Film bureau denies contacting film rating websites amid criticisms over negative comments
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The film The Great Wall got 4.9 rating points on Douban.com and Maoyan.com. [File photo: sohu.com]

Officials with the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television (SAPPRFT) have denied contacting with film rating websites like Douban.com and Maoyan.com amid the criticisms over negative comments and online ratings for popular domestic films.

Some suspected that the public outburst over dismal reviews for the recent domestic films such as The Great Wall, See You Tomorrow, and Railroad Tigers had even prompted Maoyan.com to remove the ratings feature from its website. The three films have also received much negative attention on social media sites like Wechat and Sina Weibo.

The negativity has drawn much attention from the media, including major outlets like The People's Daily, China Film News, and many regional newspapers, all of which have criticized certain individuals or groups of being irresponsible or even malicious over comments and ratings for the movies in question.

Many movie reviewers have the lowest ratings possible, and critics of the ratings sites say this may be causing damage to the greater film industry in China.

After Maoyan.com removed its ratings feature for movies, there were reports that officials had become directly involved in the issue. But Zhang Hongsen, head of the Film Bureau under SAPPRFT denied the allegation, saying that the bureau has not contacted the websites. He also said Chinese-made films, which have improved dramatically in recent years, deserve more realistic comments and ratings by members of the public using the ratings websites.

The issue has created heated debate online, with many netizens arguing that the films in question are not very good, while others agree the online ratings systems need to be improved.

Douban.com and Maoyan.com are both leading film rating websites in China and have an ever increasing impact on Chinese movie goers. Maoyan.com has said that the rating system is under improvement and will soon be online again.

Author： 　　　Source：CRI　　　 Editor：Yang Fan