Ghost Rider IS Being Screened

[Advanced Dark]

But it never could be "all that early". The film was just completed. It has not just been sitting on a shelf for a year.

 

[shinobi89]

They guy is 100% ignorant. It's funny how all these people with under 10 posts come out fo the woodwork to defend the lousy behavior of 3rd tier print journalists and low rate blog sites.

Perhaps when I get to 11 posts then you'll believe me that studios DO do this.

And I'm not defending him. I don't even know who he is.

 

[Nivek]

But it never could be "all that early". The film was just completed. It has not just been sitting on a shelf for a year.

Well, looking at the facts, filming was completed almost a year and a half ago, and the movie was pulled from a summer schedule last minute, so they could "tweak the FX". To some pud writer/reviewer like Devin, who 99% most likely already hates it sight unseen, this means it was already damned.

AD, the guy hates Superhero flicks, dont get too personal with him. Besides, CHUD lost it's clout years ago, it's like the same 60 people still read or visit the site anymore, a stop at their message boards shows that. SH has a WAAAYYY higher volume of traffic in comparison. And I'm sure Devin (like most of the staff at AICN) lurk here so they can post info to their site when they come across it.

 

[Advanced Dark]

Perhaps when I get to 11 posts then you'll believe me that studios DO do this.

And I'm not defending him. I don't even know who he is.

I do know studio do this but I think in this case the film wasn't finished on time for early screenings and Sony/MSJ trusted SHH enough and gave them an early exclusive even though the F/X were incomplete. Studios DO do that too. God forbid you give some early unfished work to someone else cause even if you do tell them it's unfinished they'll post something negative about it.

 

[Amphibatheatre]

But it never could be "all that early". The film was just completed. It has not just been sitting on a shelf for a year.

Yet, for a film that was just completed it seems to have been making a lot of rounds in the foreign market...

We just completed a fantastic international tour where the film screened all around Europe.

 

[RedIsNotBlue]

Well, looking at the facts, filming was completed almost a year and a half ago, and the movie was pulled from a summer schedule last minute, so they could "tweak the FX".

No that is only part of the facts. Sony also didn't want Ghost Rider competing against already established and successful so they picked a date that has proven successful in the past and would give it space away from the big blockbusters. But yes also the FX needed more work and I believe Sony gave Mark more money to do a scene that he really wanted.

 

[Advanced Dark]

Yeah it was much more than just tweaking F/X. There's only so much tweaking you can do to existing F/X.

 

[Advanced Dark]

Yet, for a film that was just completed it seems to have been making a lot of rounds in the foreign market...

Yes and that was right after the final cut was complete. It wasn't before. It's a Worldwide release and...Ghost Rider has a large campaign going here but the international market is much larger than the domestic and it has yet to really be tapped by some of Marvel characters like Ghost Rider. It's extremely important to make a stand in the foreign markets and show off this character to a much greater extent than they would have to do here. If they don't do this GR might not get the attention it needs to be successful out there. Domestic Box office is nice but if you can get the attention of the rest of the World it can really start bringing in the profits to secure the future of the franchise.

 

[YJ1]

Yet, for a film that was just completed it seems to have been making a lot of rounds in the foreign market...

This is a very good observation. I tow the company line with the best of them but something here doesn't pass the smell test.

I picked up the NY Times Sunday edition today (free copy, I’d never pay for that liberal rag) and flipped to the entertainment section. What hurts and looks completely awful are the giant movie ads. Ghost Rider’s head to head competition has beautiful FULL PAGE ads.

Bridge to Terabithia proclaims “from Walt Disney Pictures comes The First Great Family Movie of 2007” and has two critic’s quotes with a award logo in the left hand corner. The critics are complete peons (The Insider & CBS Radio) and the award is something called Heartland Award: Truly Moving Picture.

Breach’s FULL PAGE ad includes five critic’s quotes with the one in bold at the top reading, “A spellbinding, real-life suspense thriller.” (2 from Fox-TV, WB-TV, ABC-TV and Maxim magazine) None of these quotes are from real critics.

Ghost Rider has a half page ad with the title, a flaming skid mark and the words “Starts Friday.” That is simply pathetic. Playing both sides of the fence has them missing spin potential. I’m sure Ghost Rider could have gotten something positive to print and promote had they chosen not to be so cautious (at best) or chosen to intentionally show it late to critics (at worse). Still, I guess they figure they’re the leader in the clubhouse so to speak. Don’t beat yourself and let your competition try and close the gap. Judging by the Internet buzz and print/TV ads, Ghost Rider’s executives and marketing personal aren’t helping the cause very much.

 

[Amphibatheatre]

Yes and that was right after the final cut was complete. It wasn't before.

Exactly, they weren't showing the film to the foreign markets BEFORE the final cut. They have been showing the finished film, by their own admission, all over Europe and to U.S. theater owners which means any excuses from the studio and director blaming the late critic screenings on the film just being completed can't be true. When was then International tour? If it was in the last few weeks then there is no reason for the major U.S. critics to not be able to see the film during the same time the foreign markets were seeing it.

 

[Redvelvetdragon]

I remember somwhere some critics were talking (generally, not about GR) that no movie company is REQUIRED to show a screening prior to showtime. It's a choice. I, personally, don't let the critics decide whether I should see a movie or not. If something appeals to me, then I go see it. 'Nuff said.

With all the movies that have won an oscar in the last few years, I seriously doubt the taste or mindset on anyone in hollywood who judges movies.

Now having said that, I'm not going to GR expecting Shakespeare. Most movies aren't like that anyway. I love GR, I'm excited about it, I'm going to see it. I have never understood people who have some kind of evil agenda to undermine certain genres of movies. It's a pity that a lot of people (I'm not talking about most people here on the board or SHH) can't get over themselves.

I wish I could see GR with all the rest of you. You know, just have the theater to ourselves, the GR forum.

 

[CAH]

I remember somwhere some critics were talking (generally, not about GR) that no movie company is REQUIRED to show a screening prior to showtime. It's a choice. I, personally, don't let the critics decide whether I should see a movie or not. If something appeals to me, then I go see it. 'Nuff said.

With all the movies that have won an oscar in the last few years, I seriously doubt the taste or mindset on anyone in hollywood who judges movies.

Now having said that, I'm not going to GR expecting Shakespeare. Most movies aren't like that anyway. I love GR, I'm excited about it, I'm going to see it. I have never understood people who have some kind of evil agenda to undermine certain genres of movies. It's a pity that a lot of people (I'm not talking about most people here on the board or SHH) can't get over themselves.

I wish I could see GR with all the rest of you. You know, just have the theater to ourselves, the GR forum.

Now THAT would be supremely awesome.

CAH

 

[GammaMike]

I plan on seeing it at least once, propably on Sat.

 

[Vartha]

I remember somwhere some critics were talking (generally, not about GR) that no movie company is REQUIRED to show a screening prior to showtime. It's a choice. I, personally, don't let the critics decide whether I should see a movie or not. If something appeals to me, then I go see it. 'Nuff said.

With all the movies that have won an oscar in the last few years, I seriously doubt the taste or mindset on anyone in hollywood who judges movies.

Now having said that, I'm not going to GR expecting Shakespeare. Most movies aren't like that anyway. I love GR, I'm excited about it, I'm going to see it. I have never understood people who have some kind of evil agenda to undermine certain genres of movies. It's a pity that a lot of people (I'm not talking about most people here on the board or SHH) can't get over themselves.

I wish I could see GR with all the rest of you. You know, just have the theater to ourselves, the GR forum.

Alot of Artist are treated the same way, including the ones in the Fantasy/ Comic Genres.
For years fine art people have treated both like S*&^ Frazzetta is one of those artists that should be included in museums, not just his own.
I knew a teacher in the Acadamey of Art in Chicago that didn't like the Hildabrandt Brothers either! That was basically why I dropped out of that school.

 

[The_Raven]

Last night I sent an email to Willie Waffle, the critic I hear from most. Nothing special, he does reviews for the radio station I usually listen to (Q108, Clarksville, TN),

I asked him simply: "What is your opinion about Ghost Rider?"

His response:

Ghost Rider may have been shown to some select and genre press, or just some showings for fans, but won't be shown to most critics until Thursday night before it opens. That's when I will see it. Sometimes, the studio will have a junket with press that is friendly to a movie, and that's why you see some early comments about a movie, while others say it was not screened in time for deadline.
The New York Post's complaint (like all newspaper critics) is that they can't review it in time for Friday's papers if they see it Thursday night. For some reason, style and entertainment news has a much earlier deadline so they can fit the stories in around the ads, while news and sports can cover something late in the evening and get it in the paper for the next day. Even I get stuck in these situations because I record with many stations on Thursday, and do some live on Friday.

I hope Ghost Rider will be good, but I have a couple reservations. First, the attempt to hide it from press until the last minute is a tactic used when a movie is not very good. No studio waits until the night before it opens to show something like Dreamgirls, Little Miss Sunshine, The Queen or any other Oscar contenders. Even other movies coming out this week like Breach, Music and Lyrics and Bridge to Terabithia have already been shown to critics and they were good to very good movies.

My second worry is that I feel like they have been using the same scenes over and over and over again in each trailer and commercial. Is there nothing else that is interesting about the movie?

I'll be holding out hope for the film, and will have a review up on Friday. Thanks for listening to us on Q108. I hope you enjoy what you hear, even if you don't always agree.

Willie Waffle

Thought this might somehow be of interest.

 

[Advanced Dark]

Exactly, they weren't showing the film to the foreign markets BEFORE the final cut. They have been showing the finished film, by their own admission, all over Europe and to U.S. theater owners which means any excuses from the studio and director blaming the late critic screenings on the film just being completed can't be true. When was then International tour? If it was in the last few weeks then there is no reason for the major U.S. critics to not be able to see the film during the same time the foreign markets were seeing it.

From what I understand International is still happening now. They were just in Spain.

 

[nietzschebot]

ummmmmmm, just a question, a little one. If it actually is being screened in Europe or for small groups of press here, why is there no new news about it? (It's not like they don't have the internet in Europe). I read German, and I don't see anything in the German press that looks reliable. Also, every one of the IMDB posts is obviously fake. I want it to be great, but everything so far besides the SHH review is extremely disturbing. Why, for instance, don't the aintitcool guys have anything, even if it's bad? The only review they have is also quite obviously a "new" source and a wonderful plant. Sorry to be glum, but I am.

 

[Amphibatheatre]

From what I understand International is still happening now. They were just in Spain.

Avi and Gary's post said they had just completed showing the film across Europe, so... this international tour had to have been happening in the last couple of weeks. I doubt they've been showing an unfinished film across Europe. Now if the film was finished and was able to be shown to all of these foreign markets then there is no excuse for the Thursday night critic screenings in the U.S.

Ghost Rider may have been shown to some select and genre press, or just some showings for fans, but won't be shown to most critics until Thursday night before it opens. That's when I will see it. Sometimes, the studio will have a junket with press that is friendly to a movie, and that's why you see some early comments about a movie, while others say it was not screened in time for deadline.
The New York Post's complaint (like all newspaper critics) is that they can't review it in time for Friday's papers if they see it Thursday night. For some reason, style and entertainment news has a much earlier deadline so they can fit the stories in around the ads, while news and sports can cover something late in the evening and get it in the paper for the next day. Even I get stuck in these situations because I record with many stations on Thursday, and do some live on Friday.

I hope Ghost Rider will be good, but I have a couple reservations. First, the attempt to hide it from press until the last minute is a tactic used when a movie is not very good. No studio waits until the night before it opens to show something like Dreamgirls, Little Miss Sunshine, The Queen or any other Oscar contenders. Even other movies coming out this week like Breach, Music and Lyrics and Bridge to Terabithia have already been shown to critics and they were good to very good movies.

Well, there ya go.

 

[Advanced Dark]

It's funny how childish some of these pathetic websites get because they dont' get to go to a screening. Now cinemablend perhaps one of the worst on the net is slamming the credibility of SHH!

http://www.cinemablend.com/new/Sony-Scheming-Ghost-Rider-2-4472.html

 

[Amphibatheatre]

It seems you're falling back on calling anyone who dares raises a question about Sony's screening policy in regards to Ghost Rider childish and pathetic. Is the snark and vitriol in the articles you've been linking absolutely necesarry? No. But the reason for it stems from the fact that the studio seems less that truthful in regards to their decison making. That's the reason the writers of said articles are gunning for Sony and the Hype. Their suspicions have been raised by things not adding up.

So, how about we go back to trying to answer why, if the film has been screened to the foreign markets during an international tour, to theater owners in the U.S. and Superherohype, the studio was still unable to schedule proper critic screenings until the night before opening? Doesn't really make sense if the only reason for the late Thursday screening is that the film was down to the wire and that was the latest they could schedule.

The truth of the matter is that no one would have really cared if Sony had decided to keep the film under wraps from major critics until the last possible minute. It's in their rights to do so, but then don't be surprised if the critics decide to call them out. When Sony and MSJ decided to respond to that original Lumenick post is when everyone else began to question what Sony was up to. The question remains, however, why there was no major critic screening scheduled until the night before opening?

 

[Ahura Mazda]

I look forward to seeing this movie when I can here in Geneva or in Paris. And if it is any good, i will probably see it more then once.

The one thing is that there is very little marketing done here overseas and if I was not a SHH regular I doubt I would know about it. Then again not many comic book movies are marketed very well here.

I am anyways sceptic regarding critics this side of the border as they tend to disregard comic book movies as a rule. I have even discussed with a few who own cinemas in Paris and the movie does not quite fit with the intelligentsia. The UGC chairman (he is a member of the same golf club as me) did tell me that unless it was a major blockbuster from the States (Superman, Spiderman, etc.), most super hero comic book movies are not kept on the large screens for very long. And half of the ignorant (in so far that they do not know comic books) people see it as a minor movie to see when there was nothing else. It is very unfortunate here in Europe

 

[Vartha]

Well Amphibatheatre, we here at the Hype are a possitvie group in the first place. Can you blame Mark, Gary, and Avi to favor us over many other "Critic" sites or groups?
Many of us are going to love the movie, no matter how bad the story is going to be, and you would be right on that count, but, WE are FANS of GR, Not really Critics. We're here to give info for those who have an honest question about the characters.
It just bothers ME that some of these sites that have been around as long as the Hype has taken offence that we at the Hype have been chosen over them. There's no need for "slamming" us because of that. They could congradulate us, but do they? Not often.

 

[Vartha]

Double post

 

[Vartha]

I look forward to seeing this movie when I can here in Geneva or in Paris. And if it is any good, i will probably see it more then once.

The one thing is that there is very little marketing done here overseas and if I was not a SHH regular I doubt I would know about it. Then again not many comic book movies are marketed very well here.

I am anyways sceptic regarding critics this side of the border as they tend to disregard comic book movies as a rule. I have even discussed with a few who own cinemas in Paris and the movie does not quite fit with the intelligentsia. The UGC chairman (he is a member of the same golf club as me) did tell me that unless it was a major blockbuster from the States (Superman, Spiderman, etc.), most super hero comic book movies are not kept on the large screens for very long. And half of the ignorant (in so far that they do not know comic books) people see it as a minor movie to see when there was nothing else. It is very unfortunate here in Europe

I understand what you're talking about AM, there have been a few movies from Europe I've wanted to see, Pan's Labrynth being the lastest, which I did see as soon as it did hit theaters here, but Beowulf with Gerard Butler didn't hit many big screens here, and I wanted to see it in the theaters.

 

[Amphibatheatre]

Vartha, my contention is that most of these sites are criticizing SHH's first look at the film not out of jealously but because it helps shine a light on how Sony is suspiciously safeguarding critical reaction to the film. If Sony had screened Ghost Rider to critics in the normal fashion while still allowing SHH to have the first look and first printed review then I doubt you would see the same critical lambasting towards the site that you are now. But, in conjunction with Sony's last minute critic screenings then SHH's review can be construed as another example of the studio's attempts at manipulating the media response to it's investment. I'm not saying that the Hype review was biased but when mixed with the close to the vest screening policy it understandably draws further suspicions of those already questioning what Sony is up to in regards to the film.