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Rottenwatch: AVATAR (82%)

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DanielPlainview said:
Yep 25 mil est
25 million would be shockingly low for Avatar this weekend--it would be a 40% drop for a movie that has yet to drop even 30% weekend-to-weekend, even coming off the Christmas holidays. 31-32m would be my guess, and it could easily go higher. Honestly I am not sure what whoever predicted that is smoking that he or she thinks it's going to suddenly start dropping like The Dark Knight.
 
Discotheque said:
Rightly so. Of all the animated films in the recent years, is this really the one worthy of it? Beauty and the Beast was the shit, Up was...eh nothing too special. It was really lame actually. With the talking dogs and everything, I thought I was watching a Dreamworks film for a second.

The opening showed promise and then it fell from there.
This has been an atypically strong year for animated films. I will vouch for the quality of at least five that deserve an Oscar nomination of one sort or another: Up, Coraline, Fantastic Mr. Fox, Princess and the Frog, and Ponyo. I haven't seen Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs but I'm aware it has its share of enthusiastic fans.
 
ryutaro's mama said:
25?

Dwayne is licking his chops at the prospect of a C-C-C-COMBO BREAKER for ABUHDAR.

Oh for the love of god please let this movie flop...PLEASE!

I'm going with 32-33 for the weekend for Avatar and will get its 6th weekend at #1 and the highest 6th weekend ever record. Edge of Darkness will beat it next weekend for sure and I doubt it will beat titanics 7th weekend record...all down hill from here guys we only have 2+ billion to look forward too now :lol
 
Somnia said:
Oh for the love of god please let this movie flop...PLEASE!

I'm going with 32-33 for the weekend for Avatar and will get its 6th weekend at #1 and the highest 6th weekend ever record. Edge of Darkness will beat it next weekend for sure and I doubt it will beat titanics 7th weekend record...all down hill from here guys we only have 2+ billion to look forward too now :lol
Depending on how it does next weekend, it actually has a shot at both seven consecutive weeks at number one and Titanic's seventh week record. A 20% drop from a 32m sixth weekend (which seems to be the norm for Avatar) gives me a 25.6m seventh weekend, just barely surpassing Titanic's seventh. And with Edge of Darkness tracking in the mid-twenties, anything could happen re: number one seventh week. If it does take number one (and make no mistake, neither that nor its taking the seventh weekend record from Titanic are anything like certain), it ties for 10th-most consecutive weeks at number one of all time, at least as far back as BOM's data goes. I don't know how From Paris With Love is tracking so I have no idea if the eighth weekend record is even remotely feasible.

Oh, as for $2+ billion, that's going to be happening pretty soon, so I certainly hope we have something to look forward to afterwards.
 
Sharp said:
Depending on how it does next weekend, it actually has a shot at both seven consecutive weeks at number one and Titanic's seventh week record. A 20% drop from a 32m sixth weekend (which seems to be the norm for Avatar) gives me a 25.6m seventh weekend, just barely surpassing Titanic's seventh. And with Edge of Darkness tracking in the mid-twenties, anything could happen re: number one seventh week. If it does take number one (and make no mistake, neither that nor its taking the seventh weekend record from Titanic are anything like certain), it ties for 10th-most consecutive weeks at number one of all time, at least as far back as BOM's data goes. I don't know how From Paris With Love is tracking so I have no idea if the eighth weekend record is even remotely feasible.

Oh, as for $2+ billion, that's going to be happening pretty soon, so I certainly hope we have something to look forward to afterwards.

2.5 Billion :D

I didn't realize Edge was tracking that low. I saw it at 30+, but I guess anything can happen. Otherwise I agree with everything you said...I just don't want to get my hopes up for a 7th #1 and 7th weekend record so I'm gonna keep downplaying it!
 
You know, I'm sure that in 1977 when Star Wars came out, there were a lot of expert science fiction fans who saw it, thought it looked amazing, but balked at how trite and crappy the story was - and oh how predictable! The Hero's Journey, played out perfectly to the final note! Some however, might have admitted that in addition to the universe itself being rendered with incredible imagination and detail, that the characters, while ham-fisted, where done with passion.

And that sounds a lot like Avatar. Interestingly, just as the general public ate up Star Wars, the public is eating up Avatar.

I think that Avatar has flaws in the storytelling, in the dialog choices, and so forth. I also think those are completely irrelevant to what the movie is actually doing, and most people seemed to have responded to it on its own terms.

And hey, if Avatar has to be the new Star Wars, I'll actually take it over SW. Its science is still far better (FAR FAR better), its universe is even more meticulously constructed, and its "mystical" elements, while they may be presented every bit as sappily as The Force was in Star Wars, have a fascinating biological/scientific foundation that beats out midichloreans any day of the week.
 
Kaijima said:
You know, I'm sure that in 1977 when Star Wars came out, there were a lot of expert science fiction fans who saw it, thought it looked amazing, but balked at how trite and crappy the story was - and oh how predictable! The Hero's Journey, played out perfectly to the final note! Some however, might have admitted that in addition to the universe itself being rendered with incredible imagination and detail, that the characters, while ham-fisted, where done with passion.

And that sounds a lot like Avatar. Interestingly, just as the general public ate up Star Wars, the public is eating up Avatar.

I think that Avatar has flaws in the storytelling, in the dialog choices, and so forth. I also think those are completely irrelevant to what the movie is actually doing, and most people seemed to have responded to it on its own terms.

And hey, if Avatar has to be the new Star Wars, I'll actually take it over SW. Its science is still far better (FAR FAR better), its universe is even more meticulously constructed, and its "mystical" elements, while they may be presented every bit as sappily as The Force was in Star Wars, have a fascinating biological/scientific foundation that beats out midichloreans any day of the week.

Please do not say that word =(

I agree with everything you said though. I've made the same argument earlier with people about A New Hope. Star Wars improved ten fold with the 2nd film (Empire...) and I can't wait to see what Cameron will pull off with the second as I see him taking more risks now that the universe is fully built and the public have been sucked into the world.

ryutaro's mama said:
Oh c'mon...you don't wanna see xaosslug create a thread title like: Titanic's Successor hits Rock

I'm more interested in what kinda title he'll come up with when it gets #1...I think ideas for the thread title ran out months ago :lol
 
ryutaro's mama said:
Oh c'mon...you don't wanna see xaosslug create a thread title like: Titanic's Successor hits Rock
Titanic II Hits The Rock, Cameron Legions take Extreme Measures to save it.!
 
I think it's a bit early to be suggesting Avatar is the next Star Wars. It takes more than even a record breaking blockbuster to have the impact on public consciousness that Star Wars had, and the kids who might make it happen won't be old enough to do so for quite a while.
 
maharg said:
I think it's a bit early to be suggesting Avatar is the next Star Wars. It takes more than even a record breaking blockbuster to have the impact on public consciousness that Star Wars had, and the kids who might make it happen won't be old enough to do so for quite a while.
Not that I disagree, but I don't think it's another Jurassic Park, either. Communities never formed around Jurassic Park. Especially if the rest of the trilogy is good, I can definitely see Avatar getting up there in terms of following, even if it can never quite get to Star Wars's level (but that should be complemented somewhat by the fact that George Lucas has ruined the brand over the last ten years).
 
icarus-daedelus said:
So old that we had a whole (stupid) thread on the subject.
Er sorry this is a big thread.
And the search function is disabled.(yeah I know about google search but it's not as efficient.)
 
I watched Avatar again today for the third time. I was expecting the IMax cinema to be quite empty, after all it's been out since mid December. But what do I know, at Friday afternoon people were still making long lines to queue for Avatar, and all the tickets were sold out! Lucky for me I bought mine on the Internet. When I went in too, all the seats were filled until the front seats.

The little details Cameron put on the movie are just endearing. I notice today when Jake was flying and greeting Neytiri, his banshee also spoke mimicking him. It's these kind of things that reward me for being a repeat customer.

I really like this movie. It's the type of movies I went to cinema for. You can't replicate that kind of experience at home, even though 99% these days I prefer the home experience.

<3 Avatar
 
bakemono said:
I watched Avatar again today for the third time. I was expecting the IMax cinema to be quite empty, after all it's been out since mid December. But what do I know, at Friday afternoon people were still making long lines to queue for Avatar, and all the tickets were sold out!
Still sold out at IMAX with lines? Goddamn.
 
FuturusX said:
Hmm...Can you name the last animated movie to win best picture? Whilst your at it, name a foreign language film to do the same. You could argue that The Academy has acknowledged the glass ceiling for these films, though not outright barred from nomination and winning they might as well be...

Best Picture should be ...BEST DRAMA IN ENGLISH (poor comedies we love you)

They might not have won, but as mentioned Beauty and the Beast was nominated for best picture, and Life is Beautiful was nominated for best picture as well. Just because they did not win does not mean anything, since there were other shows which were also nominated for best picture and did not win. :P
 
maharg said:
I think it's a bit early to be suggesting Avatar is the next Star Wars. It takes more than even a record breaking blockbuster to have the impact on public consciousness that Star Wars had, and the kids who might make it happen won't be old enough to do so for quite a while.
A lot more than what was in the first movie would have to be added to the Avatar franchise to make it as expansive as Star Wars. Honestly, it reminds me of the Matrix and what people said about that potential franchise before the second movie came out. Admittedly, I'd expect Avatar 2 to be a whole lot better than the Matrix sequels, but I can't see it broadening its focus to the point it could be something like Star Wars.
 
maharg said:
I think it's a bit early to be suggesting Avatar is the next Star Wars. It takes more than even a record breaking blockbuster to have the impact on public consciousness that Star Wars had, and the kids who might make it happen won't be old enough to do so for quite a while.

When I saw this at the IMAX in London, there were hardly any kids. I guess because of the price, it is more difficult for parents to take all their kids to see Avatar. So I am wondering if as many kids get to see this in the cinema as there should be.

And about Beauty and the Beast getting the BP nom, didn't the animated category get introduced right after that happened, as if to ensure that it can't happen again?
 
Timbuktu said:
When I saw this at the IMAX in London, there were hardly any kids. I guess because of the price, it is more difficult for parents to take all their kids to see Avatar. So I am wondering if as many kids get to see this in the cinema as there should be.
Trust me, a lot of kids have seen it. If you're over ten or so it's the in thing to see Avatar. I don't know about really young kids, though, parents may not be taking them more out of concern for the language than anything else.
And about Beauty and the Beast getting the BP nom, didn't the animated category get introduced right after that happened, as if to ensure that it can't happen again?
Nope, it didn't get added until Pixar started producing movies of absurd quality every year. At the time Beauty and the Beast was considered a one-off, but when Pixar was producing some of the best movies of the year every single year and not getting honored at all, they felt like they had to do something. In the process, though, they inadvertently cut off its chances at Best Picture.
 
Saw Avatar 3D for the first time tonight, and man, it was pretty rad. I'm suprised I liked it as much as I did, and I really had no desire to see it before stepping into the theater.
 
Sharp said:
25 million would be shockingly low for Avatar this weekend--it would be a 40% drop for a movie that has yet to drop even 30% weekend-to-weekend, even coming off the Christmas holidays. 31-32m would be my guess, and it could easily go higher. Honestly I am not sure what whoever predicted that is smoking that he or she thinks it's going to suddenly start dropping like The Dark Knight.

Yeah, that was THR that said $25M, some others are predicting $31M
 
The wife & I will be seeing Avatar for the 2nd time tomorrow on IMAX 3D. :D Can't wait as you, the viewer, always see more of the move the 2nd time (and on).

So what should I look out for this time, GAF? Any favorite scenes I should pay extra attention to this time?
 
Sharp said:
Depending on how it does next weekend, it actually has a shot at both seven consecutive weeks at number one and Titanic's seventh week record. A 20% drop from a 32m sixth weekend (which seems to be the norm for Avatar) gives me a 25.6m seventh weekend, just barely surpassing Titanic's seventh. And with Edge of Darkness tracking in the mid-twenties, anything could happen re: number one seventh week. If it does take number one (and make no mistake, neither that nor its taking the seventh weekend record from Titanic are anything like certain), it ties for 10th-most consecutive weeks at number one of all time, at least as far back as BOM's data goes. I don't know how From Paris With Love is tracking so I have no idea if the eighth weekend record is even remotely feasible.

Oh, as for $2+ billion, that's going to be happening pretty soon, so I certainly hope we have something to look forward to afterwards.
What floors me about all this isn't that Avatar is going to set the record (I've adjusted to that), but the speed and likely margin it's going to set the record by. When Titanic came out, it doubled the world-wide gross of the #2 movie at the time, topping it by $800m.

Since then there's been a cluster of movies that stalled out at or just above $1b, but nothing got within $700m of Titanic. And Avatar is going to top Titanic by a solid $500m or more: it's looking to at least double the take of the previous #2 movie (RotK with $1.1b).

Talk about sandbagging...
 
GhaleonEB said:
What floors me about all this isn't that Avatar is going to set the record (I've adjusted to that), but the speed and likely margin it's going to set the record by. When Titanic came out, it doubled the world-wide gross of the #2 movie at the time, topping it by $800m.

Since then there's been a cluster of movies that stalled out at or just above $1b, but nothing got within $700m of Titanic. And Avatar is going to top Titanic by a solid $500m or more: it's looking to at least double the take of the previous #2 movie (RotK with $1.1b).

Talk about sandbagging...

James+Cameron+Point.gif

As James shows the other blockbusters the door
 
Jibril said:
Hearing Tarantino talk about films is fascinating.

You should check out his videos on youtube regarding films he likes. There's one I saw not too long ago about There Will Be Blood. The guy knows his films.
 
Jibril said:
Hearing Tarantino talk about films is fascinating.

Heh, I can't stand Tarantino talking. He makes a lot of salient points, but it's such a chore to actually listen to him. :lol

I like listening to Cameron or (even though he isn't there) Scorsese speak about film, though.
 
Bit-Bit said:
You should check out his videos on youtube regarding films he likes. There's one I saw not too long ago about There Will Be Blood. The guy knows his films.
Yep. Seen all of them. Check out his review on Sunshine. Glorious.
I was really expecting QT commentary on IB. But he never does those, right? Even though it'd be the only commentary worth listening to of its caliber.

Blader5489 said:
Heh, I can't stand Tarantino talking. He makes a lot of salient points, but it's such a chore to actually listen to him. :lol

I like listening to Cameron or (even though he isn't there) Scorsese speak about film, though.
So true :lol
I actually love that about him. His passion just takes over and you can clearly see he WANTS to explain this to you. He wants you to know why the film is what it is. Just incredibly fascinating. I can't wait for his 20 page review of Superman Returns.

icarus-daedelus said:
I like that Lee Daniels is clearly as annoyed with Reitman's BSing as much as I am.
yeah. Reitman is full of bullshit. He shouldn't even be sitting near those greats such as Cameron and Tarantino.
 
I just read this article in the New York Times which summarizes a good part of why I believe Avatar is having such a success. In a way 'Avatar' as a movie itself is acting as a proxy for a lot of people's issues. It's too long to post here, but I'll post the first couple of paragraphs.


You Saw What in ‘Avatar’? Pass Those Glasses!
If you thought that “Avatar” was just a high-tech movie about a big-hearted tough guy saving the beguiling natives of a distant moon, you might want to check the prescription on your 3-D glasses.

Advertisements for “Avatar” and a state-backed biography of Confucius in Beijing.
Since its release in December, James Cameron’s science-fiction epic has broken box office records and grabbed two Golden Globe awards for best director and best dramatic motion picture. But it has also found itself under fire from a growing list of interest groups, schools of thought and entire nations that have protested its message (as they see it), its morals (as they interpret them) and its philosophy (assuming it has one).

Over the last month, it has been criticized by social and political conservatives who bristle at its depictions of religion and the use of military force; feminists who feel that the male avatar bodies are stronger and more muscular than their female counterparts; antismoking advocates who object to a character who lights up cigarettes; not to mention fans of Soviet-era Russian science fiction; the Chinese; and the Vatican. This week the authorities in China announced that the 2-D version of the film would be pulled from most theaters there to make way for a biography of Confucius.

That so many groups have projected their issues onto “Avatar” suggests that it has burrowed into the cultural consciousness in a way that even its immodest director could not have anticipated. Its detractors agree that it is more than a humans-in-space odyssey — even if they do not agree on why that is so.
 
Vic said:
Still sold out at IMAX with lines? Goddamn.

from my local imax website: http://www.mods.org/IMAX/showtimes.htm

1/22/2010- Friday

Dinosaurs: Giants of Patagonia 3D
10:15 AM
12:35 PM

Under the Sea 3D
11:30 AM

AVATAR: An IMAX 3D Experience
1:40 PM
4:45 PM
7:50 PM (SOLD OUT)
10:55 PM (SOLD OUT)

1/23/2010- Saturday

Under the Sea 3D
10:00 AM

Dinosaurs: Giants of Patagonia 3D
11:05 AM
3:15 PM

AVATAR: An IMAX 3D Experience
12:10 PM (SOLD OUT)
4:25 PM (SOLD OUT)
7:35 PM (SOLD OUT)
10:45 PM

1/24/2010- Sunday

AVATAR: An IMAX 3D Experience
12:00 PM (SOLD OUT)
4:15 PM (SOLD OUT)
7:25 PM (SOLD OUT)
10:35 PM

Dinosaurs: Giants of Patagonia 3D
3:05 PM
 
icarus-daedelus said:
I like that Lee Daniels is clearly as annoyed with Reitman's BSing as much as I am.

Hollywood suits who want reboot Superman or Transformers in high school should take note. Reitman is for sale.
 
A slightly different look at Avatar's legs. It's been out 35 days now, so here's the week (Fri-Thur) box office earnings:

Code:
	Avatar	         Drop
Week 1	 $137,094,051 	
Week 2	 $146,530,159 	 7%     Christmas
Week 3	 $96,916,087 	-34%   New Year's
Week 4	 $69,926,708 	-28%
Week 5	 $66,330,413 	-5%     MLK Holiday

Total	 $516,797,418
Week 2 and Week 5 were almost flat to the previous week, lifted up by the holidays. Avatar has settled into ~20% drops against-non holiday days.

Should have a more predictable decline from here on out.

Of course, it it hits 20% drops from here on out, it ends up with $780m domestic (though it won't once it sheds 3D screens).
 
I think one of the reasons why "everyone's mad at Avatar" is because everyone KNOWS about Avatar. Most movies like this, sci-fi or fantasy with a bizarre hodgepodge of ideas, don't ping on mainstream consciousness. Even later day Star Trek series were no longer in the world's zeitgeist, and those were full of unusual stories that would make people uncomfortable.

... but Avatar is like the Biggest Thang Evar and nobody can ignore it. So now everybody's issues are coming to light.
 
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