept it. They dont have to watch it if they dont like it. Plus, from observing the box office records, everyone else seems to like it..

that is just pointless. The movie is already showing and has a good reception. I understand their thinking but just don't agree with it.

i saw thios movie in america its pretty good. its sorta like the national treasure with nicolas cage

that's a dumb thing to do....it's bring in so much money and they come up with a lame excuse of wanting to promote domestic movies....if that's so then why don't they take off one of the lesser money making movies

haha, china doing their thing again. anyway da vinci wasn't that excellent la, they got the book to help them

aww too bad for the people in China, but I'm sure they would dl it or something...
they didn't lose too much considering its not a great film... besides there's so much lies in it...

they stop screening cuz they want ppl to watch more of their own productions not only foreign films...

i dont get why they taking it off even though the movie isnt as good as the book =/

Not sure is it to protect the local production screening, but i don't think it is a good move for the economy, anyway, it is just a movie, nothing more, people who have 'faith' can just watch for fun, it is not like killing people and still confess.

so stupid!! why take of such a good film?? poor chinese viewers...missing out on a good film!

I haven't watched that movie yet, but I'll be soon. I guess it is abit frustrating and confusing...I mean, it is fictional afterall, but I guess the catholics around the globe are still up against it.

Does this happen often? I heard they clipped out a few scenes fro MI3. Follow up question, does this happen in other countries or is China just getting the focus shifted on their "big brother" practices?

hmm... well i think its just an excuse to play down the popularity of da vinci code maybe :S also i guess there is a lot of discussion about it in regards to the catholic church :?

alot of people havent watched this movie. they shouldnt take it off so early. AND Some people should watch it to understand this whole different perspectives on this issue of God and Jesus. To me, its actually i good way to promote christianity, and to also concurrently influence people to not beleiev in christianity. but for the people that stay true to god will stay strong to their beliefs and realise perhaps this movie is blashphemy. But for the people that dont believe in god, it wont matter at all, and may actually influence people to bleieve in god as they mite also feel that the movie is gone to far and consider it as highly blahsphemated.

Here comes the closed door policy again ... they're taking their entertainment industry back a few years with this move ...