Page 1 of 1

Red Cliff butchered for US release

Posted: Wed May 13, 2009 6:43 pm
by Sterling
Ha...! I thought this was a funny story. New John Woo film Red Cliff (赤壁) based on the battle of Red Cliffs, a famous battle in Chinese history was released in two parts in its native east Asia. It broke all box office records in mainland China. The entire film is close to five hours long and is an epic story with myriad characters and plot strands. For the western release however, it's been condensed into one ~140 minute bloc with most of the characters simplified and half the plot removed. Way to go.

Re: Red Cliff butchered for US release

Posted: Wed May 13, 2009 10:55 pm
by Ryudo
did those idiots ever hear of DVD/Blu-Ray?
Also just split it into 2 or 3 parts?

Re: Red Cliff butchered for US release

Posted: Thu May 14, 2009 8:04 am
by Old Man OL
Oh, we'll get the full thing on DVD and Blu Ray. Don't worry about it. The cut version is probably just for whatever limited theatrical release the movie gets. American audiences aren't going to sit in a theater through two 2 1/2 hours epics based on Chinese history.
Theatrically, it'd be stupid to release it in the US as anything but a condensed version.

Anyone else think the movie must have been about a redneck fisherman when they first heard the title? Swear to god, "Red Cliff" could be some white trash asshole's name.

Re: Red Cliff butchered for US release

Posted: Thu May 14, 2009 6:32 pm
by Ryudo
To be honest the title made me think of Clifford the big red dog books.
Last time I remember we had a movie that long was Gettysburg...I could not sit through the whole thing in one sitting.
Maybe that is why it flopped in theaters since it was a good film but was just too fucking long.
:|

Re: Red Cliff butchered for US release

Posted: Sun May 17, 2009 7:58 am
by Sterling
Well they did sit through three three-hour midget epics which were just incredibly overrated, but I get your point.

Re: Red Cliff butchered for US release

Posted: Sun May 17, 2009 3:52 pm
by Old Man OL
True, but it's all about subject matter. Not a fan of LOTR myself, but the whole swords and sorcery thing works for american audiences.
Chinese war history is interesting to a slight few (I'd watch it, definitely), but not enough to expect the same kind of reception as LOTR.
Still have no doubt about a full DVD release, though. So it's no problem.

Re: Red Cliff butchered for US release

Posted: Sun May 17, 2009 6:11 pm
by Ryudo
I would watch the 5 hour film on DVD as I love history and asian cultures and history.
I just would not go to a theater for it.

I liked LOTR but I did squirm in my seat wondering how long I have to sit there but I enjoyed it more on DVD so I can take a break in long films.

Re: Red Cliff butchered for US release

Posted: Tue May 26, 2009 8:08 am
by JoePesci
To OL: Well especially since this movie is based on Chinese history rather than a fantasy epic. Most Americans don't care about facts, they want the fiction.

Re: Red Cliff butchered for US release

Posted: Tue May 26, 2009 6:25 pm
by Sterling
The film is based on fictional novels written about the factual event.

Re: Red Cliff butchered for US release

Posted: Tue Jul 14, 2009 5:45 pm
by Kiba
What a shame. I was looking forward to this movie.

Re: Red Cliff butchered for US release

Posted: Sun Jul 26, 2009 2:14 am
by TheRonin
Don't worry the uncut version is a disappointment. I've only seen the first part which are basically cutscenes from Dynasty Warriors and haven't bothered to watch the second.

Re: Red Cliff butchered for US release

Posted: Sun Jul 26, 2009 6:18 am
by tao
I understand why it's been cut and condensed. It seems to me it feels like it becomes more like a short preview of the movie where if you really wanted to see it, you'd buy the film on dvd or something. Movies should be seen in one uninterrupted sitting, though, and still feel like the story is complete, with maybe a few deleted scenes/extras you would be able to see on dvd. It will probably end up confusing American audiences, though. Plus, Americans aren't so familiar with Asian history as they are with European, so audiences will probably feel like they're wandering lost in the dark. Then they'll go in expecting a fantasy epic when it is a historical drama and feel all disappointed when people aren't flying through the air.


Ryudo wrote:To be honest the title made me think of Clifford the big red dog books. :|
Me too. I already imagined a big red CG dog the size of one of them Transformer robots, drooling gallons of saliva