A pirated version of the popular movie Avengers: Endgame recently appeared on illegal streaming sites that had feminist and gay scenes and dialogue removed. To cite a few: male heroes hugging, a key scene in which a male character is teaching his daughter to shoot a bow and arrow.
Since the work was pirated, the author’s identity is unknown. However, another ‘sanitized’ film that appeared a year ago was Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017). Approximately thirty percent of the movie’s content showing women making decisions, giving orders and fighting in battle was deleted. For example, scenes with Leia yelling at Poe were removed.
The anonymous Star Wars editor/censor left comments and called his work: “De-feminized fanedit” or “The Chauvinist Cut.” Viewers were outraged and blasted the ‘sanitized version’ in editorials and blog posts. Rightfully so. Besides the obvious reason, there was no story after so much of the original was deleted.
Was this the work of one person or part of a trend? And will more ‘sanitized’ pirate movie versions appear? Stay tuned. . .