This Weekend @ the Boxoffice: 2008.May.12

[GoodKingJayIII]

Well, they were involved in V for Vendetta, which is one of my favorite movies. But I don't think they directed it.

Still, it's probably safe to say that the Matrix deserves the title of Fluke.

 

[Mallus]

After the latter Matrix movies and Speed Racer, can we all agree that the Wachowskis were a one-time fluke with the original Matrix?

A fluke in terms of box office? Probably. But Speed Racer should all but guarantee they'll be taught it future film courses. It's incredibly ambitious --despite its subject-- and more-or-less a thing of beauty.

 

[Amellia]

I'll be interested to see how Caspian does, and how its release affects Speed Racer... I imagine for kids these days, the word "Narnia" means a whole lot more than "Speed Racer." I saw the advanced screening of Caspian last night, and I have to admit it's pretty sweet. Better than the first one, certainly. And I can imagine parents wanting to see Caspian with their kids a lot more than Speed Racer. Not to mention the fact that Narnia appeals to both boys and girls, while most little girls I know would be more interested in fantasy movies than a racing car movie.

 

[Brown Jenkin]

We are now hitting the summer months and big openings. I expect next week Caspian to open at about 80 mil, Iron Man will fall to 25 mil and be second. Speed Racer will drop to about 8mil and could be anywhere from 3rd to 5th depending on the third tier movies that are also opening this week. By the following week Speed racer will be at about 4 mil and close to the bottom.

 

[Cthulhudrew]

After the latter Matrix movies and Speed Racer, can we all agree that the Wachowskis were a one-time fluke with the original Matrix?

The first Matrix was certainly something of a non-recurring phenomenon in terms of box office compared to the latter two, but to put that all off on the Wachowski brothers is really rather silly, IMO (note that's just my opinion- given the way Hollywood runs, that is of course where the buck is likely to stop).

The second Matrix I felt was still very good, while the third really dropped the ball in terms of payoffs (even though it was still a fine picture). Speed Racer, IMO, was a great movie- box office notwithstanding. Just visually stunning, a moving family story, great performances. Frankly, I'd put the blame there (if there had to be blame placed anywhere, which is pretty fruitless) on Marketing, and not on the Wachowskis.

 

[Amellia]

Frankly, I'd put the blame there (if there had to be blame placed anywhere, which is pretty fruitless) on Marketing, and not on the Wachowskis.

Marketing makes such a difference in movies. Las Vegas never would've topped Speed Racer had marketing not played such a part. Sad. Still, I bet Speed Racer will hang in there at least a little longer, despite its bombing. People will at least be curious why so many critics hate it, and why so many fans like it. And there will still be kids who insist on Speed Racer over Narnia when it comes to picking the weekend movie.


Also: love your sig! The Usual Suspects is one of my favorite movies! <3

 

[Klaus]

A fluke in terms of box office? Probably. But Speed Racer should all but guarantee they'll be taught it future film courses. It's incredibly ambitious --despite its subject-- and more-or-less a thing of beauty.

A fluke more in terms of quality, really.

 

[Cthulhudrew]

A fluke more in terms of quality, really.

Have you seen Speed Racer yet, or are you basing your judgment on box office returns? If you have seen it, in what manner did you not find it to be a quality film?

 

[Klaus]

Have you seen Speed Racer yet, or are you basing your judgment on box office returns? If you have seen it, in what manner did you not find it to be a quality film?

While visually interesting (and mind you, the overuse of colorful backgrounds often tires the viewer and draws focus from the cars), the acting direction left a lot to be desired. We all know Emile Hirsh, Susan Sarandon, Cristina Ricci and John Goodman can do better than that.

 

[Amellia]

While visually interesting (and mind you, the overuse of colorful backgrounds often tires the viewer and draws focus from the cars), the acting direction left a lot to be desired. We all know Emile Hirsh, Susan Sarandon, Cristina Ricci and John Goodman can do better than that.

I just saw Speed Racer last night and I was totally blown away. I'm not sure why everyone says the acting sucked -- the point was to emulate the anime, the cartoon. The backgrounds and set design does it, why not the acting? You can't have a blatantly cartoon-based background world and then place uber realistic acting into it -- it would be laughable. As it stands, it's a brilliant piece of film-making in my opinion, and in the opinions of the group I went to see it with, which actually included a pair of film students. One of them was struck completely dumb afterward.

I do, however, think it's a matter of preference. While I'd be totally floored if someone went to see Iron Man and hated it, it's not quite the same deal with Speed Racer. While I loved it, I can understand someone else not quite getting it.