I've been really looking forward to Bong Joon-ho's post-apocalyptic thriller, Snowpiercer, but I guess I'll have to wait to see his original cut.  Even though the movie is a hit in Bong's native South Korea, The Weinstein Company is handling distribution in the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa.  According to if.com.au, "Weinstein is demanding Bong slash the 126-minute running time by 20 minutes for the version to be released in TWC’s territories," to which Bong responded that the cuts "would eliminate much of the character detail, which would make the film seem more like an action movie. Weinstein is also adding opening and closing voice-overs."

Hit the jump for more.  The film stars Chris Evans, John Hurt, Tilda Swinton, Jamie Bell, Ed Harris, Ewen Bremner, Octavia Spencer, Ko Asung, and Kang-ho SongSnowpiercer currently doesn't have a U.S. release date.

So why the changes? "TWC people have told Bong that their aim is to make sure the film 'will be understood by audiences in Iowa ... and Oklahoma,'" English writer and film festival programmer Tony Rayns tells IF.  I also wouldn't be surprised if Weinstein wants to diminish the roles of South Korean actors Kang-ho Song and Ko Asung because they ain't good hard-werkin' 'Mericans like dem Okies.  As for Canada, the U.K., Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa, I'm not sure why they have to suffer the same indignity.

Harvey Weinstein is notorious for cutting up his movies, and it's a shame that he thinks so little of American audiences.  Then again, I'm sure they don't think much of him either (if they think of him at all).

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