“Kingdom of Heaven” Leads Disappointing Box Office Weekend

Celebrity Cafe ^ | 05-10-05 | Staff

[veronica]

"As expected, the epic Ridley Scott picture, “Kingdom of Heaven” nabbed the #1 spot for the weekend, opening with $20 million in ticket sales.

Though “Kingdom” debuted on top, it was still a disappointing considering it had a $130 million budget. Similar period pieces “Gladiator” and “Troy” both opened with nearly twice the box office ticket sales at similar times of the year.

Movie execs were counting on “Kingdom” to spark a slumping box office year, however this weekend turned out to be one of the most disappointing of late. Hollywood big wigs now have their fingers crossed that the summer’s biggest blockbusters, George Lucas’ “Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith” and “War of the Worlds” starring Tom Cruise, will bring in the big bucks and even out a slow year. Coming in #2 this weekend with a mere $12.3 million in ticket sales was horror flick.

“House of Wax” starring Paris Hilton. Last week’s winner, “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” was bumped down to the #3 spot this weekend with $9.129 million. Coming in fourth was Paul Haggis’ “Crash,” his latest script since “Million Dollar Baby.” Despite considerable press attention, its limited release kept its totals to $9.1 million. Rounding out the top five was “The Interpreter” with $7.5 million."

[Gipper08]

Good.Liberal Hollywood tries to cash in on the PAssion and fails.They just dont get it.

[Sacajaweau]

Aw shucks....Maybe a payback for your "We Hate Mel" campaign.

[Publius6961]

I guess the ding-dong's claim of "evenhandedness" had no positive effect?

How does one "evenhand" history's greatest mass-murder cult?

(Kill the entire village, except the women for the slave market and the children suitable for Jannisary training...)

[NCSteve]

Ridley Scott is one of my favorite directors, but I hear that Kingdom of Heaven is historically revisionist BS. I have heard also that the revisionism is the fault of the screenplay author and that Scott approached the film as historically based fiction. Maybe. Maybe not.

If the film is, as some have said, unconstrained Muslim apologetics and Christian bashing, I guess I'll give it a pass.

[JasonC]

It is exactly the sort of movie, by the quality of director, with the size budget, that could be a blockbuster right now. Then they cut it in half with their stupid PC inverted moral world idiocy. I love historical epics, and I love Ridley Scott's earlier pics. But I won't give them a dime for this.

[veronica]

Apparently Arabs like this movie... Heaven strikes an Arab chord

[Grendel9]

Hollywood scoffed when they were told their work
would be boycotted by Conservatives. And, for the
most part, Libs aren't into historical novels/movies/TV
programming. They're taste runs more to the contempo-
rary/violent/sexual content.

The one thing I feel bad about is Orlando Bloom. He's
a great fresh face/talent.

[dirtboy]

Memo to Hollywood - if you want to sell tickets, produce movies that regular folks actually want to see, not the crap that you and your liberal friends believe they should see.

[A Ruckus of Dogs]

I'm planning to see it, however with hyped up movies like this one, I usually wait until the crowds die out. I'll do the same with the new Star Wars movie.

[AD from SpringBay]

Then they cut it in half with their stupid PC inverted moral world idiocy.

Now now...it's a film about tolerance and how all ideas are equal, but also how western Christian ideas are wrong and how Jewish ideas are intolerable and how Muslim ideas are ok. But really, it's a film about tolerance and how all ideas are equal.

[keats5]

What's so PC aabout it? I don't know anything about the movie. What is it about?

[FormerACLUmember]

Some of the reviews of the IslamoFascist propaganda Mega-Turkey (this summer's big bomb) are hysterical:

"Bloom comes across as a vapid California surfer boy trying to be a serious "artist." This is an over-long, pretentious bore that I felt like I've seen and didn't like before." -- Michelle Alexandria, ECLIPSE MAGAZINE

"As a war hero, Orlando Bloom reminds me of the nickname Truman Capote's father gave him: Little Miss Mouse Fart." -- Tim Appelo, SEATTLE WEEKLY

"A bewildering mishmash of battle scenes and tenuous relationships that calls for heartthrob Orlando Bloom to save the day in a rags-to-riches hurry." -- Jeanne Aufmuth, PALO ALTO WEEKLY


"A confused and confusing compromise at best and a dull obfuscation of history at worst." -- Peter Canavese, GROUCHO REVIEWS

"It's just a bunch of arguing with dirty people who look like they stepped out of a two-bit Renaissance Festival." -- Kevin Carr, 7M PICTURES

"Plain-faced moralizing... It's at once bold and dumbed down." -- Jeffrey Chen, REELTALK MOVIE REVIEWS

"Yawn. Are the Crusades over yet? Wake me when it's time to leave." -- Boo Allen, DENTON RECORD CHRONICLE (TX)

[Lexington Green]

Noble Muslims - Evil Christians... Screw Hollywood

[CasearianDaoist]

Well, I, like you, have been a Scott fan for decades, but over the last 15 years or so he has tended leftwards, put out some absuoutley treacly PC nonsense and made some real duds (GI Jane is a paniful example of these three meeting in one horrible blend.)

He has been uneven the last few years.

[Fitzcarraldo]

Bloom's character traveled to Jerusalem for penance for the murder he committed. That is important to consider in his final decision, wherein he points out that the Kingdom of Heaven is not of this world.

[RayChuang88]

Hollywood scoffed when they were told their work would be boycotted by Conservatives. And, for the most part, Libs aren't into historical novels/movies/TV programming. They're taste runs more to the contempo- rary/violent/sexual content.

And you wonder why the box office this year is running 10% behind last year this time. And the worst thing for the movie industry is that outside of Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, I don't see many other movies making big money this summer....

[ConservativeDude]

I saw it and it's shit.

Not just the unconstrained Christian bashing, it also glorifies cowardice. The "hero" surrenders Jerusalem and when he goes back into the walls the people all pat him on the back and hug him, making him look like a saint. All because he was sooo sophisticated that he wouldn't fight to the death for a mere city. The people after all are all that matter...and the Muslims promise them safe passage to a Christian city, good citizens they are.

It is pretty shocking all in all. Even for Hollywood.

There are two or three decent battle scenes, but nothing you haven't seen before.

[ConservativeDude]

By the way, Lion Witch and Wardrobe is going to be aweseom! So save your movie dollars till December!

[Noachian]

I went to see "Kingdom" for the battles scenes, and the costumes of that time. Hollywood is great at creating battles scenes.

I totally disregarded the PC storyline which I knew in advance was completely irrelevant to the true history of the Crusades.