Trailer Hitch
By BOP Staff
April 21, 2010
BoxOfficeProphets.com
David Mumpower: You, the master of unlocking, should watch this trailer.
Josh Spiegel: As a video game neophyte, I can't believe they're still making these movies, with or without the world's most advanced 3-D technology. As with the others, this movie looks just dumb. I'm sure that those who love the other three (there have been THREE of these movies?) will eat this up, but...no thanks.
Michael Lynderey: Somewhere, somehow, they've managed to make four of these, despite what I'm sure may have been high temptations to reboot. Not too shabby. It's really one of the only pre-2003 (pre-Texas Chainsaw remake, which changed everything) horror franchises still making new movies in their original continuity, so that's a plus, and they even use some old school early 2000s song in the trailer.
But look, these movies have sort of seemed the same to me for a while now, so part four is personally not that high on my anticipation list. That said, it should have no problem pulling in its standard $50 million, and good for it if it does. I just wish they didn't have to go the 3D route.
David Mumpower: I think that most long time readers of BOP know by now that I'm a huge fan of the Resident Evil videogame franchise. Resident Evil 4 is in the conversation for best videogame of all time. The movies have moved away from the series in order to create a slightly different universe with the end result being that quality is more of an issue with them than it has been with the games.
Keeping this in mind, the fourth release has made a couple of clever determinations. The first is to maximize the potential of the emerging technologies. While Michael says that the usage of Cameron's 3-D tech doesn't matter to him, it does to a lot of people who would otherwise be on the fence about this project. It distinguishes the project in a way that needs to happen to avoid the perception that a fourth Resident Evil feature is just the studio going through the motions to make a quick buck. That is the difference between the usual $50 million domestic run and a chance to approach that on opening weekend. Yes, a lot of that is because of the higher event ticket pricing, but this has the look and feel of a better production than they have had in the past.
Also, there is the one sequence that directly appeals to fans of the videogames. Resident Evil 5's first level ends with one of those giant hammer guys trying to smash the player to bits and a lot of work is required to beat that guy. It's a memorable encounter and the decision to incorporate that boss battle into the movie is the correct one. In fact, the one suggestion I would make in creating further Resident Evil movies is to learn from the success of Resident Evil 4 and utilize the concept that made that game such a rush. Boss battle, boss battle, boss battle. 300 implemented this idea in a fashion, but it rightfully belongs in the Resident Evil movie franchise. The hammer guy teases that possibility and I hope that it comes to fruition either this time or in the inevitable Resident Evil After-Afterlife.
Michael Lynderey: Doesn't the 3D thing make this out to seem just like every other movie out there now, though? Resident Evil fans may well be excited by it, but they would have seen the movie anyway. On the other hand, wouldn't the average consumer just say "what, another 3D horror movie"?
David Mumpower: I'll answer like this. The film is still five months away. Right now, when I see the words "Cameron's 3-D technology", I consider that a huuuuge competitive advantage in the current marketplace. Between now and then, it's entirely possible that this advantage is diminished, depending on what happens with 3-D titles over the summer. Anything that can claim to be like Avatar visually is way ahead of the curve right now, though.
Shalimar Sahota: I'm a huge Resident Evil fan, and even though I see the films as dumb fun, I've always gone out of my way to see them on opening day.
Actually putting in your trailer that your film is using "The World's Most Advanced 3D Technology," is like a knowing wink to those who were disappointed by Alice in Wonderland and Clash of the Titans.
The Resident Evil films have always done a delicate balancing act, by incorporating elements from the games rather than being straight adaptations. It gives fans something new to look forward to rather then knowing exactly what'll happen next. Ten years ago I don't think anyone would have expected a fourth Resident Evil movie.
Matt Huntley: In my opinion, the Resident Evil franchise has gotten progressively better with each new installment (I know, for many, that's not saying much, especially when you consider how bad the first one was), so if the filmmakers can continue this increasing-quality trend, then I'm looking forward to Afterlife. The whole 3-D plug means nothing to me, though, and based on some of the blatant shots of snakes and ninja stars coming at the screen, I'd hate to think the movie is simply 3-D porn. The rest of the trailer, however, makes it look slick, cool and kinetic. I hope it can be all of these things without the aid of 3-D. I'll be able to let you know because I'll be seeing it in good old-fashioned 2-D.
Max Braden: That they made four of these movies isn't too surprising; that all four got a theatrical release is. I never really understood what the point of the series was other than to slaughter brain-dead, screaming, contagious, meat popsicles. I was jealous that Extinction basically turned Jovovich into the female Mad Max while I had to wait for the actual Mad Max to return to the screen. Now this version looks like Underworld meets The Matrix? It's horror-action madlibs.
Further, I don't see how 3D, even Cameron's, is going to help make this movie any better. Focusing 3D becomes a strain on the eyes when there's a lot of fast action, and Cameron's 3D was a lot better at providing depth into the screen rather than throwing things out of the screen. I'll watch it on DVD. Good luck to those who go see it in the theater.
Pete Kilmer: To echo what others are saying, I love the Resident Evil franchise of games and the movies and even the comics (though those could be a hell of a lot better.). In regards to the trailer saying that it's using Cameron's camera technology for 3D is a huge thing to me and other nerds that will see this film. See, we nerds, will know which movies are 2D that have been converted to 3D (Alice, Clash). So taking out the potential bad word-of-mouth right at the start in regards to 3D is a good thing. Sure, this movie looks like a mashup of Matrix stuff with more videogame elements from the RE Franchise. But you know what? For me, that's fine. I want ass-kicking women smacking down brain dead zombies. I want Wesker to become the villain he should always have been...I can't wait. Now, how will it open? Well we're five months out and I say at least $35 million.
Dinner for Schmucks – Opens July 23rd
David Mumpower: This is the character we would get if Brick Tamland and Michael Scott could have a child together. Also, I think the Wolfpack of One guy is stealing the intellectual property of whomever owns Mentok the Mind-Taker.
Josh Spiegel: Talk about a strangely mixed bag. On the one hand, you have Steve Carell and Paul Rudd again. I love it. On the other hand, you have Jay Roach (the man who foisted the Meet The Parents movies and the third Austin Powers film on us, along with its predecessors) directing. Not so much. On the one hand, Carell manages to be a complete idiot but Rudd isn't being needlessly cruel to him. On the other hand...was that Jeff Dunham I saw?
Yeesh. I'll see this movie (Rudd's Shining reference and the mere thought of Carell, Rudd, and Zach Galifianakis on screen together were enough to sell me), but I'm a bit skeptical.
Michael Lynderey: Ah, so Hollywood is finally back to remaking French comedies (how long has it been?), and Paul Rudd is once again the straight man to a bunch of weirdoes. Funny how Carell is going back to his Anchorman roots, though I could easily see Galifianakis in the same role. As for the trailer - looks okay - but who really knows? If it's good, it'll do well, if it's bad or too weird, it probably won't. But the elements are definitely in place.
David Mumpower: This is a painfully unfunny trailer. My sole regret is that the moment where Carell is run over by a car isn't real and nothing is broken. Jay Roach's movies make tons of money and I almost never like them. Seriously, I have enjoyed two of his ten theatrical releases, Meet the Parents and the first Austin Powers film plus the HBO film, Recount. Mystery, Alaska is okay. Everything else is in "I want my money back" territory. This means my opinion is utterly useless here but DAYAM. These are the funniest jokes they could sell in an ad? Anchorman reunion or not, I'll pass.
Lottery Ticket – Opens August 27th
David Mumpower: I bet most of you don't even watch this clip, but I found it a lot funnier than Dinner with Schmucks. Also, Naturi Naughton displayed some ultra-nasty wiggle as Lil Kim in Notorious. I'm inclined to watch any movie she's in.
Josh Spiegel: Well, I'm not sure what it says, but since you brought up the comparison, I should be extra-excited for Dinner with Schmucks now. Because that just looked....well, it didn't look horrible (aside from the...thing Ice Cube had on his chin), but it looked dull and drab. I feel like I nearly fell asleep watching it.
Michael Lynderey: I think it'll be The Longshots all over again, especially since Bow Wow really hasn't headlined a movie in a while. And David, I promise I'll watch the trailer. At the very least, I'll see the movie, so that would cover most of it.
David Mumpower: I'm obviously not talking about the box office. If I were, the logical comparison in my estimation would be Welcome Home, Roscoe Jenkins, which earned about $42.2 million domestically. And I think that's probably high. In terms of simply laughing at a concept/trailer, however, I think there is a lot to like here. Yes, it's messy and uneven but this strikes me as a cleverly implemented Barbershop variant. That's high praise from me since I thought the first Barbershop was exceptional.
Splice – Opens June 4th
David Mumpower: I guess we don't need a Bioshock movie now.
Josh Spiegel: Having heard about this film from its festival run, I'd be very excited to see this trailer, if I thought for one second that I would put aside my naturally squeamish nature and watch this. The movie looks very good, or at least very interesting and creepy. But, guessing that it'll be heavy on the ick factor, I'll be skipping out on this one, but just because it's not my kind of movie.
Michael Lynderey: I have a really hard time buying this as a wide release, especially since I was under the impression that it had already come out, somewhere, on its original due date of 9/18/09.
David Mumpower: Not only is Warner Bros. promising a wide release for this, there are plans in place for multiple (!) sequels. A Guillermo del Toro/Joel Silver production gets the royal treatment, I guess.
David Mumpower: Poor Sarah Polley needs to get out of the medical profession. First, she comes home from a hard day at the hospital and her entire neighborhood tries to eat her and now this.
This is going to seem out of left field a bit but I swear that the vibe I get from this is The Fly with some Mimic thrown in for good measure. All that is needed is for the girl to say "I'm getting better" before she attempts to maul Mira SorPolley.
Michael Lynderey: The vibe I get from this is six million dollars, and I don't mean opening weekend (or opening day).
Then, of course, right after I go and say a thing like that, the movie will prove me wrong just to mess with my head, and a year from now I'll be writing the forecast for that sequel.
Brett Beach: When I first heard about this months ago, my reaction was excitement mixed with "I am going to have to remember the name of this for Netflix someday as it will never get a full-scale theatrical blitz." This is one of those instances where I am happy to be proven wrong. To me, Sarah Polley represents Quality Job 1 (ever since she sang "Courage" in The Sweet Hereafter, I've been hooked; she was the sole reason I had interest in going to see Snyder's Dawn of the Dead) and her being teamed up with Adrien Brody makes this a small-scale version of an Event Picture in my universe. The trailer is sufficiently creepy and seems to show footage from one or two key sequences rather than reveal everything. I expect there may be some intelligence and moral relativity to walk hand in hand with the ick. There may not be much left to go around on June 4th with that weekend's lineup, but I think Splice may find its niche.