It shows how out of it I was in trying to be in it, acknowledging that I was out of it to myself, and then thinking, “Okay, how do I stop being out of it? Well, I get some legitimate illogical narrative ideas” ā some novel, you know?
So I decided on three writers that I might be able to option their material and get some producer, or myself as producer, and then get some writer to do a screenplay on it, and maybe make a movie.
And so the three projects were “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep,” “Naked Lunch” and a collection of Bukowski. Which, in 1975, forget it ā I mean, that was nuts. Hollywood would not touch any of that, but I was looking for something commercial, and I thought that all of these things were coming.
There would be no Blade Runner if there was no Ray Bradbury. I couldn’t find Philip K. Dick. His agent didn’t even know where he was. And so I gave up.
I was walking down the street and I ran into Bradbury ā he directed a play that I was going to do as an actor, so we know each other, but he yelled “hi” ā and I’d forgot who he was.
So at my girlfriend Barbara Hershey’s urging ā I was with her at that moment ā she said, “Talk to him! That guy really wants to talk to you,” and I said “No, fuck him,” and keep walking.
But then I did, and then I realized who it was, and I thought, “Wait, he’s in that realm, maybe he knows Philip K. Dick.” I said, “You know a guy namedā” “Yeah, sure ā you want his phone number?”
My friend paid my rent for a year while I wrote, because it turned out we couldn’t get a writer. My friends kept on me about, well, if you can’t get a writer, then you write.”
~ Hampton Fancher
“That was the most disappointing thing to me in how this thing was played. Is that Iām on the phone with you now, after all thatās been said, and the fundamental distinction between what James is dealing with in these other cases is not actually brought to the fore. The fundamental difference is that James Franco didnāt seek to use his position to have sex with anyone. Thereās not a case of that. He wasnāt using his position or status to try to solicit a sexual favor from anyone. If he had ā if that were what the accusation involved ā the show would not have gone on. We would have folded up shop and we would have not completed the show. Because then it would have been the same as Harvey Weinstein, or Les Moonves, or any of these cases that are fundamental to this new paradigm. Did you not notice that? Why did you not notice that? Is that not something notable to say, journalistically? Because nobody could find the voice to say it. Iām not just being rhetorical. Why is it that you and the other critics, none of you could find the voice to say, āYou know, itās not this, itās thatā? Because ā let me go on and speak further to this. If you go back to the L.A. TimesĀ piece, thatās what it lacked. Thatās what they were not able to deliver. The one example in the five that involved an issue of a sexual act was between James and a woman he was dating, who he was not working with. There was no professional dynamic in any capacity.
~ David Simon
Bay and now Parkes have called out Dreamworks for the advertising of The Island. Not like the nice marketing folks at Warners are known for producing the greatest advertising campaigns. Yet, now Parkes and Bay, must rely on them to sell this film abroad. If it fails overseas. This film will just remain one of those, ‘wha happened’, films. That just failed to be sold to the this continents moviegoing public.
This March of the Penquins point has shown up on Best Week Ever due to per screen average. When you have to go by per-screen average for a film on such a limited-scale as this. Reaching may be a bit of an understatement.
Have we seen an Oscar winner in the form of March of the Penguins.
Surely if it makes $30mil (more than Bowling For Columbine) they would take notice.
…what happened to Murderball too. Where did that die and go to?
Penguins
are a surprise
are a hit
not a Smash
Well, as a “civilian” on these boards (not particularly knowledgeable about cinema) and a huge Ewan fan, I had problems with a) the TITLE of the film “The Island”: I work in the book industry, so titles and taglines are important. They should have come up with something better (not that I could have). and b) the ADVERTISING. Nothing in the ads made me want to see this film, until I realized that Ewan was in it. (PS I also don’t watch tv much, so I missed all the ‘talk show’ appearances).
And you know what? I still haven’t seen it…because movies have gotten so expensive that I reserve my hard-earned $$ for films that I really want to see on the big screen. And right now, I’m seeing Revenge of the Sith as long as it’s still in theaters.
Finally I have to get this gripe off my chest: People like me who can’t afford big screen tvs for home theater (yeah I’ve got a 5.1 home system hooked up to my “little” tv) expect something BETTER at the movie theater. But not only was there NO digital screening of Sith anywhere in my STATE, there are not even any THX theaters anywhere nearby! The newest multiplexes are NOT being built with THX. And believe me, I CAN hear the difference.
For me, what pulls me in to the cinema rather than waiting for the DVD is “film that I want to see on the BIG screen” and “outstanding visual and audio experience that I can’t get at home”. Unfortunately the cinema owners are NOT providing that.
is this the same chris connelly who used to shill on mtv?
When did 30 million become a hit?
Before we know it the return time from theatres to video will be 2 weeks. It is bound to happen especially with stinkers.
I don’t think it is blaming the advertising for the showing from The Island. I think it may be more to it than that. What it is I have no idea.
How does a reporter with half a brain compare a 30mill$ movie to a smash hit, 100$+ mill movie? I just don’t get the comparison that is made here.
Connelly’s long-form pieces for SportsCenter are usually pretty good. Guess he should stick to the sports biz.
Do the reporters that go on shows like this feel compelled to offer some amazing, off the wall insight into things? Like they have to be over the top in order to make a name for themselves or at least get back on the show?
On a similar note, the greatest hack I think I have ever read (and I don’t know why I keep reading, but it is like a train wreck I guess) — Roger Freidman at Fox — yesterday declared in a big headline that the bottom has fallen out of War of the Worlds because Hustle and Flow grossed more than War this past weekend. He goes on to say that BNB, the Island and the Devils Rejects also bested War last weekend and that the movie is “struggling” and will barely turn a profit. This is lazy reporting on many levels. Of course all those movies were going to open bigger than a movie in its fourth weekend. And War has made $500 million wordwide. I’m not trying to stick up for Tom Cruise here in any way, but half a billion sounds pretty good to me. Oh well, at least he wasn’t writing ad nauseum about Michael Jackson for once.
Bay also blamed the movie’s failure on its lack of stars in the LA Times today. I’m sure Ewan and Scarlett just loved that.
the last thing anyone who worked on a movie wants to hear is the supposed leader blaming people for the failure of the movie. his ego that out of control? no wonder no one wants to work with him twice.
Hopefully Ewan and Scarlet will do some interviews and blame Bay for the lousy return on THE ISLAND. Really, any way you look at it, the blame (if any) needs to rest firmly on his shoulders.
Those would be the shoulders right next to the head that is lodged firmly up his ass.
It’s strange — everybody in town (except Nick) seems to love the fact that Bay’s film is one of the biggest bombs of all time. I know people in this biz love to see the mighty fail, but it seems extreme with Bay — people are overjoyed.
I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t overjoyed. Although you have to appreciate the irony; his biggest flop is also what most claim to be his best movie. It’s karma.
Fortunately enough for Bay we no longer live in the ‘Waterworld universe.’ Where a film such as The Island would get hammered all year for it’s more than unsatisfactory box-office returns. It may get a brief article in the beginning of EW this Friday. It may be remembered, by some, as the biggest bomb of the year. Of course this film does not have universal hate behind it critically and all of this will be pushed under the rug. Thank god the critics and enterjournos have TO to go to in six weeks. They will be too fixated on films too much care about talking about one flick. Inconsequential in their overall view of cinema.
Yes. That maybe a lot of conjecture on my part. However, I feel obligated, to give some support to a film I really enjoy.
I don’t think this “flop” label is entirely fair either. Definitely a financial disappointment, but I think terms like “flop” and “bomb” imply something about the movie itself. It’s not Gigli, and it’s not Ishtar. It’s not a camp-fest or anything like that. It’s an effective genre picture that’s far better than your typical “mean guys with funny accents trying to blow up America” movie, and that’s all. My main complaint is that the premise’s toughest moral questions were ironed out and glossed over by coincidence and hand-waving. But all that doesn’t come up until the third act… up until the climax, which really fizzled, I thought it could have been up there with the movies that inspired it (THX 1138, Logan’s Run, etc). It’s not, but my point is just that it’s not so far from the mark that it deserves this beating.
But does it really matter if it’s good or bad? A flop is a flop right, regardless of the movie’s quality?
The Island cost at least 125 million to make before P&A and will make somewhere between 40 and 50 mil. Anyway you look at it, it’s a huge bomb.
There was a link at AICN to Don Murphy’s website where he had a running thread about how Bay is most likely out as the director of Transformers. Murphy was his usual crazy candid self. The link is down now unfortunately, and Murphy has closed the thread — something tells me Dreamworks went a little batshit on Harry and Don’s asses.
Stella, maybe when it borders on vindictive. Revel in Bay’s supposed failure if you must. However this film has a financial story yet to tell. Calling it a flop. Would ignore the next world in which this Hollywood orbits. It’s a co-financed film. Where the direct and the producers probably got their cut up front anyway. Leaving this film, as always, being a financial burden for Dreamworks to carry. A flop is no longer a flop. Unless we are talking about Glitter. Because nothing is funnier than harassing Mariah Carrey’s mental state.
the bay haters are now out in force with smiles on their faces. not even caring that the movie is actually pretty decent. this might be the first time they’ve ever cared about the box office.
I can see people taking glee in the movie being bad but the movie is good. Rooting for something to bomb is pretty low. But this guy has some big cajones to blame anyone other than himself. A director takes charge. The buck stops there. Passing it off is a huge sign of weakness.
How many people in Hollywood added an extra second to their orgasms on Saturday when the Fri #’s came in on the Island?
Well, I think March Of The Penguins can be called an INDIE Smash Hit. But, on the other hand, wasn’t Crash called a Smash Hit? Bought for 3m, brought in over 50m? What did the Penguins cost?
Shit, if it makes $30, and it’s the 2nd highest grossing Documentary…doesn’t that make it a smash hit? What’s the definition of Smash Hit?
And if Michael Bay said that shit about not having stars in the Island, I’d have to agree with him. Star Wars movies aren’t really Ewan McGregor movies. Neither is Black Hawn Down, and I’m not so sure about Big Fish….Taking those out, Ewan’s biggest starring role is Moulin Rouge. 57m. And Scarlett Johanson? Her two 40m-ish roles (In Good Company and Lost In Translation) don’t seem to bring ANY Audience to the Island.
And keep in mind this is a director used to dealing with people like Ben Affleck, Will Smith, Bruce Willis, Sean Connery, Nicholas Cage…
It would be stupid to take Bay off of Transformers…any lack of box office for The Island obviously doesn’t have ANYTHING to do with his directing style. Leave it up to marketing, timing, and yes, even star power.
Even though I made the statement about Bay’s head being up his ass please don’t lump me in with Bay haters. I actually think the guy is pretty talented at a certain type of filmmaking. I like BAD BOYS II quite a bit and thought THE ISLAND was one of his best films yet.
but . . .
listen to one interview with Bay and it’s pretty apparent that he is an huge, egotistical ASSHOLE. Sure, there’s no shortage of these types in Hollywood but he really takes the cake in this regard. With all his squirming to blame everyone but himself for the financial failures of THE ISLAND can you really blame anyone for laying into him?
i don’t revel in the Island’s failure, it isn’t Bay’s money.
Bay’s a decent choice for transformers but wouldn’t be my first
The failure of The Island can be put firmly on michael Bay’s shoulders. It is his baby. If he wanted stars he should have gotten stars. How hard would it have been to get someone for the Ewan role? Or even the Scarlett role? Are you trying to tell me Bay doesn’t have casting approval? This is all on him.
The director taking shots at his Oscar nominated leading lady and one of the most versatile male stars. That is a really great advertisement for working with that director again.
the guys a complete jerk. i dug the movie but his failure does make me laugh a little bit. especially with him taking cheap shots at his people.
Now that I’ve read the whole quote I do believe that this is about as humble as Bay has ever been.
“It could be the subject matter, the lack of stars,” he said. “I’m not blaming the whole thing on the marketers. Everyone from [Steven] Spielberg to [Robert] Zemeckis to [Stanley] Kubrick
Bay shouldn’t be blaming any person, and I didn’t see/read the interview getting discussed. However–tell me how many people can tell you the Best actress or best actor winners and nominees for even a couple years?
But Ewan M is an actor, and an acting star in quality sense but he is not a Star(except in the UK where he is a Star) like Will SMith where people will go just because he’s in the movie. Same thing with Scarlett, she’s a personality who may be a Star if she takes good roles and has enough onscreen charisma and doesn’t F things up with indiscretions and bad business behavior.
To be sensible, the female or male, one of them at least should have been BIG.
Bay’s name is not big enough to open a movie–Lucas is because he is completely tied to Star Wars–he is Star Wars.
to be fair i bet bay did try to get will smith, keanu, mel gibson, cruise, pitt, etc for this. most of the top a list guys have already done their futuristic movie. u can’t go wrong with his choice of mcgregor. the guy can do anything on screen.
I’m sorry but if you actually saw The Island you would know it is far from Ewan McGregors fault the movie came up limp on opening weekend.
I had been pretty sure that Pearl Harbor had topped out at just over $100 million (meaning bomb) and then I had to get nauseous when I saw that it was actually $198 domestic. Ugh.
They had to pay Affleck double his quote on Pearl Harbor becaus ehe refused to work with Bay.
Just to clarify:
I, and I believe Bay, was saying STAR, only in the sense of…lots of people line up to see their movies…
I’d take Ewan McGregor over just about anyone that’s ever been in a michael bay movie before.
And maybe that’s the point…he’s made so much crap that people that like good movies don’t want to take a chance, and the people that see his movies cause they have stars in them didn’t go.
I think people just don’t want to see cloning movies. Has any movie about clones ever worked?
Ewan McGregor is one the great actors working today. And its not like he hasn’t been in hit movies. He really gives you something new every time he shows up on screen.
No no no, audiences don’t care if a movie is about cloning. It’s a non-issue for 98% of people. It’s like saying people don’t want to see movies about bears or trains or Delaware.
If someone really thinks people are staying away because of cloning, I’d like to know what it is about cloning that puts people off.
It is a topic that must be addressed. Clone movies just haven’t worked for some reason. might be the stories. Directors. Actors. But there is something to it.
Off the top of head. The Sixth Day. Failure. Multiplicity. Failed. Stepford Wives. Failed. Island. Failure. You can make a case that certain genres are more prone to fail than others. Really takes something extra to put some genres over the top.
ohhh michael keaton. i liked multiplicity but i like keaton a lot. u could have made a lot of money 15 yrs ago predicting that he’d fall of the face of the earth and end up in a herbie movie. him and tom hanks were about to have a great rivalry too.
Yes, those are all clone movies, but they all failed for other reasons. Marketing, bad scripts, you name it. Until someone can come up with a psychological or cultural reason for people to stay away from clone movies, I remain unconvinced.
I’m with you bob. I like Keaton and really enjoyed Multiplicity when it came out (haven’t seen it since then). Sad to see what has happened to his career, although how much of it was his choice?
hes too talented not to find roles. it must have been his choice to slow down or he didn’t want to work with b type stuff. its a shame since hes one of our best.
Could you ever see Tom Hanks doing a Herbie movie?
Not a chance.
SO he did a Herbie movie. For anyone who is out of the buzz spotlight for any length of time, he is lucky to have a role in a major studio release.
If he just wanted to be an “actor” rather than be in big roles, he could work indie SAG rate, but maybe he needs the money.
Michael Keaton shouldn’t have to be doing Herbie movies for the money. He has more than enough money. He needs to keep working with directors like Tarantino and Soderberg.
Any actor with the talent and stature of a Michael Keaton should not have to take a supporting role in a Disney kids movie in order to get noticed again.
I hope he was doing something productive in the time he was away from us.
I absolutely loved his character in Jackie Brown and Out of Sight, and he owned that role. Wish they would have spun that off into a movie with Ray Nicolet as the lead.
They were supposed to be doing that. Elmore Leonard was supposedly writing the novel/screenplay. Hasn’t happend yet for whatever reason. Would be a great tie in.
I love both those movies, but I wanted more Nicolet/Keaton in each one. It’s such a great character, and he is so damn good in that role. Like he was born to play that guy.
The dude has talent. He goes from Mr Mom to Batman to a drunk in Clean and Sober to a rough and tumble DEA Agent. That is whats called range my friends.
out of sight is the best soderbergh movie. i don’t think we’ll ever see jennifer lopez and george clooney ever be as good in something as they were in that. its like a miracle.
I will say without hesitation that I don’t want to see any movies about Delaware.
The thing about cloning movies, though, leads to the question if the average potential moviegoer even knew The Island was a movie about cloning. From the few trailers I saw, it wasn’t obvious that was the premise.
A lot of the town is laughing its rear end off with the Bay failure. Nothing like watching an ego maniac go down in flames.
Jennifer Lopez really needs to get back with SS and into some quality projects. Tough for actresses to make multiple comebacks once they lose “it”.
people can laugh all they want at the failure of The Island…Bay still is–like it or not-a billion dollar director. one flop ain’t no biggie…does anyone really think that Bay isn’t going to keep making big-ass entertainments because one movie didn’t perform? i am still completely shocked that more people didn’t turn out for this movie…if it was bad, i could see why…
oh yeah…and march of the penguins is incredible…simply amazing. not quite as good as winged migration, but one of the years best for sure.
It looks like The Island may be rocking the boat over at Transformers, at least. It’s also hilarious that Bay’s worst box-office is coming from his best movie, which suggests that next time he probably won’t bother with good actors and a decent story. What’s Ben Affleck up to anyway?
I’d take Ewan McGregor over just about anyone that’s ever been in a michael bay movie before.
And maybe that’s the point…he’s made so much crap that people that like good movies don’t want to take a chance, and the people that see his movies cause they have stars in them didn’t go.
I agree. This movie had my favorite actor and my favorite actress as the leads, but as soon as i heard about it I had a visceral disgust when I heard “from the director of Pearl Harbor and Bad Boys…”. The “How could McGregor and Johansson want to be in this movie?” thoughts far outweighed the “I like those people” thoughts.
Meanwhile, the people who liked “Armageddon” and “Pearl Harbor” were like “Who are these actors? Where’s Ben Affleck? What’s the plot supposed to be about? What does the title mean?”.
So it’s the worst of both worlds – I respect the actors and the plot is even more interesting than the plot of Clonus, but I know Bay is going to make it into a lowest-common-denominator mishmash. Meanwhile, those who like Bay’s explosions and high drama don’t think that this looks like a must-see movie – it isn’t patriotic, the characters aren’t badass, the trailer was definitely not innovative.
It’s also hilarious that Bay’s worst box-office is coming from his best movie, which suggests that next time he probably won’t bother with good actors and a decent story.
I hope not, because he wouldn’t know what to do with them. I think this movie would have been a big hit if Wolfgang Petersen was the director.
Apparently you can’t use italics in these comments, so I’ll redo that post.
“””I’d take Ewan McGregor over just about anyone that’s ever been in a michael bay movie before.
“””And maybe that’s the point…he’s made so much crap that people that like good movies don’t want to take a chance, and the people that see his movies cause they have stars in them didn’t go.”””
I agree. This movie had my favorite actor and my favorite actress as the leads, but as soon as i heard about it I had a visceral disgust when I heard “from the director of Pearl Harbor and Bad Boys…”. The “How could McGregor and Johansson want to be in this?” thoughts far outweighed the “This sounds interesting” thoughts.
Meanwhile, the people who liked “Armageddon” and “Pearl Harbor” were like “Who are these actors? Where’s Ben Affleck? What’s the plot supposed to be about? What does the title mean?”.
So it’s the worst of both worlds – I respect the actors and the plot is even more interesting than the plot of Clonus, but I know Bay is going to make it into a lowest-common-denominator mishmash. Meanwhile, those who like Bay’s explosions and high drama don’t think that this looks like a must-see movie – it isn’t patriotic, the characters aren’t badass, the trailer was definitely not innovative.
“””It’s also hilarious that Bay’s worst box-office is coming from his best movie, which suggests that next time he probably won’t bother with good actors and a decent story.”””
I hope not, because he wouldn’t know what to do with them. I think this movie would have been a big hit if Wolfgang Petersen was the director.
Blaming the stars for the box office failure? I could see if they were proven A listers. But they are just two great actors. Who actually were very good. Its not their fault. I can only blame stars when the movie itself stinks. The Island for all its problems is pretty good.
I don’t know how The Island is bombing this bad. Did anyone except Bay haters(which they’re plenty of out there) see this coming? It even got good reviews.
I cannot believe how many headlines I’ve seen about the surprise bombing of The Island. Why in god’s name did anyone think this was going to be big? Look at the pieces –
Bay – has Smith in the BB films plus the force of Bruckheimer behind his first five. The numbers for crap like National Treasure and Con Air shows Brucky’s “from the producer of…” line has more weight than Bay’s name.
McGregor – he didn’t star in the SW films, he just did a good job playing Guiness as Obi-Won. If he or his agents thought his part in the SW success was anything more than that, then one can only hope The Island was the rude awakening needed.
Johansen – over-hyped, no-name, pimped out Starlet-of-the-moment. I have grown so sick of the hard sell of this chick it was the final reason I needed not to go see this.
So here’s what Dreamworks had to sell –
A movie starring a guy that is only recognizable with a beard and bathrobe, and a fake blonde whose spent 90% of her Warhol 15 as a redhead. That means it’s up to audio cues and titles to inform people who the hell they are looking at, and then *hope* they recognize them from something else….From a director whose track record is for loud films that recquire no thought…with a script that was trying to please a few masters…while using a concept that had been beaten to death for the past few years in a variety of formats.
I would have taken Brucky’s name against those three elements any time of the year.
Bay himself saw it coming Mark. He complained about the marketing and worried about its box office prior to its release.
Bay has only had hit after hit after hit.
McGregor is one of the best working actors today. Worldwide.
Johansen is one of the top actresses under 30 .
The script was tight and kept the story moving.
Who thought it was going to work?
i been away but can someone please clue me in to what Dave wanted from the marketers regarding the surprise in the 3rd act. What surprise was this again? The one revealed in the trailer? Umm its a film about cloning – gee do you think they might meet their other halves? Why make a clone flick without that. The ISLAND bombed because there was nothing else in the film apart from the stolen premise. Yeah its about cloning.. and umm.. its kinda like Futureworld but not as much fun.. and they chase em. yeah thats it. The film was a bore. It looked like a bore and it smelled like a bore and it was a total bore. This aint rocket science… it was an empty headed stupid movie that didn’t engage anyone. The most remarkable thing in all this is that people seemed to think it was a pretty good movie. Well it wasn’t. It was amazignly vapid – one long artificial yawn.
I thought Island was pretty good when compared to that amazing sneaky asteroid movie Mr JBdoctor. standards were low.
compared to Logan’s Run etc then yes, it gets a little disappointing
lota – i was really surprised by how utterly peedestrian it all was.. things went booom boom for awhile and there was a 3 sec crazy visceral gutpunch when those wheels were flying off before i remembered he’d already done the scene in BB2. The film didn’t go anywhere – you’d have to be a vegetative clone not to fill in all the dots for the rest of the film. There was not one unexpected beat to the whole one note plodding tempo. whoever cast that flick should be shot.. wrong wrong wrong.
I beg your pardon. I am a little more advanced than a vegetative clone. I am Nexus VI v.4. and those dots kept crawling into my eyes.
I am a slight defender of Island because we don;t have much to work with here–(think of the past catalog). I think he could have gone some where with it, and without spoilers–those clones weren’t as dumb as the people housing them so improbability got out of hand.
ANyway, despite the special effects Science seems to be getting dummmmmmer in the movies. You can never have too much science.
oh the V.4 had some minor flaws that a patch fixed.. you did get that memo right?
just for the record – what was the last scientific thing you learnt watching a hollywood flick? i’d have to go back to Lorenzo’s Oil š
memos are so 90s. i just upgrade weekly online. And there is NOTHING wrong with v.4 (huh! must be a PC user).
i learned alot about mutants and death rays from TheLost Skeleton of Cadavra which I just bought on DVD because Mr brotherhoodofTLSOC told me I had to.
i just do what I’m told to around here.
“From now on, I’ll stick to science, and leave the hunting alien mutants to the experts! “
*checked imdb*
Jeffrey Boam is a screenwriter who died in 2000.
Any relation?
I’ll say it again- The Island is a good movie. For it to have been more successful, maybe it needed a bigger star director, like Spielberg or Lucas or Kubrick. Ahem. Bay has a big mouth and he’s not helping himself.
tell me why THE ISLAND is a good movie please? and i’m not being sarcastic – I really would like to hear its appeal to some. For me it’s a poor mans extended twilight zone episode with some drunk maniac pumping the accelerator now and then before reaching over and jacking the volume to 11. the story doesn’t blossom – it practically wilts before our eyes after 20mins. there is no growth or imagination in its narrative. it’s a flatline.
why are you checking up on me?
First off, I saw that Nightline report and FLIPPED when they compared MBFGW to the Penguin Movie. Terrible reporting.
Oddly enough, I reassured myself that I get my news from reuters, JoBlo, and Dave Poland. š And then this discussion comes up! Too funny.
The Island? Above average. The first half is just original enough to be entertaining, but the ‘FutureWorld’ looked like 2008, not 2055. I’m looking forward to that next great ‘FutureWorld’ movie, but these uneven iRobot, Minority Report, and The Island presentations just aren’t going to the limits.
I would prefer to think of The Island as Bay’s least bad movie.
jb’s doctor -> let’s see, i looked around here first… the title sky high always reminds me of “how high”… went to imdb… checked how high, saw jesse dylan directed it… clicked jesse dylan, found out he is bob dylan’s son… i remembered the SCRIPT doctor part of jeffrey boam’s doctor mentioned sometime before, put that name in the imdb on a whim… saw an impressive list of titles (the dead zone, innerspace, lost boys, lethal weapon II…)… not checking up on you… you can ignore this, I don’t mind
why I liked The Island… I’m stuck… so stuck…
no ben affleck, no bruce willis, no wisecracking cops… because of the not completely farfetched science, it aspired to be more than the usual completely braindead summer action movie? Scarlett and Ewan (strong lead actors like Cage and Connery in The Rock)… errr… I’m much better at saying why I hate a movie, sorry…
The biggest problem I had with The Island (SPOILER)
was if you’re going to do the classic “he’s the clone!” “no, he’s the clone!” routine you need to make it a little more plausible when they don’t check to make sure they haven’t made a mistake for a day or two. Also, when one of your valuable products escapes, maybe frisk her to see if she’s packing anything?
SPOILER OVER
All of that can be explained away by the fact that Baromir never explained the cloning process to Hinsou. He just said to get them back.
I don’t follow you. What does the cloning process have to do with it?
Looks like the doctor was one of the people doing backflips after the numbers came in.
I do hate spoilers. I still don’t see why you have to post them from a movie that came out 4 days ago.
Because I wanted to comment on the movie. They were clearly marked.
If some people here feel the need to spoil a movie that opened the same week, then they need some help. There is nothing you can do about classlessness.
My spoilers were extremely minor to the viewing of the movie and like I said, they were clearly marked. Excuse the hell out of me.
Wasn’t there a specific Island thread for talking about the movie? Not everyone sees movies on the Friday they open, right?
“The director taking shots at his Oscar nominated leading lady and one of the most versatile male stars. That is a really great advertisement for working with that director again.”
Terrance, just so you know, Scarlett has never been nominated for an Oscar – as strange as it may sound.
Can I just point out that, yes Bay’s The Island flopped (i suppose he deserved it after that horrendous scene in Bad Boys II with Martin Lawrence’s daughters date… ugh) but this year his production company had “The Amityville Horror”, which made a very nice fortune I believe.
So 2005 wasn’t a complete miss for him.
I’d consider March of the Penguins a smash hit in Documentary circles. It’s sort of the Star Wars for Fahrenheit 911’s Titanic…? er, that was a bad analogy, but whatever.
“I had been pretty sure that Pearl Harbor had topped out at just over $100 million (meaning bomb) and then I had to get nauseous when I saw that it was actually $198 domestic. Ugh.”
deluding yourself doesn’t help I’m afraid. Pearl Harbor also won 2 Oscars! eep.
Good News, Part 1: “The Island” is a Warner Bros. title outside USA and Canada. Given the pic’s performance so far WB will likely have a different ad campaign for the overseas release.
Good News, Part 2: “March of the Penguins” goes wide on 8/5 per Box Office Mojo. Wide is 1200+ theaters; WB is looking for 1400+.
Dave: Here’s a serious suggestion. To placate some of the whiners on here, why not start specific threads for spoiler-filled comments on movies? Like, say, Saturday: Start threads for “Stealth” and/or “Sky High,” with each clearly marked as threads only for people who have seen the films. Don’t want to read spoilers? Then DON’T go to those threads.