April 8, 2007

What Do You Americans Want?!?

Seriously. I'm fairly sure it's not YOU Americans (the ones reading this) but I honestly just cannot believe this. A Quentin Tarantino/Robert Rodriguez horror action flick (semi) flops, yet Blade of Glory and Are We Done Yet are hits? In-freakin-sane. I hope all these people who made this happen are happy when we get more awful Ice Cube family films and less metafilms from people such as Tarantino. HAPPY LIKE A BITCH.

Also. We'll get less films with Rose McGowen and a machine gun for a leg.

(the discussion continues in the comments)

21 comments:

J.D. said...

How is this possible?!?! Of course, it is Easter weekend, so more people are probably scared because in the weekend their (and mine, just makin that clear) Lord died for their sins, descended into Hell and rose on the third day, they want to see a movie about extraordinary violence and Rose McGawan with a machine gun leg. They ran to church instead.

Glenn Dunks said...

Well, considering a big portion of the film's target audience isn't the church going type, I didn't think that would make such a big problem.

adam k. said...

Why does the poster say Planet Terror if it's called Grindhouse?

Anyway, at least it made more money than The Reaping.

Whatever, I saw The Host this weekend, and it was amazing. It should be making insane bank here in America.

J.D. said...

Well, people who aren't really go anyway because they don't want to go to hell for realz. But apparently God is weird, because seeing Are We Done Yet doesn't make you go to hell...?

And Rodriguez's half is called Planet Terror, while Tarantino's is Death Proof. Technically, they are two separate films. And I thought The Reaping was great. Sue me.

And The Host isn't making major bank here because it's 1) Korean, 2) foreign, 3) not really advertised, and 4) probably awesome. So there you go.

Glenn Dunks said...

Yeah, wait for the American remake of The Host. That'll make money.

And, yeah, Adam, it's two movies in one. You didn't know?

Anyone who say Are We Done Yet? probably deserves whatever they get.

Jason Adams said...

I was thinking about this on Friday, the possibility that Grindhouse might not exactly light the box office on fire. I mean, it's over 3 hours long, which equals far fewer playings at theaters then movies like AWDY?, and its R-rated. I mean, I know it doesn't work this way, but technically they ought to double Grindhouse's numbers to a theoretical very special double-feature pretend number. Or something. Since technically we're paying for two movies. Not that I'd go so far to say they should've charged a double ticket price for the movie, mind you.

Glenn Dunks said...

Well, this is a Weinstein film so I'm sure they tried to raise the ticket price.

I actually wouldn't be surprised if some people (granted, not many, but possibly up to $3mil or so worth) bought tickets to Are We Done Yet, Blades of Glory or Meet the Robinsons (which fell miniscule numbers from last week) and then went to see Grindhouse.

But, still.

The reviews were way better than any of those movies. It's Tarantino. It's horror AND action AND Rose McGowen with a machine gun for a leg.

Easter Schmeaster. That had nothing to do with it. If people want to see a movie they will see it.

Considering barely anyone seems to go to god-based movies it would be incredibly strange that all of a sudden these people got a religious conscience and decided to skip a violent movie just because it's Easter. Plenty still went and saw other movies so I really don't believe that argument for a second.

I just don't know what people want to see anymore. It makes me wanna give up hope in a big melodramatic way involving flailing objects and Nathan Lane-hysterics. Really. I just don't get it.

J.D. said...

Well, no one makes mainstream god-based movies anymore. Not at least for another 5 years. There are small evangelical films that they think will actually play out in cinemas as much in the ampi-theatres of their churches, but they are always wrong. But then there's Narnia. Allegory is not pure religion though.

But like Adam said, it might be because it is 3 hrs 11 mins long. But then explain Titanic and The Lord of the Rings. That explanation is for epic films, and Grindhouse is not epic. And it's R. They weren't.

It is seemingly surprising that it isn't a "success," but it could be the old parable of...

It's good, so it won't make bank.

Glenn Dunks said...

Being 3hours means they lose ONE session a day.

Those small faith-based movies would go wide if there was interest in them. But there's not. Outside of Passion of the Christ that is.

I wouldn't even feel so annoyed about it if it weren't for Are We Done Yet and Blades of Glory and stuff doing better. I mean, isn't 300 is the same general idea (violent shlock). And, there have been other movies done with that film's style, yet they didn't do anywhere near 300 levels.

I dunno. People just confuse the buggary outta me.

I wonder how they'll fare in Europe where they're being split in two and expanded into individual features.

Paxton Hernandez said...

You are all elaborating too much.

Nice and simple:

Grindhouse hardcore violence, sleaze and sexy sex. "I'm not taking my kids to see that".

Are We Done Yet? "Look honey! A new movie with Ice Cube! It looks so cool! We can take the kids with us!! Yey!!!!"

Blades of Glory Will Farrell + Jon Heder = Star Power. Plus dumb teens who couldn't get to Borat to watch men smelling each other privates, now can they go in droves.

As simple as that.....

Paxton Hernandez said...

And geez! Never, never, never mention Titanic while argumenting on box office success, please. That mega-smash was a total anomaly.

J.D. said...

Well, I'll go with that.

But, Leonardo DiCaprio + Teenage girls + Disater movie + $200,000,000 budget + Buzz out the yingyang + Dead Frozen People = $600 Million, $1.8 Billion worldwide.

Weird.

Paxton Hernandez said...

Totally weird.

Marius said...

Paxton, I couldn't have said it better myself. Also, although I agree that it would be great to have more films that are outside of the mainstream (e.g., Grindhouse), I actually think it’s good that the average American (and Australian) tries to stay within a certain comfort zone. Can you imagine a world where Tarantino films are the norm? Everyone would be so desensitized, and this type of film wouldn’t have the intended effect. And that’s what makes theses films so special.

Like it or not, soccer moms, Keith Urban music (sort of), Blades of Glory, Mr. Bean’s Holiday, and everything mainstream has to flourish. Tarantino and his bunch need something to rebel against. A counter-cultural movement (in music, the arts, cinema, and so on) cannot survive without a tame mainstream culture.

Paxton Hernandez said...

I'm following ya. All the way.

The problem with Grindhouse is that the stupid Weinsteins made it seem like it was a mainstream event when it was FAR from that. (Rolling Stone cover, anyone?).

Hence, the anger that is consuming Glenn right now on seeing this film taking "dissapointly" the 4th slot in the Top Ten.

Glenn Dunks said...

The weekend numbers are in, it made $11.6mil. That's more similar to Tarantino's Jackie Brown than Kill Bill or Rodriguez' recent work.

It's just sad when somebody that supposedly does this stuff well gets a kick in the groin, yet somebody such as Eli Roth or whoever is directing the latest old school (or "retro") violent movie gets a big hit and sequel after sequel.

I guess people can only handle so much originality in their movies per month.

RC said...

if will farrell is in it and they think it's semi-retarded people want to see it.

Paxton Hernandez said...

It's just sad when somebody that supposedly does this stuff well gets a kick in the groin, yet somebody such as Eli Roth or whoever is directing the latest old school (or "retro") violent movie gets a big hit and sequel after sequel.

I guess people can only handle so much originality in their movies per month.


Excuuuseee me, Glenn. Where exactly is the originality in Grindhouse? And how in the hell the Tarantino-Rodri sleazy double feature isn't retro? WTF?

They couldn't get more "retro" than this, seriously.

Glenn Dunks said...

No, I mean, there's is just as retro as all the other horror movies around now (because a lot of the current wave of new horror directors were the kind who saw all these sort of movies and are now paying "homage" if you wanna say that, so I find it strange that Grindhouse is one of the one to flop.

I did word that wrong, sorry. By "original" I meant "different". Like, new directions for film, which Grindhouse was experimenting. Money/success wise 300 managed it, Sin City managed it to a lesser degree and, as I said, isn't it just the same sort of thing? Stylised schlocky violence? Yet this one has hot babes, car chases, zombies, Rose McGowen with a machine gun for a leg and what? It doesn't make the money.

Roadtrippers said...

yeah as an American it is pretty sad to see the crap in the box offices....I want more Pan's Labrynth and less 2 hour long product placement sessions. I do think the movie is for more of a niche group though

Glenn Dunks said...

"Norbit for Best Picture" cries audiences that critics are supposedly out of touch with.

Grindhouse is 81% on RT too btw (it was 89% the other day). Are We Done Yet is 9% and The Reaping is 8%. Or lordy.