So it came to my attention after posting my piece yesterday that there's a detail of the Red Cliff release strategy I was oblivious to: we're not getting the version released in Asia. They got "Episode 1" a couple of weeks ago and "Episode 2" is set for release in January, completing a two-part, 4 hour plus epic war story.

In January 2009, the US will get...a 2.5 hour dehydrated (abridged) version of the movie's two parts under the same title. Didn't US distribs learn the lesson of Kingdom of Heaven, notoriously better in its unabridged Director's Cut? Will however they cut around the intended form of the film as envisioned jeopardize its chances come Oscar time? No, and I can only assume so.