SUNDAY AM: This weekend's movie gross showed that Hollywood couldn't revive the slumping box office during spring break even though 30% of students are out of school. No. 1 is Sony Pictures's PG-rated based-on-a-true-story 21, which opened to a solid $8.6 million Friday and $9.6 million Saturday from 2,648 theaters. With Sunday estimates, that makes a better than expected $23.7M for the moderately budgeted pic (sources tell me it cost $35M). The casino card-counting caper suddenly came on strong tracking-wise these past two weeks to surprise everyone but the studio execs. A shocker was how weak the reviews were: only 22% positive among top critics on Rotten Tomatoes. But audiences craved the escapism. As a rival marketer gushed to me, "It is wish fulfilment in the truest sense of the phrase, this notion of a real person being able to beat the system, get the girl and live the life. The pic tapped into that really nicely." I'm told the audience was broad based, drawing from all 4 quadrants -- older and younger men and women, with 53% male and 47% female with 53% under the age of 25.
In its 3rd weekend in release, Fox's Horton Hears A Who! continued playing strong in 3,826 dates for $5.2 million Friday and $7.3 million thanks to Saturday kiddie matinees to surge well past the all-important $100 million mark. It's new cume is $117.2M after this weekend's extra $17.4M because there was little else at the cineplex aimed at tots.
In 3rd place is The Weinstein Co's Dimension/MGM spoof Superhero Movie which was a superdud. Despite playing wide in 2,960 venues, the newcomer finished Friday virtually stillborn with only $3.4 million and Saturday with $3.8 million. That meant a $9.5 million weekend which is 33% less than its studios were hoping and the experts were predicting. Frankly, it's unthinkable since this pic had a big 75% awareness equally divided among males and females. Gee, Bob Weinstein's Dimension banner used to be the best at making this genre of light satires when it was based at Disney. But maybe audiences are tired of seeing the same old shtick. However, some analysts astutely foresaw a problem with Superhero going after the same PG-13 audience as 21. A Superhero insider told me over the weekend: "We played young because of Drake Bell. 
We were doing well during the day but fell off at night. 21 ended up with the audience we needed. It seems they got the teens and did better than expected with them."
Friday's No. 7 Stop-Loss fell a spot to 8th after it opened to only $1.7 million Friday and Saturday from a limited 1,291 plays. It eked out a $4.5M weekend. Although the drama from MTV Films was the best-reviewed movie opening this weekend, Paramount wasn't expecting much because no Iraq war-themed movie has yet to perform at the box office. "It's not looking good," a studio source told me before the weekend. "No one wants to see Iraq war movies. No matter what we put out there in terms of great cast or trailers, people were completely turned off. It's a function of the marketplace not being ready to address this conflict in a dramatic way because the war itself is something that's unresolved yet. It's a shame because it's a good movie that's just ahead of its time."
Finishing out the Top 10: Warner Bros' 10,000 BC was #7 with a $4.8M weekend and still anemic new cume of $84.9M from 3,055 theaters; what a bad sign that, starting its 4th week in release, this expensive CGI-bloated pic still hasn't broken the $100M barrier. Disney's College Road Trip held onto 9th with $3.5M for its 4th weekend in release at 2,270 dates. And No. 10 was Lionsgate's The Bank Job, hanging in for a $2.8M weekend from 1,869 venues.
(FYI: Comments on this website are monitored. If you left a comment and it didn't post immediately, it's likely that NF is away from the computer. Please be patient.)
The reason no Iraq war movie has done well is because they have all been anti-American themed, with the exception of The Kingdom (which tried to be somewhat neutral).
Comment by paul — March 29, 2008 @ 6:24 am
Hollywood will never get it. The average American doesn’t think like they do. If they would make an Iraq war movie that was actually positive and showed a real American hero, it would do very well (assuming it was a well made movie of course) but that won’t happen. They can’t even imagine such things.
Comment by Anonymous — March 29, 2008 @ 6:30 am
Maybe if Hollywood made an Iraq war movie that wasn’t so set on making the U.S. out to be the bad guy, America would go see it.
Comment by Carl — March 29, 2008 @ 6:31 am
When will Hollywood reaslize that they are out-of-touch with the majority of America and making movies against a war most people support will flop. It isn’t rocket science. I would bet a great deal of money that a positive, pro-soldier, pro-America movie would make millions for them instead of these out-of-touch, anti-war, anti-America films.
I anticipate a string of excuses as to why it failed…but lets face facts…it failed because people don’t like a movie that insults or belittles their country, their president (Democrat controlled Congress has a lower approval rating), or the men and women that VOLUNTEER to defend it. Soldiers are not a combination of red-neck dunces from Texas and poor people that have no choice if they want to stay in this country. I quick survey would find that the vast mojority of soldiers (wait..this may stun some Hollywood Leftists) WANT to be soldiers!
Just pathetic…if that is how the people that make these movies feel…I am of the mind-set they they can take their attitude, policies and socialist mind-set and move to a place more fitting for them….maybe Venezuela….Maybe Cuba….it would be paradise for you guys!
A Soldier
Comment by Open your eyes — March 29, 2008 @ 6:34 am
Folks stop loss isnt being anti american.its a fact that our military is being pulled too thin. I know someone that had this happen to them and as a viet vet if I was told i had to go back to vietnam after my contractual obligation was up I would have headed to canada. either the COUNTRY has to support the war or get the troops the hell out of there. all americans MUST serve if this is a real war and or if america isnt behind it then bring them home for gods sake. and no I am not some hippie anti war nut. but this is becoming vietnam part 2. back the war which means backing the troops all the way or get them all the wya home. we cannot be for the war as a country then have a very select few fight it for us. this isnt WW2 in as much as the WW2 generation wants to beleive it and for those who have never served then you need to either put your money where your mouths are or admit this isnt a World Wide conflict and bring our troops home. We confess to supporting on one hand then do the absolute oposite with the other.
Comment by Gary — March 29, 2008 @ 6:36 am
saw Stop-loss last night. excellent film. President Bush should be ashamed of himself.
Comment by Debra — March 29, 2008 @ 6:36 am
Hollywood has just become an extentiion to the anti-american left.
Comment by Bob — March 29, 2008 @ 6:37 am
I live next door to several veterans of the Iraq war who argue and fight about who had more fun while serving in the middle east and who is gonna re-enlist first. Maybe the general public would enjoy a war movie written by an actual soldier or even someone who has stepped foot in Iraq within the last 5 years. Movies made by clueless actors detached from the real world will never be taken seriously. Directors like Oliver Stone and Michael Moore had better pay attention.
Comment by matt — March 29, 2008 @ 6:37 am
Stop Loss did poorly because it is based on a lie. Anyone knows in the military the terms of service. You can and will be called back. Sometimes immediately even after being told otherwise.
No one tells you “You’ve been stoplossed”. That’s more Hollywood B.S.
Maybe if Hollywood made a movie where soldiers were not portrayed as victims or murderes or overall failures then people would go to see it.
Reality is a popular theme these days. Iraq War films that are anti-American to their core and based on non-reality will always do poorly.
Some people will always hate America and the military. They just won’t pay $10.
Comment by John — March 29, 2008 @ 6:37 am
I’m burned out completely on any movie set in the screwed up middle east
Comment by The Sheik of Araby — March 29, 2008 @ 6:38 am
Stop Loss is a loser because the rest of America is not as anti-America as Hollywood or B. Hussein Obama.
When will they learn that socilism destroys creativity and individual expression. Go to a socialist or communist country and see how grey, drab and lifeless they are - and how sad the people are. Wake up Hollywood
Comment by dedvanddeevadn95 — March 29, 2008 @ 6:39 am
debra- stupid liberals should be ashamed of themselves, for being stupid and for being liberal, you stupid liberal.
Comment by barry goldwater — March 29, 2008 @ 6:40 am
There wasn’t much to the 21 advertising campaign. Just that horrible line “Don’t call me Dude.” What the hell does that have to do with anything.
I guess perhaps people have finally gotten tired of the spoof movie genre. Though that doesn’t explain Meet the Spartans doing very well for some inexcplicable reason. Another beef I have with movie commercials is the tired cliche of lines that utter profanity being stopped by another shocked character. Like in Superhero Movie, the Invisible Bitch line, cuts to another character being shocked. That’s perhaps the worst cliche in comedy commercials today. Which probably will never go away.
Comment by Arrested Development Fan — March 29, 2008 @ 6:40 am
Stop Loss is a loser because the rest of America is not as anti-America as Hollywood or B. Hussein Obama.
When will they learn that socilism destroys creativity and individual expression. Go to a socialist or communist country and see how grey, drab and lifeless they are - and how sad the people are. Wake up Hollywood
Comment by dedvan95 — March 29, 2008 @ 6:40 am
WHEN IS THE MEDIA AND HOLLYWOOD GOING TO FIGURE OUT THAT THE ONLY PEOPLE AGAINST THE WAR ON TERROR,ARE THE MEDIA AND HOLLYWOOD.MAKE ONE MOVIE SUPPORTING THE TROOPS AND IT WILL BE A BLOCKBUSTER.JOHN WAYNE IS ROLLING IN HIS GRAVE.
Comment by skip — March 29, 2008 @ 6:41 am
I think that Super Hero Movie would have done better if Epic Movie wasn’t such a flop.
Comment by Anonymous — March 29, 2008 @ 6:41 am
Stop Loss is a loser because the rest of America is not as anti-America as Hollywood or B. Hussein Obama.
When will they learn that socilism destroys creativity and individual expression. Go to a socialist or communist country and see how grey, drab and lifeless they are - and how sad the people are. Wake up Hollywood
Comment by devan95 — March 29, 2008 @ 6:42 am
The anti-American bias of Hollyweird elites will not sell outside the tiny cocoons of the two left coasts. It’s like the old AA saying, Hollywood keeps doing the same thing again and again with the same bad results.
Ideologues never learn.
Comment by daveinboca — March 29, 2008 @ 6:45 am
With all the movie-goers staying home, Hollywood needs a “Stoploss” of it’s own.
Comment by emeril — March 29, 2008 @ 6:45 am
The problem with Iraq themed movies is not that they are “anti-american” or “anti-military” but that they are not escapist. Everyone goes to see ‘21′ because it’s a fun fantasy and makes you feel good. If I want to be depressed about the state of the world, I’ll just stay home and watch the news.
Comment by Nathan — March 29, 2008 @ 6:46 am
The premise of Stop-Loss is that the military recruits are all stupid and don’t know what they signed on for.
The reverse is true…. and Hollywood is stupid.
Comment by bigpoet — March 29, 2008 @ 6:46 am
The following is my favorite part of the article.
‘Paramount on behalf of MTV Films wasn’t expecting much because no Iraq war-themed movie has yet to perform at the box office’
This is the definition of LIBERALISM. FORCE YOUR VIEWS ON EVERYBODY ELSE.
They knew it wasn’t going to make money….but b/c the MESSAGE is so important….make the film anyway.
Typical Hollywood. I love how pill-popping, botox- injecting liberals think they need to educate the public about the war in Iraq.
How would they know? Can anybody name any modern actor/actress that has served in the military?
Comment by john — March 29, 2008 @ 6:48 am
Hollywood sucks as bad as the movies it makes. They just don’t get it.
Comment by Vic — March 29, 2008 @ 6:48 am
At the risk of sounding redundant, it would take real courage on behalf of Hollywood to make a balanced, dare I say - even positive Iraq war movie. As a Middle East doctoral student, I am floored by the disconnect between Hollywood/Media/Entertainment elites blind to the money potential for even a “balanced” movie about Iraq. Everyone else on the planet knows that Northern Iraq is growing by 10% per year since 2004 and the economic/financial players are scrambling to benefit from the Kurdish “Dubai” experience. As for here. No. There’s only negative reporting ad nauseum. Make a movie with some positives, based on the facts, and Hollywood will be awash in money…
Comment by Glen — March 29, 2008 @ 6:50 am
Hollywood continues their slide into oblivion.
There are better video games, with better stories than any movie. And the video games aren’t trying to “educate” me with some PC message. Also, the box office numbers are grossly inaccurate, nor do they include advertising or promotions costs. The money lost by Hollywood at this point is staggering.
I don’t think they get that there is a total re-alignment in “media land” at the moment. Also, note to Hollywood, you make movies no one wants to watch.
Comment by john — March 29, 2008 @ 6:50 am
The difference between today’s “war” movies, and those of generations past is that the “classics” give the audience something to cheer for…THE AMERICANS.
There was a sense of PRIDE in one’s county, and it’s mission…Halting oppression, tyranny, the spread of communism.
Today, you’ve got so many opinions regarding what the US role, as the last remaining superpower should be in the global theatre. Too many people are quick to laud the HUGO CHAVEZs of the world as “leaders” when in fact they are tyrants.
The KINGDOM was a fantastic movie because instead of trying to indoctrinate the audience with the producers political opinion, it laid out a storyline that led to an action sequence that had you on the edge of your seat cheering for the safe return of their comrade. It was ENTERTAINMENT not PROPOGANDA
Comment by Dave — March 29, 2008 @ 6:51 am
“The reason no Iraq war movie has done well is because they have all been anti-American themed, with the exception of The Kingdom (which tried to be somewhat neutral).”
What do you people mean by such statements? If the movie weren’t factual it would do well?
Continuing to put forth that this is a good work seems more like a Doctor Seuss movie to me.
There is a difference between anti-American and honest.
Comment by Eric — March 29, 2008 @ 6:51 am
I believe Vantage Point is doing pretty well, and is an Iraq-themed movie that doesn’t portray America as the real terrorists or soldiers as victims/murderers. Hmm…
Thanks Nikki for letting these non-liberal comments get posted.
Comment by Joe Melnick — March 29, 2008 @ 6:52 am
Hollywood is so out of touch that they are teetering on self destruction. Not only is America against the culture corruption that Hollywood tries to mainstream but the anti-American attitude of their Iraq propaganda war films is sure to choke them. With the exception of the Hollywood creatures, Americans by and large love America. Want to make a blockbuster film on the Iraq war? Try focusing on the liberation of 25 million people form the oppression they’ve suffered for 30 years. This liberation made possible only because of the incredible US armed forces. Try portraying the remarkable progress and success of this endeavor. And yes, the Iraq war has been and continues to be an awesome and selfless accomplishment for our great country. Wake up Hollywood while you still have the chance.
Comment by david — March 29, 2008 @ 6:52 am
We’re so bombarded by the media about the Iraq war that the last thing I want to do is take 2 hours out of my weekend to submit myself to more. And besides, I’m not dumb enough to believe that Hollywood can come close to the truth of any story.
Comment by Ryan Lweis — March 29, 2008 @ 6:52 am
I have a great title for a new Hollywood Iraq war based Film:
1) “Dead Failures”
A movie about news reporting on soldiers. The news editing board room is a place where the only soldier that makes news is a soldier that dies or “screws up”.
2) “Mission Not-Accomplished”
A movie about how soldiers where given a mission in Iraq and succeeded with less casualties than any other war ever, but people who pretend to care about them call their mission a failure because they hate President Bush.
3) “Hopeless Poor Moron”
A movie about how the only people willing to join the military are uneducated near homeless people desperate to make ends meet.
Overall, Hollywood is Dr. Evil:
“Why make billions, when you can make … millions?”
Comment by Mike — March 29, 2008 @ 6:53 am
The Hollywood idiots did it again. He would want to go see a movie about the alleged army imperfections? I would rather see a movie of how we kicked bottom and took names in our ‘SHock and Awe’ campaign. Talk about a thriller. I mean seriously who did the producers think would come see this movie? The only anti-military people is Hollywood and the media left. A minority of people.
Comment by Conservative — March 29, 2008 @ 6:53 am
All you have to do is hang out at a few Hollywood parties as I have and listen to the ill-informed ranting and bizarre histrionics to understand where this stuff comes from. It’s really sad considering the amazing things that have really taken place, and the fact that both Clintons, and all the leading Dems also urged military action against Iraq throughout the late 90’s. Which culminated in Bill Clinton unilaterally dropping over 4000 smart bombs and cruise missles on Iraq from 1998-2000. But of course there will be no movie about that.
Comment by DS — March 29, 2008 @ 6:55 am
Ah, I see this post was linked from Drudge because all the crazy right-wingers are posting here, desperate to defend the America they don’t have the actual courage to fight for..
Comment by NSR — March 29, 2008 @ 6:55 am
Gary, please call you history teacher and set up a meeting to punch them in the face! Not every American supported WWII, http://www.alba-valb.org/volpdf/vol_1941_02b.pdf, search “antiwar + WW2″, learn before you flap you fat face. Any soldier should read their “contract” you are property of the government for up to 10 years after your active duty! They can call you back to serve at any point. We are a VOLUTEER FORCE if you want to join and get the benefits, you have to pay the price, even if you do not agree. When you sign the line you are a soldier, either accept it or do not sign! This movie is a whinner’s excuse for “I served, leave me alone.” This movie is trying to pull strings that are not there, if America dislikes this war so much, why only 1.6M? Spong Bob pulled bigger numbers in the first hour! I agree with Matt, let a real movie be made by someone with experience and that movie would rival “Saving Private Ryan” - oops another SUCCESSFUL movie showing Americans kicking the shit out of the enemy. I am sorry I forgot, non of this fits the template that America is the enemy, at least for the consumers of these movies and thoughts.
“Try having a “peace” talk with someone who’s only goal in life is your death”
Comment by Kerry — March 29, 2008 @ 6:56 am
Anti-American films by psuedo-americans is a waste of time and money… Just move away… move to North Korea, or China, or france, or venezuela, cuba… just go away. It amazes me that hollywood bites the hand that feeds it.
Comment by STEEV — March 29, 2008 @ 6:57 am
Speaking as an ex-soldier from the volunteer era (and, sorry, Vietnam vets, but your views on how soldiers see things don’t realy mean much since the draft ended), I can tell you that anybody who refuses to fight when the war comes up or refuses to go back when your buddies are still out there, is pretty much a piece of crap. You don’t leave your buddies hanging, no matter how much what you have to do sucks.
Comment by Alan — March 29, 2008 @ 6:57 am
Hollyweird is still in business? Couldn’t prove it by me.
They haven’t made a movie that interests me in 30 years. They even ruined The Simpsons Movie for me by making it a loony-left political statement.
Comment by Dave-o — March 29, 2008 @ 7:00 am
make a positive movie about our soldier and our country, i will go see it. make a bs anitamerican, anti US soldier I will shove it down the toilet.
Comment by Robert — March 29, 2008 @ 7:01 am
So many positive things have happened in Iraq and Afghanistan, and yet Hollywood, the media, and politicians focus more on the death tolls, and anything about bashing Bush… We’re kicking butt out there! How about a movie that tells the truth about the Army exceeding re-enlistment goals for the past two years and since the surge began? It will be a cold day in Hell before the spoiled, politically biased, Hollywood elitists release that flick. So much for patriotism. Hollywood and the nuts who believe everything Hollywood spews need to get a clue.
Comment by Proud SSgt — March 29, 2008 @ 7:01 am
Hollywood is infested with self-loathing America haters. The miracle is how they keep finding investors for this kind of crap. I happily remind them that they can offset taxable income with the losses incurred with this bomb.
Comment by Martay — March 29, 2008 @ 7:02 am
From the Washington Post this week:
A spate of Iraq-themed movies and TV shows haven’t just failed at the box office. They’ve usually failed spectacularly, despite big stars, big budgets and serious intentions.
The underwhelming reception from the public raises a question: Are audiences turned off by the war, or are they simply voting against the way filmmakers have depicted it?
It would require a movie depicting the heroism and nobility of the mission in Afghanistan and Iraq to get a real answer to that question, and none have been made. The story focuses on the half-dozen anti-war films that have been spectacular box office flops. Only Hollywood couldn’t figure this out.
Comment by Mike — March 29, 2008 @ 7:02 am
I wonder if the average person has noticed that lately there isn’t too much being reported from Irag or Afghanistan as far as combat operations goes. Remember what the biggest story in the past 2 or 3 weeks was? Our 4000th Hero was killed in Iraq. Not how much violence is down from the day combat started, or the Iraqi population just wants to get on with their lives and get the country working, or almost anything positive. Nope. Just that we hit the magic number 4000 within the Iraq or Afghanistan border so everything has been a waste. The next day, the Boston Globe had a half-page illustration of 4000 stick figures arranged in the shape of 4 coffins. The left claims to care about our Heroes so much that they have to come home, but with that picture, they reduced every single damn one of them to a statistic. Congratulations Boston Globe. Sorry to rant, but it makes me ill.
Comment by Squishyfur — March 29, 2008 @ 7:02 am
Perhaps the fascist-left of Hollywierd will eventually get the message, although unlikely considering how pampered, overpaid and hypocritical they are. Farewell, LEft Coast.
Comment by Skip — March 29, 2008 @ 7:02 am
Looks like there are a lot of people who feel like myself. I have no desire to see any of the trash Hollywood puts out. These smug individuals who prance around in their fancy clothes honoring themselves with oscars while we have REAL hero’s fighing and dying for us every day make me sick.
If Hollywood had any courage, they’d make a movie about the nonstop daily violence caused by Muslim Terrosit. Now that would sell!
Comment by No to ho — March 29, 2008 @ 7:02 am
The reason no Iraq war movie has done well is because they have all been anti-American themed,
If they would make an Iraq war movie that was actually positive and showed a real American hero, it would do very well.
Maybe if Hollywood made an Iraq war movie that wasn’t so set on making the U.S. out to be the bad guy, America would go see it.
I would bet a great deal of money that a positive, pro-soldier, pro-America movie would make millions for them instead of these out-of-touch, anti-war, anti-America films.
Maybe if Hollywood made a movie where soldiers were not portrayed as victims or murderes or overall failures then people would go to see it.
MAKE ONE MOVIE SUPPORTING THE TROOPS AND IT WILL BE A BLOCKBUSTER.
I agree with all the above comments. Nikki, does anbody in Hollywood read your columns, and the responses?
Comment by Tom Arico — March 29, 2008 @ 7:02 am
Hey NSR, I served six years in the Armed Forces. What did YOU do for your country?
Comment by Gourry — March 29, 2008 @ 7:02 am
1/ Hollywood has no idea how the rest of america feels on this issue.
2/ Stop loss is spelled out quite clearly in the contract you first sign. It is in there for a reason. We can’t have half a unit going home in the middle of a battle or we will lose that battle. DUH.
3/ I have been in since 1992 so don’t tell me to enlist.
4/ I assume all the liberals who call conservatives “chickenhawks” will all join the second bush is out? No? didn’t think so so that makes your “chickenhawk” argument weak and cowardly at best.
Comment by sonofdy — March 29, 2008 @ 7:03 am
Hey Gary, did you forget about how we got into the WWII in the first place? Let’s see we only went to war back in WWII because they bombed Pearl Harbor. Back then we waited to long. Well this time they bombed the World Trade Center and killed innocent civilians. Look at the pictures. Everyone should go back and see those. We went in and Saddam is dead and so are his sons “ooday” and “koosay”. I feel we won. We are helping to rebuild and it is working. WE are in it to win it. BTW you said all Americans should serve, how about you going to the recruiting center and signing on the dotted line? Have you served? Well I am proud of my two sons who have served and I know the real story that the media is not telling you. Our soldiers are doing a great job. Thank you to all who have given up their first class seats for my sons when they came home. We can’t go into a country for a little while and then leave. What does that say to the rest of the world? Let’s all get on board and finish this. If we stick together we can accomplish a lot.
Comment by Mary — March 29, 2008 @ 7:03 am
John Wayne is rolling over in his grave now with the “war” movies Hollywood is producing now and if he was still I alive I bet he we punch all these idiots in Hollywood the mouth. If Hollywood ever decided to make a John Wayne type of movie about the war and America then they would have a box office hit, not the flops on all the ones they have now. Hollywood just don’t get it.
Comment by Jeff — March 29, 2008 @ 7:03 am
NSR,
Stop loss is playing in 20 minutes.
Don’t forget to scratch off a ‘Support the Troops” bumper sticker off a military mom’s car on the way to the bus.
Let’s jsut have the active duty service men and women, and all war veterans get to vote this year.
Since they are impacted the most by war, they should be the only one’s getting to decide who will lead them.
Then again, you would not want me getting to vote while you have to stay home.
Comment by Mitchell — March 29, 2008 @ 7:03 am
When will Hollywood realize that it is and has become
irrelevant to middle America. That they have squandered most of the goodwill they had built up over the years by actors who could act and all the mystic is gone.
Perhaps if you made better movies and were more in tune with America I just might go see a movie.
Comment by Martin — March 29, 2008 @ 7:05 am
“No one wants to see Iraq war movies. No matter what we put out there in terms of great cast or trailers, people were completely turned off. It’s a function of the marketplace not being ready to address this conflict in a dramatic way because the war itself is something that’s unresolved yet. It’s a shame because it’s a good movie that’s just ahead of its time.”
Perhaps when they stop with their antiwar propaganda people will go see an Iraq war movie. It is amazing that this studio source doesn’t get it. It is amazing that Hollywood keeps repackaging this antiwar crap when they keep losing money.
Comment by Joe — March 29, 2008 @ 7:05 am
This comment is total bs: “I live next door to several veterans of the Iraq war who argue and fight about who had more fun while serving in the middle east and who is gonna re-enlist first.” Nobody who fights in a war enjoys war. Tell the 4,005 dead, 29,314 wounded, and countless others with PTSD how much fun it was. And the reason why people don’t go to Iraq war movies is because they don’t care. AS LONG AS POOR PEOPLE WHO THEY DO NOT KNOW ARE THE ONLY ONES DYING IN IRAQ, AMERICANS WILL NOT CARE! The war in Iraq is an absolute wrong for which there are only 2 cures: electing a Democratic President to end it, or instituting a draft - if the selfish American people, including the hawkish posters on this board, were told on Monday a draft was going to be held on Friday the war would be over on Wednesday. The Vietnam war ended because regular American people were forced to participate in it. Also because those who got to stay home were forced to watch the horror nightly, with all 3 of the only 3 TV networks bombarding people with coverage. Finally, everybody had somebody they knew and loved fighting over there, a son, a father, a brother, a friend. The Bush administration learned this lesson well and cleverly removed those obstacles, by limiting media coverage and only using volunteers, choosing to stretch them dangerously thin and call them up for multiple tours, rather than fortifying their ranks with civillian conscripts, which they knew would be political suicide. They are relying on the American people’s apathy toward the over-extended soldiers’ plight, and the current generation of Americans, obsessed only with their own self interest and having no sense of civic duty, is only to happy to oblige by them. Support the war in two ways: join the military or lobby to end the war. Otherwise, shut up.
Comment by Bob Scofield — March 29, 2008 @ 7:05 am
I think that most of the people who are saying that bth emovie is anti American may not have seen the same movie that I did.
Comment by John Ryan — March 29, 2008 @ 7:09 am
Hollyweird lives in their little bubble. Bunch of mega libs, marxists, and communists.
Comment by rsr — March 29, 2008 @ 7:09 am
I just respond by not seeing movies anymore—-and I used to see lots and lots of ‘em——don’t watch anything about them either. “Left” is blind”—-the left cannot see how left it is and it’s up to the rest of us not to go their way. This country wasn’t made by leftist ideology!
Comment by American Mom — March 29, 2008 @ 7:10 am
from bob “Support the war in two ways: join the military or lobby to end the war. Otherwise, shut up.”
So much for freedom of speech. Must be a liberal thing. I am guessing you will join the second bush is out?
Comment by sonofdy — March 29, 2008 @ 7:10 am
I just read a review in Which Ryan Phillippe, or whatever that cheated goofs name is, talked about how bad the war, how he wants it to end, how illegitimate it was, and the reviewer equated his call to service ina film with that of a soldier. Are you freakin’ nuts???? The movie was shot in Morocco, and they broke into muslims homes on holidays to pretend it was Iraq. Gee,that is really helping the US image. Maybe Hollywood should realize they are the problem, and their stupid, condescending, middle America mocking films do not help. How incredibly out of touch can they be? Stop Loss has been pushed by every major newspaper as a good movie to try to work their anti-troop message into our lives. The American people are smarter than your typical liberal.
Comment by Karen — March 29, 2008 @ 7:11 am
STOP LOSS??? What’s new about that? In early 1950s all enlistments were involuntarily extended 1 year due to requirements of the Korean War. This was lessened in 1952 and my elistment was over August 16th and I was discharged in November 1952. What a bunch of cry-babies.
Comment by Jpjm — March 29, 2008 @ 7:12 am
These anti American Iraq movies are so unappealing but they keep making them. I guess Hollywood doesn’t mind losing money if it is furthering the right agenda.
Comment by Jimmy — March 29, 2008 @ 7:13 am
Well it looks like the freepers have been hard at work.
All of you whiners claiming this movie is ‘anti-American’ have any of you seen it?
Any of you? Or are you just going by what you heard on talk radio?
Thats what I thought.
None of you would know what ‘anti-American’ REALLY is because none of you can think for yourselves anymore.
Comment by Real American — March 29, 2008 @ 7:13 am
Hollywood is brain dead. They put ideology ahead of story. You can tell that they maneuvered to make sure that George Clooney (Rosemary’s Baby) got nominations and was rewarded for his anti American, anti Middle East war efforts. They did not dare nominate him for one of those films. To bolster him, they nominated him for that awful “Clayton” movie when a film like “American Gangster” was ten times superior and nearly un-nominated. I agree that the failure of these films is NOT due to being tired of the Iraq War. It is due to the fact that these films work against the efforts of our country. They have chosen to subvert and undercut and de-legitimize the War effort and our soldiers, even to the point of “criminalizing” them. At worst, Hollywood consciously sides with the bombers; perhaps believing, like Reverend Wright or Obama’s wife, that we had it coming. One irony is that what outrages Islamist Fundamentalists about us is what they consider the sewage we export into Internet and cinemas of the world….all of it coming from Hollywood, its film and its Porn industry. But, ohhhh nooo… none of it on their hands. “Bush Lied” answers it all for them. Hollywood and its Left Ideological stars have slipped for ham handedly dealing turning their craft into brain dead opposition to their own country. And, because they want to be “Activist Lite,” they pull down their fellow actors by seemingly making them feel they must “speak out”…speak “truth to Power” or some such nonsense. Pretty faces mouthing barely understood opinions strikes Flyover America as obnoxious. They don’t understand that their efforts to subvert our soldiers and their efforts in the Middle East and elsewhere turns off the ticket buyers. I, for example, will never attend a George Clooney movie because I see my dollar spent on him as a vote for his ideology and behavior. I don’t want him, Hollywood or the World to think that.
Comment by Constant — March 29, 2008 @ 7:13 am
More evidence that the HoWood types can’t make a logical argument is provided by NSR (AKA No Sane Reasoning). Military personnel, who apparently have the “actual courage to fight” for their country can be counted on to do 2 things:
1. They refuse to buy tickets to see their country and themselves insulted.
2. They overwhelmingly vote the way that “crazy rightwingers” vote.Why do you think Gore didn’t want the military overseas vote counted?
Keep it up, HoHoes. Your delusions will keep you going even if the money doesn’t.
Comment by Crazy RW — March 29, 2008 @ 7:14 am
I know someone that had this happen to them and as a viet vet if I was told i had to go back to vietnam after my contractual obligation was up I would have headed to canada.
******************************************************
So you’d desert? Let me guess, you’re a liberal? Gee, how did I know that? The only people who turn tail and run when asked to actually put themselves in harms way for this wonderful country. one that has given us so much, are the punks that joined for the benefits only. Free college money is fine to take from the government but when you have to live up to YOUR OBLIGATIONS, well it’s a different story.
You people are such pathetic losers. If we had your kind in America in the early 1940’s we would all be speaking Japanese and German today.
Comment by JjoeV — March 29, 2008 @ 7:14 am
Wow, I’m stunned by the number of hardcore right wing freakouts on a website devoted to “liberal Hollywood”. Perhaps you would’ve liked the movie (or gone to see it) if it starred Chuck Norris. Maybe he and Huckabee and Rambo could’ve gone in and cleaned that sucker up. You want a controversial statement: I think the reason Americans don’t go to movies about Iraq is because it is the equivalent of asking the neighboring Germans to admit something smelled bad in that camp down the railway tracks. After the Second World War, American soldiers forced those Germans to see what had been done in their name. Maybe someday, someone will do that to you.
Comment by hepwa — March 29, 2008 @ 7:14 am
Interesting comments… I don’t think Hollywood is out of touch - they just happen to be ahead of many of you. The millions of Democrats that are so engaged during this election (go Obama!!!) are very much the audience for this film. In particular it will appeal to the more educated segment of the U.S. - not all are capable of seeing any faults with their own country as it involves a little more self confidence and a familiarity to conduct a little research (a handy little skill you pick up in college). The movie will do great in the long run.
Don’t dumb down movies to appeal to the idiotic masses - that’s what there are movies like Die Hard or Saw 5.
Comment by salcido — March 29, 2008 @ 7:15 am
Hollywood is doing everything they can along with the liberals in Washington to lose this war. Nothing would make them happier than America losing in Iraq. It is the same people who did everything they could to lose the Vietnam war. This time though, they realize they can’t spit on soldiers anymore or throw dog shit at them. So they have to be more subtle and insidious by cloaking their defeatism in the “We love the soldiers, but we hate the war” bs. In truth, just like Vietnam. They hate both.
Comment by johnd — March 29, 2008 @ 7:15 am
While I didn’t vote for Bush in ‘04, I chuckle at informing the Bush-Haters that George W. Bush is a beloved figure (yes you heard me) in the Kurdish North and even by many Shia intellectuals (Sunni Arabs in Iraq hold mixed opinions of GWB). As for the Shias in Basrah, that’s a different story. Farsi (Persian) is now the language of choice in most transactions in Basrah, at least the last time I was there (fall 2007); meaning, the Iranians are an ever present influence.
Given all this, media/entertainment elites are either so lazy when it comes to fact checking or they are intellectually so dishonest, either way, the public is understandably wary of yet another Iraq War movie, particularly one with narrow, pejorative title as “Stop Loss”.
Comment by Glen — March 29, 2008 @ 7:15 am
Hooray - thanks to those people expressing the opinion that Hollywood just doesn’t get it etc. I get so tired of hearing about what the “Hallowed Hollywood” types think about this or that. They don’t live in the real world. My gratitude to those in the military, they are the “real world”. I agree - make a movie that makes America look good (which it is), show us an American soldier doing what they do every day - making decisions for the betterment of their fellow man - and make him good-looking! It would be a hit! My favorite part of Transformers was the beginning with all those soldiers! That’s what Americans want to see their soldiers doing on screen - being strong and in control - not wimpy and whiney! But they just can’t bring themselves to do it because they are so far to the left it’s sickening. As an American I am ashamed of their lack of support for those that keep them safe and allow them to have their precious “freedom of expression” - the soldiers and the politicians that make the hard and unpopular decisions.
Comment by BeB — March 29, 2008 @ 7:16 am
Hollywood, wake up — you’re not in the mainstream. Hell, you’re not even from this planet.
Americans want heroes on the silver screen. Americans think their military are heroes — cause, well, cause THEY ARE!
You are out of touch with Main Street, the farm and the ranch. You are involved in a circle jerk, it’s a little circle and it’s only all of ya’ll in it.
Grow up, Hollywood, and try, try, try to get revelant.
Comment by JLM — March 29, 2008 @ 7:16 am
Watch this video called “How Modern Liberals Think” and you will see why Hollywood keeps making movies that are anti-American.
This video is very good. It’s by a guy named Evan Sayet, who used to write for Bill Maher. You will need some quiet time. Make sure you watch the Q&A at the end too. If you want to understand Modern Liberals, watch this!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaE98w1KZ-c
Comment by Al — March 29, 2008 @ 7:16 am
“It’s a function of the marketplace not being ready to address this conflict in a dramatic way because the war itself is something that’s unresolved yet.” No. Hollywood is just so out of touch with America it’s laughable. We would watch an Iraq movie if it didn’t make US out to the be terrorists.
Comment by Chris — March 29, 2008 @ 7:17 am
If Hollywood would just go back to making PROPAGANDA about how GREAT WAR IS, we could finally go back to loving AMERICA, the MOVIES, and BABY JESUS. I can’t wait for Rambo!!!!!!
Comment by joe patriot — March 29, 2008 @ 7:17 am
Hollywood only backed America in one war: WWII. Why?
Because Hitler violated the “Non-Aggression-Pact” with Russia. Prior to that event, the general sentiment in Hollywood was anti-war, as usual. As soon as Russia was attacked, Stalin’s Hollywood sycophants jumped to his aid.
I don’t believe in censorship or blacklists, but fortunately, Americans seem to be able to filter out the garbage by their own free will (at least until the liberals find a way to regulate our choice of movies).
Comment by Tom F — March 29, 2008 @ 7:18 am
hepwa, so now americans are nazis? Got to love those liberal sterotypes.
Comment by sonofdy — March 29, 2008 @ 7:19 am
To the guy who said anyone linking from the Drudgereport is a rightwing moron (or words to that affect)
Dude? When was the last time you ACTUALLY read Drudge?
It is a news AGGREGATE, it carries stories of ALL political slants except for hard Left (MoveOn) and hard Right (NewsMax).
TRY to be a little more OPEN MINDED.
Liberals: The most INTOLERANT people out there>
Comment by Gmuerry — March 29, 2008 @ 7:20 am
?Make a movie that actually shows American soldiers like the heroes they are I will go see it. Otherwise, take your anti American crap and shove it!
Comment by jptpa — March 29, 2008 @ 7:20 am
Wow. Thirty four comments so far and only three from dirty liberals. I love you guys. We were only called right-wingers once. This movie did poorly because we are tired of being told how to think and what to feel about this war. After 9-11, eight of the nineteen people in my class joined some branch of the service. We were juniors then and we all took our ASVABS that very day. I was so proud of my classmates. Not one of them had a low IQ, most of them were honors students, and all but one re-upped after they were finished. Come on people lets get with the program, Hollywood, the media and the Left are completely out of touch.
Comment by Jaime — March 29, 2008 @ 7:21 am
Hello fake servicemen and women,
The majority of real military service people have disapproved of the handling of the Iraq war since 2006.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2003501934_militarypoll30.html
Comment by Buckets — March 29, 2008 @ 7:21 am
I haven’t seen Stop loss I was going to go tonight. You all have seemed to taken it as a political walk. Well then lets tell the truth. I have a child in the military. Yes it is volunteer. Yes there is a contract. But what you all are ignorant of is the fact that contract has been thrown out the window and the the President of these United States have changed every soldiers contract. So unless you are there and have a contract don’t assume you know what you are talking about. Yes we should be very thankful for these young men and women who sacrifice and give everything for this country something alot of people will never know anything about. So how do we repay them we lie to them we throw out thier contract and say oh you are only supposed to have to be hear a year to bad try 15 months oh 15 months naw try 18 months yes this is going on every day so when John MCgain says they are streched thin not because they volunteered to be stretched thin. Some have babies they won’t see until they are 2. But don’t worry we know the VA will be there to help with mental health issues to put the families back together.The VA couldn’t handle the load before this mess what do you think is going to happen to the soldiers when they finally do come home. Yeah we thought this would never happen again it did right under our noses and the worsepart of it is people like John Mcgain and John Kerry and Bob Kerry let it happen. Shame on them.
Maybe when some of the Stop loss soldiers finally do get home you all can interview them see how they felt about it. Sad thing is these men and women won’t complain because they are soldiers they are not about politics they just take all the crap that is loaded on them even if they are being screwed by the commander and Chief that sent them
Comment by ducare — March 29, 2008 @ 7:21 am
Hepwa, please take some time and watch this video “How Modern Liberals Think”:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaE98w1KZ-c
All of it please…it explains Modern Liberals to a tee.
Comment by Al — March 29, 2008 @ 7:22 am
Stop-Loss is based on a lie. When you enlist, you are signing for an 8 year obligation. I was in the first gulf war and soldiers who recently left the service were re-activated just in case they were needed. When you enlisted, this is explained to you. Officers can be recalled at ANY time if their skills are needed.
I’m so tired of Hollywood making our troops out to be either ignorant,victims, or murderers. Support our troops and don’t see any of these Hollywood pieces of trash!
Comment by Tom — March 29, 2008 @ 7:22 am
i guess hollywood doesnt read or care about what their
audience thinks. the vast majority of these posts are telling them what they want and why their iraq movies fail….but they keep marching on with their anti-American, anti-military agenda. wake up hollywood!!!
Comment by beverly — March 29, 2008 @ 7:22 am
Stop loss is just another cynical hollywood attempt to shove their anti-American, anti-military political opinions down the throats of the public in the guise of entertainment. I served in Iraq and am proud of it, and will go back if called.
Comment by Mark — March 29, 2008 @ 7:24 am
I think i will go see stop loss, as a solider getting ready for tour two, i need to do my best to support the economy, some people in Hollywood made a bad product that hates America again and i think that some latte drinking pole smokers will be kicked out of there house and as a soldier i can sacrifice a little more. I see that a “Viet Vet” POSTS he would go to Canada if he had to do a second tour and i respect your service, we needed pak clerks and cooks back then and that is why we get tcn’s to do those jobs today, Hey Viet Vet i know that as a soft skill you saw some things, like a guy cut his hand on some c-rats when his P-38 broke but let the young and the bold fight this war, Lead Follow or go to Canada.
congrats Hollywood on making a product no one will see and havening my taxes raised to bail you out of your ARM when you finally get fired.
Comment by marcus evans — March 29, 2008 @ 7:26 am
When you are stop lossed, you are stop lossed till the end of the mission, not forever. Don’t believe the liberal lies. And buckets, I don’t agree with the way things have gone in Iraq, I would have done things far differently, but admiting defeat and running away is not the way I would go.The us troops you are talking about want VICTORY not a shamefull retreat when they have not been defeated in the field.
Comment by sonofdy — March 29, 2008 @ 7:27 am
It’s already been mentioned that average
Americans don’t buy into Hollywood’s political
aims masquerading as entertainment. There are thousands of positive stories that have occurred in Iraq since
we’ve been involved there. What’s the problem with telling them? Many actors seem to have a need to place real “meaning” on what is essentially nothing more than the art of pretension {movies}.
Comment by b — March 29, 2008 @ 7:27 am
Hollywood’s movies are losing money for the same reason newspaper circulation is down and revenue has dropped like a rock. They are Anti-Soldier, Anti-American and generally negative.
Hollywood is indeed out of touch with middle-class America, but the Hollywood Liberal Elites are too prejudiced to notice who their target market is.
What middle-class America thinks and what they pay money to see will make or break a movie - not what the minority of Liberal Elites think.
There is money to be made - but not by making the movies with the same tired old theme = America is the bad guy.
Comment by Carbon Footprint — March 29, 2008 @ 7:28 am
Hollywood is fantasy. We live in the real world, we go to the movies to escape from the real world for a couple of hours. Oh, Hollywood get’s it, but they don’t care. It is chock full of Liberals who will try to influence the masses even if it means a financial loss. They have proved it time and time again. That’s why I NEVER go to the movies anymore.
Comment by leftistdestroyer — March 29, 2008 @ 7:28 am
It may come as a shock to people like the poster “hepwa”, but being conservative doesn’t mean that you like Rambo movies. Admittedly, the few Hollywood actors that come out as conservatives are usually pretty lame, but it does not follow that, because there are no A-list conservative actor, conservatives only like B-list actors. There are a number of factors that go into the fact that Hollywood is dominated by the left, not the least of which is that acting is not the most RESPONSIBLE career choice. Actors who make it are treated like spoiled babies, so of course they are liberals.
It should also be noted that Democrats do make up about half the country, but even they aren’t going to see these movies.
Comment by Tom F — March 29, 2008 @ 7:32 am
Another anti-America flick bombs, who wudda guessed?
If Hollywood could somehow come up with a movie that
has our rotten military causing Global Warming I think they would be on to something.
Comment by Ali Mojo — March 29, 2008 @ 7:34 am
A toast to all of you that have commented on how out of touch Hollywierd is…..they come off as so smart in the movies but most are morons who haven’t got a clue.
To those like Debra….forget about the blame Bush BS…its old and only lib-tards are buying it anymore. If you want to see what we are fighting against….watch this short film by the Dutch filmmaker that is now under a death threat by those of the so-called “peaceful” religion…….
http://www.breitbart.tv/?p=69293
Comment by stinkyfeet — March 29, 2008 @ 7:35 am
The failure of the American educations system never ceases to amaze me. Reading posts by people such as “hepwa” highlight what happens when you cede the campus to the far left. Their dedication to situation ethics seems to require them to deny and avoid any logical sense of right and wrong. It appears that the only way that these anti-American egotists can live with themselves, in their perverted world, is to denigrate those people who think that it is noble to risk their lives for the sake of others. I would ask “how do you even get up in the morning?”, but I guess you have to walk to your stash to get high enough to last through another day.
Comment by Americanus — March 29, 2008 @ 7:35 am
Where’s Mel Gibson?? We need an Iraq war movie that’s a cross between Fitna and They Were Solders.
Did anybody read the explanation given by one MTV Film’s execs as to why the movie has done poorly? “It’s a function of the marketplace not being ready to address this conflict in a dramatic way…it’s a good movie that’s just ahead of its time.” Truly, these people are out of touch with mainstream America. Anytime you see “MTV Films” associated with a movie, you can rest assured that it’ll be a piece of crap. They don’t get it and they never will, which is fine by me.
Comment by Paul — March 29, 2008 @ 7:35 am
I agree with most posting here–if I am going to pay $10 (!!!!) to see a movie, I don’t want it to be Hollywood hitting me over the head with how bad our government, country and military are. We have an all volunteer military, and a large percentage of the veterans from the Iraq War WANT to go back. What does Hollywood say about this? Ask and you will hear crickets.
Make a film about those who volunteer, sacrifice and are proud to have done so. Foreign concepts to the Hollywood Liberals no doubt, but I can guarantee it would be a winner.
Comment by TBAN — March 29, 2008 @ 7:36 am
The reason people don’t want to see the movie is evident in the comments on this board. Without even knowing about what’s in the film, people jump on it for being “Anti-American.” Yes, one can get “stop-lossed.” And if you think everything’s hunky-dory in Iraq, think again: How are we going to sustain 2 wars with no draft? If there was a draft, I guarantee the tone of the posts above would have been different. The reason the movie’s not doing well is because Americans aren’t ready to face the truth about the war in Iraq. Just wait a few years and see how this thing really went down. I hope we can salvage a positive outcome, but it’s going to come at a cost most Americans don’t want to deal with. Don’t blame “liberals” for our poor tactics.
Comment by SemperFi — March 29, 2008 @ 7:36 am
Maybe if a movie that dealt with terrorism had the villains reflect the origins of most of the terrorists at work today: Arab Muslims. Oh my god, we can’t reflect reality. In “Live Free or Die Hard”? White, disgruntled, American computer consultant. “The Bourne Identity”? Evil, soulless, American killing machine. The last movie to show maniacal Muslim extremists bent on the destruction of the West and Democracy was “True Lies”, and that was made in 1994. I seriously doubt any of the dickless Hollywood America haters would have the balls to make it today.
Comment by kevin — March 29, 2008 @ 7:36 am
I am a 22 year military retiree with an active duty wife, and a son starting his second tour in Iraq, I can tell you that I appreciate this thread. I still have my original enlistment contract and it clearly states in black and white, “four years active duty and four years in the inactive reserves”. That was an eight year commitment that I used one hand to sign and the other to raise in the air when I repeated the oath of enlistment ending with “so help me God”. My 40 year old wife and my 21 year old Marine son tell me that their contracts were the same. Dictionary.com states that the military reserve is “a fraction of a military force held in readiness to sustain the attack or defense made by the rest of the force” . My point is this: The United States has no draft nor compulsory services like many other countries do. Whether you join the military because you want to defend your country, because you couldn’t get into any colleges due to grades or lack of funds, because you wanted to see the world, or because your girlfriend dumped you (guilty), you join with your own free will. You voluntarily make a commitment and you then sign a legal written contract holding you to your commitment. As for STOP LOSS, I haven’t seen it nor do I intend to. To my personal satisfaction, and like its preceding recent anti-war genre, this film is tanking at the box office.
Comment by Gary — March 29, 2008 @ 7:37 am
To everyone who has been saying that Stop Loss is just some Hollywood creation, you should know that the writer’s brother served in Iraq, and this happened to him…
Comment by emily — March 29, 2008 @ 7:40 am
Whether Stop Loss makes a good point or not, one thing is clear, America does not trust the Hollywood Left to make it.
And Debra, the article already said that at least one person saw it. Maybe the Clintons should be ashamed of themselves for gutting the Military? Naww.
Comment by moptop — March 29, 2008 @ 7:40 am
I never see ANY Hollywood movies except for the animations (where I don’t have to see the faces of stinking left-wing trash actors) or the comic book movies (which actually have heroes). Hollywood is a rotten cesspool of liberty haters, desperate for al Qaeda and Iran to win in Iraq, just like the rest of the Democrats. Their proudest accomplishment was intentionally losing the Vietnam war. 5 million murdered as a result, and that beautiful country still in slavery. The left is the moral trash of the universe.
Comment by Alec — March 29, 2008 @ 7:40 am
People are so depressed about the war in Iraq that the don’t want to be
reminded of it.
70% of the American people are against it . The same as the people in the the military and their families.
An American action hero in the middle east is as much a fantasy as Batman.
Comment by Michael Clarke — March 29, 2008 @ 7:40 am
Talk about wallowing in ignorance…”No matter what we put out there”?
“No one wants to see Iraq war movies. No matter what we put out there in terms of great cast or trailers, people were completely turned off.”
Comment by Rick — March 29, 2008 @ 7:41 am
I can’t believe what I’m reading here. I really didn’t know that after all the information on torture, civil fighting, and military-to-soldier abuses that people could still whole-heartedly support the war and believe that we are doing well there. It’s a matter of total blindness–go read a newspaper or do some academic searching. And these arguments over ‘left’ and ‘right’–what are we, back in the McCarthy era? Oh no, those commies in Hollywood! Watch out! Having a skeptical view of what America is doing in Iraq and the Middle East isn’t wrong, it’s the kind of free thought that our forefathers encouraged.
Comment by FflMeaganabber — March 29, 2008 @ 7:42 am
Oh well… I guess fighting to protect freedom and freedom of speech also means protecting bias, anti-American Spin-Nazi propagandists who don’t have a clue about how good they really have it compared to the rest of the world.
Tell the millions of Afghan children who finally received an education after the Taliban was defeated that helping them was wrong, or tell those Iraqi families that we were wrong for overthrowing Saddam who gassed hundreds of thousands of the loved ones. I guess my duty in Iraq meant nothing. Hollywood instead tries to make money off of all the negative aspects of this war instead of honoring what we have actually accomplished in Iraq and Afghanistan. By the way, I’m not poor, nor am I a “red neck”. I’m not ashamed to say that I recognize how good we have it, and love my country enough to proudly serve in the military.
Comment by Proud SSgt — March 29, 2008 @ 7:43 am
Garbage in garbage out. My only complaint is that people go see their other movies that allows them the profit margin to produce this socialist crap. Oops. Shouldn’t mention that word “profit” here either. That’s another capitalist no-no to the whacko left.
Let them do a movie about how 114 of the 117 hotspots currently going on in the world involve Muslims and see how that sells. Hey Hollywood, The Truth Will Set You Free!
All Americans have done during it’s existence is try to help people. We are not always perfect but by God we try. Ask the President of Africa who just said that President Bush doesn’t get 1 tenth of the credit for solving Aids in his country that Clinton did yet he has done 10 times as much.
The mainstream media and hollywood can kiss my fiscally conservative behind while they go broke!
Comment by Steve B. — March 29, 2008 @ 7:43 am
Interesting side note, the largest anti-war protest and march in the history of the world happened just before World War II in London and we all remember how that turned out. Well, the people with the clarity to see a real threat, once again saved all those ostrich’s who couldn’t.
Comment by Geez — March 29, 2008 @ 7:44 am
As a Soldier (Master Sergeant) who has served two tours in Iraq and is on tap for a third I think I have the experience and moral authority to weigh in on this.
1- Yes, we use the phrase - “You’ve been stoplossed.”
2- Folks get stoplossed past the initial 8 year obligation. We had folks called back from retirement terminal leave to deploy for what ended up being a 15 month tour.
3- Soldiers on the ground want to win and want to serve, but there is a hell of a lot of angst over being stoplossed. Just as there was a lot of anger over the extension.
4- No one on high has given the Soldiers on the ground an endstate to work towards so each time we go its like we are starting from scratch.
5- The surge worked on the tactical level, street violence is down, but it is not yet working on the strategic level for the Govt of Iraq is not really interested in reconciliation.
6- This is a war unlike any other, even the Band of Brothers in WWII fought for less than a year and received numerous months off the line for rest and refit. Soldiers today go 15 months straight in a COP with only a two week leave. In Vietnam most Soldiers only did one twelve month tour, not multiple tours.
7- The rational for this war changes on a daily basis as George tries to change history to reflect the reality that there were no WMDs and there was no link to al-Qaeda. This constant changing leaves us on the ground wondering when the mission will be complete.
Comment by Soldier — March 29, 2008 @ 7:45 am
Bob said, “Hollywood has just become an extentiion to the anti-american left.”
Where’ve you been, Bob? Hollywood has been part of the anti-America left for many, many years.
Comment by John — March 29, 2008 @ 7:46 am
Does anyone notice the decline of news papers corresponding with the decline of Holyweird? Both with an extreme leftist agenda they can’t force to enlightended Americans anymore. Coincidence? I think not!
Comment by John Gault — March 29, 2008 @ 7:47 am
Hepwa:
I think conservatives have some kind of twisted logic.
I think we invaded Irag to tell the worlds islamic terrorists that if they set off a nuke in Hollywood or any other liberal perverted city of ours, no matter how disdainful the I-fascists find it, we would destroy their world and then bring the few remaining to the Hollywood “Bowl” - to rub their noses in it.
Watch out for conservatives that have logic as twisted as a liberals.
Comment by Joe Ironsides — March 29, 2008 @ 7:47 am
Bob…..what do you mean by “As long as poor people who they do not know are the only ones dying in the war in Iraq, Americans will not care??” I have never commented before, but I felt I must for this. My husband has been a tanker for 18 years in the Army, and believe me, I care much more than you! The only difference is, we actually know what is going on there because he has been there many times and sees the success that he and his fellow soldiers are accomplishing. I am VERY proud of him and do not consider him to be a “poor soldier.” We do not make a lot of money and could have definitely made a lot more out in the civilian world, but we actually care about our nation remaining free and safe for our children. My husband is my hero….and so are all the other brave men and women fighting this war…instead of like you being a coward and shooting off your mouth to things you don’t know. I guess the saying “Ignorance is Bliss” is talking about you.
Comment by Julie — March 29, 2008 @ 7:47 am
Debra exmplifies Hollywood’s theme that “President Bush should be ashamed of himself.” This is the exact reason Hollywood gets it wrong. It’s not a question of the movie being ahead of it’s time; Americans don’t want to see an anti-American movie no matter how unpopular Bush or the war may be in the polls. The fringe who wants to place blame for everything in the world that is wrong squarely on the shoulders of our nation will never trumph those who still believe and love the dream we live in.
Comment by Anonymous — March 29, 2008 @ 7:49 am
If you want to make a war movie, try making one about the Lone Survivor book written by Marcus Luttrell a real American Hero - not some useful Hollywood idiot that panders to the kook fringe on the left.
Comment by Dan — March 29, 2008 @ 7:49 am
I didn’t know anything about Stop-Loss until reading this review, but reading through the comments, I will DEFINITELY go spend some money on this, if nothing more than to piss off the Neanderthal nutty right-wingers leaving comments on this review.
If you think you’re not living in a socialist country as it is, you’re misled. The recent huge injection of $$ by the Fed to bail out Wall Street is recent proof.
Comment by CL — March 29, 2008 @ 7:50 am
Wow…good comments…could not agree more.
Hollywood is so obessed with anti-american and socialistic themes these days it makes me sad.
Tell the truth!
Black Hawk Down was an excellent movie. Showed us getting our asses kicked…but at least it was the truth and at least it showed America in a positive and noble sense.
Comment by Many — March 29, 2008 @ 7:50 am
My 23 year old daughter just got back from a deployment in Baghdad. She volunteered to go and would volunteer to go back. She will not be “Stop lossed”. She has served this country proudly and I am the proudest dad in the country. The nut jobs in Hollywood are just out to impress each other with their liberal views. I hope they make a hundred more of these movies that no one will see. Serves them right to lose all that money. I agree though, make a pro American. pro solder movie and they would have people lined up around the theaters waiting to see it. I find it interesting, if the Taliban was running this country, the liberals would be the first to lose their heads. Think about it. The rest of the world thinks that American society is what they see in our movies. They think that we are all drug crazed, sex fiends who all carry guns. When was the last time Hollywood made a movie that showed the TRUE America? No wonder they hate us. It’s more the stupid movies and not our government policies these people hate. They don’t want what they Perceive as our culture polluting theirs.
Comment by Dan — March 29, 2008 @ 7:51 am
Good to see there are so many true Americans out there. Our military rocks. They have done an AWESOME job in Iraq. The problem is getting the liberal media to report an accurate description of what has been going on over there. As so many have already mentioned, Americans (primarily Republicans) do not like to see their country badmouthed. And they certainly are not going to pay to see such garbage. That’s why these so called important films fail.
Comment by Rosie — March 29, 2008 @ 7:51 am
Maybe all of you liberals should go see the movie tonight. You will have a whole row to yourself.
Me and my pals from Camp Pendleton will be out demonstating in front of the theater, “encouraging” people to see another movie.
It could be ugly.
Comment by GI Jihadist — March 29, 2008 @ 7:52 am
Every member of the military (most), understand that YES at any time once you sign on the dotted line, you just signed away your life to the military and things can change, its all part of the fun……you can be recalled at any point….nothing is a guarantee….but most are proud to serve….sure, we moan and groan with the best, but that’s human nature…..I like to think the original reason we all join is that deep down we have a certain proudness of our country that noone can change…..not even hollywood……wow!!! John Wayne……I have a great selection of his war movies…now that was a great hollywood back then……..or at least smarter…..
Comment by rich — March 29, 2008 @ 7:52 am
“It’s a function of the marketplace not being ready to address this conflict in a dramatic way because the war itself is something that’s unresolved yet.”????????????????????????????????
Give me a break!! So the American people are just too stupid in hollywoods eyes! Take your anti-American movies and stick them up your a**!
Comment by bobeast — March 29, 2008 @ 7:54 am
“Having a skeptical view of what America is doing in Iraq and the Middle East isn’t wrong, it’s the kind of free thought that our forefathers encouraged.”
A skeptical view, only as long as that view, is backed up by a Liberal ideology. All of this crap that get’s spewed by the press, is not skepticism, they are tools used to try to unjustify the war. It is not skepticism, it is anti-war, anti American. It has an agenda other than being skeptical. My proof: There are good things happening in Iraq, but the press never mentions them. THAT is how I know they are biased and full of it. http://bloodtoiltearsandsweat.blogspot.com/
Comment by leftistdestroyer — March 29, 2008 @ 7:55 am
Keep it up Hollywood! I love to see you waste your money on your stupid anti-American agenda! Keep making movies that nobody wants to see except the loons at moron.org, then blame the American public for not seeing it. LOL
Comment by Uncle Sam — March 29, 2008 @ 7:56 am
When a faithful rendition of “Lone Survivor” becomes the top-grossing movie of the year, maybe Hollywood and the Michelle Obama/Jeremiah Wright segment of the American left will finally get it. But then, what real person cares if that ever happens?
Comment by Ted — March 29, 2008 @ 7:56 am
The reason the movie is not doing well is the fact that it is not the usual fantasy about the mighty USA. It is a factual movie so there’s no hiding behind some super hero who shows the world how an American would do things. Get over yourselves and face facts, over 4,000 American soldiers have died for Americas need of oil! Happy to be a liberal.
Comment by chalbe — March 29, 2008 @ 7:57 am
Imagine Hollywood putting out 10-15 anti-American movies during WWII? Never would have happened. But that was back before patriotism became unintellectual to the liberal world. If Hollywood, even in its rank self-congratulatory cynicism, made a decent film that didn’t demonize/America/Bush/Republicans/or the military, but instead celebrated the bravery and courage and SUCCESSES of our armed forces, it would be a huge hit. But Hollywood will never do this with a Republican admin in power, and probably not even with a Dem.
Comment by Jonathan — March 29, 2008 @ 7:57 am
You must first understand that making a financial profit is NOT the goal of many leftist organizations, such as some Hollywood studios and execs. Same with programs like CNN or CNBC and the like. Making a buck is NOT as important to them as swaying the public in their twisted propaganda. If the almighty dollar was ALL they cares about (and it is’nt), then they could VERY SIMPLY copy Fox News, or create CONSERVATIVE radio or television talk shows, and they would be rolling in the money! They KNOW what kinds of movies WILL make tons of money, they KNOW IT, but they dont do it. Why? Making money is not their primary focus. Propaganda and swaying public opinion is JOB #1 with the liberal media. The proof is in the pudding, going on decades now. Its is non-negotiable fact. Period. Have a nice day. China is coming…
Comment by ANQUANnquan — March 29, 2008 @ 7:58 am
The recent poor box office performance of “Semi-Pro” is further evidence that Hollyweird doesn’t get it. Americans love basketball and don’t want it to be mocked, but the leftie crazies on the left coast of Stalinwood refuse to accept that. Instead, they make movies that GENTLY MOCK those brave man who suit up night after night to shoot orange balls into baskets, night after night.
I’m sick and tired of movies that portray basketball as something other than the honorable, rewarding activity that it is. “White Men Can’t Jump” was factually inaccurate. I once, years ago, met a caucasian who could jump over a chair! “Hoop Dreams” was disspiriting Trotsky-anti-capitalist hogwash.
The only recent movie that got basketball right was “Air Bud”, and guess what? It MADE MONEY. Take notes, you latte sippers on Fidelset Blvd. (that’s what I call Sunset Blvd.) Air Bud made money because it told the TRUTH about America’s successes on the hardcourt, and the value of hard work, and the importance of white families and their dogs.
As long as you keep making movies that treat basketball like a game, instead of the game that it is, we’ll shun you and your liberal fascis… I mean, socialist, friends.
WAKE UP HUGO CHAVEZ LOVING AMERICA-HATING BASKETBALL-LOATHING FASCISTS!
Comment by TherealToddJones — March 29, 2008 @ 7:59 am
Another anti military anti American Iraq movie bombs. Who’d have thunk it? Liberal Commie Hollywood is so out of touch with American values.
Comment by Jeff J — March 29, 2008 @ 7:59 am
Bob Scofield wrote: “The Bush administration learned this lesson well and cleverly removed those obstacles, by limiting media coverage and only using volunteers …”
It is obvious you don’t hang around some of the embedded blogs vey much Mr. Scofield. We have guys out there in Iraq and Afghanistan who write real on the spot reports about real soldiers and marines who do the real work. Tea with the sheiks, rebuilding the infrastructure, making neighborhoods and villages safe. Read anything about Falluja recently? Mosul? I have … it’s there and it ISN’T THERE BECAUSE OF CNN, NBC, CBS, ABC or even FOX.
It’s there because Roggio and Yon and Ardolino are out there on their own dime (and mine) to live with the soldiers and Marines and give us the real story for the war from the ground. Up close and personal. It’s there because John Tammes (Major, US Army) takes the time to tell us what he sees.
We do have heroes, there are real heroes
Bob, you live in a bubble. You need to get out more.
It isn’t a perfect war, it isn’t a perfect situation. But it never is. It never was.
JAL
Mother of a US Army Major, who signed up of his own free will, who served with honor and integrity in Iraq, and who goes to work every day so Hollywood can make crappy movies about him and the men and women who serve with him.
Comment by Anonymous — March 29, 2008 @ 8:00 am
I agree that the reason these movies don’t do well is because they are nothing but whiney political hit jobs. Regardless of what you liberals want to believe about how evil the military is and what a failure the Iraq war is, the average American apparently doesn’t want to buy the defeatist, anti-American BS that you are selling. So, go ahead and whine about it as much as you want and blow your MoveOn.org dollars on making these pathetic propaganda films. We’ll just vote with our feet and stay home… at least until someone in Hollywood wises up and gives us a film about Iraq that we can be proud of. Being a veteran, I would love to see an accurate depiction of what I experience, but I guess I’ll just have to keep waiting. I won’t use my money to fund these imbeciles’ efforts to deride our country and its top-notch military.
Comment by Iraq Vet — March 29, 2008 @ 8:00 am
There is a class of people known as the international wealthy. These people include most major stars, directors, producers, rock stars etc. These people like their peers in industry, banking, politics have no loyalty to any nation because their wreath does not depend on any nation. That is why Hollywood does not see themselves as anti American. Being an American doesn’t mean much to them, what matters to them is their money, status and peers. They prefer Dubai to Kansas. F them and their insulting movies.
Comment by Anita — March 29, 2008 @ 8:01 am
The short answer to the snotty salcidos of the world, who claim that educated people will see this film (unlike soldiers and their “idiotic masses” supporters in flyover America) is: so why did all the other anti-Iraq films fail so spectacularly at the box office? Where were the elites lined up to see them?
And yeah: spend millions making films no one will see — and then announce that the audience isn’t ready for them! Now THERE’s a marketing plan!
But, thanks, salcido, for showing open contempt for the people you don’t agree with. It’s soooooo…..”liberal” .
Comment by Anna Keppa — March 29, 2008 @ 8:01 am
See if Hollywood make a movie about Mark Finelli, the Sole WTC Survivor to Enlist in the Marines and fight in Iraq, actually followed the advice of the fans here, and made a pro-troop, pro-USA, pro MISSION, about the sole WTC survivor to enlist in the Marines and fight if Iraq, the RED STATE ticket buyers PASSION OF THE CHRIST CROWD would make this the biggest movie of all time.
Comment by Fan of fineli — March 29, 2008 @ 8:02 am
How wonderful that almost all these comments support our soldiers and our country. How can FflMeaganabber think we are so lacking in being informed? Which is the same thing as saying we are stupid. God Bless America.
Comment by RRobbins — March 29, 2008 @ 8:04 am
I’ve always heard stories of soldiers being horribly injured, yet wanting to go back and serve. I love to hear stories and see movies about heroes like that, not whiny soldiers who didn’t read their contracts and don’t want to serve, even if most people would understandably fall into the latter category.
Comment by Jim — March 29, 2008 @ 8:04 am
How about movie with a John Wayne, leatherneck, hero-type Marine Gunnery Sergeant leading a pack of thundering heavy armor vehicles and fellow Marines into Falluja, Iraq, saying politically incorrect statements like, “Let’s slaughter these rag-headed butchers!” Or perhaps a Lee Marvin strong-jaw type of soldier leading a SEAL team against hide-outs in the Tora Bora region in Afghanistan to rescue some hostages from the Taliban before they cut their heads off. You can even include footage of a captured Al Quaida terrorist being painted in pig blood to get information from him on the location of Binny Laden. Maybe then Mr. Hollywood Liberal will you be able to sell some theater seats.
Comment by Bill — March 29, 2008 @ 8:07 am
Yeah, we American movie goers are a bunch of idiots aren’t we? We can’t seem to “appreciate” movies that are “ahead of their time.” I wonder when these Hollywood types will come to “appreciate” that we don’t like bias crap for entertainment. By the way, if this war really for oil, when can we expect payment?Because I have yet to hear about ships filled with oil making their way to our shores from Iraq. And…wouldn’t it be better if we drilled for it ourselves and make wise use our own resouces? BTW, here’s a clean movie for you: http://revver.com/video/403910/catching-faith/
Comment by Pat — March 29, 2008 @ 8:11 am
GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS!
Comment by Kirk — March 29, 2008 @ 8:11 am
“I support the troops - not the war” That sentiment kind of rings hollow coming from H’Wood - doesn’t it? They support the troops that play into their template -only. For years the left has harped on the right for shoving their beliefs down people’s throats. Now that they’re doing it - it’s OK because they are truly enlightened. Which means that their beliefs are infallable. Hypocrits!
Comment by Steve — March 29, 2008 @ 8:12 am
Wow, Niki- I see the crazy conservatives are alive and well on this site!
Stop Loss is bombing because it isn’t escapist entertainment- we can see stories about the Iraq War and our straining military on CNN. Polls show that most Americans don’t support the Iraq War anymore, although of course we all support the troops.
The fact that Ryan Phillippe is rumored to have cheated on Reese Witherspoon with his Stop Loss co-star, Abbie Cornish, doesn’t help draw in adult women, either (despite Phillippe’s massive PR campaign).
Comment by Ally — March 29, 2008 @ 8:12 am
Hollywood is completely out-of-touch. Their socialist agendas only appeal to a small portion of the population who are ignorant enough to buy their lies. As for Super Hero, it’s the same old formulaic spoof.
Americans want something new and honorable - clearly something that won’t come out of the worn out Hollywood machine.
Comment by Joe — March 29, 2008 @ 8:14 am
“Me and my pals from Camp Pendleton will be out demonstating in front of the theater, “encouraging” people to see another movie.
It could be ugly.
Comment by GI Jihadist”
Funny, I have never, ever heard a Marine refer to himself as a GI. If you are going to pose as a Marine get your jargon straight. I am not even going to touch the existential question of whether you hate yourself since you call yourself a jihadist.
Soldier
Comment by Soldier — March 29, 2008 @ 8:14 am
“over 4,000 American soldiers have died for Americas need of oil!”
Well, if it were for oil, remember, you use just as much oil as the rest of us. Well, 90% oil from Canada and Mexico that is. And know this, out of a barrel of oil, half of it is used for gasoline, the rest is used for products, that we all use. And I hope that you value life when it comes to abortion, cause the number dead is over 44 million! All in the name of selfishness. Funny how you libs pick and choose what life to be concerned with. If it supports YOUR cause or ideology, then you support it, if not, then it is considered to be just some right wing cause, not worthy of supporting. As a right winger, I thank God, that your mother didn’t have your brains sucked out, even though I can’t stand the idea of you. One last thing, those adult soldiers, they chose to join the millitary. Many choose to join this very day, in light of current events. God Bless those patriots. They are stronger than I to fight for your freedom to be an idiot.
http://bloodtoiltearsandsweat.blogspot.com/
Comment by leftistdestroyer — March 29, 2008 @ 8:14 am
Have any of the commenters seen this film? I did and it’s pro-troops, discussing intelligently an issue that faces most people coming back from the frontlines. The protagonist has some moral problems in considering his choices, but at least he considers them — a choice I doubt anyone who tosses off labels like ‘it’s too liberal’ or ‘it’s too conservative’ have to make comfortably from their lovely and safe homes.
Maybe the movie isn’t successful, folks, is because we want escapism these days — and this hit too close to the headlines.
Comment by QED — March 29, 2008 @ 8:14 am
the reason stop-loss or any movie like it will never do good is because most Americans love America…..we are not all bleeding heart liberals….those are only in washington and hollywood
Comment by Izzy — March 29, 2008 @ 8:16 am
If a producer wanted to actually make money on a film that dealt with this subject (and tell the truth at the same time), they’d make it far away from the National Socialists in Hollywood, and they’d give the public what they need to hear and see: a story that tells about ourselves, our relatives, our friends and our neighbors, who sacrifice so much to keep us safe.
Comment by Steve — March 29, 2008 @ 8:16 am
I would personally love to see a movie in wich a group of Hollywood and Washington liberals get stranded on a desert island and are slaughterd one by one by a fed up military mom who is sick and tired of all the liberal garbage that we have to hear in the media. i think a movie like that would make millions.
Comment by Mike — March 29, 2008 @ 8:17 am
NSR and the rest of those (like a certain prograssive party) who rely on DEFLECTION i.e. “why aren’t you serving” comments. We have the best of the best in the military and they should be supported and thanked and we definitely don’t do enough for them.But how dare you are any espouse your elitist vitriol and sarcasm.
Comment by jackfish — March 29, 2008 @ 8:18 am
To Bob Scofield: You think you’re so smart! No one loves dying or being injured, but these people (not all of them, granted - you have whiners in the military who only signed up for a regular paycheck and didn’t count on a war) are proud of what they do, and yes, (go ahead and gasp!) they do love to kill the bad guys! I said, the BAD GUYS, not the good guys. I have a friend who fought in the Gulf War doing behind-enemy-lines recon for the US Marines (you’ll have to look up what recon is, I’m sure) who brought back pictures of their “wins” and would show them to anyone whom he deemed worthy to look. Then he’d pull out his rifles and show them to you if you were nice . . . he spent as many years as he could in the Marine Reserves after that, and was (uh-oh, here’s that word again) GLAD to go back into duty whenever they called him! He hated to be away from his family, yes, but he understood the big picture (look that up to while you’re at it) and loved his country enough to go there. So, YES, they enjoy this war in many ways - they also enjoy SAVING the GOOD GUYS FROM the bad guys! There ARE bad guys over there, you know. You have proven that you do NOT understand our military OR their families! (My friend’s wife was the one who asked if we wanted to see the pictures and guns - she hated him being gone, but not the REASON he was gone!)
And, you history-deficient pretender, do you understand we could have WON the Vietnam War if our military had been allowed to use their might instead of having to play nice for the cameras? Do you understand that but for those reporters who were broadcasting on all 3 networks we could have finished it all and sent our boys home?! Now, THAT would have saved lives and perhaps kept the draftees out of the war. But, once again we see someone (that’s YOU, Bob) who has a few facts but sees them upside down and backwards.
“AS LONG AS POOR PEOPLE WHO THEY DO NOT KNOW ARE THE ONLY ONES DYING IN IRAQ, AMERICANS WILL NOT CARE!” This is the most moronic statement of all! You think only poor people are dying in Iraq? You think we, the thinking Conservatives of this great land, AREN’T poor? You think that we thinking Conservatives don’t care about the ones dying? You idiot! Those are OUR sons and daughters, wives and husbands over there! And they and their friends account for the 4005 that you are so broken up over!
I’m done with you: you’ll never understand no matter what I type here. I’m sorry you are such a pathetic misinformed unhappy man, but from the looks of it, you’re going to stay that way.
Comment by Smitty — March 29, 2008 @ 8:18 am
They’ll never learn guys.Guess they just like to lose money.
Comment by Anonymous — March 29, 2008 @ 8:18 am
To all u complaining that Hollywood doesn’t make a pro-Iraq film–wake up! There is NOTHING positive about this war to turn into a film. Those fighting are not heroes fighting for our freedom–they are, unfortunately, people that chose a bad career path and ended up fighting George Bush’s war happy agenda. Our US freedom has NOTHING to do w/ Iraq. NOTHING. We are in fact less safe since this war started, and if Bush has its way, it will never end… not until every American soldier over there dies in vain. And to those that don’t like “whiney” soldiers wanting to get out–why don’t U go and enroll in the services so you can take their place in Iraq??
Comment by john — March 29, 2008 @ 8:20 am
Want a film to do well? Try making a pro American flick for a change. Only antiwar freaks would care to see Stop Loss and they don’t have any money for the $10 ticket.
I simply don’t see why film company stock holders don’t read the riot act to the producers and directors for making such stupid money wasting films.
Comment by Sam Pyeatte — March 29, 2008 @ 8:20 am
You know I cme down in a cork-screw landing in Bosnia and while under intense sniper fire subdued an entire division of Bosnian soldiers and captured a Bosnian General that is now being trie in the International Court of Justice. Chelsea helped a little too and I still had time to hear some stupid poem by some Serb tween which I could not understand because it was in Serb. I can’t believe I have not been awarded the Medal of Honor yet, damn vast right wing conspiracy, I think Chelsea should have gooten at least a Silver Star. I love Bill and he still loves me!
Hillary
Comment by Hillary Clinton — March 29, 2008 @ 8:21 am
Hey Michael….
Does it look like 70% of the people responding here are against the war? You must be reading the New York Times to get your figures. When McCain is elected because of his platform based on NOT pulling the troops out of Iraq, I will be glad to buy your liberal ass a plane ticket to France.
OMP
Comment by michael — March 29, 2008 @ 8:21 am
There are a number of great stories waiting to be told and they would all be hits along the order of Black Hawk Down, We Were Soldiers, and even the Green Berets, which was released at the height of the Vietnam War. How about a movie about the remarkable efforts of Special Forces and CIA at the beginning of OEF? Or perhaps a movie about Operation Anaconda and the heroism of Robert’s Ridge. Hollywood doens’t want to make a true war movie, they want to make message movies. What they don’t understand is that outside LA, nobody cares what they think.
Comment by BB — March 29, 2008 @ 8:21 am
I can’t believe the volume of misguided posts. It appears that most of those who posted haven’t even gone to see these movies. On the contrary, the flops have for the most part tried to be more balanced than the critics posting here are aware of. The one huge box office success about the Iraq war was the only truly, unabashedly anti-war movie in the bunch, Fahrenheit 911. The public has for the most part tuned out the bulk of pro-war propaganda they get daily through radio and TV, which they can get for free.
Comment by Dan — March 29, 2008 @ 8:25 am
“No matter what we put out there in terms of great cast or trailers, people were completely turned off”
The trailers I saw were all negative, anti American turn offs. Perhaps a trailer that showed something entertaining or uplifting would work, but then you would have to make a movie about America that was entertaining or uplifting and that is impossible when you obviously hate America.
Wake up Hollywood, it is not Woodstock. The Vietnam war is over and you can stop your knee-jerks.
Make a movie you would enjoy seeing. How about a movie about the wonderful Hugo Chavez. Or maybe a gay Cuban soldier who finds himself stop-lossed fighting underground for Chavez in Columbia? Oh, I forgot. There is no ’stop-loss’ in the Cuban dictatorship, since there are no rights. Good health care though, unless you are gay.
I hate getting anti-American movie trailers in my face while trying to watch televisio. That is more than I can stomach. I watch Turner classic movies, or AMC to see some decent movies with some normal men ike John Wayne. Great entertainment, and he was not a wuss. Most of today’s politically correct ‘actors’ cannot even play a ‘man’ decently it is so far from their experiences.
Comment by e wem — March 29, 2008 @ 8:25 am
Its just this simple. When Hollywood stops making and distributing worthless crap the tide should turn. Thank God for the Indies and Foreign films…..they get it. Good writing + Good acting = Good film and people that will actually watch it. Wow - what a novel concept.
By the way Hollywood - when will you figure out that people want to see a QUALITY well written film and don’t just go to the movies to see the ridiculous and mindless actors you promote. We all get WAY too much of them already in the media!
Comment by Fedup — March 29, 2008 @ 8:26 am
Any of you bleeding heart lefties getting tired of people who respect our country — try using your thumb, the borders are open.
U.S. Army (retired)
Command Sgt Major
5th Special Operations Group
Comment by DaBear — March 29, 2008 @ 8:27 am
I just returned from the middle east, most of us on our second or third deployment, and I would go back tomorrow if called. I’m disgusted at everyone who rants against this country, who hopes for its failure, and rallies for surrender to terrorists and tyrants while claiming to be patriotic. The people we are fighting would come for all of you first - and you are too blindly ignorant, too indoctrinated with Marxist dogma to realize it. We go over there to keep them there, so we don’t have pizza shops exploding in Los Angeles or Charleston. We are there protecting you silly socialist nitwits so you can carry signs in the street and wear insipid t-shirts. This ridiculous film is another Hollywood attempt to reverse reality - they make a hero out of the coward, the weakest link with no honor. They then portray the real heroes as mindless, uneducated, desperate pawns manipulated by an evil government. Finally, they whine and complain that Americans are too stupid to see the “brilliance” of their work, the depth of their “wisdom.” The best part about this story is the part where once again, the free-market solution to the problem is made evident - a movie made from a Dr. Seuss book and a pathetic schoolyard comedy are trouncing the big-budget film by Tokyo Rose.
Comment by Mark — March 29, 2008 @ 8:27 am
hollywood will never get past the need to play to their own liberal agenda it is sad n cud really be a sucessful movie if done in a positive light nstead of the doom and gloom democrats want the war to b
Comment by kenny — March 29, 2008 @ 8:28 am
The Hollywood reality is just as whacked as the Red State reality. The only nutjobs still in favor of this nonsensical war are the superstitious kooks who actually buy the Tim LaHaye horsemanure about raptures and Armeggedon and Jesus. Use your brainpower and avoid Superhero movies.
Comment by Iraq Vet Too — March 29, 2008 @ 8:29 am
More important to me than commenting about a negative propaganda movie about our military soldiers is the pride I feel when I read comments supporting our troops. Heart felt thanks from the father of an American Soldier.
Comment by Louie — March 29, 2008 @ 8:31 am
I have not stepped into a movie theater in 8 years, they have has been some very good years to me as well. I have managed to read, exercise and do many outdoor activities that made me realize every moment in a dark theater was a complete waste of time and money. Movies don’t even have the same dating appeal as they used to because the movies have been too shockingly bad to even be able to ignore them to focus on your date, along with the teen neanderthals that take away from the experience as well which is another extension of liberalism in general. I’m not sure Hollyweird will ever come out of this self created funk, I’m teaching my kids and friends as well to stay out of the brain-drain complexes, and it’s working, soon it will only be brain dead Obama voters going to the theaters at all. Good luck with that, libs.
Comment by libsukbad — March 29, 2008 @ 8:31 am
Um, EXCUSE MEEEE Mr. Holy-er-than-thou-wood Big Shot Excecutive… I would love to see a quality made Iraq war movie. I just have a REAL problem financing your ANTI-AMERICAN position. Do you even remember John Wayne?!?!?! The way I see it, you could make up your losses and then some if you start right now and make maybe 10-20 pro-hero pix… Have you forgotten the function of your job?
Comment by Jim — March 29, 2008 @ 8:32 am
Good Grief!!! What ever happened to going to the movies purely to enjoy the ENTERTAINMENT of a FICTIONAL movie? I haven’t seen this movie yet, but I’m tired individuals these days taking movies so seriously. What has this world come to where you can’t sit down in front of a movie screen or TV anymore without something being said about how it’s religiously wrong, morally wrong, too violent, too emotional, too political, too anti-american….etc.
PEOPLE.. Movies are for Entertaining, taking mental breaks to watch something other than our everyday lives. Stop taking things so seriously and just ENJOY them!!
Comment by Wendy — March 29, 2008 @ 8:34 am
The movie “Stop Loss” is all about shocking a civilian audience with a situation where a soldier who has served his time, including a tour of duty in battle, is then pressed back into service using the “stop-loss” provision available to the U.S. armed forces. Why does Hollywood make such a movie only about the Iraq War, when they have had decades to make movies set in the months after May 1945, when many U.S. soldiers who had survived the slaughter of battle in Europe were set to be shipped to the Pacific Theater to fight the Japanese? Now, in the end many of them did not have to go because the atomic bomb took care of things, but they thought they were going and they weren’t whining to the public about it, and Hollywood wasn’t putting out movies in the spring and early summer of 1945 sobbing about how the poor G.I.’s had done their duty in Europe and heartless Uncle Sam was unfairly about to send them to fight in Asia. Soldiers are a proud and honorable bunch who know what they’re getting into when they swear to fight for their country. I admire them for that. They don’t need tears from Hollywood, or from Ryan Phillippe.
Comment by Jod