(no subject)

[shadowkat]

1. Well the reviews for the big blockbuster movie Batman vs. Superman are in, and the critics hate it. Yet it is already slated to break the North American Box Office Record having tallied over 82M on Friday. (Hmmm...you mean it might out do Star Wars: The Force Awakens? That's just sad.)

Okay maybe not outdo The Force Awakens, just all the superhero flicks:

Batman v Superman seems on its way to score a record-breaking $172-million opening weekend despite dreadful reviews.

The movie, starring Ben Affleck and Henry Cavill, brought in $82 million as it premiered on Friday in 4,242 theaters, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

If it continues at this rate, it could score the sixth highest opening of all time in North America - and the fourth highest for a comic book adaptation.

Batman v Superman could also top previous DC Entertainment movies such as The Dark Knight Rises, which brought in $160.9 million during its opening.

And the reviews?

"Thematic carelessness is on constant display, which wouldn't loom as nearly so large a problem if Snyder's film didn't advertise its aspirations to Moral Seriousness in almost every plodding, humorless frame."

"I wouldn't quite call it a "good" movie, nor would I be able to quite recommend it to anyone but the true believers. To be sure, it's a mess, but it's often a fascinating mess. It's also the most nihilistic superhero picture I've ever seen."

"If Christopher Reeve were alive he'd be suing for character libel. " (LOL!!)

"Dour, disappointing and shockingly incoherent. "

Not really all that surprising, to be honest. Considering superhero films are increasingly beginning to resemble video games, with incoherent plots and stories that really only serve the purpose of drawn-out and pointless action sequences. Which often leave me with a pounding headache.

I was pondering seeing it this weekend, but now, I think I'm going to pass and wait until it comes out on video or to HBO, watch it on my tv, where I can fast-forward over the bits I don't like. I think it would just give me a headache.

2) Crazy Ex-Girlfriend - got insanely good in its last three-four episodes. After beating the Josh bit too death, it took a nice turn and delved deeper. Was pleasantly surprised. Also, had an uplifting message in the middle of the satire.

Plus, some decent musical parodies...I particularly liked the ones that made fun of "Trouble in River City" (The Music Man) and "One Day More" from Les Mis.

Comments

[cactuswatcher.livejournal.com]

Everyone I heard from who saw Batman vs Superman thought it was disappointing and muddled.

[beer-good-foamy.livejournal.com]

And yet they all saw it, so the studio will consider it an unmitigated success.

[shadowkat67.livejournal.com]

Yep. The reviewer in the Guardian was hilarious:

Despite the 30% Rotten Tomatoes score, you probably rushed out and gobbled up this picture with the reckless abandon of DJ Khaled confronted with a horse trough full of fried chicken. You – the hypothetical reader whom I am very certain is terribly attractive, very intelligent, and wise beyond your years – probably want someone to explain what it is you just witnessed. I would like to offer up my expertise free of charge so that you might better understand the many layers of this motion picture event.

http://www.theguardian.com/film/2016/mar/25/review-batman-v-superman-dawn-of-justice

I know co-workers who planned on seeing it this weekend. I planned on it, until I read the reviews...and thought, ugh, I'll wait for it to appear on-demand, netflix streaming, or HBO...this sounds headache inducing.

Let's face it --- superhero flicks are like the 1950s Biblical flicks, they don't require good reviews for people to go see them. The audience who enjoys these things couldn't care less what the critics think.

[ETA: Although...it did just occur to me that they really need to do well opening weekend and the first couple of weeks out, because word of mouth won't bring in more viewers, nor will they get the repeat audience. Which means they may break records opening weekend, but will lose money in the weeks that follow. The film cost them upwards of $250Million. So to break even, they have to make close to $300 M or at the very least above $250M.

They were smart to open on Easter Weekend, where they had no competition from the Marvel Franchises. But,
I don't think the film will have staying power -- it will die a quick death after about two weeks, once word gets out how horrible it is. Whether it gets a sequel depends on how fast it dies, and if it can break even. Hasn't done that yet.]

[beer-good-foamy.livejournal.com]

I don't think it's necessarily that the people who went to see it always disagree with critics, or that critics are out of touch. I mean, a lot of recent superhero movies have gotten pretty good reviews. But a movie like this is so much of an event that it simply doesn't matter if it's any good. People go to see it just to have seen it. If they hate it, hey, the studio already has their money.

[shadowkat67.livejournal.com]

Also, it's a superhero film --- from what I've seen people don't always agree with the critics. And most don't bother reading the critics reviews.

There's some good points made in the threads below...that unlike Fantastic Four, where the critics and the viewers agreed it was crap. They aren't necessarily in agreement here. Apparently it's not that bad -- sort of similar to MoS, except really depressing.