They do this all the time. Look at Voltron, at Power Rangers, tons of other shows... "Why didn't we use our giant one hit kill at the start of the fight, instead of the end?"
Because the enemy needed to be worn down first. Because it takes a while to charge up/activate. Because the writers and/or characters are idiots.
Hell, Iron Man 2 even makes fun of this trope in the final battle.
"Wow. I think you should lead with that one next time."
"Sorry, that's a one-off, can only be used once, done once."
In PR, they generally avoid slashing weapons due to the incredible toxicity of Kaiju blood, instead aiming on blunt force trauma and self-cauterizing weapons to reduce the risk of contamination and further civilian loss of life.
Also, as noted before;
Spoiler:
Raleigh didn't know about the upgrade until Mako pointed it out.
In the very next fight (when they're on the mission underwater), drawing the sword is literally the first thing they do when trouble shows up.
Yes, maybe they should've given him more time to read through the updated owner's manual, but, y'know, that test sequence kinda went horribly awry, and then they were put on a trial by fire in order to save the day. Twice.
Finally saw the movie and really liked it. It was exactly what I thought it would be, plus it actually had a bit more story to it. I went in expecting a popcorn movie and I was more then happy with what I got. Hell, my wife had no interest in seeing it but she said yes because she owed me one and she came out of it really liking it...yeah, I know, doesn't really say much except that she had really low expectations for this movie except that she loves Del Toro and that being the only reason why she saw it.
I was really impressed with the CGI, I liked the story, I loved the designs of the Jaegers and Kaiju and the alien world. I don't feel like they need a sequel, it seemed to wrap itself up nicely.
While I'm not surprised that here on the internet there are people attempting to pick the film apart, I thought I'd chime in to say that this movie delivered exactly what I wanted it to:
Mechs fighting Kaiju in IMAX 3D.
They even threw the "internet movie critic" a bone with the kaiju fanboy who saves the day, but apparently even that didn't hit home for some.
I just don't get it...this movie ranks down there with transformers II, as one of the worst Sci Fi films of all time. It wasn't worse than transformers II but it was darn close.
generalgrog wrote: I just don't get it...this movie ranks down there with transformers II, as one of the worst Sci Fi films of all time. It wasn't worse than transformers II but it was darn close.
GG
Put simply... brilliantly staged and well shot action scenes
You better see it now, it might not be in theaters a week from now. I was going to go see it again Friday night with my parents because I had been talking so much about the movie and got them pumped for it, only to find out they had pulled it to make room for Wolverine when we got there (the website hadn't been updated yet). Put a downer on my whole fething weekend.
Wolverine was okay, in case anyone's wondering and hasn't seen it yet. It was better than I thought it would be, but I didn't have very high expectations for that movie to begin with, so "not complete garbage" is the best thing I can say about it. Maybe I'm just bitter because I really wanted my parents to see Pacific Rim in theaters while they had a chance and they missed it, I dunno...
Monster Rain wrote: While I'm not surprised that here on the internet there are people attempting to pick the film apart
Guess it needed more hash brownies and robot balls to keep the average American movie-goer interested? Should have had Gipsy Danger piss coolant on one of the annoying human characters, that would have made it a few more million I'm sure...
generalgrog wrote: I just don't get it...this movie ranks down there with transformers II, as one of the worst Sci Fi films of all time. It wasn't worse than transformers II but it was darn close.
GG
Put simply... brilliantly staged and well shot action scenes
To each their own though
I have to say I did enjoy the Hong Kong bay battle when the Chinese and Russian Voltrons were destroyed, only thing kept me from walking out. Maybe I should have seen it in IMAX.
Sidstyler wrote: Guess it needed more hash brownies and robot balls to keep the average American movie-goer interested? Should have had Gipsy Danger piss coolant on one of the annoying human characters, that would have made it a few more million I'm sure...
Having it take place in a high school would have worked too. Oh, and singing. Lots of singing. I didn't notice a whole lot of product placement in this film either, which was shocking for a summer blockbuster.
Sidstyler wrote: Guess it needed more hash brownies and robot balls to keep the average American movie-goer interested? Should have had Gipsy Danger piss coolant on one of the annoying human characters, that would have made it a few more million I'm sure...
Having it take place in a high school would have worked too. Oh, and singing. Lots of singing. I didn't notice a whole lot of product placement in this film either, which was shocking for a summer blockbuster.
Yeah, that's gotta be why it failed. Would have been so easy, too.
"Man, fighting all these kaiju is making me monster tired...", and then Raleigh downs a can of Monster. Or no, all the mechs have corporate sponsors.
It floundered in the US, but is doing very well overseas. It should also be noted that it has also not been released in Japan (August 13th) or China (July 31st) yet, and those are two huge markets.
Also, I hated Transformers 2 but really enjoyed Pacific Rim. Outside of large robots, there is very little in common, both aesthetically or technically.
Ahtman wrote: Also, I hated Transformers 2 but really enjoyed Pacific Rim. Outside of large robots, there is very little in common, both aesthetically or technically.
Transformers 2 is the only movie I've ever walked out of.
I've fairly sad that Pacific Rim didn't do better in the US because I thought it was an enormously fun movie.
azazel the cat wrote: For what it's worth, that sequence was in the last 20-25 minutes. I don't think anyone walks out that far into a film...
There were two hong kong battles right?
You could be right, but I thought there was a good 45 minutes of film at the start[u] of that battle.The one with the destruction of the russian & chinese bots and the almost destruction of the aussy bot.
Yeah, it really does highlight that people in America will only go see something out of their 'comfort zone' if it has a really big name director, star, or is an established franchise. Makes me sad in heart.
So many conversations I've had "Hey, you jerks go see Pacific Rim yet?"
The nerdy guy in the group "Hells yeah, that was awesome."
Everyone else "What's that?"
Me - "Oh it's this awesome movie about huge alien monsters invading from the Pacific Ocean and us having to build giant robots to fight them off. It's basically an homage to Godzilla films. It's super well done, definitely my favorite move of the summer."
Everyone - "That sounds stupid." or "Who's in it?"
Me "Sigh."
- and no Grog, that is the second to last fight scene you are talking about, the Russians and Chinese were killed at the beginning of it.
My friend and I saw it and thought it was awesome. A few other guys in my 40k group want to see it (when they can), and only 1 or 2 guys won't (1 loathes anime and anime-like things, the other didn't like dual pilots). But in America unless you get the big names/stars/brands or have the plot to draw in the "popular" people; it will tank.
Bromsy wrote: Yeah, it really does highlight that people in America will only go see something out of their 'comfort zone' if it has a really big name director, star, or is an established franchise. Makes me sad in heart.
What's worse is that some of my friends who are all pretty nerdy acted like they're above watching such a movie. "I guess I just have high standards" they say. Sometimes 1-800-choke-em is the only solution
It floundered in the US, but is doing very well overseas. It should also be noted that it has also not been released in Japan (August 13th) or China (July 31st) yet, and those are two huge markets.
Also, I hated Transformers 2 but really enjoyed Pacific Rim. Outside of large robots, there is very little in common, both aesthetically or technically.
It's sad to think that the movie probably would have done better in america if it had included Black Face Jaegers, people being urinated on and titty slo-mos.
So, against my better judgement, I allowed myself to go along with some friends when they saw this last night.
I walked out of it about 20 minutes in, when boredom was settling in.
The way they hyped it up (friends), I thought that it just might be different from the godzilla movies I got tired of watching when I was a kid (Around the age of 8-9 I stopped watching them. Star wars and Battlestar Galactica were out and the new black).
I was wrong. I should have trusted my instincts and stood my ground. I've liked GDT's other films. It's just that this one had NOTHING to hold my interest (rather like Lord of the Rings, really). Giant robots? Giant monsters? Jurassic park had giant monsters, but they were dinosaurs and thus cool. This had nothing redeeming. And the Aussie accents? WTF? Please, actors - if you can't do the accent right, DON'T attempt to. Robin Atkin Downes once said that he won't accept jobs to do that accent until he can actually do it (something that got him a lot of applause by aussies).
The only other movie I've walked out on was "night at the museum". The combination of Stiller and Wilson was just that bad and reminded me why I usually don't bother watching movies with them in it.
I don't think I'll be relying on those friends for move recommendations again. The last friend whose recommendation fell that flat is dead to me, now (but he's dead to everyone. Really, really dead. And no, that's not disrespect - with his black sense of humour, that's exactly what he'd say if he WAS alive today). These friends are comatose.
chromedog wrote: The way they hyped it up (friends), I thought that it just might be different from the godzilla movies I got tired of watching when I was a kid (Around the age of 8-9 I stopped watching them.
Yeah, I think that's a pretty fair rap. If you didn't like Godzilla movies I don't think this offers a fundamentally different experience at it's core, simply a more modernized and shinier version with humanoid Mechagodzillas.
Please, actors - if you can't do the accent right, DON'T attempt to.
I thought this as well, also the guy pretending to be a British scientist had the absolute worst fake British accent ever.
edit...it seems he was born in Hollywood to UK parents and was pretty much raised in the UK. I guess it was the caricature(nutty British scientist) that threw me off.
GG
The Australian accents were worse. It was a trip down memory lane to the end of Point Break. Americans seem to think Australian accents are an odd hybrid of New Zealand, British, Paul Hogan and Steve Irwin accents.
What's worse is Australian actors are regularly hired and made to put on this fake Australian accent because it seems Americans don't like it when Australians actually sound like Australians.
Robot action was decent. Characters pretty much killed the movie for me. They were all pretty lackluster and boring. And pretty annoying too for most of them.
Bromsy wrote: Yeah, it really does highlight that people in America will only go see something out of their 'comfort zone' if it has a really big name director, star, or is an established franchise. Makes me sad in heart.
NO.
PR is a niche within a niche movie. This is fine, however the movie was made with a budget far outside the possibility of it making money.
1. That doesn't mean its a bad movie for its niche. It could be awesome.
2. That also doesn't mean that everyone who had no desire to see this move don't want to move beyond their comfort zone. Seriously, if you think that you need to re-evaluate your socialization. Just as I say, be what you want game what you want and don't worry about others, that goes the other way. You can't crow about what is effectively a kid's movie as some hidden nouveau gem.
I mean if we go that route my The Conjuring is beating your monster movie to death like Ultraman kicking a monster in the crotch.
Actually in film studies you can crow about it being a hidden nouveau gem. I've taken film studies classes. It's much like the philosophy department in that if you can make an argument for it you're right.
It wouldn't be the first relatively creative movie that didn't fare well at the box office, and then when contrasted with the movies that typically do well at the post office I don't think it's much of a leap to say that the movie-going public completely deserves the garbage they keep buying tickets to see.
I don't blame the people making the movies, because hell, if the rubes want to shell out millions of dollars for a remake of a remake I say give it to them.
It wouldn't be the first relatively creative movie that didn't fare well at the box office, and then when contrasted with the movies that typically do well at the post office I don't think it's much of a leap to say that the movie-going public completely deserves the garbage they keep buying tickets to see.
I don't blame the people making the movies, because hell, if the rubes want to shell out millions of dollars for a remake of a remake I say give it to them.
We often agree but not in this instance. You're arguing about rubes and garbage, but to do that you have to defend a movie about giant robots and monsters as high art. I'll repeat that, a movie about giant monsters and robots, as high art. I'll remind you the acting and dialgoue have been heavily panned. That just leaves the giant monsters and robots.
Nah, I'm not saying it's high art, but it's relatively creative and not a direct remake of anything.
That's the point I was making. To make a broader point I don't think that monsters and robots as the subject of a film automatically precludes it from being "high art".
Monster Rain wrote: Nah, I'm not saying it's high art, but it's relatively creative and not a direct remake of anything.
Its a remake of a ten thousand cheap ass Japanese giant monster movies in the 60s and 70s. EDIT: I probalby watched half of them.
That's the point I was making. I don't think that monsters and robots as the subject of a film automatically precludes it from being "high art", though.
Other than the effects what exactly is creative? Please be specific.
Monster Rain wrote: Nah, I'm not saying it's high art, but it's relatively creative and not a direct remake of anything.
Its a remake of a ten thousand cheap ass Japanese giant monster movies in the 60s and 70s.
I wasn't specific enough there I see. What I should have said was something about it not being tied in with a specific franchise. All movies, well most movies can be classified by a specific genre. That doesn't necessarily detract from creativity.
That's the point I was making. I don't think that monsters and robots as the subject of a film automatically precludes it from being "high art", though.
Other than the effects what exactly is creative? Please be specific.
I think the effects are sufficiently creative, as well as the cinematography. Granted I saw it in IMAX which may color my perception a bit, but the way some scenes were shot gave an amazing sense of scale that took some skill to pull off so effectively. The idea of "drift" was cool in that you become privy to all of your partner's thoughts and memories which is an idea that could be a movie in and of itself.
Which isn't to say that they didn't use a lot of action movie tropes throughout the film, but I got the distinct impression that a lot of the clichés were tongue-in-cheek as an homage to the film's genre.
Automatically Appended Next Post:
kirsanth wrote: The lack of romance (especially physical) in a rather intimate relationship.
Especially for what most call an action movie.
It's funny that can be seen as creative, but . . . yea.
Agreed. In many cases, such as this example, it didn't exactly follow the standard Hollywood format.
He didn't say everything is high art, he said any subject has the potential to be. Pointing out an example of low art doesn't really negate the argument.
Pacific Rim is about as niche as Iron Man. Good movies doing poorly and bad movies doing well is not a new phenomena, and continues to prove the only real truth in film-making: audiences are fickle, and not to be trusted. Star Wars was a niche film as well, but still managed to make some money, as I understand it. Comic Book movies were niche as well, and are topping the charts at the moment. It really isn't all that niche either, to be honest, in this day and age. Antichrist or The Tree of Life, now those or much more niche.
I don't agree with this belief that a film has to be a high art work of Evangelion proportions to be good.
A film can be silly and low-brow whilst still being enjoyable and fun.
For an anime example, take Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann. It has one of the stupidest, most utterly hare-brained, contrived, cliche-riddled and utterly daft plots ever. And yet it is amongst my top 5 favourite works of fiction, ever, because it is just so wondefully silly and over-the-top.
Whilst gimmicky awesomeness shouldn't always be used as the default alternative to a good plot, that doesn't mean that it can't ever be used as the main selling point of a movie-you just have to make sure that the gimmicky awesomeness is legitimately awesome. Ultimately this is why I love Pacific Rim-I can't pay attention to the plot holes because I'm too busy taking in the sheer awesomesauce.
The Nostalgia Critic did a very good video on this.
It was a bit of an experiment. It tapped into a genre that, aside from some animated series, has never exactly been enormous for American audiences.
In an industry that has lately been particularly wary of projects that don't have a 2 or 3 attached to them, it's something of a bold endeavor.
The creativity extends further in that while some similarities are impossible to avoid, they specifically set out to make their own thing, their own world. The Jaegers and Kaiju are both intended to be as unique as possible, with an outright avoidance of "oh, that's an homage to ____ and that's an homage to ______" that they could've run with.
Given GdT's involvement, it was also no shock that an immense amount of effort went into 'world building', developing a history and setting events in what felt, to me at least, like a realistic world (outside of robots and monsters that simply do not give a damn about your laws of physics). Hell, it was one of the few pieces of fiction I've seen that actually referenced its own genre (tied into the world building; toys, games, effects on religions, kids shows, etc).
This wasn't just something that was banged out in 3 months in an effort to rake in giant piles of money. You only need to see some of the 'behind the scenes' stuff to know a lot of care and attention to detail were present.
Also, as with many other GdT films, a lot of work was done practically. Sure, there's CGI up the wazoo, but that set was actually rigged with hydraulics to jump, and for the trash bins to flatten as though they were actually being interacted with.
I've gotta say, I thought the actress they used for young Mako was fantastic.
I'm not sure if you're following my argument. "here is some trash" does not refute the idea that there is no inherently low subject matter.
My point was meant to be that any art that actively seeks to find the bottom of the barrel cannot ever be anything but 'low' art; as 'high' art is the very antithesis of its aim.
Any medium can be high art, sure. But you didn't say that. You said anything.
EDIT: so perhaps I failed to follow your argument thoroughly.
Also, am I the only one who was reminded of Rei Ayanami by Mako?
I think it's just a fan theory, but I've heard it suggested that between the blue blood of the Kaiju and the blue hair, it's not intended as a fashion statement.
Also, am I the only one who was reminded of Rei Ayanami by Mako?
*Shudders* I'd hope so. I don't want even anything even 1% that level of creepy near my rah-rah "Go Humanity' movie.
I think it's just a fan theory, but I've heard it suggested that between the blue blood of the Kaiju and the blue hair, it's not intended as a fashion statement.
It's war paint.
It's actually supposed to be representative of the coat she wore during the attack when she was a little girl, as a way of remembering. We've got Word of God on that one.
Also, am I the only one who was reminded of Rei Ayanami by Mako?
I think it's just a fan theory, but I've heard it suggested that between the blue blood of the Kaiju and the blue hair, it's not intended as a fashion statement.
It's war paint.
Mako has 99,9% too much emotion for this to be likely anyway.
Also, am I the only one who was reminded of Rei Ayanami by Mako?
I think it's just a fan theory, but I've heard it suggested that between the blue blood of the Kaiju and the blue hair, it's not intended as a fashion statement.
It's war paint.
Mako has 99,9% too much emotion for this to be likely anyway.
Good point. I think Rei's reaction to being chased by a Kaiju would simply be "Oh. That's interesting".
Alpharius wrote: Is there a reason Frazz is still in here banging that particular drum of his?
Also, I never knew that Canadians and Texans just hated having a good time at the movies...
What drum is that? I've said it may be a cronking good action pic. I'm just responding to claims its not making $8 bazillion dollars is because people's are boors or snotty or some such argument. Its like a No True Dorksman argument writ large.
I rest my case. This is a quote from what probably is my favorite review of that film.
Among the slackest, laziest, least movie-like movies released by a major studio in the last decade, “Grown Ups 2” is perhaps the closest Hollywood has yet come to making “Ow! My Balls!” seem like a plausible future project.
I rest my case. This is a quote from what probably is my favorite review of that film.
Among the slackest, laziest, least movie-like movies released by a major studio in the last decade, “Grown Ups 2” is perhaps the closest Hollywood has yet come to making “Ow! My Balls!” seem like a plausible future project.
Ouch.
That really sucks.
Still, it's doing pretty well in Europe and Canada, and it will soon be released in Japan and China, so it's too early to write it off yet. I imagine it will do pretty well in Japan-they are the gods of robots and monsters after all.
Incidentally, Go Nagai (Creator of Mazinger Z) and Hideaki Anno (creator of Neon Genesis Evangelion) absolutely loved Pacific Rim.
I rest my case. This is a quote from what probably is my favorite review of that film.
Among the slackest, laziest, least movie-like movies released by a major studio in the last decade, “Grown Ups 2” is perhaps the closest Hollywood has yet come to making “Ow! My Balls!” seem like a plausible future project.
Is your case a crappy comedy is preferred over giant monsters? Maybe all that says is that not that many people want to see a movie about giant rubber er computer monsters and robots.
I think the coolest thing about Pacific Rim was the gigantic, hydraulic set to represent Gipsy Danger's cockpit, because Del Toro didn't want something as dumb as his actors "pretending" to react to hits, ala Star Trek. Screw the money, being on sets like that is one of the things that makes me the most jealous of Hollywood actors.
Pacific Rim was a damn good movie in the technical sense. Awesome innovative sets, no friggin' shaky cam in the fight scenes, no quick cuts to disguise lack of cool action, etc.
Transformers fight scenes are like watching metal objects being dumped into a blender, with a random "hawt girl" staying perfectly clean and slo-mo running though it all.
I rest my case. This is a quote from what probably is my favorite review of that film.
Among the slackest, laziest, least movie-like movies released by a major studio in the last decade, “Grown Ups 2” is perhaps the closest Hollywood has yet come to making “Ow! My Balls!” seem like a plausible future project.
Balls of Fury is an awful film that I loved. I shouldn't, and I hate myself a little for it. I would never say it is a good film, but I have some weird affinity for it that escapes me.
Ben Stiller is good in any role that property makes use of his particular crazy. Zoolander and Dodgeball both let him go off the rails in a constructive way. In most of his movies, doing his weird gak goes counter to the character.
Same for Will Farrell. The script has to perfectly fit his weirdness or it sucks.
To get it vaguely back on topic, I would absolutely love to see a comic giant robot movie featuring Will Ferrell training a team of underdog robot sport competitors. Especially if he was the sassy AI, rejecting various candidates.
A lot of films these days seem to break even or turn a good portion of their profit off of DVD/Blu Ray/Digital purchases, so it wouldn't surprise me if that played a part when all was said and done, but the merchandise seems pretty strong too. Toys/action figures, I've heard praise for the graphic novel and art book, the sound track is pretty awesome, etc.
Even if they aren't necessary, it probably won't hurt either.
Given the movie was basically carried entirely by the foreign markets if we do get a sequel I wonder if we'll see a lot more out of the international teams, given american film audiences proved they have no taste.
Something struck me immediately from Whembly's link about the possibility of a sequel; though it wasn't the focus of the piece:
The expensive film has underperformed significantly here in the States - I believe this is due, in no small part, to a heinously mis-conceived ad campaign which did little to adequately convey the true flavor of the picture. In fact, I’ve encountered a number of people who were actually TURNED OFF by PACIFIC RIM’s trailers and promos. That’s a hard battle to fight, and one bitch of an uphill climb.
Shenanigans, tomfoolery, and lies.
I've seen a fair bit of the trailers and advertising for Pacific Rim, and they aren't misleading in the least (contrast with The Fountain if you want to see that in action).
I liked Pacific Rim a great deal, and would love to see a sequel, but I'm not going to pretend that it's failure to become a blockbuster is for a reason other than it being a niche movie with a limited larger audience.
Anyway, as of this writing, it's pulled in $227 million total (I've actually had this tab open for nearly 3 weeks). Although we don't know what the marketing budget is, I think a fair estimate is around $70 million, so it still hasn't quite made back what it cost to make. That being said, China is a huge market, we don't know what the toys and other merchandising bring it... I still think a sequel is unlikely by conventional wisdom; but stranger things have happened, such as... well, Grown Ups 2.
Ouze wrote:Something struck me immediately from Whembly's link about the possibility of a sequel; though it wasn't the focus of the piece:
The expensive film has underperformed significantly here in the States - I believe this is due, in no small part, to a heinously mis-conceived ad campaign which did little to adequately convey the true flavor of the picture. In fact, I’ve encountered a number of people who were actually TURNED OFF by PACIFIC RIM’s trailers and promos. That’s a hard battle to fight, and one bitch of an uphill climb.
Shenanigans, tomfoolery, and lies.
I've seen a fair bit of the trailers and advertising for Pacific Rim, and they aren't misleading in the least (contrast with The Fountain if you want to see that in action).
Just for clarification as there is more than one movie titled The Fountain: are you referring to the movie where the conquistador loses his head and becomes a transcendental Buddhist who gets reincarnated as a pharmaceutical scientist?
azazel the cat wrote: Just for clarification as there is more than one movie titled The Fountain: are you referring to the movie where the conquistador loses his head and becomes a transcendental Buddhist who gets reincarnated as a pharmaceutical scientist?
Yes. In my experience, that is tied for the most misleading trailer I have ever seen for a film.
So, if you watch that trailer, what is your takeway? That it's a movie about a conquistador who discovers the fountain of youth, lives forever, and tries to regain his lost love, right?
Yeah, that's not actually what it's about. Spoilers for the ending.
Spoiler:
It's actually about a scientist guy who is coming to terms with his wife's dying of some disease. The first part is a story she wrote that goes nowhere, and the second one is a hallucination he has is about a space hare krishna flaying around in a bubble with a tree.
.
The second most misleading movie preview, possible tied? Executive Decision. The trailer and posters for this movie make it look like an action movie starring Kurt Russell and Steven Seagal, when in fact, Steven Seagal is only in the movie for about 5 minutes.
Anyway, back on-topic, my wife still has not seen Pacific Rim, so I may take her to a 3D showing today.
Ouze wrote:The second most misleading movie preview, possible tied? Executive Decision. The trailer and posters for this movie make it look like an action movie starring Kurt Russell and Steven Seagal, when in fact, Steven Seagal is only in the movie for about 5 minutes.
To be fair, that's intentional, for the same reason the principle character dies halfway through Psycho (I hate to compare the two, however).
Ouze wrote:The second most misleading movie preview, possible tied? Executive Decision. The trailer and posters for this movie make it look like an action movie starring Kurt Russell and Steven Seagal, when in fact, Steven Seagal is only in the movie for about 5 minutes.
To be fair, that's intentional, for the same reason the principle character dies halfway through Psycho (I hate to compare the two, however).
Then how about Drew Barrymore in Scream?
Spoiler:
It is probably a little more analogous because both Seagal and her are offed fairly quickly whereas Hitchcock made us take some time and get to knew Janet Leigh.
Ouze wrote: I hadn't considered that was intentional, for the Executive Decision example.
The idea is that you kill off someone the audience would never expect to be killed off so that it seems like anyone could be a legitimate target and no character is safe.
Ouze wrote: I hadn't considered that was intentional, for the Executive Decision example.
The idea is that you kill off someone the audience would never expect to be killed off so that it seems like anyone could be a legitimate target and no character is safe.
^ Yup. This.
Barrymore was marketed heavily in Scream, too. I think she even has the largest portrait on the box art.
It probably has by now. Obviously they're never going to release how much they spent on marketing, but it's probably around $70-80 million. If so, it's already started to make money, and that's before merchandising and dvd\blu-ray sales.
My wife wanted to see it with her brother, so I wound up seeing it a second time. The second time, we saw it at a 3D IMAX. I usually eschew 3D movies but in this case it was very solid - not dark and blurry as the conversion process can sometimes do. I thought it was very solid for what it was, but I was inclined to like it already.
Ouze wrote: It probably has by now. Obviously they're never going to release how much they spent on marketing, but it's probably around $70-80 million. If so, it's already started to make money, and that's before merchandising and dvd\blu-ray sales.
Yup... the Asian market is going to eat them up like cray-cray.
Frazz... the distributor has already been on record for sequel.
Good thing it just opened in 3 more markets, had a record opening in China, and apparently has 2 more to go.
I mean, a sequel has apparently already been green lit after that middle one (45m in a week or something like that?) so it's all academic, but even if it comes close after the international box office, presumably it'll turn a tidy profit after merchandise (particularly dvd sales), so yay international markets!
Edit: apparently I should read further past a post I intend to respond to. Basically "what Ouze said +1".
Ouze wrote: It probably has by now. Obviously they're never going to release how much they spent on marketing, but it's probably around $70-80 million. If so, it's already started to make money, and that's before merchandising and dvd\blu-ray sales.
No, because the box office isn't what the studio gets. The theatre keeps a third on domestic first weekend receipts, and every week after that the theatre gets more. On international receipts the studio gets even less back - and in Asian markets the deal is even worse.
Studios are getting better at factoring in DVD sales, but outside of a very few movies they don't make a difference (typically if ends up profitable at the box office then DVDs make it even more profitable, but if the box office didn't do the job then it likely won't be saved by DVD, though there are some noted exceptions). The real big deal, though, is merchandising. If they can sell toys of the robots and monsters, well then that changes everything.
It sounds like P-Rimmy is doing dynamite on the merchandising side. The books (art book, prequel and novelization) seem to be doing very well compared to similar tie-ins for other big movies this year. The toys are all being handled by NECA, and badly, so who knows how that is going to end up.
Also, I'm pretty sure your reasoning on Box Office vs DVD sales has been obsolete for 6 or 7 years by now. Even Dredd is likely to get a prequel due to DVD sales, and the merchandising for that movie can't be much.
Ouze wrote: It probably has by now. Obviously they're never going to release how much they spent on marketing, but it's probably around $70-80 million. If so, it's already started to make money, and that's before merchandising and dvd\blu-ray sales.
No, because the box office isn't what the studio gets. The theatre keeps a third on domestic first weekend receipts, and every week after that the theatre gets more. On international receipts the studio gets even less back - and in Asian markets the deal is even worse.
Seb, that may be true in AU, but not in US... depending on the flick, the theatre keeps VERY LITTLE of the first week or two of the box office. That's why the box of candy/popcorn/soda are insanely expensive. It's not even close to a 3rd of the receipts.
That's why there's so much importance to the "Opening Weekend" figures for the studios.
Disclaimer, I used to work for a large movie theater chain.
Ouze wrote: It probably has by now. Obviously they're never going to release how much they spent on marketing, but it's probably around $70-80 million. If so, it's already started to make money, and that's before merchandising and dvd\blu-ray sales.
No, because the box office isn't what the studio gets. The theatre keeps a third on domestic first weekend receipts, and every week after that the theatre gets more. On international receipts the studio gets even less back - and in Asian markets the deal is even worse.
Seb, that may be true in AU, but not in US... depending on the flick, the theatre keeps VERY LITTLE of the first week or two of the box office. That's why the box of candy/popcorn/soda are insanely expensive. It's not even close to a 3rd of the receipts.
That's why there's so much importance to the "Opening Weekend" figures for the studios.
Disclaimer, I used to work for a large movie theater chain.
Yeah, I'd be suprised if they even got 10% of the ticket price. That's why I have to pay 2.50 for a seven up and 3.50 for some nachos (WITHOUT fething CHEESE).
Pretty sure everyone - even the 10 year olds in the theater - just wondered why swords weren't standard issue after seeing Danger kill with one so easily. The world's forces should have indeed been camping around the rift for years with tons of Jaegers. It would have saved the world countless billions in repairs which they could have pumped into making more robots and research to penetrate the rift (which some scrub scientist did with a homemade interface unit) and just wtfpwned from the beginning.
The sword wasn't in the original version of Gypsy Danger, and I got the impression the original driver was unaware of it. You also have the same reason why Volton never just used the sword at the beginning of the fight as well I suppose. It is a trope of giant monster movies/anime.
Finally rented. *Acting was crap. *Story was pretty bad. *Effects were high end but didn't do anything for me. Felt like jets hitting them with really big bombs would have been much better then relatively suits with guys punching them.
Kept thinking "man a Warlord Titan would smear these guys" I'm 40K jaded.
Frazzled wrote: Felt like jets hitting them with really big bombs would have been much better then relatively suits with guys punching them.
If you rent it again pay attention, as it is explained why that is a bad option.
They did eventually kill the first one (and presumably several of those that followed) conventionally and with nuclear arms, it's just incredibly wasteful, takes forever and does little to stop them rampaging through several cities with a five figure death toll. For those that enjoy (or at least don't mind) fleshed out setting info from other sources, according to the novel and some other stuff, the first one ("Tresspasser/Axe Head") was nuked three times before it finally died.
Anyway, of course it's silly. The entire premise stems from incredibly silly movies and animated series. The concept falls on its face if it even glances at real physics askew.
But man.... "have you hit it with a boat? No? Find a boat. Yes? Find a bigger boat." needs to be part of Jaeger pilot SOP.
Definitely a sequel, which is a little surprising to me since it took home so little domestically. I say this as someone who liked it: I wouldn't have voted to greenlight a sequel.
Watched it a few times now, brilliant film! Falls on its arse if you take it seriously, but anyone expecting a Martin Scorsese film probably should not have gone to watch it really!
It has a giant robot beating down a giant monster with a goddamn boat. If you want more then that from your summer action movie/giant monster movie cinema then I honestly don't know how to relate to you as a human being.
The only thing that really annoyed me about the movie was the lack of action with the Russian robot. I was all built up for robo stalingrad and its like thwap thwap acid melting splat Frazzled sad.
Funnily, the way Cherno Alpha and Crimson Typhoon go down is a common complaint.
On one hand, I agree.
On the other hand, it does set the stakes pretty soundly. These are hardened veterans, piloting the finest Mark 1 and one of the most advanced Mark IV's, and a pair of massive Catagory 4's just tear them apart.
The Mark V holds its own until a specific counter-measure is employed.
Still love when Otachi comes out of the water and Striker Eurkea is all "NOPE!" and proceeds to tear it a new one.
But if you don't see them in action they're just WTF? Its the classic martial arts/speghetti western. To make the bad boys/ good boys badass they have to be shown being badass first. If they show news footage or something of the Rooskie robot going to town on one first then it would have been better.
I would've liked a little flashback/old footage showing them in action too, but I also respect they had already spent $Texas getting it made, and it's not like there were a lot of superfluous expensive shots I wouldn't have wanted to see replaced.
But let's not gloss over, it wasn't just "beating them down to prove how badass these badguys are", they were specifically designed to counter the last standing Jaegers.
Gipsy Danger had an advantage in that they weren't expecting her to still be around.
I finally got to see it this weekend and I really enjoyed it. But I went into it knowing the story and acting would be dumb. I just wanted to see giant robots punching big monsters and got just what I wanted.
I also don't think they should do a sequel, it's fine as is and really doesn't need to be run into the ground like every other "franchise"
Forar wrote: Funnily, the way Cherno Alpha and Crimson Typhoon go down is a common complaint.
On one hand, I agree.
On the other hand, it does set the stakes pretty soundly. These are hardened veterans, piloting the finest Mark 1 and one of the most advanced Mark IV's, and a pair of massive Catagory 4's just tear them apart.
The Mark V holds its own until a specific counter-measure is employed.
Still love when Otachi comes out of the water and Striker Eurkea is all "NOPE!" and proceeds to tear it a new one.
Did you watch it alone? I think the movie is best enjoyed with a group of friends so you can watch cool robot beat downs while MST3King the acting and dialogue.
AduroT wrote: Did you watch it alone? I think the movie is best enjoyed with a group of friends so you can watch cool robot beat downs while MST3King the acting and dialogue.
I had a wife, a mountain dog, and two wiener dogs but they all fell asleep on me. The young wiener dog literally fell asleep on me, on my chest to be precise. He was snoring in my ear. I tried to get GC to watch it, but she took one look and bolted. Its bad when you can't keep anime girl interested.
Frazzled wrote: The only thing that really annoyed me about the movie was the lack of action with the Russian robot. I was all built up for robo stalingrad and its like thwap thwap acid melting splat Frazzled sad.
A fair point. I too was disappointed, especially after how they sort of built up the track records of those two, the Russian one specifically.
Frankly the Jaegars didn't appear that tough at any time, until they pulled out swords and and started killing things. Would have been better to see the Rooskie go down after clobbering a bunch of them, finally being dragged down or something. They needed Ultraman in a big way...
Frazzled wrote: The only thing that really annoyed me about the movie was the lack of action with the Russian robot. I was all built up for robo stalingrad and its like thwap thwap acid melting splat Frazzled sad.
A fair point. I too was disappointed, especially after how they sort of built up the track records of those two, the Russian one specifically.
This is also my only complaint; it was a somewhat ignominious death. I remember exclaiming in the theatre: "Lookout, giant robot! NOOOooooo!"
side note: my primary project for the coming year is to built a set of Cherno Alpha drivesuits for my S/O & I.
Because they're last resort weapons. There's a (not well explained) reason they hold them back, and it's Kaiju blue.
But hitting them with plasma or saw blades is just fine? Thats nonsense.
The back story has several of the other Jaeger edged weapons and projectiles designed to cauterize the wounds where possible, to minimize the horrific environmental catastrophe such a spill can be. Obviously there's still blood, but it's a lot less than was being released from killing them conventionally, since the Kaiju are essentially designed to 'self destruct', at least in some circumstances.
I believe Mako's family was killed by Kaiju blue.
From what I hear, the art book has a ton of back story stuff, and if you look up the writer (on tumblr, I think) he fills in a simply immense amount of info for those thirsting for more.
I was under the impression that the sword was added sometime between when the original pilot quit and when h came back and was using the rebuilt Gypsy Danger. I thought it was Mako who brought it up, so it may not have been part of the original design, which is one reason why it wasn't used sooner.
Forar wrote: From what I hear, the art book has a ton of back story stuff, and if you look up the writer (on tumblr, I think) he fills in a simply immense amount of info for those thirsting for more.
http://travisbeacham.tumblr.com/
He posts a lot of great art and info. I especially liked the little bit he wrote about Brawler Yukon being deployed against Karloff.
Because they're last resort weapons. There's a (not well explained) reason they hold them back, and it's Kaiju blue.
But hitting them with plasma or saw blades is just fine? Thats nonsense.
The back story has several of the other Jaeger edged weapons and projectiles designed to cauterize the wounds where possible, to minimize the horrific environmental catastrophe such a spill can be. Obviously there's still blood, but it's a lot less than was being released from killing them conventionally, since the Kaiju are essentially designed to 'self destruct', at least in some circumstances.
I believe Mako's family was killed by Kaiju blue.
From what I hear, the art book has a ton of back story stuff, and if you look up the writer (on tumblr, I think) he fills in a simply immense amount of info for those thirsting for more.
Back story is irrelevant when not shown on the actual screen (and still amazingly stupid).
Little doggies gotta do what little doggies gotta do.
Again, we're talking about a setting that immediately falls apart if physics looks too hard at it. Something that big cannot survive (explanation; silicon based lifeform, alternate dimension origin, etc, etc), the square/cube means Jaegers and Kaiju alike generally wouldn't even be able to move on surfaces that weren't specifically reinforced, etc, etc.
Like, we can nit-pik this thing to death.
Or revel in giant robots punching the gak out of giant monsters.
Swords for the most part were useless. The Kaiju had already adapted to them and would rip them off as soon as they saw them. They were able to use the sword against Otachi because his extra appendage was removed and the other appendages were occupied (feet holding the jaeger and wings being used to fly). Basically Otachi was defenseless against the attack. Its the same reason why a lot of the projectile weapons were not used. Kaiju could anticipate them based on the big ass doors opening up and would dodge the attacks. That was why the Plasma Cannon was used in close combat so the Kaiju could not avoid the blasts. If you notice Striker Eureka used the missiles in his chest only after the Kaiju was stunned by a bunch of close combat attacks.
Sing. I am watching a giant monster movie in which giant robots are beating the hell out of alien bio weapons from another dimension. I cannot communicate to you in English how few feths I give about the nearby landscape as long as the acid effect as it burns said landscape away is badass.
KalashnikovMarine wrote: Sing. I am watching a giant monster movie in which giant robots are beating the hell out of alien bio weapons from another dimension. I cannot communicate to you in English how few feths I give about the nearby landscape as long as the acid effect as it burns said landscape away is badass.
Agreed completely. Its merely a cover for the Voltron Effect. Giant Japanese Robot Suits may only bring out the sword at the last three seconds of the battle.
Ahtman wrote: I was under the impression that the sword was added sometime between when the original pilot quit and when h came back and was using the rebuilt Gypsy Danger. I thought it was Mako who brought it up, so it may not have been part of the original design, which is one reason why it wasn't used sooner.
This is the first good explanation I've yet read for why Raleigh did not use the sword previously and it fact seemed unaware of it's existence.
Ahtman wrote: I was under the impression that the sword was added sometime between when the original pilot quit and when h came back and was using the rebuilt Gypsy Danger. I thought it was Mako who brought it up, so it may not have been part of the original design, which is one reason why it wasn't used sooner.
This is the first good explanation I've yet read for why Raleigh did not use the sword previously and it fact seemed unaware of it's existence.
Because they're last resort weapons. There's a (not well explained) reason they hold them back, and it's Kaiju blue.
But hitting them with plasma or saw blades is just fine? Thats nonsense.
Theory: Edged weapons are not used because Kaiju Blue is toxic to the environment.
Support: Cherno Alpha uses pneumatic fists to concuss, and Gypsy Danger uses a plasma cannon because it cauterizes the wounds instantly, rather than letting them bleed out.
Problem: Crimson Typhoon uses saw blades.
Counterpoint: Since when does China give two gaks about the environment?
Ahtman wrote:I was under the impression that the sword was added sometime between when the original pilot quit and when h came back and was using the rebuilt Gypsy Danger. I thought it was Mako who brought it up, so it may not have been part of the original design, which is one reason why it wasn't used sooner.
While it fits the trope of the forgotten superweapon, a better explanation is that the sword was not built into Gypsy Danger when the brothers were driving it; thus only Mako would know about the sword, and she is inexperienced enough to have forgotten it was there until she desperately needed another option. The dude would not have known about it.
As far as swords and sawblades are concerned, once it was discovered that Kaiju open wounds messed up the environment they probably switched all Jaegers over to blunt weapons. At this point in the movie though Earth is fighting a losing war. So things like the swords, sawblades, missiles, and other previously abandoned weapons are being used again because their back is against the wall and it's a losing battle.
That would explain why start-of-movie Gipsy and Cherno had fists and plasma, they were older models. The chinese and australian Jaegers were newer, and had switched over since Earth had nothing to lose anymore.
Ahtman wrote:I was under the impression that the sword was added sometime between when the original pilot quit and when h came back and was using the rebuilt Gypsy Danger. I thought it was Mako who brought it up, so it may not have been part of the original design, which is one reason why it wasn't used sooner.
While it fits the trope of the forgotten superweapon, a better explanation is that the sword was not built into Gypsy Danger when the brothers were driving it; thus only Mako would know about the sword, and she is inexperienced enough to have forgotten it was there until she desperately needed another option. The dude would not have known about it.
That isn't a better explanation, that is exactly the same explanation.
Badablack wrote: As far as swords and sawblades are concerned, once it was discovered that Kaiju open wounds messed up the environment they probably switched all Jaegers over to blunt weapons. At this point in the movie though Earth is fighting a losing war. So things like the swords, sawblades, missiles, and other previously abandoned weapons are being used again because their back is against the wall and it's a losing battle.
That would explain why start-of-movie Gipsy and Cherno had fists and plasma, they were older models. The chinese and australian Jaegers were newer, and had switched over since Earth had nothing to lose anymore.
Thats great but it has very little to do with the movie. There is no mention of using blunt weapons in the movie because of that. The movie itself just has punch punch punch punch OMG SWORD SWORD SWORD BOOM!
While it fits the trope of the forgotten superweapon, a better explanation is that the sword was not built into Gypsy Danger when the brothers were driving it; thus only Mako would know about the sword, and she is inexperienced enough to have forgotten it was there until she desperately needed another option. The dude would not have known about it.
I believe that it was a later addition was explicitly mentioned in the movie.
Ahtman wrote:I was under the impression that the sword was added sometime between when the original pilot quit and when h came back and was using the rebuilt Gypsy Danger. I thought it was Mako who brought it up, so it may not have been part of the original design, which is one reason why it wasn't used sooner.
While it fits the trope of the forgotten superweapon, a better explanation is that the sword was not built into Gypsy Danger when the brothers were driving it; thus only Mako would know about the sword, and she is inexperienced enough to have forgotten it was there until she desperately needed another option. The dude would not have known about it.
That isn't a better explanation, that is exactly the same explanation.
Yeah, I didn't type that out as well as I should have. I meant my answer to be an explanation for why Mako didn't deploy it the moment she starts piloting; as opposed to as a last resort when she has no other options left. That is to say, Mako is engaged with the Kaiju for quite some time before the sword gets used, even though she knew about the sword all along. The part about even mentioning Raleigh and the old design is just to negate the possibility that he should have picked up the slack for her 'forgetfulness' during the fight.
