NINGEN21
Registered Member
(12/27/05 3:58 pm)
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New company, same bs
While the Weinstein Company is a new venture, the practice by Harvey and associates of cutting Asian films to suit American sensibilities has not changed. Due to the dramatic alterations to Chen's The Promise, we will refer to the edited version, as retitled for the U.S., Master of the Crimson Armor. Such editing will undoubtedly deter Asian film fans from going to theaters to support such disrespect.
Studio Hopes Leaner Means Greener
Source: variety.com
The Promise, which runs 121 minutes, is China's official entry for the foreign-language Academy Award. Meanwhile, the Golden Globes nominated a Chinese film that's 24 minutes shorter, Master of the Crimson Armor.
The funny thing is, they're the same film.
The $35 million fantasy actioner, in its longer version, opened to a boffo $9 million opening week, reportedly a record in its native land.
Last May, Harvey Weinstein and the Weinstein Co. took North American, U.K., Australian and South African rights to the film in May in a joint acquisition with IDG Films.
L.A.-based producer Ernest Etchie Stroh, prexy of production and sales shingle Moonstone Entertainment, says, Harvey looked at the movie and conveyed certain concerns about how it would play with Western audiences. I had almost identical feelings and took these to Kaige.
After a few NRG screenings in the U.S. to test audiences' understanding of plot and character, Blighty-based consultant Matt Garner joined Chen and Stroh in recutting the picture. It now runs 97 minutes. Stroh adds, There is an explicit clause that says Chen Kaige has final cut. This is definitely his movie. Weinstein Co. came with problems and offered solutions.
Chen tells Variety, I wanted to make a Chinese film that works for the Chinese market, but I also want to get Chinese elements into the world market. Western audiences may not have the same patience as Asians. What we have now looks more of an action movie, but I think the soul of the movie is still there. Harvey sent people to help with things like the subtitles, and I participated all the way.
In China, the longer version brought in approximately $2 million (RMB16 million) on its opening day, December 14th. Though ticket prices were set super-high for the first day, that's an astonishing number. Pic is expected to eventually rake in $16 million - $25 million in China.
The shorter version is set to screen for U.S. critics shortly, prior to the Los Angeles Oscar-qualifying run that begins December 30th.
Revised version gave the film a new beginning and a modified ending and clarifies the role of the princess, played by Cecilia Cheung Pak-chi, who had been regarded by some as schizophrenic in her relations with the male characters.
Source: Variety, courtesy of KFCC
They also have SPL, Tom Yum Goong, Mark Dacascos's Nomad, and Jackie Chan's New Police Story.
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