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The Last Few Days at Box Office in 2002
By Harinda Vidanage
The last few days of year 2002 in the Hollywood movie world was reaching the climax of box office hits. With the phenomenal success of the Lord of the Rings Two Towers and the epic of Martin Scorsese under the banner Gangs of New York had moviegoers challenging the number of 31st night revellers by flooding theatres.

The movie world was taken by storm with the release of the Lord of the Rings sequel, at the end of part one, following the death of Boromir (Sean Bean) and Gandalf's plunge into the pit at Khazad-dum, The Fellowship was forced to divide. Though splintered into three groups, each member of the original Fellowship is no less determined in his heroic quest.

This continues and so do the accumulation of dollars in millions at the box office and along with that a movie was released featuring the young, unfinished City, in a time of ruthlessness, intolerance and fear. But also in a time of extraordinary bravery, as those pushed to the edge fought for the freedom of future generations.

Director Martin Scorsese sets his epic drama GANGS OF NEW YORK in this defining moment in New York City history, an era whose conflicts helped define who and what makes an American. Against the backdrop of this brave new world unfolds a story about a fatherless son's search for honour, vengeance and the courage to remake his life.

This movie features a great cast which includes Leonardo Dicaprio, Daniel Day-lewis, Cameron Diaz And Liam Neeson. The movie is a treat to watch as how the mafia we see today was made of some men with different intentions.

The box office race has ended with Spiderman notching up the top slot and the top ten movies of 2002 are as follows,

There were many other significant developments in the movie scene of 2002 was the rising of singers as big screen stars, they are Eminem in 8 Mile, Beyonce Knowles in Austin Powers in Goldmember , Eve in Barbershop, Lil' Bow Wow in Like Mike, Joey Fatone of NSYNC in My Big Fat Greek Wedding, Britney Spears in Crossroads

Finally Oscar predictions are heating up the nominees of many for the best foreign film is interesting. They are from Brazil, City of God of Fernando Meirelles, China's Hero of Zhang Yimou, France' 8 Women of Francois Ozon, India Devdas of Sanjay Leela Bhansail and Italy's Pinocchio of Roberto Benigni.

'Arumosam Wehi' out on the cold

By Susitha R. Fernando
The decision to withdraw the children film "Arumosam Wehi" by its director Pryiantha Kolombage has focused on the need for a national policy on screening of local films.

This came about as his film 'Arumosam Wehi' was replaced with a cheap, erotic film at a theatre in Avissawella just after three days its release. While his film was screened in the National Film Corporation circuit theatres he claimed that the replacement was done even without the knowledge of Corporation.

"To screen a film atleast for two weeks was the practice and at least fourteen days was necessary to decide on the success of a film," Priyantha Kolombage said.

All the children's films that were shown recently including Somaratne Dissanayake's "Saroja" what could be called success only after it was shown for fourteen days. Priyantha's film released on December 20 was withdrawn from all the cinemas around the country on January 2.

Priyantha claimed that while he was arranging school shows for his film it was taken away by the theatre owners.

However Priyantha said he was not the first to be subjected to this treatment: Many other well known directors too had experienced this type of Mafia attitude.
The director of the film further said he would not change his decision till the matter is resolved by the authorities and the question of a national policy was addressed by the Corporation.

Meanwhile a letter signed by the film directors had been sent to the Prime Minister and the Cultural Minister to focus attention on the need for a national policy on the release of films.

The OCIC and Asian Cinema Foundation too have made representation to the minister in this regard.

Meanwhile Jayantha Dharmadasa, chairman of the NFC said his powers on this matter are limited even though many believed his powers are unlimited.

Although there was no written regulation laying down a time limit of 14 days for screening it had been the practice all this while. If a time limit is laid down it could help the film maker.

Even though the Corporation has a circuit the cinema owners of that circuit could opt out of it. But in such a situation the Corporation can't do anything.

The veteran film maker Lester James Peiris speaking on the present situation in the local film scene said that the replacement problem was there when he released his first film, a family movie 'Rekawa'.

For the present problem both film distributors and NFC have to take the responsibility, he explained adding that the film corporation was the sole importer and distributor of films. Now anybody with the approval of NFC can import and distribute films passed by the Censor Board.

"Some Chairmen like D. B. Nihalsinghe agitated hoping to change the situation", he further said.

While believing that a national policy would be benificial he too thinks that the problem is more diverse and complicated.

Going into the history of the issue film maker Dr. Peiris said; a director withdrawing the film funded by the NFC has been done before. In this case the corporation is the looser.

He clarified further saying " today our film industry is not a industry nor a business or a form of art'

Dilman Jayaratne of Film Producers Association said: The decision to withdraw the film was entirely the responsibility of the Film Corporation as the film was funded and distributed by the corporation. He alleged the film, 'Top Model" screened under the adults only tag that replaced "Arumosam Wehi" was shown at a cinema under the Corporation and other theatres in the NFC circuit are also screening films of that type and these films which are approved by the NFC and passed by the censor board.

Mr. Jayaratne further said no business was a charitable undertaking. Responding to an inquiry over this the Chairman of the Corporation said "You can't compare the Sinhala cinema with a market product because you can't sell it out side Sri Lanka. The corporation gives Rs. 2 million for a production that is under the corporation and some other outside circuit also.

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