Clint Eastwood’s Hereafter Pulled from Japanese Theaters

‘Hereafter’ comes out on DVD and Blu-ray tomorrow, and I wondered how it would fare following the horrific earthquake and tsunami that ripped through Japan this past week.

hereafter-dvd-bluray Turns out it’s being pulled from Japanese theaters because, says Warner Entertainment Japan Inc. official Satoru Otani, the images were “not appropriate” after the disaster.

The Clint Eastwood-directed film, which stars Matt Damon as a guy who can talk to the dead, includes a dramatic tsunami scene with a giant wall of water flooding a busy street, dragging folks underneath.

Obviously, the bottom line of a movie is the least of the world’s worries right now, but you have to feel for filmmakers and distributors whose film has all the wrong timing when it comes to man-made and natural disasters.

I thought the movie was ok, but nothing particularly memorable (except for that scene). It’s kind of a downer to begin with, and much moreso following the real-life tsunami. If you’re going to rent or buy the DVD or blu-ray, maybe wait a few months or years before checking it out.

‘Hereafter’ is rated PG-13 for mature thematic elements, including disturbing disaster and accident images, and for brief strong language. Read my full review here. Buy it on [amazon_link id=”B0034G4OY0″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Amazon[/amazon_link].

hereafter-3 Bonus Features on the DVD/Blu-ray Combo Pack:

Clint Eastwood and Matt Damon lead a journey into Hereafter to explore the world of skeptics, psychics and mediums, and the possibility of life after death. Featuring 9 Focus Points:

  • Tsunami! Recreating a Disaster
  • Is There Life After Death?
  • Clint on Casting
  • Delving into the Hereafter
  • Twin Bonding
  • French Speaking French
  • Why The White Light?
  • Hereafter’s Locations – “Casting” the Silent Characters
  • The Eastwood Experience

The Eastwood Factor: 90 minute documentary in HD

Photo Credits: Warner Home Video

Comments

  1. Christine Avatar
    Christine

    I’ve been wanting to see this movie. That scene was fairly intense in the trailers I saw.

  2. Alexandra Avatar

    I missed this movie when it was in theaters, so I’m glad to hear it will be out tomorrow on DVD. Will add it to my Netflix list. Amazing that they pulled Clint’s film from theaters in Japan when they keep showing the more impressive Japanese tsunami on TV there!

  3. Roxanne Avatar

    I think I’ll follow your advice and wait to see this on DVD. Not sure my heart can take it after these last few days, but you are right … I do feel badly for the people involved with the movie as well.

    I just watched part of This is It over the weekend, and I felt sorry for these young dancers who were SO excited to be chosen for MJ’s tour … then to have him die. In addition to their heartfelt loss, I’m sure it was a financial blow to so many people involved … who were likely counting on that income to support themselves and their families.

  4. Roxanne Hawn ( Avatar

    Clint Eastwood’s Hereafter Pulled from Japanese Theaters http://bit.ly/i9llPj #disastermovies #tsunami #Japan (via @jboursaw)

  5. Kris Avatar

    I think this is a good call. I really like it when big biz does what’s right, in spite of the almighty dollar.

  6. Ruth Pennebaker Avatar

    It’s amazing how a formerly benign movie or scene can wrench you after a disaster. I have a vivid memory of going with my husband to see the movie “Legally Blonde” a few days after 9/11. We wanted to get completely away for a couple of hours, and what could have been better than a light comedy like that? Unfortunately, close to the end of the movie, there was a scene with the now-gone Twin Towers of Manhattan — a swift kick in the stomach.

  7. Kristen ( Avatar

    Clint Eastwood’s Hereafter Pulled from Japanese Theaters http://bit.ly/i9llPj #wsbr #disastermovies #tsunami #Japan

  8. MyKidsEatSquid Avatar

    I’m not a real fan of disaster movies anyway. I think I’ll skip this one.

  9. Susan Avatar
    Susan

    That sounds like the appropriate thing to do. I remember around 9/11, there was a revival of Stephen Sondheim’s Assassins scheduled to open on Broadway and I believe it was cancelled because the subject matter would have hit a little too close to home, especially for New Yorkers.

  10. Donna Hull ( Avatar

    Clint Eastwood’s Hereafter Pulled from Japanese Theaters http://bit.ly/i9llPj #wsbr #disastermovies #tsunami #Japan

  11. Jennifer Margulis Avatar

    I love Clint Eastwood but I’m not up for a downer movie … at all! Still, I agree with you that I feel sorry for him for the bad timing.

  12. VeraMarieBadertscher ( Avatar

    RT @donnalhull: Clint Eastwood’s Hereafter Pulled from Japanese Theaters http://bit.ly/i9llPj #wsbr #disastermovies #tsunami #Japan

  13. […] garden-type structure. It reminds me of Clint Eastwood’s Hereafter, about which I had similar misgivings when it was released in 2010.Is it too soon for The Impossible? Should there be a ban on movies […]

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