Weekend Box Office

[MikeS]

This is a big weekend for moviegoers. The long awaited Jurassic Park III hits the screen and watch out cause this one is a MONSTER. I saw the film over the weekend and it is going to be the action film of the summer. Unlike The Lost World, this film plays rough but with comic breaks and brings back into the story Dr Allen Grant (Sam Neill) and Ellie Statler(Laura Dern. Wile the story starts out slow once it hits Site B it never lets up.Stan Winston"s dinos and ILM's CGI dinos are the best they ever have been. There is a fantastic air chase with Pteranodons that has to be seen to be believed and the new bad Boy on the block, the Spineosaurus, really lives up to his name. This one is a Monster and expect a 75M + opening.
Julia Roberts film also opens but this weekend is for traveling...... back to Jurassic park!!

 

[DisDuck]

Interesting comments. It opens here in NJ tonight and a local reviewer just gave it 2 stars with a not a big deal review.

 

[BRERALEX]

saw jp3 yesterday first showing the theatre was packed for a matinee. But it wasnt that good horrible story horrrible horrible horrible story. Great dinos the spinodino was awesome but as far as a story it was bad.

 

[JeffH]

I hear Speilberg wasn't involved with this one, so it could be a bomb.
I heard wrong, he isn't directing but he is still executive producer, which means it must meet his requirements.

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

Who's goes into a dino flick looking for a story/plot, I don't. JP3 will do very well and I believe that MikeS guesstimate is very close to what JP3 will do over these next four days. It's not Oscar material but the dinos look great! JP3 pulled in 19 mil yesterday.

 

[lrodk]

Please limit your commentary of non-Disney topics on this board to those that relate somehow to Disney Rumors and News. It helps us stay on topic, something that guests who visit a specific board come to rely upon.

 

[darla]

Plop, plop, fiss, fiss, oh what a relief it is. I refuse to see most big summer movies or holiday movies. You wanna hint why because a majority of them suckkkk... These big companies including disney think we are all drones and you know what thats because we are and they know it. Because crappy movies like tomb raider, pearl harbor, jp 2 and 3, scary movie 2, nutty professor, or dr dolittle and on and on and on sell 200 million each. While as of late really good movies are flopping on their face because they didn't spend a gaziilion dollars on effects or because they weren't hyped to be the next big thing, because they weren't cheap thrills, or because our attention spans need instant gratification. I call it the oooh and ahh effect somewhat similiar to what a toddler does when he sees fireworks for the first time. I can't believe how simple we have become. Not that A.I is a good example, because it did cost a gazillion dollars to make and it wasn't was the best movie but I'll tell you what there was, some serious provocative statements from start to finish and probably has more substance than any movie released this summer , and a story that took longer to put together than the super special CGI effects( How's that for a thought) and it is flopping why, because it's being called boring, and it's too long. I'll be honest with you I really didn't even like the movie but i can't stop thinking about it. By the way can anyone even tell me what star wars 1 was about besides some pointless pod racer crap.

I don't know if anyone has noticed but why are the same concepts and movies being rehashed over, and over, and over again. Because really I'm excited about seeing spider man, or (batman 5,6,7,8,9), planet of the apes, or what ever movie need not be rehashed. Let me give you a summary of all these movies even though I havn't seen them yet. Ready!!! Great effects but the story was put together by tarts.

On the other post there was this tool who said I don't go to see movies about a dinosaur for a story. That's because your a tool and a sell out, not to mention a simpleton. Let me guess what happens during this film they get chased alot by really big dinosaurs. Oh,oh they even have a teradactile. how cool. Open up wide because crap is being shoveled in. Thanks to people like you I can can't even see a decent story anymore.

(tangent # 2)Another example of rehashed material I'm sitting home watching TV and a show called spy tv comes on well just in case you havn't noticed "candid camera 2001" perhaps. Pleaseeee networks give me more reality TV because I'm looking forward to more crap on my tv but america will eat it up.


Sorry if I was too harsh. please someone write back even if I was too harsh. I just wanna know that I'm not completely crazy. Maybe a little harsh perhaps, but I feel better now. thx darla

 

[JustBob]

darla-
No, you're not crazy, just vociferous in your comments, like a TRex chowing down on stranded humans! Even though I like some of the blockbusters, you're right, they tend to crowd out the more thoughtful, meaning-filled films. I think some are fast food and some are like fine dining - I like both at different times. Kind of like (and here we bring this thread back to Disney) how some people like thrill ride (coaster, etc.) style parks and some don't . One doesn't have to be better than the other, they're just different.
By the way, Darla, you have to learn not to mince your words!
Also - I must confess I saw JP3 on opening day and loved it. I guess it takes all kinds.

 

[darla]

I believe a good movie and good thrill can be done together(ex starwars trilogy, and alien1 and 2)

I might agree with you, but I have one word for you. SATURATION. two more words for you Over saturation.

I know Im not the best writer. Thats why my major isn't english. thx you for the reply. some good points

. .

 

[YoHo]

Hey, MikeS, What about AV's comments a while ago, that it looks like movie goers are rejecting sequels and looking at more original fair. (sorry AV if I'm butchering the idea)

 

[MikeS]

YOHO
While it does appear that moviegoers are rejecting sequels this summer I think it is because the sequels are pretty lame. Dr.Doolittle 2, Scary Movie 2 are pretty bad. Let's see what JP2 and American Pie 2 are going to do. So far JP2 has 35M in 2 days. If that keeps up it will pull 75-80M for the opening weekend. That sounds like love to me. Some producers feel they can put out anything based on a hit movie and cash in. Not so as the producers of DR2 and SM2 found out.If the picture is a bomb the audience knows it and it doesn't matter how good the first one was the sequel will go down in flames.
Darla you bring up a good point. I feel it is all about the writing. Too many films today have lousey plots or no plot at all. But I just know with me if I am ENTERYAINED for 2 hours and feel I got my $7.00 worth then it is a good film to me.Not Oscar material but a good film. Hey I liked Cats and Dogs because I got some good laughs from it. I don't want to be wowed everytime I go to the movies..but I want to be entertained Different strokes for different folks.

 

[JimB.]

If word of mouth gets around, JP3 cannot POSSIBLY succeed.

I just saw it, along with a full theater, and the general attitude at the end was "I spent my money for THAT??".

Short............ only about 80 minutes.

No plot.

Even less character development.

But the Dino's DID look cool, although the part with the pterodactyls flying is totally inaccurate.

A good solid 4 out of 10.

But hey, my family of 4 DID cough up $23.50 to see it. Buyer Beware.

 

[MikeS]

I saw it again yesterday and the packed theater I was in loved it even cheering pterodon chase..I listened to comments from the viewers as the left the theater and 90% were positive (I really only heard 2 people who didn't like it.)It will do quite well and I feel will place 2nd in summer grosses right under Shrek.

 

[JustBob]

As I said, I enjoyed JPIII, also spoke to my back door neighbor and she and her kids thought it was better than JPII. Also, Dr. D 2 was in my opinion a more wholesome, family friendly movie than number 1.
Anyway, I agree that JPIII will finish strong this summer - the effects alone will inspire word of mouth. This is not, however, a thinking man's movie. Go for the eye candy. I felt Disney's "Dinosaur" was a similar deal. And perhaps even "Atlantis" - short on story, but a fun immersive movie going experience. I guess I'm a sucker for these sorts of things. Hey, I liked Evolution!

 

[Bob O]

As for sequels Mummy Returns will make over 200 million ,more than the original and Jurassic Park 3 made 80 million this weekend so i wouldnt say people dont like sequels, just ones they feel are well done.