‘Transformers’ tries for delicate US-China balance

Published June 26, 2014 12:43pm ET



BEIJING (AP) — Dazzling special effects, Optimus Prime … and Beijing. The latest “Transformers” movie has all three, mixing Texas-based action with scenes in China’s capital and a heavy dose of Hong Kong in an attempt to straddle the world’s two biggest movie-going audiences.

The fourth installment of the Michael Bay-directed franchise has gone all-out to woo China’s audience with Chinese locations, talent and even a reality TV show. “Transformers: Age of Extinction” illustrates the delicate balancing game of Hollywood studios trying to work out what the Chinese market wants while simultaneously catering to Americans.

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