2007-hits, misses, box office bombs...

DeSica

Well-known member
Notice how quite a few films came and went this year, depsite pretty big fanfare? Many movies faded from memory after a couple of weeks, despite some pretty big build ups. Others just didn't quite do it (for me, at least). One or two were even a pleasant surprise. Some that come to mind...

Seems like Evan Almighty was supposed to be a 'second coming,' but it hasn't earned back what it cost to make yet, never mind what was spent on the marketing budget.

The Darjeeling Limited was a big little film, but really didn't drum up much box office action. It hasn' come close to making back what it cost. Critics liked it. Perhaps the Owen Wilson thing had an effect...I still want to see it for myself.

The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford didn't make a dent in the dollar department, despite the cast and high critical praise. Some people may blame it on the western being a dead genre right now, but public apathy to films seems to be in high gear this year.

Grindhouse doesn't seem to have cashed in on the loyal fan base of both it's directors, and what looked like a sure hit was a bit of a miss. Some may argue that these days Tarantino is the lesser for his lack of Avary (Roger wrote much of the clever dialogue in early films, though he may not have received proper credit or recognition...like that whole Top Gun homosexuality rant) , and though it may be true, it doesn't explain the whole story. This double bill may be the best example of a film that fell short of expectations both artistically and financially this year.

The Simpsons
was a hit, but speaking as someone who was waiting a long time for this, I wasn't that impressed. It was okay, but maybe five years too late...

Die Hard 4 was nothig great...it was a decent film for what it was, but that franchise was out of gas a long time ago.

The Bourne Ultimatum
was pretty good, but was it great...?

Superbad
was surprisingly good...not amazing or anything, but very enjoyable.

Did Eastern Promises live up to Western expectations? Critics loved it, but it has only made about $35 million worldwide.

The Kingdom made a decent splash, but sort of lost it's legs, with mixed reviews not helping out the box office receipts. Maybe the rental market will help top it off, as many people wait to see films like this when they come out on DVD. It has made around $75 million, and it, cost around $75 million, so the rental figures should be interesting to see...

The Tracey Fragments
was a great little indie film (especially for $500k and shot in 2 weeks on a DXX 100), but it is getting four walled up here, so it isn't getting the exposure it deserves. It hasn't been released in the US yet...maybe they are waiting for Juno to come out, since they share a leading lady.

Did any films this year stand out to anyone as big disappointments? Anything that let you down in terms of expectations? Were there any films that flopped when you thought they would do really well? Did any surprise you as being better than you had hoped?

I don't think this has been a stellar year as far as films go. There were big movies, but not that many really great ones. I enjoyed Breach, American Gangster and No country For Old Men alot...with the last one being perhaps the best of the three by far. Superbad was a nice little surprise, and Tracey was a solid little indie flick with incredible editing. All that is left for me to look forward to this year is There Will Be Blood, which I have HUGE hopes for...

...and I think I will see Beowulf.

The recent chatter on here, plus my buddy's new found interest, has got me rather curious...
 
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This year was so-so for the most part, but we did see Zodiac, The Darjeeling Limited, and No Country For Old Men, and I'm looking forward to Juno and There Will Be Blood.
 
I caught There Will Be Blood last week. It's really well crafted, but i felt like i didn't really "get it"...

however that point is moot since i hate every PT Anderson movie the first time I see it. Then I feel compelled to see it again, and then the 3rd time I announce it's my favorite movie ever!

So I'll have to wait to see it again :)

I actually think this was a really good year of films for me. True, nothings blown me away, but I've really enjoyed a whole lot of flicks this year. More than most i'd say.

Zodiac, Knocked Up, Grindhouse, Superbad, Darjeeling, Yuma, Jesse James, Eastern Promises, too name a few, all good to really good movies IMHO. I'm content :)
 
The 2007 List Of Box Office Champs To Date

The 2007 List Of Box Office Champs To Date

1 Spider-Man 3
2 Shrek the Third
3 The Transformers
4 Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End
5 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
6 The Bourne Ultimatum <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< An exception.
7 Ratatouille
9 The Simpsons Movie
10 Wild Hogs
11 Knocked Up
12 Rush Hour 3
13 Night at the Museum
14 Live Free or Die Hard
15 Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer
16 Superbad
17 I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry
18 Hairspray
19 Blades of Glory
20 Ocean's Thirteen

Here are my thoughts on the Current Box Office 2007 Champs

poo pooING YAWN. Could there not be a worse list of blase, cookie cutter, hollywood formulaic crap ? No wonder the WGA is on Strike; they're probably all sitting on awesome stories but the machine keeps wanting them to write bullshi*.

My Fav's of the year so far (No order).

Disturbia
Smokin' Aces
30 Days of Night
28 Weeks Later
Grindhouse
Hot Fuzz
The Mist

Films I still need to see and have high hopes for.

3:10 to Yuma
No Country for Old Men
I Am Legend
There Will Be Blood
 
I thought 30 Days of Night was terrible, well not terrible, but definately mediocre at best. Watched Disturbia the other day and thought it was pretty good, reminded me of 80's movies. Smokin' Aces was magnificent (was that this year?), now there's a movie that doesn't outstay it's welcome.

I loved some of the 'candy' movies this year, Transformer, TMNT. Just because I grew up on that stuff and they could have been much, much worse!

Watched a movie called Murder Party that was pretty cool the other day too (kinda lost it's way at the end though).

Definitely check out 3:10 to Yuma, it's brilliant.
 
Talk To Me is another little film that went under everyone's radar, yet is very good. It goes a long way in making 2007 a better year than I thought it was in terms of good strong films.

$4 million in box office does not do it justice.

John...I had heard good things about Ratatouille (on here, even).

Did you see it and not like it, or...?
 
Ratatouille, was really good, one of the best Pixar films.

The King of Kong is a must see movie of 2007 and the best documentary.
 
Films I saw and liked:
Oceans 13 (it felt more like the original and it was much better then the 2nd.)
Bourne Ultimatum
3:10 to Yuma
Disturbia
Transformers (not much to it but it was a fun flick)
Hot Fuzz

Films I would like to see:
Ratatouille
Jessie James
No Country for Old Men
I Am Legend
Beowulf (I am keeping my expectations low)
 
I'd also really like to see Noah Baumbach's new film, Margot at the Wedding. I'm going to be seeing a free screening of Juno at the arclight on December 4. The film seems promising, so I'm excited. Maybe we'll get a chance to see Margot while we're there.
 
wait wait wait, you actually LIKED Smokin' Aces?! I had such high expectations of that film but it blew more goats than a horny sweedish girl at thanksgiving, it put me over the top even above cronenberg's CRASH and I friggin love Cronenberg...ugh I regretted seeing that and Die Hard 4 even though it was filmed in my home town, never wanted to walk out on a film until then.

I loved Ultimatium and I can't wait for AVP:Requiem, looks badass to me.
 
Come on, you've never said to a mate "I can't believe you liked that?!". Just general banter.
 
"Beowulf" was a little disappointing in that they started it out well enough but then they lost it in the middle. It seriously needed another half hour to it or something. Also, I've never read the actual story but I've been told what happens in the story and I've seen enough straight-to-video Beowulf-related movies to know that they really went somewhere else with the story that was rather off-putting. I don't want to spoil it and say what the change was but anyone who sees the movie will be able to tell.

"Smokin' Aces" was pretty cool, didn't like the ending though and the "explosive" alternate ending on the DVD was blah too.

To anyone who liked "Disturbia", might I recommend that you go rent Alfred Hitchcock's "Rear Window". I think that it has the same sort of feel. *wink- wink, nudge-nudge*

"Hot Fuzz" was awesome, 'nuff said.

I expected more from "Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium" but it was okay, certainly not as bad as the critics made it out to be. Dustin Hoffman was actually very good, I don't know why they poo-pooed him.

"No Country For Old Men" was disappointing. The Coen brothers were too dark this time around I think.

"Enchanted" deserves Oscar treatment, if not for the musical part then definitely for the cast. It was so well done.

"Saw 4" was more of a setup for, I guess, the supposed "Saw 5" and "Saw 6". It was okay for what it was but it just couldn't stand up on its own without having the sequels in line.

Can't wait to see "Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem", thankfully they went for an R-rating this time. But that doesn't automatically mean it'll be good of course.

"Shrek The Third" was terrible. The King Arthur-esque storyline was so out of place in the Shrek universe. We didn't go to see Artie's story, we went to see Shrek, Fiona, Donkey, and Puss in Boots.

"Ratatouille" will obviously get best animated feature. It really deserves it.

"Alvin & The Chipmunks" actually looks rather good, in a silly kid movie sort of way, after seeing the new trailer. Can't wait.

There's definitely more, but I've got things to do. Later!
 
To anyone who liked "Disturbia", might I recommend that you go rent Alfred Hitchcock's "Rear Window". I think that it has the same sort of feel. *wink- wink, nudge-nudge*

Totally ! That's why I liked it.

I love any POV told stories.
 
Sweedish chicks are cool.

I was trying to find a pic of a swedish chick and a goat and then ran across this and thought it would be just as nice to put up

LimeGirls.jpg
 
"Beowulf" was a little disappointing in that they started it out well enough but then they lost it in the middle.

Wow...a nay sayer on Beowulf. I know it strays from the original, and I don't mind that so much...but would you advise against seeing it, or were you just expecting to like it more than you actually did?

"Smokin' Aces" was pretty cool, didn't like the ending though and the "explosive" alternate ending on the DVD was blah too.
I wanted to like The film alot...It was okay. Why cast Alicia Keyes?


"No Country For Old Men" was disappointing. The Coen brothers were too dark this time around I think.
Wow...some pepper in the salt shaker. Did you think it was going to be more uplifting from what you knew going in? It was a bit different than I expected, but I still liked it alot. Better than The Ladykillers by far.
 
i think im the only person on earth that genuinely enjoyed ladykillers :)

that said No Country borders on masterpiece (thats right i said borders, i want to see it again before i commit)
 
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