Impatient Film Buff

One of those things I fail to comprehend about Japan even this many years in is why so many Hollywood films open later in Japan than in other countries. I don't just mean later than English-speaking countries, either. When there is a film I want to see, it inevitably opens in Russia and Malaysia and Djibouti before it opens in Japan. The same translation issues apply, don't they?
Lately Japan has been getting international premieres in Tokyo, and most big action blockbusters open just a couple weeks later than in LA. If they can open some movies in a similar time frame, why not all?
There seems to be no rhyme or reason the the selection of movies. Harry Potter opened soon after the US release, which is understandable, but so did House of Wax (this is how desperate I am for English, I paid ¥1800 to see this steaming pile of shite). Star Trek (which I am going to see this weekend!) is only a month late, but Twilight opened 5 months after the US premiere.
My biggest disappointment is that all of the Chronicles of Narnia films open much later here. I loved the books, and I have loved the films, and I hate waiting. The first film was 5 months later than its US premiere, and Prince Caspian was 3 months later. The DVD was out in the US a week after each of the films opened over here. I prefer watching films in theatres, but when it's faster to import the DVD than to arrange childcare, I'll do that.
I've never figured out why films open so late here. I do have a conspiracy theory that involves Johnny's Jimusho and the protective Japanese film industry, but nothing concrete. Whatever the reason, I hope this practice stops. I'm impatient and I don't want to wait until 2011 for Voyage of the Dawn Treader.