Weekly Box Office and Film Discussion Thread

[Drtooth]

Just about all of Mel Brooks's PG movies were like that, but then again, I don't believe they actually had a PG-13 rating back then - just G, PG, and R. But you brought it up before too, not only does YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN have those words as well, but look at all the wacky sexcapades that were in that movie, and again, it was PG. Kids even watched the movie back then; on one of the DVD featurettes, one of the people who originally worked on the movie talked about how his kids had it on VHS and wore it out playing it over and over again.

Spaceballs was much more recent. Probably just before the PG-13 rating? Lemme just check.

Actually... yeah Spaceballs came out in 1987, after the PG-13 rating was enacted. How that got a PG, I'll never know. Then again, the original TMNT movie had Raph dropping the D bomb like crazy. So much so that Nickelodeon had to ruin it...errr...edit it when they broadcast it on Nicktoons.

Seriously, though. It ruined the biggest laugh in the movie for me.

Am I the only one who WANTS to see the new Ghostbusters? R63, everybody. It's life. Maybe they're the daughters of the originals?

No. It's a continuity reboot and the other Ghostbusters film in development is the only one connected. Which frankly, is the only real problem I have with it. And then, only because I really wish they went with a concept where Ghostbusters was a thing, but they left themselves to franchising rights. I don't so much mind this being a one off, non-canonical to the original series, so much as being a bunch of amateur ghost hunters buying franchise rights kinda sounds like a funnier idea. Still, it's like, you don't have to see the movie, it's not going to replace the original, the second one was ehhhh anyway and didn't get much love and I don't see why fans would want a third one if they blew it on the second try. And we're getting back Ecto-Cooler for the whole deal. I call that a win.

 

[D'Snowth]

Half a year now . . . half a year . . . THE ANGRY BIRDS MOVIE has been advertised for half a year now . . . six months . . . I have never seen one movie advertised that long before hitting the theaters. I've seen three seasons pass during this time.

 

[Drtooth]

Sony really wants this to be a hit. It's their only animated release this year (that I know of) since Popeye faced production problems (which bodes well).

And the sad thing is, I'm incredibly hyped up for it. Yeah, I still have to see Civil War, I'm excited by that. Even excited by the new TMNT movie and Finding Dory. But I'm unnaturally excited for Angry Birds, even though I really shouldn't be. Ratchet and Clank will be the superior animated video game movie I feel, due to the fact the jokes may not have been high quality satirical humor, but didn't go to low brow kiddy film standard gags. Angry Birds looks stupid, but at least the fun kinda stupid I can get behind. Plus, I love the voice talent they got here. Lots of SNL cast members, Key but no Peele (wish they could have got Peele in there). And I even warmed up to the birds and pigs gaining legs and arms and decided the part where Red gets annoyed by the stupid looking sign is actually pretty funny.

 

[Mynameisdean]

Half a year now . . . half a year . . . THE ANGRY BIRDS MOVIE has been advertised for half a year now . . . six months . . . I have never seen one movie advertised that long before hitting the theaters. I've seen three seasons pass during this time.

I heard from cartoonbrew (who btw changed their website for the worse) that Rovio, the creators of the game itself, and the maker of the movie of the game, spent $120M on marketing this movie, along with a little help from Sony. Yeah, Rovio's future pretty much depends on this movie. It's no surprise the marketing is everywhere. It doesn't look that bad, but neither does it look great. The ads have been everywhere, yet I'm not even in their target audience. I don't want this to succeed, for if it does, get ready for more children's video game movies, with the majority likely bad. Also, EVEN MORE adaptions for kids of existing properties. *sarcastic enthusiasm ensues*

 

[D'Snowth]

Backtracking to the ratings discussion, I have to admit, I really don't understand why, exactly, MY COUSIN VINNY is R-rated. Joe Pesci's typical potty mouth aside, there's really not a whole lot of obscene or vulgar content in it or anything. Taking that into consideration, I'd say it should be PG-13.

 

[Drtooth]

I heard from cartoonbrew (who btw changed their website for the worse) that Rovio, the creators of the game itself, and the maker of the movie of the game, spent $120M on marketing this movie, along with a little help from Sony. Yeah, Rovio's future pretty much depends on this movie. It's no surprise the marketing is everywhere. It doesn't look that bad, but neither does it look great. The ads have been everywhere, yet I'm not even in their target audience.

You gotta admit, that inane Candy Crush game came and stole all of Angry Birds' thunder as far as ap based games go. The franchise is still chugging away, but a cheap Jewels clone with characters slapped on that charges a fortune has completely overshadowed something that at least has a personality towards it. I wouldn't doubt the company put all its eggs in one basket with this film, obvious pun intended. And frankly that has me mixed. I've never played Angry Birds, and for the longest time I just couldn't stand them. Then I saw the cartoon shorts and actually really liked them. So I'm more of a fan of the series for that. But I find the characters and concept charming, a lot more so than "let's ripoff Candyland imagery but change it slightly so Hasbro doesn't sue us." I'd love for AB to make a grand comeback and smash that lame franchise into the ground.

Though, it's obvious Rovio was trying to get this movie off the ground for several years now. Marvel was at one point attached to produce. And yes, you'll totally be blanketed by merchandising and promotions. McDonalds has theirs, and it's one of those now rare times where the movie is promoted beyond the Kid's Meal toy promo (as in all over the larger food portions). Haven't seen that since Shrek 4 or maybe even as far back as 3. They really want this movie to be successful, and they blew a crapload of money on this thing just for the marketing.

And that's the mix. If it's a successful film, the company reclaims its crown as king of app games, but we'd probably see more of those as disposable kid's films. If it doesn't, the company goes under and some other expert coder steals an old 90's Browser game, shoves characters into it, and makes a fortune.

 

[Mynameisdean]

You gotta admit, that inane Candy Crush game came and stole all of Angry Birds' thunder as far as ap based games go. The franchise is still chugging away, but a cheap Jewels clone with characters slapped on that charges a fortune has completely overshadowed something that at least has a personality towards it. I wouldn't doubt the company put all its eggs in one basket with this film, obvious pun intended. And frankly that has me mixed. I've never played Angry Birds, and for the longest time I just couldn't stand them. Then I saw the cartoon shorts and actually really liked them. So I'm more of a fan of the series for that. But I find the characters and concept charming, a lot more so than "let's ripoff Candyland imagery but change it slightly so Hasbro doesn't sue us." I'd love for AB to make a grand comeback and smash that lame franchise into the ground.

Though, it's obvious Rovio was trying to get this movie off the ground for several years now. Marvel was at one point attached to produce. And yes, you'll totally be blanketed by merchandising and promotions. McDonalds has theirs, and it's one of those now rare times where the movie is promoted beyond the Kid's Meal toy promo (as in all over the larger food portions). Haven't seen that since Shrek 4 or maybe even as far back as 3. They really want this movie to be successful, and they blew a crapload of money on this thing just for the marketing.

And that's the mix. If it's a successful film, the company reclaims its crown as king of app games, but we'd probably see more of those as disposable kid's films. If it doesn't, the company goes under and some other expert coder steals an old 90's Browser game, shoves characters into it, and makes a fortune.

Whoa, that's something. I rarely visit McD's, I go to Wendy's as it is closer and i like it more, but i rarely see promotion that big for anything at McDonalds. And yeah, the success of this movie would have the catch-22 of app movies. For example, Subway Surfers would likely become a movie.

 

[Drtooth]

To the surprise of no one, Civil War made more money. It's pretty much on the same track domestically as Ultron was at this time.

And after seeing that movie, the thing I can most accurately say about the Marvel movies is they're reliable. I've never seen a Disney era MCU film that disappointed. They know what they're doing, they know their stuff. Making a movie based on a highly contested comic book series (tweaking the heck out of it) was a hard gamble, but it worked out perfectly. Another triumph, and considering how it was contextually similar to another Super Hero based movie from a rival comic license, Marvel pulled it off with more fun, more heart, more clarity, and overall trouncing the quality of it. Of course, I was expecting no less. They made a great movie about a high concept series back in 2014, they made an actually good film out of the dumbest super hero concept they had, I'm excited for Dr. Strange.

As for the spoilery parts...

Spoiler

I'm not kidding about the similarities in context with Batman V Superman, only done billions of lightyears ahead of them. Where as there was an interesting conversation about how Super Heroes would play out in a real world setting of consequences, that was completely hijacked by Lex Luthor ruining the film. They even had a similar scene of government talks being terrorist bombed, and even that was better done with Civil War! Team Cap and Team Iron Man had actually reason to fight without the help of Jessie Eisneberg kidnapping anyone's mothers. Sure, the ending fight between Cap and Stark was because Winter Soldier killed Mr. and Mrs. Stark, but even then it was handled a LOT more aptly and expertly than the less than 10 minutes of Superman and Batman beating on each other. Not to mention it was given a good counterpoint by Black Panther, who also sought revenge.

I think there's something special with Tony's character arc in these films. He inadvertently created a terrorist organization that in the end was only created specifically out to destroy him because he blew someone off in Iron Man 3. He created Ultron and all that chaos in Avengers 2. Here, even when he takes responsibility things end in disaster. These aren't just guys in funny suits beating on other guys in funny suits, they're willing to face the consequences of their actions.

I'm liking the new shared Spider-Man so far. At least a lot more than I did Tobey Maguire who, even though I liked the first two Raimi films, I was never really 100% with. Don't know what to make of his mask being expressive or designed by Tony Stark in this continuity. But he was Spider-Man alright. Even name checked Empire Strikes Back when fighting Giant-Man (who's appearance was spoiled by a Lego set, thanks very much Lego). But what I really liked was Marissa Tomei as Aunt May. Look, I know the character's supposed to look like a 90 year old woman, but frankly I've liked the initiative taken ever since the Ultimate Spider-Man series of Aunt May being self sufficient and no longer the depressing load for Peter Parker. I really dig Spider-Man actually being played by a teenager this time as well. No more Dawson Casting for him. I can't wait for his own movie.

 

[D'Snowth]

Ugh. So, like they always do, THE ANGRY BIRDS MOVIE trailers now have to make it a special point to point out that the soundtrack includes songs from Demi Lovato, Blake Shelton, and others.

Always makes me think of the middle panel from this comic:
http://idget.thecomicseries.com/comics/124/

 

[Drtooth]

I have to admit, I really didn't care one way or the other when his was announced, nor when I saw the first footage. Yet, in recent months, I went from probably will see it anyway to actually excited for it. I can't believe I am, but there's something about it that somehow managed to get my interests up. It looks like, by all accounts, a dumb movie. But Dumb in that special kind of harmless, inoffensive dumb that could actually be a good time. But of course kid's movie has kid's movie soundtrack. I don't care much for either of the announced, and I don't see why the marketing is pointing that out. Of course, I haven't actually seen that advertisement and they've been showing ads for this thing for over a year straight.