BEIJING -- Hollywood film-maker Steven Spielberg has been ridiculed in the Chinese media and on the Internet for living in a "sci-fi" dream world over his decision to sever ties with the Beijing Olympics.

Spielberg said last week that his conscience would no longer allow him to work on the Olympics as an artistic consultant while Sudan's China-backed government carried out genocide in its western Darfur province.

Spielberg's films have been box office hits in China but the producer has come under regular attack after his withdrawal from the Beijing Games.

"This person is completely living in his sci-fi world and cannot distinguish dream from reality," said a commentator in the China Youth Daily.

The official Xinhua news agency said Chinese people were baffled by the behavior of the man behind blockbusters like E.T., Jurassic Park and Schindler's List.

"Mr. Spielberg knows nothing about China's endeavor to solve the Darfur issue," Xinhua quoted a commentary in the Guangming Daily as saying. "He is unqualified to blame the Chinese government."

Thousands of angry Chinese ganged up against him on Internet forums, according to the news agency.

They targeted Spielberg "as a person who failed to keep his word" and for linking politics to the Beijing Olympics.

One posting said: "The US slaughters civilians in Afghanistan and Iraq. Director Spielberg, don't you feel ashamed being an American?

"You don't criticize your own country, then how can you criticize China?"

But Spielberg's work has been spared criticism, according to the Xinhua report, because Chinese people still loved his movies.

It quoted Xinghe, a Chinese writer, as saying that the US producer had inspired Chinese youngsters who love science fiction.

"He has great talent. We are regretful over his decision, but we can still enjoy his movies," he said.