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AICN-Downunder: Batman Begins; Hot Stuff; Blacktown; Flick; Clara; Elise; LittleFish; TheCrop; Mr & Ms Smith; Vengeance

Too bad he aint in a wheelchair by ChileanSeaBass	Jun 18th, 2005 03:07:55 PM
then that would give me a reason to see this movie..does anyone else think superman is about as fun as falling off a horse?
Batman Bombs (The Return) by adambalm	Jun 18th, 2005 03:43:16 PM
I posted on the Batman talkback on thursday about the anemic opening that BB had (15 mil) and was assured by many that 15 mil was not a bomb. In fact the number would increase during the weekend. Well, friday's numbers are in and it's exactly 15 million. The three day weekend projections are in and Batman Begins has been projected to have taken in 42-46 million. While this was fine for a movie like Hitch, which cost almost half what Batman Begins did, this is highly disappointing for what is supposed to be a tent-pole franchise picture. As you know, the Hulk took in 62 million its first weekend and was hailed to be a flop. Most likely this will be attributed to a weak summer season (Sith being a fluke, of course) and most likely they'll do their best to blame piracy as best they can. Either way, Lucy has some 'splaining to do.
the fuck is this shit by angrykirby.tk	Jun 18th, 2005 04:11:28 PM
eh decent batman review but leave out the rant-ey bullshit next time
Batman Bombs???? by Brundlefly	Jun 18th, 2005 04:52:34 PM
Who gives a fuck what the box office return is? (well besides the studio!)What's your point? That it's a bad film because a majority of filmgoers watch shit? It's a GREAT fucking film! I'll be seeing it again.
Jason Lee for Joker by JizzLemon	Jun 18th, 2005 05:04:26 PM
I'm getting behind the suggestion of Jason Lee for Joker that's been circulating recently. He's got more acting chops than Glover. Check out these two rough photoshop pics. http://i2.photobucket.com/albu ms/y47/bobtgoldfish/leeasjoker .jpg and http://i9.photobucket.com/albu ms/a100/NotorietyH/jokerlee.gi f Just imagine him looking slightly more manic in the eyes department.
OMG it's a GREAT fucking film??!?!?!!! by adambalm	Jun 18th, 2005 05:20:31 PM
And U will totally see it again?????!!!!! Good for you(!!!!), see it again a hundred times if it blows your hair back, each time telling yourself that every other filmgoer watches shit, each time feeling a little better about yourself. My point was, as I pointed out over in the Batman Talkback #1, is that if this movie bombs, then less comic adaptations get made in the future. Hollywood gets timid and declares the tights craze over. Those who are fans of the genre, have a vested interest in the possibility of this not coming to a complete grinding halt. If you'll see my post in the original post(you might be disappointed, I don't use seventeen exclamation points after every sentence), I specifically said that fanboys are unusually obsessed with the pissing contest that is the box office take of movies. However, seeing one after another fail as we have been seeing, can get somewhat troubling for someone who enjoys a certain type of entertainment, and might just want to continue to be entertained in the future. I like space SF movies, but I don't get to see that many of them these days because they are not cost effective. They don't make money. The only reason we have Batman Begins is because Spider-Man and X-Men opened the door and made Warners relaunch the franchise using the same formula. Like it or not this 'GREAT FUCKING FILM!' owes it's existence to the financial gain of previous movies. The only question is whether quality comic book based movies will continue. It's probably too early to see what the fallout will be, but there's going to be some. It may mean the shelving of Goyer's Flash project, or a deep freeze of Joss Whedon's Wonder Woman.
Yeah, the "thematic elements" description in movie ratings is ma by Osmosis Jones	Jun 18th, 2005 06:22:27 PM
However, the funniest MPAA description is still the one for Twister, which was rated PG-13 for "intense depictions of very bad weather".
Boxoffice Returns by Waspo	Jun 18th, 2005 06:28:27 PM
It's important for a movie like Batman Begins to make a crap load of money because not only is the existence of a sequel on the line, but the existence of other comic related products are on the line as well. I don't think it's a pissing contest to check the boxoffice returns for a movie, because knowing that a movie like Batman Begins is going to make around 200 Million domestic would make me sleep easier at night. Because that means the coked out idiots and bean counters over in Hollywood would just let good films be made without the studio interfering with the film making process. Yes, I think Batman Begins is a fantastic movie, and one of the best I've seen this year, but that won't mean crap to the coked up people in charge unless it comes back with that 200 Million in ticket sales that it needs so more quality movies can get made. That's why it's important to check out the returns on monday morning, not because it's a pissing contest, but because it really does mean something in the grand scheme of things.
"Thematic Elements" is nothing compared to what Charlie's go by Tubbs Tattsyrup	Jun 18th, 2005 06:39:18 PM
PG-13 for, among other things, "Quirky Situations". I mean, what the fuck, rated PG13 for being weird?! As an aside, I'm really excited that the two things WOTW is rated PG13 for contain the words "Frightening" and "Disturbing". Harharhardeharharhar, motherfuckers.
Wait and see... by Baron Anchovy	Jun 18th, 2005 07:02:03 PM
It's too early to right Batman off. It's a great film, and it'll get good word of mouth. I'm predicting a low drop off next week. BTW, I love this column. LET THE MAN RANT, DAMN YOU!
Waspo by adambalm	Jun 18th, 2005 07:16:28 PM
Sorry, what I meant was that sometimes you have in the talkbacks a bunch of people posting inane shit like 'King Kong will gross 800 million domestic, bitches!' or 'If Daredevil sucked so bad, morons, why did it make back 5 times the money it cost to make it???!!' I agree with your point 100%, that's what has me worried about BB. But in the past, fanboys obsession with one movie making more money than another, amounts to the level of 'my cock is bigger and straighter than yours'. I'm not referring to Batman Begins in this case, because the concern here is the future of this genre, not mere egotism and machismo.
Also by adambalm	Jun 18th, 2005 07:27:40 PM
Also you have people posting things like 'Superman Returns will kick X3's ASS at the BO' or 'Serenity will make 20 mil AT MOST its whole run, guaranteed. All you sad cunts will be crying into your mom's arms when this thing flops'. Despite Brundelfly's complete utter lack of an intelligent way to express it, he does have a point.
I am really sick and tired of people saying BATMAN BEGINS is "bo by zikade zarathos	Jun 18th, 2005 07:33:52 PM
We won't know until the third weekend morons, and attempting to extrapolate a movie's entire box-office run after two and a half days -- not even including the weekend -- is beyond stupid.
box office......schmox office! by thanner	Jun 18th, 2005 07:53:53 PM
yes, box office can determine whether sequels get made. Sometimes this is good, sometimes this is bad. DONT YOU CLOWNS BUY INTO THIS CRAP TOO! It's a part of life for the suits in the business to have everything revolve around box office. For us.......was Oceans Twelve better than Donnie Darko? Is Meet the Fockers funnier than The Big Lebowski? We all know marketing, star names, internet news sites, box office takings/popularity, affect what most of us see. But NONE of these things have anything to do with how good a film turns out to be!
It's 'beyond stupid... by adambalm	Jun 18th, 2005 08:25:43 PM
Maybe for everyone except the 'Hollywood bean counters' to use Waspo's apropo term. The problem is, that's who's watching this the most closely, and that's who ultimately makes the decisions. The studios are increasingly relying more and more on opening weekend, because as the weekends progress, theatre chains start taking a bigger and bigger cut of the profits. (Don't believe me? Look it up.) One figure I heard was that studios expect to make back no less than half the initial budget on a movie back the first weekend. That would be 60 million. The latest estimates I've seen are for Wednesday-Thursday-Friday are $39,682,000. A 33.8% shortfall. It only made two thirds what they would have hoped. Batman Begins opened up on 3,718 screens, a record number for Warners and still made few waves. And the number of screens will be cut each successive week afterwards, to make way for the next releases. Now all in all, that's not apocalyptic. However, couple this with the recent trend of movies being front loaded, i.e. movie attendance drops off I think 60% on average the second weekend, and with all this put together, you start to have a problem. Yes, I know someone's gonna pop up and say 'But, strong word of mouth will make more people come out and see it next weekend!'. Unlikely, but possible. Batman Begins already had a massive amount of advance screenings to try and build positive word of mouth, and that didn't help it this weekend. Ultimately, this is a case though, where I hope to be proven wrong.
Hitch made over 200 million and only started out with like 40 or by iamnicksaicnsn	Jun 18th, 2005 08:30:07 PM
Because for the love of god, it needs to survive. I seriously wonder what the execs are saying to themselves right now... And I pray that word of mouth gets out there.
If Batman Begins makes 177 million... by adambalm	Jun 18th, 2005 08:38:23 PM
...which is what Hitch made, precisely, it will have barely covered its cost + marketing budget. BB had a production cost of 120 million, its marketing budget has not been disclosed (Although Hulk had a 35 mil marketing budget, Spider-Man had 50 mil. Judging from the 50 tv spots and the Smallville specials we've seen, I'd say 50 million would be conservative.)
Why Begins is good, but not great... by Blood Simple	Jun 18th, 2005 09:10:45 PM
Don't get me wrong, I really liked BB. BUT I had major problems with certain elements. Here they are in no particular order: 1) Katie Holmes is crap. Not a good actress, totally overwhelmed by all the other fantastic performances. 2) The "Batman Voice" that Bale picked is laughable. It sounds like a bad impersonation of Alec Baldwin's "Shadow" character (which isn't a good thing). 3) The editing was terrible. I understand gritty, I understand real...but at least show us what's going on. The super-quick cuts, and super-close framing gave me a headache. 4) The music wasn't very good. Zimmer brought this score down. Everything he's done since Gladiator has sounded the exact same, and I don't like his cheap electronic-symphonic style. James Newton-Howard on the otherhand is always fantastic. The parts of the score that I liked were Howards. 5) The suit. Not terrible, but could have been so much better. I'm not a nylon or spandex fan, but this suit just didn't work. So there you go. Nitpicky? Maybe. But that's the way I see it. Sure as hell beats Spider-man 1 & 2, but doesn't hold a candle to the original Batman's ass.
Marketing Cost by Waspo	Jun 18th, 2005 09:17:50 PM
I've heard that the marketing cost are upwards of 100 Million. While that's insane, it is possible. Nevertheless, 15 million on Friday with almost 3,900 screens doesn't scream out "Blockbuster" to me. I'm not sure why people aren't flocking to this movie, maybe it's because the Burton Movie is still fresh in so many people's mind. Maybe it's because this movie lacks The Joker, maybe it's because it's too scary for kids under 12, but whatever the reason people aren't flocking to this movie the way that they should. Sadly, it will not probably cross the 200 Million Domestic mark, but it's a great movie nonetheless.
why begins is a muddle by speed	Jun 18th, 2005 09:30:08 PM
MOVIEMACK WAS SPOT ON! the script! PLEASE save me the cliche agony. especially the first 30mintues. good god man! WE GET IT! fear this, fear that. isn't of talking about it, why not show it and speed the film up.and i know it's called begins but how much exposition is too much? the thing i thought i would hate most i actually liked. i liked the car, expect for the rooftop parts. and that's the entire problem with this flick. they go for this realism angle from the beginning yet half the movie is filled with OTT stuff. and katie holmes is just a write off. she and her two nipples hopefully won't be in the 2nd flick. and at the end when her character is having yet another cliche ridden over the top important dialogue with bruce wayne she has a nipple hard on. it's pretty hard to take anything she says seriously when her nips are poking out like that. i like looking at nipples but there is a time and a place, like the beach or the internet.
more on marketing costs by adambalm	Jun 18th, 2005 09:37:56 PM
That's interesting. All movie marketing costs are displayed at boxoffice mojo, I don't recall seeing anything around 100 million. I think it's possible that that expense shown just refers to the advertising expense alone. Perhaps the 100 million you heard refers to the advertising costs, plus the print and shipping costs, plus screenings, premiere, junkets, etc. I may be wrong though. Anyone more familiar with this, please feel free to weight in. In that case this bodes even worse for Begins. A ray of hope however, the numbers so far are just for domestic BO. Although I may have read this wrong. Foreign box office for big budget summer films are usually about 90% that domestic, so that should take a little bit of the sting out.
Batman Begins is a headscratcher for me by Thirteen 13	Jun 18th, 2005 09:45:31 PM
I wasn't suprised at 15 million on Wednesday, because its well, Wednesday. But I expected slightly higher numbers on the weekend. Especially with all the rave reviews this movie is getting and everyone I know loves it. Powermetal1 has a good point. ROTS is coming to the end of its run so that may help. Then again, Batman Begins is PG-13 and word is out that this one has a much darker tone, so parents may be keeping their kids from seeing it, seeing how these soccer moms flipped out over the deaths of the younglings in ROTS. Then again there are some hollywood execs that think if a movie doesn't gross 250 million in 5 days then its officially a bomb . I plan on seeing it a third time because its such a damn good movie. DVD sales are gonna help a lot too because every fanboy will want to own it. It would be a shame for this new Batman franchise to come to a halt. Like a few here already said, this is still way too early to tell. It will for sure remain number one next weekend before War of the Worlds hits screens.
Good points Powemetal1. I think you nailed it. by Thirteen 13	Jun 18th, 2005 10:19:19 PM
I'm still holding out hope though. As much as I love George Romero's living dead series I don't think that will open up at number one (however that had a modest budget and will easily make money regardless), Herbie:reloaded wont put a dent in the top ten and Bewitched isn't going to do anything special, so I still think think Batman Begins will still retain number one next weekend, and fall into second behind War of the Worlds once that opens. So this may not be a five day journey to 200 million rather than a slower walk towards it, if it makes it. Then comes DVD sales with all the fanboys wanting to own it, and the Foreign box office receipts. I remain hopeful and optimistic.
BATMAN BEGINS Was A Good Start, But... by ZombieSolutions	Jun 18th, 2005 10:39:35 PM
it wasn't a classic. and it still stands below SPIDERMAN in terms of superhero movies. it gets major points for being the first good BATMAN movie, and i'd could see it getting better as the series continues, but, meh. it didn't blow me away. maybe that's because i don't have a personal connection with the character like hardcore Batman fans do. i just wish they would make Miller's DARK KNIGHT RETURNS. howabouta Rodriguez and Miller collaboration? hmm... that could be a classic. (oh and in terms of summer movies, ROTS stands head and shoulders above BB. both in terms of delivering the goods, and making big bucks. but i would hardly call Batman a bomb. it's a good movie and it's doing decent business. i imagine the sequal will be more "meaty." you know, what wit' the Joker and all. Now, who to play the Joker?... hmm...)
One thing I keep being reminded of... by adambalm	Jun 18th, 2005 10:57:10 PM
I first began to worry when the superbowl commercials aired, and the Batman Begins was rated the dead lowest by those interviewed. Behind every single commercial, and there were at least half a dozen. But again, I think the biggest factor is gonna be the DVD. Not only do superhero movies that underperform at the box office debut huge on DVD (Elektra, Daredevil, and Hulk all waaaay exceeded expecations when they went on sale.) but horror movies do better on DVD as well. This Batman movie definitely appeals to the horror crowd, from what I'm hearing. Also, word of mouth sometimes takes longer than a theatrical run to take hold. I'm thinking Shawshank, I'm thinking Swingers, I'm thinking the Notebook, which all only found their audience after the home video release. So there is hope, but that means that would mean, best case scenario, alot of projects are could be frozen in the meantime while Hollywood waits and sees.
now that grammar made no sense in that previous post... by adambalm	Jun 18th, 2005 10:58:55 PM
I must be getting tired.
Vengeance... upon you!!! by MrNelson	Jun 18th, 2005 11:18:44 PM
If Spielberg is depicting the Palestinians as terrorists and not as FREEDOM FIGHTERS, fighting for their land, I think we should avoid this film like the plague. FREE PALESTINE!!!
Free Palestine? by adambalm	Jun 18th, 2005 11:28:01 PM
For everyone? Are you buying? Cool then. Free Palestine all around! (BTW, this topic has just been officially threadjacked.)
id4? by Dr Uwe Boll	Jun 19th, 2005 12:06:16 AM
Can anyone tell me what the id4 element is in batman begins? Being a comic book fan i loved the film. What troubles me is this; something has gone very wrong in the marketing department. I teach media at a boys school and not one of the students is interested in batman begins. This should be a huge slice of the target audience. What went wrong?
Burton made a classic, classy, awesome Batman Film.... I don' by TheGinger Twit	Jun 19th, 2005 12:21:35 AM
Yes I do.... It's boring!
ID4 by Shan	Jun 19th, 2005 12:34:16 AM
I had to think about it for a minute but my guess would be when Gordon drove the bat-car.
Batman Begins should be renamed Boring Boring by TheGinger Twit	Jun 19th, 2005 12:43:15 AM
Yes I'm sure it's a great as you all think it is. But damnit it... the screening I was in I just wanted the movie to end. And when the film suddenly paused and a hole burned through the film I thought it was the most exciting part of the night. If this was Burtons Batman... shit even Batman Forever I would be screaming and throwing pop corn at the screen. Batman Begins is not making any money because it's crap. It's crap. Sheer and utter crap. Bale sucks. What a boring un charismatic fuckstick. Katie holmes is one of those cute, but actually wierd funny looking people. And my God.... How boring was this film. I really dislike it.... hear me people. i am the spoiler free audience member
PROJECT GREENLIGHT IS A FRAUD! by projectredlight	Jun 19th, 2005 01:28:35 AM
I am writing this because I have information about illegal activity effecting the decision making process of Project Greenlight Australia. I am writing this here because I have worked within the Australian industry for years and have no wish to be blacklisted by going public with this information. I cannot say how I have received this information as I run the risk of exposing myself by doing so, however the right amount of research can reveal that everything I am about to say is true. Sam Worthington, one of the judges of Project Greenlight Australia, has been friends with series winner Morgan O'Neill for years. The two studied at NIDA together and are very, very close. This in and of itself presents enough of a conflict of interest to indicate that Worthington had no business as a judge of the finalists. However what I am about to say goes well beyond this. SAM WORTHINGTON, PROJECT GREENLIGHT JUDGE, CO WROTE THE WINNING SCRIPT! This is a fact. Though uncredited, Worthington had significant input into O'Neils screenplay before judging it as winner and ensuring it a one million dollar budget. In an industry already week at the knees this sort of corruption is unacceptable. Project Greenlight was presented to the public as an opportunity for a film to receive financing on the merits of its script, but the reality is that the film was selected for personal reasons by the judges. In a perfect world I would be able to present this information myself in a courtroom to expose this fraud for what it is. But in reality I would have a hard time putting food on the table for my family afterwards... so I can't. All I can do is to write this here and elsewhere in the hopes that someone will read and investigate and bring this injustice to light.
Stop the inane diatribes... by RetroActive	Jun 19th, 2005 01:37:14 AM
This isn't a political blog, a hate-mongering forum, or an excuse to post page long "reviews" you think are worth everyone's time. Sorry. None of us are that interesting. It's a talk-back for conversing opinions about a movie. You didn't like it? Fine. You loved it? Cool. You's like to share the belief that endangered rhinos should be granted political asylum through a congressional mandate in 1000 words or less? Beat it. And why do people always feel the need to justify their own accomplishments within long, drawn out posts? Look. Make your point then move on. Quit asking for respect. You've got. And nevermind who you are, whether you bag groceries or write $2.5 mil a year in widget sales...It's all good. That's what makes this interesting. Anonymity. And the usual attempts at mutual respect that it can offer all of us if quit all of the grandstanding b.s.
LIked Batman Begins by RetroActive	Jun 19th, 2005 01:42:46 AM
Saw it twice. And do agree with others concerning DVD sales adding to additional profits and the future of the franchise. I also think the scene in Spidey II with the arms killing all of the doctors in the OR was more intense for kids than almost anything they'd see here.
Liked Batman Begins II... by RetroActive	Jun 19th, 2005 01:46:38 AM
...though this movie isn't very kid friendly for anyone under 10. I did read the Pirates of the Carribean had almost the exact same opening for the first 3 days, so maybe word of mouth will continue to grow the audience...we'll see.
Was it something I said? by RetroActive	Jun 19th, 2005 01:55:15 AM
Or my ineffective deodorant has made its way through the DSL connection... Well, g'night empty talk back.
Projectredlight by TheGinger Twit	Jun 19th, 2005 02:04:20 AM
This is nothing new in the australian film industry. Corruption is rampent right throughout. It's the sole reason why we have a funded film industry but no films being produced. The governent gives out it's cash to the 'agents' and then the agents make it impossible for films to get made... unless they have all the creative control and the pay checks. You can see it in film festivals. Anyone can submit their film, but chances are the magority of films chosen for screening will be films made in part by the film festivals organisers. Not only that, the awards given have NEVER been recieved by independent productions. Well, not the cash awards anyhoo. I'll go one step further... Independent productions with independent financing will have the rug pulled out from under them by government funding bodies. The Australian Film industry is fucked! so is batman begins. It owes it's entire look to Burton. But everything else is just no better than second rate trash like the Shadow. But even the Shadow had a score. where the fuck is the batman theme?????? huh?
The ID4 thing... by Latauro	Jun 19th, 2005 03:12:02 AM
Yeah, that wasn't clear. What I was referring to was Gordon looking at the Batmobile and exclaiming, "I have to get one of those!" or words to that effect, similar to Willy's "I have gotta get me one of these!". It was a little lame. Projectredlight: if you're genuine, email me.
Welcome back, Latauro by moviemaniac-7	Jun 19th, 2005 03:27:29 AM
It's been too long. "Jewel Staite's brother Garden sues Zach Braff" Fucking genius!
So BB is too much for kids to handle yet..... by mwhelan67	Jun 19th, 2005 04:45:12 AM
In Burton's, Nicholson fries a guy to a charred corpse w/ a joybuzzer and that's kid- friendly?! I handled that fine when I was 7, and I would've been able to handle this one as well, nothing in Begins is as gruesome as that. Kids are alot more durable than we give them credit for
Sign the Crispin Glover for THE JOKER Petition by RIVERO	Jun 19th, 2005 06:24:19 AM
Here ya go. If you know anything about the comics then you'd know that Glover is the perfect choice, no question: http://www.petitiononline.com/ qp2d1234/petition.html
As a concerned party I too am interested to know more about the by Regicidal_Maniac	Jun 19th, 2005 07:55:10 AM
I expect a full investigation, and if needs be a Royal
Umm, memo to TheGingerTwit... by Wonder Man	Jun 19th, 2005 08:27:52 AM
I respect your opinion and all, but have actually seen the Burton Batmans lately? I have, and let me tell ya, they're not the same films I saw when I was 15. Batman Returns is fun, weird and wicked, but Batman -- while visually and physically impressive for 1989 -- is a stilted, prosaic, lumbering, clunking robot of a film with some horrible performances (Ms Basinger is worse than Katie could ever be) and features some surprisingly poor direction. Burton, while massively talented and generally inspired, is not an action director's arsehole and never will be (as his soporific Planet of the Apes remake continued to demonstrate). Thus, the action scenes are clunky and unconvincing. Keaton looks like he can barely move in the suit, much less fight. Nicholson, whom I love and respect as the Hollywood legend he is, shamelessly swallows the scenery whole. But most damning of all? The one reason why Nolan's Batman makes Burton's look like a tired joke? Well, Latauro hit it on the head: Burton has NO understanding of the character of Batman. Zero. Burton has admitted in subequent interviews that he was never a fan of the character or the comic book, and that he was more drawn to the psycho-circus imagery of a guy dressed a bat going mano a mano with a man dressed as a clown. His film's weakly anaemic stab at getting into the "psychology" of Batman (bruised rich kid childishly adopts the mantle of the Bat and beats up crims) reflects this attitude and is woefully misguided and undeveloped. Nolan's picture, on the other hand, totally takes us through Bruce's mindset, shows us the progression from bereaved child to vengeful young man to disturbed but morally charged hero in a way that's plausible and tantalising. As for Burton's ridiculous take on Bruce Wayne as an addle-brained geek who doesn't seem to know where he is half the time... please. Anyone who's read two Batman comics would know this is a gross misrepresentation of the character. As for the Joker being the guy who killed Bruce's parents... my god... could one invent a more half-baked, pat and stupidly artificial movie plot device if you tried? And don't get me started on Batman killing the villain, or the Batwing getting shot out of the sky with a longass pistol(?), or the inane and thoroughly redundant Prince soundtrack... Seriously dude, grab the thing on DVD and take a look at it with new eyes. Burton can be a great director (Ed Wood is a modern classic, Beetlejuice and Sleepy Hollow are hugely freaky and enjoyable), but revision will show you Batman was not the man's finest hour. Christopher Nolan's Batman Begins -- true to the character, reverent to the source material, chock-full of brave choices in our current climate of frenetic, MTV-driven, bring-the-explosions multiplex fodder -- makes both the Burton and Schumacher Batman films look like jokes, and challenges the masterful Spider-Man 2 for the title of The Godfather of superhero films.
RIVERO by JizzLemon	Jun 19th, 2005 08:32:14 AM
Crispin Glover would be way too OTT for the role, an opinion I had before I saw Batman Begins and now that I've seen it I'm even more convinced. The flick needs someone with proper acting chops to bring enough pathos to the character. Just because someone looks a bit like the Joker doesn't mean he'd be perfect for the role. I'm backing Jason Lee, 'cos he has the look, is a damn good actor and would fit the tone of the new Batman flicks better.
Bring the Brody by Wonder Man	Jun 19th, 2005 08:37:00 AM
Acting chops, intensity, pathos, menace AND the look... Adrien Brody would make a fabulous Joker. It'd be a blast to see him face off against Bale.
Project Greenlight... so little odds of actually getting "chosen by JDanielP	Jun 19th, 2005 08:59:43 AM
And my wife wonders why I'm so pessimistic. This problem with the overseas Project Greenlight is a shinning example of why I'll spend my free time (and make time) to create some fantastic paint jobs on "FORZA MOTORSPORT" for the XBOX... rather than hammer out one of the many original screenplays I have zooming around in my head. It's an example of why I never followed my dreams of going to "film school" (rather than "art school")... and goes to show that the movie industry requires a great deal of luck just to get a REAL opportunity. Research how Steven Spielberg managed to get his own "foot in the door", if you don't believe me.
What is Joker's origin in the comics? by Trevor Goodchild	Jun 19th, 2005 10:20:44 AM
Was it the same as Burton's shot in the cheeks and fall into a vat of chemicals? And Justin Theroux for Joker.
Wonder Man's right, you know by IAmLegolas	Jun 19th, 2005 11:20:50 AM
Well. He is.
$71 million 5-day estimate according to BoxOfficeMojo.com by IAmLegolas	Jun 19th, 2005 11:44:22 AM
Doesn't sound like a "bomb" to me.
5 day estimates by adambalm	Jun 19th, 2005 12:40:38 PM
It's interesting that when it looks like it's not making enough money for the three day, people such as hainesrs are clamoring to use its five day run, comfortable with the double standard of comparing 5 day weekends to 3 day weekends, desperately hoping that the numbers will then somehow work themselves out. All movies, no matter whether they open on friday, tuesday, thursday or wednesday, all have always had the same standard applied to them so that none have an unfair advantage. Maybe that's not what Legolas was referring to, if not, please clarify. But as it stands now, 71 million for 5 days is not entirely a bomb. But that would still mean 15 million per day. (the magic number that it opened with, and the number that talkbackers assured me was only that low because of the wednesday opening) These new numbers simply reinforce the conclusion that when taken into consideration with the agressive advertising camptaign, the record number of screens this opened on, the fact that this is a franchise movie, this may have come in on the low end of expectations. Someone mentioned Pirates of the Carribean, though, which is a great model for predicting this movie. It was also a summer opener, a PG-13 movie, had a similar budget and marketing cost. It also opened at 40 million, and went on to gross 300 million domestic, 350 overseas. But there's one important difference. Pirates faced little competition after it opened on July 9. Hulk had already opened weeks earlier and was winding down, X2 over a month before that. All the big movies opened earlier. Batman Begins faces some stiff competition in War of the Worlds and Fantastic Four in what is already season that's hitting movies pretty hard financially. I know everyone at AICN has already decided that Fantastic Four will flop, and in a just world maybe it would. However, I am seeing alot of people posting talking about seeing kids already 'playing Fantastic Four' shouting 'Flame On!' and 'It's Clobberin' time!'. It's hard to interest kids in this grimy, visually uninteresting, and very thematically adult Batman. But on the other hand a silly, fun, brightly colored movie with people who can catch on fire, become stone, turn invisible, and I don't think it's going to be too hard keeping kids away from this one. You see, Pirates of the Carribean also did well because it was viewed as a family movie. Batman Begins isn't. Fantastic Four is. I guess time will tell.
Kate Homes cost this movie probably 10 million this weekend with by Retrace	Jun 19th, 2005 04:12:36 PM
This movie is awesome but people I know won't go see it because they are sick of the whole Tommy Cruise and Kate Holmes show. Too bad....this is the best movie of the year so far. Even with Katie "I talk out of the side of my mouth" Holmes.
Kate Holmes. by adambalm	Jun 19th, 2005 05:31:34 PM
You know, I just got back from seeing this thing, and I honestly don't see what the deal is. She was believable in the part. Did she save the movie, no. Did she derail it, no. I, too, wish I could go see a movie without hearing everyone and their retarded sister talking about 'Tom and Katie'.
I'll probably take alot of heat for this but.... by mwhelan67	Jun 19th, 2005 05:57:34 PM
I thought katie holmes did just fine, and feel that most are complaining simply b/c of a bias against her reputation as a "WB starlet'.
Projekt Greenlichgt Austria! by Dr Uwe Boll	Jun 19th, 2005 08:22:19 PM
Please to be posting more details about perverted Austrian film industry. I am liking very much. What other corruptions are filthy Austrians up to today? Hoot!!!

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AICN-Downunder: Batman Begins; Hot Stuff; Blacktown; Flick; Clara; Elise; LittleFish; TheCrop; Mr & Ms Smith; Vengeance

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