So as most of you know, China is a mecca for pirated goods.
Actually, let’s call it a mecca for products “inspired by” someone/something else, just incase any gang/government member is reading this.
Fashion
Film
Shoes
Jewelry
Bags
Food
Booze
Medicine
You name it, someone somewhere is selling it and buying it, either knowingly or not.
Now I could go into a big diatribe about some of the reasons behind why I think it happens so much in China … which goes way beyond someone just wanting to make a shitload of cash … however I know none of you could give a flying fuck about that, so instead I want to talk about one area that I find particularly interesting, and that’s the fake film market.
Throughout Shanghai are DVD stores that sell nothing but fake product.
From classics to British television shows that were only broadcast weeks earlier to movies that haven’t even come out yet … you are pretty much presented with a video wonderland everytime you step into one of these stores.
For about 50 pence, you can get a beautifully packaged product of high quality.
FIFTY PENCE.
OK, so sometimes the quality is uber-shite and the subtitles never bear any resemblance to what is going on the screen [which adds a comedy element to everything, even Schindlers List] however more often than not, what you get is a couple of hours entertainment for less than the price of packet of popcorn.
But here’s the difference between the pirated film industry and the rest of the pirated category.
You see where the fashion, jewelry, bags, food, booze & medicine fake categories are concerned, their goal is make things look as identical to the aesthetic as the original – however with the film category, they don’t feel the same need to match the requirements of the outer packaging.
Sure, some of that is because they are often dealing with situations where the ‘outer packaging’ hasn’t even been created yet … but what I find interesting is how they get around this.
Maybe it’s because they think at the prices they charge, people won’t mind buying the odd ‘shit movie’ [in terms of storyline, not production quality] … maybe it’s because they just want to take the piss … maybe it’s because they can’t actually read what they’re printing … hell, maybe they really give a damn about quality entertainment and don’t want you wasting your money and time on the sort of thing that will sweep the board at next years Razzies … but it is not uncommon to look at the back of a film you’re considering purchasing and seeing this:
[To see full size, click here]
Brilliant eh.
If only all movie reviews were so honest.
I can think of more than a few Hollywood ‘blockbusters’ that needed this sort of ‘real World’ promotion material attached to it.
Are you listening Michael Bay and your Transformers 2 fiasco?!
Oh hang on, I’ve just thought of another possibility of why they might choose to go with the ‘blunt honesty’ approach to movie labeling … maybe it’s because they know idiots like me will find this sort of review one of the most compelling reasons to buy the thing!
God I’m a sad bastard.
Anyway, insult away, I pre-wrote this post as I’m out of the country so I won’t be able to read all your abuse until I’m back on Monday. Have fun …