Where's WALL-E?

I'm shocked and more than a little offended.

Pixar's latest film WALL-E is easily one of the most anticipated films of 2008, and it was released in the US this past weekend.

It has garnered universal praise from critics, hit No. 1 at the box office and as I write this, is already sitting at number 6 in IMDB.com's user-voted Top 250, snuggled between Pulp Fiction and Schindler's List.

And when is this masterpiece being released in Australia?

September. That's right. September.

What the hell is going on, Australian distributors? Just who do you think we are?

You'll happily feed us dross like The Love Guru and Meet Dave within a week of its US release, but good cinema? Quality cinema? Oh no, you have have to wait for that.

With a delay like this it'll be available on Region 1 DVD before it even gets to cinema screens here. Did you think of that?

But hey . . . this is just one more nail in the coffin of the current ridiculous cinema distribution model. Too many links in an endless distribution chain, with too many people who know nothing about film beyond target demographics and opening weekend takes.

I can only take comfort in the belief that in 5 years' time, this article will seem ridiculously archaic.

"What . . . you mean someone else would decide when you could watch a movie? Ga-Blergh!"

Bring on the revolution, man.