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COPERNICUS responds to the "hype" controversey surrounding BWP and IRON GIANT.

Hey, I'm first!! by Crickers	Aug 3rd, 1999 11:35:05 AM
I too am just enthralled by how original films are becoming this summer. Haven't had the pleasure of seeing Iron Giant yet, but have caught BWP twice already and really am glad that it's becoming such a hit. It's nice to see some new directions films are heading in this summer--one overlooked film "Arlington Road" also chose to buck the trend in movies this year. But something did bother me. In this, Copernicus says that these original movies will become a trend. . .saying that "horror verite will become a trend." That's the last thing I'd like to see, though. Remember, John Carpenter's "Halloween" was an original idea and now we are begging Hollywood not to release anymore slasher pics. I'd hate to see the same thing happen with BWP. . .however, if their spirit or originality lives on, that will be a very exciting event indeed. :)
confused by the action figure comment by seuss2	Aug 3rd, 1999 11:43:58 AM
It seems strange that in a review that praises a movie for breaking out of the studio built mould of the Disney films that have dominated animated features for so long, that the reviewer can write, "I want that action figure". THAT is why we get those bloody formula films in the first place - they sell BLOODY ACTION FIGURES!!!! Even those who most proudly proclaim they have escaped the traps of shallow pop-culture prove themselves bound up in it also.
* * FEAR ATTRACTS THE FEARLESS * * by Darth Maui	Aug 3rd, 1999 11:50:32 AM
The Blair Witch Project is one of the best films of the decade? I'm not so sure about that one, but it'll definately make my top 10 of the year. The Iron Giant, however, IS amazing. This is one of those rare movies that only come along once every billion movies. I can't imagine another movie topping it off by the end of 1999. Well... that's all I have to say, bye :)
The Blair Witch Project's sucess should be taught in marketing c by spike lee	Aug 3rd, 1999 11:56:50 AM
The website and the special on Sci Fi are so well done they have the average filmgoer believing that it was all real. As for the Iron Giant on AICN, there is an article about how great the film is all the time (I have not seen the film, so I am not saying if it is good or bad). In Houston, the Blair which was on one screen the weekend of July 16th and there was a report in the news about people fighting over seats and bribing ticket counter clears just to get a seat. This kind of word of mouth gets people wanting to see a film. The Blair Which trailer and tv spots give away absolutely nothing and this makes the audience curious. If Warner Brothers is sturring up hype for Iron Giant on this site, its a bad move. Most of the posters on this site are in their late teens to late twentiesandprobably have no children old enough to take to the movies. If Harry wants to post praise for the Iron Giant, thats his decision because its his site.
pop culture by copernicus	Aug 3rd, 1999 11:59:21 AM
First off, I agree that imitations are never as satisfying as the original. But you can sure as hell bet that the studios will rip off Blair Witch. This movie cost about $25,000 to make and is taking in millions. By my math, a studio could make 40 Blair Witches for 1 million and if even one turned out well they could spend another few million to market it and there you have it - a moneymaking machine. Of course, it would cost a studio slightly more than $25,000 but you get the idea. On the plus side, this also shows that it is getting easier for independent filmmakers to get movies made. To the second poster, I never claimed to be above pop culture. I love it. I just don't like movies being made because there is a hole in the release schedule, or because of a merchandising opportunity. I want them to be made because of a great story. If that is the case, I'll get the action figures all day long.
Copernicus, dear boy, you've missed the point somewhat... In Tal by Alexandra DuPont	Aug 3rd, 1999 12:02:23 PM
Copernicus, I
Hype is right by Flairck	Aug 3rd, 1999 12:07:49 PM
After reading the near-unanimous raves about The Blair Witch Project here and elsewhere (but mainly here) I finally got the chance to part with my $8.50 last night. What a load of crap. An hour into it I'm looking at my watch wondering when something scary is going to happen. Instead it's a bunch of self-absorbed dorks arguing for 90 minutes. This was in a near full theater, and as the movie started the hype was so thick you could cut it with a knife (now that woulda been scary). People were shhhh-ing each other and practically bowing their heads to the power of the Blair Hype. But at the end, the comments were more like, "well, that really sucked". Just proves you can't believe everything you read, I guess. After the show, I rented "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" for a real scare. That one's not gory by modern slasher standards either, but full of the psychological terror I expected, but didn't get from BWP. Yeah, I'm still gonna see The Iron Giant, but definitely with watered down expectations after falling for the Blair Hype. - Flairck
Just wrong by Ragnar	Aug 3rd, 1999 12:48:30 PM
First off, describing BWP as a $25,000 film with a few million spent on marketing is just plain wrong. BWP project cost $40,000 to SHOOT. The transfer and advertising costs push this film to the $40 mil range. The "underdog" image of IG is also fabricated. While the "low budget" tag is often employed in this manner, the huge marketing budget belies the fact that the studio is entirely behind this clever film. Hollywood is famous for creative book-keeping and monetary deceit. The myth that BWP and IG are small films is in the same vein as the lie about El Mariachi. As for the 'controversy' about studios utilizing AICN as a tool, who cares? It's not like this is a church or anything? Studio meddling is part of the game. Getting huffy about PA's chiming in on Leathal Weapon IV is part of the charm and, frankly, there's nothing to be done about it. It's just the internet, man.
Hype by Rifferus	Aug 3rd, 1999 12:50:06 PM
HAving seen both films a while back, I have a different, if not necessarily unique (the number of bootlegged copies of both BWP and IG around being incredibly large) perspective on the hype machine....THe are spoilerish thing here, so if you're wanting to avoid those, move on... THe Ir on Giant, for my money, is one of the better animated movies to come along in a long time, not so much because it's a spectacle of wowing effects and slick animation, but becuase it has a story that feels solid, meaningful and compelling. Is it orginal?..No...basically it's the story you would get by combining ET and King Kong, but it is nevertheless WELL TOLD, becuase the writers and whatnot paid attention to the characters, the situation as a whole and most importantly, their own conscience..I work in the animated film industry (perhaps you've seen the Prince of Egypt?) and can tell you fist hand that more often than not, the stories are being "written" as production on the film moves forward, which in my eyes is the cause for the rather haphazard feeling the tales finally leave with you, because it wasn't constructed as a whole, but rather as a series of pieces meant to be strung together somehow. Rant all you want, this is how the industry works..Then along comes this gem of a film, Iron Giant, which was pretty much animated, storyboarded and produced AS WRITTEN, making the lives of both the production crews and the audiences so much easier. It works as a whole, each piece is in there for a reason, a minimum of second guessing, and a story, while, like I said not being terribly original as a story, is compelling, and something most of us will elave the theatre having give a damn about. This is the kind of movie that can happen when studio execs keep their hands off of artistic decisions and stick to the money side of things... As for Blair Witch, I personnaly think that what is, on the whole, remarkable about this film is the complete lack of all the things films have been stuffed with over the past decade or so ( special effects, star casts, background music, the whole shebang) and, yet, is still a neat film to watch and one that will get you thinking..My interest in this film was not so much the "terror" aspect, the creeping horror people have found in it, but rather the interesting study in the human condition under extreme stress. As things get progressively worse and worse thru the course of the film for our "heroes" the more interesting they become to watch. The horror aspect, to me, seems almsot secondary to this. It is, after all's said and done, a story about people, and not events..The event is a stressor that instigates the interaction, not the main thrust of the film. IS this film totally brilliant?..I can;t say that it is..It's certainly better than a lot of the stuff out there, but still has a childish feel to it, a little overacted in some areas for my tastes, but for all that, I's see it again Not to rip off Miller, but of course, this is just my opinion, I could be wrong ----------Rifferus
Yes and no by michelr	Aug 3rd, 1999 12:52:45 PM
I also felt cheated after seeing The Blair Witch Project. Or should I say The Bull Shit Project. The Sci-Fi channel special was pretty cool and got me excited about the flick. And I also kept hearing nothing but praise from this site about it. So I finally watched it Saturday night at Gurnee Mills after waiting in line for an hour. After it ended, I felt like I wanted to sue this site and all the movie critics for telling me that this was supposed to be the scariest movie since The Exorcist. After the end credits began, the audience groaned. Then I yelled out "Bullshit!" and most of the people in the theater laughed. Don't even compare this fucking movie to a classic like The Exorcist. However, then I watched Iron Giant the next day. After hearing this site giving nothing but positive reviews, I was skeptical. Then I watched it. I was floored! This was one of the best animated movies I have ever seen. The only other animated feature that impressed me this much was Fantasia. In this case, the movie lived up to the hype so I have to say "Great job." for bringing attention to it. I especially loved the subtle Cold War talk and the Iron Giant saying, "I am not a gun." This is a classic that deserves to do as well as Disney cartoons but won't because there's no fast food tie-ins or action figures. It tells you how fucked up the priorities are for making successful films.
Saw BWP last night. Wow! by xridley	Aug 3rd, 1999 12:52:57 PM
Saw BWP at a packed theatre in Framingham, Mass last night and it was awesome. I can't see why any of these nimrods out there can't "get it". Why don't you idiots just keep talking about Godzilla and Armageddon and how COOOL they are and leave the thinking to the BWP fans.
Hype by SegueZagnut	Aug 3rd, 1999 01:02:44 PM
What is 'Hype'? AICN is no different then the office water cooler. You have people who's opinion you trust even when you don't agree with them (Harry, Moriarty, Robogeek... etc) because you have heard from them enough times to make a personal judgment. And then there are those opinions you take with a grain of salt (Talkbacks). That's it. People who are angry at "falling for the hype" and blaming AICN are idiots. Film experience is yours and yours alone. That's not to say that AICN has no effect. Of course it does. BWP & Iron Giant will do better business because of the word of mouth generated here. But the difference here is honesty. Mystery Men comes out this weekend (and is a great movie) and MM gave AICN a lot of access to the set and marking aspects of the film. The honesty is that even though MM certainly would be the film with the most inside perks for AICN, Iron Giant and Sixth Sense are getting the front page treatment for the same competitive opening weekend. And MM has to be third or fourth. Why because whether it's true or not Harry thinks IG and SS are better films (Genre Classics even). AICN is not 'hype' it's word of mouth.
Not this argument again by Pilcrow	Aug 3rd, 1999 01:12:24 PM
Hey Framingham, I saw BWP in Dedham on Saturday. Guess what? I WASN"T SCARED. I guess that makes me an "idiot" or "heartless" as another friend called me. Well allow me to let you and all the other BWP defenders in on a little secret: I get it. I get it clearly. Cross Texas Chainsaw with Evil Dead and Deliverance and shoot the whole thing on a camcorder. All three of those films were done on low budgets and done better. I've got two major problems with this picture: first, Heather's "acting." She makes Tom Cruise in Eyes Wide Shut look like an Oscar shoo-in. The other actors are fine (I really liked Mike) but Heather is just awful, and since she has to carry the movie, that's a bad distraction. Second, the device of the handheld cameras. How many people do YOU know who reach for the camera when their scared witless in the middle of the woods? It's the most inorganic, unnatural damn thing imaginable, and this is a film that comes out and tells you NOT to suspend your disbelief. They fail on that count. Real people run away from the scary stuff and leave the cameras behind. That said, I will credit BWP with being one of the most imaginative films of the year. It doesn't tie up neatly, and you walk out with more questions than answers. More films should do this. But scary? I grew up in a woods that was host to an unsolved murder of a girl my own age. I wasn't scared then, and I wasn't scared by BWP.
Jezus H. Christie, Alexandra.... by omarthesnake	Aug 3rd, 1999 01:13:08 PM
Some of your suspicions may be founded, but the Love of God, drop the fucking part about the lack of typos in the positive feedback already!! All that a lack of typos in the positive reviews means is that the people who like it are smart enough to know how to spell. It's not evidence, and it never should be....the fact that some of the negative posts tells me that the people writing those are either dumb or lazy, and makes me far less likely to pay any attention to their opinions. If the occassional spelling error pops up in my posts, then I'm being lazy, and I should do better.
BLAIR WITCH SHITE!! by DAS BOOB	Aug 3rd, 1999 01:16:23 PM
Seeing Blair Witch is akin to going to the freakshow at your local fair and hearing the barker loudly advertising "THE INCREDIBLE GORILLA WOMAN TRANSFORMATION!!!" Sure you know it's bullshit, but you go in anyway. You see it, you walk out and wonder what the Hell possessed you to pay to see something so ridiculous? After seeing Blair Witch, I too pondered for days like many of the posters on AICN. However, my thoughts turned to "what's the big deal". It seems to be one of those movies you see for the sake of seeing, much like an amusement park darkride.For all it's hype,I liked the movie but felt that it was more of a horror take on Deliverence, without the anal rape. Or, more of a film made for people weened on "COPS" and "REAL WORLD" episodes. But,for all it's acclaim of being the next great indie-hope...alas you are wrong, as of today in USA TODAY it is reported that the film will give rise to a sequel. And I'm sure after the second one comes out the novelty, of Blair Witch will either be gone or overshadowed by the gazillion Blair Witch knock-offs shit out by the Major Studios and Indie Studios owned by the Major Studios.Innovative? Don't be surprised if you see actual big-time directors jump on the gravy train to hack out their own cinema-verite-like vehicles. This breath of fresh-air concept will soon stink like all the other crap formula flicks...and the best part? These home video jobs will have 5-10 million dollar production fees. You heard it here first. Enjoy the novelty of Blair Witch while you can, suckers! Oh, and wait to rent it,It'll be out on video by Halloween and save your money for Iron Giant instead.
oops, there I go makin' the typos... : ) by omarthesnake	Aug 3rd, 1999 01:19:48 PM
That SHOULD read "the fact that some of the negative posts are filled with spelling errors tells me that the people writing those are either dumb or lazy...." My bad.
Why was this story posted? by ahnuldfan	Aug 3rd, 1999 01:32:02 PM
What is the deal here? Why was it necessary for somebody outside of Harry or Moriarty to address this issue? By posting it, it's also Harry's word, no matter what since this is his site, and he (I assume) approves everything that goes up in the posting... not the feedback. He should have addressed this himself if he was bothered by it. If he wasn't bothered by it, why post Copernicus' spiel? In addition, in the Swing magazine article on the Harry, he admitted that he received cloaked hype from studios claiming he could catch it. I say that he most likely isn't as perfect as he wanted to suggest and that really well written stuff gets by as a scoop, which is no fault of Harry's. Oh, and feedback doesn't count. Anybody can post there, whether its a studio pimp or regular shlub. Harry shouldn't take shit for feedback postings either. Once again, what is the deal here?
MESA CAN'T SPELL, MESA MUST BE DUM! or .... by GrouchLord	Aug 3rd, 1999 01:57:51 PM
how i stopped waving my DICtionary in other people's faces. It never seems to fail, nitpickers spend their time ridiculing others, not giving original thoughts. Step away from the collective-! Also this the stinking HYPE is killing me on BWP, I haven't even seen the damn thing and I'm sick of it already. Iron Giant's muddy colors turns me off, but I'm still willing to try it. PS- The Iron Giant figures are out, just the robot with tiny human figures.
What is hype? by The Graduate	Aug 3rd, 1999 02:00:42 PM
Woah! I think we need to spend a moment here to define "hype." To me, movie hype has always begun with excessive studio advertising, merchandising tie-ins, etc. And then MAYBE hype extends to fan interest and news coverage. But to accuse THE IRON GIANT and particularly BLAIR WITCH PROJECT of being overly hyped seems a little absurd to me. Three months ago, who (other than readers of this site) had ever heard of BLAIR WITCH PROJECT? But you know what? People started talking about it. A couple of news people did stories on it. It got released, and millions of people saw it and loved it. How can you fault them for making something that's different which winds up becoming popular and recognized? Sure, you may not like it, but that doesn't mean it's purely successful because of a dishonest "hype" campaign. Same thing with THE IRON GIANT. It was made with a significantly smaller budget than many comparable animation projects, but a few lucky people (myself included) have had a chance to see it early and LOVED it. That's not "hype"; that's honest word of mouth for something we consider to be a good film. Why would you visit a site specializing in movie rumors and prescreening reviews unless you wanted to know what other people think? As far as the authenticity of the reviews: I believe (and I think most people agree) that Harry has a pretty good eye for what is studio produced and what is authentic, and he keeps the prescreening reviews 95% real. Most of those people raving about THE IRON GIANT actually saw it last weekend when Warner Brothers prescreened it nationwide. In the Talkbacks, sure the studio people slip in fake reviews! But the impact isn't nearly is big as it is in the articles. Phony reviews from studio insiders didn't save THE AVENGERS or GODZILLA or WILD WILD WEST. Know why? Because report after report came in panning them, and they were right. Believe the articles Harry posts, treat Talkback reviews skeptically.
My first rantings... by -=Baron=-	Aug 3rd, 1999 02:30:50 PM
Well, this is my first post of AICN (like you really care). Anyway, first things first. Darth Maul: Get the damn phrase right if you are gonna do it. It's fear attracts the FEARFUL not fearless. Secondly, I saw BWP on Saturday... honestly, I was quite bored for the first half of the movie. I know it was setting up the story, but the only scary part was the last 10 or so minutes (won't spoil it for those who haven't seen it). And finally, I'm looking forward to seeing IG, and was before ever coming to AICN. Auf wiedersehen!
The reviews are too good to be true. by Petey	Aug 3rd, 1999 02:31:18 PM
Since Harry and his friends love everything, it's hard to take him seriously when he gushes on about Iron Giant. I don't see 5 movies a day, only about 1 or 2 a month. I'm very unsure about a movie that's "as good as ET", when I hated ET.
Re: My "typos" remark... by Alexandra DuPont	Aug 3rd, 1999 02:52:32 PM
If
negativity by copernicus	Aug 3rd, 1999 03:05:06 PM
Why are so many people on the attack here? I was just trying to open a little discussion about new directions in movies. Anyway, just to clear up some of the issues on the table: First of all, I know studios try to plant stories on AICN. I'm sure some get through Harry's BS detector. And I don't believe a word I hear in talkbacks. I wasn't even talking about those, and neither was the article I was addressing. I was responding to this particular article because it was sloppily researched. It implied that many reviews on AICN were fake because they started off saying that they had seen a tape of the movie. The author of the article thought this was improbable because Artisan had a no tapes policy. If the author had done her research she would have seen that pirate copies were floating around everywhere and you could even download the entire movie over the internet! There were many many other errors. Most of the author's main points were discredited in the letter section of the site. Regarding the underdog nature of IG and BWP. This is well established. I have talked to people involved in both projects, and have done my research. IG has some TV advertising that isn't that great and that is about it in terms of support. When I mention the movie to your average person they just look at me with a blank stare because they've never heard of it. Ragnar, reread what I wrote about studios being able to make knock offs of BWP. Even if it cost $40,000 to shoot (which it didn't, according to direct quotes from the creative team), or even $100,000, studios could still make ten of them, then take the best one and transfer that one to film and advertise it. And why was this article written? First of all, because I wanted to talk a little about the characters of Iron Giant - a point that nearly everyone seems to have ignored except those that want to bash Blair Witch. Secondly, I wanted to say that these movies are being recommended by people because they tapped into something in certain people. If that didn't happen for you, hey that's cool, but don't suggest something sinister is up because you have a different opinion.
You guys are missing the point by gaek	Aug 3rd, 1999 03:16:12 PM
If you guys had a movie,,, you would be fools talking out your ass, if you say that you would not try to promote it yourself... NOW, these guys are frauds.... but in fact they are pulling off sheer genious. You think this is the first time this has happened, this shameless self promation.. shut up and smell the real world coffee... we are talking about MILLIONS of dollars and power... If you can't understand that , and the motivation to try some shady tricks to get it... then no one will ever get through to you..Go back to your naive little world. Besides..who cares.. you think it's a sham??? don't go see the movie... end of arguement.
BWP. Good, bad, and ugly! by BIG JIM SLADE	Aug 3rd, 1999 03:18:07 PM
Hey hey kids, just got back from BWP. Well it wasn't what I was expecting, but I tried my hardest to stay away from anything that would ruin it for me. Well, it was hardly scary, but had a lot of funny lines in it. It was a nice, original idea, but it just wasn't that good. It was only 84 minutes but it dragged on forever. It seemed like the same thing kept happening over and over again. While I too hated Heather, I just assumed that she was supposed to be annoying. Most of the small audiences reaction was far more negative than mine. "That's it, Oh good it's over, and Ewwwww scary." Were a few of the comments I heard. I suppose if someone goes to see it and thinks its real then they would be afraid, but the titles at the end kind of give that away. I suggest that you wait for it to come out on video, and pray that we don't see cookie cutter movies starring James Vanderbeek in the same style in the near future. Oh, yeah and damn those "Artfags" for convincing me to see this in the theatre instead of on tape.
Fake Hype by vansmak	Aug 3rd, 1999 03:36:55 PM
All this hype that was or was not generated by the people at Artisan, surely wasn't expected to have the effect that it has. i don't think anybody thought the movie would gross over $150 million. The problem now is that some of the little shortcuts they might have taken, like ripping off other movies may come back to haunt them, when it wouldn't have when it wasn't playing on 2000 screens. When the movie's playing on 40 screens, they aren't going to get the scrutiny that they'll get on 2000 screens. Now people are realizing that it isn't the second coming like all these lame critics are writing, and just a clever diversion. -smak-
Regarding the "online publication" bashing by John Spade	Aug 3rd, 1999 04:33:21 PM
I think its fairly clear which publication those accusations are directed at; An online publication I have no affiliation with, but am very much a fan of. Aside from this heavy handed mudslinging, I think Harry Knowles should address these accusations himself rather than through a conduit who blasphemes one of the greatest astronomers in history. If the Earth wasn't the center of the universe, then by God, he'd say it. And by the way, save the cheap sales talk. It's obvious.
The Emperor's new cloths by Wonders	Aug 3rd, 1999 04:45:36 PM
I've been following the BWP phenomenon for a few months. I visited the official website a couple of times. I loved the concept. I really like those stories of underdogs. The little movie (David) against the big Studios (Goliath). I'm sorry to say, it was a bad movie. They had a good idea at the end, but there was no real tension build-up during the movie, so the effect was subdued because of that. It is sad to see that we chose this as our champion against the crap that Hollywood gives us. I went to a many student and amateur video and film festivals in the last 2 or 3 years and saw a few movies better and more original than this one. BWP is not a triumph of filmaking but a triumph of marketing, exactly what Hollywood does. 1999 will be a year to remember for the movies and the internet. The internet sank Wild Wild West (which it deserved), and glorified BWP. Now, when I read the reviews about BWP, I feel I am in the fairy tale ''The Emperor's new cloths''. Ultimately, the test of time is the only true test of the quality of a movie. I wonder how the carreer of the two guys who made it will go...
Cannibal Holocaust and The Last Broadcast = BWP not so original by gojira72	Aug 3rd, 1999 05:32:10 PM
There's been a quite a few posts that claim BWP is "original". Well it's not, as far as the "found footage" plot device goes. Back in '78 a film, that is VERY well known to serious horror fans, called Cannibal Holocaust used the same "found footage" plot device. A group of documentry filmmmakers piss a cannibal tribe deep in the Amazon. I haven't seen The Last Broadcast. There was a great aricle in a Philly newspaper that noted some very interesting similarities. It was made a year or so BEFORE BWP. It's about a group of amatuer filmmakers who set on the make a film about the Jersey Devil. Strange shit happens. Just some information, for ya. I've been kind of frustrated that many people writing about the BWP haven't mentioned either of these films. Personally I thought BWP had some good creepy moments(the ending was great) but overall not as scary as the "hype" has made it out to be.
Please god...Give this film the recognition is deserves. by Obscure Homage	Aug 3rd, 1999 06:15:13 PM
I really, REALLY hope that this film doesn't get lost in the fray. Everyone seems to think that it's just another dumb cartoon with obligatory annoying sidekicks and groan inducing musical numbers. The reality is that this film features the most human story I've seen all year. It's nothing more than animation and computer graphics captured on celluloid, yet I felt emotionally connected to Hogarth and the giant throughout the entire film. I don't think Harry posts fake reviews on the site, but I do agree that the Blair Witch hype has gone off the deep end. It was a cool movie...Not a masterpiece, not a priceless work of art...A cool movie. The Iron Giant on the other hand is the best and most endearing movie I've seen this year. I cannot comprehend the notion that this film will fail at the box office. How can the best movie of the summer go unnoticed?
"It just can't be to have that many parallels and any one who th by omarthesnake	Aug 3rd, 1999 07:29:54 PM
Then, I hate to point this out, but you're calling the makers of the Jersey Devil movie "fucking idiots". An article about their movie, which you can find by a link at news.yahoo.com, has them commenting that Blair Witch had been filmed before their movie was ready, and that if there were any differences in BWP because of their movie it was sheerly by virtue of editing. It was two separate groups coming up with parallel ideas. Personally, I'm intrigued by the idea of "Last Broadcast" (the movie's title) and hope I can find a copy some day. And as for "Cannibal Holocaust", I managed to track that one down, and the parallels are pretty weak... i see no evidence of BWP stealing ideas from CH, which only about a third of is "found footage" style.
Grass Roots Movement by Joseph Campbell	Aug 3rd, 1999 07:32:31 PM
It is time to act. Harry Knowles whored out his website when he claimed the last shot of BWP would be burned into our collective consciousness. The last shot was more akin to coitus interruptus. We want our money back... ...Like Harry, UA Theaters or Artisan is going to pony up. So what do we do? Teach Harry a lesson. Hit him where it hurts...his banners. Let's contact every one and complain about Harry's dishonest huckstering. Let's threaten to boycott Harry's site, their sites and sent emails to everyone in our address books asking them to do the same. Or... Harry could beg our forgivness. Harry could apologize for betraying our trust in his highly suspect critical film viewing skills. Or, we could sink this website. After all, the web is a truly democratic form and each hit a website gets is a vote. Imagine that...a million ticketbuyers boycotting AICN and its advertisers. That would be cool. THAT WOULD REALLY BE SCARY. Scarier than Blair Witch.
More payolla for AICN by Reverand NHB	Aug 3rd, 1999 07:38:34 PM
I wish I could receive the red carpet treatment and have my hands in Hollywood's pockets like this site does for polishing turds.
read the swing article by kpoarse	Aug 3rd, 1999 07:43:17 PM
being stuck in a foreign country, i haven't seen IG or BWP. really don't care about either, i've been spared the hype without american tv. however, after reading the article about harry in swing, it's given me a new perspective on exactly what is happening at geek headquarters and what kind of buzz is being bought. i think harry started out as a renegade, primarily independent of pressure or payoff, but the explosion of the site has turned him into something which defies definition. for the most part, i think harry's motives are about 90% pure, but he's had some glaring exceptions which he's never really answered for and tend to make me rethink the myth of harry as the "enemy of the studio." the easiest example is godzilla. i remember being absolutely shocked after seeing that abortion, because harry treated it as the second coming. take a look at the article and you'll notice who footed the bill for harry to fly first-class to vegas, with a suite at a posh hotel, and attend showest. none other than dean devlin himself, the doctor who performed that particular giant green abortion. that sir, is no coincidence. the timing is impeccable. armageddon jumps out as well. pretty much the same scenario, just throw in michael bay and the studio for dean devlin. fly me in, meet bruce willis, great review. the faculty is understandable, with the rodriguez connection and bit acting role, but it still stinks. i don't have any moral problem with the double-dealing, hell i'd take all the damn free trips i could handle. i'd be an even bigger whore than you no doubt. i just think you ought to be wide open about it and disclose all the perks and freebies you get IF they're associated with a particular film. either that or drop the "outsider" label that you seem to relish so much. admit you're in tight with the studios, admit that your budding relationships with directors and producers and studio heads has skewed your view. i think your story is great, it's truly unique and i don't think it could've happened to a more deserving guy. you seem to have worked your ass off and for that you deserve what you're getting. i just think the ship is filled with all kinds of scoundrels, and you still seem to think you're sailing alone.
BWP is an independant "hollywood" movie! by Dextarin	Aug 3rd, 1999 07:56:13 PM
I just saw BWP. I must say that these filmakers have a lot of potential. But, I can already see the same flaws with their work as I see in today's "big wig" directors. I hate it when directors, or even script writers, try to tell the audience what they are seeing or should be feeling. For example, when something new comes on screen in BWP, there is always a piece of dialogue telling us 1)what it is we just saw (probably because the jerky camera is too much for us to make it) and 2) how we should respond to it. Here is a paraphrased example: 1) "Oooohhh! Look, a pile of rocks!" and the response 2) "This is too creepy!" See my point. They tell us what it is and that it is "creepy." My response: Don't tell me it's creepy through you're overindulgent character development! Show me!!! That is what movies are for! "Showing!!" Even Stanley Kubrick suffered from this in EWS, except his wasn't as obvious. In the scene where Tom Cruise is looking over the corpse in the morgue, WE DON'T NEED A FRIGGIN' VOICE OVER TO FIGURE OUT WHO IT IS OR WHAT SHE DIED FOR!!!! In almost all of Kubrick's films, he hardly ever used voice overs. Why in EWS? Particularly in that scene, he's telling to us something that should have been better let for us to figure out on our own. The Phantom Menace is the only film I've seen this year that DOESN'T forcibly tell the audience how they should be feeling during each scene. Reason: Good old school filming. Certainly better than newer filming techniques of today. The bottom line: I will see Iron Giant when I get the chance. I thought BWP was "ok," but lastly I think too many of you are cheapening the good The Phantom Menace actually brought back to the cinema. The situation: You were hyped to get a big whopping diamond with TPM, and instead received a smaller diamond. But, instead of treasuring the small diamond you received with TPM, it appears many of you are praising a worthless rock like BWP. What is more valuable? A big rock, or a small diamond?
CHAR-YOU-TREE, CHAR-YOU-TREE, BWP, MAN BITES DOG by GrouchLord	Aug 3rd, 1999 08:04:52 PM
Heh, Heh! That's for fans of the Dark Tower "project". Man Bites Dog had a similiar fake documentary style, although if you've seen it, you'd have the lingering question of how it was edited together after the ending.:-)
by thinker	Aug 3rd, 1999 08:16:04 PM
Is it just me, or does it seem like people who see a movie recommended on this site which they don't like automatically blame Harry and those who like it for "making" them waste their money? Last time I checked, no one puts a gun to the head of another person and says "Go see this movie." If you don't like a movie, say you didn't like it and then move on. People who whine endlessly about how they were sucked in a gypped, and that someone owes them something, are sad. Hey, I bought the hype on BWP, went to see it, and I just thought it was okay. Not scary, but interesting, in the same way 'Road Rules' or 'Real World' was interesting. I do feel compelled to mention something to those who keep talking about the idiot factor in BWP. They crossed the stream by going over that log, then somehow found themselves back on the OTHER side of the stream. Following the stream wouldn't have helped. And the last night, they took the cameras along because the cameras had the best lights on them. I know which light I'd like to have if I was in the woods with something wierd going on. Hmm, that sure was defensive for someone who only felt the movie was okay. I guess it's because I feel like someone saying negative things about the movie ought to have at least paid enough attention to know what they were saying. We could discuss how stupid they were to not bring a cell phone along. Even in 1994 almost all of my friends had cell phones. And that includes college students. Hell, I take mine everywhere. And I saw in the paper that a person lost on Mt Rainier in Washington saved her own life because she'd packed her phone along. So if you want an idiot comment, why would anyone go out in the woods without some way of getting ahold of help if they'd needed it? Sorry I ran on so long.
how predictable... by Powerslave	Aug 3rd, 1999 08:39:53 PM
It's happened again. A movie comes out, and it is hyped to the moon and back before its release. Critics call it the greatest thing ever made. Audiences are chomping at the bit. Then, it happens. The movie comes out. People flock to see it. But, things go wrong. Many people, some of whom were responsible for the hype, don't think the movie lives up to its press clippings. They think it was just okay, or - shudder - bad. They feel like suckers for falling for a brilliantly-marketed movie that they probably would have liked more if the relentless hype wasn't slammed down their throats. They feel betrayed. Angry, these people start trashing the movie they wanted to love. Ahh, the American way: build up the underdog, then, when he gets to the top of the heap, do everything in your power to tear him down...It'll be interesting to see how much of its audience TBWP holds this weekend. Has there ever been a movie that drew so many "loved it" "hated it" comments? I noticed a few people mentioning "The Last Broadcast" and "Man Bites Dog." May I suggest a couple others? "84 Charlie Mopic," which follows a documentary cameraman and a group of soldiers in Vietnam, and "Special Bulletin," a TV movie filmed as a simulated (but highly realistic) news broadcast that tells the story of what happens when terrorists seize control of nuclear warheads in a harbour in Charleston, NC. The last half-hour of the movie, which is shown through the video camera of a newsman face-to-face with the terrorists, will have you glued to your tv screen...
BWP by Rukeyser	Aug 3rd, 1999 08:42:54 PM
When BWP was merely a Quicktime trailer for me
I hated TBWP: by Bishop of Battle	Aug 3rd, 1999 09:22:00 PM
So that means I'm an idiot. So I wanted to post a warning about some of the other movies I like that must therefore suck because the kind of people that hate TBWP simply don't "get it": Dr. Strangelove Jaws Star Wars The Empire Strikes Back Raiders of the Lost Ark Pulp Fiction Alien Aliens Titanic The Terminator Terminator II The Truman Show Contact Buckaroo Banzai And here are some of my favorite authors who are obviously also for people who don't "get it": Robert Heinlein Isaac Asimov Frederick Pohl Orson Scott Card Vernor Vinge Harlan Ellison Now remember, only "losers" like any of the above because The Blair Witch Project was specifically created to weed out the cools from the fools. Thank you for your attention and we now return you to the regularly scheduled forum in i t r v s o ( m J t e - i i n t )
Live action Iron Giant? by VarietyWriter	Aug 3rd, 1999 10:22:42 PM
Whenever I see the trailers for IG, I can't help but think, "This looks and sounds like it could have been a great LIVE-ACTION movie." So why didn't that happen? Maybe my feeling is a credit to the movie's writer(s), but I can't shake the sense that IG isn't "animation worthy" (in which I mean it's a story idea that can only best be realized through the art of traditional animation). And the online publication that discussed the hype surrounding BWP is Salon.com -- perhaps the Net's best mainstream magazine (far above Slate and Feed in terms of quality and compelling writing). However, I do think their entertainment reporting (as in the case of the BWP piece) needs work. I don't know if it was deliberate that Salon.com wasn't named on Copernicus' part. But if he did so, he shouldn't have. This being the Net, it's considered a common courtesy to provide a link to an article that you're referencing, especially in debate. And you'll make your own arguments appear stronger (and I do believe you believe in your argument), proving that you have faith in those who frequent AICN to make up their own minds regarding the controversy.
Blair Witch by ZEUS	Aug 3rd, 1999 10:35:41 PM
As I tell my moviebuff friends it is a movie I hate yet one I respect. I respect the genius marketting strategy. Hey it hooked us in and you payed I didn't I saw a special screening yet I felt I lost 84 minutes of my life and whatever time it took me to get to the theatre. Because I'm usually a 15 min guy who if the movie doesn't get me in the first 15 I'll leave but since there was so much on this movie I stayed. The concept of the filming inspired yet genius somewhat. But the overall result a movie that wants to go against your intelligence. I could have cared less about these characters they were either jerks or people who screamed and argued almost for the duration of the whole movie something that happens when you have people improvising stuff they either argue or say lame stuff which also happend in this movie. I wish this movie could have been really scary. I wish I could have something to take away from this movie that I could hold dearly like I do with movies I love or like alot, but no the only thing I can take with me is the fact that the movie wasn't scary had stick things that some kids at a daycare center probably made to save on the shoe string budget. Had gooo that was probably hair gell and a part of Josh's body that I still have no idea what it was, a tooth some one throw me a bone here. And last but not least no which. I hope this movie makes alot only so Hollywood will give indepedent films with no stars a chance. But I also hope Hollywood gives independent films with no stars but a moving and well acted story that a person can take something away from that they can hold dear. Unlike the Blair Witch
am i alone on this? (i think i ran a bit long, oops) by Ratamahatta	Aug 3rd, 1999 10:36:08 PM
ok. so BWP wasn't the SCARIEST movie EVER. exorcist was scarier. perhaps it didn't live up to its hype. but what hyped movies ever do? but if you go in expecting very little, watch it, you'll probably like it. Me, well, i kinda fell for the hype, but enjoyed BWP in spite its inablitity to live up to the hype. Its a good, creepy, low-budjet character driven film and was worth my 84 minutes. (unfortunatly the marketing machine which got everybody excited for it kind of, like all 'event movies' killed a lot of expectations. shit happens like this a lot, and people will continue to be pissed off after watching flicks like this if they buy into it...) end rant.
"I don't get it!" by Tycho	Aug 3rd, 1999 10:43:34 PM
A certain dingbat wrote: "The Blair Witch Project was specifically created to weed out the cools from the fools." I agree, but not in the sense that Mr. Dingbat intended. (Of course, I could be wrong about his intentions. I've seen first graders with better grammatical skills.) BWP is teenybopper trash. It's written by idiots, acted by idiots, and produced for idiots. It is indeed an excellent litmus test for idiocy. Non-idiots walk out or fall asleep. Idiots watch it and love it. That brings me to another point. The only people who could possibly give this stinking river of mind-numbing slime good reviews will fall into one or both of the following classes: A) idiots; or B) people who are paid by gargantuan entertainment companies to say nice things about the trash they produce. It would seem that Mr. Dingbat falls into class A, and "COPERNICUS" falls into both classes A and B. I shall be going now - I'm going to go watch a better movie: STAR TREK II.
more shit to add, prolly been said already but what the hey... by Ratamahatta	Aug 3rd, 1999 10:49:44 PM
I read a bit more of the posts, and the only way i can defend this movie is that it got waaaay too big for its own good. well, good for artisan, but not for BWP. if it was released on only a few theaters, with far less expectations, there would be a larger percentage of people saying "wow, that was a fucking great movie". I mean, look at pi (rent it if you havent seen it, fool). I have heard only good things about this movie from people who have seen it, partly because it was a very limited release driven by only a bit of word of mouth (not "studio-driven-word of mouth) and they didnt expect the world. it could have been as hyped as BWP (because, frankly, pi was a damn good movie that deserved a slightly larger audience). but millions of people are going into BWP expecting a big stupid summer scarefest, which isnt what BWP is about. Its about three people (not people you HAVE to like, just PEOPLE) and some scary shit that happens to them. i think thats a decent summary. (please excuse the email induced lack of capitalization of the word "i")
CONTINUE TO READ MY COMMENTS...ITS EARLY AND I FEEL LIKE-A RANTI by Ratamahatta	Aug 3rd, 1999 10:58:18 PM
GODDAMNIT. ITS 2 o'clock so this and my earlier post will sound really unintelligible later but... IF YOU DONT "GET" THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT, THEN YOU PROBABLY WONT "GET" ANY BOOK THAT DOESNT CONTAIN PICTURES. BWP isnt a movie per-se, its simply a STORY (one that i found entirely believable, pretty much from begining to end), and, instead of filling in the blanks with CGI and BIG RUBBER FUCKING MONSTERS, you gotta use your IMAGINATION. after i saw it i spent the night imagining what the hell was chasing them through the forest was. kept me up well past 3 am. and, well, if you knew that and didnt like it anyway, i dont give a shit. im going to sleep whether you cynical fucking bastards give a shit or not....
Calm down people! by Wonders	Aug 3rd, 1999 11:37:17 PM
Each side of reactions about the BWP are calling each other idiots. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. But I'm just saying this bad movie is not a good example of original, independent, small movie. From what I read in the last few days on the net, the tide is changing. In wide release, the majority of people who saw it this weekend hated it (check out next weekend). I fear independent pictures will loose credibility in the long term. The best turn of event would be that at the end of the summer, the two filmakers admit themselves that the movie wasn't that good. They just had a good idea for a movie but wanted to show the world that you can sell anything to the public, just like Hollywood does...
I can't take this anymore... by opus	Aug 3rd, 1999 11:38:29 PM
First of all, I must say that I completely agree with what Ratamahatta said above. However, that's not the point of this message. My point is to try and understand why EVERYONE seems to think that the Exorcist is the scariest film of all time?!!! Are you people insane? All through my life I've heard countless people recite that as an almost knee-jerk reaction when the question of scariest movie is asked of them. But, damnit, name one thing in that film that is scary? The crucifix masturbation scene? Come on, that's violent, but it's not scary. The rotating head? The vomiting? The levitating bed? None of these are in the least bit frightening or disturbing. I admire the Exorcist for the fact that it is a decent film. However, it is easily one of the most overrated films of all time. Maybe it would help if I had some religion, but, honestly I just can't see it. I'll agree that the Texas Chainsaw Massacre is a scary film. But it's scary for the same reason that BWP is scary: it looks like real life (and in the case of TCM was based on a real story). The Exorcist is too absurd a film to be taken seriously. What happens to Linda Blair in that film can't be related to, and if we can't bring our own experiences to the table to draw from, how are we gonna be expected to be scared by a film. That's why BWP works. I've been camping. I've heard those weird sounds that scared the living shit out of me when I was a kid. I've gotten disoriented in the woods before, I know how horrific that can be. The BWP plays wonderfully on those fears, and that's why it works. But you know what, can't say I've ever seen a levitating bed with a pea soup spewing disciple of Satan on it. Come on people. The Exorcist is about as scary as Friday the 13th.
c'mon people now, smile on yer brother... by fnord	Aug 3rd, 1999 11:42:04 PM
and the polarity game continues: "BWP rocked! you guys are idiots if you didn't like it" "BWP was a load of crap! you guys are idiots if you didn't like it" I think it says something of a film when both camps can be equally empassioned over a bit of silver haylide. However, I think it says more of the type of people we are that this enthusiasm is spent back-biting and knee-jerking. I know it's just the vocal minority...but christ, give it a rest. There are so many original aspects to this film that are open to discussion. Conversly, there are an equal number of reasons why people didn't like it. Probably having to do with expectations. Is that why we go to the movies? some yes, some no. I'd love to prattle on, but my soapbox is breaking up, sos have at me. By the way, for my money, BWP rocked! You guys are idiots if you didn't like it. thbpt!
In response to Ratamahatta... by Tycho	Aug 3rd, 1999 11:58:34 PM
First, the "I don't get it!" subject line was referring to something written in a previous article. Most people are still coherent enough at 2 AM to understand such things, I hope. I'm giving humanity the benefit of the doubt and assuming that you were on LSD. This assumption is, of course, supported by your deplorable spelling and grammar. Don't they still teach kids that stuff? It's no wonder you don't need pictures in your books or monsters in your movies; the LSD conveniently provides them for you, doesn't it? Anyway, I see no reason to like this "just-add-LSD" movie. It's got most of the standard elements of a teenybopper horror flick (it certainly has the language - is that where you learned to talk?) minus the coherence. Tsk. And they wonder why SAT scores are declining, and why the average teenager is an ignorant slob. Far be it from me to say that the movie industry is the sole cause of the problem, but filth like this movie certainly can't be helping. Oh, one last thing - fyi, there are no "BIG RUBBER FUCKING MONSTERS" (ha-ha) in STAR TREK II. Roddenberry was still in charge of the ST franchise when II was filmed. And fyi, part 2, BWP is, indeed, a "movie". The word "movie" denotes a motion picture. Word definitions from the flies in your head should not be trusted. Now run along and seek some help for that drug problem, and maybe drink some Raid to get rid of those flies.
Too good to be true by Stilt-Man	Aug 4th, 1999 12:09:22 AM
No, The blair witch project is not a movie that is better than it has any right to be, it is a movie that FUCKING sucked. That said, the next day I saw the 3 pm sneak of Iron giant...and I was blown away. The Iron Giant deserves to do Disney box office numbers. Harry finally got one right in hyping The Iron Giant to death...because it is incredible. When people calm down and think rationally they are going to realize how great Tarzan was, especially compared to Disneys last 3 or 4 animated films. Right now everyone wants to dump on Disney (and by extension Tarzan) because it is the cool thing to do. I immensley enjoyed both films, and am estatic that after Warners last two animation blunders they FINALLY put out a great film that people can compare to the best Disney has to offer. The iron giant (sorry Prince of egypt, and...sigh, Anastasia, one of my favorites) is the first film to prove that Disney is not the only company in town that can produce quality animated films. Everyone should be happy that there are now two companies that put out great animated films, and celebrate that fact...not pit one company against the other. Wait untill the day when you can annually see three or four great animated/computer generated films by Warner Brothers, Pixar, Disney and hopefully Dreamworks...that day cannot arrive soon enough.
AH! How stupid am I!? by Cooney	Aug 4th, 1999 12:22:27 AM
OK, I can't believe that I, I of all ppl would fall for the hype. I watched the SciFi show, totally thought that it was real. I got addicted to the whole Blair Witch Project story and had to see the movie. The movie did freak me the fuck out tho. I was scared as hell in the theater, which was PACKED. Every seat was filled. I was in the front row, didn't get sick tho. This movie scared the shit out of me. I am just sorry that I bought into the whole hype of it all. But then again, if I was making a movie, with no money, I would do the same thing.
The REAL idiots.. by Dodge Driver	Aug 4th, 1999 03:48:44 AM
...aren't the folks who saw through the hype of a cheaply produced and undeniably amaturish con-job of an unscary "horror" film. And the REAL idiots aren't the folks with enough imagination to allow themselves to be drawn into and then be creeped out by a low budget indie film -- so much so that they cancelled next week's camping trip and have to sleep with the lights on. No, the REAL idiots are those of you who call each other rude names based upon reactions to a movie. I was genuinely creeped out, as were most of my friends. Some of my friends, though, quite intellegent people whom I love and respect, did not walk away the least bit scared. Does that make me stupid? Or them? Nah. It makes us DIFFERENT PEOPLE WITH DIFFERENT OPINIONS WHO ARE MATURE ENOUGH TO DEAL WITH IT. I liked it. You didn't. Let's move on.
be reasonable by RevCasy	Aug 4th, 1999 04:31:40 AM
#Ok, let me establish my credentials first. 1. I watch movies constantly; I see 4-6 a month in the theatre and I also rent on a regular basis. 2. I'm pretty fucking smart. You'll just have to take my word on that one.#Next, I liked BWP. I thought it was pretty cool, and the end kinda scared me.#Every time I see one of these huge debates going on somewhere online its always the same. One faction hates something, the other faction loves it. They both think that anyone who disagrees with them is an idiot. I have seen this in almost every forum where people talk about movies, or books, or music, or...whatever. #Now, given that this is such a common phenomenon, and given the fact that the people here presumably have a fair amount of experience with the internet, you would think that they would have figured something out from this by now.#Let me introduce everyone here to a wonderful concept: subjectivity. Subjectivity means that people will disagreee with your opinion, because it is just your opinion and nothing else. It isn't a statement of all encompassing fact. It's just what you THINK. #If there is one thing I have learned from seeing all these debates, and occasionally participating in them, it is that someone will always, always, always disagree with you about a matter of opinion. This does not make them idiots. Sometimes you can tell from the disagreeing party's manner of speaking and/or line of reasoning that they are in fact idiots, but in general, a simple statement of opinion is not sufficient grounds for making such a judgement. #Now stop calling me names because I liked BWP, you're hurting my feelings. :-P
and furthermore by RevCasy	Aug 4th, 1999 05:03:35 AM
#I was just going over my internal checklist of points I wanted to make in my post above and I realized I left a few things out. #Movie reviews are just one persons opinion. If you dissagree with the reviews of BWP, why does this suprise you? #I went to see BWP because I liked the idea, and because I checked around and the movie reviews I saw seemed to indicate that it MIGHT be a good movie. It turns out that I happened to like the movie. If you didn't, oh well, life goes on. #Many people seem to be disturbed by the idea that all the movie reviewers were somehow tricking them, or buying into some mysterious phenomenon called 'hype'. People in here are lashing out at what they see as a ridiculous amount of praise being heaped on a movie they didn't particularly like. Some even implied that the movie reviewing community as a whole was treating this movie as the Best Horror Movie Ever Made, or as some holy grail of independent movie making. But I don't remember reading a single review of BWP that made those assertions. I know for a fact that Roger Ebert's review didn't, and I seriously doubt that Harry's did either. #BWP certainly could never live up to that level of praise. It was pretty good, some people loved it. That's all. #As it turns out, I just liked it, not loved it. This does not make me a gullible moron who bought into the hype, or an art fag. (As someone said above. What the fuck is that anyway? Sounds like a stereotype to me.) It just means that BWP did something for me personally, and I got some enjoyment out of it. I'm sorry if this pisses somebody off, but once again, life goes on.
Hype/Backlash by GrrArrgh00	Aug 4th, 1999 10:29:22 PM
It seems that AICN is light years ahead of the rest of the world in another area that we'll likely see everyone else getting into soon -- the backlash. For every really successful movie, regardless of how many people genuinely enjoyed it, there's going to be the group of people that think they're original by saying that it actually sucks. Does anyone remember some of the positive critical reviews Titanic received (e.g. Entertainment Weekly) before everyone knew just how successful it was going to become? Then, suddenly, it made a billion dollars, and it was critically relegated to a position as the favorites of clueless teenybopper girls who wouldn't know a good movie if . But honestly, if teenybopper girls had enough power to make a movie THAT successful, Wild America (yes, you remember, the teen idol vehicle that bombed) would not have disappeared the way it did. I, for one, genuinely enjoyed BWP, which I managed to see yesterday after wanting to see it for the longest time, and thought it was a fantastic film, although it won't at all disturb my camping trip this weekend. And I know people who normally don't get the least bit frazzled by horror movies and Stephen King novels who had to squeeze their boyfriends' hands through the last 15 minutes.
right back at ya tycho... by Ratamahatta	Aug 5th, 1999 09:01:21 PM
first of all, i'm pretty sure this whole bwp talk backs pretty much dead, all sides have spoken, everyones thrown around MORE than enough derogatory statements that usually fill these conversations, and, quite frankly, I dont have much else to say. BUT, in retort to tycho (I feel the need to defend my 3 am ranting), I don't believe i said ANYTHING relating to or pretaining to STAR TREK 2. wtf does STAR TREK 2 have to do with anything? goddamned trekkies. go read some more shitty shatner books. NONETHELESS, just because i use colorful language and enjoyed the BWP should in no way mean that i use LSD. i just enjoyed the movie. like millions of others who WATCHED IT and ENJOYED IT. sorry for those who DIDNT.... and WHAT spelling errors are YOU talking about?
TBWP - It boils down to this by Zachsmind	Aug 5th, 1999 11:47:03 PM
I've heard for weeks now the repetitive argument on both sides as to whether or not Blair Witch is worth the money and it comes down to opinion. I've seen it repeatedly and I will see it again. I will probably break down and finally buy that DVD player JUST for Blair Witch when it comes out on DVD. Others think it's a waste. This argument is becoming as heated as the old Kirk vs Picard battles or PC haters vs Mac haters or any thread in Usenet which eventually leads up to Hitler talk. The bottomline with Blair Witch is the ending. Some people like the fact it was left open and you're left to ponder it as you leave the theater. Others feel ripped off because there was no pay off. Some people would not have been satisfied unless they actually saw Russ Parr dressed up as the Blair Wich come out from behind a shower curtain with a chainsaw and eat Heather Donahue's brains! In CGI no less! Admit it! If you don't like Blair Witch it's cuz there was no payoff, and you need that payoff. That's what it boils down to. Some people want to be spoonfed. Some people can invent their own payoff in the cinema. Some people can't. That's what it boils down to. I just mentioned Hitler back there. Hitler has been brought up in the Blair Witch argument! Therefore I call upon the Sacred rule of Usenet: WHEN HITLER HAS BEEN BROUGHT UP IN A FLAME WAR, THE ARGUMENT IS OVER. No winners. No losers. Everyone take your opinions and go to neutral corners. Go see the movie again if you liked it. Don't go see it again if you don't. Let the box office be the final determining factor, not Talk Back. You'll never resolve anything in here.
BLAIR WITCH PROJECT IS A FRONT FOR TPM BOX OFFICE FRAUD by Jedi3167a	Aug 8th, 1999 07:56:35 AM
It's really quite simple. The hype was artificial for this movie in order to facilitate the redirection of box office revenue from TPM. THis phenomenon has been occurring all summer beginning with Austin Powers II. The current gross for TPM is at least 2/3rds of what it should be regardless of it quality. The fact that over 1/3rd of all Americans should have seen it by now (77% of American cinemagoers) and it's average ticket price of around $5 for the majority of its run means that TPM should have grossed at least $700 MILLION. Instead we are told that it has only made $410 MILLION. Now although this sounds like a lot of money it only represents 16% of North American viewers watching this movie once and 8% watching it twice - which is simple unbelievable. I have been debating this topic over at the Force.net's Jedi Council and SWFANS.net and I have recieved all manner of abuse from people suspected to work for FOX. What does this have to do with BWP and AP2. Well here are two obviously lame movies that have had some kind of artificial hype attached to them this summer and that have made astonishing amounts of cash in short time, at the expense of TPM. No sequel to my knowledge has made 3 times as much money as it predecessor and yet Austin Powers 2 has made $200 Million compared to the $60 Million of the original. AP2 holds the record for the third largest opening day EVER at $21 MILLION. The odd thing is that the film is crap and for it to have acheived this it would have to have had the hype that TPM had. It clearly did not. While AP2 was making astonishing and unbleievable money, TPM was underachieving. FOX, along with the theatre chains produced an estimate for the firtst night gross of TPM at $45 MILLION and then turned around an declared only $28 MILLION (just $7 MILLION more than AP2). Now the time between that estimate and the openining night would not be enouhng for bad word of mouth to have any effect on the moive's take. I find it odd that TPM's 5 dy gross came in at only $105 MILLION, when predictions from relable source were estimating $140 MILLION etc. IF careful attention is payed to TPM's box office curve and internet pundit who have been predicting exactly what this moive was going to make well before the time (as if you could)it becomes clear that its final gross was capped at around $400 M and that such predictions were being read off a predetermined parabola. In order to justify this small movies were used as depots to launder TPM's gross. COnsider that the organization that provides these figures to the industry: Showbizdata via Exhibitor Relations Inc via the studios, used an average ticket price that was at least $1 less than the actual avg ticket price of TPM to calculate its admissions. Not only this but why in the age of computers do they need to estimate how many tickets are sold for movies? The effect of this estimate system is that the true admissions figures are never disclosed and the industry has scope to chop and change the figures. Hence my assertion that both AP2 an BWP have been used to syphon off revenue from TPM. It came to my attention a couple of weeks ago that Howard Stern reported that tickets sold for TPM were infact tickets credited to other movies. Effect the loss of revenue for TPM. However I dissmiss this story as a smokescreen put out by the industry as if this were a true phenonmenon (enough to siphon off $300 MILLION) people would have reported it much earlier. The point is that I have noticed unusual hype this summer for moives that are simply incapable of producuing the box office they are credited with, while one movie TPM was instantly capable of reaching the number one all time spot from the revenue generated in its first run alone. The fact that it is taking only $3.4 MILLION a weekend in its 11th or 12th frame is ludicrous when you hear that in the same frame a souped up college film BWP took $28 MILLION. For more detailed information on this theory contact me here: Jedi3167a@aol.com
Let it go, dude. by Wolfpack	Aug 20th, 2006 01:15:57 PM

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