Depending on what type of presentation you get to see Quentin Tarantino‘s THE HATEFUL EIGHT in will ultimately determine which version of the film you get to see.
In talking with Variety, the filmmaker revealed that he will have two different cuts of his new release, with those seeing the film in 70mm getting six extra minutes of material, in addition to the overture and an intermission. Furthermore, he has toyed with certain scenes in order to maximize them for the way they’ll be seen.
The 70 is the 70. You’ve paid the money. You’ve bought your ticket. So you’re there. I’ve got you. But I actually changed the cutting slightly for a couple of the multiplex scenes because it’s not that. Now it’s on Showtime Extreme. You’re watching it on TV and you just kind of want to watch a movie on your couch. Or you’re at Hot Dog on a Stick and you just want to catch a movie…. It [“big, long, cool, unblinking takes” was awesome in the bigness of 70, but sitting on your couch, maybe it’s not so awesome. So I cut it up a little bit. It’s a little less precious about itself.
What’re your chances of catching a 70mm presentation? Word is that The Weinstein Company is aiming to show THE HATEFUL EIGHT in such a way in 100 theaters, even going so far as to pay for the installation of 70mm projectors in those venues. As for whether or not you may get one of those close to you, you’ll have to wait and see… although if you’re not near a major metropolitan area, I can’t imagine all the trouble happening for some small location out in the middle of nowhere.
THE HATEFUL EIGHT will be released in 70mm on December 25, while the wider release will not occur until January 8.