Earlier today we wrote about how Star Wars fanboys were planning on boycotting The Weinstein Co’s Superhero Movie due to the way the company is handling the release of Fanboys. I just received a press release from The Weinstein Co, announcing that they would be releasing both cuts of the film on DVD “with the Company exploring options for its theatrical release.” But I’m calling bullshit… this press release is well designed corporate spin, which gives the impression that the Fanboys have won, when in fact, this is not a win. The press release reads:
“Star War fans nationwide have built a multi-tiered grassroots effort to voice their strong support for one of the earlier versions of the film, including a campaign which generated over 300,000 emails in support for the film. Based on the tremendous feedback and interest from the fans, today’s announcement will ensure both versions will be equally available within the marketplace.”
Sounds like a win, right? Nope, read further. A quote from Matthew Frankel, Chief Communications Officer, The Weinstein Company is also included:
“Over the last few weeks we have received a tremendous amount of input from Star Wars fans nationwide. While the later version tested very well with audiences, the grassroots support we have received for the first version simply cannot be ignored. We are very excited to launch these two films and look forward to giving the fans the opportunity to see both versions.”
Yeah, but not theatrically. The Weinstein Co still claims that the new cut “tested very well with audiences” yet everyone I’ve talked that has seen both cuts disagrees. Rumors had circulated the web that TWC hired plants to be in the audience for said test screening, however, this has never been confirmed.
I think Star Wars fans expected that both cuts of the film would be included on the eventual DVD. The fight was to get the first (and what I’ve heard, better) cut distributed theatrical, instead of the Steve Brill (Little Nicky, Drillbit Taylor) edit which completely ignores the Cancer storyline. I hope that Star Wars fanboys will continue to fight, and not let The Weinstein Co to spin this obvious non-victory to the mainstream press. We must stop Darth Weinstein!
March 24th, 2008 at 5:25 pm
I’ve been hearing about this freaking movie for five years. Just release it allready.
March 24th, 2008 at 6:26 pm
I went to the 24 hour film school last week, which was run by the producers of “Fanboys”, and I asked them when they expected Fanboys to be out, but they had no idea because the Weinstein had had problems with the cancer storyline. They also said they hoped to have it out this year sometime.
March 24th, 2008 at 6:53 pm
I thought the whole major point of the plot was taking the friend who is dying of cancer to see Episode I before he dies because he won’t be around for the theatrical release. Are the Weinsteins trying to cut the whole “sick friend” aspect or change what he is sick with? Either way is BS, but I wanted a little clarification.
March 24th, 2008 at 7:16 pm
Craig: From what I understand, hack director Steve Brill (Little Nicky) was ordered to recut and reshoot scenes to make it so that the story just involved a group of star wars fanboys who travel to Skywalker to try to see the movie early. Basically, they removed the heartfelt reason for the journey and have reduced the kids to a bunch of crazy fanboys.
March 24th, 2008 at 7:31 pm
must be the same test audience that hated spike jonze’s wtwta.
March 24th, 2008 at 8:04 pm
The trailer I saw a long time ago never had any cancer in it
March 24th, 2008 at 8:05 pm
@ orange cinema
I would love to find them and kill them all with a piece of pipe blow torch.
BOT:
I’m surprise Kevin Smith hasn’t stepped up to the plate on this one. I mean, If the fucksteins were serious about fixing this film…why didn’t they go to their resident fanboy Kevin Smith.
Someone..( Hunter or PETER!) should email Smith and ask WTF he didn’t help this flick out. He’s usually pretty open and honest about shit like this….
March 24th, 2008 at 8:08 pm
Jonny, actually, Kevin Smith was brought in early on for a reshoot for a cameo (but supposedly didn’t direct despite conflicting reports), and consulted on how to help the film. Smith producer Scott Moiser reedited the movie. This was way before the whole Steve Brill fiasco
March 24th, 2008 at 8:08 pm
edit..
piece of pipe “AND A” blow torch.
March 24th, 2008 at 8:14 pm
If Kevin Smith and Moiser cant fix this film…
Then I revert back to my post in the ” Star Wars Fanboys to Protest Weinstein’s SuperHero Movie” thread.
Put it out on DVD and get it over with.
March 25th, 2008 at 7:02 am
Weinstein couldn’t make a decent film if it crawled out their asses. They need to butt out of the creative aspects of movies, and let the directors/writers/producers/actors do what they do. The studios should just trust them, and trust us to trust them.
March 25th, 2008 at 7:25 am
Maybe it’s the cynic in me, or that perhaps I worked with marketers too long, but could it be that the Weinstein Company’s reluctance to release the earlier version be a ploy to generate free publicity around this film. I don’t think that is the case, just a random thought in the back of my mind. But if it weren’t for the protest of the fanboys I would not hear about this film about every other week. Could the Weinsteins be that devious?
March 25th, 2008 at 11:35 am
sounds lame, maybe the movie isn’t that good.
March 25th, 2008 at 1:53 pm
Weinstein needs to get a clue. He’s in the business to make money. The fans have the money. Make them happy, get paid, and be done with it. He doesn’t need a retard who made Little Nicky, possibly the worst film ever, advising him.
March 30th, 2008 at 3:45 pm
you know it is getting to the point where i dont want to see the dang movie anymore b/c if it is a big peace of cow dung then i am going to be really mad. too long to see it