Site shutdown won't stop illegal downloads

I recently went to see the Hollywood blockbuster 2012 in a cinema. The movie was worth my 60 yuan, but the experience will be just an exception. I prefer to watch films on the Internet, for free.

Leave flattery out of Hollywood blockbuster

I'm not against people making comparisons between a movie and reality, or making political interpretations. However, reviews of the blockbuster 2012 in Chinese media have really made people feel heavy. I don't think it's necessary to take Hollywood products so seriously.

What's on

Stage

Renaissance of small stage

Standing near his second-floor office window in Xicheng district, Fan Xing gazes at the flow of passengers at a subway station nearby. Downstairs, five small theaters at the Star Theater Village, which opened in November, are busy with rehearsals.

Mixed responses to courtyard performance

Theater enthusiasts may soon be able to enjoy dramas presented in traditional courtyard houses in Beijing's Xicheng district and the hutong of Houhai.

Staying cheeky with chinglish puns

Composing plays that appeal to both Chinese and foreign audiences is not an easy feat. Elyse Ribbons should know.

City lawyers accused of unruly practice

Despite a rapid increase in the number of lawyers in Beijing, concerns about ability have forced the Beijing Lawyers' Association to punish 21 lawyers already this year.

Overhaul for temporary residency permit

Beijing's temporary residency permit will be changed from next year to help the government monitor the city's massive floating population.

Pirated DVD mogul may get jail and fine

A Beijing man charged with copyright infringement might be sentenced to 14 months in prison and fined 80,000 yuan, the local procuratorate said yesterday

IN BRIEF (Page 25)

Water price could rise 24 percent

The Beijing government wants to increase the price of water by almost 24 percent to 4.6 yuan per cu m to cut down on water use.

Concerned teenager offers alternative plan

A 16-year-old high school student has proposed that the perfect charge for water in Beijing should be 50 yuan per cu m, up from the current rate of 3.7 yuan per cu m.