China is in no ‘Rush’ to show film

HONG KONG -- Jackie Chan’s new action comedy, “Rush Hour 3,” won’t be shown in China.

“We think the market for the movie is relatively weak,” said Xiao Ping, a vice president at state-run China Film Group’s import and export arm.

The Chinese government carefully screens foreign media content and allows only about 20 foreign films a year to be shown.

Ping said “Rush Hour 3” was up against some tough competition. China has already imported several Hollywood blockbusters, including “Transformers,” “Spider-Man 3” and “Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End.”

But Hollywood trade publication Variety reported that Chinese officials think “Rush Hour 3,” which stars Chan and Chris Tucker as buddy cops taking on a Chinese crime family in Paris, is “fundamentally anti-Chinese.”

Xiao said she didn’t know whether film executives were concerned about scenes of Chinese gangsters.

New Line Cinema said it had no comment.

The loss of the Chinese market may not be a major blow. Box-office income in China remains much smaller than in the U.S.

“Rush Hour 3” is set for release in the U.S. on Aug. 10.