Constantin Film's live-action film adaptation of Capcom's Monster Hunter was released into theaters in China, where it was immediately met with heavy criticism from audiences, owing to a joke that has been perceived as being racist.
Audiences cite one particular scene in which two soldiers, one white and one Asian, are seen riding in a jeep. The latter draws attention to his knees and asks, "What kind of knees are these?" followed by, "Chi-nese." The pun has been widely interpreted among Chinese audiences as a reference to an offensive schoolyard rhyme: "Chi-nese, Jap-a-nese, dir-ty knees, look at these," often accompanied by derogatory gestures.
Viewers have expressed their outrage on the Chinese social media app, Weibo, where the hashtag "Monster Hunter Insults China" has started trending. In response, Chinese cinemas were reportedly instructed to cancel all screenings and await an edited version of Monster Hunter. However, later reports have suggested that even a censored version of the film may be prevented from screening.
Tencent Pictures, which is responsible for film distribution within China, has also come under fire for failing to flag the line and for allowing the film to hit theaters despite the inclusion of offensive content. The backlash has also spread to Capcom and the Monster Hunter video games, which have been review bombed on Steam. It should be noted that Capcom has clarified it was not involved in production of the film.
Monster Hunter is loosely based on the world of Capcom's video game series of the same name. The film follows a squad of soldiers led by Captain Artemis, played by Milla Jovovich. After being caught in a sandstorm, the soldiers fall through a portal and finds itself in a world filled with giant monsters, with their only guide being a mysterious hunter. They must learn to build trust between the hunter, played by Tony Jaa, and his people, in order to survive this new world and eventually find their way home.
Capcom's video game series is comprised of five core games. The franchise has collectively sold more than 63 million units. The latest instalment, Monster Hunter World was release in 2018 and has sold 15.5 million alone. Capcom is currently developing Monster Hunter Rise, which is scheduled to hit shelves in 2021.
Directed by Paul W.S. Anderson, Monster Hunter stars Milla Jovovich, Ron Perlman, TI, Tony Jaa, Meagan Good and Diego Boneta. The film arrives in theaters on Dec. 25, 2020.
Source: Variety