SUNDAY AM: North American box office numbers show that No. 1 Disney / Pixar's futuristic Wall-E blasted off with a $23.1 million Friday and $22 million Saturday from 3,992 theaters for what was a $62.5 million opening weekend. This means arty Wall-E is big and transcended from a kids movie into a four-quadrant hit. But it wasn't quite the $70+M record breaker everyone thought it would be. Still, it was the 3rd biggest Pixar opening (behind The Incredibles at $70.5M and Finding Nemo at $70.2M, but equal to Monsters Inc. at $62.5M) and the 7th all-time animated opening. And its opening day gross was the biggest of all nine Pixar titles ($23.1M, which passed The Incredibles' $20.5 million of 2004) and its opening weekend the 2nd best overall for June (behind Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban's $93.7M). Disney is looking for a Best Picture Oscar nomination for the computer-generated G-rated toon, very possible with 97% great reviews from top critics and even rival studio bigwigs gushing: "It's just adorable and smart and interesting. It has more character development and emotion than any movie I've seen this year." One wrinkle in Wall-E's marketing was that the 1 hour, 37 minute pic has no dialogue for the first 40 or so minutes. And it can be hard to find something funny to say from a character who doesn't talk.
More and more, films with different ratings and different genres can happily coexist at the box office -- Alvin And The Chipmunks and I Am Legend, American Gangster and Bee Movie. So Wanted, Universal's Angelina Jolie/James McAvoy starrer, debuted to $19.1M Friday and $17.5M Saturday from 3,175 venues for a $51.1M weekend. It marks a new franchise for the studio which expected only $35+M from this stylish summer actioner fueled by the Matrix-like high octane provided by hot Russian director Timur Bekmambetov. It turned out to be the best June opening ever for an R-rated movie, beating Knocked Up's $30.6M, and the 6th highest R-rated opening of all time (behind The Matrix Reloaded, The Passion Of The Christ, 300, Hannibal, and Sex And The City) as well as the 3rd biggest R-rated action film (behind The Matrix Reloaded's $91.7M, and 300's $70.9M). It's also the biggest opening ever for a live-action Angelina movie and she proved a big draw: the studio said the main reasons given for choosing to see Wanted were the action (67%) and Jolie (61%). Exit polling showed the audience breakdown was 52%/48% male to female, 51%/49% under age 30 to over age 30.
Warner Bros comedy Get Smart took No. 3 with $6.5M Friday and $7.8M Saturday for a $21M FSS (-45% from its opening) and new cume of $77.2M. At No. 4, DreamWorks Animation / Paramount's Kung Fu Panda took in $3.4M Friday and $4.5M Saturday for a $11.7M weekend and $179.3M cume. And in the 5th slot, Universal's The Incredible Hulk managed $2.8M Friday and $3.8M Saturday for a $9.7M weekend and new cume of $116M. A Paramount's The Love Guru dropped 61% from its opening for No. 6 with $1.8M Friday and $1.9M Saturday for a $5.4M weekend and cume of $25.4M.
The rest of the Top 10: At No. 7, Paramount's Indiana Jones And The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull took in $1.3M Friday and $2.1M Saturday for a $5M weekend with a cume that is about to zoom over $300M. M Night Shymalan's The Happening for Fox was No. 8 with $1.1M Friday and $1.5M Saturday and $3.8M for the weekend, with a new cume of $59M. At No. 9 was HBO Films / New Line/ Warner Bros' Sex And The City which earned $1.1M Friday and $1.4M Saturday for a $3.7M weekend and new cume of $140.1M. And in 10th, Sony's You Don't Mess With The Zohan made $990K Friday and $1.2M Saturday for a $3.2 weekend and $91.2M cume.
Overall, the domestic gross this weekend was up 20% over last year's to complete the June sweep . No reason to think July won't keep the winning streak going.
Enough is enough about Wall-E not talking for 40 minutes. If it’s a great movie, it’s a great movie! Stop giving people excuses not to consider it. Academy voters already have enough stupid reasons why they don’t nominate people.
Comment by Burn-E — June 28, 2008 @ 7:20 am
What is so surprising about women wanting to see Wanted?
Women want to see female lead movies, in pro-active roles other than “girlfriend” or “bride.”
Comment by no surprise — June 28, 2008 @ 7:36 am
My 4 year old daughter ad 8 year old nephew did not seem to notice that Wall-E didn’t speak. They loved it.
Goodness knows it’s better than the dialogue that comes out of Dreamworks/etc. animated characters’ mouths. We almost ALWAYS skip those lowbrow horrors.
Comment by Liz — June 28, 2008 @ 8:22 am
I am one those women that saw Wanted because of Angelina Jolie, I usually don’t like the over the top violence in Movies but there is just something so audacious, badass and cool about Jolie. The fact that she also is not just the secretary or girlfriend, but an integral part of the movie is also empowering.
I was surprised at the crowd mixture too. This was billed as a teen boys movie, nothing could be further from the truth at the showing that I went to. There were a lot of middle aged couples, young couples, some women that came with girlfriends and some guys that came with their buddies, if this holds up, Universal will have a bigger hit than they anticipated on their hands, It was a fun ride of a movie.
Comment by Indie — June 28, 2008 @ 8:37 am
If you produce quality movies, then they will pay to watch it. As simple as that. Surprising, but why?
Last year’s summer was a fluke, with the big 3 final trilogy (supposedly final but you will never know with the Hollywood-rians)
We were duped to think it was supposed to be the best of the 3rd in the series and all 3 disappointed, not to mention many other releases last year except for Ratatoulie, Bourne and Harry.
So last year’s big Summer B.O waa not so much of the quality of the movies but cause of the need to watch the many finale. This year, the B.O sure won’t beat last year’s numbers but atleast we know 1 thing, we can expect good quality ones.
I am hopeful.
Comment by Armand — June 28, 2008 @ 8:42 am
Kudos to James McAvoy for managing to break out and actually become something of a draw for audiences going to see Wanted rather than getting lost in mess of CGI heavy ads and shots of Jolie’s ass.
The real question now is whether he can actually escape the ‘geeky,loser’ niche and become a proper leading man.
It’s going to be interesting to see how he handles his choices from here on in to say the least.
Comment by Warner Borg — June 28, 2008 @ 8:59 am
After seeing Wanted, how are they going to top the sequel. Congratulations to the cast,esp Angelina and James. The director needs some kudos also.
Comment by runyard kipling — June 28, 2008 @ 9:13 am
In the summer, around my house EVERY day is a potential kiddie matinee…ugh.
Comment by Rob — June 28, 2008 @ 9:34 am
‘no surprise’ has it. Women as doers and action figures - not necessarily this movie - is what girls should be exposed to. They get enough of the shopping princess nonsense. I want to see a Lara Croft themed nursery for little girls - from educated & smart to adventurous & strong with some femininity thrown in the mix. Oh, and throw in a Gerard Butler while you’re at it.
Comment by justdoit — June 28, 2008 @ 9:52 am
I’m with Rob. All summer long I search for family fare for the kids.
This weekend WALL E. Next week AMERICAN GIRL. Week after that, MEET DAVE. My daughter is counting the days to the next SISTERHOOD OF THE TRAVELLING PANTS. Seems to me that more studios should be making family films.
Comment by Radha — June 28, 2008 @ 10:04 am
Women love Angelina Jolie. They do not love action movies with women in the lead. Go back to GI Jane, Last Good Kiss, Aeon Flux, etc. The only action movie starring a woman that has had any traction are the ones with Angelina. And the more she keeps feeding the tabs (or they her) the more crazed we all are with all things joilee-pitt.
She’s infintely more interesting than her husband/partner/sperm doner.
Comment by Craven — June 28, 2008 @ 10:08 am
Warner Bros: Angelina and Brad as Wonder Woman and Steve Trevor.
Pay them whatever they want.
Comment by merlinjones — June 28, 2008 @ 10:16 am
Wall-e is just such an amazing picture. I saw it last night with a sold out audience here in NY.
The production design of the film is one of the most incredible feats of artistry I’ve ever seen. It’s more real than real, without losing it’s cartoon roots. The animation is subtle and just astonishing.
But it’s the storytelling that gets the biggest kudos. It’s the best American film in 10 years, animated or otherwiese.
Comment by Henry — June 28, 2008 @ 10:34 am
People aren’t seeing Wanted for McAvoy. He’s barely known in the US. People are going to Wanted because Angelina Jolie is the only woman in Hollywood that can carry an action movie and they love seeing her in action movies
Comment by Horatio — June 28, 2008 @ 10:35 am
I would go to the opening of a supermarket with Angelina Jolie. I used to feel that way about Julia Roberts, in the 90’s, when she made movies I wanted to see - not like Chalie Wilson’s War –
now I’m devoted to Angelina. There’s no one else for me.
Comment by barbara — June 28, 2008 @ 10:47 am
In my experience, the ONLY reason this movie got so big was due to the fact that women (for once) weren’t turned off by a female action star. The only other times this has happened was Mr./Mrs. Smith and Tomb Raider. Oh wait - what’s the common denominator.
Jolie is the Will Smith of women. She’s the anti-girl girl. Girls who DIDN’T see SEX AND THE CITY opening night went to see WANTED. But be carefull those of you who try to predict future trends- Jolie is an ANOMOLY. Most action movies for women will not/do not work.
We bow at the feet of Jolie.
Comment by dan — June 28, 2008 @ 10:57 am
Finally, a proper chic-flick
Comment by Andrea — June 28, 2008 @ 11:00 am
Made me laugh out loud, Andea!
Comment by Dave — June 28, 2008 @ 11:26 am
Impressed with the kid movies so far this summer. Loved Kung Fu Panda, Loved Kit Kittredge, Loved Wall E, looking forward to Journey 3D!
Comment by michelle — June 28, 2008 @ 12:32 pm
For the first time this year, I am really excited about seeing a movie. Well of course it has Angelina which is a major bonus for me.
I loved Mr.and Mrs. Smith, thought she was fantastic in it.
She knows how to carry her films, and what roles to pick that work best for her.
Action/Drama Angelina has it.
Comment by TV Fan — June 28, 2008 @ 12:54 pm
The key to Wanted’s success was the casting of McAvoy, who completely sells the character’s improbable transforamtion from neurotic office geek to physics-defying gunslinger while being simultaneousy funny and bad-ass, and the hiring of madcap Russian visualist Timur Bekmambetov as director. Banal selections being hired for either of these pivotal production pieces would’ve been the source of quality undoing and while it still could’ve made money, it wouldn’t have been worth a damn in the estimation of discriminating action fans. Ethereal Angelina being along for the ride as a stoic femme fatale is the cherry on top of the cake’s icing.
Comment by Gerald — June 28, 2008 @ 1:08 pm
Love the men on this site who so arrogantly pronounce what women want. Hilarious.
Women want good movies with female leads of all genres. It’s not rocket science.
Women do not love Jolie. If women loved Jolie, all of her movies would do well. They don’t. Only the action genre has done well for her.
Women love a strong female lead in a good movie. GI Jane was a terrible movie (and was released 11 years ago.) Look at how you can only name a couple of female lead action films. Statistically most movies flop. If you only make a few female action leads, you’re only going to get one or two hits.
Look at the abundance of male action films that have tanked miserably. No one says male action films are a dead proposition and no one will go see them.
Ridiculous arguments on this board guided not by logic, but by ignorance and agenda.
Inevitably, women will make the movies women want to see, they will make buckets of money and the men will swoop in to co-opt it. Don’t let it happen, women.
Comment by Hedge — June 28, 2008 @ 1:17 pm
Women love female action movies. Charlie’s Angels, Alien, La Femme Nikita. Make good female action movies and they will come.
Comment by Prod — June 28, 2008 @ 1:28 pm
Angelina Jolie is the hottest and the best actress in Hollywood now.You’re an icon.
Comment by Belle — June 28, 2008 @ 1:31 pm
>Women love Angelina Jolie. They do not love action movies with women in the lead. Go back to GI Jane, Last Good Kiss, Aeon Flux, etc.<
That’s one ignorant argument. Women don’t like lousy action movies with women in the lead, pure and simple. (In fact, did _anyone_ like GI JANE, LAST GOOD KISS, or AEON FLUX?) And does the failure of flicks like SMOKIN’ ACES, SHOOT ‘EM UP, or any number of bad-superhero flicks mean that men don’t like action movies with men in the lead? It’s a shame that there are so few “women action flicks” that when one or two fail, Hollywood (and fanboys) try to discount the entire subgenre.
Comment by deering — June 28, 2008 @ 2:04 pm
Am I crazy for thinking that Morgan Freeman is actually MORE of a draw than James McAvoy? That’s a cool-ass motherfucker with plenty of street cred among the younger viewers. He’s in hit after hit without getting enough credit–even from the “experts.” Sucks to be “mature” in Hollywood, I guess.
Comment by Dex — June 28, 2008 @ 2:26 pm
*The key to Wanted’s success was the casting of McAvoy,*
WTF? lol. No one even knows about McAvoy outside of artsy, fartsy Sundance, Indie types oh and UK’rs. The movie success is because of Jolie and her ability to be the only female in Hollywood that can do action like the boys if not better then the boys.
Comment by Huh? — June 28, 2008 @ 3:21 pm
Give the woman her due. The film works because of Jolie any one else and it fails. If the had bombed this weekend everyone would be putting the blame on her shoulders. The movie if the 50 million + holds is because of her and Miller’s fanbase
Comment by Lee — June 28, 2008 @ 3:27 pm
Count me in as one of the women who went to see Wanted specifically because of Angelina Jolie. She just commands the screen and is completely believable as an action hero. You can have your pretty princesses and I’ll take bold, kickass women who aren’t afraid to knock a man’s teeth out.
Comment by Clover — June 28, 2008 @ 3:35 pm
You’ll only find adults talking about or even noticing how little dialogue is in the front half of Wall-E. Apparently adults memories are terribly short, and they don’t remember that half of the cartoons they watched as children were virtually silent - just slapstick and classical music - with the occasional wisecrack. Imagine how hard it would be to pitch any WB cartoon these days… or classic Disney shorts… which kids still love when they see. Yeah… it’s all silent… just gags… and classical music. Kids will LOVE it!
Comment by ckn8 — June 28, 2008 @ 5:55 pm
Angelina Jolie was excellent in “Wanted.” Even though she is not the main character, she has the best entrance that really sells her “star” power. I think this is her first film where her star wattage reaches the same level that paparazzi TV/blog/weeklies portray it to be.
“WALL-E” was a sticky sweet love story. WALL-E might only be able to say “EVE” (lots) and “directive” (once), but Pixar proved that they could make the story work without dialogue (i.e., in the first half). I echo the comment that it has more genuine emotion in it than anything else I’ve seen this year.
Comment by Harold — June 28, 2008 @ 6:09 pm
I don’t know about you guys, but I’m a single dad, needing product to take my kids to. They’ve seen Kung Fu Panda, Wall E, and once Kit Kittredge goes wide (I refuse to go to the Grove) they’ll see that. But then there’s nothing. They don’t want to see Meet Dave, or Mama Mia. Journey 3D they’re still on the fence about. Someone on this board asked why aren’t there more family movies? Second that. For those of us who live in the valley, and want to take their kids out, and can’t take them to Wanted - we need more product. Please.
Comment by michael — June 28, 2008 @ 6:30 pm
The lack of dialogue in WALL-E isn’t an issue. In fact, it was too much dialogue–much of it bad, and loaded with stupid topical references–that really help ruin Disney’s later traditional-animation flicks, and kill off the genre. Pixar is about storytelling; at the end, Disney wasn’t.
Comment by dr.giraud — June 28, 2008 @ 6:44 pm
I think plenty of ppl know of McAvoy. I think Jolie is fun to watch in action and McAvoy was an added and needed spice to keep the movie another Jolie action film. I love McAvoy.
Comment by i love j.m. — June 28, 2008 @ 7:14 pm
We love you, Angelina Jolie.She should pay more than some creepy actors.
Comment by appetizing — June 28, 2008 @ 7:19 pm
“Wanted” changes Angelina Jolie’s status from “star” to “supernova”.
She is the reason this movie will be a hit. Any decent young actor could play Mc Avoy’s role.
What other actress could replace Jolie? Right. No one.
Comment by Hulkster — June 28, 2008 @ 7:24 pm
I don’t get the fascination with Angelina Jolie. She’s not much of an actress and her face seems as though it’s frozen in that half-smirk that looks all the more bizarre because her skin looks like plastic. “Distracting” is a better adjective than “beautiful” when describing her. If the paparazzi left her alone, she would fade like yesterday’s news.
Comment by Movie fan — June 28, 2008 @ 7:29 pm
angelina jolie is overrated. I’m sorry, I know boohs and hisses are coming my way but I have to tell you that I just saw Tomb Raider 1 and 2 again on DVD about a month ago, and then with Netflix, Mr and Mrs Smith, and it seems she’s just too everywhere these days….
too much twin children talk in the magazines at check out, too much brad/angelina gossip, too much bad ass angelina!
Can’t they find any other woman to star in these shows? How about Rhona Mitra?
Please, give me a movie that kicks ass with a female lead who isn’t angelina jolie. Let her go and be a mom for godsake for a few years to her now 6 children and then have her come back.
I just can’t see her as a sex symbol as she’s walking with her tattoos on her back with water steaming off of her while knowing that she’s ready to pop from having twins. What terrible timing to put this movie out.
OK. My rant is done. Have at me.
Comment by kay — June 28, 2008 @ 7:34 pm
Just can’t buy Jolie as an action star, considering she’s a walking toothpick. Her sexiness has long since passed as well.
Comment by Joe — June 28, 2008 @ 7:37 pm
Just read this from MerlinJones and laughed my ass off when I actually pictured it:
Warner Bros: Angelina and Brad as Wonder Woman and Steve Trevor. Pay them whatever they want.
Comment by merlinjones — June 28, 2008 @10:06
Comment by Kay — June 28, 2008 @ 7:38 pm
Could not get into the 7:30pm showing of WallE in Phoenix at Esplanade so we’re waiting for the 9pm show. Theater was packed and the only seats were at the side in the front 2 rows.
Wanted? I’d rather see Get Smart first. And yes, the 80s and 90s were dominated by Julia Roberts. She goes, has a child, and comes back for Charlie Wilson’s War and everyone dumps on her. That was a great flick and if you read the book - the movie was true to form. I thought the flick was going to be one of those formula republicans=bad/democrats=good but this shows that greek CIA guy was right and it was hillarious. I love Philip Seymour Hoffman - from when he was in Twister to Mission Impossible 3 to Capote. Wow. Can’t wait to see more of him.
Comment by Kay — June 28, 2008 @ 7:43 pm
In the previews, the action made me nibble, AJ set the hook and Morgan Freeman reeled me in, causing me to invest in a ticket. In the end, AJ’s character proved to be truly pure of heart. I loved the movie, warts and all. I am still bothered by a hero that can’t figure out that maybe the guy risking his life to save him wasn’t really trying to kill him. That said, I’m going back to watch it again.
Comment by BUCK — June 28, 2008 @ 7:57 pm
We went to the late night showing of WALL-E and the place was packed with those of us who love the animation, the story — and did I mention real character development? We are getting more quality from one movie from PIXAR each than the rest of the Hollywood’s elite can deliver in the other 12 months. They are intelligent, fun for everyone and you want to see them over again — which means DVD sales, too! Read The Pixar Touch (David Price) and you will have even a deeper appreciation for the men who stuck with a concept everyone said would fail. WALL-E was charming. And it made our hearts sing and our creative spirits soar!
Comment by Hillevi — June 28, 2008 @ 7:58 pm
When word gets around about Wanted it’ll do even better. Great movie. Not just special effects either.
Comment by Justsawit — June 28, 2008 @ 8:00 pm
Wall-E has some great stuff, but not only isn’t it the best American film of the past 10 years, it ain’t the best Pixar film of the last 12 months.
Comment by Gene Cystic — June 28, 2008 @ 8:02 pm
I went to see “Wanted”. I am an odd demographic. Married, 3 kids, highly educated but I love violent movies. Doesn’t mesh well with the Volvo but go figure.
I went because I am HUGE James McAvoy fan. I’ve seen EVERYTHING he’s been in. And no one kicks ass like Jolie. I think if women don’t like her, it’s not because she’s not good at what she does. She is. They just are jealous of the package. I mean, come ON….if Angelina lived on your street, you’d be supervising your husbands mowing the lawn.
Comment by suzanne — June 28, 2008 @ 8:26 pm
Hey Guys, Hey Girls!
If Angelina looked like Mother Teresa, no one would be going to see her films. Yeah, she can act and has a real cool stage presence. But admit it, it’s those full, pouty, red ruby lips; that perfect face; those luicious —-, oh well, you fill in the blanks!
Obama ‘08!
Comment by Get Real! — June 28, 2008 @ 8:46 pm
I think the guy in the movie carried the movie. Jolie’s role in the movie was minor, and any hot female would have shown her ass. There was very little acting on her part…she hardly even talks in the movie. Jolie was used to get both men and women (a lot of women seem sexually attacted to Jolie) more interested in the movie. Feminists should be pissed because people don’t want to see Jolie because she’s a great actress, only because she looks good. The sappy leftwing message movies that she does when she’s not playing the slut action hero always bomb.
Comment by rush_limbaugh_sent_me — June 28, 2008 @ 8:47 pm
Just left this movie. Not great. It is, in fact, a teen boy flick. Just one with well known actors. Mindless shoot ‘em up, complete with typical teenage angst. Not worth the price of admission.
Comment by Captain Spaulding — June 28, 2008 @ 9:11 pm
Wanted is a terrible movie based on an even worse comic book. It isn’t a “teen boy movie”. It’s unlikely any “teen boy” has even read the comics it is based on.
It is a terrible action movie on all levels which can only be expected whent he source material is so pathetic. It’s unfortunate that Jolie and Morgan Freeman somehow found themselves wrapped up in this piece of garbage. Even more pathetic that the audience has so little class nad taste that they thought a movie with “CURVE THE BULLET!” and “SHOOT THE FLY!” was fantastic.
Jolie has been great in a lot of things including and since Hackers. But at a certain point you just have to call crap “crap”, regardless of who is starring in it.
Comment by no — June 28, 2008 @ 9:18 pm
Are you people daft?!
You’re whining about the lack of family friendly movies?
There are hardly any adult movies any more. Everything is dumbed down for the average idiot and their average idiot children. Hey, it’s 90 minutes of getting kicked in the junk and fart jokes - HI-LAR-I-OUS!
Even movies that should be a hard-R end up dumbed down to a PG-13 so they’ll be “family friendly” and morons will drag their pudgy little sticky-fingered screeching runts to the theater with them.
As for James McElroy or whoever… WHO?! Never heard of him. Don’t care.
Jolie has been in better movies. More deserving movies. Far less stupid movies. And has sold them well. People acting like Wanted is her next huge break just because it pulled in a lot are morons. I twelve months, this steaming pile will be forgotten.
Comment by no — June 28, 2008 @ 9:26 pm
Took my children to see Wall-E and fell a sleep, did not keep my intrest at all- it was lacking something.This movie was an enviormentalist movie a form of indoctrination of our children into the green party.Wake up people Hollywood will not be happy untill we are paying 12.00 dollars a gallon for gasoline. This is there way of brian washing our children- last time I take my children to a pixar movie.
Comment by dalia — June 28, 2008 @ 9:26 pm
“the 1 hour, 37 minute pic has no dialogue for the first 40 or so minutes.”
Lame. What a waste of money. Oh, and did everyone forget that this is yet another stupid global warming hoax promotion? Ugh. I hate to be the one to have to break it to Disney/Pixar, but promoting a pseudo-science hoax such as global warming may be trendy, it may even be profitable…IN THE SHORT RUN…but we will all remember who tried to profit from, and who actively promoted, the ridiculous global warming hoax.
WHY WON’T YOU IDIOTIC MOVIE STUDIOS STOP TRYING TO MIX POLITICS WITH CINEMA????
Comment by American Patriot — June 28, 2008 @ 10:05 pm
My 4 year old son enjoyed it and even appriceated the “message”
Comment by Melissa — June 28, 2008 @ 10:11 pm
Yes, because we wouldn’t want our children to be responsible with the planet, would we? Get a life lady.
Wall-E was a deeply entertaining watch. If you fell asleep, you should probably lay off the Xanex.
Comment by Matt — June 28, 2008 @ 10:13 pm
The West Coast grip on American culture is so insidious, such a choke hold, so absolute an affront to traditional values and goodness, that I can’t imagine what could be said here to encompass some analysis of this wench and her tattooed, fetid body in this, another dose of filth in film. What happened to this country? We are a sorry lot.
Comment by Lewis Field — June 28, 2008 @ 10:16 pm
“ne wrinkle in Wall-E’s marketing was that the 1 hour, 37 minute pic has no dialogue for the first 40 or so minutes. And it can be hard to market a character that doesn’t talk.”
Can you say ‘R2D2′? Everyone knows robot characters get a pass!
Comment by Steven C. Buttgereit — June 28, 2008 @ 10:18 pm
I’m sick of Jolie and the Brady dog she has following her around. Six kids and no spouse? What’s with this generation of Hollyweird? And I’m sorry but neither one of them can act!
Comment by Chukkal — June 28, 2008 @ 10:18 pm
Wall-E was well done, but a terrible disappointment. If I have to watch another preachy, environmentalist propaganda movie, I’m going to puke. It was also insulting to see humanity reduced to stupid fat people, because it is obviously what the writers think we all are. And no, I’m not fat.
Critics like three types of movies: movies with bad endings, movies you cannot understand, and movies that are full of left-wing propaganda. I just want to be entertained.
Comment by Forrest — June 28, 2008 @ 10:20 pm
“Hollywood will not be happy untill we are paying 12.00 dollars a gallon for gasoline.”
WTF?
Comment by knixphan — June 28, 2008 @ 10:39 pm
Wanted has probably beaten expectations on a good marketing campaign (up 48% or so over initial guesstimates). Plus as noted women like Angelina Jolie.
But this movie is going to TANK next week. Expect a drop-off of around 75% or more. I blogged about this here.
But to make it short, boys/men buy date-night tickets. They want a movie that satisfies them (they’re the hero who saves the day and gets a girl worth getting). But also suggests to their dates, hey, your date is kinda like the hero onscreen. Will young men plunk down $24 to see the adventures of a woman in her late thirties, with lots of tattoos, who is a celebrity tabloid dweller with a kid on the way, with a “weak” emo-like hero? No.
Word of mouth on this is going to be terrible, regardless of how good or bad the movie is artistically. It won’t suit the customer, who makes the date night purchasing decisions.
This, btw, is why female leads of action movies are death. Who the heck is buying the ticket? What’s the goal of the date? As opposed of course to a cross-over movie where girls find the female character acceptable to interesting. But they’re not buying the ticket or deciding on the movie.
Comment by whiskey — June 28, 2008 @ 10:57 pm
I can remember when only movie reviewers were experts on movies and nobody gave a damn what a film made, opening weekend or its whole run.
And I’m so glad I won’t be alive to see this silliest of all generations with its bake-sale deep commitment to environmental issues and supremely stupid symbolic gestures in support of every trendy issue that comes along crash and burn. Just knowing that it will is enough for me.
Comment by survivor — June 28, 2008 @ 11:03 pm
You are a moron dalia. Wall-e was superb in every way. The first half was true form of pixar, reminiscent to the old charlie chaplin films. Yes the film was anti consumeristic, but there was a definite meaning and point beyond that in this film. To show emotion on that grand of a scale is almost heartbreaking to watch. Just because a film does not fit your political agenda dosent mean you should censor what your children watch. Wall-e has more passion in it then most of what hollywood throws at us every weekend, and if films are made with that kind of craftsmanship then hollywood will not die, but rather see a resurgence
Comment by nate — June 28, 2008 @ 11:05 pm
James McAvoy is the correct spelling. In any case, he was a pretty big british star who just happened to get sucked into the latest Angelina Jolie action flick. BTW, she is overrated to the point that she will headline the July 4th weekend next year when Hancock fails to meet expections to the point that Sony must sell out to Tom Cruise.
Comment by Jessy S. — June 28, 2008 @ 11:13 pm
this is how this will work:
regular folks/movie going public who come in from drudge and will give honest opinion of movie(s) and will make some politically incorrect comments
people who read nikki on a daily basis will lift their collective noses and complain about the “nenaderhal red staters” from drudge…because, you know, they think they’re superior. although they keep forgetting that said neanderthals pay their salaries
blah blah blah
anyway…just saw Wanted and enjoyed it immensely, the russkie who directed Nightwatch knows how to do John Woo Hong Kong movies dressed as a Hollywood big budget movie (and I mean that in a good way)
Wall-E has an anti consumerist, “green” message (why the predominantly liberal film critics are jerkin themselves off over this above average pixar movie)
Btw…Wall-E anti consumerist…but don’t forget to watch their movie and buy/CONSUME Pixar/Disney memorabilia
that is all
Comment by drew — June 28, 2008 @ 11:17 pm
Ah, the Drudge folk … they always have something to complain about. They sure hate the liberals (or LIBRUHLS as they love to grunt), but they do more than their fair share of whining.
Seriously, no one cares about your opinion, mouth-breather. Just because this is a democracy doesn’t mean you get to pollute everyone else with your stupidity.
Comment by Red State Folks Should Die — June 29, 2008 @ 12:30 am
Dalia, I am surpirsed you even know how to get on the Internet. http://WWW. ???? WALL-E is the best movie I have seen since Shawshank Redemption. Forrest, you and Dalia should get together and try to reproduce. That would be a highly entertaining. I don’t think either one of you could make toast if I put you in a room with bread and a toaster.
Rock on PIXAR. Keep up the ENTERTAINING films…..
Comment by phil dale duckie — June 29, 2008 @ 1:02 am
McAvoy was almost as much of a draw as Jolie? I’m laughing. Absolutely not. Wanted IS his breakout role. It certainly wasn’t Atonement or the bit part he had in Narnia.
Comment by david — June 29, 2008 @ 1:54 am
FUNNY how both movies that came out this weekend that scorched at the box office started with the letter W
well Wall-E was visually amazing, but once Wall-E got on board the ship, it was typical Pixar Chaos, all the same zooming around, slapstick antics and chase scenes, it got tiresome and boring..but yes the visuals and the first hour was amazing..but i must say, I was more entertined by Kung Fu Panda..
Now Wanted…that movie rocked full tilt boogie, a juggernaut of a flick that would not quit, fun times at the movie..best of it’s kind since the MATRIX, and the audience was totally mixed, young, old, every demographic possible, they all cheered and applauded.
WANTED is THE REAL DEAL and Hancock, I feel I have seen it all in the trailers..
ANGELINA IS A GODDESS…she is a force to be reckon with..
I know Wall-E was charming, cute, and visually stunning
but it lacked something…
Comment by hanCOCK — June 29, 2008 @ 2:41 am
We went to view both Wall-e and Wanted yesterday. I loved Wall-e DESPITE it’s anti-Disney/ Wal-mart view. Wanted, on the other hand, I could of waited until it was on DVD. I didn’t like the young guy at all. Angie had so little to work with. Morgan just phone in his performance. I should of seen Get Smart instead of this unwanted pile of poo. Oh, I wonder how I typed this response clinging to my gun and Bible…
Comment by Vinte — June 29, 2008 @ 5:02 am
Wouldn’t it be great if all of the Red States would secede? Remove all the innovation, technology, and culture of the libs and we could see what their pure RED civilization would be like led by guys like W with their superior culture, science, and ethics!!
Comment by TruePatriot — June 29, 2008 @ 5:18 am
Whiskey, your “analysis” of why Wanted will tank next week might be the most moronic thing I’ve ever read. Do you really think young males AREN’T going to this movie? You’re crazy.
And your attempt to psychoanalyze the film’s themes are likewise laughable. The entire movie is about young male EMPOWERMENT. It’s about rising up from a meaningless, dreary life and taking control of one’s own destiny. You completely and utterly missed the boat on it.
Finally, it’s McAvoy, not MacAvoy. Misspelling something as simple as the star’s name makes you look even more of an amateur than your childish analysis.
Comment by Can't Take it Anymore — June 29, 2008 @ 5:39 am
Wanted was the biggest piece of garbage I have ever seen. Walked out half way through. Nothing real or realistic about the action in it.
Comment by HB — June 29, 2008 @ 5:41 am
The selling point of “Wanted” is not the quality of the film, but Jolie’s tattoos. Morgan Freeman must have needed some mortgage bucks. The markets are down, you know…
Comment by Vink — June 29, 2008 @ 5:43 am
“Just because this is a democracy doesn’t mean you get to pollute everyone else with your stupidity.”
LOL. That’s a privilege reserved for you, ‘red state folks should die’.
Comment by Dan — June 29, 2008 @ 6:07 am
I agree with the other comment, curious viewers who will spread the word that WANTED had a lot to be desired. Jolie can’t cut it anymore, she is done! This movie will tank next week, and please don’t bother with a sequel, if so cut the Jolie out! She looks terrible and honestly the woman must have played hooky when they enrolled her in acting school. She is trashy looking, not ladylike, those tatoos should cast her in some good biker movies but that would be the limit for movie choices, and leave Brad Pittiful out of the movies also please, better actors and actresses who deserve our money should be cast in our movies!
Comment by blady02 — June 29, 2008 @ 6:07 am
Red State Folks Should Die said:
“Seriously, no one cares about your opinion, mouth-breather. Just because this is a democracy doesn’t mean you get to pollute everyone else with your stupidity.”
Your choice of username and comments are the very reason why conservatives think your crowd is dangerous.
Here’s a definition of democracy from Wikipedia “Even though there is no universally accepted definition of ‘democracy’,there are two principles that any definition of democracy is required to have. The first principle is that all members of the society have equal access to power and the second that all members enjoy universally recognised freedoms and liberties.”
Why is the left so intolerant to dissenting opinion, while pretending to be open minded? Pick up a book, because you’re in favor of communism, not democracy. BTW, the US is a Republic, not a democracy.
Comment by Darren — June 29, 2008 @ 6:26 am
Wanted, awesome. Angelina, main draw, spicy, sensational and unconventional. Surprising is how good James McAvoy is in action, almost same height to Angelina, with his vulnerability well stoked in an unlikely matchup. A blast. In cinema I went, many young and older couples, plus 3 to 4 persons group of young men and young women. Across the board age, race, gender….
Comment by Cook — June 29, 2008 @ 6:39 am
Wall-E is absolutely the best of the best. Kudos to Pixar for once again pushing the envelope in what they can do artistically. Look at the progress they have made since Toy Story!!
Comment by JulieB — June 29, 2008 @ 6:42 am
I watched Wall-E with my wife and 4 year old son on Saturday. My wife nearly fell asleep, my 4 year old was ready to leave before it was over, and I left thinking that this would be nominated for an award based upon its political message but not its amazing animation.
I guess Pixar learned its lesson after being tromped for best animated picture to that rediculous Pinguin movie, Happy Feet.
What a dissapointment.
Comment by Average Joe — June 29, 2008 @ 6:50 am
In terms of the movie Wanted, many people are discussing little more than fashion, or what is popular at the moment. This is NOT what makes a “great” movie in the historical sense of the word. Hollywood is only pandering to what a minority of people, or segment of society, may want and in the process has lost any sense of what people will remember for years to come as a great movie. Meanwhile the independent movie makers continue to gain traction by making movies that are real, and movies that appeal to all demographic audiences. How can Hollywood be so ignorant?
Comment by Steve — June 29, 2008 @ 6:55 am
I saw Wall-E with my 10 year old boy and we were both fascinated. This is a classic, seminal - on a par with Arthur Clarke and others pushing the frontier on the nature of life and interactions. Brilliant work that deserves recognition for its merit. Kudo. Kudo. Kudo.
Comment by Johnson — June 29, 2008 @ 7:11 am
I watched WAnted because of Angelina Jolie, not because of the movie itself or any other casts in the movie, and that it turned out to be a great movie was a bonus. LOts if women did, and if you bother to check AJ blogs and threads, you would know that her female fans were all out to support her in the movie.
McAvoy was good, but Wesley’s role could be played by any other up and coming young actor like Shia Lebauff or Jake G, and they would still be good, but its Angelina that made the movie more interesting!
If you checked top search in box office mojo, Angelina is now no.1 and nowhere you find James McAvoy’s name in top 30. The movie would not be big if only McAvoy was the star, he was in Penelope recently and nobody noticed him. As the Universal vice chairman said, Wanted has a legitmacy and quality because of Angelina Jolie.
Comment by annie — June 29, 2008 @ 7:13 am
this woman does NOT love Angelina Jolie. ugh.
Comment by Gina — June 29, 2008 @ 7:28 am
Is it any wonder that Wanted cashed in? WHEN you release a movie is almost as important as what kind of movie it is. It comes as no shock that Wanted would pull in good numbers when a non-rival kids flick floods theaters with a $60+ mil it’s opening weekend.
2 things:
-I wonder what Wanted would have done without a Wall-e weekend. (alliteration is your friend)
-Watch Wanted’s following weekend to see if it’s truly a strong movie. Getting suckers in the door opening weekend is easy with a proper hype machine. But if it has another strong weekend we’ll be hearing about Brangelina for another year.
Comment by Jamison — June 29, 2008 @ 7:28 am
i am SO JEALOUS i want to see wall.e SO BAD. AM LOVES ME SOME ROBOTS. but I am stuck overseas for the next 6 months.
I go see a movie maybe three times a year, and wall.e would definitely have been at the top of my list. If it fulfills my expectations (admittedly high), it will inspire a generation of young engineers and computer scientists, storytellers and artists alike.
as for global warming crap, don’t you guys have more important things to complain about, like the income tax, immigration, or gun control?
Comment by woo drudge crowd — June 29, 2008 @ 7:35 am
Irresponsible! How long will it be before we see some poor kid in the morgue because his buddy tried to curve a bullet around his head?
Comment by Surprise Me — June 29, 2008 @ 7:36 am
Wall-E is a Love Affair without Humans
Great message for all the “save the planet” folks. If only the survivors can nurse the ONE plant back to health, then the stupid humans might get a second chance at life.
Our group had 9 children under the age of 14. Most of them thought that the movie was sad. One comment was that they didn’t get it. Wall-E himself was liked by the young kids. The 3 dads all agreed, hated the movie-the worst of all the Pixar flix. That would be 2 conservatives, and 1 liberal.
I’m still trying to figure out the reference to the “Hello Dolly” song and lyrics “put on your Sunday clothes and walk around the town”. Our lives are pretty good. I pray to God we survive the efforts of any legislation with good intentions but with very flawed untruths about science and our ability to destroy the environment.
Comment by Charles — June 29, 2008 @ 7:37 am
Enough is a enough with Angelina….. She is beautiful and all, but she isnt someone I want to hear talking….
This movie appears way over-the-top in believability…
Just not impressed with her anymore.
Comment by timtan — June 29, 2008 @ 7:44 am
Lets give a high five to Morgan Freeman……He is by far the best actor in Wanted.
Angelina is too much brad and the baby…and just who are the rest?
Comment by timtan — June 29, 2008 @ 7:51 am
Lol at the last post. Any thing coming from someone whose internet handle is “Red State Folks should die” is worth about as much as what I scrape off the botten of my shoe. God I love free speech, and I love the ability to ridicule morons like this idiot even more. You post is so filled with irony it’s amazing, and the best part is you are probably too stupid to even realize you were being ironic when you (or someone else) typed it up. I say someone else because I doubt you have the ability to form complex thoughts so this post of yours was probably a culmination of your life’s work huh?
Comment by ed — June 29, 2008 @ 7:55 am
I’m so elated a viewer posted that Wall-E is a left-wing indoctrination flick like most other movies out there. I was so close to taking my kids to see it. Whew! Instead, while you prius drivers are having to shuttle your family in two cars to see Wall-E, I’m going to take my husband, two kids, brother and sister-n-law and my parents along with all the food and equipment in my one SUV to the beach for a BBQ.
Comment by proud carbon releaser — June 29, 2008 @ 8:00 am
Wow, using stereo types and hate speech all in the same paragraph. I thought “LIBRUHLS” were against that sort of stuff.
As for Wall-E not talking and the movie still being great, that alone should speak volumes.
Comment by David — June 29, 2008 @ 8:10 am
I enjoyed Wanted for what it was. I was not looking for it to be real. This woman like Angelina, James and Morgan.
Comment by lac — June 29, 2008 @ 8:57 am
I’m with Nate. I’m surprised that people are mentioning the ‘green’ issues and are completely missing the visual commentary on our nation’s obesity issues. Hope the kids get the message. Loved the movie…and I’m a very senior adult. I’d love feedback from parents and how their children interpreted Wall-E. It tweaks the gray matter.
Comment by Jack Scribe — June 29, 2008 @ 9:00 am
I must take umbrage at the previously-posted negative comment targeted against my kind. Why should our intellects be evaluated on the basis of how we respirate? Have you considered the possibility that we breathe primarily through our mouths because of nasal congestion — which has nothing to do with the quality of our thoughts?
Hitler and the Nazis were nose-breathers. Just thought I’d point that out.
Comment by mouth breather — June 29, 2008 @ 9:21 am
WALL E is a fine movie. It is NOT the best film, I’ve ever seen, but I was completely entertained. So, if the WORST message it gives is that we should protect the planet, I don’t know why that is a bad thing? Since when did getting environmentally aware become a partisan issue? Isn’t it a HUMAN issue? See it. See Kit Kittredge. See Kung Fun Panda. They are all quality family films, that play to adults and kids. There are no hidden messages, and also no hidden violence, or subterfuge.
Let’s not attack each other when so much good product is in the market place. Otherwise, we’ll be stuck with Love Guru!
Comment by CHILL — June 29, 2008 @ 9:49 am
gotta love all the people complaining wanted wasn’t realistic
it wasn’t supposed to be it was pure escapism
Comment by dave c — June 29, 2008 @ 9:52 am
I’ll tell you, we went to see Wall-E on the opening day show and we all loved it. It might be one of those movies we go to the theaters twice which is extremely rare for us.
Comment by Scott — June 29, 2008 @ 9:58 am
Interesting how many viral marketing plants working for the studio’s or Jolie’s publicist posting here. Do they really think we’ll believe that their posts are coming from real people with unbiased opinions? It is the new way to get by the truth-in-advertising laws, and people should be wary of the obvious way these paid shills design their comments. TO THE PLANTS- you should be ashamed.
Comment by plantbuster — June 29, 2008 @ 10:07 am
Am I right that it’s very weird for both WALL-E and Wanted to drop off on Saturday given that both were well-reviewed films? Doesn’t Saturday usually grow business?
Comment by Phil — June 29, 2008 @ 10:28 am
To annie:
Jake G is a crappy actor and no action star. The only action Jake G has ever seen was at his backdoor in “Brokeback Mtn.”, a waste of Ang Lee’s talent (don’t care if he did win the Oscar for it, he has done better, much better).
And Shia was OK in both “Transformers” and “Indy 4″, but swinging on ropes and sword fights in front of a green screen does not an action star make.
McAvoy was prefect for the role, as was Jolie, Freeman, Kretschmann, and O’Hara, but the key to this film is the Director, Timur Bekmambetov.
If you liked “Wanted”, check out “Night Watch”, “Day Watch”, and soon to be filmed “Twlight Watch”. You should also notice that Konstantin Khabensky, The Exterminator, was teamed up once again with Bekmambetov in “Wanted”.
Women went to see Jolie, because she is who they would like to be. SHE is HOT, PERIOD. Men and women find her attractive. They also went to see McAvoy because of his work in “Atonement” and “The Last King of Scotland”.
Comment by Amazed by stupid people — June 29, 2008 @ 10:40 am
It really takes a certain kind of asshole to not be enthralled by the wonderfully classic non-verbal acting and storytelling in Wall-E …and instead just sit there fuming about “libruhls” and seething about the “envirenmint”.
I mean - do you like pollution, dirty water, filthy air, disease? I mean - is it so wrong if a movie’s backdrop perhaps inspires your kids to clean up around the house or plant a seed?
I suppose the movie you’d like to take your kids to involves Wall-E finding Jesus, converting the surviving humans, then driving around in a Hummer while shooting at any remaining animal life. THEN you’d go to Wal-Mart and buy all the Wall-E toys….
Comment by GC — June 29, 2008 @ 10:40 am
(Anyone who’s up late at night on a Saturday night or awake early in the morning before 8:00 am commenting on these movies probably doesn’t fall into the demo that most movie studios would market a movie like WANTED to.)
Interesting to note for all of the WANTED/Jolie haters out there, WALL-E dropped 5% from Friday to Saturday, and WANTED dropped 8% from Friday to Saturday — both drops are reasonable and show that both films should hold over decently in the next week or so.
It’s really easy to spot the Drudgers on this comment board - y’all are all one note.
If you don’t like WALL-E’s message, and you don’t like WANTED/Jolie, feel free to stop buying movie tickets, watching tv and consuming other types of media. The markets are responsive to supply and demand; if you really feel that Hollywood doesn’t represent what the majority of America believes to be true, then, please, by all means, stop subjecting yourselves to it (and let the left-wing wackos alone)
I’d write more, but, I’m off to a vegan brunch with my same-sex partner. As I drive my Hybrid by the local church, I’ll be sure to remember to “honk if I love Jesus”.
xoxo
Comment by Sigh — June 29, 2008 @ 10:53 am
Right now I would pay good money to see Nikki Finke and Matt Drudge battle it out. She doesn’t need Matt posting about movies when she has other important work at hand.
In any case, Whiskey is being proven correct that Wanted is a date movie, but I am not sure anymore it would be 75%. Angelina Jolie’s true fans will see this movie next weekend. Wall-e looks like it would be the flick taking the harder fall due to its preceived left-wing indoctrination while Kung-Fu Panda reaps all the awards including best animated movie at the Oscars.
In the meantime, check out this site: http://www.oscarfrenzy.com/commentary/2009-oscar-predictions-previewing-the-best-films-of-2008/
First of the predictions for Best Picture is “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” This is big since the tabloids will be in love with the Brad Pitt Cate Blanchett relationship while looking forward to the messy divorce between Brad and Angelina. Meanwhile, Angelina stars in Clint Eastwood’s The Changeling which adds another layer to this mess.
As I recall, earlier in the week, Pixar or Disney predicted Wall-E would get a Best Picture nod. On the Oscar Frenzy site, Wall-E isn’t on there. But some love story called Australia could make it though no winners are predicted.
Comment by Jessy S. — June 29, 2008 @ 11:05 am
“And in the 5th slot, Universal’s The Incredible Hulk managed $2.8M Friday and $3.8M Saturday for a $9.7M weekend and new cume of $116M.”
So much for the improved multiple over the last film. After three weekends, it has consistently underperformed the previous “Hulk.” It might not be fading as fast as the previous one, but it is fading fast. This should close the door on the “Hulk” movies unless there is someone out there that erroneously believes that they have enough job security that it could protect them from a THIRD “Hulk” underperformance.
On the other hand, once is anecdotal, two is coincidental, and three is a pattern, so there may be someone who wants to distribute a third “Hulk.”
Comment by Harold — June 29, 2008 @ 11:05 am
Dear Darren:
“Pick up a book, because you’re in favor of communism, not democracy. BTW, the US is a Republic, not a democracy.”
Congratulations, another feeble-minded pseudo-conservative who uses Communism as the catch-all evil talking point. You’d be more smug in while inhaling a big ole’ batch of Zyklon-B, wouldn’t you? Keep vote Republican and SCARY PEOPLE LIKE ME will make sure that happens … you can talk about how WRONG AND SCARY EVERYTHING IS while we herd your friends into the showers. There’s a precedent for it … so do your best to be prepared this time, ay?
Comment by Darren Chokes on Vomit — June 29, 2008 @ 11:11 am
The headline should be that WALL-E underperformed and WANTED overperformed!
WAll-E is General patronage, it ran in 811 more theaters, it cost US$ 180m to make, its made by Disney Pixar, it was very well reviewed with almost 100% positive, and it was projected to make US$71m to be Disney/pixar biggest opening. Well it did not, and made only US$ 62.5m.
On the other hand, Wanted is R- rated opened in less than 811 theaters, the cost is only US$ 70m, and was projected to do US$ 40 m only.
Well, it did more that US$ 51m and made more than Wall-E in terms of per theater average, US$ 16,100, vs WAll-E US$ 15,656.
Comment by raine — June 29, 2008 @ 11:21 am
There was nothing in the preview of Wall-E that even remotely makes me want to see it. I love the other animated movies like Finding Nemo,Shrek, etc., but Wall-E doesn’t look remotely funny to me. Will wait until Netflix for this one.
Wanted was over the top, full of action and great. Yes many parts are unbelievable, but that’s the point. It’s a Matrix meets assassins movie and it kicks ass.
Comment by Enzo — June 29, 2008 @ 11:23 am
Conversely to Enzo,
There was nothing in the trailers for Wanted that even remotely made me want to see it. I love a good, smart action movie, but there aren’t too many being made these days, and I find Angelina Jolie pretty much the most unattractive person on the earth right now…other than Martha Stewart. Then again, I’m one of the few who really doesn’t value The Matrix much at all, especially as some kind of cultural touchstone.
Haven’t seen Wall-E yet either, but I can bet that anything Pixar puts out will put most other product from Hollywood to shame. I’d actually prefer a picture with no dialogue for a while rather than the cliche, banal stuff we’ve been getting from most Hollywood films lately…Film is an art primarily about *images* anyway…
Comment by Misnomer — June 29, 2008 @ 11:43 am
Nobody would know about Nikki Finke or her website outside of a few people in LA if Drudge didn’t link to her site on his site. To the leftwinger that thinks Finke doesnt’ need Drudge, she does, if she wants traffic on her website. He provides her national publicity for free.
Comment by rush_limbaugh_sent_me — June 29, 2008 @ 12:06 pm
Fascinating that gender and gender identity politics can coopt a message board dedicated to movie fandom. Never have so many misunderstood something so shallow so deeply. The debates over Jolie’s lips are more interesting - and more in the spirit of Hollywood - than the pompous sniping between male and female chauvinists. If you can’t find a suitable date, join the human race. Pick up a hobby, read a book other than Nora Jones or James Patterson, ride a bicycle. You bore us all and make us long for the kinder gentler late 1960’s.
Comment by moraliste — June 29, 2008 @ 12:24 pm
I’ve been wanting to see “wanted” . I went last night to see it. it was a cool movie. I hope there is a sequel. Jolie was good but McVoy stole the the screentime from her. Jolie needs to do more movies like this.
Comment by kat — June 29, 2008 @ 12:26 pm
The headline should be that WALL-E underperformed and WANTED overperformed!
*********************************
Lol, you will not see that headline since it would be tantamount to admission of the bloggers own incorrect projections! They are all Wall-E going to be Disney/Pixar’s biggest opening and that it will make almost double than Wanted.
I think the arrogant director of WAll-E has got something to do with the underperformance, he said something like he doesnt care a shit of what the cinema audience thinks!
Comment by fame — June 29, 2008 @ 12:31 pm
Wall-E was good but hardly best picture material. It was amusing/charming but seldom funny. The much hyped ‘character development’ is nothing more than cliche boy falls for girl stuff except this time its a robot acting the part of the boy. Hardly original. And it’s typical Pixar, goreous to look at but hobbled by having to be dumbed down to entertain 5 year olds.
Wanted, on the other hand, is exceptional. Way better than expected, with strong themes and thrill a second visuals. I won’t buy Wall-E but I’ll be standing in line to get the Blu-Ray version of Wanted.
Comment by RG — June 29, 2008 @ 12:35 pm
Fascinating how gender and gender identity politics takes over a web site dedicated to movie fandom. Debating Jolie’s lips is more germane than this contest between misogynists and manhaters. It’s boring.Never have so many been so deeply misguided about something so innately and intentionally frivolous. Can you imagine little frustrated political despots subjecting our parents and their parents’ generation to solemn diatribes about the political import of Pinocchio or ” Meet Me in St. Louie?” Renew your Prozac prescriptions and cut those of us on the articulate side of the planet a break.
Comment by moraliste — June 29, 2008 @ 12:36 pm
Hey Guys,
I am 39 and would love to see Wall-E. Did anyone realize that the storyline has biblical overtures? The story of a lonely male working on Earth who is suddenly given a female companion named Eve comes directly out of Gensis. And the part about Eve coming to Earth to determine if there is life comes out of Gensis after the flood when Noah sent a white dove out of the ark to determine if the waters had receeded after 40 days of rain which destroyed the Earth? Look up both of these stories in the book of Gensis.
And one last thing. Did Angelina Jolie contribute to wrecking a marriage between Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston?
Comment by andre — June 29, 2008 @ 12:47 pm
LOL..why is it that when someone wants to sound enlightened, they advise you to “pick up a book”,
news flash: there are a BUNCH of shitty books out there!
anyway nice to see the red-state/blue state horseshit that’s tearing this country apart rear its ugly head on nikki’s site
both sides are so fucking self righteous it’s amazing
so far
Ironman = entertaining, mostly because of RDJ
Indiana Jones = SUCKED ASS
Hulk = so-so
Wanted = fun, frenzied movie directed by russkie who brung you nightwatch
Wall-E = preachy, Charlie Chaplin animation wanna be, with forced emotion
haven’t seen yet but I think…
Dark Knight = OVERRATED, but fans will fool themselves into thinking it’s good because they’re sheeple and will let rotten tomatoes dictate what to think about a movie
Tropic Thunder = probably gonne be FUCKIN FUNNY
and intolerant, closed mindedness from both sides of political spectrum = BORING and ANNOYING
Comment by drew — June 29, 2008 @ 12:49 pm
In response to the moralist. I am quite sure that my comments will not sink into his/her head as I am quite sure that we are dealing with a self-rightious individual. Way too old before his/’her time. At any rate, for some clarification, MOVIES ARE BUSINESS. Just business, pure and simple. The more the audience loves the lips of Angelina Jolie, the more Angelina—and a whole bunch of other people make–as in $$$$.
And, these people–like Angelina–give the money away, that’s right, give it away…To make this planet a way better place. Now, Mr. or Ms. Moralist, I am sure that if this were thirty or forty years in the past, you would be knocking big breasted women in film and their being taken advantage of. What a load of crap. Movies are business. If you can not accept that don’t go to the movies.
Comment by Billy Rappold — June 29, 2008 @ 12:55 pm
To the women b**ching… It’s not like Jolie hasn’t done other movies where she’s an empowered female lead. How many Tomb Raider movies were there? OMG she made another movie that may as well have been another TR movie! Shock! How new and Different! (/sarc)
Comment by No-one special — June 29, 2008 @ 12:59 pm
You guys are too funny, over debating movies like these. Aren’t movies supposed to be entertaining? who cares about the message they bring. Most of the time the audience over looks the message for the entertainment factor.
The majority of Hollywood has and always will be left wing liberals. Don’t know why at all, but hey to each their own. So were always gonna have some political agenda in certain movies, if they can get away with it.
But to let that stop you from seeing a movie, please! it’s not worth the fight on this. You should decide not to see a movie either based on previews or reviews.
Both Wall-E and Wanted look good. And for the first time this year I am excited about the movies.
Comment by TV Fan — June 29, 2008 @ 1:09 pm
Wanted is the best!! Just what one needed for a summer movie, action action action. Angelina is just great as is James, Morgan and Common. Also saw Wall-E, it’s OK, but my 10 year older didn’t like it as much as KFPanda to be honest.
Message to Drugers/like minded folks-Only people with no life of their still talk about a 2005 divorce of strangers in 2008. Move on, there is a whole wide world to explore, really.
Comment by mz kitty — June 29, 2008 @ 1:20 pm
To drew, the pretentious above the fray redneck who is neither a liberal or a conservative:
I don’t see how partisanship is tearing America apart at all. You aren’t living in a free country if there is no political disagreement.
For a guy that projects himself as not being BORING and ANNOYING, your movie reviews were not exactly interesting, such as Indiana Jones = SUCKS ASS. You have about as much charisma as John Kerry. But at least you are “open-minded” and “tolerant”, which, given the context of your post, means you just don’t have an opinion on politics.
Comment by rush_limbaugh_sent_me — June 29, 2008 @ 1:23 pm
andre
And one last thing. Did Angelina Jolie contribute to wrecking a marriage between Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston?
********************
Whats your point dude? That is so like almost 4 years ago!!!!!!
MR &Mrs Smith was even a huge hit at the height of that debate!! So we know the answer, right? People dont think Angelina was a homewrecker, lots of people still watch her movies, while Aniston movies are being pushed back.
Move on!
Comment by raine — June 29, 2008 @ 1:47 pm
“This is there way of brian washing our children- last time I take my children to a pixar movie.”
Dalia: So Pixar made you let some guy named “brian” wash your children?
You seem easily led.
Comment by dr. giraud — June 29, 2008 @ 1:52 pm
Hey, the MOVIES didn’t talk for the first 40 YEARS!
Comment by DK — June 29, 2008 @ 2:07 pm
Attention Hollywood Liberals, I need you’re halp. Ya see, I’m just a bumpkin livin’ in a trailer in Oklahoma. I rely on Hollywood to give me kultur. Folks in Hollywood know wut’s best for me- kultur wise. Thanks for releasing movies like Norbit, Encino Man, and Love Guru. You reelly are smarter than us.
Comment by ckdexterhaven — June 29, 2008 @ 3:30 pm
I’m surprised that Wanted did so well. I was thinking $40M max and guessing about $25-30M. Wow.
Wall E still has King Fu Panda to compete with, so I’m guessing maybe that’s why it did a little below expectations. Still, the good reviews should give it good legs.
I’m surprised Hulk is still experiencing 60% drops. At this rate, it’ll probably just do about the same biz as Ang Lee’s version. I don’t think there’ll be a sequel.
M. Night’s The Happening is dropping even faster. Lucky the budget wasn’t too high ($60M). It’ll make back it’s money, but it’s pretty much another disappointing for him.
Comment by sharonfranz — June 29, 2008 @ 4:30 pm
@ Comment by Hedge — June 28, 2008 @ 1:17 pm
You’re probably not gonna read this, but you didn’t finish your research on the movies with Angelina that people want to see. You seem to have conveniently left off that list: Gia, Girl Interrupted, and Mighty Heart had critical praise even though not many people went to see it. The reason being the subject matter was too depressing. That’s why I didn’t see it and I see every one of Angelina’s movies. She is a very versatile actress and even the Changeling is getting early Oscar buzz. By stating that people do not want to see Angelina you are in direct opposition to the comments on this board by people who are stating that she’s the reason they went to see the movie. Read the comments a little more before you comment!
Comment by Angelina — June 29, 2008 @ 5:26 pm
But [women] are not buying the ticket or deciding on the movie.
Actually they are. Date movies are decided on multiple factors, not just “will she associate me with the male hero”? One of these factors is “what does she want to see?” This is actually a main factor, because no guy would insist on a certain movie while being a on a date if the girl wants to see something else. Not if he wants to score.
Comment by Anne — June 29, 2008 @ 6:05 pm
Wanted - wish I had not seen it. I’ve been a bad mood ever since. F this and F that, poor start and stupid.
Comment by Moonman — June 29, 2008 @ 6:07 pm
Hands down Wall-E is the best movie I have seen this year, and I see alot of movies living in Hollywood, I am usually not an animation fan, but this movie goes beyond anything Pixar has done in the past, If you make a great movie people will go.
I am going back tonight for second show, towards the end the close up of eva touching wall-e ’s goggles to remind him of the love they had for each other, classic, Give Stanton the oscar now, loved the opening cartoon as well, very inventive and funny
Comment by dave — June 29, 2008 @ 6:31 pm
I am so sick of the Anti second amendment and anti gun types making nothing but movies with guns and killing all over the place.
Comment by Big Mac Attack — June 29, 2008 @ 6:46 pm
Warning to all the feminists: Don’t see Wall-E! The main female is only there as a love interest and her character and acting are quite robotic.
Comment by College Student — June 29, 2008 @ 8:28 pm
‘Wanted’ is pure garbage, so simplistic and vacant it is almost futuristic in that respect, the relationships in the film expressed with rations of cocked eyebrows, sarcastic catchphrases and heavy doses of reverent and extreme slow motion.
Morgan Freeman saying ‘motherfucker’ is a special effect in this film.
Still, it was a great matinee, mostly because Angelina Jolie is successfully created Hollywood persona product, which is rare now.
About this Wall-E - If the movie is about and critical of junk culture and consumerism, and human gluttony, how does Pixar rationalize its ownership by Disney, which produces the most dumbed down, sinister junk culture there is? And Disneyco’s environment destroying theme parks? Is Pixar allowed to make fun of those parks in this sincere, Bay Area crafted confection?
Comment by Ub Iwerks Jr — June 29, 2008 @ 8:48 pm
Wall-E is the best American movie since Forrest Gump, and easily the best Pixar product.
Comment by RS — June 29, 2008 @ 8:52 pm
You people who don’t give credit where credit is due are nasty. The studio promoted the heck out of Wanted using Angelina’s image everywhere. I mean everywhere!
We”ve all seen those posters. McAvoy is way in the background. In some blogs McAvoy’s image is simply cut off! It got to the point where people were saying that it was Angelina’s movie! They use her as the draw just like in Beowulf which made bank. Even when McAvoy was doing the late night show rounds, some interviewers asked about Jolie! I found it very hard to understand his accent by the way. So please, all you bitter tabloid believing hags who slam on Jolie by talking about, of all things, her off screen life need to sit down. For those who slam Wanted as not being realistic, well maybe you have a point there. I guess Iron Man, The Hulk and Batman are way more realisitc, almost documentary…….NOT! The realistic film will come with Jolie’s next film Changeling, which is based on a true story. You can’t get more realistic than that.
Comment by Soraya — June 29, 2008 @ 9:10 pm
To Raine:
Mr & Mrs Smith was a hit because of the rumors surrounding the alleged affair. The movie itself was crap. As for pushing back the Aniston flick. It makes since to move a ROMANTIC COMEDY to February.
Comment by SD — June 29, 2008 @ 9:22 pm
Comment by sharonfranz — June 29, 2008 @ 4:30 pm
We’re still talking about ‘The Happening’? Haven’t you realized that the movie is soooo yesterday?
Comment by Armand — June 29, 2008 @ 11:19 pm
An opening of 63 million for a non sequel (not even a character from comics or TV) and no stars in the cast is “underperforming”? That’s freaking hilarious. And the movie hurt by comments from Stanton? What a laugh riot.
There are always pundits who will overestimate everything. Does anyone really think Hancock will get 115 million opening? The WALL*E opening is excellent. And based on audience reaction (I mean the audience overall, not the extremist trolls), it will have great legs. Really, after Ratatouille opened to 47, you really think 63 is a disappointment to anyone?
It will make more than Kung Fu Panda, and it is a lock for the animated flick oscar unless they intentionally try and keep it out of that category to try and get a best pic nom instead.
It’s going to be fun watching all the political trolls squirm all summer as this thing rakes in the cash week after week.
Comment by milo — June 30, 2008 @ 9:05 am
Wall-E.. saw it on opening night.. sold-out.. stood in-line for 1 hour to watch it in the Digital Projection room (very much worth it! top quality image/color/sound, room for about 300 people).. while waiting for the film to start, everyone inside the auditorium was very happy, excited and had great expectations drawn up from the reviews most had read/heard.. after the film started, I could see the entire audience enjoying the first 40 minutes of the film.. at about 60 minutes, some people left the auditorium.. I imagined that green people, children and school teachers would definitely love the story towards the last third of the movie.. but although I am a green fan, I’m not a fanatic, and totally wish Disney/Gore/Hollywood would not have the influence they have on Pixar’s work/story-telling, which seemed too much and took away most of my interest towards the end of the movie.. I heard applause for about 3 seconds from no more than 10 people.. by the end of the movie no one was excited and rapidly left the auditorium.. only 7 of us stayed through the credits.. I was left with mixed feelings, disappointed at the ending story, recalling the director’s comment about not caring what people would have to say about the film.. otherwise another even better top-notch and high-end production by Pixar.
Comment by Ron — June 30, 2008 @ 9:55 am
Wall-E totally looks like the robot from “Short Circuit”… minus the cheesy 80’s style
Comment by patrick — July 10, 2008 @ 8:55 am