Comments on: Thinking Outside the Multiplex http://commentarytrack.com/2009/12/19/thinking-outside-the-multiplex-26/ movie reviews, news and discussion Tue, 22 May 2012 16:52:19 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: miriam http://commentarytrack.com/2009/12/19/thinking-outside-the-multiplex-26/#comment-3453 miriam Wed, 23 Dec 2009 01:20:05 +0000 http://commentarytrack.com/?p=6323#comment-3453 Mike, you've made my day! I will continue waiting hopefully for Red Cliff and start watching the play dates for Warlords. Time to inventory available relatives in the lucky cities and scout for a good airfare! Mike, you’ve made my day! I will continue waiting hopefully for Red Cliff and start watching the play dates for Warlords. Time to inventory available relatives in the lucky cities and scout for a good airfare!

]]> By: Mike http://commentarytrack.com/2009/12/19/thinking-outside-the-multiplex-26/#comment-3452 Mike Tue, 22 Dec 2009 22:26:53 +0000 http://commentarytrack.com/?p=6323#comment-3452 Two updates- I noticed yesterday that the US distributor for Red Cliff, Magnolia Pictures, now says on their "play dates" page for RC that it will open at the Keystone Arts on January 8. Just today, I noticed that Magnolia is also the US distributor for The Warlords [that's the title as it now appears on the site]. Here is the theatrical release schedule as of today- no doubt subject to change later on- as cut and pasted from the "play dates" page: Opening 4/2/2010 West Los Angeles, CA: Nuart Theatre 4/9/2010 Berkeley, CA: Shattuck Cinemas 10 San Francisco, CA: Lumiere Theatre 3 Washington, DC: E Street Cinema Cambridge, MA: Kendall Square Cinema 4/16/2010 San Diego, CA: Ken Cinema Philadelphia, PA: Ritz at the Bourse Seattle, WA: Varsity Theatre 4/23/2010 Denver, CO: Chez Artiste 4/30/2010 Minneapolis, MN: Lagoon Cinema Two updates-

I noticed yesterday that the US distributor for Red Cliff, Magnolia Pictures, now says on their “play dates” page for RC that it will open at the Keystone Arts on January 8.

Just today, I noticed that Magnolia is also the US distributor for The Warlords [that's the title as it now appears on the site]. Here is the theatrical release schedule as of today- no doubt subject to change later on- as cut and pasted from the “play dates” page:

Opening

4/2/2010
West Los Angeles, CA: Nuart Theatre

4/9/2010
Berkeley, CA: Shattuck Cinemas 10
San Francisco, CA: Lumiere Theatre 3
Washington, DC: E Street Cinema
Cambridge, MA: Kendall Square Cinema

4/16/2010
San Diego, CA: Ken Cinema
Philadelphia, PA: Ritz at the Bourse
Seattle, WA: Varsity Theatre

4/23/2010
Denver, CO: Chez Artiste

4/30/2010
Minneapolis, MN: Lagoon Cinema

]]> By: Nir Shalev http://commentarytrack.com/2009/12/19/thinking-outside-the-multiplex-26/#comment-3451 Nir Shalev Mon, 21 Dec 2009 06:05:48 +0000 http://commentarytrack.com/?p=6323#comment-3451 I know I know... And re Magnificent Ambersons, while shooting that film Welles became known for not finishing projects. He went to South America to shoot something else and never finished it, and eventually the producers had cut it as they saw fit and released it as the verion that we can see today. He then refused to ever watch it until his best friend Peter Bogdanovich, in the 1970s forced him to sit down and watch it. Welles said that it was "pretty good under the circumstances". But the original Red Cliff worked for me because of the character development. Oh well, no use arguing or complaining. :O) I know I know…

And re Magnificent Ambersons, while shooting that film Welles became known for not finishing projects. He went to South America to shoot something else and never finished it, and eventually the producers had cut it as they saw fit and released it as the verion that we can see today. He then refused to ever watch it until his best friend Peter Bogdanovich, in the 1970s forced him to sit down and watch it. Welles said that it was “pretty good under the circumstances”.

But the original Red Cliff worked for me because of the character development. Oh well, no use arguing or complaining. :O)

]]> By: miriam http://commentarytrack.com/2009/12/19/thinking-outside-the-multiplex-26/#comment-3450 miriam Sun, 20 Dec 2009 19:15:58 +0000 http://commentarytrack.com/?p=6323#comment-3450 I understand that Woo did or supervised the editing for the US release version, so I feel more optimistic about what it's like. I think, Nir, that you might be a bit hasty in concluding that it _can't_ be good with so much left out since some directors shoot lots of film that never makes the final version. Helen's example of Greed is particularly apt. I saw the reconstructed version and realized the plot really did make sense in a way the original didn't, but even so the original is great cinema. I understand that Woo did or supervised the editing for the US release version, so I feel more optimistic about what it’s like. I think, Nir, that you might be a bit hasty in concluding that it _can’t_ be good with so much left out since some directors shoot lots of film that never makes the final version. Helen’s example of Greed is particularly apt. I saw the reconstructed version and realized the plot really did make sense in a way the original didn’t, but even so the original is great cinema.

]]> By: Helen http://commentarytrack.com/2009/12/19/thinking-outside-the-multiplex-26/#comment-3449 Helen Sun, 20 Dec 2009 15:04:28 +0000 http://commentarytrack.com/?p=6323#comment-3449 The US release version of Red Cliff is necessarily diminished by being cut so heavily, but it isn't necessarily a bad film. See Greed and The Magnificent Ambersons. It's infuriating that the cut-down version is the only one I'll (maybe) have the chance to see on the big screen, but I'm still going to see it. The US release version of Red Cliff is necessarily diminished by being cut so heavily, but it isn’t necessarily a bad film. See Greed and The Magnificent Ambersons.

It’s infuriating that the cut-down version is the only one I’ll (maybe) have the chance to see on the big screen, but I’m still going to see it.

]]> By: miriam http://commentarytrack.com/2009/12/19/thinking-outside-the-multiplex-26/#comment-3448 miriam Sun, 20 Dec 2009 03:24:47 +0000 http://commentarytrack.com/?p=6323#comment-3448 I know it's had all the 'boring' parts removed (ie all the dramatic character development and interaction) for us dumb north americans but I want to see the big action pieces on the big screen anyway. I actually own the full length movie already but have been waiting to watch it until I see whatever I can get in a theater. There's nothing like the movie theater experience and I want all the colors, action, and sounds in the scale they are meant to be in. I don't understand why a movie with a name director, big stars, and an classic action packed story can't find distribution. Another puzzler is why War Lords with Jet Li is a no-show. Doesn't anyone remember how much money Hero made? I know it’s had all the ‘boring’ parts removed (ie all the dramatic character development and interaction) for us dumb north americans but I want to see the big action pieces on the big screen anyway. I actually own the full length movie already but have been waiting to watch it until I see whatever I can get in a theater. There’s nothing like the movie theater experience and I want all the colors, action, and sounds in the scale they are meant to be in.

I don’t understand why a movie with a name director, big stars, and an classic action packed story can’t find distribution. Another puzzler is why War Lords with Jet Li is a no-show. Doesn’t anyone remember how much money Hero made?

]]> By: Nir Shalev http://commentarytrack.com/2009/12/19/thinking-outside-the-multiplex-26/#comment-3447 Nir Shalev Sun, 20 Dec 2009 01:42:57 +0000 http://commentarytrack.com/?p=6323#comment-3447 I wouldn't watch Red Cliff in theatres because the producers took the two, 2 hour movies and spilced them into a 150 minute film. It's missing 90 minutes, overall so it can't be good. I say, without preaching that you should get a good Asian version of the two movies that had been a round for over a year. They're good movies and I think that the North American release is shameful. I wouldn’t watch Red Cliff in theatres because the producers took the two, 2 hour movies and spilced them into a 150 minute film. It’s missing 90 minutes, overall so it can’t be good. I say, without preaching that you should get a good Asian version of the two movies that had been a round for over a year.
They’re good movies and I think that the North American release is shameful.

]]> By: miriam http://commentarytrack.com/2009/12/19/thinking-outside-the-multiplex-26/#comment-3446 miriam Sat, 19 Dec 2009 23:09:05 +0000 http://commentarytrack.com/?p=6323#comment-3446 My theory for The Road playing wide in Evansville is that the poor folks in the pocket need the survival tips. Please, please, please oh movie gods, bring Red Cliff to Indianapolis. Maybe the Landmark folks are saving it for the Chinese New Year celebration, always a big event in our city. That probably makes me 0 for 2 in the theory department, but I can't figure out this business either. My theory for The Road playing wide in Evansville is that the poor folks in the pocket need the survival tips.

Please, please, please oh movie gods, bring Red Cliff to Indianapolis. Maybe the Landmark folks are saving it for the Chinese New Year celebration, always a big event in our city.

That probably makes me 0 for 2 in the theory department, but I can’t figure out this business either.

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