Latest Hollywood Releases

Indonesians bemoan Hollywood blockbuster blackout

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Indonesian moviegoers are facing a bleak year of second-rate foreign releases and lowbrow local productions as Hollywood studios, the government and movie importers remain locked in a protracted standoff.

It's been four months since major Hollywood studios withdrew films from Indonesia, a nation of 237 million people, in opposition to a new levy on imported movies that was meant to protect local filmmakers.

The government earlier this month announced a revised tax it says will bring back Hollywood, but film buffs remain skeptical.

Another big hurdle must be overcome before blockbusters such as "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2" hit Indonesian theaters. The government has banned Indonesia's largest film distributors from bringing in new Hollywood movies, pending their payment of more than $30 million in unpaid taxes and related penalties. The film importers are challenging that in court.

"Until I see actual (Hollywood) movies running in the cinemas, I won't get my hopes up just yet," said Marvel Sutantio, creator of the blog Indonesian Movie Crisis, which blames "greedy" tax and customs officials for the dearth of new releases.

Studios participating in the boycott include Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Walt Disney Pictures, Twentieth Century Fox Film, Warner Bros. Pictures and Universal Pictures, leaving Indonesian movie fans gasping. Normally, they spend an estimated $6.2 million a month, but local media report box-office takings are down 60 to 70 percent since February.

Studio representatives declined to comment on their negotiations with distributors and the Indonesian government.

Film buffs are making do with a handful of minor Hollywood releases and local productions that are widely derided for their low production values and limited number of themes. Moviegoers often complain about the influx of B-rated horror flicks that are light on character and plot development and heavy on cheap scares and frequent sex scenes. Japanese porn actresses are among the stars.

"Limitless," released May 24 in Indonesia, is the newest Hollywood film showing at a movie theater in one of Jakarta's high-end shopping malls. Its lobby, which once bustled with big crowds for midnight screenings, is as quiet as a morgue.

Other Hollywood films produced by smaller studios not participating in the film boycott include "Scream 4," ''Beastly" and "Insidious" — not exactly the summer blockbusters Indonesian moviegoers had hoped for. A poster for "Kung-Fu Panda 2" announces it is "coming soon" despite the film's release in other Southeast Asian countries in late May.

Indonesians bemoan Hollywood blockbuster blackout Movie Reviews

JAKARTA, Indonesia — Indonesian moviegoers are facing a bleak year of second-rate foreign releases and lowbrow local productions as Hollywood studios, the government and movie importers remain locked in a protracted standoff.

It’s been four months since major Hollywood studios withdrew films from Indonesia, a nation of 237 million people, in opposition to a new levy on imported movies that was meant to protect local film makers.

The government earlier this month announced a revised tax it says will bring Hollywood back but film buffs remain skeptical.

In this Monday, June 27, 2011 photo, pirated DVDs are seen on display at a street side stall in Jakarta, Indonesia. Indonesian moviegoers are facing a bleak year of second-rate foreign releases and lowbrow local productions as Hollywood, the government and movie theaters remain locked in a complicated standoff.

In this Monday, June 27, 2011 photo, a man browses through pirated DVDs displayed at a street side stall in Jakarta, Indonesia. Indonesian moviegoers are facing a bleak year of second-rate foreign releases and lowbrow local productions as Hollywood, the government and movie theaters remain locked in a complicated standoff.

In this Monday, June 27, 2011 photo, banners advertising foreign movies are seen outside a theatre in Jakarta, Indonesia. Indonesian moviegoers are facing a bleak year of second-rate foreign releases and lowbrow local productions as Hollywood, the government and movie theaters remain locked in a complicated standoff.

Plus there’s another big hurdle to overcome before blockbusters such as “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2″ hit Indonesian movie theaters. The government has banned Indonesia’s largest film distributors from bringing in new Hollywood movies pending their payment of more than $30 million in unpaid taxes and related penalties. The film importers are challenging that in court.

“Until I see actual (Hollywood) movies running in the cinemas, I won’t get my hopes up just yet,” said Marvel Sutantio, creator of the blog Indonesian Movie Crisis, which blames “greedy” tax and customs officials for the dearth of new releases.

Studios participating in the boycott include Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Walt Disney Pictures, Twentieth Century Fox Film, Warner Bros. Pictures and Universal Pictures, leaving Indonesian movie fans gasping. Normally they spend an estimated $6.2 million a month at theaters but local media report that box office takings are down 60 to 70 percent since February.

Rough guide to Australia

Hollywood vs. America

Latinos, Inc, the marketing and making of a people

Frommer's Shanghai

Rio de Janeiro