At the same time, he noted that cutting out content that is inappropriate for minors meanwhile fails to meet the demands of adults.

"To adopt the international rating system or have a unique Chinese-style rating system is not that important. The real problem is whether film censorship should resign to the will of the authority in charge or should be complying with reality and be exercisable," said Wu.

It is still difficult for China to have a movie rating system, "because in this transitional period, things go rigid with strict control but chaotic without it. Besides, we lack the legal supervision to go with such a system. But these shouldn't be used as excuses for not endeavoring to work on it, " said Chinese scholar Yang Liya.

China legislators have in fact completed a draft of the Law on Film Promotion. It is expected to enter the legislative process; this should introduce a movie rating system.

More foreign movies

After China's reform and opening up in 1978, the country bought in an increasing number of foreign movies. But as the budget for these movies was only $20,000 for each, audiences were limited to a few old foreign movies or small budget ones.

In 1994, the Film Bureau said China could introduce 10 movies every year that would "reflect the world's good cultural achievements." Conforming to common international practices the producer was given 35 percent, distributor 17 percent and cinema 48 percent of box office takings. Although to some this profit distribution seems unfair to movie producers, foreign producers have made generous profits in the Chinese film market.

The Fugitive, starring Harrison Ford, was the first imported film under the box office revenue-sharing system introduced in 1994. It was shown in six cities-Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Chongqing, Zhengzhou and Guangzhou-and made 25 million yuan in revenue. Since then the time lag between movies being shown abroad and reaching China has been shortened.

China made a promise when entering the World Trade Organization in 2001 that it "will increase imported films to 20 from the present 10, and the number will be brought to 50 in three years, of which 20 will be under the box office revenue sharing option."

With the potential size of Chinese cinema audiences, it's a list many films will want to be on.