Rise of the Silver Surfer BOX OFFICE Discussion

[Docker2.0]

Why is it unfair? Bryan Singer had to deal with Fox, but X-men was still a decent movie. And he had less money.

For starters he for the most part cast people that were right for the roles instead of flavors of the month, and GQ cover model types.

X1 was decent/ok, just like F4, with the sequel to both of them being a lot better and vast improvements. F42 got good reviews, it just didn't perform well at the b.o. People had that bad taste of the previous movie in their mouth still. Again, Fox has to ok that script and Story goes from there.

 

[Kelly]

In your Opinion.
He also directed Barbershop, which was widely acclaimed.
Then he made the mistake of signing with Fox to direct Taxi.
Taxi was a shallow star vehicle for Jimmy Fallon and Queen Latifah.
(I mean what good could come from that, under any director?)

Story's no Stanley Kubrick, but I don't think he's nearly as bad as you'd like everyone to believe. Jeez.

The relationships dynamics were spot on in FF2, the characterization was there as well, but IMO that came more from the writing, not from direction, I think that was also from the actors themselves as well....from the comments on the DVD they saw what was missing.....and they fixed it....from the comments of the director, writer, producers were a bunch of excuses.....but the action, epic feel, and fear factor of a huge devouer of the earth was missing in this movie....THAT IMO was from direction, and lack of vision of someone.......I'm not sure if its in the area of writing or not....from what I've heard and seen.....there were some changes to the script as time went on.....and the buck has to stop at the director.


I was lucky enough to have had the main problem I saw of the first movie.........FIXED.....for the second.......and thats why I enjoyed it so much.

 

[TheVileOne]

X1 was decent/ok, just like F4, with the sequel to both of them being a lot better and vast improvements. F42 got good reviews, it just didn't perform well at the b.o. People had that bad taste of the previous movie in their mouth still. Again, Fox has to ok that script and Story goes from there.

The movie did not get good reviews. The reviews mostly stated it was an improvement over the first one but still a bad/mediocre movie.

X-men got a sequel that was better all the way across the board, and did much better with critics and audiences, and was a longer, better movie than the first one.

Despite whatever the reaction with X-men, the fans still went out to see X-men 2 in droves and it was very successful. The comparison does not mesh.

 

[Docker2.0]

We just agree to disagree. No matter what happens, you'll always see Story as the guy who f-ed up and i'll be the guy who says he studied his material but the truth is F4 isn't that great of a franchise in the eyes of fans due to them being kind of corny....even from the comics.

 

[TheVileOne]

Whatever, but don't compare this movie to X-men 2. It's not the same.

It takes more than studying the material to make a good movie. Even if you study the material, you can still get a bad grade.

 

[Malus]

The relationships dynamics were spot on in FF2, the characterization was there as well, but IMO that came more from the writing, not from direction, I think that was also from the actors themselves as well....from the comments on the DVD they saw what was missing.....and they fixed it....from the comments of the director, writer, producers were a bunch of excuses.....but the action, epic feel, and fear factor of a huge devouer of the earth was missing in this movie....THAT IMO was from direction, and lack of vision of someone.......I'm not sure if its in the area of writing or not....from what I've heard and seen.....there were some changes to the script as time went on.....and the buck has to stop at the director.


I was lucky enough to have had the main problem I saw of the first movie.........FIXED.....for the second.......and thats why I enjoyed it so much.

I'm perfectly willing to accept that this type of film may not be for Tim Story, that his involvement may have been poor judgment on his part (getting involved with Fox) and "poor director casting" on Fox's part.
But to outright label him a poor director based on these films is silly to me, especially considering that he did make a great independent film right out of the gate. First time at bat, he knocks one out of the park (in most critics' views) then suddenly he becomes a lame director after signing with Fox? I don't buy that.

There are plenty of otherwise fine directors who wouldn't have a clue what to do with a superhero project. I don't think we're going to see a Wes Anderson or a Martin Scorcese attached to Justice League, for example.
It might be interesting, but it probably wouldn't hit the mark for a mass audience.

I'm a film student, and I graduated from college with a degree in it. I know what a director does. So people like you can't tell me I don't.

I know a half dozen guys who can say the same thing.
A couple of them make a decent Big Mac.
The others spend most of their time on internet message boards.

 

[Docker2.0]

Whatever, but don't compare this movie to X-men 2. It's not the same.

It takes more than studying the material to make a good movie. Even if you study the material, you can still get a bad grade.

He tries to please the geeks by staying close to the source but the geeks are the main ones booing him becuase they want Spielberg!

 

[TheVileOne]

I'm perfectly willing to accept that this type of film may not be for Tim Story, that his involvement may have been poor judgment on his part (getting involved with Fox) and "poor director casting" on Fox's part.

On his part, he says that Jessica Alba had the best audition for Sue Storm. So the poor casting wasn't just on Fox's part.

But to outright label him a poor director based on these films is silly to me, especially considering that he did make a great independent film right out of the gate. First time at bat, he knocks one out of the park (in most critics' views) then suddenly he becomes a lame director after signing with Fox? I don't buy that.

Are you telling me that Barbershop was an indy film that was made without any funding from a distributor? Because if it was, that's fine, I'll believe it was an indy film.

Barbershop either way doesn't make him a great director to me. Nor does "signing with Fox" give him an excuse for making bad movies IMHO.

There are plenty of otherwise fine directors who wouldn't have a clue what to do with a superhero project. I don't think we're going to see a Wes Anderson or a Martin Scorcese attached to Justice League, for example.
It might be interesting, but it probably wouldn't hit the mark for a mass audience.

That doesn't mean Tim Story is a fine director either though, or a great one.

I know a half dozen guys who can say the same thing.
A couple of them make a decent Big Mac.
The others spend most of their time on internet message boards.

Good thing I don't work at McDonald's, know how to make a decent big mac, or spend most of my time on internet message boards.

 

[Iron Maiden]

I'm a film student, and I graduated from college with a degree in it. I know what a director does. So people like you can't tell me I don't.

This explains so much about the 'tude, dude .....t: Let us know if you find work.

 

[Kelly]

On his part, he says that Jessica Alba had the best audition for Sue Storm. So the poor casting wasn't just on Fox's part.

That's funny because according to her she didn't audition, and I've never heard him comment on any of the auditions

Barbershop either way doesn't make him a great director to me. Nor does "signing with Fox" give him an excuse for making bad movies IMHO.

Well unfortunately according to Avi it was Taxi that got him job for FF....but for those that had seen Barbershop, we thought he would have no problem the relationship part of this family. Unfortunately in the first movie, I did not see any of that, but I blame the writing more than Story. As far as my love for the characterization, chemistry, and relationships this 2nd time around. I give the writing and actors the credit for that, not Story. So no he's not doing to well on my score card. BUT I'm not going to call him a hack director because of it.

That doesn't mean Tim Story is a fine director either though, or a great one.

It only shows me he's inconsistent.

Good thing I don't work at McDonald's, know how to make a decent big mac, or spend most of my time on internet message boards.

The only thing I've seen it do for you around here, is make you extremely pompous, and spend enormous amounts of time on the forums of movies you can't stand. Hmmmmm.

 

[Iron Maiden]

Amen, Kel. Lord save us from the "film students" around here

 

[Spider-Fan]

I really enjoyed Superman Returns, saw it 2x and bought the DVD...

How much I didn't like SR makes me sad

FF:ROTSS may not be an art film, but I still enjoyed it. Everything doesn't have to be an art film to be good. I think this movie deserved a better BO, personally, but FOX shot themselves in the foot.

 

[Bishop2]

On his part, he says that Jessica Alba had the best audition for Sue Storm. So the poor casting wasn't just on Fox's part.

Yeah, he talks on the Extended Edition DVD features about how she came off so "maternal" in her audition. So if Alba claims she didn't audition, somebody's lying.

 

[Kelly]

Yeah, he talks on the Extended Edition DVD features about how she came off so "maternal" in her audition. So if Alba claims she didn't audition, somebody's lying.

He interviewed Jessica, and I believe Ioan was there as well, I could be wrong about Ioan being there, and that was when he talks about her being maternal. She adds that in the interview, she actually talked how she thought Sue should be played.......he talked on the commentary about her being maternal in how she took care of him on the set.....if he was sick....etc....


Jessica has not said, she did not audition specifically for Fantastic Four, she has just said in an interview that the only movie she has gone in to read for in years was Nancy in Sin City. So I took from that that she did not do an audition or reading for Sue Storm. Maybe Tim is speaking of the interview that he talked about at the very beginning with Jessica as the audition, but she didn't have to read for the part.

I doubt either are lying, that would be a silly thing to lie about....it's probably simply Jessica looking an an audition is actually reading for the part, and Tim talking about their first meeting together.

 

[Dragon]

That's funny because according to her she didn't audition, and I've never heard him comment on any of the auditions

Story said it during a radio interview just prior to the release of FF1. I heard it myself.

 

[Iron Maiden]

I think both of you are right... and I guess unless we are insiders we won't know for sure. I only know from some of the statements that Tim made about Julian is that he described it as an interview also, not an audition. I mean, it's a bit different from an interview we working folks in the non-theatrical world would go through but I would imagine they want to see if this is a person I can work with and who would work well with the rest of my cast without pulling some prima donna stuff.

 

[Dragon]

Well in the interview I'm talking about Story said she gave a better audition than any other actress. I would think, or hope yjay he'd done more with her than just talk if she truly edged out all others being looked at for the role (although based on the results, probably not).

 

[Dragon]

Well unfortunately according to Avi it was Taxi that got him job for FF....but for those that had seen Barbershop, we thought he would have no problem the relationship part of this family. Unfortunately in the first movie, I did not see any of that, but I blame the writing more than Story. As far as my love for the characterization, chemistry, and relationships this 2nd time around. I give the writing and actors the credit for that, not Story. So no he's not doing to well on my score card. BUT I'm not going to call him a hack director because of it.

Honestly the praise you're giving would have to be given to the director. Actors don't just go on the set and perform. The director is (At least if he's doing his job) guiding their performances, blocking in their movements and even making suggestions about shifting their emphasis for additional takes. Not to mention deciding which takes are to be used in the edit.

 

[Tony Stark]

How much I didn't like SR makes me sad

FF:ROTSS may not be an art film, but I still enjoyed it. Everything doesn't have to be an art film to be good. I think this movie deserved a better BO, personally, but FOX shot themselves in the foot.

I completely agree, I wanted to like that film, and I remember seeing it how pumped I was when I heard the old familiar williams theme and the opening credits, then after that it was all downhill.

By far the biggest letdown for me in comic book movies.

I actually enjoyed both FF movies, and maybe the difference is I wasn't going in with high expectations the way I was for SR.

 

[Spider-Fan]

I completely agree, I wanted to like that film, and I remember seeing it how pumped I was when I heard the old familiar williams theme and the opening credits, then after that it was all downhill.

By far the biggest letdown for me in comic book movies.

I actually enjoyed both FF movies, and maybe the difference is I wasn't going in with high expectations the way I was for SR.

SR was the biggest comic movie letdown for me, also...I was also very excited during the opening credits, and the sad the rest of the movie

I enjoyed the FF movies as well. While I do think they are flawed (FF having more flaws), I still enjoy them. They have elements I enjoyed.

 

[Lightning Strykez!]

Jessica Alba never auditioned for the role of Invisible Woman. She was interviewed.

Other actresses for consideration i.e. Rachel McAdams and Julia Styles did do tests with Ioan Gruffudd. However, Tim has repeatedly complimented Jessica as being "a really good actress."

 

[Kelly]

Honestly the praise you're giving would have to be given to the director. Actors don't just go on the set and perform. The director is (At least if he's doing his job) guiding their performances, blocking in their movements and even making suggestions about shifting their emphasis for additional takes. Not to mention deciding which takes are to be used in the edit.

I stand by my post, you have your opinion, thats cool....

 

[Carp Man]

Looks like we have some estimates for Wednesday :

TSM :

Domestic: $90,914,000 48.4%+ Foreign: $96,854,197 51.6%= Worldwide: $187,768,197


Thru July 29th overseas #'s.

HP :

Domestic: $247,183,000 35.3%+ Foreign: $454,000,000 64.7%= Worldwide: $701,183,000


Thru July 29th overseas #'s.

TF's :

Domestic: $287,614,000 53.6%+ Foreign: $249,468,071 46.4%= Worldwide: $537,082,071

Thru July 29th overseas #'s.

FF 2 :

Domestic: $129,817,462 54.3%+ Foreign: $109,405,297 45.7%= Worldwide: $239,222,759

Thru July 29th overseas #'s. Domestic #'s thru July 30th.

 

[Malus]

^ Well, at least now we all know what a director does.

I wonder how many medical school graduates spend their time "Monday morning quarterbacking" on the WebMD message boards?

"Doctor! You have a patient coding in ICU!"

"Hold on, I'm telling these dummies in net-land the difference between a Staph infection and Cellulitis!"

 

[Kelly]

^ Well, at least now we all know what a director does.

I wonder how many medical school graduates spend their time "Monday morning quarterbacking" on the WebMD message boards?

"Doctor! You have a patient coding in ICU!"

"Hold on, I'm telling these dummies in net-land the difference between a Staph infection and Cellulitis!"

I slept at a Holiday Inn lastnight.........so ask me anything......I'm an expert on everything today...........