Whether he is playing a Chinese warrior or Jason Bourne, actor Matt Damon is not gaining more fans in China.
The tiff with “Jason Bourne” the movie comes from Chinese moviegoers complaining that they have been ripped off because most of them were forced to watch the 3D version of the film which is more expensive than the 2D version.
Global Times reported that to protest what is happening, some of those who have seen the movie and were not satisfied had themselves photographed holding their smartphones with the message “Refund our tickets.” The Hollywood movie premiered in China on Tuesday, Aug. 23, but in Beijing only eight of 149 cinemas have the 2D version.
In Shanghai, the 2D version was available only in nine theaters out of 174, and the nine were either found in remote areas or showed the movie very early in the morning or late at night.
It did not help that many moviegoers complained of the dizzying effect of the 3D version, worsened by the cinematography since director Paul Greengrass used a hand-held camera to shoot “Jason Bourne.” Because of the protest, the China branch of Universal Pictures said on its Sina Weibo account that it is working to add more theaters with 2D version of the fifth franchise.
In the US, “Jason Bourne” earned a box office of $143 million from July 23 through Aug. 23. In China, the movie earned 74 million yuan, or $11 million, on its opening day, reported Quartz. However, the box office receipt may not rise significantly because of the complaint of Chinese cineastes over the 3D, resulting in a long line of people at the theater’s restroom to vomit due to the dizzying effect of the forced 3D treatment.