Weekly Box Office and Film Discussion Thread

[Drtooth]

Though that would fit in with the American spirit of diversity and putting away Old World grudges (at the risk of sounding naive, lol).

There's something about using various Asian cultures to support one race that kinda gets under my skin, and frankly there's a lot of things that I actually like I could complain about that kinda makes me hypocritical for giving it a pass. Like Japanese Sab Shimono voicing Chinese Uncle Chan in Jackie Chan Adventures. It's one of those problems that Hollywood has with diversity. They're more concerned with name actors than giving smaller actors the chance to become name. There are lots of able actors of any race, but they'll double certain races as other races or just cast white people outright because of name recognition.

Going to blame Disney and their Marvel and Star Wars franchises for that one. They've got everyone convinced now that no franchise = failure.

I'd argue that the original Star Wars was the first franchise picture, or at least the one that set franchises into motion. The groundwork for blockbusters and franchises has been set for franchises quite some time ago, even though they probably didn't use that exact term. I'd say the blame lies more in the fact that everything has to be attached to a new film to be relevant, and I mentioned that in a Looney Tunes thread. Like in the 90's, LT characters became retro chic somehow, leading to Taz getting his own show and Tweety being American Hello Kitty. Then someone said "we have to make a movie" and since Looney Tunes Back in Action failed then somehow the Looney Tunes weren't hip enough to put on t-shirts. It's an obnoxious paradox I've always said where you either have a crappy movie that's a success that does lead to merchandising (the Smurfs movies, say what you will, we got the amazing Peyo comics translated out of it), yet leading to more of the crappy film version, or the film version tanks and the characters are tossed into the mothballs. That is, unless the company feels they need to get their money worth and reboots things.

In honesty, I find the fact that they Sony wanted a Ghostbusters movie at all a little cynic. I can see the frustration that lead them here, though. The third movie kept being frustratingly close to getting greenlit and one thing or another kept setting it back. I honestly don't think we needed a third film, but I'm sure Sony was ticked off that one was supposed to happen by now. I give a lot of credit for Paul Feig and co for trying to make the best out of this situation and by smartly having a one off alternate universe film that doesn't retroactively smear the original film. By all means, Sony could have stepped in and made their own crappy GB3 film or an actual reboot/remake, and that would rightfully incur wrath. Still, it's strange that those who didn't like the movie, didn't want the movie, and wanted the film to fail are concerned that the film did only okay (not nearly the massive bomb that most of this summer's films were) and that's going to hurt the prospects of a future GB movie...that they wouldn't like either. That's...weird. It's like the moviegoers that really hated Tron Legacy were ticked Disney wasn't making another one because Tomorrowland failed to get an audience. You can't want more films unless you like the idea of more films.

 

[mr3urious]

The Ouija prequel wound up in 3rd place this weekend, and didn't make nearly as much as its predecessor. Unfortunately, Madea is the one in 1st this time, enabling Tyler Perry to keep pigeonholing himself with these kinds of films for a long time.

http://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/chart/?yr=2016&wknd=43&p=.htm

 

[Drtooth]

I was really looking forward to the Midnight Screenings review of this movie, and it delivered. Brad basically painted the situation for us, the audience had some older black couples in the theater, but the rest of the theater was filled with white teenage girls. A packed house, too. That tells me everything I need to know.

But as the review went on, I really get the feeling audiences will go to this thing thinking it's Scary Movie with Madea, and they'll be utterly disappointed. Because apparently it's another "olde tymey Moral values" deal where they just riff on each other with bad jokes for a half hour, like a bottle episode. The trailer showed pretty much all the Halloween-ness this film even has and could be called anything. So it apparently even fails at being a so bad it's good film, wasting parody potential for (as Brad told it) 6 of the same jokes over and over.

I wouldn't normally say anything, but it really feels that this movie is all about false advertising. I would never see the darn thing if you paid me and even I feel cheated by it.

 

[CensoredAlso]

Still, it's strange that those who didn't like the movie, didn't want the movie, and wanted the film to fail are concerned that the film did only okay (not nearly the massive bomb that most of this summer's films were) and that's going to hurt the prospects of a future GB movie...that they wouldn't like either. That's...weird.

I can't hear you over the sound of my geek card being shredded.

The director Paul Feig announced that at the moment plans for a sequel are nowhere, unless the DVD/Blu Ray sales go well. The movie was just too expensive to make and they couldn't rely on the fanboys or China rushing to the theater. Cue the worst of the haters gloating over their "victory." I've said earlier that I've had people tell me they've now seen the movie and were sorry they pre-judged it so harshly. At first that made me feel better, but now...forget it. It's too little, too late. The only movie I remotely like this year, and it's the one that has to fight for a sequel. Meanwhile so may crappy franchises have 5 sequels planned already. Go figure. And go away Hollywood, I'm no longer remotely interested...

 

[Drtooth]

And releasing it at the end of July where most films go to die wasn't too much of a good idea either. I agree it's unfair that this movie pretty much made back its budget and will no doubt carry that over to DVD sales and broadcast rights. There's something weaselly about movie accounting where sometimes they count the marketing budget, sometimes they don't. A film that's a hit in the US that doesn't do well overseas is a failure, but a failure in the US and a hit overseas is a hit, but not always. Ghostbusters is going to be called a failure for the marketing, even though it made some money, plus more in merchandising. Overall, yeah, it sucks that this film won't get a sequel (though I'm ambivalent about the prospects, they could easily blow it) especially when no one saw World of Warcraft in its native country nor that awful Tarzan movie, and yet those are destined for sequels, clearly. And I can't even complain about that since its the only way we're getting a second Pacific Rim. Because, after all, the best American made kaiju tribute film couldn't beat Adam Sandler acting like a 46 year old man boy while filming his paid studio vacation for the second time.

Moving on...what really gets me, however, is the fact that not only was their a second Ouija movie but the fact that, while the first one was universally panned, this second one is actually getting good reviews and is supposedly a competently produced horror film. Something non-toy based horror films have been having trouble with for years. The shame is, while the first was made on a shoestring budget and made back quite a bit times its original budget, this one's failing against Madea's Not Really a Halloween Movie.

 

[CensoredAlso]

Moving on...

Yeah, you can do it without me, lol. Done with Hollywood, done with fandoms. Utter waste of time.

 

[D'Snowth]

Honestly, we can do without anymore sequels to anything right now. I'm sorry, but Hollywood has been sequeling us out for far too long.

 

[Drtooth]

Let's be honest here. What is this amazing indie screenplay they're going to produce instead of remakes and sequels? Cuz it sounds amazing. I totally understand that the entertainment industry is just that an industry. And I understand there are hundreds of scripts, thousands of scripts that don't get produced for every one that does. I really get the feeling that the movie going public is all "EEEEEWWWWWWW! Sequels?!?!" and now refusing to see the follow up films, most are even an improvement. Maybe it's just easier to wait the year and a half for it to hit Netflix. Plus, let's face it. It's completely disproportionate.

As I've oft said, there are only so many stories to be told, and we've been telling them for centuries. If you don't have something that's a sequel or a remake, you get something that's outright called a ripoff. Basic storytelling fails us every time. And every trope has been well worn, with all the angles and subversions themselves overdone.

And I totally say that these kinds of film viewers are hypocritical. There's more than enough originalish comedy movies out there. How come Ghostbusters was the only comedy film that managed to break the single digit millions number? If originality is so lacking, why are we missing films that actually have original concepts? Oh yeah. Comedy films are the same on the big screen or on a phone to kill time in between commutes.

And I've also said that the big money making merchandise films of the summer are actually slightly less cynically made than the Oscar Baity things they know aren't going to do well until they are up for awards.

 

[mr3urious]

Ugh! That stupid Madea non-Halloween movie is number 1 for the 2nd weekend in a row. The Tom Hanks movie The Inferno failed to stand a chance.

http://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/chart/?yr=2016&wknd=44&p=.htm

 

[Drtooth]

I hear Inferno's not too good either, but even then, it's better than that Madea movie.

If it tops Doctor Strange I'd be ticked off... If it tops Trolls...well...yeah, I don't wanna see Trolls, but even that doesn't deserve it.

It's a shame that Oujia's sequel (which is getting surprisingly good reviews) just isn't getting the audience it's crappier first movie got.