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How Soon is Chow?How exciting is the forming trend of releasing Asian films in North America within a few months of their domestic releases? Sure, "D-War" and "Exiled" didn't make it to Canadian theatres, and "Midnight Eagle" is only playing NY and LA, but it was just announced that "CJ7 - A Hope", the new Stephen Chow film is going to be released in North American a couple weeks before its HK release. These are mostly films that have American funding, but that's sure to change eventually. Part of the reason Asian films don't perform that well at the North American box office is because by time they're released here, they've been available via import DVD/download for half a year or more. I prefer to see a film in a theatre to video 100% of the time, but I also want to see films as soon as I can. The fact that the films are being released so close to their domestic release dates also means that studios don't have the time to edit them down to what they consider a more digestible version. They won't be able to buy the distribution rights to wonderful films like "Tears of the Black Tiger" only to re-edit them to mush, and then not even give them theatrical releases because they didn't test well with test audiences. It's going to force them to think before they buy. To believe in the films they purchase. To not just buy films because they're cheap, and MIGHT be something they can market successfuly, because audiences will be expecting the films to be released within a reasonable amount of time. At least, I hope that's what happens. People are definitely going to have to go out and see more Asian films in theatres to make this dream a reality, but I hold confident that it will happen. That the difference in release dates is the major reason that Asian cinema doesn't fare so well financially in North America. Be sure to go see the new Stephen Chow in January. Be sure to go see "Mad Detective" when it gets released (Even if it's not fantastic, it's good enough for now). I want to be able to see more Asian films on the big screen on a regular basis, and not just at film festivals. And if you do too... We all need to do our part. -Jeff. Posted on 12/07/07 by: Jeff. 3 Comments
Jeff. Posted on 12/08/07
Ha! I thought it was funny. Sorry I didn't use your suggestion of, "Everybody is kung-fu fighting". Post a Comment
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'How soon is Chow'? Really, Jeff?
Really?