P3D Re: nutcracker 3D

[Lawrence W Kaufman <kaufman3d@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Greg Perez wrote:

> I saw the Nutcracker in Vancouver B.C. this weekend and tend to agree
> with Lawrence, but then I've never liked anything by the director of the
> film. Still, any 3D film fan will like the photography even if the story
> won't make it for anyone over 6.

Being a 3D fan, I hate to recommend anyone not
see a 3D film (even though so many of them are awful).
But, if I had trouble with the story, how would a 6 year
old (the IMAX target audeince) figure it out?

The director is even disclaiming the film! I began to worry,
when I heard this unfortunate news about the film:
Award-Winning British Director Charges Unwarranted Cutting and
Tampering by IMAX has Spoiled "The IMAX Nutcracker".
Ms. Edzard is known internationally for her six-hour
adaptation of Charles Dickens', "Little Dorrit" which
received the 1988 Los Angeles Critics' Award for "Best Film" and
an Oscar nomination for "Best Screenplay". Her company, Sands
Films, has produced a number of quality films, including the
much-loved children's fantasy, "The Tales of Beatrix Potter".

"IMAX came to Sands Films last year and on the strength of our
reputation asked us to co-produce a version of "The Nutcracker" with
the Tchaikovsky score, but not the ballet," states Ms. Edzard.

"I wrote a 40 minute script, which IMAX liked. We built sets, made
hundreds of costumes and masks and shot the thing at breakneck
speed with an IMAX crew and line producers in attendance. The film
was cut with great accuracy to the music, which had been recorded
for the film at considerable expense. We did a template mix
and made a few adjustments, with IMAX input."

Ms Edzard continues. "IMAX brought in a producer who then
reshot a key sequence using doubles in several places. He
reworked the sound and made 47 cuts in the already cut neg. As a
result, the film has become incomprehensible -- scenes are
out-of-synch, the music is in shambles and you can see the
doubles hired for the re-shoot."

"I want people to know that this film is not as good as it could have
been," concludes Ms. Edzard. "There is a director's cut of "The
IMAX Nutcracker" in existence for those people who might like to
view it."

Unfortunately, they don't tell us where we can see the Director's
cut! The film does appear to have been shot at breakneck speed as
Ms. Edzard states. It also doesnít make sense in spots (not her
fault?). But, I did not care for the costumes or the story, they both
seemed amateurish.

Thanks for the time,
Lawrence Kaufman, mailto:kaufman3d@xxxxxxxxxxxxx



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