Movie screenings become popular recitation platform

A popular animated movie which features dozens of poems has become a favorite for many children who recite the verses, creating a dilemma for moviegoers who simply want to enjoy the plot.

The movie Chang An, which hit cinemas on July 8, has garnered more than 600 million yuan ($84 million) at the box office as of Sunday, according to movie statistics platform Maoyan. On popular review platform Douban Movie, the animation scored 8.2 out of 10 points with nearly 150,000 reviews.

Using Gao Shi, a famous poet during the Tang Dynasty (618-907) as a main character, the movie tells stories about roughly a dozen prominent poets such as Li Bai, Du Fu and Wang Wei. Unlike any movie put on Chinese screens before, the 168-minute movie features excerpts from 48 famous poems.

As the literature-scattered film rolls on, many children who went along with their parents excitingly recite the poems whenever they appear, as many netizens said in their reviews in various platforms. While some find it amusing, others consider it annoying.

"More than half of the audience were elementary school students during my showing, and the girl behind me was reciting really loudly whenever it was something she knows," one review said, adding parents should teach their children manners, especially when they are trying to let their children learn something.

"There are even parents who record their children reciting in the cinema, as if the 'no-recording' rule doesn't apply," another review said. They went on to suggest cinemas organize family-only showings and keep them separate from those who want silence during the show.

As the movie is 168 minutes in total, many said it suits older audience more.

Yu Xin, a movie critic who often goes under the alias Tuebingen Carpenter, said on his Sina Weibo account moviegoers should be more tolerant.

"It's a wonderful sound. It's the unique romance that only belongs to Chinese cinemas," he said, adding when the musical movie Les Miserable hit Chinese screens a few years ago, viewers who sang along won applause.

He suggested parents should look after their children so they will say nothing other than reciting the poems.