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June 08, 2007

Just For The Record

There is a CRAZY person out there who keeps attacking Pirates 3, attempting to boost her home studio's film... but for the record, her notion of "a quick and complete" collapse of Pirates 3 based on this week's weekday numbers is a little sketchy, since P3 has been ahead of every second week weekday number of both Spider-Man 3 and Shrek The Third. (S3's 2nd weekdays included Memorial Day Monday, which is much bigger, as expected)

It could well be argued that the "just beyond $300 million" trajectory for all three movies is still, crazily enough, a bit below studio hopes. P3 is not above this. Much like Spider-Man 3, the film will be a success financially thanks to international, but we are quickly learning that International is the last refuge of a limping franchise, just as DVD was only a few short years ago.

Regardless, when one studio mouthpiece uses her bully (and I mean "bully") pulpit to keep repeating a lie with the clear intent of promoting one studio's product while ripping into another's (I won't even get into the knowingly lies she spins about this site, feigning ignorance in the facts), it's a good idea for someone to actually look at the numbers and offer some facts.

Posted by poland at June 8, 2007 12:22 AM

Comments

I have a feeling I read this article, but since you haven't mentioned the name, I won't. I found the claim, like you, ridiculous as I know that the film is she says is trumping Pirates will not be making the kind of money Pirates is and will be making. But then again, that film cannot and should not compete with Captain Jack.

I don't see why International box office is "the last refuge of a limping franchse." I see it as a whole new market, much bigger than the Us and, with a promising growth. Movies can be THE export for America.

Posted by: ployp [TypeKey Profile Page] at June 8, 2007 12:45 AM

The international business is fine and important and still growing.

My point is that for very overpriced films like these, when they NEED $750 million worldwide to break even (and that takes ancillaries, including Home Ent into account), the new reality is that America wears out before the rest of the world. Perhaps it is because we are SO oversaturated with hype. Perhaps it is because a star, like Tom Cruise, is not as abused in Asia as here. Perhaps it is that we speak English and the spectacle is not quite enough.

But while domestic/foreign has been 60/40 for a while, the split is even greater with these films that are a bit bloated in rounds 2 or 3.

Posted by: David Poland [TypeKey Profile Page] at June 8, 2007 01:08 AM

I wish I could set up my browser to make it impossible for me to go to that person's site, because every single time I read anything on her blog, I'm put in a bad mood... kind of like with The Hot Blog back during the time of "the slump." :) (At least here I can post my disagreeance publically, while that person conveniently turns off comments while editing and rewriting everything she writes without note of the update.)

Posted by: EDouglas [TypeKey Profile Page] at June 8, 2007 03:11 AM

I agree with you on the hype thing. I get them because I like to follow Hollywood news. But my fellow Thais don't know English well enough to have fun surfing these sites. I've not visited Thai sites devoted to movies. I think I should to see what they report.

Posted by: ployp [TypeKey Profile Page] at June 8, 2007 06:59 AM

Is David Poland married to Nikki Finke, or is he just rude to women?

Posted by: torqtump [TypeKey Profile Page] at June 8, 2007 08:53 AM

Doesn't it occur to these chowderheads that the break-even would be much lower if they simply STOPPED SPENDING SO MUCH MAKING THE DAMN FILMS!?!

Posted by: Cadavra [TypeKey Profile Page] at June 8, 2007 10:37 AM

Good points, DP. However, P3 will be hard pressed to come anywhere near the $29 million that S3 made in its third weekend. Low $20s would be good for P3. Unless it shows a more modest decline of 40% or so this weekend, P3 seems certain to trail S3 by at least $20-30 million domestically in the end.

I am very surprised. I thought last was best for the big three and that P3 was the most anticipated. I guess competition and poor reviews caught up with it.

Posted by: Direwolf [TypeKey Profile Page] at June 8, 2007 12:13 PM

I also think releasing it less than a year after the last one was a huge mistake. The first two movies benefitted greatly from repeats. Not only were there two monoliths to compete with, but audiences simply couldn't spend the majority of their movie ticket money on a single story within twelve months. Actually, I kind of wonder how the movie would be faring if it didn't still have those fans who saw it three times in one week. (These people have no right to complain about prevalant blockbusters ever again)

I admit, there's something about having my criticism met by fans with the response "Well it made a bazillion dollars, so it had to be good" and seeing a considerable erosion that feels...cleansing.

Posted by: Skyblade [TypeKey Profile Page] at June 8, 2007 01:42 PM

Something else to consider, Skyblade -- something we often forget when talking about a follow-up to a movie that made a great deal of money. Specifically: What if many of the people who saw that huge-grossing film really didn't like it?

Posted by: Joe Leydon [TypeKey Profile Page] at June 8, 2007 08:28 PM

Poland...you look CRAZY.
I'm embarrassed I stood up for you before.

Your parasitic attack of critics like yourself is redundant.

"JUST FOR THE RECORD"...ooooooh pleeeeease...
Is that the best rational you can come with for your obviously chronic case of 'sour grapes'?

PLEASE STOP!
You look so juvenile trying to find a new way... someway... anyway... however way... a better way... "PLEASE GOD let there be at least one way!" for your silly, obviously mean-spirited, (dare I say) even JEALOUS way and being critical of Nikki.

Give it UP sailor!
Notice how few of your hearties signed on to these comments and are silently avoiding supporting your noble deeds. (They are just as embarrassed - or feel sorry for you like I do.)

Let it go,
Get a life ... but please just get a different life than besides just chasing HERS!!!

(If she was truly as avoidable and benign as you pretend, you wouldn't be tracking her every word or scoop, now would you?) If she really is insignificant, why do you spend so much time trying to find some way to discredit her. As in, "I think YOU doth protest too much!" or maybe your just a school boy in love - and you don't know how to express it???

You do her more of a service in talking about her and drawing attention to her, than if you would just get on with it and find a way to beat her to the scoops yourself. (This segment's lack of viewer response and silence speaks volumes - lend it an ear.)

C'mon me Poland lovers ..Arrrrrgggg!

Your leader is being attacked and desperately needs to hear the pirate's salute from you! (Eye/Eye!) Rally to his cause of self-indulgence ye scallywags! Be the cannon fodder in his ludicrous "criticizm of critics by a critic"! As in ... "No honor amoung thieves" (critics included).

C'mon Lads!
Grab your scabbards and join in Poland's broadsiding of the very ship he wishes he could sail on and be as successfully credited as.

C'mon me maties!
- jump in -
... the water's ...
(wait for it............)
ICE! ICE! ICE! ICE! ICE!

(I'm sorry Dave, but SOMEBODY had to say it.)

Posted by: whatnokiss [TypeKey Profile Page] at June 13, 2007 02:02 AM

The winners of the Los Angeles Press Club's 49th Southern California Journalism Awards "honoring the best in journalism in 2006" were announced last night:

ENTERTAINMENT JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR
Nikki Finke, LA Weekly

Judges: Reading [her] salaciously candid coverage of Hollywood and its inhabitants almost feels like a guilty pleasure. She mixes the news with fearless finger-wagging that’s just fun to read no matter the subject. She tackles the industry monoliths without the kiddy gloves and she seems to have command of the beat.

ENTERTAINMENT HARD NEWS
Honorable Mention: Nikki Finke, LA Weekly

ONLINE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS/FEATURE/COMMENTARY
Honorable Mention: Nikki Finke, LA Weekly

Posted by: whatnokiss [TypeKey Profile Page] at June 17, 2007 09:49 PM

oooooouuuuuuch!

Posted by: whatnokiss [TypeKey Profile Page] at June 17, 2007 09:51 PM

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