The Nose Knows...How Do Movie Audiences Smell A Stinker?
8:12 PM June 7, 2009
Will Ferrell is a very nice guy and very funny. But nice and funny will only take you so far, when the aroma of a movie gone wrong is in the air.
I knew that "Land of The Lost" was going to be bad, long before it ever premiered and long before this weekend, when the film has the earned the dubious distinction of being this summer's first big budget bomb.
You could make the same argument, and savvy audiences did, about last year's "Speed Racer." Sure, it looked cool, but the original "Speed Racer" was all about wit and feel; and the 2008 version had none of that.
The risk with high profile properties; titles that audiences know, is that they come with some built-in expectations. "Land of the Lost" has a retro-charm, a low-budge flair. It's why Sonic Burger is stand standing.
Take a TV show that cost virtually nothing to make; add nearly 30 years AND upwards of 60 million dollars and, and you have nothing that was good about the TV show; even with a charming star like Will Ferrell.
I may be cutting my own throat to some degree; but I realize the diminishing value of movie critics. Opinions are everywhere. However, when "Land of the Lost" ran full page newspaper ads with no quotes from critics; you know why that is the case. They couldn't find a single positive critical quote. That bodes badly too.
On the other hand "The Hangover" is a hit. Why? So simple. Unlike "Land of the Lost," "The Hangover" was funny. In some places VERY funny. So funny, that people actually told other people, critics told audience; and word of mouth grew; and even before the film opened, "The Hangover" was set to be a hit. This is great news for Todd Phillips; the director who made the movie.
Phillips also made another 'word of mouth' hit that you might have heard of, "Old School" with an actor by the name of Will Ferrell.
It's funny that these two former colleagues are having entirely opposite experiences this weekend. And it is the film audience, movie goers who vote every single weekend with their wallets, who were clearly able to tell, as they can more often than not; what's worth their time and their money.
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Hi!
I am a big fan of yours and the Morning Show. Could you please let me know when the Michael Jackson Concert Movie will be released in L.A. and the location.
Thank You Very Much,
Michael
Posted by: Michael | 09/16/2009 at 05:25 PM
Frosty wrote:
"If you want a "Thinking man's" sci fi flick, with out all the wizz bang special effects that dominate films of late. Then MOON is the one for you."
Frosty, I saw this film and it's a gem. I was going to post about it, but you beat me to it. Good review. Thanks.
Posted by: Paul | 06/23/2009 at 12:53 PM
Culture can be viewed as a phenomena relating to each country or a region individually. A lot of theories talk about culture being predetermined and we all have a certain elements of our own culture implemented on some unconscious level. But the thing is that different cultures are more and more being viewed through a needs of global society that tends to marginalize small or in any way different or set back cultures usually referred to as uncivilized. Some of those cultures are placed in the hart of Europe, some in Africa, others in Middle East, but the fact is that our intolerance to different cultures is growing each day we choose to be concentrated on what is set as a cultural model by the mighty western societies. Difference is what makes this world so colorful, and finding similarities between the people of different nationality, religion and culture is a way to make connections to the rest of the world. In addition to this, I found an exciting reading called The Age of Nepotism that talks about different cultures and the ways to connect with others. You should check it out, as well as the site www.theageofnepotism.com
Posted by: nikica | 06/23/2009 at 08:37 AM
If you want a "Thinking man's" sci fi flick, with out all the wizz bang special effects that dominate films of late. Then MOON is the one for you. This is a throw back to the sci fi films of the 1970s like Silent Running. In fact this film is a homage to films like 2001, Outland, Dark Star and Solaris. With five stars being best, I give it 4.5 stars. A must see for all sci fi fans.
Here's Tony Sullivan's of eye on film review:
Somewhere in the not too distant future, mankind’s energy problems have been solved courtesy of Helium-3 mining on the far side of the Moon. A lone astronaut, Sam Bell (Sam Rockwell), serves as maintenance man on the mining installation in charge of automated harvesting machines that rove the lunar surface. For company, Sam has an accommodating Robot named GERTY (Voice of Kevin Spacey). Coming to the end of his three-year tour of duty and anxious to get back to Earth and his wife and daughter, Sam is coming a little unglued. During one fateful excursion to fix a malfunction, Sam suffers a breakdown causing him to crash.
After the accident, Sam becomes aware of just how complicated his life really is, and at this point, Sam Rockwell’s performance goes into overdrive as he channels the character’s incredulity and horror.
The hippy-dippy Sam, cooing to his plants and making slightly unhinged video logs at the outset, taps both Silent Running and Dark Star, with GERTY standing in for 2001’s HAL. Sam’s instability then encompasses hallucinations of a mystery girl and his wife, who we know through a series of pre-recorded missives. This Solaris-like development is also a red-herring.
Moon represents a return to a more sedate and thoughtful science fiction of the Seventies and Eighties with ambience borrowed from a multitude of other films in the genre. Although having established a reference, the film gleefully subverts the expectation, particularly in the use of the soothingly voiced GERTY.
As with Alien and Outland we come to realise Sam’s employer, the company, may not have his best interests at heart and when GERTY announces they are sending help, and the clock starts ticking down their arrival time - we know that can’t be good.
A pause here for a nod to the special effects, Cinesite have provided the movie with effects so good that you quite forget you’re watching them. The-six wheeled rovers trundling over the lunar landscape will provide a happy nostalgic thrill to any anorak who sat glued to Thunderbirds, UFO and Space 1999. I presume that writer/director, Duncan Jones, was a fan too.
Despite all the filmic references, Moon works hard to defy expectation and succeeds admirably, so like a good detective story, just when you think you have a handle on it, you probably don’t. Unlike many recent sci-fi titles, the emphasis is on character rather than the production design or razzle-dazzle effects and Moon is all the better for it.
Posted by: Frosty | 06/20/2009 at 04:50 PM
Happy Birthday Stan Laurel 6-16-1890
Comedian Arthur S Jefferson, better known as Stan Laurel (Laurel & Hardy), was born on June 16, 1890.
Posted by: Jared | 06/16/2009 at 06:52 PM
Happy Birthday Stan Laurel 6-16-1890
Comedian Arthur S Jefferson, better known as Stan Laurel (Laurel & Hardy), was born on June 16, 1890.
Posted by: Jared | 06/16/2009 at 06:52 PM
John
You might try to contact a few of my friends who are in the industry..
John Vulich http://www.myspace.com/johnvulich
David Miller info@davidmillercreations.com
Kenneth Hall http://www.myspace.com/kennethjhall
They may be able to help you..
I won't give you their Home phone #'s but i will get you to their myspace pages or email and you can contact them from there..
Tell them that Jared Held sent you...
wadada
Posted by: Jared | 06/13/2009 at 09:34 PM
OFF TOPIC - PLEASE HELP
My scale model club is in need of a meeting place. We are based in the San Fernando Valley. If anyone knows of a meeting hall or place that could hold 20-25 people for free or very low price we would be very, very interested. We are a model club for people who are into Sci Fi, Fantasy and Horror modeling or kit building. Our club is open to all and is a great hobby. You can contact me at the following email address:
SciFiModelerSFV@aol.com
Posted by: John | 06/13/2009 at 08:32 PM
Sammy Ruiz
All i have to say is so what if it shows..
I never found his shows funny... I wasn't into his type of humor....
Posted by: Jared | 06/13/2009 at 04:44 PM
GO LAKERS GO!
.
Posted by: jozielee | 06/12/2009 at 09:59 PM
Jared, you said you never listened to Howard's shows?
Dude it shows.
Posted by: Sammy Ruiz | 06/12/2009 at 07:05 PM
More on the Lakers
And what will happen if the Lakers win? Riots, damage to personal property, people getting injured or dying. Is that really worth it? Not in my book. And what are pro teams anyway? Big business, corporations. You may as well cheer for GE against Sony. And the players, Kobe a role model? Please, since when is a morally bankrupt self proclaimed adulterer a role model, a hero? To me, a hero is someone who put his or her own needs aside to help others for no personal gain. That's a role model. This is a sorry state of affairs.
Posted by: Paul | 06/12/2009 at 05:05 AM
Jozie wrote:
GO LAKERS GO!
Sorry Jozie I can't agree with you on this either. I hope they lose, but since it's all about money it will go for the full seven games. The players get a bonus for every playoff game they play. Basketball is no different from pro wrestling.
Posted by: Paul | 06/12/2009 at 04:00 AM
GO LAKERS GO!
.
Posted by: jozielee | 06/12/2009 at 03:48 AM
I have never listened to stern's shows..
Posted by: Jared | 06/11/2009 at 08:33 PM
Jared,
Dude you are so clueless. Gary Dell Abate is Howard Stern's producer. One of his nicknames is horsetooth jackass because of his huge teeth. Paul wasn't being mean, it was letting Gary know he's a fan of the show.
Posted by: Sammy Ruiz | 06/11/2009 at 06:51 PM
Jozie wrote:
They loved him. Talked about Stern all the time. Now I never hear about him, not from them, not in passing.
That's about right. I use to post on a Howard Stern message board, it was jumping. After Howard left free radio that board was dead in six months. Like the old saying, Out of sight, out of mind. But with the changes that was happening to free radio, Howard like Adam Corolla would be off the air by now. Now free radio is so clean and sanitary it's as boring as a Sunday school class. Howard did change the face of radio, but it's gone back to what it use to be. The days of "queefing" contests are over. :-(
Posted by: Paul | 06/11/2009 at 03:50 PM
PAUL: "Mark speaks the truth"
Not a Howard Stern fan, but even from the little I know Mark's initial words rang true. For a time I worked with a group of computer techs, all male, who kept the radio tuned to Howard Stern during the work day. They loved him. Talked about Stern all the time. Now I never hear about him, not from them, not in passing.
.
Posted by: jozielee | 06/11/2009 at 03:24 PM
Jozie wrote:
"Mark said Howard Stern is invisible since he joined satellite radio. People used to talk about Stern everywhere. Then he moved to satellite and discussion of him disappeared. Mark went on to confess that he's a huge Stern fan who laments this turn of events in Stern's career. The next day Stern laid into Mark."
Mark speaks the truth. I was a big Stern fan till he went to satellite radio. I even went out and go a satellite radio so I could hear his show un-censored. It turned out Stern's show didn't change. He was doing the same show that he was doing on free radio, it just wasn't worth the money. So after a month I cancel my satellite radio and went back to free radio with Adam Corolla till he was taken off the air by the format change. Now there is no adult humor shows on free radio. What a loss.
Posted by: Paul | 06/11/2009 at 12:37 PM
No, Kriski is a just jack off
Posted by: Jesse's Girl | 06/11/2009 at 10:56 AM
PAUL: "Why(what) did Mark say that got Stern so upset?"
Mark said Howard Stern is invisible since he joined satellite radio. People used to talk about Stern everywhere. Then he moved to satellite and discussion of him disappeared. Mark went on to confess that he's a huge Stern fan who laments this turn of events in Stern's career. The next day Stern laid into Mark.
For video clip see http://www.ktla.com/news/local/morningnews/
page 3, titled "KTLA: Mark Kriski vs. Howard Stern, The Setup"
.
Posted by: jozielee | 06/11/2009 at 08:50 AM
Paul wrote:
"Is that all you can say you horse tooth jackass?"
Is that all you can do is call someone you don't know a name?....
Posted by: Jared | 06/11/2009 at 07:10 AM
Gary wrote:
"Baba Booey" "Baba Booey" "Baba Booey"
Is that all you can say you horse tooth jackass?
Posted by: Paul | 06/11/2009 at 03:57 AM
Can't wait for the tell all book Lu Parker will write about this when her relationship with mayor "short stack" goes south.
Posted by: Paul | 06/11/2009 at 03:54 AM
"Baba Booey" "Baba Booey" "Baba Booey"
Posted by: Gary Dell Abate | 06/10/2009 at 08:00 PM