I saw something recently that pointed out that Tarantino's name was only tacked on to bolster the U.S. release of the film - that he actually had nothing to do with production of the film at all. This isn't the original source, but explains fairly well what happened.

http://news.hawaii.com/article/2004/Aug/27/il/il05a.html

Haven't seen it yet, either, but most definitely will!

T

Gonna check it out today on your recommendation. I'll report back promplty.

hey!!!!
Delete this post...it's OT !!!

No? Ok then...

Anybody watch the hitrocites laid out at the republican convention?
Parading the tragedy and horrors of 9/11 in consistent flow and riding that train to another 4 more years chorus? Anybody?
Trying to tie in all 9/11 murders and spin and ride that for their own sick, perverted GOP agenda...the same party that basically whos agenda and history brought on those murders?? Anybody?

Anybody watch that NY douchbag gulliani hop on that 9/11 bus ONCE AGAIN and take over driving?...reminding all within earshot how he alone was the only person to truly understand 9/11 and therefore be the one to shout out "thank god we have a president like GW Bush" (and you should feel the same or you aren't fit to live here on earth)? Mixing humor alongside 9/11 horrors. F*ck you Gulliani ! THE PEOPLE ARE LIVID with this sick parading of 9/11 hitrocities in equating it to re-electing GWB. F*ck you and your horse (but thank you for inadvertantly shooting the GOP foot).

Anybody watch the GOP furiously scan and B-line for snapshot any and all minorities they could find at their convention for airtime in hopes to "color up" their dangerously christian white way? They may as well have put up several "minority baby kissing kiosks" at each end of the arena (complete with a never ending supply of "GOP sanitary wipes").

Anybody see and feel the real "heart" of the GOP through such warm-hearted persons like that huge, walking hemorroid Dick Cheney, the repube ACTOR (?) Arnold "home of hitler" Shwarzenegger, and the man who wants 18th century dueling to make a comeback - "the ZELLinator"?
Anyone see how the repubes try to start their convention with a warm heart but inevitably fail to hold steady and let loose their natural mean-spirit inherent in their "christian" white flesh? (btw: I'm caucasion, they don't speak for me)

Oh yeah...
I also saw HERO. I thought it was good (even though it should have been called "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon 2: Full Throttle").
Beautiful imagery and flowing fight scenes. Finally a Jet Li film I could stand to watch, even though it was a bit heavy on the fantasy.

hugs n kisses

Veguser,

Why are hijacking this thread?

tbone, "So and So presents....." is pretty common in movie distrubution, particularly for foreign films. I have seen "Coppola presents" and "Scorsese presents." It can mean the person was directly involved in the production of the movie. Coppola produced a Thai movie called Suriyothai, that was released in America as Francis Ford Coppola Presents: The Legend of Suriyothai. Often times the person is helping with the distrobution of the film. They may have seen in another country or a film festival and they are lending their name to help distribute it, in essence they are vouching for it. Chungking Express was released through Tarantino's releasing company and his name and image are on the poster and my DVD.

I think the story on this was Taratino met Zhang when he was in China working on Kill Bill. Later after Miramax bought the film, they wanted Zhang to cut the movie down. They have held on to the film for over two years. Tarantion fought to get the movie released at the original length, and with Zhang's permission, made a deal with Miramax that if they released it at the full length, they could say, "Quentin Tarantino Presents..." Now that Hero has just broken the late August box office record, I gues you can say the tale has a happy ending.

(Dont want it ruined for you.... Avoid reading of this) :)

I'm happy Americans finally got a chance to see Hero. (I'm an American btw)

I've had bought the chinese collectors edition over a year ago, and it blew my mind.

Some of you can guess form my screen name that i'm a fan of asian cinema :) I have to point out that Hero is not a martial art film in the sense of a pure HK style action film. For those who havent seen Hero, it is a drama and not your standard all out fight film.

Hero is thoughtfull and layered with story. The ending wraps it all up nicely in a very "honorable" way :) Its interesting, and certainly not very American. I was and still am quite curious how most Americans will react to the ending. Its not exactly our typical heroic ending. Its a pro communist, pro state ending... its quite beautiful in what it says through the actions and morals behind those actions and sacrafice. I think most Americans wont appreciate the ending, and perhaps would not understand it. I would think most Americans would be dissapointed in the film due to it being advertised as a "fighting film" rather than a drama.

The director of Hero has just recently released his new film in China, and it is full of interesting visuals and Zhang Ziyi once again :) Its apparently quite good, although it seems to have mixed reviews. Hopefully i can get my hands on it soon.

Asian cinema is so full of wonderfull films that we are rarely exposed to.

For those interested, there is an uncut version of Hero available in asia featuring an additional 19 mins. (i havent seen the uncut version yet)

Anyways, i'm glad its out in America finally. Its a wonderfully film.

heheh and since i just watched Battle Royale for the millionth time on dvd.... I'm going to suggest everyone buy "Batoru rowaiaru" AKA Battle Royale directed by Batoru rowaiaru (sadly no longer with us :( ) It is perhaps the most interesting and insane plot you will EVER witness that wraps up nicely with a message about life. The beautifully insane yet thoughtful film now reguarded as a classic is sure to leave you with something :) Some of you folks who enjoyed Kill Bill 1 may recognize "Gobo Yabari" (Chiyaki Kuriyama) in Battle Royale, a Tarantino favorite:) The reason she is in Kill Bill 1, is Battle Royale 1. Watch thsi film,and watch it with friends who you really care about and trust :) (the sequel isnt as good, as the director died during production, and his son took over... though all his not lost as his son wrote the dialogue for both 1 and 2...)

Asian films are a breath of fresh air. Its no wonder that the likes of Corey Yuen and Yuen Wu Ping, Jackie Chan and Jet Li have been all slowly gaining a solid footing in American films.

Btw for those curious, Corey Yuen, Yuen Wu Ping, Jackie Chan (Yuen Lo) and Sammo Hung (Yuen Lung) are all related oddly enough :) Well not by blood, but they all grew up and attended the same Opera school under the teachings of Master Yuen. Notice the "Yuen" in their name. As children (usually of very young age) they were left by their parents to live and breath art and opera every day through very abusive training until the age of 18. (Yuen Biao is also another quite famous martial artist/actor who grew up with Jackie and Sammo, unfortunately he has kind of fallen off the face of the earth lately :(.

There has been many Yuens in asian cinema who have come from all the same place. Different generations and classes from the same master. Master Yuen would be considered a child abuser by todays teaching standards, as he beat children for not performing perfectly in daily training sessions. The students would sleep on cold hard wood floors, studying from 5am to 12am. Master Yuen is now dead, and children are no longer trained this way anymore. (Its illegal in china)

As the Yuens of the asian cinema world get older, we're losing a certain style of artists. Many of them were stuntmen and stunt women over the years, tough as nails, taking bumps like no one else could because they were built rock solid from their absusive training.

Its a shame that in the US Yuen Wu Ping and Jackie Chan are utilities rather than the directors they really are. They've earned it and then some. Frankly the US films that use some of Asia's most talented film makers are so lame compared to their own Asian films.

If anything, Hero will hopefully show the world once again how good asian cinema can be, if we just let them do their thing. (even though miramax was invovled from the start) hehe

Here's looking forward to Police Story 5 from Jackie Chan. No US invovlement, no US film studio telling him to be a clown and to tailer it for US audiences. A true return to HK cinema for Jackie. The old man has lots to prove as he has been ruining his image through his US made films. I think he's got this one just where he wants it :) Cant wait for it.

Go see Hero! Its everything American films lack.