Ain't It Cool News: The best in movie, TV, DVD, and comic book news.

Bob Shaye and Michael Lynne say good-bye to New Line Cinema

Oh and I was looking forward to more crap movies being spat out by jingle_balls	Feb 28th, 2008 06:12:33 PM
Shaye did bring us LOTR but he also brought us Surbaban Commando and the Lost in Space remake
Yayyyyyyy. by JohnnyThanatos	Feb 28th, 2008 06:12:35 PM
Not first. Grrr.
It did seem really cheap by Stevie Grant	Feb 28th, 2008 06:13:37 PM
of them to cut Jackson out of less than a percent of the profit he delivered
MY GOD I'M FIRST! (for the 1st time in 10 years of reading AICN) by bennozoid1	Feb 28th, 2008 06:14:11 PM
I can now die a happy man....... So what now for THE LORD OF THE RINGS? Did it ever come out? i try and stay up to date, but they didn't have dvds in solitary......god it's good to be out, smell the air, stalk victims again like old times........
ok so i wasnt first..... by bennozoid1	Feb 28th, 2008 06:15:01 PM
damn. a bit o' hunt n' slash oughta cheer me up......
New Line by The Real MiraJeff	Feb 28th, 2008 06:17:35 PM
They get a lot of credit for franchises like LOTR, TMNT and Nightmare on Elm St but don't forget, these guys also did Boogie Nights, Magnolia and Seven. Not too shabby. It's a shame they're leaving but Golden Compass really was that bad...
Golden Compass tanked? by waggy	Feb 28th, 2008 06:21:04 PM
$330 million worldwide box office doesn't seem too shabby to me. My guess is that WB will be squeezing money from the sequels of that one for quite some time (though likely with reined-in budgets).
You would think they would have mentioned "Nightmare"... by Mr. Profit	Feb 28th, 2008 06:26:30 PM
After all, the success and money Freddy Kreuger made them built the studio. Without Freddy there wouldn't be the LOTR that we know and love today. The press release should have mentioned the series. Fuck Hairspray. The original is the real deal. I'll never watch Travolta as a BBW dancing and singing.
You would think they would have mentioned "Nightmare"... by Mr. Profit	Feb 28th, 2008 06:26:33 PM
After all, the success and money Freddy Kreuger made them built the studio. Without Freddy there wouldn't be the LOTR that we know and love today. The press release should have mentioned the series. Fuck Hairspray. The original is the real deal. I'll never watch Travolta as a BBW dancing and singing.
Much better than Fox Searchlight by jingle_balls	Feb 28th, 2008 06:28:38 PM
Seven, Blow, American History X, Glengarry Glenn Ross. Not exactly typical HOllywood b.s. in any sense but were great examples of a Studio giving a good idea a chance in this cliche Hollywood environment. However correct me if I am wrong but didnt the executives want to change the ending of Seven so that there was no head-in-a-box??
Double Post/Golden Compass by Mr. Profit	Feb 28th, 2008 06:29:19 PM
Dont know how my post went crazy like that. Anyhow I heard that The Golden Compass' foreign distribution was sold to another distributor in order to finance the film. Dunno how true that is. But if its true that is a huge blunder.
jingle balls by The Real MiraJeff	Feb 28th, 2008 06:37:35 PM
good call... i forgot about Lost in Space. That's easily one of the worst movies I've ever seen. A quick review of the company's history in the 90's. Great: American History X, Glengarry Glen Ross, A History of Violence, Little Children, Dark City, Dumb and Dumber Good: Angus, the Austin Powers and Blade movies (3rd ones not included), Needful Things, Basketball Diaries, Detroit Rock City, Boiler Room, About Schmidt, Pleasantville, Final Destination, Loaded Weapon 1, Wedding Singer, Blow, I Am Sam, John Q, Elf, Tenacious D, Wedding Crashers, The Notebook Bad-Awful-Inexcusable: Dungeons and Dragons (sorry Massa), Sugar and Spice, Little Nicky, Lost Souls, Spawn, BAPS, Michael, Crash (96 of course), Last Man Standing, Domino, Island of Dr. Moreau, Surf Ninjas, Astronaut's Wife, 15 Minutes, Mr. Deeds, Son of the Mask, Monster-in-Law, The Man, Mr. Nanny, Snakes on a Motherfucking Plane, Shoot 'Em Up, The Number 23 A spotty track record but the good more than made up for the bad, I think. Can't hit a home run at every at bat, right?
About Golden Compass by Gungan Slayer	Feb 28th, 2008 06:38:14 PM
People have been shitting on Golden Compass for months now and it's starting to get old. Was the movie as awesome as it could have been (like the books)? No. Did it suck complete ass? Hell no, it didn't. The film did great on a world wide level, and I have no doubt in my mind that it will sell well on DVD both here in the US and elsewhere. Problem is, NL sold off most of its international distribution rights to cover the film's budget (still don't know why it cost so much). On top of that, NL did screw around with the film a bit, forcing (IMO) very important changes from the book. Either way, Compass was one of many NL films from the past few years that have underperformed. I think that, in conjunction with the complete mismangement and retarded choices conering LOTR payoffs and such, is what has brought this about. and fuck jj abrams.
list by The Real MiraJeff	Feb 28th, 2008 06:39:57 PM
obviously wasn't all 90's, but you get the point
CreepyThinMan by TheRealMoriarty	Feb 28th, 2008 06:41:20 PM
You and about 4000 other people. Trust me... New Line's fate was not your news. In fact, your declarations that it's "dead" are actually wrong. It's just never going to be the New Line it was again. There's still a New Line. Calm down before you're escorted off the premises again.
The Last Mimzy Show by bswise	Feb 28th, 2008 06:42:30 PM
Mr. Profit, it was actually Bob Shaye at Newline who produced the original Hairspray as well as Polyester, two essential 1980's comedies that brought John Waters into the mainstream. Of course, the're also My Demon Lover.
Gungan by The Real MiraJeff	Feb 28th, 2008 06:44:12 PM
I beg to differ on Compass. Listen, the Oscar win for Best Visual Effects definitely surprised me but I'll admit that the polar bear fight was better than anything in Transformers. That said, the rest of Golden Compass was tedious. It had zero soul. It felt like an empty, 200 million dollar exercise in poor fantasy adaptation. The movie had no heart and Kidman/Craig/Eva Green were in the film for maybe a half-hour combined. I was very excited to see it and thought the trailers looked great but that movie was a true disappointment in every sense of the word. Sure it made money internationally but studios don't make movies for international auds. Golden Compass didn't work here and I'd be very surprised if they went through with a sequel. I think the studio really did a number on Paul Weitz's cut, but who knows? If they can sell lunchboxes all over the world, maybe they'll keep pumping them out on a slightly smaller scale.
KARMA / JUSTICE / OWN GOAL / etc by Mullah Omar	Feb 28th, 2008 06:52:04 PM
Shaye did this to himself. Whatever good he did (and I don't doubt that there was much of it), his failure to fairly manage the finances for the mega-successful LOTR spelled his doom. The only surprise to me is that Shaye lasted this long. Shaye should have simply opened the books up to an independent audit and paid everyone what they were due. It's not the fact that he cheated everyone that lost him his job, it's that he dug his heels in and tried to cover it up.
Ice Bear Fight/MiraJeff by Gungan Slayer	Feb 28th, 2008 06:55:11 PM
I agree that the Ice Bear fight was pretty badass, and I really did enjoy the production design and what not of the film, but I just can't understand how they spent so much money on this film---it's budget was almost if not more than the entire 3 LOTR films (I understand filming back-to-back cuts costs, but still). To me, that budget really doesn't come through all the way. I get what you're saying about it's soul and whatnot, and I can agree with that. I just don't think it sucked complete ass---it's a decent movie to spend an afternoon watching IMO
Needful Things was NOT GOOD by chrth	Feb 28th, 2008 06:55:25 PM
It was atrocious. The book is (imo) one of King's best (granted, a shaky ending, but still) and they totally shat over it. Oooh, Ed Harris is going to talk the rioters down, that'll be exciting. Asses.
END OF AN ERA by THE KNIGHT	Feb 28th, 2008 06:55:37 PM
I wonder how PJ feels about this?
does this change anything? by Bouncy X	Feb 28th, 2008 06:56:46 PM
they're gonna keep their name and everything so...instead of saying "a time warner company" at the bottom of their logo, it'll say "warner bros." ?
- by proper	Feb 28th, 2008 06:59:49 PM
Respectfully,I must defend Island of Dr. Moreau,I enjoyed that film (sorry ;>).David Thewlis' "look at him" speech was a particular high point of that film for me.It's on youtube if anybody is interested.
NL and Warner Bros are both owned by TimeWarner by Gungan Slayer	Feb 28th, 2008 07:00:07 PM

GOLDEN COMPASS=death of New Line by thegreatwhatzit	Feb 28th, 2008 07:00:52 PM
No sequels are in development; this flick laid an ostrich egg at the U.S. boxoffice. One catalyst was the author of the books; he shot off his big mouth (insisting that the franchise would expand atheistic propaganda) and poisoned the domestic revenue. Please, no more debate regarding secular/theological bullshit, it's just plain ands simple; the author's inflated ego really smoked this turkey (chruches discouraged attendance). And by the way, it was booooooring! In regard to SEVEN: did the brass really insist on a happy ending? No head in the box? SERIOUSLY??!!??? Does anyone know the scenario of the proposed re-shoot? I mean, was Paltrow supposed to survive? The released ending disturbed the hell out of me. Depressing climax--but a brave one.
LOTR Mismangement by Gungan Slayer	Feb 28th, 2008 07:03:59 PM
I think, along with the string of recent underperforming films, is what really sunk the ship. It's hard to believe that New Line was so stupid, ignorant, stuck up, or whatever, to neglect paying up its dues when the time came. Just boggles the mind really. How the hell can you run a studio like that?
there is not going to be a sequel to golden compass by slappy jones	Feb 28th, 2008 07:08:16 PM
there is now ay at all. they spent over 200 million on it and it has made what 330 mil...and most of that the studio aint getting a piece of. it was a financial disaster and there is now way warners are going to greenlight a sequel to the film that effectively broke the camels back.
Dumb and Dumber = great? by Logo Lou	Feb 28th, 2008 07:09:54 PM
Well, I guess I can can pretty much ignore anything MiraJeff says from now on.
that goes for superman returns as well by slappy jones	Feb 28th, 2008 07:10:34 PM
totallyoff topic but it cracks me up that people still talk about singers superman "franchise" when it si clearly obvious to anyone with half a brain that we are not going to be seeing another superman film anytime soon. they will reboot him off the bakcof the justice league but routh and singer are donw.
New Line stupidly sold off The Golden Compass's foreign rights by Wayne6000	Feb 28th, 2008 07:11:36 PM
Yes The Golden Compass did and has done much better business overseas than in North America, but what would've greatly pissed Warner Bros off, is that New Line stupidly sold off the film's foreign rights when they should've retained them. They certainly should never have done the piece of shit Rush Hour 3 film, for what it cost to make.
Golden Compass is absolutely huge overseas... by moviemenace	Feb 28th, 2008 07:12:16 PM
260 million! Is that a loss for New Line? Are they really not gonna capitalize on that fat bank? Chop the sequels budget in half. I still see a very profitable series there.
What'll be the status of the new Mortal Kombat film? by BDuncan	Feb 28th, 2008 07:17:34 PM
Where a new Mortal Kombat film seemed to be in continual development hell with New Line, under Warner Bros it could be fast tracked, although IMDB has it as coming out in 2 years time.
Definitely a 1-2-3 punch combination. by Mr. Nice Gaius	Feb 28th, 2008 07:19:15 PM
There were just too many things going wrong at New Line for those guys to even appear like they were in control. After Jackson's lawsuit (with the ensuing fallout-bad press with Shaye), the LAST MIMZY/GOLDEN COMPASS debacles, and the recent filing by the Tolkien Estate, it was clear that something was rotten in Denmark. I'll always be thankful that they took a chance on Jackson and LOTR. But it's time to ring in some changes.
First? Oh My God! I'm First! by Scorecard	Feb 28th, 2008 07:21:22 PM
Damn... Guess not...
The Creepy Thin Man by Mr. Nice Gaius	Feb 28th, 2008 07:22:24 PM
I think Moriarty was probably referring to about 4,000 emails. Not posts.
That's how lame playing The First Game is... by Scorecard	Feb 28th, 2008 07:22:34 PM
Aren't you guys over doing that yet?
Tired of dbl posts, cut-off subjects? Get the AICN Spaz Filter! by BrandLoyalist	Feb 28th, 2008 07:22:51 PM
Firefox users: don't let AICN's treacherous and unforgiving Talkback form reduce your reputation from respected, thoughtful contributor to spastic, incompetent idiot in a single post, like happened to Mr. Profit up there: install the Greasemonkey extension from mozilla.com & get the new "AICN Spaz Filter" from userscripts.org today! http://tinyurl.com/2ml3rs Sets correct subject field maxlength (64) / Makes return in subject field advance to body instead of posting / Automatically cancels blank posts / Adds a safety beside the post button that helps prevent double/accidental posts. I'm using it now, and I've never been so confident while posting. I no longer fear using apostrophies in subjects - and I'll never submit a blank post again. Plus, my posts are bound to become a lot more sensible and interesting (well, no promises there actually). PS Mr. Profit: ;)
Good Riddance by pipergates	Feb 28th, 2008 07:25:58 PM
to that foolish crook
now get making the Hobbit by pipergates	Feb 28th, 2008 07:28:59 PM
McKellen is not getting any younger
I Actually... by Rebeck2	Feb 28th, 2008 07:29:21 PM
Worked for Bob Shaye and New Line a while back. My opinion was he was kind of an idiot. Half the time he seemed spaced-out in the middle of a conversation and he didn't seem to have a firm grasp on the day to day stuff. But then New Line itself was dysfunctional. Why do you think every creative talent works there exactly ONCE? They're terrible with talent, have no respect for them, and the "spat" with Peter Jackson, by far their biggest earner and someone they should be genuflecting to pretty much for the rest of their natural born lives is complete proof of this fact. If they don't appreciate HIM - and Shaye's public comments were beyond stupid - then what writer or director DO they value? Whoever takes over is going to have to make up for a lot of bad history.
MiraJeff's list by theyetiiswaiting	Feb 28th, 2008 07:32:11 PM
I really disgree with you about Crash being a bad film. I think it's one of the richest and most rewarding films Cronenberg has ever made.
exactly theyetiiswaiting and shame on you MiraJeff! by FraDolcino	Feb 28th, 2008 07:40:54 PM
Crash (96) while far from being perfect or Cronenberg's best, took some real balls to pull off and fucked with people so much they designed a new category at Cannes! Of course, some people are appeased by bullshit movie-of-the-week pseudo-profound nonsense by weasly scientologists who lack the decency to come up with an original title. Long Live the New Flesh!
No more crap VS Predator movies? by skywalkerfamily	Feb 28th, 2008 07:45:56 PM
NOOO!
Golden Compass did not Tank by MattmanReturns	Feb 28th, 2008 07:50:35 PM
As someone else pointed out, it made $350 million worldwide. It was nearly killed by insecure Christians in the States. And while it wasn't GREAT, It's not "that bad" as MiraJeff claims. It had beautiful production values, good acting, and a serviceable script. Though not perfect, it's quite a stretch to call it bad.
Michael DeLuca by Rev. Slappy	Feb 28th, 2008 07:51:43 PM
Didn't he greenlight LOTR while he was still running the studio? And, in point of fact, the biggest cash cow New Line had wasn't something Shaye even developed?
LOADED WEAPON 1!?? by MattmanReturns	Feb 28th, 2008 07:54:05 PM
Goddamn, MiraJeff. So Golden Compass is bad, but Loaded Weapon 1 is good?
Shaye is a fucking asshole by s00p3rm4n	Feb 28th, 2008 07:54:12 PM
And I'm glad he was fired. Good luck to him, because not many people are gonna wanna touch that bastard again. Shitting on writers is expected - shitting on writers and their directors and crews is ludicrous, and NEVER goes unnoticed.
There seems to be a lot of shakeups since... by Yeti	Feb 28th, 2008 07:56:00 PM
the writers strike ended. Coincidence or conspiracy?
Golden Compass Did Well Globally by kevinwillis.net	Feb 28th, 2008 07:57:33 PM
Proving either that Europeans like anything Yanks don't, or they just like tedious, pretentious movies that, for all the sound and fury, don't even have the courage of their convictions (not to mention, just aren't that good). Still, it can't be the financials on Golden Compass. International Box Office suggest that there is a franchise there, albeit one with a managed budget. But if they could make each subsequent film for $70 - $90 million, the rest would be pure profit. Although given Shaye's accounting practices, who knows where that profit would magically disappear to. Aye, there's the rub.
whatever by ClockWorker	Feb 28th, 2008 07:57:58 PM
I'm sure Shaye will deliver a hit just to spite everyone, getting kicked off of his throne will be good for him.
I really liked the Golden Compass by CherryValance	Feb 28th, 2008 07:59:32 PM
Oh well.
What's this mean for the Hobbit? by kevinwillis.net	Feb 28th, 2008 08:02:51 PM
Hate to be an obsessive fanboy, but that's the only thing I care about with this news. Where's the Hobbit films?
Hollywood Elsewhere by Rev. Slappy	Feb 28th, 2008 08:03:27 PM
You guys should go on there and read some of the idiocy MiraJeff posts on that site.
(SAID IN INDY'S VOICE): NICE TRY BOB SHAYE by BringingSexyBack	Feb 28th, 2008 08:03:32 PM
But The Golden Compass was one of the most boring movies I ever fell asleep to. And what the hell happened to Daniel Craig's character? Muhfucka just fell out of the movie midway.
Weitz on Status of Golden Compass. by jingle_balls	Feb 28th, 2008 08:10:08 PM
Weitz is doing press here in Japan and says that if they manage to make some money here then the sequels are a go-go. However this may change because of today. Lay off Loaded Weapon, I personally rate it right up there with Airplane in terms of spoof comedy.
Karma BoB by hallmitchell	Feb 28th, 2008 08:11:24 PM
You ripped off Peter Jackson. How dare you! How dare you rip off an icon. New Line gave us some great films yet it doesn't excuse the way you " handled the talent ". Hopefully the next scalp will be the Weinsteins.
NEW LINE ANNOUNCES BRINGINGSEXYBACK TO REPLACE BOB SHAYE!!!! by BringingSexyBack	Feb 28th, 2008 08:12:21 PM
Variety: "New CEO of New Line, Bringingsexyback, just acquired the rights to JLA from the parent company and will hand the project over to Peter Jackson to direct. The film is to be completely recast with adults. "I have complete faith in Peter to take over this very important franchise," Mr. BSB said, "As a member of AICN I am aware how important JLA is to the fans, and we owe them and all the comic book writers and artists who have nurtured these characters to give it the finest treatment possible, no expense spared. This is for the fans. And if Ringy don't like it he can lick my balls." "
The Real Mira Jeff... by expert_40	Feb 28th, 2008 08:13:01 PM
... you almost sound surprised that a movie about embracing atheism lacks silly little things like SOUL and HEART. Seems to me, when the author and his material go out of their way to deny God, those things like SOUL and HEART would quickly follow.
Always appreciate Rings but other than that by messi	Feb 28th, 2008 08:20:55 PM
he was the typical Film CEO who let his ego fuck up his career. Good luck working in film again.
by PedroM	Feb 28th, 2008 08:21:00 PM
Goodbye and thanks for the fish
The Sex and the City movie should be a hit for New Line by BDuncan	Feb 28th, 2008 08:43:21 PM
The Sex & the City film New Line funded, may not be of much interest to this site's mostly male readerhsip, but it'll do good very good business from tapping the women's market and should be profitable, despite it costing $US 65 mill.
New Line died when DeLuca was fired. by MaxTheSilent	Feb 28th, 2008 08:46:31 PM
The canned him for TOWN AND COUTNRY and LITTLE NICKY.
Shoot 'Em Up most definitely doesn't belong by Burgundy82	Feb 28th, 2008 09:16:58 PM
In the "Inexcusable" section. I'll be joining that ignore MiraJeff club now.
Creepy Thin Man is a piece of fucking dickcheese. by Burgundy82	Feb 28th, 2008 09:20:56 PM
Um, pretty much everybody here submits news items, bud. There's always a delay for it to get posted, which means not every fucking scoop is fucking yours. Oh, and I'm sure your method of spewing retard-speak at Mori will get you plenty of shout outs from now on. Cunt.
At Quint, I mean by Burgundy82	Feb 28th, 2008 09:21:20 PM
You get the fucking picture.
PedroM by Vergil	Feb 28th, 2008 09:26:00 PM
It's "SO LONG and thanks for all the fish." Thought you'd like to know.
I haven't seen The Golden Compass yet... by ThornBalls	Feb 28th, 2008 09:38:07 PM
but now I'm looking forward to it because I love movies that piss off dorks.
New Crap Cinema by skywalkerfamily	Feb 28th, 2008 09:38:38 PM
They were lucky to get LOTR.
Replacement for Shaye is a no brainer. by spidermanfreak20	Feb 28th, 2008 09:44:41 PM
This is a no brainer. Peter Jackson Fran Walsh and Guillermo Del Toro to run New Line Cinema. Please oh please.
Vergil by PedroM	Feb 28th, 2008 10:00:40 PM
Yeah, as i as typing it i knew something was wrong been a long time since i read the books!
TMNT by Gungan Slayer	Feb 28th, 2008 10:05:00 PM
In case people forgot, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles set a (then) pretty impressive BO record for an indepently funded movie. Obviously, it's sequels were less than stellar, and decreased BO-wise as the films progressed...but come on...they're freaking NINJA TURTLES!
MiraJeff is fucking INSANE. by ScreaminBrains	Feb 28th, 2008 10:38:35 PM
I'll admit Transformers isn't PERFECT but to say the polar bear fight in Compass was better than ANYTHING IN THE MOVIE?? Did you see that car/truck/helicopter just turn into a GIANT FUCKING ROBOT? You must have missed that part because that was hands fucking down some of the best looking FX I've seen in years.
Fat Fucking Mamma's Daycare by the Dozen: Part 3!!! by YotzVonFrelnik	Feb 28th, 2008 10:39:24 PM
The Golden Compass (which I agree could've been better, but I still really enjoyed) supposedly doesn't deserve a sequel, but movies with themes like the mash-up above can get several parts knocked out, as well as similarly themed clones. What's our collective sense of taste coming to?
Risking losing the rights from the Tolkien estate... by AntoniusBloc	Feb 28th, 2008 10:47:06 PM
that is inexcusable. That's money in the bank. In addition to the Hobbit, there is so much more movie material from the mind of Professor Tolkien. But what gave them success they could not learn from. They obviously had no appreciation for the meaning and depth behind LOTR thinking a film with the opposite, shallow message would, probably in their minds, be pretty much the same thing. An earlier post was right, they got lucky because they obviously didn't recongize how special Tolkien's story is.
Don't forget their crowning achievement by glodene	Feb 28th, 2008 11:27:54 PM
The Long Kiss Goodnight. Charli Baltimore was the shiz-nit.
Warner Brothers is the Titanic. by Uncapie	Feb 28th, 2008 11:40:04 PM
Pack your bags. They only had two money makers last year, "Potter" and "Legend."If they didn't have "Two and A Half Men" in their TV roster, they'd be screwed. Creativity is dead at that studio and its run by bean counters. Plus, they're not nice people to work for. Its like you're pushing a wheelbarrow in "Schindler's List" waiting for Rafe Finnes in the water tower to pick you off.
WAIT WAIT WAIT WAIT WAIT! by Series7	Feb 28th, 2008 11:47:05 PM
SOOOOOO where does this put us on the Last Mimzy Two front? Please TELL me Harry that they are still going to make this sequel, the ending was SUCH a cliffhanger I need to know what happens to Dwight? Does he convince Angela to come back? Will Julia find out what wrong with her? Will the Rabbit Teddy Bear ever kill Tedd Rupskin and eat his brain in a power to become the most knowledgeable stuffed thing on the planet! I don't care even if they get an Oscar caliber director such as Chris Weitz to use special effects perfected by Coke Cola.
PRIDE AND GLORY by Vincenzo1975	Feb 28th, 2008 11:55:27 PM
DOES THIS MEAN PRIDE AND GLORY WILL FINALLY GET A RELEASE DATE ANYONE???????????????????????? ???
I didn't see the Golden Compass. by TattooedBillionaire	Feb 29th, 2008 12:03:08 AM
Too bad for New Line.
The Real MiraJeff by Series7	Feb 29th, 2008 12:06:55 AM
You forgot probably one of New Lines break out films. Friday. But then again you are a racist, you said that Spawn was bad awful? Why's that? Because it was a success at the Box Office? Because the creator of the series had a big part in making the movie come to life, some of the special effects were and still are amazing? OR WAS it because the main character was Black. You also did not like Snakes on a Plane nor BAPS (but I can't blame you for that one.....
The golden compass was not huge in Europe.. by CeejayNightwing	Feb 29th, 2008 12:07:35 AM
It had minor success for such a large budget movie but its returns were minor in comparison to what films of its caliber are expected to make to cover all their additional huge advertising budgets. TGC was expected to be pulling in the kind of box office the Harry Potter and LOTR movies made since it originates from the same stable of popular young persons book-to-screen. They even marketed the film on the back of LOTR success to snare the interests of the moviegoers who invested in PJ's movie series. Each LOTR movie consistently made over $500 million in international box office recipts, ROTK made over $700 million! And each LOTR Film made over $300 million domestically, even the HP films perform near enough the same mark of near-abouts $300 domestically and $500 mill+ internationally to have totals of $800 million + at the end of ther cinematic run. The Golden Compas cost twice as much as these movies to make and just as much to advertise yet only made $69 million domestically and a poor $260 million internationally! That's less than a quarter of its expected domstic goss and half of its expected international box office! This is literally one of the most expensive flops for a large budget movie and it died because of the extensive changes from book to film as well as the bad press about the religious implications. A second movie is almost a complete NO-NO! But the situation could possibly be salvaged with a decent directors cut on DVD and a rebrand for the international market with the proper name of the film of "Northern Lights" (it's not a fucking compass, it's an Alethiometer! Hary Potter 's first film was marketed under a different name for the US market (Sorcerer's Stone) and the correct name for the international market (Philosopher's Stone)) A DVD directors cut if substantially better than the theatrical version could muster up some interests and expectation for a second movie enough for WB to invest in and possibly pull this series out of the mud it landed in. And for future reference, don;t make these fantasy epics with big name stars, just get competent actors and they will turn into stars and celebrities later! The biggest name in LOTR was Chrisptpher Lee and Harry Potters had an aging Richard Harris and Alan Rickman as its biggest name on the billboard! They still managed to get the films made well and cheaper too and now the world knows Orlando Bloom, Viggo Mortensen, Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson!
Also by Series7	Feb 29th, 2008 12:13:34 AM
The violence and gore in History of Violence < Crash. The popularity on this site of History and The Russian mob TV show pilot Eastern Promises shows that people love mundane. Its pretty obvious Cronsburg jump the shark with that movie about the Viagra knock off, and turned from a revolutionary filmmaker into just a blandish, "eh Critics should like this" director.
The Real MiraJeff.. by CeejayNightwing	Feb 29th, 2008 12:30:40 AM
erm.. are you talking about the (1997) live action Spawn film? Because that was not a success at all, it flopped massively! It cost over $40 mill to make and just about broke even in the US and underperformed massively internationally to take in only another $32 million bucks! That kind of Box office in 1997 was enough to sweep that flick under the carpet and never speak its name again in the studio. It doesn't matter if the main character was Black, i'm black and i wish there were more black men and women in comics all around; superhero or not, but Spawn was a crap comic to start and a crap film as a result. If they want to make a good film from a decent comic with a Black main hero, then they should try the Marvel Knights Black Panther, War Machine, The Marvel MAX Luke Cage series or Battalion from the original StormWatch.
Absorbing the competition... by damagedinc	Feb 29th, 2008 12:36:02 AM
...is ultimately unhealthy. Having a little competition is good, it makes everyone more creative and careful knowing that some other company can do it better. New Line might be keeping its identity, but at the end of the day it seems that Warner just has them on a longer leash.
Iron Man! by Toonol	Feb 29th, 2008 01:16:45 AM
Hey! They didn't credit me for that iron man trailer scoop I sent in four minutes ago! Buncha thieves... taking my story and running with it...
Bob Shaye deserves credit by Vern	Feb 29th, 2008 01:25:35 AM
for his performance as Bob Shaye in WES CRAVEN'S NEW NIGHTMARE. I can't remember if he died though. I wonder if this means less parts for his wife Lynn? She's a good character actor who should do fine on her own, but she was in a ton of New Line movies (including the original NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET).
THANK YOU, CREEPY THIN MAN by thegreatwhatzit	Feb 29th, 2008 01:30:48 AM
SEVEN flawlessly blends Grand Guignol with a brilliant script (completely unlike Eli Roth's crapfests). It's the ONLY modern horror film that has disturbed me (and that ending just sucker-punched me). It's a nightmare...and, yes, a masterpiece.
CeejayNightwing by Series7	Feb 29th, 2008 01:45:06 AM
Yeah your right it only made 54,969,564 in the US. I somehow got it confused with Inspector Gadget which was a mild success of 97,360,069. DON'T ask me how I got them confused. I just remember Spawn and Air Force One came out on the same day, as did Inspector Gadget and The Haunting. Two series I very much so enjoyed, both of which directed by directors who have nothing else to there name of merit. And they went up against big compition, Gadget won though. How I got these two confused is besides the point, lets just say beer helped with that breakdown. Anyways though say what you want about the A.Z. Dippé masterpiece, but to come in here and say that the Spawn comic was crap to begin with? But yet you want a War Machine movie. I'm sorry I do enjoy War Machine, but even I watched lost tonight and saw that War Machine is a huge, if not the biggest rip off of a fellow comic in Marvel history. He even got his start in a comic that inspired the upcoming Chaplin starring movie. The Spawn comic is by far the best serial comic to come out since the 90's. Also as of right now Micheal Jai could finally take Snipes position, seeing that he was in a hit movie this year and all the Bad star is known for now is sitting next to Spike Lee, fucking up his taxes and coming in third in best DTV actor. If only everyone involved with Toxy could have been so lucky.
I hope Bob by Series7	Feb 29th, 2008 01:51:11 AM
Is not married to Lin, if so that may explain for his firing. I am not sure how the George W. Bush, John McCain for 08 voting public feels about marrying your sister. Even though most people voting for Johnathan probably know someone who has. Thank god those people make up the voting population. Also Lin Shaye jumped the shark when she was on Dancing with the Filmmakers Last summer.
what about "FRiday the 13th"? by ryan74	Feb 29th, 2008 01:54:50 AM

and nightmare? by ryan74	Feb 29th, 2008 01:55:57 AM
why didn't mention Nightmare! assholes
Speaking of new Line by Series7	Feb 29th, 2008 02:03:26 AM
I am going to fall asleep watching the David Cronenberg like version of Invasion of the Body snatchers (with a hint of Mean Green Mother from Outer Space). Witch was remade by the WB last year and it tanked and wasn't good, just like every non Bond movie Sean Been.... I mean Daniel Craig movie has stared in or will star in (giant epics withstanding) from here on out. Maybe Shaye got Craig the contract to make only shitty movies outside of Bond for a sweet paycheck. Or maybe he got it for Kidman. Either way Oliver Hirschbiegel needs to get his ass to Hamburg and take Mikael Håfström back with him.
Shaye's moving to Switzerland... by alucardvsdracula	Feb 29th, 2008 02:23:12 AM
To get all that Rings loot out of his Swiss Bank Account. The filthy fucking thief.
This has been rumored for so long... by Zardoz	Feb 29th, 2008 03:36:07 AM
that when it actually happens it's anti-climactic, not to mention not news...
Mirajeff's list by Lost Jarv	Feb 29th, 2008 04:02:56 AM
John Q, Elf, needful things, and Final Destination are also fucking dreadful. Just so you know.
I don't understand by kwisatzhaderach	Feb 29th, 2008 04:10:03 AM
I'm still trying to figure out how Golden Compass beat Transformers to the VFX Oscar. Still, this is the Oscars, the ceremony that gave the Best Film Oscar to Oliver over 2001 A Space Odyssey. Go figure.
Golden Shitfest by Bono Luthor	Feb 29th, 2008 04:19:38 AM
They still have billboard posters up for it that I run past every day. That's how desperate it was to find an audience. Credit for getting LOTR going, but then fucking up the management of that is unforgivable. You cannot catch lightening like that twice and there was no way they were going to make a comparable franchise with that charmless shitfest. By the way, is it now officially a curse to have Nicole Kidman in your film? Serves her right for those perfume adverts. Oh and shame on Ewan Macgregor for taking the same shilling. Gggrrrrrrr.
please let us know by ryan74	Feb 29th, 2008 04:47:15 AM
what will happen to the new friday and nightmare franchise????????????????????? ?? and damn emmerich is still up there.
I'm with pipergates and kevinwillis... by morGoth	Feb 29th, 2008 04:52:19 AM
...now GET ON WITH THE HOBBIT!! Sorry Mr. Shaye, I'll be forever in your debt (figuratively) for greenlighting the three movie LotR but you diddled the pooch ever thereafter. Oh how the mighty have fallen...
This is what happens when you STEAL. by brokentusk	Feb 29th, 2008 05:32:33 AM
Let this be a lesson to all of you - when you owe someone money, pay up. I doubt that was the sole reason behind this, but it was inexcusable none-the-less. Good riddance.
This is where hubris and greed lead you. by BrandonGK	Feb 29th, 2008 05:55:58 AM
You got what was coming to you Shay.
Blade good? No, actually it's fucking great! by Stalkeye	Feb 29th, 2008 06:03:21 AM
Considering that it was the first real sucessful film based on a Marvel Comic.The pacing,action and Snipes' input more than made up for Marvel's past failures (IE Howard The Duck,Captain America and especially Roger Corman's Fantastic Four.)Stan Lee himself mentioned that due to Blade's success at the Box Office,help to greenlight other Marvel film based projects:X-Men, Spiderman et all. So yes Mira, Blade was great Blade 2 was "greater" but not as great as Uwe Boll beating his fists with your face.Buahahahaha!
The House that Freddy Built by Jack Burton	Feb 29th, 2008 07:07:04 AM
The story of New Line is actually pretty interesting. I remember reading about it years ago and how they built the studio up from the Nightmare on Elm Street series and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movies. It's too bad it all sailed out of control but they had gotten so big it's not like it was that surprising. As soon as they came under Time Warner's wing it was only a matter of time. Also, The Golden Compass didn't tank because of the atheist issue. It tanked because the trailers were terrible and no one could figure out what the movie was about that hadn't read the books. Also you all left "Frequency" off your list of notable New Line films. That movie was better than most of New Line's non LOTR output combined.
Spawn by Stalkeye	Feb 29th, 2008 10:44:04 AM
The first Comic movie that had me and my friends snoozing in the theater. Micheal Jai White has great potentual he could have made a great Blade besides Snipes and more convincing as Jim Rhodes than Terrance Howard.Shit while I'm at it how about him starring as T'challa=Black Panther? Nice guy in person, but was'nt happy that Sony chose Ice Cube over him for the XXX sequel. Can ya blame him?
creepythinman.com by ArcadianDS	Feb 29th, 2008 10:44:17 AM
If you're so crazy good at getting the cool news first, then get yourself a go daddy account and stop blubbering like an jilted chick.
VERN, LYNN IS HIS "SISTER!" by Uncapie	Feb 29th, 2008 01:45:18 PM
But, then again; this Hollywood...
When cheese goes bad by Lang The Cat	Feb 29th, 2008 06:57:09 PM
I am clearly not Mr. Shaye's biggest (or smallest) fan. I notice he produced two films I liked, LOTR and Frequency. But, if he were a good producer, wouldn't you see more good work? So if you look at his hit and miss tactics as a studio head, I really don't think he can be given credit for more than recognising passion in directors. Now that can be a really good talent, but Uwe Boll is passionate about the crap he makes. With luck, Bob will find Uwe and they both will make Food Fight: The Movie and Ms. Pacman Does E3. Perhaps Uwe will teach you some ethics Bob.
spawn by The Real MiraJeff	Mar 1st, 2008 01:02:38 AM
spawn was a horrible, horrible film, absolutely dreadful (great sdtk.) but nothing redeeming except maybe leguizamo's performance... how that makes me a racist, for hating spawn, i don't know. and cronenberg's crash? seriously? are you guys really trying to argue about that one? and one of you thinks it's a masterpiece? yikes... if that's a masterpiece, i don't think i ever wanna see a masterpiece again. that's what a masterpiece would look like if it was in a horrible, disfiguring car accident. john q was a sentimental movie of the week but made me tear up a little bit cuz denzel is still good in it. it tugged my 'heart' strings. needful things is fuckin cool, that cleaver fight? max von sydow and ed harris in a stephen king adaptation. come on now! what else are you guys bitching about now? i can't please everyone, rev. slappy.
on and for prosperity by The Real MiraJeff	Mar 1st, 2008 01:04:04 AM
transformers sucked. the whole thing was a giant blur of metal and eardrum-shattering sound. shia is the only thing that makes it halfway watchable. and yeah the action overall is way better than golden compass but those fucking bears were gnarly, I have to admit. that flying jaw... bad-ass!

Talkbacks

Bob Shaye and Michael Lynne say good-bye to New Line Cinema

User login

Quick Talkback

Talkbacks