Film people

As you most likely know, I'm a big Final Fantasy VII fan, and as such,
the upcoming film sequel Advent Children is something I've got a lot of
interest in. Recently, this was announced...

Theatrical Release for Advent Children?

Square Enix
President Yoichi Wada told Impress Game Watch recently that Advent
Children may also be making its way to customers via digital downloads
or screened in movie theaters. It appears that the delays experienced
in development may have given Square Enix the time to explore other
avenues of distribution. Nomura, too, had expressed some time back that
he would like to see Advent Children being screened in the theatres, if
only for a short while.

Now ignoring the fact it will unlikely get any cinema screenings in
the UK, I thought this great news, as I'd love to see the film on
cinema screens a couple of times before getting the DVD. However,
visiting some Advent Children forums I found the general response to be
one of fear and anger. Fear that the film would flop and Square would
be ruined, and anger that the DVD release would probably be delayed if
the cinema release happened.

Now, ignoring the people who don't like cinemas, and so putting aside
the anger part of the reponse, I thought about people's fears.

The point is, this film is being made regardless of where it is
coming out - DVD or cinema. People seem to be terrified that the film
will flop in cinemas and see Square making huge losses, but will
putting the film in cinemas as opposed to DVD only REALLY cost Square
that much more money? Obviously there will be additional advertising
costs, but productions costs will be the same regardless I'd have
thought. Does anybody know any more about the difference in costs
between these two?

Yeah, paying for film reels is much more expensive then paying for DVD production.

A lot of independant movies get distributed on DVD now, so if you see movies like, Bubba Ho-Tep in theaters, you'll notice they're using a digital projector.

Film its self costs a lot, so does the transfer to it.

But, Square-ENIX has the money to do it. Also, Advent Children looks much better then The Spirits Within, so I don't think it'll flop as big, just because TSW was really not that good with story, I think that was its only problem. Also, it was hyped unbelievably. If they did a small release in select theaters They'd most definatly make their money back and then some. It definatly wouldn't hurt them in the long run.

The Turks have the power.

The problem is this movie is a big nerd-fest (pardon the expression). It's like releasing a Star Trek movie, but where you don't cast any big-name actors, and it's not a movie anybody will see "just to go see something". It'd probably only show up in a very select few theaters in major cities where it could probably recount the losses from the showing, but it won't be a major release by any means.

(thread hijack) Also, I have yet to see Bubba Ho-Tep, as well as Napoleon Dynamite. Are they any good?

I haven't seen Napoleon Dynamite yet, I want to though.

Bubba Ho-Tep is f**king awesome. Best on screen Elvis ever.

I dont care as long as I get to see what the hell happens after REDXIII runs up to the edge of the cliff overlooking midgar!!!!! .........ohh and cloud and tifa.....

If the movie turns out terrible, it's not gonna impact the company's branding as much if it comes out on DVD. Millions of people let a ball go through their legs playing baseball in Little League, but none feel the shame and humiliation of Mr. Bill Buckner. It's all in the size of the arena - DVD is a much safer place to screw up.

muhahaha, Bill Buckner. I laugh at the Red Sox! You'll never win the World Series. Deal with it. Go Mets! /baseball

Cash Car Star said:
If the movie turns out terrible, it's not gonna impact the company's branding as much if it comes out on DVD. Millions of people let a ball go through their legs playing baseball in Little League, but none feel the shame and humiliation of Mr. Bill Buckner. It's all in the size of the arena - DVD is a much safer place to screw up.

Yeah thats a good point (and very nicely put), but even if the movie sucks, it looks as if the action scenes will more than make up for it, as put simply, the sort of action shown in the trailers outmatches any film action I've come across before. Some of it simply isn't possible with real actors, even with a crap load of CG helping out, and lets face it, as much as I enjoy a bit of anime, cartoon action can never match the wow factor of realistic action.

As for the film being a big "nerd-fest", I think you are being too harsh on it. The last Star Trek film to get released in cinemas was seen by loads of cinema goers who didn't have the slightest interest in Star Trek. I think lots of people would go to see it "just because", provided it was marketed in the correct way. Loads of my friends who couldn't care about FF were amazed by the trailer, and I'm sure if it was shown before other films, it would tempt people in.

I'd love to see Advent Children in a cinema.

Everyone takes my hatred of cinemas far too seriously, i am an avid
film fan (and more cultured than lots of the regular cinema goers..). i just dont like extortion in any form :razz:

it seems like too much of a minority fan base to warrant a release in
cinemas, at least in the UK anyhow. having said that, I wouldn't doubt
it completely, this country has also been bitten by the bug for
obession with modern japanese media and culture.. another one of those
crazes i never understood.

but it will certainly help its chances :smile:

(ie it has more chance now than it would have had say, 3/4 years ago..

• you should try independent cinemas as well, even if you dont find it

showing in one of those you can dig up some interesting pieces to
combat the plethora of crap that gets turned out in "mainstream"
cinemas. bit more expensive though :/)