The Blu-ray edition of the legendary movie flop Ishtar, which Sony Pictures Home Entertainment had announced for January 4 (see Blu-ray.com, October 25, 2010), has been pulled from the studio's release schedule. A new date has not been announced.
Come On. What the heck is going on over there that 1/3 announcements seemingly get delayed. I Was looking forward to this release. I could have finally ditched my R2 DVD Import. Whatever. Typical.
Ishtar isn't nearly as bad as many think (most of whom have never seen it but only read critical reviews). If it had been a Hope-Crosby picture (as it is actually an homage to) it would have probably ranked in the top two of all the "Road" pictures and we'd be clamoring after Sony to release it. But as an over hyped (and most likely, over budget) major film with two box office leads it certainly didn't have a chance of performing to expectations.
I, for one, was looking forward to adding it to my collection and, as Arkadin remarks, this is yet again an example of Sony's pathetic inability to deliver on their announced releases. If you are the "glass half-full type" you could always look on this as a sign that perhaps Sony is getting their act together at least and trying to organize properly (but I'm the other half -- it just looks more and more like they are in the "vaporware" business, only announcing things to float trial balloons and seeing which way the wind is blowing).
As for "Why does this movie need to be on blu-ray? It flopped at the theaters, maybe it'll flop again." -- Who CARES how it did theatrically? Do you think "Last Year At Marienbad" was a big hit?
"Ishtar" is a very funny film (well, much of it, at any rate) and deserves to be on blu-ray.
@ PGW
Well, Ishtar is hardly Marienbad, but I understand your point.
The important thing is that the original release announcement created expectations for some people and now they are disappointed. That's not right.
Why do people who hate (in some cases without even seeing it) a particular movie, bother to take the time to read announcements about release dates of that movie on BD & further waste MORE time posting trashing that movie?
BTW, I enjoyed Ishtar in the theater & will buy the BD if it is ever released. I though it was a silly, fun movie & had a great depiction of really mediocre musicians who took themselves very seriously.
I dont recall ever watching this... but the trailer reminds me of a Spies Like Us attempt with some A+ actors + its an '80s film I'd totally be up for getting a copy of this
