Is Japan going to miss Summer Movie season AGAIN !?

[Buraku]

Ok they have to translate the movie, do subtitles etc....but can it really take THAT long ? Perhaps they are trying to do it right this time, avoid another Simpsons movie fiasco !!

Better late than never ?

Funny thing is the Koreans, only a few miles across the water and the Taiwanese seem to have their shit together when it comes to releases

Ironman
United States : Out now
Japan : sometime in September

WALL·E
Worldwide : July
Japan : December or next year

Where in the World Is Osama Bin Laden?
United States : Out now
Japan sometime in 2011

Dark Knight
Worldwide: 17-20 July
Japan sometime in September ?


I'm sure there are many other examples

[eddie]

great question...anyone know why japan delays releases so long? it's retarded.

[Buraku]

Another example

Indiana Jones Crystal Skull

United States, Europe, Singapore, India, Slovakia, Turkey, South Korea etc : all out before May 22

Japan : sometime in June or July ?
(so Japan manages one blockbuster before the summer season ends)

[Mulboyne]

[Catoneinutica]

Ultimately, it boils down to the fact that J-distributors save money by showing movies that are around three months old, and even more for showing movies that are around six months old. And they pass on the savings to you, the moviegoer! Oh wait, they don't!

[ttjereth]

Ok they have to translate the movie, do subtitles etc....but can it really take THAT long ? Perhaps they are trying to do it right this time, avoid another Simpsons movie fiasco !!

Better late than never ?

Funny thing is the Koreans, only a few miles across the water and the Taiwanese seem to have their shit together when it comes to releases

Ironman
United States : Out now
Japan : sometime in September

WALL·]
Worldwide : July
Japan : December or next year

[B]Where in the World Is Osama Bin Laden?
United States : Out now
Japan sometime in 2011

Dark Knight
Worldwide: 17-20 July
Japan sometime in September ?


I'm sure there are many other examples

For Iron Man at least, I know from a friend in the business that the reason it is being released so late is because there weren't originally any plans to release it here at all. Most Japanese don't have a clue who Iron Man is, as opposed to say Spider Man and Batman, so there were originally no plans to release it, but the story changed after all the record-breaking box-office it got in the states.

[Midwinter]

For Iron Man at least, I know from a friend in the business that the reason it is being released so late is because there weren't originally any plans to release it here at all. Most Japanese don't have a clue who Iron Man is, as opposed to say Spider Man and Batman, so there were originally no plans to release it, but the story changed after all the record-breaking box-office it got in the states.

Dear God, that's fucked. I love the way they were almost willing to abandon a new IP rather than taking a chance on something that for all intents and purposes, looks as if it would appeal to your average, young Japanese male. Powersuits and explosions continue to sell well in this country, right?

[Mulboyne]

When distributors talk about the lack of cinema screens, they really mean that there is a small number of cinemas which are suitable for a première. Metropolis lists 131 major cinemas in and around Tokyo including the multiplexes in Saitama, Yokohama etc. Altogether, that represents around 270 screens. The multiplexes regularly show new films but not many of them are regarded as suitable for a première for a big Hollywood production even though their facilities are often superior to those in more central areas. It is still more usual for film companies to want to open such a film in Shibuya, Shinjuku or Ginza. The only new addition to the central Tokyo cinema scene has been the complex in Roppongi Hills which gets used now for virtually all the big promotions where big name stars have flown over. The Tokyo International Forum is also now hosting more premières and sometimes unusual venues get chosen: Memoirs of a Geisha opened at the Ryogoku Kokugikan sumo arena while War of the Worlds was scheduled for a world premiere at the Budokan but the event was cancelled when the distributor decided that the risk of piracy was too high. Nicole Kidman recently turned up at the tiny Yebisu Garden Hall for the premiere of The Golden Compass.

[xenomorph42]

For Iron Man at least, I know from a friend in the business that the reason it is being released so late is because there weren't originally any plans to release it here at all. Most Japanese don't have a clue who Iron Man is, as opposed to say Spider Man and Batman, so there were originally no plans to release it, but the story changed after all the record-breaking box-office it got in the states.

That is so lame! So, if the movie isn't an instant success at the box-office, then there is no need to even introduce it to the masses, right? Give me a break. I used to live in Seoul and they hunger for the latest flicks. But usually, Koreans get almost everything faster anyway. I'll bet that new movie "What happens in Vegas" starring Cameron Diaz should get a fairly speedy and timely opening, why?? Because she is such a talented actress, eventhough there is no mention of her high popularity(chuckle), yet.

http://www.apple.com/trailers/fox/whathappensinvegas/trailer2/

[ttjereth]

I'm not certain how common that reason is for other releases, I just know it about Iron Man, so don't read too much into it. I can't imagine that is the reason for everything that is released later, but I'd say it's fairly reasonable for them to only decide to spend money on movies they think will make them money, and comic movies tend to be pretty hit or miss (Ghost Rider anyone?), so I can understand them being skeptical about a movie based on an existing franchise that most people here have never heard of.

I know that a lot of comedies never get brought over because translating them is too difficult or even impossible in some cases where the Japanese just won't get a lot of the references, or the humor just won't work here (or someone decides it won't, anyway).

I do wish they'd release Iron Man sooner though...

[MaxPower]

This has always been one of the things that bugs me the most about living here. Although it's getting better now with itunes. I've watched a lot of the newer movies that way recently. Speaking of which I'm gonna flip a nut if Japan doesn't get the iphone when it's released just about worldwide next month or so.

[baka tono]

I thought summer movie season here was when all the crappy J movies like Doraemon takes a dump part XII etc are released for kids on their two minutes of school vacation.

I dont know why surveys say Japanese dont have much sex considering they are always getting screwed good and hard by the theaters.

[IkemenTommy]

I thought summer movie season here was when all the crappy J movies like Doraemon takes a dump part XII etc are released for kids on their two minutes of school vacation.

I dont know why surveys say Japanese dont have much sex considering they are always getting screwed good and hard by the theaters.

When they get screwed, they get screwed in the ass.
The last time I watched a movie in the theaters was when MI3 was out. Geez, how long ago was that? [Mod Edit]

[Buraku]

When distributors talk about the lack of cinema screens, they really mean that there is a small number of cinemas which are suitable for a premiè]Memoirs of a Geisha[/I] opened at the Ryogoku Kokugikan sumo arena while War of the Worlds was scheduled for a world premiere at the Budokan but the event was cancelled when the distributor decided that the risk of piracy was too high. Nicole Kidman recently turned up at the tiny Yebisu Garden Hall for the premiere of The Golden Compass.

I've been reading Indy & crystal skull was a bit shitty amyway, critics have said its a little entertaining but shitty and shallow
I guess Japan won't be missing much if spielberg/lucas are firing blanks

[ttjereth]

I've been reading Indy & crystal skull was a bit shitty amyway, critics have said its a little entertaining but shitty and shallow
I guess Japan won't be missing much if spielberg/lucas are firing blanks

Indy and the quest for money.

Besides the fact that Lucas seems to have lost his mind and talent (luck?) a long time ago, it can't be that good if Indy rides bitch behind a guy name Shia Lebeouf...

[Kuang_Grade]

In the last 20 years, I've walked out of two films...The first was the brady bunch movie...the second was Indy and crystal skull. About half way through, after a seemingly endless fight scene on cars as they race through the jungle, Lebuff swings through a CGI jungle on vines with an army of CGI monkeys at his side, I just said that's it and walked out. It has a nice opening but goes flat fast...not only is it not good, it is utterly boring. Last week, I managed to sit through the abomination of Speed Racer if solely just to see how bad and incomprehensible it could be. I couldn't even muster that level of interest in Indy and crystal skull.

[Taro Toporific]

Last week, I managed to sit through the abomination of Speed Racer if solely just to see how bad and incomprehensible it could be. I couldn't even muster that level of interest in Indy and crystal skull.

Damn. It's really bad if Kuang_Grade --- the FG's professional otaku who even knows the ebay prices of Tokyo Bratz dolls -- walks out a waiting-13-years-for-quadrilogy fanboy flick.

[dimwit]

In the last 20 years, I've walked out of two films...The first was the brady bunch movie...the second was Indy and crystal skull. .

You went to see the Brady Bunch movie. Well that is very heroic of you to come out of the closet.

[Charles]

In the last 20 years, I've walked out of two films...The first was the brady bunch movie...

I can not stand by and allow such a scurrilous remark about a movie by my old client Betty Thomas to go unchallenged.

She made the movie for some fast money, to cash in on low culture, and in that regard it was quite successful. It got your money, didn't it?

[Visitor K]

...my old client Betty Thomas..

out of curiosity i just googled betty thomas to find that she is making a fucking DALLAS movie.
i hope its a beta max only release.

[IkemenTommy]

she is making a fucking DALLAS movie.

You don't mean another Debbie Does Dallas movie?

[Kuang_Grade]

In fairness to the Brady Bunch movie, it was a compromise choice to begin with...My girlfriend and I got stuck in traffic, and this being the hoary old days when multiplexs only had, gasp, 6 theaters, being late meant having to wait 2 hours for the film we wanted to see or pick something else..The brady bunch movie was starting in a few minutes, so we decided to take a chance and about twenty minutes in we realized we had made a horrible, horrible choice and promptly left.

Having thought about it today, I did have somewhat elevated expectations that it would be at least not teh suck but I found myself thinking of an old Dave Attel joke from Dr. Katz..."I'm sitting at the opera and I am thinking 'Look how much work it takes to bore me'". Had it not been an Indiana Jones movie, I might have been a bit more tolerate of the flat dialogue, slow plotting, lack of character development or even general character motivation, and the lame jokes that are all the hallmarks of Lucas' writing style and of which are present in spades in Crystal Skull....or if I was 10 years old, it might have helped too, although I think even some of them might wonder why the commies use guns one minute, then forget they have guns for a few minutes and then remember they have guns again a few minutes after that.

But that said, Crystal Skull is still probably better than most hollywood fare, if just by a little bit, and if you need to get out of the sun and into some AC for 2 hours this summer you probably could do worse but if you are thinking you see something a tiny fraction as good as raiders of the lost ark, the odds are you will be just be sorely disappointed.

[Mike Oxlong]

You don't mean another Debbie Does Dallas movie?

These days it may as well be Debbie Does Dalian.

[Buraku]

Indy and the quest for money.

Besides the fact that Lucas seems to have lost his mind and talent (luck?) a long time ago, it can't be that good if Indy rides bitch behind a guy name Shia Lebeouf...

A number of critics trashed it

Michael Phillips
Tribune critic
"Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull," does not know when to quit.

Its very own temple of doom, Kingdom of the Crystal Skull digs Indy into a very deep hole
by Robert Wilonsky
http://www.villagevoice.com/film/0821,indiana-jones-and-the-fortress-of-sad-decline,446681,20.html

[ttjereth]

A number of critics trashed it

Harrison Ford said (half jokingly) that it sucked on the Conan Obrian show (whatever it's called).

[Buraku]

'Happening' beats 'Hulk'

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117987501.html?categoryId=19&cs=1

Fox Intl. took advantage of the year's only Friday the 13th to launch "The Happening" in every market except Japan and Argentina.

related story

The Hulk, leaks
http://www.fuckedgaijin.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3550

[Caustic Saint]

The Incredible Hulk (full title of the 2008 release) was good, but it's no Iron Man.

[Buraku]

Hancock (Will Smith) out 2 July. DarkKnight will be released worldwide from the 17th-23rd, Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor the week after, animated WALL-E might be a big hit.
The only real flop this summer has been ''Speed Racer,'' an adaptation of the J cartoon series from Time Warner Inc.'s Warner Bros.

[Buraku]

release dates for Hellboy = NEVER


Here's a new posh place - 300$ per film, I wonder if they get released on time or do they just air re-runs of Neon Genesis for Otaku with too much money?

Japanese movie fans are booking up new luxury box seats which, for nearly $300, come with a glass of champagne to get the reel going.

Shinjuku Piccadilly, a new cinema complex in Tokyo is offering "platinum" seating for 30,000 yen ($278) per film, at which movie-goers can enjoy a private box furnished with custom-made Italian leather sofas and a surround sound system.

"We started taking orders yesterday, and we already have several bookings," said a spokesman for the cinema complex.

To complete the V.I.P. experience, customers have their own entrance, a private elevator and a secluded waiting room, the spokesman said.

And if you can fork out an additional 30 million yen ($278,200), the private box will be yours for the whole year.

The complex, the biggest in its scale in the Tokyo metropolitan area, opens its doors on Saturday.

Although economic data points to a persistent weakness in Japanese consumption of luxury goods, the experience adds to a long list of promotions aimed at the growing class of super-rich and wealthy Asian tourists, including a $15,000 diamond martini and a $108 hamburger.

http://www.reuters.com/article/lifestyleMolt/idUST26144920080718
(Reporting by Mari Saito, editing by Miral Fahmy)

[Mike Oxlong]

If only they could order the hamburger without complications...

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