Aw, I was looking forward to seeing
Mr. Peabody and Sherman as a holiday season movie.
And I was looking forward to
Me and My Shadow just because it sounds like such a creative and interesting film. I really think
Rise of the Guardians flopping as something to do with all these lay-offs. I haven't seen the movie (I want to but just wasn't interested in seeing it in the theater and it looks like DreamWorks trying to be ambitious but restrained, not liking that) but it seems like they just spent way too much money on it. Too bad really.
Rise of the Guardians came out late in the season, and it did so so. I blame the fact that the Thanksgiving weekend isn't really as good a release time as they think it is. There's such a huge lull, and The Muppets proves that (there is no way it shouldn't have made 100 mil in the US, but that second week was
terrible for movies all over). Plus, there was NO merchandise for ROTG. Just a Happy Meal with 6 toys. Most have 8. Disney did it
right releasing Ralph several weeks prior. But ROTG has a huge internet following and the DVD's will sell huge. Doesn't help that the movie takes place over
Easter rather than the Christmas setting they were pushing. It was a great film, and one of Dreamworks's finest. I guess it was too dark and turned off a lot of little kids. They pretty much imply that, to be Santa, the Easter Bunny, or Jack Frost, you
kinda have to die first. Not really an under 8 year old friendly concept. Too bad they're going to shove Turbo the not at all Cars/Bugs Life ripoff down everyone's throats and it will only be a hit with preschoolers.
But I agree. Waiting the extra 3 months for Peabody and Sherman, especially since it's going to be in steady competition with The Muppets...Again (unless Disney changes that). Not good for either film. I'd hate to want P&S to flop if it means The Muppets is a moderate success that gets a third film. And I'd REALLY hate if The Muppets Again flops against P&S, ruling out the possibility of a third film.
That said, Me and My Shadow sounded
very ambitious. It was some 2-D/3-D blend. I'd rather work go on that than Smeckday. It could have been their Magnum Opus.