The Amazing Spider-Man 2 The Amazing Spider-Man 2 Box Office Prediction Thread - Part 2

[Spider-Fan]

My question is, with a budget of $255 million, where the hell did all the money go? The action scenes were so damn short, and the set pieces weren't exactly awe inspiring. None of the actors commands a Will Smith type of paycheck, so what was it? NY couldn't have accounted for all of the production shortcomings present in the movie.

My guess? Mostly CGI and editing. TASM was shot digitally, and this was shot on film. That immediately adds an expense. With digital, you don't need to spend nearly as much on editing stations and such. With film, you need more equipment, time, etc. Far more work. It looks better, for sure. But, on a straight money issue, film stock is expensive. Though NYC took a large chunk, too.

Can you imagine how horrible the Sinister Six and Venom films would look on a budget under $200m?

Like I said, if you did Venom as like, a horror-action film. More Alien than Aliens, then you can do a 150 mil budget and make something unique. But, Sony won't do that.

And there goes the authenticity, the beauty.

SM3 had a large chunk filmed in Cleveland, and the majesty of NYC wasn't exactly lost. Sure, NYC is more beautiful, but it is easier to make things explode in cities like Cleveland, LOL! Plus, in quick shots, it wouldn't be as noticeable.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

I'd bet on it making less here in North America but unfortunately overseas numbers are going to save it.

Define save please.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

My guess? Mostly CGI and editing. TASM was shot digitally, and this was shot on film. That immediately adds an expense. With digital, you don't need to spend nearly as much on editing stations and such. With film, you need more equipment, time, etc. Far more work. It looks better, for sure. But, on a straight money issue, film stock is expensive. Though NYC took a large chunk, too.

One big expense is that they film a lot they don't use, and they redo and keeping redoing CGI work. Think about all the scenes that were cut just from the trailers. Now consider how different certain CGI shots look from the first trailer to the last. That cost real money.

SM3 had a large chunk filmed in Cleveland, and the majesty of NYC wasn't exactly lost. Sure, NYC is more beautiful, but it is easier to make things explode in cities like Cleveland, LOL! Plus, in quick shots, it wouldn't be as noticeable.

One thing I think Webb does better then Raimi is his location shooting. I think he makes it really work. Very nature, very alive.

 

[Spider-Fan]

One big expense is that they film a lot they don't use, and they redo and keeping redoing CGI work. Think about all the scenes that were cut just from the trailers. Now consider how different certain CGI shots look from the first trailer to the last. That cost real money.

That too. Let's not forget, they hired/fired a Mary Jane in this film, too. CGI work gets REALLY expensive late in the game, as well. Those guys do like, 20 hour shifts for months in order to get their portion of the CGI done for films with quick turnaround like this done on time. That means you need to pay them overtime. Overtime means time and a half. That means money.

One thing I think Webb does better then Raimi is his location shooting. I think he makes it really work. Very nature, very alive.

I won't disagree with that. NYC in these films was used extremely well and everything LOOKs good.

 

[I SEE SPIDEY]

Define save please.

I still have this suspicion that it could make more than the first worldwide because of China and other markets. Maybe about 800mil total. I think saving it means that money will eventually be made off of it. Not as much as they'd like of course.

 

[jmc]

Here's the quote about redemption...

Although Arad emphasised the importance of Spider-Man in bringing such disparate characters together. "As long as there's that one thing in common: they'll hate Spider-Man," he says. "They'll hate him because he's so different from them. But then, you know when you sit by yourself somewhere and you think about it, they all had a different life at one time and that's what's so beautiful about the Spider-Man universe. They have amazing stories if you look at it.

"And everybody's looking for redemption; they're unforgiven. Would you see one of the Sinister Six starting to feel like that? Yes. And people love it, by the way. They love when a villain finds his way back because we're all very forgiving."

The mistake Arad is making is that the type of characters he is talking about are not villains but anti-heroes. There's a difference. Anti-heroes have a quality to them that makes redemption a desirable result for both the character and the audience. The problem here is you can't end a Sinister 6 film with that result because they have to still be villains by film's end.

 

[Heretic]

The mistake Arad is making is that the type of characters he is talking about are not villains but anti-heroes. There's a difference. Anti-heroes have a quality to them that makes redemption a desirable result for both the character and the audience. The problem here is you can't end a Sinister 6 film with that result because they have to still be villains by film's end.

Not if the hope is to launch them into their own sub-franchise...which is probably the idea. Sony wants an Avengers...but they only have Spidey. Their plan seems to be to turn all of the big name villains into the heroes and use other villains as their villains.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

That too. Let's not forget, they hired/fired a Mary Jane in this film, too. CGI work gets REALLY expensive late in the game, as well. Those guys do like, 20 hour shifts for months in order to get their portion of the CGI done for films with quick turnaround like this done on time. That means you need to pay them overtime. Overtime means time and a half. That means money.

It is also leads to below par work at times, though it didn't really happen in this case. It is amazing when you seen this movies with huge budgets and less then stellar CGI. It is because they only had a few weeks to recreate an entire scene or character.

I won't disagree with that. NYC in these films was used extremely well and everything LOOKs good.

The first film was a bit hit or miss for me at times, but TASM 2 was damn pretty.

 

[Visualiza]

Not if the hope is to launch them into their own sub-franchise...which is probably the idea. Sony wants an Avengers...but they only have Spidey. Their plan seems to be to turn all of the big name villains into the heroes and use other villains as their villains.

Excuse me while I vomit.

 

[jmc]

Not if the hope is to launch them into their own sub-franchise...which is probably the idea. Sony wants an Avengers...but they only have Spidey. Their plan seems to be to them turn all of the big name villains into the heroes and use other villains as their villains.

And it's a foolish plan that will blow up in their face and potentially take Spider-Man down with them. I get they have Marvel Studios envy but if that's what they are thinking then frankly they deserve what's coming to them. If fans can't get behind a Sinister 6 film then what hope general audiences? They're franchise building for a series that doesn't need it, and it will reflect in the box office. Hell, it's already reflecting in the box office.

 

[Spider-Fan]

It is also leads to below par work at times, though it didn't really happen in this case. It is amazing when you seen this movies with huge budgets and less then stellar CGI. It is because they only had a few weeks to recreate an entire scene or character.


The first film was a bit hit or miss for me at times, but TASM 2 was damn pretty.

Green Lantern is a great example of what you mentioned: subpar CGI on a short turn around. But, I agree. The CGI in this movie was awesome. Great job by the SFX department on this one.

 

[X Knight]

so, do you think there's a chance this will actually make less than the 1st film?

 

[Visualiza]

If that bit about the S6 spiraling out into hero movies for Spider-Man's villains, then I think my fear of this franchise encroaching upon Resident Evil territory could be a very real scenario.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

so, do you think there's a chance this will actually make less than the 1st film?

While it might actually make less actual profit because a big amount will be coming by way of China, it will probably just past the first film in terms of Box Office numbers.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

The best potential for Sinister Six movies, all belong to Marvel. From the group taking on other superheroes, to Norman as the Iron Patriot.

 

[Ms. Marvel]

Not if the hope is to launch them into their own sub-franchise...which is probably the idea. Sony wants an Avengers...but they only have Spidey. Their plan seems to be to turn all of the big name villains into the heroes and use other villains as their villains.

This is hurting my soul.

 

[X Knight]

While it might actually make less actual profit because a big amount will be coming by way of China, it will probably just past the first film in terms of Box Office numbers.

it would really say something if it actually makes less, domestically.

 

[Marvin]

it would really say something if it actually makes less, domestically.

No, actually it wouldn't.

 

[OB12]

Not if the hope is to launch them into their own sub-franchise...which is probably the idea. Sony wants an Avengers...but they only have Spidey. Their plan seems to be to turn all of the big name villains into the heroes and use other villains as their villains.

I thought TASM2 was pretty decent, but man this sounds totally awful if this is actually Sony's intention. I really have no idea how you make a S6 movie work.

 

[Heretic]

It's just a guess, of course...but they are making Sinister 6 and calling it a story of redemption. They are making a Venom movie. You don't make two of your next 3 films about villains. That doesn't make sense. What makes sense is that they will be anti-hero type characters.

It just seems to me like reason to be really worried about this franchise. This is a big reason why I haven't seen ASM2 and won't until Netflix...I just dont think they have the best interest of the characters in mind and really are just desperate for cash. Desperation rarely leads to smart decisions.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

it would really say something if it actually makes less, domestically.

It is going to make less domestically. It looks to be opening low, and it is going to run into Neighbors, Godzilla, DoFP and Maleficent consecutively.

 

[Marvin]

One big expense is that they film a lot they don't use, and they redo and keeping redoing CGI work. Think about all the scenes that were cut just from the trailers. Now consider how different certain CGI shots look from the first trailer to the last. That cost real money.

That too. Let's not forget, they hired/fired a Mary Jane in this film, too. CGI work gets REALLY expensive late in the game, as well. Those guys do like, 20 hour shifts for months in order to get their portion of the CGI done for films with quick turnaround like this done on time. That means you need to pay them overtime. Overtime means time and a half. That means money.

This is probably what has inflated the budget in the way it has. Looking at all the fickle left and right's on the part of the studio and the director along way. From the actress to the cutting room floor footage hinted but not present in the film to all the R&D(see S6) that must have gone into this thing that really doesn't amount to all that much in terms of screen story...

Then there is the expensive NYC locations(unlike most other cbms these days).

They need to get a handle on that. Looking at this film, it probably could have been made for less than the speculated budget imo.

 

[grieven]

Personally I take exception to the marketing budget much more than the cost of making the film.

It was overmarketed, gave away too much in the process, and appears to have cost too much to market based on reports. I still think the cost of marketing must have been shared by promotional partners like McDonalds, USPS, etc. It had to have been.

 

[Tony Stark]

There's a small part of me that likes part of this film. As I said in my review, the film is a total mess and deserves every bit of negativity it's drawn, but there are a few scenes in there that really hit an emotional high that the first one never did.

Having said that, I am almost wishing for this thing to tank, if the intent is to make these villain spin offs. This is where Marvel really needs to put their foot down. Anyone with half a brain, knows that no one wants to view a Spider-man villain film without Spider-man in it.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

I totally forgot they cut all the MJ scenes. Dang, how much movie did they cut?