Snowpiercer (Bong Joon-ho, 2013)

[Jeff]

The Weinsteins haven't set a U.S. release date. Here's hoping they don't futz with it at all. Scott Foundas offers a rave review.

[Matt]

It's an incredible relief to learn that it's not only watchable but possibly actually good.

[Michael Kerpan]

It's an incredible relief to learn that it's not only watchable but possibly actually good.

Bong keeps up his winning streak, it would seem. Sounds like a must-see (which it would actually be for me, regardless of the reviews). ;~}

[rohming]

really stoked about this one. that review really whets the appetite.

[repeat]

I was never for a second skeptical about the film, but I fear whoever is responsible for that idiotic lowest common denominator trailer might be shooting themselves in the foot big time... I realize it's not an enviable task to try and cram Bong's jolts and modulations of tone and tempo into less than two minutes, but couldn't they even have tried? (The US trailer for The Host for example did a much better job of it)

[sighkingu]

What are the chances this will be released this year in the U.S.?

[The Fanciful Norwegian]

I'd say close to zero. TWC showed off their slate for the rest of the year at Cannes and this wasn't even mentioned. I wouldn't count on a 2013 release outside of festival screenings.

[Cold Bishop]

With Elysium mining basic similar territory, it's not surprising. I imagine this will kill all momentum for the film as a mainstream success.

[Matt]

I'm sure they'll dump it in February because they don't know how to sell it and it's not Oscar bait.

[sighkingu]

FFS. TWC is going to cut out twenty minutes from this sucker.

[knives]

Shit, that's predictable. Region two here I come.

[criterion10]

It's times like this that I'm glad I own a Region Free player.

[domino harvey]

Shit, that's predictable. Region two here I come.

And you can't default to a UK release as It'll be cut in basically all the big English-language markets

It has now been revealed that Harvey Weinstein has ordered the revered Korean cineaste to cut a whopping 20 minutes from his film before it will see the light of day in North America, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand or the UK.

[knives]

Saw that. I figure since the movie is mostly in english importing from France should be the easiest solution.

[repeat]

That's what you get for dreaming - of course this was to be feared, especially considering that trailer, but somehow I wanted to believe Bong wouldn't have put his name on a paper that didn't give him final cut. Well, it's healthy to get a reminder every now and then that Hollywood is still the enemy!

Let's just hope a director's cut will somehow make its way to some festivals so at least his real fans will get a chance to see the real film on the big screen...

[Roger Ryan]

Apparently, explanatory voice-over is being added to the beginning and end as well - ouch! At least there's hope the full cut will appear on Blu-ray/DVD.

[repeat]

I bet they'll be overdubbing Song Kang-ho's lines too, as I'm sure Uncle Harvey knows that "audiences in Iowa and Oklahoma" can not only not read films, but can't read at all

[Finch]

I'll be preordering the Korean BD on day one (might still come out before year's end). Wouldn't be surprised if it goes OOP within weeks.

[zedz]

I'll be preordering the Korean BD on day one (might still come out before year's end). Wouldn't be surprised if it goes OOP within weeks.

I'm also picking this as our best bet, so let's keep a close watch.

[Matt]

let's keep a close watch.

And please give a heads up to your less-attentive pals here at criterionforum.org when the BD is available.

[Finch]

CJ Entertainment is the distributor for the film in Korea so that means, especially with the film's huge success at the Korean BO, it'll be at least 6 months before the film hits home video. So unless they act quicker than usual, it won't be out till January or February.

[Jeff]

Bong says he's cool with the cuts. Presumably he said this while being dangled out a window by his ankles.

[The Fanciful Norwegian]

"Weinstein is actually being pretty soft toward editing, probably because it's noticed how critics have praised the film and know how angry movie fans get over new edits. They even asked me which parts I want to include in the film," he said.

Gee, that's awfully generous of them.

[zedz]

"Weinstein is actually being pretty soft toward editing, probably because it's noticed how critics have praised the film and know how angry movie fans get over new edits. They even asked me which parts I want to include in the film," he said.

Gee, that's awfully generous of them.

As I recall, Bong has very good English, so that sarcasm is probably quite deliberate. Which is one way of having to deal with the contractually-stipulated eating of a shit sandwich!

[MichaelB]

Apparently Bong is furious about the cuts.