Hong Kong star Chow Yun-fat's role in the latest Hollywood hit Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End was slashed in half by mainland censors in deference to the country's rules and culture, Xinhua quoted a top official as saying.
Chow's Captain Sao Feng has only about 10 minutes of screen time in the version shown since Tuesday, in contrast to his 20 minutes of swashbuckling in the Hollywood version.
Zhang Pimin, deputy head of the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television's film bureau, said the changes were in line with 'relevant regulations on film censorship' and 'China's actual conditions', Xinhua reported.
The cuts 'will not impair either the continuity of plot or the image of characters', Mr Zhang said. He refused to provide specific reasons for the changes, according to Xinhua.
The scenes snipped from the mainland version include ones where Captain Sao is attracted to the heroine at first sight, and where he recites a famous Chinese poem to her. A scene in which he declares 'Welcome to Singapore' was also deleted.
Before the film was approved for release, many mainlanders expressed outrage on the internet about Chow's appearance, saying the role vilified Chinese people.