Rise of the Silver Surfer BOX OFFICE Discussion

[Advanced Dark]

You know they talk about The Thing's size. When he was 1st drawn by Jack, he was man sized. He was not this big lumbering Hulk type. That came with the Ultimate series. He was not 7 feet tall, and as wide as 2 18 wheelers side by side when he was created. He was a man sized Thing. He looked like a man covered in rock, so to speak. When he was 1st drawn he was a blob. No shape, no form, but when he finally was drawn with human features, he was still man sized.

I'm not talking about the size. It just looks like a guy in a costume that's overwhelmed by the weight of the costume. He's always standing still or doing very little, in running scenes he looks like he has 1000lb backpack on. You'd figure a character with so much strength could move about quite fast or at least look like he could carry his own weight...whatever size he is.

 

[Agent 194]

Yeah,.......Hulk in a costume would not be good. They've got to make this next Hulk better. Not only would a costume be a lateral move, it'd be a step backwards.

 

[GreenKToo]

looks like a surfer film may be on/possible after all.

http://www.superherohype.com/news/topnews.php?id=6031

 

[the a1ant]

Yeah, I'm looking forward to a SS film. Sounds like they may do that before a FF3, which wouldn't be bad, since FF2 didn't have a cliffhanger for another film.

 

[X-Maniac]

I'm not talking about the size. It just looks like a guy in a costume that's overwhelmed by the weight of the costume. He's always standing still or doing very little, in running scenes he looks like he has 1000lb backpack on. You'd figure a character with so much strength could move about quite fast or at least look like he could carry his own weight...whatever size he is.

There's no logic in what you say. A man with a super-dense structure made of rock (enough to stop a truck at speed while standing still, in the first movie) is hardly going to skip around like a ballet dancer. He is going to move like a hugely heavy, dense, rocky man! Which he does!

The problem is that at times it does look like a prosthetic suit. My friend saw the first movie for the first time at the weekend (so we can go and see the second one together) and remarked that the stretching effects for Mr Fantastic looked fake and Thing at times looked like a man in a plastic suit. He also commented that with such extreme looks and powers, he felt the movie had to be lighter and cartoony to carry it off. That's just another opinion, but it was interesting to me to hear a non-comicbook fan's view.

I thought Hulk looked amazingly realistic and I sometimes wonder how a CGI Thing would have looked. I also wonder how it would have looked with a more serious tone - Ben's initial transformation being shown to us as something terrifying, heart-rending. Imagine how any of us might feel if we turned into orange rock! That sort of shocking transmutation could have added depth to the movie. The movie lacked a realistic impact, it's hard to empathise with the characters. Mr Fantastic's powers are very hard to achieve, so they should be used sparingly and the lighting/camerawork adjusted accordingly. Thing should have been much more tragic, a man trapped in a hideously shocking form.

 

[Malus]

From The Associated Press story:

Kevin Feige, president of production at Marvel Studios, believes the recent popularity of sequels is because many are based on "ongoing sagas." Marvel, which holds the rights to many of the most popular comic book characters, is well situated to draw from its extensive library for franchise sequels. Feige says another "X-Men" film is possible and that spin-offs for Wolverine and Magneto are in the works. A third "Fantastic Four" following this summer's "Rise of the Silver Surfer" is also possible, and Feige says a Silver Surfer stand-alone script has been "moved to the forefront" of discussions.

 

[Hiruu]

From The Associated Press story:

Kevin Feige, president of production at Marvel Studios, believes the recent popularity of sequels is because many are based on "ongoing sagas." Marvel, which holds the rights to many of the most popular comic book characters, is well situated to draw from its extensive library for franchise sequels. Feige says another "X-Men" film is possible and that spin-offs for Wolverine and Magneto are in the works. A third "Fantastic Four" following this summer's "Rise of the Silver Surfer" is also possible, and Feige says a Silver Surfer stand-alone script has been "moved to the forefront" of discussions.

We aren't going to know anything until around about October, imho...Fox will have most figures in and will be able to decide on the go ahead. I'm not convinced that Fox has learned their lesson, and will in turn provided adequate resources to deliver the FULL package. Here's the thing of it...they spent ALOT of money on X3, but still chopped that film for whatever ******ed reason.

 

[Sardaukar]

I thought Hulk looked amazingly realistic and I sometimes wonder how a CGI Thing would have looked. I also wonder how it would have looked with a more serious tone - Ben's initial transformation being shown to us as something terrifying, heart-rending. Imagine how any of us might feel if we turned into orange rock! That sort of shocking transmutation could have added depth to the movie. The movie lacked a realistic impact, it's hard to empathise with the characters. Mr Fantastic's powers are very hard to achieve, so they should be used sparingly and the lighting/camerawork adjusted accordingly. Thing should have been much more tragic, a man trapped in a hideously shocking form.

It's utterly flabbergasting to me that they didn't put that scene in the first FF film. It was a cop-out. C'mon, you don't need an excuse to show that stuff...the best parts of the werewolf flicks are when the guy's changing into the werewolf!!!!! It would have been satisfyingly horrific to the audience to see that...I don't think there's anyway it was a stylistic choice...it was about the budget. They wanted to save money...money...money.

Just like not having a CGI Thing was all about the budget. C'mon, I know you hear that crap about Chiklis wanting to be in the suit. Sure, maybe Chiklis wanted it, but they could have easily ignored him or found someone else for the role. You hear that crap about CGI not being able to express emotion. I don't think so. There's no way that CGI can't produce a frickin' rock creature adequately. Skin is the hardest thing to emulate in CGI, not ROCK. Have you ever seen that creature in Galaxy Quest? It still holds up. No, it's all because they decided to cheap out on these films.

 

[Kelly]

From The Associated Press story:

Kevin Feige, president of production at Marvel Studios, believes the recent popularity of sequels is because many are based on "ongoing sagas." Marvel, which holds the rights to many of the most popular comic book characters, is well situated to draw from its extensive library for franchise sequels. Feige says another "X-Men" film is possible and that spin-offs for Wolverine and Magneto are in the works. A third "Fantastic Four" following this summer's "Rise of the Silver Surfer" is also possible, and Feige says a Silver Surfer stand-alone script has been "moved to the forefront" of discussions.

What is the date on this story?

 

[Hunter Rider]

What is the date on this story?

http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=22251

AD submitted it to CS today

 

[Kelly]

I'd be curious to know exactly the date Feige said that.......

 

[Agent 194]

Here's the thing of it...they spent ALOT of money on X3, but still chopped that film for whatever ******ed reason.

I don't know about any chopping.....I wasn't privy to that but I know they made a horrible movie. As I said at the time (the post is somewhere) they had all the indredients and not the right chef or recipe to make a good dish. Or it was all mixed very badly. A meatloaf if you will that was all filler, no meat, not way enough garlic.

 

[Carp Man]

Well, well, well. A 2nd TF's film (no surprise). Another X-Men film (bit of a surprise). Silver Surfer movie put on the front-burner (I guess someone was impressed enough with the response of the public). t: FF 3 possible (no surprise there).

 

[Carp Man]

What is the date on this story?

Todays date on the article. Do you not believe ? t: Is there doubt in your mind there will be a FF 3 ?

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20070719/D8QFQ3SO0.html

 

[Carp Man]

I'm not talking about the size. It just looks like a guy in a costume that's overwhelmed by the weight of the costume. He's always standing still or doing very little, in running scenes he looks like he has 1000lb backpack on. You'd figure a character with so much strength could move about quite fast or at least look like he could carry his own weight...whatever size he is.

When you spend a day in that suit, you come back and talk to me. I was in the army, and we used to go on road maches, in the middle of Oklahoma summer, with a 70 pound back pack, helmet, and rifle. Hiking 20 miles, 10 up, 10 back. Let me tell you it was no picnic, and I was 18. So I know what he must go thru, and he does an excelent job.

 

[Advanced Dark]

^ That's my damn point Carp. All things considered he does an excellent job but CGI would be better IMO. It's BS that you can't show emotion through CGI eyes. You can. Just use Chiki's voice.

 

[Malus]

It's utterly flabbergasting to me that they didn't put that scene in the first FF film. It was a cop-out. C'mon, you don't need an excuse to show that stuff...the best parts of the werewolf flicks are when the guy's changing into the werewolf!!!!! It would have been satisfyingly horrific to the audience to see that...I don't think there's anyway it was a stylistic choice...it was about the budget. They wanted to save money...money...money.

Just like not having a CGI Thing was all about the budget. C'mon, I know you hear that crap about Chiklis wanting to be in the suit. Sure, maybe Chiklis wanted it, but they could have easily ignored him or found someone else for the role. You hear that crap about CGI not being able to express emotion. I don't think so. There's no way that CGI can't produce a frickin' rock creature adequately. Skin is the hardest thing to emulate in CGI, not ROCK. Have you ever seen that creature in Galaxy Quest? It still holds up. No, it's all because they decided to cheap out on these films.

Sardaukar, I agree with everything in your post, especially what I highlighted. I still can't believe we got no Ben-to-Thing transformation scene. If I think about that for long, it really gets me ticked at the studio and producers.

And I agree, Chiklis' preferences were likely not the deciding factor in the studio's choice to go rubber suit. I think that's a funny idea, really. Can't you hear the suits on conference call?

"Yeah, Chiklis says he won't do the motion capture thing; he says he wants a rubber suit."

"A rubber suit? We were gonna get ILM to do this new process that's gonna knock people's socks off."

"Sir, Chiklis says no suit, no way."

"No suit, no Chiklis."

"Yep."

"(audible sigh) ...Well... No choice, I guess."

"I'll order the suit, sir."

t:


I'd have prefered to see Chiklis' performance within a "next generation" CGI/live action combo: His physical acting motion-captured and the facial performance retained in its entirety.
Some type of revolution in CGI FX would have been a trememdous selling point for this franchise. More than anything else, I feel that's what weakened both these films.
To me, as pedestrian as the first film was, put in the type of CGI/Chiklis Thing I just described and you'd have had a "wow factor" that would have distracted folks from an otherwise lackluster film.

Personally, I think from the time Fox decided to go cheap on the Thing and "unrecognizable" on Doctor Doom, this franchise was destined to face an uphill existence.

If we get an FF3... then please, Fox, just have the Thing's transformation become complete.
Give the audience a Ben Grimm they can't forget.


Oh, and Jessica in her underwear again. Make sure that's in there, too.

 

[Carp Man]

^ That's my damn point Carp. All things considered he does an excellent job but CGI would be better IMO. It's BS that you can't show emotion through CGI eyes. You can. Just use Chiki's voice.

You could be right, but as a Thing fan, I like the human Thing look. That's my opinion. CGI would look too phony, just like the Hulk in the movie.

 

[Kelly]

Todays date on the article. Do you not believe ? t: Is there doubt in your mind there will be a FF 3 ?

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20070719/D8QFQ3SO0.html

It sounds like the quote that was made during the first week the movie was out. One thing about the internet and other venues.....one quote usually goes around for about 2 months to different places.....

No, its called, I've eaten very little crow in my life because I wait patiently and read as much as I can before I voice anything...this very well could have been said today.....I would just like to know when and where this quote was given....

Is it a quote to the person writing the article...
Is it a quote to someone else that the person added to the article...
If so, when was the quote given, the first weekend, second week, third week, today????? Answering those questions makes a big difference in understanding the quote...

 

[Advanced Dark]

Domestic: $127,884,079 55.0%
+ Foreign: $104,731,685 45.0%

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

= Worldwide: $232,615,764

 

[Carp Man]

I don't mind eating crow. After a while it's quite tasty. I'd rather step out, then sit on the sideline, but hey that's me. t: I say FF 3 in the bag.

 

[Carp Man]

Domestic: $127,884,079 55.0%
+ Foreign: $104,731,685 45.0%

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

= Worldwide: $232,615,764

Allready reported 4 hours ago. You're getting slow in your old age AD. t:

 

[Malus]

You could be right, but as a Thing fan, I like the human Thing look. That's my opinion. CGI would look too phony, just like the Hulk in the movie.

With Hulk they had to make CGI look like flesh. Not so with the Thing.
As long as the facial performance of Chiklis could be preserved, I'd be all for it.
And I mean CGI at much the same size that he now is.
I'm with you there.
The Thing was never 8 feet tall.

 

[Advanced Dark]

^ FF3 is in the bag. 300 million Worldwide is probable or damn close to it. Then add in DVD sales and the TV rights and you have quite a profit already. The 3rd film will happen. It has enough of an audience. Release it during the HOlidays. The franchise as it is won't stand up well to the mega-films.

 

[Advanced Dark]

Allready reported 4 hours ago. You're getting slow in your old age AD. t:

Yeah but I'm more credible. t: