The BJMDDS General Discussion Thread......

[Kristatos]

The studio yanked from theaters the promotional trailer for its upcoming crime thriller "Gangster Squad." Set in the 1940s and 1950s, "Gangster Squad" chronicles the Los Angeles Police Department's fight to keep the mafia out of its city.

The trailer, which had been playing ahead of "The Dark Knight Rises" in some locations, features a scene in which men open fire with machine guns on an audience in a movie theater.

Some industry experts said the studio should scale back its promotions for the film.

"Warner Brothers should show sensitivity and pull the ads for a week, certainly in Denver, and maybe around the country," said former Columbia Pictures marketing head Peter Sealey.

Kind of like when Swordfish and Collateral Damage got pulled from theaters in the wake of 9/11.

[bjmdds]

"Last summer's "Green Lantern" did not work very well, grossing $219.8 million. Some industry watchers said the movie cost $200 million to produce, though Warner has disputed that figure. Studios receive about half of box office sales". Proof that the formula discussed here is accurate. Studios keep half of what the film grosses and that does not factor in advertising and publicity costs.

[Napoleon Solo]

"Last summer's "Green Lantern" did not work very well, grossing $219.8 million. Some industry watchers said the movie cost $200 million to produce, though Warner has disputed that figure. Studios receive about half of box office sales". Proof that the formula discussed here is accurate. Studios keep half of what the film grosses and that does not factor in advertising and publicity costs.

And to bring this back to the 007 films, while there's still a decent audience, it's not the biggest thing out there, like it was in 1965. Eon acts like it is. Some fans do, too, and get upset if told otherwise (two years ago, some fans on message boards freaked out at the notion that the Potter films had out-grossed Bond in series ticket sales).

Some fans will argue, you should consider only inflation-adjusted figues (which is, essentially an intellectual exercise and studios deal with real-world ticket sales). But even if you accept that only inflation-adjusted numbers are legitimate, then the most recent "bit hit" 007 films are less than 70 percent the sales of inflation-adjusted Thunderball. Uh, that's not what the fans want to hear either.....

[Kristatos]

Some fans will argue, you should consider only inflation-adjusted figues (which is, essentially an intellectual exercise and studios deal with real-world ticket sales). But even if you accept that only inflation-adjusted numbers are legitimate, then the most recent "bit hit" 007 films are less than 70 percent the sales of inflation-adjusted Thunderball. Uh, that's not what the fans want to hear either.....

I think inflation-adjusted figures are a useful tool, especially for a series as long-running as Bond. Otherwise you fall into the trap of hailing each new Bond film as the BIGGEST! BOND! EVAH! when all the figures really show is the spiralling cost of going to the cinema.

[Mazer Rackham]

Actual ticket number are the best judge it will never be implemented because B.O. numbers are too useful to PR departments.

I've looked at the Bond numbers, they tend to be remarkably consistent across the territories. Both good and bad because it shows a constant audience but sadly a aging one. With Craig it was promised he'd bring in the much vaunted youth audience he didn't it's the same demographic more or less. Bond desperately needs to be reinvigorated The EON team as it exists now is tired and uninspired.

B.O. inflation adjustment fails on a lot of levels, one is it does not account for specialty screens like IMAX and 3d

DAD sold 78.6 million tickets let use today's average ticket price over standard adjustment, it paints a different picture DAD is $635m movie in today's market. Not taking IMAX and the expanded world market it's shocking Bond is more or less static while it should be twice the sales as it was in the 90s.

Bond fell in the 1980s and was revitalized with Brozza. While shy of historical record breakers it was not a bad start however the market should be growing not shrinking in some and holding ground in others.

Code: Select all

Historical break down of Bond attendance first ten years;
     Dr. No
    (1962)
    Worldwide Admissions: 72.1 million

    From Russia With Love
    (1963)
    Worldwide Admissions: 95.3 million

    Goldfinger
    (1964)
    Worldwide Admissions: 130.1 million

    Thunderball
    (1965)
    Worldwide Admissions: 166 million

    You Only Live Twice
    (1967)
    Worldwide Admissions: 81.7 million

    On Her Majesty's Secret Service
    (1969)
    Worldwide Admissions: 62.4 million

    Diamonds Are Forever
    (1971)
    Worldwide Admissions: 70.3 million

[bjmdds]

I just saw TDKR. Aside from being out of the scope of sane reality it was a fun film with far too much Joseph Gordon-Levitt for my taste. Catwoman was BY FAR the best version of that role. I rate it better than The Avengers. After all see the film we will dissect out the nuances to the nth degree. I also got a copy of Spider-Man outside of the theatre and I will watch it tomorrow in my house. Said Nolan: "The movie theater is my home and the idea that someone would violate that innocent and hopeful place in such an unbearably savage way is devastating to me." I find this comment by Nolan ridiculous in that he calls a movie theatre an "innocent" place and finds what the lunatic killer did as "unbearably savage". Did I just see a violent film with a savage villain named Bane and directed by Nolan? Hollywood feeds on violence in the 21st century in most of their films. Look no further than their own collective producer mirrors to explain why young people go off the deep end and commit such atrocities. Imprinting is what Konrad Lorenz called it.

[The Sweeney]

Just watched TDKR last night, and I was predictably blown away, mesmerised, gripped, etc. Nolan has delivered the goods once again, with Bale giving the best performance out of the 3 films, Zimmer outstanding, Catwoman superb and sexy, Bane actually rather scary, and enough twists and turns to keep most audiences riveted until the final moment.

Too long? I could have continued watching that for another hour at least. One of the best films in recent years, and probably the best of the 3 Nolan Batman flicks.

I'm looking forward to watching it again.

[Alessandra]

I saw the trailer for Man of Steel. It is a GREAT way to build up expectation for what's to come. Movie sure promises to be VERY interesting. Needless to say, bearded Henry as Clark Kent working on a ship is bloody hot

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpvOT6HJ ... ure=colike

[bjmdds]

I saw the Superman trailer last night before TDKR. Nobody knew what was being shown(I did of course) until The Man Of Steel wording came across. They thought it was a sequel to Clooney's fishing movie. What was with that dreary Gladiator-esque music as well? The best part was showing Superman flying and that is when people in the sold out theatre took notice. This won't come close to Batman numbers but it will most definitely destroy that pile of rubbish from Brandon Routh having a child with Lois Lane I watched my Spider-man dvd this morning that I obtained last night outside the movie theatre. I will not elaborate YET on it but I will only say now it rates a step above the first Hulk film, and I hated that one tremendously.

[bjmdds]

Just watched TDKR last night, and I was predictably blown away, mesmerised, gripped, etc. Nolan has delivered the goods once again, with Bale giving the best performance out of the 3 films, Zimmer outstanding, Catwoman superb and sexy, Bane actually rather scary, and enough twists and turns to keep most audiences riveted until the final moment.

Too long? I could have continued watching that for another hour at least. One of the best films in recent years, and probably the best of the 3 Nolan Batman flicks.

I'm looking forward to watching it again.

Let him direct Cavill in Bond 24 with a new Q and a new M, not Fiennes.

[Alessandra]

I saw the Superman trailer last night before TDKR. Nobody knew what was being shown(I did of course) until The Man Of Steel wording came across. They thought it was a sequel to Clooney's fishing movie. What was with that dreary Gladiator-esque music as well? The best part was showing Superman flying and that is when people in the sold out theatre took notice. This won't come close to Batman numbers but it will most definitely destroy that pile of rubbish from Brandon Routh having a child with Lois Lane I watched my Spider-man dvd this morning that I obtained last night outside the movie theatre. I will not elaborate YET on it but I will only say now it rates a step above the first Hulk film, and I hated that one tremendously.

Actually the music (which is not the movie's theme, it's just for the trailer, the actual one hasn't even been fully composed yet) scored high amongst fans, and so did the fact that they did NOT reveal things in advance. Most people do NOT want battles shown in the trailers, they just want to catch a glimpse so they said this was the perfect way to do it. I personally loved the music to the trailer. And the fact it clearly set a tone for the movie, and it's the type of tone I love for a Superman movie. They need to reboot it so they did well starting from the backstory and showing Clark's human side and struggle before showing him as the full-blown Man of Steel. I do think it's gonna be a really good movie.

Let him direct Cavill in Bond 24 with a new Q and a new M, not Fiennes.

From your mouth to Sony and MGM's ears, BJ. I have absolutely nothing against Fiennes but he's Voldemort and the young audiences will just and only see him as such, no matter what. So I would prefer for someone else to be M if Cavill finally gets the part after Craig. Like I've said before, I'd love to see Jeremy Northam as M (and he's worked with Cavill in the Tudors so it would also be easier for them to have the "chemistry" that's needed). That young kid sure as hell can't be Q, not by any stretch of imagination. Even if he's good, that's not who the character is. It's a senior person playing Q, not a youngster who toys around with the internet. And Q is about engineering in many cases, which means a youngster playing around with the internet in his basement most definitely wouldn't have the qualifications (e.g. a degree in engineering) that are needed to be Q. I'm strongly against the casting of someone as young as that dude they picked for Q. It wouldn't even work with Cavill, who is way younger than Craig. Actually, I think they made a mistake, they should have picked Fiennes as Q rather than as M. I find him rather good at comedy. Northam as M and Fiennes as Q with Cavill as Bond would be great for me.

[bjmdds]

Fiennes is a lead actor type, not bit part cameos though. He is better than Q and I doubt it he would take that role, but this "computer geek" must go as Q after they clean out the rotten vegetable at Eon. She will fight back. She will insist DC stay. So will her girlfriend and co-emasculator Pascal. MGM has to step up.

[bjmdds]

The studio and its production and financing partner, Legendary Entertainment, spent an estimated $250 million to make “The Dark Knight Rises,” with marketing costs pushing the total cost of this PG-13 movie over $400 million. (They need $800 million to break even). “The Amazing Spider-Man” (Sony Pictures Entertainment) was third, selling about $11 million in tickets and lifting its three-week total to about $229 million. (The prediction was over $16 million for the weekend and it is a 69% drop off from last weekend. It's going to fall fast now and deservedly so, now having REAL competition.) Warner has already been working to reimagine Batman for another film series, although a reboot would not come before 2015 at the earliest, given the production cycle these kinds of effects-driven movies require. Mr. Nolan has said he would not be involved, and The Los Angeles Times recently reported that he declined a Warner overture to be involved with the studio’s “Avengers”-style “Justice League” project. Next summer Warner will release “Man of Steel,” featuring an updated version of Superman and produced by Mr. Nolan. But beyond Batman the studio has been unable to figure out lately how to successfully bring its stable of DC Comics superheroes to theaters, even as the rival Marvel — now owned by the Walt Disney Company — has scored over and over. That helps to explain why Warner — privately — was exhaling deeply on Sunday.

[Napoleon Solo]

I saw The Dark Knight Rises today (I went to a 10:35 a.m. showing where the particular theater is all reserved seats). It's everything it's advertised as being.

In fact, I got sucked into the story so much I *totally forgot* about a 1971 Batman comic by Denny O"Neil and Neal Adams *that I own* that would have provided a major plot point. I didn't even think of it until after said plot point was revealed.

My main complaint about Warner Bros. movies based on DC Comics characters is how they mess over the original comic book creators. A Batman movie without a credit for Bill Finger (1914-1974), who really was Batman's co-creator, would be like a film adpatation of A Tale of Two Cities that doesn't mention Charles Dickens.

The movies that Marvel Studios (now owned by Disney) at least *attempt* to give credit to the original comic book creators. (This would exclude the X-Men movies that come out of Twentieth Century-Fox, for example.) The Marvel Studios movies have two credits, one a "created by" credit (The Avengers movie had a Stan Lee-Jack Kirby credit for creating The Avengers comic and a Joe Simon-Jack Kirby credit for creating Captain America) and then a "special thanks to" credit that references those who did comic book stories where the filmmakers adapted elements of their story.

Warners? They only do what they're obligated to by contract. So we're told that Superman was created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster and Batman was "created" by Bob Kane (except for the Bruce Wayne identity, origin story, key changes to the costume that Bill Finger came up with.). Last year's Green Lantern movie had no mention that the character was created by John Broome and Gil Kane, for example.

The Dark Knight Rises wouldn't have been possible without the work by guys such as Finger, O'Neill and Adams (I'd have to look up who first did the Bane character in the early 1990s). That's not to diminish the work Christopher Nolan & Co. did. It would be nice if DC made the same tip of the hat that the Marvel Studios films do.

[bjmdds]

Time to vote for the 7th 007 between 2 actors: With Jackman out of the running it seems, 29 year old Henry "Superman" Cavill or 38 year old Christian "Batman" Bale? Which one of these dual identity actors do YOU prefer? It's a tough choice, even for our Lake Como member. Either works, but I now am leaning towards........Bale http://images2.fanpop.com/image/photos/ ... 5-1200.jpg OR http://photos.posh24.com/p/1020968/z/ch ... _wayne.jpg

[Omega]

Dark Knight Rises was amazing.

a group of friends went to a early showing not even half empty. Not very odd for this area but they did have people checking the emergency exits very half hour.

Upsets me to have a maniac scare people off seeing the movie.

Be glad to talk about the movie but don't want to give away too many spoilers.

Every time they make a Dc movie the stories come out abut WB screwing over the real creators cheating them out of money and credit.

[Omega]

Next summer Warner will release “Man of Steel,” featuring an updated version of Superman and produced by Mr. Nolan.

First 30 seconds I thought it was movie about Deadliest Catch.

[Napoleon Solo]

Christopher Nolan has gotten a lot of praise for the three Batman movies he did, understandably so. But his films wouldn't have been possible without the comic book contributions of Bill Finger (Batman), Jerry Robinson (artist who passed away last year and created the Joker), Chuck Dixon, Doug Moench and Graham Nolan (Bane); and Dennis O'Neil and Neal Adams (a character that if revealed would be a spoiler); and others.

[bjmdds]

http://music.msn.com/music/article.aspx?news=745062 This is why the entertainment industry is so hated and maligned. They preach but do not follow through themselves.

[Omega]

Christopher Nolan has gotten a lot of praise for the three Batman movies he did, understandably so. But his films wouldn't have been possible without the comic book contributions of Bill Finger (Batman), Jerry Robinson (artist who passed away last year and created the Joker), Chuck Dixon, Doug Moench and Graham Nolan (Bane); and Dennis O'Neil and Neal Adams (a character that if revealed would be a spoiler); and others.

The comics were very good story telling most people think oh wow the movie made the Batman story great when it was a lot of good story telling over decades. I've just been reading Batman year one its from 1987.

Did anyone else thinks Banes voice was Connery like?