A year before Peter Jackson took people to Middle Earth in “The Lord of the Rings”, “Dungeons & Dragons” hit theaters. Starring Jeremy Irons and Marlon Wayans the film was a critical and financial disaster. But WB has the rights and is bringing it back to the big screen. And it’ll happen fast since the studio is using a completed script called “Chainmail” and converting it to work in the DD universe. Bad news is the screenwriter, David Johnson, wrote “Wrath of the Titans” and “Red Riding Hood”.
Lukas Eggen can be reached at eggen.lukas@gmail.com.
Robert De Niro is in part responsible for perhaps the greatest boxing film (sorry “Rocky”) ever…”Raging Bull”. Now he’s returning to the genre in “Hands of Stone”. He’ll take over the role that was attached to Al Pacino at one point, playing trainer Ray Arcel. Edgar Ramriez, who was last seen in “Zero Dark Thirty” and “Wrath of the Titans” will play boxer Roberto Duran, who quit in the middle of a much hyped fight against Sugar Ray Leonard.
Lukas Eggen can be reached at eggen.lukas@gmail.com.
March is here. Last year saw “The Hunger Games” and “The Lorax” hit it big while films like “Wrath of the Titans” disappointed. This week, Bryan Singer’s “Jack the Giant Slayer”, “21 and Over”, “The Last Exorcism Part II” and “Phantom” all hit theaters. Will any break out?
“Jack the Giant Slayer” has the most potential to. But several factors will keep this from becoming a true blockbuster like a “300”. First is there is no real big name actors in it. Second the marketing campaign has been dreadful. That’s especially important since it was delayed from last summer, which already gives it a bad stigma. But the trailers played up this tongue-and-cheek humor, which really is awkward in the trailers. The giants don’t look all that impressive. And despite the promise of some action scenes, I think most people will wait for “Oz the Great and Powerful”.
Opening weekend: $25-30 million
For “21 and Over”, all I’m going to say is I hope this film bombs. A film like “Cloud Atlas” that had actors and actresses playing different races and in different roles bombs. So this better too. You want to talk about racial stereotyping? This film is pathetic. End of story.
Opening weekend: (Unfortunately) $10-15 million
“The Last Exorcism” was a surprise hit. But a few things work against it. The first is that horror sequels generally always make less than the original. And it has a lot more competition.
Opening weekend: $7-12 million.
“Phantom”, despite starring the talented Ed Harris, won’t make much of a splash. Maybe a couple million.
Lukas Eggen can be reached at eggen.lukas@gmail.com.
Gary Ross helped kicked things off with “The Hunger Games” starring Jennifer Lawrence back in March. Since then, we’ve seen some flops like “Wrath of the Titans” but with giant sized hits like Joss Whedon’s “The Avengers”, Christopher Nolan’s “The Dark Knight Rises” and Peter Jackson’s “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” and some surprises like “Moonrise Kingdom” and “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel”, Hollywood had a record year. In all, $10.8 billion in ticket sales happened in 2012, up from $10.6 last year. Now of course inflation, 3D and stuff like that has something to do with it. But it was also the first time that Hollywood saw in increase in total ticket sales, with attendance up 5 percent from the previous year.
Lukas Eggen can be reached at eggen.lukas@gmail.com.
Sam Worthington is eyeing a role in the upcoming film “Ten”, which also stars Arnold Schwarzenegger.
According to comingsoon,net, The film follows an elite DEA task force that deals with the world’s deadliest drug cartels. Specializing in complex mobile operations, the team executes a tactical raid on a cartel safe house. What looks to be a typical raid turns out to be an elaborate theft operation, pre-planned by the DEA squad. After hiding millions in stolen cash, the team believes their secret is safe – until someone begins assassinating them one by one.
Worthington and Schwarzenegger both had roles in different installments of the “Terminator” franchise and Schwarzenegger can next be seen in “Expendables 2”. Worthington is best known for “Avatar”, “Man on a Ledge”, “Wrath of the Titans” and “Terminator Salvation”.
Lukas Eggen can be reached at eggen.lukas@gmail.com.
This is just not Paramount’s year it would seem. The studio has decided to indefinitely shut down preproduction on “Ninja Turtles”, the planned reboot of “The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles”. Produced by Michael Bay and to be directed by Jonathan Liebesman (“Wrath of the Titans”), the film reportedly has script problems. Many fans would agree as there was a backlash when it was revealed the Ninja Turtles would be aliens.
Paramount also delayed “G.I. Joe: Retaliation” to convert it to 3D and shoot some more scenes with the Rock and Channing Tatum. Also, it’s delayed “World War Z” and has hired a new writer for extensive rewrites as it works on reshoots.
Lukas Eggen can be reached at eggen.lukas@gmail.com.
Two new movies try to unseat “The Hunger Games”. Will either succeed?
The short answer is no. Even if “The Hunger Games” suffers a slightly more than 50 percent drop, it is still going to make around $70 million. But, if any of the movies will knock it off it will be “Wrath of the Titans”. Sam Worthtington returns as Perseus as does Liam Neeson (Zeus) and Ralph Fiennes (Haydes) as well as new cast members Bill Nighy and Danny Hutson. The marketing campaign harkens back to the original and it looks like a fun, special effects driven action film. That would normally mean a slam dunk, but “The Hunger Games” has really stolen a lot of its potential hype.
Also, the lukewarm reception to the first one means that the first one’s not going to get the normal “sequel bump” in box office. All things considered, it’ll open up a little softer than “Clash” did.
Opening weekend: $51-54 million
Total box office gross: $110-115 million
“Mirror Mirror”, the first of two Snow White films released this year, has a big problem. It marketed itself so much toward younger girls that when “The Hunger Games” broke out like it did, it was clear this movie is in danger of flopping. Julia Roberts isn’t the draw she used to be and, quite frankly, I think more people are excited about “Snow White and the Huntsman”.
Opening weekend: $18-21 million
Total box office gross: $65-70 million
Lukas Eggen can be reached at eggen.lukas@gmail.com.
This one may seem like the winner is clear. Sam Worthington and Christian Bale, who appeared together in “Terminator Salvation”, are two of the more successful actors right now. I have a feeling that Bale would be most people’s choice here, but is Worthington that much of a pushover?
Christian Bale
Batman himself has had quite the career. He’s appeared in films such as “American Psycho” which cemented his place as one of today’s best dramatic actors. He had appeared in numerous films before then, but it wasn’t until “Reign of Fire” and “Equilibrium” that Bale was introduced to mass audiences. However, neither film were huge hits. And, though he was again praised for his role in “The Machinist” it didn’t find a huge audience either. That all started to change when he appeared in “The Prestige” along side Hugh Jackman. But, its recently that he’s appeared in his most successful movies. “Batman Begins”, “The Dark Knight” and “The Dark Knight Rises” have become what Bale’s been known for the most. He also got a lot of acclaim for his role in “Fighter” and “3:10 to Yuma”. He also appeared in “Public Enemies” with Johnny Depp.
It’s clear Bale is one of the best serious actors out there. His roles have required a lot of intensity, which he delivers in spades. But, Bale isn’t exactly a traditional movie star. Just having him in a movie doesn’t mean a movie’s going to be successful. Films like “3:10 to Yuma” and “The New World” failed to connect to audiences. Even “Terminator: Salvation” was seen as a bit of a disappointment box office wise. Bale will be at a crossroads after Batman as his tent pole series will be over.
Sam Worthington
Worthington is at a bit of a crossroads himself. His introduction to the world has been short, swift and very successful. After appearing in “Terminator: Salvation” he starred in a little film called “Avatar” from James Cameron and the remake of “Clash of the Titans”. All in a 12-month period. He also appeared in the more fun than I expected “Man on a Ledge” and tried to turn serious in “The Debt”.
With “Wrath of the Titans” Worthington looks to continue his streak. You’ll find out tomorrow what I think that movie will do. But, it’s clear Worthington has tried to establish himself as the next action star. But, “The Debt” bombed and Worthington needs to prove he’s more than a tough guy actor. He faces a similar problem to Bale in that both actors have their stigma and it’s a little difficult to see either one breaking out of it. Worthington has helped a lot of movies make a lot of money in his young career. Whether he can find those critical darling roles and become more diverse than action man remains to be seen.
The verdict
Both Bale and Worthington have very bright futures ahead of them. But, at least for the moment, both have really one note to their performances. For Bale, it’s the intense, tortured role. For Worthington, it’s the tough guy bad-ass. This really comes down to whether being in more critically acclaimed, or movies that might get panned but that movie goers seem to enjoy. I’ll say Bale has the better career right now, but I think Worthington has more potential appeal across gender and could see him doing what both Vin Diesel and the Rock did and do some family films as well. This surprised me, but I actually think Worthington has more box office and long term appeal. I just think he can do silly and serious and I’m not so sure Bale can or wants to.
Lukas Eggen can be reached at eggen.lukas@gmail.com.
“John Carter” won Friday earning around $9.8 million. But with “Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax” earning $9.6 and expected to win the weekend, “Carter” will have to settle for second. Even more important, its only going to earn around $30 million, probably a little less.
Why didn’t “John Carter” connect with audiences? The big budget Disney film suffered from a lackluster advertising campaign. I love lead actor Taylor Kitsch from “Friday Night Lights”, but few know who he is. That leaves the most recognizable star as Willem Dafoe, but he’s playing one of the aliens. The trailers and commercials just didn’t build any buzz or any hype. Every trailer for this film I saw in theaters got mostly yawns from the audience, not “Oh man, that looks cool.”
It also has the unfortunate luck of opening at a terrible time in the month. Its following the surprise smash “Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax” which defied all expectations. It’s only a couple weeks earlier than the most anticipated film of the spring, “The Hunger Games”. Between people falling in love with “Lorax” and waiting for “The Hunger Games” frankly, there’s not a lot of room for another film to build hype. Even “Wrath of the Titans” is building more hype than “John Carter” did. It was an afterthought in audiences’ mind.
Add in the mixed reviews and all the elements of a major sized flop were there.
Lukas Eggen can be reached at eggen.lukas@gmail.com.
When “300” came out back in March of 2007, it had people crazy. It opened to more than $70 million on its way to more than $200 million in the U.S. Since then, Hollywood’s looked for a repeat performance. Films like “Immortals” to “Clash of the Titans” and “Beowulf” to “Conan the Barbarian” and “The Last Legion” to “Centurion” tried, but it would seem no film has been able to quite capture the success that “300” did. Why?
Let’s remember prior to “300” being released the sword and sandal type movie was considered to be in danger of becoming extinct. 2004 and 2005 saw four big movies flop big time in “Troy”, “Alexander”, “King Arthur” and “Kingdom of Heaven”. People, it seemed, grew tired of the genre that saw a rise in popularity after “Gladiator” and “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy.
“Troy” went for the big name stars in Brad Pitt and Eric Bana. There were speeches and talks of glory and honor, but a large departure from the source material and a long running time wore down audiences. “Alexander” was… well “Alexander”. An all over the place film that never found its groove. And it didn’t connect with anybody. “King Arthur” didn’t have as big name stars as the other films. And, it was decent, just nothing epic. “Kingdom of Heaven” starring Orlando Bloom. Well, it also failed to connect with audiences.
Then “300” came along. Let’s not forget the first trailers for the film. The soundtrack got the blood pumping. It promised kick ass action, epic speeches and seemed like an adrenaline rush of a movie. The visual style was going to bring in a whole new crowd looking to see how they blended live action and CGI backgrounds. This is the power of the trailer. There was so much hype for this film (I remember going to four different theaters with friends just to find a show that wasn’t sold out).
And, more importantly, it delivered. The action was beautiful, entrancing and kick ass. The speeches made me want to go out and fight. But, it was more than that. The characters, though larger than life, felt like they belonged in the film. You actually cared about what happened to them. They were given a human side. Director Zack Snyder took the time to develop them and give them strong, if cliched, arcs.
That same year, “Beowulf” and “The Last Legion” came out. “The Last Legion” I actually enjoyed. But, it was a short film, lacked any real character or plot development and was unfocused. At times, it went for the epic war film like “300”. Other times it tried to be funny, clever and light hearted. It needed to commit fully one way or the other to be effective.
“Beowulf” was just…a mess. An animated film that didn’t need to be, there was Grendel who sounded like an annoying seven year old Irish boy complaining. To the awkward transitions and weird staring contests. It lacked any exciting action, any meaningful dialogue (though I do know his name is Beowulf haha) and was entertaining, but more as a spoof.
The past couple years has seen “Conan”, “Immortals” and “Clash of the Titans” try and replicate its success. “Immortals” looked the most promising. It had the right ad campaign and promised some nice action and fun speeches. It delivered on neither. It was boring, dull and a waste of time. For all the time it tried to develop the plot just dragged the movie down more than anything.
“Clash” came close, but not quite. It had an action star in Sam Worthington, monsters and greek mythology. Not a bad mix. But, it left something to be desired. The action never quite epic enough, the speeches never quite pumped up enough. “Wrath of the Titans” looks promising, but we’ll see how the handle the Titans.
“Conan” was just…also a mess.
What a film needs to replicate the success is a mix of good marketing, lots of epic speeches and lots of epic fights. But there has to be that balance where we care enough about the characters to feel for them. No forced character development, no especially stupid dialogue. We’ll see if the upcoming prequel “Xerxes” can capture the same success.
Lukas Eggen 