Posted on 06/20/2005 7:10:06 AM PDT by Syco
Batman was powerful enough to rule the box office, but the superhero was unable to pull Hollywood out of its worst slump in 20 years.
"Batman Begins" debuted as the top movie with $46.9 million, while overall movie revenues skidded for the 17th-straight weekend, tying a slide in 1985 that had been the longest box-office decline since analysts began keeping detailed records on movie grosses.
The top 12 movies took in $128.5 million, down 1.6 percent from the same weekend in 2004, according to studio estimates Sunday.
The slump may be a sign that more people are seeing movies at home. An Associated Press-AOL poll last week found that 73 percent of adults prefer watching movies on DVD, videotape or pay-per-view rather than going to the theater.
Studio executives blame the downturn on a comparatively weak lineup of movies this year and say it will take more time to determine if DVDs and other home-entertainment options are eroding theater business.
So we get to the local Googleplex. We were nearby anyway having done some shopping, so we hadn't checked the listings, but this Cinema has 25 screens. Surely there was something that we could watch, right? Nope.
With the exception of Madagascar which we saw a few weeks ago, there was nothing for a young family to see. In fact, if I'm not mistaken, there was nothing rated less than PG-13, a bit much in most cases for little kids.
Now don't get me wrong. Hollywood can make almost any picture it wants as far as I'm concerned. I may not go to see it, but I'm not going to ask them to tailor all of their releases to my tastes. But can't they make a few more films that I can take my kids to without worrying whether my four year old will have nightmares after seeing it?
I won't even get started on the cost of seeing a film these days. My point is, I WANTED to see a movie this weekend. I would have paid good money for four tickets if only there was something that my family could see AS A FAMILY. I'm sure that DVD's and Home theaters are a factor, but perhaps the film industry would be a little less concerned about falling revenues if they'd broaden their offerings a bit.
back lash for the liberals in Hollywood??
I just don't find anything of quality in the movies anymore. It's all action flicks or sappy romantic comedies - the same-old same-old formula. And what is up with all these re-makes?
Before anyone says, "What about Shark Boy and Lava Girl", I have my pride okay.
It was really good! Like some of the other recent superhero movies.
My wife and I are going to see Lord Howl's Moving Castle - same guy who did Spirited Away (and lots of others). To heck with this Batman stuff - we'll see it when Netflix gets it.
Or I can wait four months when the movie comes out on DVD, buy it for less than the $31 I would have spend seeing it in the theatre and watch it whenever I want without 10 minutes of commercials and 6 trailers. There are a few special effects spectaculars which you can't yet duplicate on a home theater, but most movies are better at home.
There is a lot of good 'word of mouth' spreading about this latest Batman movie...that may sustain it at the theaters a while longer than most. People may remember the g-d-awful 'Batman and Robin' from 1997, which soured a LOT of people on Batman movies. I will probably go this coming Saturday or Sunday...I hate the crowds on opening weekend.
I was curious so I just checked the listings for the theater closest to me. Out of 8 screens, 3 of them are showing PG or better fare, so better than 1/3. The other 5 are PG-13. No R rated movies are presently being shown there. That's not the nightmare scenerio that some would have us believe.
It is. Frank Miller would be proud. He's not credited, but this one truly owes Miller's Year One.
The left wing perverts in charge of Follywood need to learn a basic lesson in economics.
If Follywood turns off 50% of its potential audience, Republicans and Christians, their movies will not be attended. Add that to the high cost of movies, and Follywood may be entering a nose dive.
Our last movie we attended was the Passion.
NOOOOOOO, you don't say?! LOL!
It is expecting way too much to "just show up" and assume Hollywood is going to provide reasonable family fare at every theater, multiplex or not. They don't have those dozens of screens to give you an equivalent number of movies to choose from.
Try this page: http://www.imdb.com/showtimes/location/55402/movie
And substitute your own zip code -- it should show movies near you, along with their ratings clearly visible. And you can click on the name of movies to get more information about them. You can click "change location" to pick how far you want to travel.
To find what ratings movies really deserve, maybe these two sites:
http://www.kids-in-mind.com
http://www.screenit.com
Thanks. This is helpful.
I saw Batman and really liked it.
There's a new Disney release coming called Sky High. It looks very funny and suitable for kids. Hang in there.
Best Batman movie,
after 69 years they finally got it right.
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