M/CLARO
For Japanese enthusiasts of Hollywood blockbusters, this year was, well, a failure. Fearing that the release of his e-book of comedians and other multi-priced films amid a pandemic would mean dropping them into a black hole, Hollywood studios were delayed by the scheduled release. after its premiere in the United States and around the world. One result is that Japanese films have been quite successful in the local market during the summer and fall.
“Tenet,” Christopher Nolan’s sci-fi epic that spent years in progression and production, was no exception. Originally scheduled for a national premiere on July 17 through distributor Warner Bros. , the film was postponed three times, until Warner nevertheless made the decision to release it worldwide in 70 countries, adding Japan, with the release starting August 26.
In COVID-19-ravaged North America, “Tenet” premiered on September 3 in some cities, but failed to bring a pandemic-tired population to theaters. As of September 27, it had earned only $41. 2 million, compared to its estimated production budget of $200 million.
However, the film grossed $242 million worldwide during the same period, which gave it a much-needed boost. After its September 18 arc in Japan on 488 screens, the film took the most sensible place in the workplace for two consecutive weeks. while total revenue rose to 1. 2 billion yen ($11. 4 million). Over the weekend of September 26, “Tenet” maintained this methodical pace, earning 246 million yen ($2. 3 million) out of 144,707 innings.
Not entirely surprising: another of Nolan’s sci-fi films, “Inception,” won a resounding 3. 5 billion euros in Japan in 2010, benefited from local star Ken Watanabe’s casting in a lead role.
Still, as the pandemic frightened potential customers, especially those in the most vulnerable crowd of more than 60, while forcing theaters to halve seats, “Tenet” exceeded expectations.
One explanation for why is that, unlike the United States, where the film industry is still collapsing, Japanese multi-cinemas have controlled to respond to key demographics (young adults and adolescents) that are rightly more comfortable watching videos than many of their opposite numbers. Foreign.
Infection rates in much of Japan are low compared to the West, and public protection measures in theaters, from masking to temperature controls, are met more in compliance than with a challenge. In addition, many multi-cinemas offer IMAX and other theaters here that maximize the “Tenet” enjoys attracting fans.
Critically, the film was most commonly received with positive reviews, despite its hard-to-follow plot twists and murky sound design (two planned expressions of Nolan’s artistic vision). Blogger Yuichi Maeda writes: “It’s hard to perceive the story even after watching the film once or twice. In that sense, it’s not a great movie to watch. But even though I felt uncomfortable, I had an incredibly ordinary experience.
On Twitter, fans comment on diversity, from one-word reviews (“abstrus”) to fashion notes (“I enjoyed Tom Ford costumes!”), but Twitter user yorokovu0721 expressed what might be the general consensus: “I didn’t fully perceive things, however, the film was interesting.
In the film’s review Eiga. com, 494 fan reviews average 3. 7 stars out of five. Atsunobu Ushizu writes in a four-star review: “A new era in cinema advances relentlessly. In this sense, “Tenet” is a revolution. Pandora’s box. “
“Tenet” can also boast of being the first foreign film in the 2020 Japanese box. Not that I have much competition.
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