PDA

View Full Version : Flops That Were Good



Jacknife
July 23rd, 2013, 7:17 AM
Ever seen a movie that flopped big time, but you can't understand why after watching it? I felt that way with the Lone Ranger. Great movie in my opinion. Action, humor. Was it the western part that hindered it? I don't know.

Waterworld was another bomb I enjoyed.

What are some bombs you enjoyed?

lotjx
July 23rd, 2013, 8:07 AM
RIPD wasn't bad, but it wasn't great either. In that vein was Big Lebowski a flop? I thought it was. If so, it would be at the top of my list. As would Clue.

VanillaJello
July 23rd, 2013, 10:44 AM
RIPD wasn't bad, but it wasn't great either. In that vein was Big Lebowski a flop? I thought it was. If so, it would be at the top of my list. As would Clue.

Big Lebowski only made 17 million... but no clue on the budget.

WizoOzz
July 23rd, 2013, 10:53 AM
According to IMDB, the budget with estimated at 15 mil. So, it turned a profit, but not a very big one I guess.

What are we considering flops here, flicks that did poorly at the box office as well as dvd, or movies that just busted at the box office? As for the latter, I think Office Space, Fight Club, and Reservoir Dogs meet the criteria of failing at the box office, but gained a significant following on the home video/dvd market due to being that damned good.

Cewsh
July 23rd, 2013, 11:00 AM
Ever seen a movie that flopped big time, but you can't understand why after watching it? I felt that way with the Lone Ranger. Great movie in my opinion. Action, humor. Was it the western part that hindered it? I don't know.

Waterworld was another bomb I enjoyed.

What are some bombs you enjoyed?

The Lone Ranger was great, but the Avengers sucked. You were a weird guy, Jacknife.

Matthew
July 23rd, 2013, 11:01 AM
sorry cewsh he won't respond that that. he has "left" again. my regards

The Rogerer
July 23rd, 2013, 11:27 AM
Hudson Hawk is great, but only with the sympathy in your head that it flopped. I really enjoyed Scott Pilgrim, but I am not surprised it didn't do too well.

Fro
July 23rd, 2013, 11:44 AM
According to IMDB, the budget with estimated at 15 mil. So, it turned a profit, but not a very big one I guess.

What are we considering flops here, flicks that did poorly at the box office as well as dvd, or movies that just busted at the box office? As for the latter, I think Office Space, Fight Club, and Reservoir Dogs meet the criteria of failing at the box office, but gained a significant following on the home video/dvd market due to being that damned good.

Yeah, it can be tough to disnitnguish between a flop and a cult classic, which is what you're basically describing at the end there. Reservoir Dogs is a cult classic for sure but I wouldn't call it a flop since wasn't it super low budget and maybe even indie?

Edit: just checked and Reservoir Dogs made 10x its budget at the box office so definitely not a flop.

Scorsese's Hugo was considered a flop but it was pretty incredible

Alf
July 23rd, 2013, 12:06 PM
John Carter I really really liked. And waterworld is bloody brilliant.

Mik
July 23rd, 2013, 12:14 PM
I agree with both of them. I liked The Postman too, and Hudson Hawk. Children of Men was a flop and Stardust, Cloud Atlas, Pacific Rim. I'm guessing we mean high profile flops rather than things that just didnt make their money back.

The Shawshank Redemption was considered a flop at the time, so was It's a Wonderful Life.

VHS
July 23rd, 2013, 12:26 PM
Dredd 3D. My favorite film last year underperformed, go figure. :(

Mark Hammer
July 23rd, 2013, 12:39 PM
I don't know if this counts being a television series and all, but hasn't Parks and Recreation generally done poorly in terms of ratings? Because it's pretty great.

Mark Hammer
July 23rd, 2013, 12:41 PM
Agree with Cewsh on The Avengers. That movie sucked. A reverse from the intention of this thread obviously: shit movies that did well in the Box Office. I haven't seen 'Man of Steel' yet but I've heard it was pretty bad.

Cewsh
July 23rd, 2013, 12:45 PM
Agree with Cewsh on The Avengers. That movie sucked. A reverse from the intention of this thread obviously: shit movies that did well in the Box Office. I haven't seen 'Man of Steel' yet but I've heard it was pretty bad.

Sorry, but I was just parroting Jacknife's opinion that Avengers sucked. I am firmly in the "awesome" camp.

Mark Hammer
July 23rd, 2013, 12:47 PM
I'd rather misquote you than publicly agree with Jacknife.

Atty
July 23rd, 2013, 1:28 PM
Hudson Hawk is great, but only with the sympathy in your head that it flopped. I really enjoyed Scott Pilgrim, but I am not surprised it didn't do too well.

Scott Pilgrim is one that I didn't know anything about when it was in theaters. Saw it when it came to blu-ray, loved it and have wondered how I didn't know of it prior.

There are actually a lot of box office flops that are quality. Wizard of Oz didn't turn a profit until it was rereleased in 1949, a decade after it's initial release. Blade Runner made less domestically than it's production budget on initial release. Fight Club had a budget of $63 million and made $37.

One that was surprising to me is that Mask of Phantasm didn't even make back it's $6 million production budget in domestic theaters. One of the best Batman movies that's been made and it couldn't crack $6 million.

WizoOzz
July 23rd, 2013, 2:01 PM
I agree with both of them. I liked The Postman too, and Hudson Hawk. Children of Men was a flop and Stardust, Cloud Atlas, Pacific Rim. I'm guessing we mean high profile flops rather than things that just didnt make their money back.

The Shawshank Redemption was considered a flop at the time, so was It's a Wonderful Life.


I think eventually everything good, even if a flop at the time, eventually finds an audience. I for one generally adore when big bloated movies turn into absolute flops. Like that new Will/Jaden Smith shitmobile. I was so happy to hear that it bombed.

Atty
July 23rd, 2013, 5:37 PM
I'm starting to take a bit of joy in certain big films flopping too, but that's more because I'm very tired of the big action CGI $200 million explosion films.


A reverse from the intention of this thread obviously: shit movies that did well in the Box Office.

You could just look up Michael Bay on IMDB.

MikeHunt
July 23rd, 2013, 6:02 PM
Children of men and Scott pilgrim are bloody brilliant, great shouts!

Rip
July 23rd, 2013, 6:05 PM
Hudson Hawk is brilliant, a film than never fails to raise a smile. I also didn't mind John Carter at all, decent enough film that was enjoyable enough, I also enjoyed Stardust.

The Rick
July 23rd, 2013, 6:30 PM
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/1/12/Fantasia-poster-1940.jpg/220px-Fantasia-poster-1940.jpg

Now I know that some of this was to do with the war. But it nearly bankrupt the company, and is the reason that Dumbo was cut so short. When it came out, it couldn't turn a profit.

The film is amazing, and is real proof of the talent that Disney had on hand. Now it is among the top 25 grossing movies of all time to date.

Rip
July 23rd, 2013, 6:38 PM
Flash Gordon.

Greatest. Film. Ever.

Jimmy Zero
July 23rd, 2013, 6:40 PM
Dredd 3D. My favorite film last year underperformed, go figure. :(

Good call on this one. Dredd 3D was excellent. I'm still holding out hope for a sequel even though we probably won't get one.

Cewsh
July 23rd, 2013, 6:43 PM
According to Wiki, these are the 50 biggest box office bombs of all time:

http://i641.photobucket.com/albums/uu132/CewshReviews/ListofboxofficebombsWikipediathefreeencyclopedia_z psbf3bda2b.png

Most of those make perfect sense, but it hurts to see a film like Ali on there.

RuneEdge
July 23rd, 2013, 6:47 PM
I thought Cowboys & Aliens was fun. :\

Jimmy Zero
July 23rd, 2013, 6:50 PM
Cowboys and Aliens put me to sleep.

I quite enjoyed 13th Warrior. It's nothing special, but it's certainly not terrible.

Also, I thought Hugo was fantastic.

Cewsh
July 23rd, 2013, 6:53 PM
Adjusted for inflation, 13th Warrior is apparently the biggest flop ever by about 40 million. That's crazy.

Jimmy Zero
July 23rd, 2013, 6:57 PM
That's nuts. I never would have guessed that. It's really not a bad movie. It's not amazing, either, but it's a very enjoyable action film.

Mik
July 23rd, 2013, 7:00 PM
Good call on this one. Dredd 3D was excellent. I'm still holding out hope for a sequel even though we probably won't get one.

Apparently there is likely to be a sequel.


According to Wiki, these are the 50 biggest box office bombs of all time:

http://i641.photobucket.com/albums/uu132/CewshReviews/ListofboxofficebombsWikipediathefreeencyclopedia_z psbf3bda2b.png

Most of those make perfect sense, but it hurts to see a film like Ali on there.

I like a disproportionate amount of those films, I mean Hugo was excellent in my opinion.

Version 6
July 23rd, 2013, 7:10 PM
I like Ali. Haven't watched it in years, but remember being blown away by the performances of Will Smith, Jon Voight and Jamie Foxx. Nostalgia might be exaggerating that to a degree.

Oh, and I saw Pluto Nash in the cinema on my second date with my wife. Terrible film.

Jimmy Zero
July 23rd, 2013, 7:21 PM
lol the fact that she stayed with the guy that took her to see Pluto Nash for their second date is truly a testament to your wife.

The Rick
July 23rd, 2013, 7:25 PM
Or a testament to his "skills"

Version 6
July 23rd, 2013, 7:26 PM
lol the fact that she stayed with the guy that took her to see Pluto Nash for their second date is truly a testament to your wife.

To be fair, we were 17.

But there are no excuses.

Atty
July 23rd, 2013, 7:30 PM
I thought Cowboys & Aliens was fun. :\

I liked it, but Craig with an American accent took me out of it every time he spoke.

lotjx
July 23rd, 2013, 7:33 PM
I liked Cowboys and Aliens even though it has this weird Return of the Jedi ending which is sorta awesome with Ford being in it. It is weird to see Green Lantern make $20 million over its budget, but still lost almost $100 million. Marketing costs must be a bitch.

El Capitano Gatisto
July 23rd, 2013, 11:10 PM
I thought of Waterworld immediately when I saw this thread title. It was panned massively at the time seemingly in a Kevin Costner backlash allied to it being very expensive to make and became a real joke film. I thought it was a very good film when I eventually saw it on video and I struggle to find anyone who has seen it who doesn't agree. It's really strange in retrospect just how much hatred it got.

Kyle_242
July 24th, 2013, 1:09 AM
I always liked that terrible Final Fantasy movie. Even though it officially marks the beginning of the end of Square, and cost that guy his job.

It was much better than Advent Children, aka FF7 Fanboy Wank Material: The Movie.

...or should that be wank materia?

Fanny
July 24th, 2013, 1:44 AM
from that list, I thought Lolita was a great film.

Cewsh
July 24th, 2013, 1:57 AM
I always liked that terrible Final Fantasy movie. Even though it officially marks the beginning of the end of Square, and cost that guy his job.

It was much better than Advent Children, aka FF7 Fanboy Wank Material: The Movie.

...or should that be wank materia?

Final Fantasy: Advent Children was blatant fan service, but at least it was open about it. I have seen Spirits Within a number of times and I'm no less baffled about what it is supposed to be as a film and why it was made.

The Rogerer
July 24th, 2013, 3:37 AM
It's been years since I've watched it, I think Spirits Within was an allegory for the US dropping the nukes and destroying the environment. Advent Children is firmly worthless.

Atty
July 24th, 2013, 9:29 AM
Spirits Within would have done better if it didn't have Final Fantasy in the name. It was so different than the games (being set on Earth, among oter things) that it would have played to a wider audience without that connector.


Advent Children is brilliant because its my non porn porn.

Mik
July 24th, 2013, 10:27 AM
I like Ali. Haven't watched it in years, but remember being blown away by the performances of Will Smith, Jon Voight and Jamie Foxx. Nostalgia might be exaggerating that to a degree.

Oh, and I saw Pluto Nash in the cinema on my second date with my wife. Terrible film.

I thought that Will Smith was the worst thing about what was otherwise a decent but occasionally boring film.


I thought of Waterworld immediately when I saw this thread title. It was panned massively at the time seemingly in a Kevin Costner backlash allied to it being very expensive to make and became a real joke film. I thought it was a very good film when I eventually saw it on video and I struggle to find anyone who has seen it who doesn't agree. It's really strange in retrospect just how much hatred it got.

The worst thing of revisionist history about Waterworld is the fact that it was even a big flop. See it on that list of the worst flops of all time? Nope. Because in the end it actually turned a modest profit thanks in particular to the East Asian market. It was just absurdly expensive for its time and because it didnt do well in America, people forget that it didnt bomb everywhere.

The Postman is a different story though.

Fro
July 24th, 2013, 10:32 AM
I loved Will Smith as Ali, but Jon Voight as Howard Cosell was just mind fuckingly amazing. I didn't even know that was Jon Voight until the credits.

The Rogerer
July 24th, 2013, 10:42 AM
The worst thing of revisionist history about Waterworld is the fact that it was even a big flop. See it on that list of the worst flops of all time? Nope. Because in the end it actually turned a modest profit thanks in particular to the East Asian market. It was just absurdly expensive for its time and because it didnt do well in America, people forget that it didnt bomb everywhere.I think this point is more important to modern films as plenty of the box office 'flops' probably make more than enough profit in the home market. The shift has come and we look at the old figures sometimes. Waterworld is a good example of a flop because it doesn't matter how much it made, it's name was a punchline.

Edit: by home I meant DVD/rental/whatever

Mik
July 24th, 2013, 10:46 AM
Well, it was a flop because when you spend $175m on a film, it is expected to make close to a billion. Not just to make its money back.

Cewsh
July 24th, 2013, 10:50 AM
Wasn't Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End a flop in America, and then made a billion anyway purely on the strength of the overseas sales? That was certainly an eye opener for studios.

Just checked into it. 300 million dollar budget, 309 million domestic, 692 million international. Whew.

The Rogerer
July 24th, 2013, 10:56 AM
Looking at domestic takings is surely a very naive practice now?

Cewsh
July 24th, 2013, 10:59 AM
Certainly. It's just interesting to see how important international numbers have become.

Mik
July 24th, 2013, 11:06 AM
Looking at domestic takings is surely a very naive practice now?

You'd think so, but for some reason its all that the Americans seem to care about/report.

Fanny
July 24th, 2013, 11:30 AM
Fight Club was a flop, wasn't it?

Chris
July 24th, 2013, 12:14 PM
I quite liked Equilibrium. Christian Bale in a dystopian future going mental on people using guns. Not a classic by any means, but the action was enjoyable.

I'll always have a soft spot for Last Action Hero. The story behind the making of that film is absolutely fascinating. Just a complete mess. But it's one of those "so bad, it's good" movies for me. It has Tywin Lannister, a cartoon cat and a picture of Stallone as the Terminator. It's perfect ITV2 there's-nothing-else-on material.

Mik
July 24th, 2013, 2:59 PM
Equilibrium was unlucky in that it was tarred with being a Matrix rip off, whereas in actuality it was a really good little film in its own right.

Fanny
July 24th, 2013, 3:04 PM
I always get that and Minority Report mixed up. Equilibrium is, imo, a far superior picture.

Rip
July 24th, 2013, 3:04 PM
13th Warrior was alright, Cowboys vs Aliens was ok but should have been better, and Treasure Planet is one of my middle sons favorite movies.

I thought Dredd 2 was dead in the water, sure they made some statement along those lines and said they'd use the script in upcoming comic book form.

The Rogerer
July 24th, 2013, 3:05 PM
Equilibrium didn't do itself favours by having everyone in black trenchcoats, and the gun kata being laughable, but it's a good call.

JP
July 24th, 2013, 3:07 PM
Dredd, which I thought was absolutely brilliant.

Cewsh
July 24th, 2013, 3:12 PM
As unintentional comedy, or as an actual film? Because I love me some Stallone, but the movie had Rob Schneider and a spaghetti robot.

The Doc
July 24th, 2013, 3:13 PM
Serenity hasn't been mentioned yet? It didn't make it's money back until DVD sales and the worst thing I've heard anybody say is that it's overrated. Which considering it's legions of fans would have you believe that if you are stuck on an island with choice between a yacht and a dvd of Serenity (no DVD player or TV mind you) that the choice is fucking obvious.

I really like Howard the Duck.

Chris
July 24th, 2013, 3:13 PM
I thought Dredd 2 was dead in the water, sure they made some statement along those lines and said they'd use the script in upcoming comic book form.
Karl Urban was recently encouraging fans to make noise about it through twitter and emails to Lionsgate. He seems confident that a sequel can happen if they can justify an interest in it. There was a jump in DVD and Blu-ray sales of Dredd on Amazon, after there was talk of a sequel last month.So they'll want to keep that kind of momentum going to obtain a sequel.

JP
July 24th, 2013, 3:23 PM
As unintentional comedy, or as an actual film? Because I love me some Stallone, but the movie had Rob Schneider and a spaghetti robot.

Not the Stallone one, that was just not very good.

The Karl Urban one which has been referenced earlier on. Much more faithful interpretation of the source material, great set-pieces an the best use of 3D I've seen as of yet.

Fanny
July 24th, 2013, 3:23 PM
As unintentional comedy, or as an actual film? Because I love me some Stallone, but the movie had Rob Schneider and a spaghetti robot.


I'm assuming he means the more recent adaptation, which was a fucking helluva film, absolutely top class fun from start to finish.

Fanny
July 24th, 2013, 3:23 PM
go eff yourself JP

JP
July 24th, 2013, 3:26 PM
I am fast like ninja. :shifty:

Mik
July 24th, 2013, 4:32 PM
Serenity is a great shout. I so wish Jos Whedon would use his new found power to return to that world. Although Nathan Fillion is a fat bastard in Much Ado.

Fanny
July 24th, 2013, 4:59 PM
anyone ever catch the short net series Dr. Horrible something or other with Neil Patrick Harris and Fillion? I think there's actually legs in that for a potentially quite funny spoof movie, musical and all

Kdestiny
July 24th, 2013, 5:01 PM
anyone ever catch the short net series Dr. Horrible something or other with Neil Patrick Harris and Fillion? I think there's actually legs in that for a potentially quite funny spoof movie, musical and all

I believe a second one is confirmed

Fanny
July 24th, 2013, 5:02 PM
yay! Superb. Sorry Mik, that's a tangent that derails the thread a bit, probably warrants its own thread, but I love that series. Another net series will be great, but a TV series even would be awesome. Ok I'm done :D

Jimmy Zero
July 24th, 2013, 5:18 PM
As unintentional comedy, or as an actual film? Because I love me some Stallone, but the movie had Rob Schneider and a spaghetti robot.

He's talking about Dredd. It came out last year and is an exceptional film.

You should see it pronto.

Hero!
July 24th, 2013, 7:42 PM
From that list, I really like Osmosis Jones. That movie rocked.


Can I nominate The Room for this? It was made for 6 mill and only made $1,800 in its initial run. Granted, it was released on a very small scale and received some horribly negative reviews at the time, but it has developed a wicked cult following. It's not a good or great film, but one of those "so bad, you fucking love it" movies.

Kyle_242
July 24th, 2013, 9:36 PM
Wasn't Showgirls a huge flop? That movie was awesome in every way imaginable.

If I remember correctly, it did terrible at the box office but made a ton when it went to home video.

virms
July 24th, 2013, 9:47 PM
Of course it did it was a wank fest for the saved by the bell generation.

Bill Casey
July 25th, 2013, 2:54 AM
Ali...

Beefy
July 25th, 2013, 5:35 AM
Dredd 3D was the first film that came to my mind. It's a fantastic film but completely flopped in the cinema, I think in part because of the limited 2D release and the fact that it forced '3D' into the title. Which is a real shame as the 3D actually added a huge amount to the film.

I've read a few things lately about how a film actually has to double its production cost in order to make a real profit nowadays because of the amount of marketing that modern films need to go through. I think Dredd made its production cost back but still has a lot of Blu-Rays to shift before it makes a genuine profit.

JP
July 25th, 2013, 5:44 AM
Speaking of Dredd, the campaign to get a sequel now has the official backing of 2000 AD. It might yet just happen.

http://www.denofgeek.com/movies/dredd/26582/2000ad-launches-official-dredd-sequel-petition

darkhorse
July 25th, 2013, 6:00 AM
I enjoyed The Room quite a bit. It was indeed horrible in all the right ways.

I also liked UHF, Kids In The Hall: Brain Candy, Wet Hot American Summer, Amazon Women On The Moon, and another "so bad, it's good" movie: Freddy Got Fingered, which is a vile piece of work but it still makes me laugh.

Beefy
July 25th, 2013, 6:06 AM
Certainly. It's just interesting to see how important international numbers have become.

What a strange post. You're aware that there are more people who aren't American than are American yeah? And that those people watch films?

The Rogerer
July 25th, 2013, 6:06 AM
I know I've fought this before, and it's really because I love Dredd as well, but I just don't buy that the 3D was essential to the film in any way. Those scenes still look just as good in 2D, without the sometimes diorama-effect distraction that 3D brings. I don't think the 3D aspect had too much of a bearing on it though, aside from the memories of the Stallone film, the average audience would be far less aware of the character than they were in the 90s.

I also think a lot of the target audiences for these films just don't go to cinemas anymore, with or without piracy.

Beefy
July 25th, 2013, 6:12 AM
I've not re-watched in 2D (I've heard the Blu-Ray transfer isn't very good?) but I remember being totally immersed in the 3D scenes. I hate 3D as a format. It's a rubbish gimmick which was cynically pushed in order to try to cut down on piracy. But it really, really works in that film.

Cewsh
July 25th, 2013, 9:20 AM
What a strange post. You're aware that there are more people who aren't American than are American yeah? And that those people watch films?

Yes, of course. But until recently Hollywood and the American media did not.

Seanny One Ball
July 25th, 2013, 9:35 AM
"Things To Do In Denver When You're Dead" is a good movie but for some reason is considered a Pulp Fiction rip off....I don't see why really. The tone seems forcibly darker and besides the gangster side of things it is really nothing like it and a good enjoyable film on its own.

"Super" flopped at the box office big time but I have it on DVD and have seen it at least 3 times. It is fantastic and again unfortunately slighted as a "rip-off" when it was actually being written at the same time and completely independently of "Kickass" and offers substantially different moral perspective.

Atty
July 25th, 2013, 11:01 AM
But until recently Hollywood and the American media did not.

They don't even know that now.

Fro
July 25th, 2013, 11:26 AM
I don't know why other countries have to watch our movies anyway. I mean how about you just watch your own movies amirite

Mik
July 25th, 2013, 3:54 PM
I've not re-watched in 2D (I've heard the Blu-Ray transfer isn't very good?) but I remember being totally immersed in the 3D scenes. I hate 3D as a format. It's a rubbish gimmick which was cynically pushed in order to try to cut down on piracy. But it really, really works in that film.

I liked Dredd and didnt mind the 3D, but dont think that it 'worked' for it as such. Contrast it to something like Hugo or Life of Pi where the 3D was embedded seamlessly into the film, this one had to have the 'slow motion drug' gimmick in order to use it effectively.



I've read a few things lately about how a film actually has to double its production cost in order to make a real profit nowadays because of the amount of marketing that modern films need to go through. I think Dredd made its production cost back but still has a lot of Blu-Rays to shift before it makes a genuine profit.

Yeah, I've talked about this a few times before...



In terms of budget, it's very unlikely that promotion and marketing is included in that $80m, when you look at how high profile the film was a good rule of thumb is to double the production budget and then add about half again for distribution before you figure out how much it needs to take before the film is profitable.



I'm not a big fan of Zombie stuff either, but I'll give this a watch. The remarkably dangerous thing is that this is a $200m+ budget and is promoted to hell, meaning that its going to have to be drawing nearly half a billion worldwide in order to turn a worthwhile profit. This in spite of having Brad Pitt (never been a proven box office draw) and pretty much nobody else.


Realistically with a budget of $190m, you're going to need the film to pass $400m worldwide for it to turn profit. That can include DVD and Bluray sales though.


I was right about World War Z too, $458 worldwide at the moment. With a film like that you really need it to be closer to a billion to make it a success. As it is that will barely end up posting a profit world wide and they use this big tent pole special effects bonanzas to try and fund the small awards worthy films that run at a loss, so its not like they can go 'Ah well, it made a profit and any profit is good'. The studios will be seriously disappointed by how badly World War Z performed and yet all the signs were there that it was going to.

Matty C
July 25th, 2013, 5:41 PM
Grindhouse. I loved it and I seem to remember it bombing at the box office.

Lady in the Water. Perhaps not expected to smash records as M. Night’s magic was obviously starting to rub off but it’s largely seen as terrible and a flop. I enjoyed it.

Watchmen. Sort of borderline in terms of a "flop" but I thought it was brilliant and it seemed to disappoint overall.

Cewsh
July 25th, 2013, 5:43 PM
I haaaaaaated Watchmen, but I fully expected it to be a hit.

Fanny
July 25th, 2013, 5:44 PM
I despised Watchmen. Both the movie and the graphic novel. Utter drivel.

Version 6
July 25th, 2013, 6:44 PM
I despised Watchmen. Both the movie and the graphic novel. Utter drivel.

I adored the book.

But the movie was basically just fan service. While it stayed true to the book, it just didn't translate into an enjoyable film. People were saying that for years before it was made and it turned out to be the case.

JP
July 25th, 2013, 6:46 PM
I loved Watchmen, to the point where it's probably in my top 10 films.

Atty
July 25th, 2013, 6:49 PM
You loved a movie with a big blue penis?

Jimmy Zero
July 25th, 2013, 8:37 PM
I've actually grown to really enjoy the Watchmen movie upon subsequent viewings. I absolutely hated it when I saw it in theaters, but having rewatched it several times since then, I've actually come to really like it. It's not the greatest adaptation, and it still has its flaws, but it's not as terrible as I initially thought.

lotjx
July 25th, 2013, 9:08 PM
The ending is what kills Watchmen for me. Its such a Hollywood coup out and totally sacrifices the characters at the end. The ending in the book with the look on Andrian's face is worth more than a thousand punches. The uncut version is quite amazing though. I will say we got 80% of a movie that I never thought would get made and if it did it would be 20% of the book. So, I like it, but that ending that fucking ending.

El Capitano Gatisto
July 25th, 2013, 9:48 PM
I despised Watchmen. Both the movie and the graphic novel. Utter drivel.

Same, although maybe despised is a bit much. Was immensely bored by both and thought both were a bit stupid. The book ending is laughable, utterly risible. I remember reading it and physically laughing at the shiteness of it, then rolling my eyeballs so hard I nearly back-flipped.

Mills
July 26th, 2013, 3:55 AM
I stand by my thought when I first saw it. Snyder over-stylized a gritty, raw story, and the styles clash just didn't work for me

The Rogerer
July 26th, 2013, 3:59 AM
The ending of the Watchmen film is so much better it's unreal. Far from a cop-out, it's a far more satisfying, logical and poetic ending.

Beer-Belly
July 26th, 2013, 5:32 AM
Watchmen is whatever. The artwork is great and Rorschach is entertaining, but I don't buy the line that it's some sort of deconstructive masterpiece. A lot of it is soap opera bullshit with people in super hero outfits.

lotjx
July 26th, 2013, 8:28 AM
I'm not talking about the ending with the squid, I am ok with that change. I am not ok with Nite Owl beating the shit out of Ozy while Dr. Manhattan just leaves as if to give Ozy a pass for what he did. The book has such a layered ending to the actual defeat of Ozy without laying one punch. If you don't like Watchman the Graphic Novel then I am not sure what to tell you other than I hope you don't like Walking Dead or Kick Asss or think anything is better now, because its popular.

Gary J
July 26th, 2013, 3:00 PM
Big Trouble In Little China - Fucking love this movie I used to watch it at least once a week when I was a kid. I've cut down now and watch it every couple of months unless it's on sky then I set it to record on the skyplus even though I have the dvd and can watch it whenever I want.

LOCONUT
December 27th, 2013, 4:58 PM
I watched Jack the Giant Slayer last night on HBO and was completely entertained. I thought the acting was top notch and it was a fun little story. Not sure why all the hate for this film.

VHS
December 27th, 2013, 5:13 PM
Big Trouble In Little China - Fucking love this movie I used to watch it at least once a week when I was a kid. I've cut down now and watch it every couple of months unless it's on sky then I set it to record on the skyplus even though I have the dvd and can watch it whenever I want.

Yeah... big one there. I quote this movie so much it's almost scary. No Bullsh*t.

Defrost
December 27th, 2013, 5:39 PM
Speed Racer is a great movie that I will defend to the death.

Mik
December 27th, 2013, 7:10 PM
I watched Jack the Giant Slayer last night on HBO and was completely entertained. I thought the acting was top notch and it was a fun little story. Not sure why all the hate for this film.

It wasn't horribly reviewed, just mediocre really.

LOCONUT
December 27th, 2013, 7:10 PM
It was a major box office flop.

Mik
December 27th, 2013, 7:16 PM
Oh shit yeah, I forgot what thread I was in there. What the fuck were they doing putting $200m into a film without a recognised bankable star at all?

JP
December 27th, 2013, 7:22 PM
Oh shit yeah, I forgot what thread I was in there. What the fuck were they doing putting $200m into a film without a recognised bankable star at all?

I think you can get away without having a bankable star if the intellectual property is good enough or well known/poular to carry it to the public. Godzilla and Guardians of the Galaxy don't have themselves a central major star but will most likely be successful.

Mik
December 27th, 2013, 7:32 PM
But that was never going to be the case with jack and the giant slayer. It makes you wonder who commission these things sometimes. At maybe a $50m budget it'd be looking like a good move, with a $100m I'd consider taking a bite. It's easy to see what they are looking at...snow white and the huntsman had a similar idea, a similar holidayish release, similar budget, but a more tweenage theme and marketing and more importantly went for the girl from twilight and the guy from Thor.

virms
December 27th, 2013, 10:53 PM
They were banking on the kid market and all the parents going with them. The only reason I watched the movie was because my chiropractor recommended it. We have a lot of similar tastes in movies and when he said he actually enjoyed watching it (family night out woth kids) I figured there might be something to it. I enjoyed it but I see why they made it. Kids movies are usually built in markets. What else came out in the theater around this time? Did it have too much competition?

Mik
December 28th, 2013, 8:05 AM
Well that was the problem with the marketing really, the film was trying to aim at families but it looked a little too adult for kids and a little too childish for teenagers. Obviously Oz, the great and the powerful was coming along the next week and looked a much stronger film...hence why everyone waited and went to see that instead. Again, nothing wrong with jack the giant slayer...just an insane bit of business investing $200m into it!

Fanny
December 28th, 2013, 8:20 AM
was Oz The Great and Powerful successful? Because I heard mostly mediocre to bad things about it, then I watched it on TV the other day and found it to be a splendid little yarn. Is there to be a sequel?

Mik
December 28th, 2013, 8:31 AM
It was reasonably successful, not a smash by any means. Reviews were mediocre though, so a lot of people were out off by those, but it's been a huge hit on DVD due to audience finding what you found...and DVDs are pretty much pure profit.

Fanny
December 28th, 2013, 8:39 AM
as a story itself, it was pretty good. The touches on the Oz mythos and nods to other threads and characters from the original were quite lovely. Mila Kunis ALMOST had her character down...but not quite. There was something quite off about Franco's performance, rather forced an unbelievable. Weisz and Williams were both beautiful and excellent, as usual.

Mik
December 28th, 2013, 8:55 AM
I think that Franco got the douchey side over well, but shit-eaten-grinned his way through the redemption side too much.

Stocky
December 30th, 2013, 6:10 AM
I rate Scott Pilgram as one of my all time favorite movies but from what i remember when it came out a lot of reviews basically stated that they were Micheal Cera'd out which may have driven away audiences to a really great film which has me believing Antman is going to be amazing.

Hudson Hawk is a movie from my childhood that i'll always like.

I didn't mind the Jack Black Gullivers travel either didn't that bomb?