We　study　the　global　existence　of　weak　solutions　to　a　multi-dimensional　simplified　Ericksen-Leslie　system　for　compressible　flows　of　nematic　liquid　crystals　with　large　initial　energy　in　a　bounded　domain　Omega　subset　of　R-N,　where　N　=　2　or　3.　By　exploiting　a　maximum　principle,　Nirenberg＇s　interpolation　inequality　and　a　smallness　condition　imposed　on　the　N-th　component　of　initial　direction　field　d(0)　to　overcome　the　difficulties　induced　by　the　supercritical　nonlinearity　vertical　bar　del　d　vertical　bar(2)d　in　the　equations　of　angular　momentum,　and　then　adapting　a　modified　three-dimensional　approximation　scheme　and　the　weak　convergence　arguments　for　the　compressible　Navier-Stokes　equations,　we　establish　the　global　existence　of　weak　solutions　to　the　initial-boundary　problem　with　large　initial　energy　and　without　any　smallness　condition　on　the　initial　density　and　velocity.　(C)　2013　Elsevier　Inc.　All　rights　reserved.