Jim, you'll be interested to know that one of the commentators of last night's Olympics' closing ceremonies mentioned during the Chinese portion that Zhang Yimou was responsible for its direction. Does that make sense?
Oh, and here's the Defamer roundup ("There will always be a market for movies with gigantic, shoddily-rendered reptiles that devour obscure, struggling actors.").
i didn't see Hero, but when i was at the theater, there were signs posted on all of the cash registers warning people that Hero had subtitles, and no refunds would be given. how pathetic is that? i wonder how many people left the movie to complain before they put up those signs...
Damn, that was something! The martial arts were simply spectacular, and the use of color for each view of the story was brilliant, but the way the story moved and developed probably impressed me the most.
Anybody else feel like taking swordfighting lessons?
I filed it under 2002, where it joins some fine company in the upper tiers there. Maybe another viewing will put it on top.
I took in the first showing of the day and was surprised to see the theater packed. The guy who sat next to me looked like he may have skipped out of the office for the day, also, but oddly enough he dozed off during the previews and didn't seem to wake up until the movie was over. I didn't think that was possible, but there you go.
The fight scenes are just as impossible (and just as spectacular), so if that's what turned you off, Hero will similarly disappoint. Otherwise it's a very different movie, so I wouldn't let your dislike of CTHD dissuade you.
Okay, I'll probably see it, then. Though, not in theaters. I'll probably only go to theaters two more times this year, for Sky Captain and The Incredibles (unless I go with friends to a movie).
Is it okay if I wait until next thursday? That's when I was planning on seeing it anyway.
I also would like to know how different it is from the asian dvd. Not that I have seen the asian dvd, and not that I won't go see it if it has been chopped up, but I would like to know if I am going to see the Zhang Yimou vision or the Miramax vision
I believe it will be the same as the Asian DVD. Unfortunately, that doesn't mean you're seeing the "director's cut", as Miramax was a financing partner, so even the movie that was released theatrically in China was significantly shorter than Zhang would have liked. There is now an extended (Zhang's) cut available on Chinese DVD, but as far as I know this version has never been shown in theaters, nor are there plans to. Regardless, the version being released in theaters is excellent. I have yet to see the extended edition.
Jim, do you have plans to see it theatrically? It's playing in a HUGE amount of theaters here in Columbus. I wonder if it's any different from our DVDs?
Jim, you'll be interested to know that one of the commentators of last night's Olympics' closing ceremonies mentioned during the Chinese portion that Zhang Yimou was responsible for its direction. Does that make sense?
I did hear that, very cool! My dad's been taping the Olympics for me, but I don't know if he got the closing ceremonies.
Wow! Hero did $17 million in box office this weekend!
Yeah, that was a happy bit of Monday morning news!
Oh, and here's the Defamer roundup ("There will always be a market for movies with gigantic, shoddily-rendered reptiles that devour obscure, struggling actors.").
i didn't see Hero, but when i was at the theater, there were signs posted on all of the cash registers warning people that Hero had subtitles, and no refunds would be given. how pathetic is that? i wonder how many people left the movie to complain before they put up those signs...
What did you see besides Hero?
garden state.
Hey, wait one cotton-pickin' minute! You mean to tell me you went to the movies and chose to see something else?! What gives?! :-)
yeah, i saw garden state instead.
forgive me?
Of course. I understand Garden State has its merits. I'm quite looking forward to it, actually.
The irony is that the audience for that sign can't read. They should have announced it over loudspeakers. :-)
I got out of work early and saw it this afternoon. Just amazing.
Glad you liked it! Quite a feast for the eyes, eh?
Damn, that was something! The martial arts were simply spectacular, and the use of color for each view of the story was brilliant, but the way the story moved and developed probably impressed me the most.
Anybody else feel like taking swordfighting lessons?
Yeah, sign me up for the lessons. So what tier is it going in for you? And will you file it under 2002 or 2004?
I filed it under 2002, where it joins some fine company in the upper tiers there. Maybe another viewing will put it on top.
I took in the first showing of the day and was surprised to see the theater packed. The guy who sat next to me looked like he may have skipped out of the office for the day, also, but oddly enough he dozed off during the previews and didn't seem to wake up until the movie was over. I didn't think that was possible, but there you go.
You didn't happen to see it in Seattle, Friday, 4pm, did you? I ask only cuz we had a snorer.
Actually, I was only about 150 miles east of you. Didn't catch his snoring, though. Did anybody have a bowl of warm water handy?
Heh heh, no, but I'll certainly remember that next time.
I didn't like Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Will I like Hero?
The fight scenes are just as impossible (and just as spectacular), so if that's what turned you off, Hero will similarly disappoint. Otherwise it's a very different movie, so I wouldn't let your dislike of CTHD dissuade you.
Okay, I'll probably see it, then. Though, not in theaters. I'll probably only go to theaters two more times this year, for Sky Captain and The Incredibles (unless I go with friends to a movie).
Is it okay if I wait until next thursday? That's when I was planning on seeing it anyway.
I also would like to know how different it is from the asian dvd. Not that I have seen the asian dvd, and not that I won't go see it if it has been chopped up, but I would like to know if I am going to see the Zhang Yimou vision or the Miramax vision
:-) Sure, no need to see it today.
I believe it will be the same as the Asian DVD. Unfortunately, that doesn't mean you're seeing the "director's cut", as Miramax was a financing partner, so even the movie that was released theatrically in China was significantly shorter than Zhang would have liked. There is now an extended (Zhang's) cut available on Chinese DVD, but as far as I know this version has never been shown in theaters, nor are there plans to. Regardless, the version being released in theaters is excellent. I have yet to see the extended edition.
I did just read that they tampered with the opening narration a bit. Otherwise I think it's the same as the DVD.
Jim, do you have plans to see it theatrically? It's playing in a HUGE amount of theaters here in Columbus. I wonder if it's any different from our DVDs?
I hope so. My wife is starting up school again, but I sure would like to catch it on the big screen.