It's been a box office blockbuster. With over 1.6 billion dollars in sales worldwide, Avatar is on course to be the biggest, most successful film of all time. Even in China where the movie theater infrastructure is still developing, especially outside major cities, it's already the most successful film ever shown.

It's taken over 80 million dollars nationwide, and theaters - at least those with 3D facilities - up and down the country have been sold out solidly for much of Avatar's run.

China's rail system has improved in leaps and bounds over the last few decades. From a network which still included steam locomotives as little as ten years ago it now plans to have a nationwide network of advanced high-speed trains by 2012. And – from last weekend - what is being touted as the fastest rail link in the world.

Movies are often a barometer of public opinion, reflecting a nation's hopes as well as its fears. And as the balance of power shifts in the world, the film industries of both America and China are increasingly looking to each other for inspiration.

Money For Closing

The Shanghai Film Festival is currently under way, with big names treading the carpet in China's number one film gala. One of those was famous Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, who has come in for some harsh criticism from Chinese film director Feng Xiaogang. 

At one of the festival's forums, Feng said Hollywood executives like Weinstein bought Chinese films with no intention of selling them and helping China's film industry grow.  Weinstein was briefly at the discussion, but said he had to leave early to catch a plane.  Let's take a look now at what happened after he left.