Posted on 12/08/2007 11:24:02 PM PST by DesScorp
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - "The Golden Compass," a costly fantasy starring Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig, got off to a slow start at the North American box office and will likely fall short of opening-weekend expectations.
New Line Cinema's $180 million film sold an estimated $8.8 million worth of tickets during its first day in theaters on Friday, according to data issued on Saturday by tracking firm Box Office Mojo (www.boxofficemojo.com).
After Saturday and Sunday sales are factored in, the film will come in at No. 1 with about $28 million when the studios issue their weekend estimates on Sunday, said Paul Dergarabedian at Media By Numbers, another tracking firm.
New Line, a struggling Time Warner Inc unit hoping to launch another franchise along the lines of its blockbuster "Lord of the Rings" series, said last week it was hoping the film would open to between $30 million and $40 million.
"It's below expectations, but it's not an out-and-out debacle," said Dergarabedian.
Conspiring against the movie, he said, were such factors as a soft marketplace and unrealistic expectations for an epic fantasy filling the holiday void left by the "Narnia" and "Lord of the Rings" smashes.
A New Line executive did not return a call seeking comment.
Based on the first book in British author Philip Pullman's acclaimed children's series "His Dark Materials," writer/director Chris Weitz's film is set in an alternate world ruled by an oppressive religious authority. It features talking animals and a heroine played by youngster Dakota Blue Richards.
Even though the film downplays the religious aspect, it has been savaged by such groups as the Catholic League and the U.S. Conference of Bishops. Opponents have cited Pullman's unflattering portrayal of the church and specifically the Catholic faith.
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
“What are the odds that the execs at New Line knew nothing about the author’s agenda in his books?”
I think this proves that Hollywood’s business leadership isn’t so much immoral as it is Amoral. They were simply looking for something they thought would be a hit, and they made a devil’s bargain, so to speak, with the author, hoping they’d had a big CGI hit on their hands. But you’re right, they do deserve the red ink they’re getting from this.
That stated, would also argue that the 'anti-theists' are also Atheists, just a particular strain of them. Just as some Christians would approve of nuclear bombing Muslim countries, killing millions of people, while there are many Christians who do not harbor violent intentions toward all Muslims. Atheists, just as adherents of other religions, have a membership of followers who hold a wide spectrum of views, including political ones.
Furthermore, hold the opinion that even if all Atheists were initially of the peaceful, tolerant persuasion, that an Atheism-dominated culture would eventually lead to a very unjust, unsafe society, again, on the grounds of there being a dearth of absolute good and evil. Even historic Atheists recognized that Mankind in general needs a god, even if they [those Atheists] didn't.
It is probably should be a D or D- movie.
From what one Freeper wrote about the movie, it was an incoherrent thing to go see -- it did not make much sense, and was just thrown together.
Hollywood [Great Britian] has invested about $200 million in this film, so you will see advertising as they are desparate to SUCKERS to go see a bad movie.
As W.C. Fields said, "There is a sucker born every minute"...
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