:: theMediaman journal ::

Weak Summer Blockbusters :: Wednesday, August 11, 2004 ::

Wow. It's August and I don't think I've gone to the movies even half-a-dozen times since the Blockbuster season started in May. I'm sure I commented somewhere in this Blog (but I can't find where) about how I saw a record number of movies twice in theatres in 2002. Of course, this was including Summer 2002, when we got Spider-man, Star Wars Episode 2, About A Boy, Minority Report, Lilo & Stitch and Bourne Identity. Other big name movies that came out (but I didn't see in theatres) were Blade 2, XXX, Men in Black 2, Austin Powers 3 and Signs.

The irony struck me, as I was writing this list, the most interesting movies in 2004 are connected to 2002. This year, the biggest (and probably the only 'big') movie is Spider-man 2. We've also got new sequels for the Bourne Identity and Blade franchises. There's a dark Tom Cruise this year in Collateral. The movie that looks like a bit of a sleeper, but pulled in many millions because Tommy's name. Vin Deisel's back as an anti-hero in The Chronicles of Riddick. We have another Michael Moore movie too! And Em Night Shamalanalam has a new ZZZZZZcary movie with The Village. Will Smith returned to his usual July spot (altho' pushed back a couple of weeks by the power of Spider-man 2) with I, Robot.

Not including the Lord of the Rings movies from 2002, I saw several pics more than once. This year I have little urge to do so. Let's go through a list of movies I've seen, and others I haven't.

Seen it:
Van Helsing
Troy
Shrek 2
Harry Potter 3
Chronicles of Riddick
Fahrenheit 9/11
Spider-man 2
I, Robot
......

...holy crap. That's it. Just eight movies since the start of the season (Coffee & Cigarettes doesn't count, since it's an artsie film).

Let's see what else is offered:
The Day After Tomorrow - the movie that was disliked by the Right Wing AND the Left Wing. Good work, Hollywood. Next time you want to remake Deep Impact, try remaking Armageddon first. At least we got to see Paris blowed up!
The Stepford Wives - Toothless remake of the original. Again, we had both sides of the Feminism issue hating this movie.
Garfield - I'm a big Garfield fan, but I can't get anyone else to go with me.
Dodgeball - John tried using the "Pokemon 2000" clause on me in order to go see this one.
The Terminal - Waaaaaay too dramatic for me to consider it a "Summer Blockbuster"
King Arthur - Clive Owen kicks ass... but this looks a little "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves" for me.
The Bourne Supremacy - This is one of two movies left this Summer that I "have" to see... the other being
Alien vs. Predator - I've been waiting for a while for this movie. If it's as true to the original franchises as Freddy vs. Jason was last year, we've got a very entertaining movie here.
The Manchurian Candidate - I've been told it's good, but seems a little too Fahrenheit 9/11 to be fully entertaining.
The Village - no
Collateral - I can't see myself going to the theatres to see this. This might be a "I Feel Like A Movie And 'Collateral' Is What I Feel Like". It's more likely that I'll wait until it's on DVD this November.
Catwoman - What's wrong with this movie IMHO - 1) Doesn't star Michelle Pfeiffer, 2) stars Halle Berry 3) used a CG whip most of the time, 4) the costume looks impossibly dumb, 5) critics panned the movie, and 6) so did the viewers, 7) domestic gross won't reach one half of the $85 million production budget, 8) apparently takes half the movie before she even becomes a superhero, and 9) I don't know anyone else who would want to go. Nine lives up for Catwoman (hee hee, i'm witty).
Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle - Maybe if I've already seen AvP, and I'm drunk. Very drunk.
Exorcist: The Beginning - A Movie that's had fifteen re-writes (more than Catwoman), four directors, three leading actors, and two COMPLETE PRODUCTION SHOOTS can't be that bad, right?
Jet Li's Hero - Never really liked Jet Li that much. I'll probably rent it.
Anacondas - If this movie actually makes money, then I'm leaving North America before they make a sequel to Lake Placid.

Yup. Looks like a weak Summer. Resident Evil 2 and Captain Sky aren't due until September, so it looks like I'll have to look forward to Summer 2005. I know there's a Star Wars movie coming, so are we just going to have another 2002 Redux?

If so, I hope they get it right this time.

:: Stephen 1:44 PM [+] ::

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