Now C&A has a record for something I guessElaine_Figgis wrote:The box office receipts report an exact tie between Cowboys and the Smurfs. First time in over a decade.
http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/new ... ug-1_n.htm
Cowboys and Aliens news and tidbits
Moderator: Germangirl
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Germangirl
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Its a sad record.
debfrey Debbie Frey
#CowboysandAliens - good summer flick. Daniel Craig in chaps all but makes up for a few questionable plot lines
THIS in a 160 mill film is UNFORGIVABLE! Seems, this is the weak point if the film. Seems a few people had too much faith in Favreau, including DC.
debfrey Debbie Frey
#CowboysandAliens - good summer flick. Daniel Craig in chaps all but makes up for a few questionable plot lines
THIS in a 160 mill film is UNFORGIVABLE! Seems, this is the weak point if the film. Seems a few people had too much faith in Favreau, including DC.
The top notch acting in the Weisz/Craig/Spall 'Betrayal' is emotionally true, often v funny and its beautifully staged with filmic qualities..
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Sylvia's girl
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A lot of talk on twitter and review blogs of a weak storyline and poor script. On the whole DC and HF fair well. OW's role has been described several times as rediculous and that a good supporting cast is wasted.Germangirl wrote:Its a sad record.
debfrey Debbie Frey
#CowboysandAliens - good summer flick. Daniel Craig in chaps all but makes up for a few questionable plot lines
THIS in a 160 mill film is UNFORGIVABLE! Seems, this is the weak point if the film. Seems a few people had too much faith in Favreau, including DC.
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Germangirl
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Yup, I think its time to admit - they sorta screwed it up on a whole. People were not out to hate this - they wanted to love it, but somehow - there seems a misfire along the line. Something just doesn't sit right - only Daniel on his horse - he sits right big timeSylvia's girl wrote:A lot of talk on twitter and review blogs of a weak storyline and poor script. On the whole DC and HF fair well. OW's role has been described several times as rediculous and that a good supporting cast is wasted.Germangirl wrote:Its a sad record.
debfrey Debbie Frey
#CowboysandAliens - good summer flick. Daniel Craig in chaps all but makes up for a few questionable plot lines
THIS in a 160 mill film is UNFORGIVABLE! Seems, this is the weak point if the film. Seems a few people had too much faith in Favreau, including DC.
Lets hope, that saves him...There seems to be a significant difference between a film on paper and on screen. I cannot believe, all these experienced people, who got involved in front of and behind the camera didn't see it. The script muct have been way more promising then the final result. Other then that - I have no idea, how this could have gone so wrong.
A weak conversion of a good script - maybe, because its so diddicult to make a good film, but a weak script turned into a million dollar film - no ways in hell should that happen. I suspect its the former with this.
The top notch acting in the Weisz/Craig/Spall 'Betrayal' is emotionally true, often v funny and its beautifully staged with filmic qualities..
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Sylvia's girl
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Butts In Seats | Cowboys Vs. Aliens Vs. Smurfs
Welcome back to Butts in Seats! This weekend’s box office race was a close one between the family-friendly 3D cartoon adaptation The Smurfs and the Jon Favreau-directed comic book movie Cowboys & Aliens. Both movies landed in the first-place spot, with $36.2 million earned apiece.
That’s just the raw dollars and cents, though. Breaking each movie down by individual butts, the non-3D Cowboys emerges as the clear winner in terms of attendance figures. Both movies earned $36.2 million, but 45 percent of the screens Smurfs played on were 3D.
This means that roughly $16.2 million of the Smurfs take came from premium ticket prices. 3D attendance for the movie comes to roughly 1.4 million tickets sold — based on the $7.38 national average plus $4, a figure provided by Exhibitor Relations box-office analyst Jeff Bock — and 2D attendance totals out to roughly 2.7 million tickets, for a grand total of 4.1 million butts in seats.
With no IMAX screenings and no 3D release, Cowboys‘ ticket sales come purely out of non-premium pricing. The $36.2 million box office yields a much higher turnout at this lower average price, with roughly 4.9 million showing up to see Harrison Ford and Daniel Craig act like cowboys.
http://spinoff.comicbookresources.com/2 ... vs-smurfs/
Welcome back to Butts in Seats! This weekend’s box office race was a close one between the family-friendly 3D cartoon adaptation The Smurfs and the Jon Favreau-directed comic book movie Cowboys & Aliens. Both movies landed in the first-place spot, with $36.2 million earned apiece.
That’s just the raw dollars and cents, though. Breaking each movie down by individual butts, the non-3D Cowboys emerges as the clear winner in terms of attendance figures. Both movies earned $36.2 million, but 45 percent of the screens Smurfs played on were 3D.
This means that roughly $16.2 million of the Smurfs take came from premium ticket prices. 3D attendance for the movie comes to roughly 1.4 million tickets sold — based on the $7.38 national average plus $4, a figure provided by Exhibitor Relations box-office analyst Jeff Bock — and 2D attendance totals out to roughly 2.7 million tickets, for a grand total of 4.1 million butts in seats.
With no IMAX screenings and no 3D release, Cowboys‘ ticket sales come purely out of non-premium pricing. The $36.2 million box office yields a much higher turnout at this lower average price, with roughly 4.9 million showing up to see Harrison Ford and Daniel Craig act like cowboys.
http://spinoff.comicbookresources.com/2 ... vs-smurfs/
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Sylvia's girl
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Cowboys & Aliens: 10 Things I Liked, 5 Things I Didn’t
The mere concept of Cowboys & Aliens had potential for summer greatness. This could have been crazy, ambitious, and all kinds of weird. Imagine cowboys getting into shootouts with bug-eyed creatures packing high-tech weaponry. Sounds awesome, right? Only a tad of that awesome made it to the screen, and overall, it’s good. One would think director Jon Favreau would use his clout from two hit films to craft a blockbuster with a little audacity, but he didn’t.
Like his other works, this is about as safe as most blockbusters come, and that’s fine, mainly because the director is still miles ahead of most journeyman filmmakers. There’s a clear passion for clean fun in his movies, something many blockbusters lack.
Iron Man, Zathura, and Elf are all audience-friendly fare that don’t have a lick of divisiveness, and Cowboys & Aliens fits in comfortably with those films. Faverau is, at the end of the day, a solid popcorn filmmaker. Most of his efficiency behind the camera shines through in Cowboys & Aliens, as do a few of his weaknesses.
Here’s a little of that awesome and a bit of the weaknesses.
Note: This list does include spoilers.
Things I Liked:
10. Worst Evolution Ever
I know, everyone has mentioned this. Has anyone labeled this as a pro for the film, though? It doesn’t appear that way, so I might be the first to do so. How can one not howl with laughter at having open-chested aliens? Perhaps on their planet, having a vulnerable easy-to-kill heart is a good thing, but that’s doubtful. Oddly, the concept is not even used much. Besides one scene, there aren’t too many heart killings. Why have such a ludicrous detail, especially when it could have been cut and saved some effects cash? Either way, it’s hilarious that evolution would screw over these aliens so badly.
9. That’s a Cool Mother Ship
Great production design made the mother ship a wonderful setting full of horror oriented possibilities. It provided a nice backdrop and atmosphere that made the third act work better than it should have. A whole movie could have this ship as a its setting, and Favreau used it effectively. Seeing Lonergan, Dolarhyde, and Ella exploring the place was great fun.
8. Daniel Craig vs. Paul Dano
The early interactions between Daniel Craig’s dead serious anti-hero and Paul Dano’s snot-nosed kid lightened the mood perfectly. There’s great chemistry between the two, more than what Craig and Wilde shared. It’s odd that they would cut their comic relationship short — and so early — with Dano’s abduction, but all the moments they had together earned every laugh. Their interactions showed the movie wasn’t all about being serious and that, first and foremost, it wanted to be fun.
7. Half Their Work is Done with Anamorphic on Their Side
If there’s one thing you can’t fault the film for, it’s the visuals. Matthew Libatique brought a lush and epic look to the film, which was obviously accomplished with going the anamorphic route. I mean, seriously: Libatique shot the hell out of those vast landscapes, and he also made one very cool color reversal scene. This is by far Favreau’s most impressive film on a stylistic level. Visually, the director has made a blockbuster that stands out.
6. Good Actors Making Something Out of Almost Nothing
Sam Rockwell, Clancy Brown, and Adam Beach gave substance to roles that doesn’t ask much of them. Brown and Beach bring a certain level of heart to their roles, and effectively so. Rockwell’s rise to manliness is not a triumphant change, but per usual, he’s a solid presence who has by far the best line in the movie: “I don’t know much about boats, but that’s an upside down boat.”
5. Favreau Ain’t No Tease
Revealing the alien the way Favreau did was a bit of brilliance. In clearly evoking Ridley Scott‘s Alien, the director made a tense and excellent intro — there was a sense of terror in the big reveal. He didn’t pull an Abrams, who hid his alien for far too long, and with no legitimate reason to. Here, the characters saw the alien in a wonderfully dark, atmospheric scene, so Favreau made sure that we did, too.
4. Daniel Craig is So Damned Cool
When Daniel Craig is on his game, there’s a seamless coolness factor to the star. Craig is a true man’s action lead. He doesn’t look boyish, but instead like he could easily snap your neck if you whisper one false word. The man with eye-blinding baby blues does the nameless hero archetype strongly, and there’s a sense of violence and vulnerability to the character that the actor nails. Unlike most supposed heroes, Lonergan gets things done.
3. Harrison Ford in Charming Gruff Mode
Okay, so Dolarhyde didn’t end up being the cold-hearted bastard that everyone in the town oddly implied. The character is gruff and strong-headed, but not the violent monster he was built up as. However, this nitpick isn’t particularly bothersome when you consider that Harrison Ford marks this as his return as a great screen presence. The legend was not heavily involved in the action beats, but when he appeared onscreen, fun ensued. Ford is known for seeming disinterested in the past couple of roles he’s taken, not this time.
2. Cowboys & Aliens? Where’s the Joke in That?
Jon Favreau (or the many credited writers on the script) never condescend to the inherently silly material. Both the people in front of and behind the camera still played it straight. They’re going for real stakes, real character arcs, and real emotions. The success of those intentions vary, but it’s admirable that Favreau didn’t make this in the jokey vein of Wild, Wild, West. There’s a real grimness and horror to the film at times.
1. This Is a Western… At Least, the Setup is
The first 30 minutes are excellent. An engaging mystery begins, the tone was wonderfully established, character arcs start with interesting directions to go in, and the slow burn pace worked. The first act hooks one in quickly, and Favreau perfectly sucks you into the grounded world he’s trying to create. Like the first Iron Man film, the director finds a level of realism that audience can connect to before the ridiculousness kicks in.
Things I Didn’t Like:
5. Epilogue Schmepilogue
The final scene is pretty expendable. Do we need to see that everyone is happy, and that things are better than ever? It’s a nice and obvious touch to see Lonergan ride off, but why not end with him at his old place after finding a new identity? His whole arc was about redemption and discovering who he is, so when he’s reached that point, there’s no real reason to keep going. Favreau has had multiple endings before, but this time it feels unnecessary.
4. Olivia Wilde as Cliff Notes for Cowboys & Aliens
For the first hour, it was odd seeing Olivia Wilde stare off all bug-eyed. After 5 minutes of Ella Swenson continuing to do so, you quickly realize she is an alien (or an angel…). Due to the lack of subtlety, the mysteriousness disappears, but you still have to wait another hour for them to explain what she is. Until that point, and onward as well, Ella spells out everything. She’s more of an exposition machine than a fully-realized character. The best part about Ella was the idea that Lonergan, basically, was interested in sleeping with an alien.
3. Straight Face Turns to Goofy Straight Face
As I said above, the first act sets up a perfect tone; it’s serious, but not too serious where it lacked fun. Right after the first attack, that refreshing sensibility got traded for a goofier face that the movie wore. It became like any other summer movie, missing the distinction of the opening. Conveniences, gaps in logic, and every other basic action movie stamp began to show up. The film remained fun, but not in the way it initially set out with. What could’ve been a fantastic western with a twist became a conventional summer movie.
2. There Aren’t That Many Aliens in Cowboys & Aliens
Despite the size of their base, there only seemed to be about 50 or so mindless aliens. The final battle was not big enough, and part of the reason was the lack of big alien packs attacking. Not only that, but they’re not that threatening by the end. The aliens come off as easy to kill at times, and they’re also extremely stupid. If they’re terrible fighters in sunlight, then why go outside to battle? Why not let the cowboys bring the fight to you on home turf? Why go out flying during the day time when you can barely see?! Even with their advanced tech, they’re laughably boneheaded.
1. Breathe, Final Action Scene, BREATHE.
Jon Favreau just can’t seem to catch a break when it comes to end battles. Iron Man, Iron Man 2, and now his latest all lack grand finales. Inside and outside the mother ship, nearly every action beat felt rushed. The film started out with a big canvas that slowly and slowly got a little too small by the end, and the action almost became comical. When Dolarhyde went into the alien ship to find Lonergan, he conveniently and quickly found him right before the hero got chopped to bits. Lonergan also managed to, somehow, pull a rifle out of his ass to save Dolarhyde.
The best part about these flaws? They can be enjoyed on an ironic level. It brought an unevenness to the film, for sure, but the film remained fun. Neither bloated or paper-thin, Cowboys & Aliens is simple, well-crafted entertainment.
http://www.filmschoolrejects.com/featur ... -didnt.php
The mere concept of Cowboys & Aliens had potential for summer greatness. This could have been crazy, ambitious, and all kinds of weird. Imagine cowboys getting into shootouts with bug-eyed creatures packing high-tech weaponry. Sounds awesome, right? Only a tad of that awesome made it to the screen, and overall, it’s good. One would think director Jon Favreau would use his clout from two hit films to craft a blockbuster with a little audacity, but he didn’t.
Like his other works, this is about as safe as most blockbusters come, and that’s fine, mainly because the director is still miles ahead of most journeyman filmmakers. There’s a clear passion for clean fun in his movies, something many blockbusters lack.
Iron Man, Zathura, and Elf are all audience-friendly fare that don’t have a lick of divisiveness, and Cowboys & Aliens fits in comfortably with those films. Faverau is, at the end of the day, a solid popcorn filmmaker. Most of his efficiency behind the camera shines through in Cowboys & Aliens, as do a few of his weaknesses.
Here’s a little of that awesome and a bit of the weaknesses.
Note: This list does include spoilers.
Things I Liked:
10. Worst Evolution Ever
I know, everyone has mentioned this. Has anyone labeled this as a pro for the film, though? It doesn’t appear that way, so I might be the first to do so. How can one not howl with laughter at having open-chested aliens? Perhaps on their planet, having a vulnerable easy-to-kill heart is a good thing, but that’s doubtful. Oddly, the concept is not even used much. Besides one scene, there aren’t too many heart killings. Why have such a ludicrous detail, especially when it could have been cut and saved some effects cash? Either way, it’s hilarious that evolution would screw over these aliens so badly.
9. That’s a Cool Mother Ship
Great production design made the mother ship a wonderful setting full of horror oriented possibilities. It provided a nice backdrop and atmosphere that made the third act work better than it should have. A whole movie could have this ship as a its setting, and Favreau used it effectively. Seeing Lonergan, Dolarhyde, and Ella exploring the place was great fun.
8. Daniel Craig vs. Paul Dano
The early interactions between Daniel Craig’s dead serious anti-hero and Paul Dano’s snot-nosed kid lightened the mood perfectly. There’s great chemistry between the two, more than what Craig and Wilde shared. It’s odd that they would cut their comic relationship short — and so early — with Dano’s abduction, but all the moments they had together earned every laugh. Their interactions showed the movie wasn’t all about being serious and that, first and foremost, it wanted to be fun.
7. Half Their Work is Done with Anamorphic on Their Side
If there’s one thing you can’t fault the film for, it’s the visuals. Matthew Libatique brought a lush and epic look to the film, which was obviously accomplished with going the anamorphic route. I mean, seriously: Libatique shot the hell out of those vast landscapes, and he also made one very cool color reversal scene. This is by far Favreau’s most impressive film on a stylistic level. Visually, the director has made a blockbuster that stands out.
6. Good Actors Making Something Out of Almost Nothing
Sam Rockwell, Clancy Brown, and Adam Beach gave substance to roles that doesn’t ask much of them. Brown and Beach bring a certain level of heart to their roles, and effectively so. Rockwell’s rise to manliness is not a triumphant change, but per usual, he’s a solid presence who has by far the best line in the movie: “I don’t know much about boats, but that’s an upside down boat.”
5. Favreau Ain’t No Tease
Revealing the alien the way Favreau did was a bit of brilliance. In clearly evoking Ridley Scott‘s Alien, the director made a tense and excellent intro — there was a sense of terror in the big reveal. He didn’t pull an Abrams, who hid his alien for far too long, and with no legitimate reason to. Here, the characters saw the alien in a wonderfully dark, atmospheric scene, so Favreau made sure that we did, too.
4. Daniel Craig is So Damned Cool
When Daniel Craig is on his game, there’s a seamless coolness factor to the star. Craig is a true man’s action lead. He doesn’t look boyish, but instead like he could easily snap your neck if you whisper one false word. The man with eye-blinding baby blues does the nameless hero archetype strongly, and there’s a sense of violence and vulnerability to the character that the actor nails. Unlike most supposed heroes, Lonergan gets things done.
3. Harrison Ford in Charming Gruff Mode
Okay, so Dolarhyde didn’t end up being the cold-hearted bastard that everyone in the town oddly implied. The character is gruff and strong-headed, but not the violent monster he was built up as. However, this nitpick isn’t particularly bothersome when you consider that Harrison Ford marks this as his return as a great screen presence. The legend was not heavily involved in the action beats, but when he appeared onscreen, fun ensued. Ford is known for seeming disinterested in the past couple of roles he’s taken, not this time.
2. Cowboys & Aliens? Where’s the Joke in That?
Jon Favreau (or the many credited writers on the script) never condescend to the inherently silly material. Both the people in front of and behind the camera still played it straight. They’re going for real stakes, real character arcs, and real emotions. The success of those intentions vary, but it’s admirable that Favreau didn’t make this in the jokey vein of Wild, Wild, West. There’s a real grimness and horror to the film at times.
1. This Is a Western… At Least, the Setup is
The first 30 minutes are excellent. An engaging mystery begins, the tone was wonderfully established, character arcs start with interesting directions to go in, and the slow burn pace worked. The first act hooks one in quickly, and Favreau perfectly sucks you into the grounded world he’s trying to create. Like the first Iron Man film, the director finds a level of realism that audience can connect to before the ridiculousness kicks in.
Things I Didn’t Like:
5. Epilogue Schmepilogue
The final scene is pretty expendable. Do we need to see that everyone is happy, and that things are better than ever? It’s a nice and obvious touch to see Lonergan ride off, but why not end with him at his old place after finding a new identity? His whole arc was about redemption and discovering who he is, so when he’s reached that point, there’s no real reason to keep going. Favreau has had multiple endings before, but this time it feels unnecessary.
4. Olivia Wilde as Cliff Notes for Cowboys & Aliens
For the first hour, it was odd seeing Olivia Wilde stare off all bug-eyed. After 5 minutes of Ella Swenson continuing to do so, you quickly realize she is an alien (or an angel…). Due to the lack of subtlety, the mysteriousness disappears, but you still have to wait another hour for them to explain what she is. Until that point, and onward as well, Ella spells out everything. She’s more of an exposition machine than a fully-realized character. The best part about Ella was the idea that Lonergan, basically, was interested in sleeping with an alien.
3. Straight Face Turns to Goofy Straight Face
As I said above, the first act sets up a perfect tone; it’s serious, but not too serious where it lacked fun. Right after the first attack, that refreshing sensibility got traded for a goofier face that the movie wore. It became like any other summer movie, missing the distinction of the opening. Conveniences, gaps in logic, and every other basic action movie stamp began to show up. The film remained fun, but not in the way it initially set out with. What could’ve been a fantastic western with a twist became a conventional summer movie.
2. There Aren’t That Many Aliens in Cowboys & Aliens
Despite the size of their base, there only seemed to be about 50 or so mindless aliens. The final battle was not big enough, and part of the reason was the lack of big alien packs attacking. Not only that, but they’re not that threatening by the end. The aliens come off as easy to kill at times, and they’re also extremely stupid. If they’re terrible fighters in sunlight, then why go outside to battle? Why not let the cowboys bring the fight to you on home turf? Why go out flying during the day time when you can barely see?! Even with their advanced tech, they’re laughably boneheaded.
1. Breathe, Final Action Scene, BREATHE.
Jon Favreau just can’t seem to catch a break when it comes to end battles. Iron Man, Iron Man 2, and now his latest all lack grand finales. Inside and outside the mother ship, nearly every action beat felt rushed. The film started out with a big canvas that slowly and slowly got a little too small by the end, and the action almost became comical. When Dolarhyde went into the alien ship to find Lonergan, he conveniently and quickly found him right before the hero got chopped to bits. Lonergan also managed to, somehow, pull a rifle out of his ass to save Dolarhyde.
The best part about these flaws? They can be enjoyed on an ironic level. It brought an unevenness to the film, for sure, but the film remained fun. Neither bloated or paper-thin, Cowboys & Aliens is simple, well-crafted entertainment.
http://www.filmschoolrejects.com/featur ... -didnt.php
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Sylvia's girl
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- Joined: Thu Oct 08, 2009 11:57 am
Box Office Update: 'Cowboys & Aliens' Pulls Narrowly Ahead of 'Smurfs'
'Smurfs' grosses $35.6 million for the weekend, while 'Cowboys' expected to claim victory with close to $36 million.
Still have to wait for final figures....
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/b ... ens-217633
'Smurfs' grosses $35.6 million for the weekend, while 'Cowboys' expected to claim victory with close to $36 million.
Still have to wait for final figures....
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/b ... ens-217633
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calypso
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it already been declared officiallySylvia's girl wrote:Box Office Update: 'Cowboys & Aliens' Pulls Narrowly Ahead of 'Smurfs'
'Smurfs' grosses $35.6 million for the weekend, while 'Cowboys' expected to claim victory with close to $36 million.
Still have to wait for final figures....
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/b ... ens-217633
http://boxofficemojo.com/weekend/chart/
draw. they cannot change figures now
** Spoilers**
Saw it last night (Sunday), so I had a little time to crystallize and decide my reaction.
First act delivered. Delivered what I expected based on the Favreau and actor interviews. Loved it.
Big finale battle could have been put together for a more satisfying ending.
Excerpts below say it for me, but re-ordered to match my opinions:
Saw it last night (Sunday), so I had a little time to crystallize and decide my reaction.
First act delivered. Delivered what I expected based on the Favreau and actor interviews. Loved it.
Big finale battle could have been put together for a more satisfying ending.
Excerpts below say it for me, but re-ordered to match my opinions:
Sylvia's girl wrote:Cowboys & Aliens: 10 Things I Liked, 5 Things I Didn’t
The mere concept of Cowboys & Aliens had potential for summer greatness. This could have been crazy, ambitious, and all kinds of weird. ...Sounds awesome, right? Only a tad of that awesome made it to the screen, and overall, it’s good. ...
Neither bloated or paper-thin, Cowboys & Aliens is simple, well-crafted entertainment.
3. Straight Face Turns to Goofy Straight Face
... first act sets up a perfect tone; it’s serious, but not too serious where it lacked fun. Right after the first attack, that refreshing sensibility got traded for a goofier face ... It became like any other summer movie, missing the distinction of the opening. ... The film remained fun, but not in the way it initially set out with. What could’ve been a fantastic western with a twist became a conventional summer movie.
1. This Is a Western… At Least, the Setup is
The first 30 minutes are excellent. An engaging mystery begins, the tone was wonderfully established, character arcs start with interesting directions to go in, and the slow burn pace worked. ... Favreau perfectly sucks you into the grounded world he’s trying to create. Like the first Iron Man film, the director finds a level of realism that audience can connect to before the ridiculousness kicks in.
1. Breathe, Final Action Scene, BREATHE.
Inside and outside the mother ship, nearly every action beat felt rushed. The film started out with a big canvas that slowly and slowly got a little too small by the end ...
6. Good Actors Making Something Out of Almost Nothing
Sam Rockwell, Clancy Brown, and Adam Beach gave substance to roles that doesn’t ask much of them. ...
2. Cowboys & Aliens? Where’s the Joke in That?
... played it straight. They’re going for real stakes, real character arcs, and real emotions. ... There’s a real grimness and horror to the film at times.
8. Daniel Craig vs. Paul Dano
The early interactions between Daniel Craig’s dead serious anti-hero and Paul Dano’s snot-nosed kid lightened the mood perfectly. ... Their interactions showed the movie wasn’t all about being serious and that, first and foremost, it wanted to be fun.
5. Favreau Ain’t No Tease
Revealing the alien the way Favreau did was a bit of brilliance. Here, the characters saw the alien in a wonderfully dark, atmospheric scene
4. Daniel Craig is So Damned Cool
... there’s a seamless coolness factor to the star. Craig is a true man’s action lead. He doesn’t look boyish, ... does the nameless hero archetype strongly, and there’s a sense of violence and vulnerability to the character that the actor nails.
http://www.filmschoolrejects.com/featur ... -didnt.php
Cowboys & Aliens': Five lessons to take away
There haven't been many film experiments in recent months more interesting than "Cowboys & Aliens." A genre mash-up not based on a widely known property, Jon Favreau's expensive new movie also rode in with several high-profile personalities, including an A-list actor from this generation (Daniel Craig) and an equally big name from a previous generation (Harrison Ford).
Yet the science-fiction western could pull off only $36.2 million in box office receipts this last weekend. That's the lowest opening total for any 3-D release this summer. It's also barely more than the other big summer action movie that wasn't part of a known franchise, "Super 8," which opened to $35.5 million without the help of A-list stars or 3-D ticket prices. "Cowboys" didn't even win the weekend, at least not yet, finishing in a rare tie with the less promoted (and expensive) "Smurfs" reboot.
So what does the "Cowboys" performance tell us? A quick synopsis.
Hybrid hiccups. Genre mash-ups can go one of two ways: They can unite disparate audiences or they can alienate them. "Cowboys" seems to have done the latter, with younger fanboys in particular unsure of what to make of the western element (nearly two-thirds of the audience was older than 30, writes my colleague Amy Kaufman). That seems to be the larger trend. Last year's "Scott Pilgrim vs. the World" -- which combined martial arts, video games, comic books and romance -- was a miss. We'll see how "Attack the Block," which combines horror with science fiction and comedy fares. The movie performed only decently in limited release this weekend.
Favreau's foibles? Jon Favreau is the rare Hollywood personality who regularly toggles between studio acting and big-ticket directing. How's he doing on the latter front? After "Iron Man" gave his career a jolt in 2008, things have been a bit choppy. "Iron Man 2" made a boatload of money but got lukewarm reviews from many critics. (Shortly after, he left the franchise.) And now despite an all out-Favreau blitz, his new film has opened to a disappointing sum. Sure, it was better than 2005's "Zathura" -- but that isn't saying much.
The Craig effect. Perhaps the most intriguing of all the object lessons. Daniel Craig is undeniably a movie star, having helped resurrect the James Bond franchise with "Casino Royale" five years ago. But do we only want to see him inhabiting an icon? We didn't really care much about him in "Munich" (which came out a year before "Royale"). And we didn't necessarily warm to him here. Troubling news for those behind the upcoming thriller-horror film "Dream House." And it raises the inevitable question about the extent to which we'll embrace him in "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo."
Publicity pushiness. It's impossible to quantify how much promotion "Cowboys" actually received. But the film was certainly hard to avoid. A stream of TV spots in the last few weeks, plenty of actor talk-show appearances and a big Comic-Con premiere last weekend still couldn't will the film to a decisive weekend win. It all suggests that publicity can offer diminished returns if a movie's concept doesn't go down well with potential audiences. Consider this: "Battle: Los Angeles," a film that was promoted far less but that had an easily digestible concept and trailer, opened to just about the same amount.
A dinged model Ford. Harrison Ford's career has been in the doldrums for a while. A return to the kind of fanciful action that made him a movie star could have ushered in a larger comeback, at least more than a dramatic vehicle like last year's "Morning Glory." But it turns out we may not want much to see Ford chasing bad guys across exotic landscapes much anymore either.
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There haven't been many film experiments in recent months more interesting than "Cowboys & Aliens." A genre mash-up not based on a widely known property, Jon Favreau's expensive new movie also rode in with several high-profile personalities, including an A-list actor from this generation (Daniel Craig) and an equally big name from a previous generation (Harrison Ford).
Yet the science-fiction western could pull off only $36.2 million in box office receipts this last weekend. That's the lowest opening total for any 3-D release this summer. It's also barely more than the other big summer action movie that wasn't part of a known franchise, "Super 8," which opened to $35.5 million without the help of A-list stars or 3-D ticket prices. "Cowboys" didn't even win the weekend, at least not yet, finishing in a rare tie with the less promoted (and expensive) "Smurfs" reboot.
So what does the "Cowboys" performance tell us? A quick synopsis.
Hybrid hiccups. Genre mash-ups can go one of two ways: They can unite disparate audiences or they can alienate them. "Cowboys" seems to have done the latter, with younger fanboys in particular unsure of what to make of the western element (nearly two-thirds of the audience was older than 30, writes my colleague Amy Kaufman). That seems to be the larger trend. Last year's "Scott Pilgrim vs. the World" -- which combined martial arts, video games, comic books and romance -- was a miss. We'll see how "Attack the Block," which combines horror with science fiction and comedy fares. The movie performed only decently in limited release this weekend.
Favreau's foibles? Jon Favreau is the rare Hollywood personality who regularly toggles between studio acting and big-ticket directing. How's he doing on the latter front? After "Iron Man" gave his career a jolt in 2008, things have been a bit choppy. "Iron Man 2" made a boatload of money but got lukewarm reviews from many critics. (Shortly after, he left the franchise.) And now despite an all out-Favreau blitz, his new film has opened to a disappointing sum. Sure, it was better than 2005's "Zathura" -- but that isn't saying much.
The Craig effect. Perhaps the most intriguing of all the object lessons. Daniel Craig is undeniably a movie star, having helped resurrect the James Bond franchise with "Casino Royale" five years ago. But do we only want to see him inhabiting an icon? We didn't really care much about him in "Munich" (which came out a year before "Royale"). And we didn't necessarily warm to him here. Troubling news for those behind the upcoming thriller-horror film "Dream House." And it raises the inevitable question about the extent to which we'll embrace him in "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo."
Publicity pushiness. It's impossible to quantify how much promotion "Cowboys" actually received. But the film was certainly hard to avoid. A stream of TV spots in the last few weeks, plenty of actor talk-show appearances and a big Comic-Con premiere last weekend still couldn't will the film to a decisive weekend win. It all suggests that publicity can offer diminished returns if a movie's concept doesn't go down well with potential audiences. Consider this: "Battle: Los Angeles," a film that was promoted far less but that had an easily digestible concept and trailer, opened to just about the same amount.
A dinged model Ford. Harrison Ford's career has been in the doldrums for a while. A return to the kind of fanciful action that made him a movie star could have ushered in a larger comeback, at least more than a dramatic vehicle like last year's "Morning Glory." But it turns out we may not want much to see Ford chasing bad guys across exotic landscapes much anymore either.
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/movies/ ... liens.html
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calypso
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cowboys wasnt a 3-D but i agree with craig effect, how will this effect his film year? can he open a movie apart from Bond?caramel wrote: That's the lowest opening total for any 3-D release this summer.
The Craig effect. Perhaps the most intriguing of all the object lessons. Daniel Craig is undeniably a movie star, having helped resurrect the James Bond franchise with "Casino Royale" five years ago. But do we only want to see him inhabiting an icon? We didn't really care much about him in "Munich" (which came out a year before "Royale"). And we didn't necessarily warm to him here. Troubling news for those behind the upcoming thriller-horror film "Dream House." And it raises the inevitable question about the extent to which we'll embrace him in "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo."
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Germangirl
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Of course this question will be raised, but according to the tweets, people did actually warm to him quite a bit and if a paper like the LA times doesn't even know, its not in 3 D - how can they be a reliable source about whether or not people will blame him or are not warming to him? Many just went to see him....like its been said - an average film can't even be saved by J. Depp...but yeah, this might become the tenor on this.calypso wrote:cowboys wasnt a 3-D but i agree with craig effect, how will this effect his film year? can he open a movie apart from Bond?caramel wrote: That's the lowest opening total for any 3-D release this summer.
The Craig effect. Perhaps the most intriguing of all the object lessons. Daniel Craig is undeniably a movie star, having helped resurrect the James Bond franchise with "Casino Royale" five years ago. But do we only want to see him inhabiting an icon? We didn't really care much about him in "Munich" (which came out a year before "Royale"). And we didn't necessarily warm to him here. Troubling news for those behind the upcoming thriller-horror film "Dream House." And it raises the inevitable question about the extent to which we'll embrace him in "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo."
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/movies/ ... liens.html
If this continues, the Brits might get him back earlier then expected.
The top notch acting in the Weisz/Craig/Spall 'Betrayal' is emotionally true, often v funny and its beautifully staged with filmic qualities..
Craig does seem not to be a bankable star away from Bond. Having said that he is acclaimed. Just look over the The Hollywood Reporter website, its been practically dedicated to him this weekend. It has a low list of tweeter comments about how good he is in 'Cowboys' as well as detailing his top 5 movies.
I think we all know Dream House isn't going to set the box office on fire, but Tintin isn't really his film, its a move about special effects ala Avatar, that's the reason people will see the movie. As for Tattoo, well thats Rooney Mara's franchise really, though Daniel is the 'name actor' carrying it.
I think we all know Dream House isn't going to set the box office on fire, but Tintin isn't really his film, its a move about special effects ala Avatar, that's the reason people will see the movie. As for Tattoo, well thats Rooney Mara's franchise really, though Daniel is the 'name actor' carrying it.
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calypso
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i think that right and nothing wrong with it, good to be master of some trades than jack of noneVanquish wrote:Craig does seem not to be a bankable star away from Bond. Having said that he is acclaimed. Just look over the The Hollywood Reporter website, its been practically dedicated to him this weekend. It has a low list of tweeter comments about how good he is in 'Cowboys' as well as detailing his top 5 movies.
I think we all know Dream House isn't going to set the box office on fire, but Tintin isn't really his film, its a move about special effects ala Avatar, that's the reason people will see the movie. As for Tattoo, well thats Rooney Mara's franchise really, though Daniel is the 'name actor' carrying it.
maybe daniel and rahcel will now do PR for dreamhosue?