Sigh. Why couldn’t they have just recognized that people wanted this in the first place rather than chopping a perfectly good film to bits? Apparently Miramax has taken out a full page ad in the current Video Business magazine announcing that their DVD release of Shaolin Soccer will include both the edited and dubbed Miramax hack job and the original 112 minute Cantonese version. The irony abounds in this ad … not only are they taking out a full page ad for a video release of a film that they completely refused to promote theatrically – if they believe in the film enough to take out a full page ad now why didn’t they believe in it back when they were quietly slipping it on and off all of a dozen screens theatrically? – but this ad actually references the massive online petition against the Miramax hack and slash job as a positive sign that “Fans demand Shaolin Soccer! Fans petitioned Miramax for theatrical release!” …
I’m of mixed mind about this release. On the one hand I’m generally so irritated with Miramax over the way they’ve handled this thing – and their other Asian properties – that I don’t much want to give them any of my money for it. On the other hand this is quite possibly the first time that Miramax has done a decent release of an Asian property – i.e. one that includes the original, unmolested film – and if there’s any hope of them making a habit of this it’s going to take this film being a financial success on DVD to convince them. Oh well … I’ve got until August 24th to make up my mind …
If anybody’s actually got a copy of this ad I’d appreciate a scan …
