I've always wanted to comment on the proceedings but somehow I've always gotten sidetracked.
I've been getting the impression (albeit small) that CR isn't doing that well (or as well as it should)in the US based upon the recent discussions on this thread. Personally, I feel it's done phenomenal business and is a unreserved success. It has had very positive reactions, financially and critically especially if you weigh in these factors.
1)It's a Bond debut. One who was maligned in the press and elsewhere before the release.
2)It was never expected to beat DAD. Nor was it expected to have the numbers it has had so far.
3)It's taking a different and darker direction than the other installments. Uncharted waters here.
4)No super well known actors (so far - and its going to be the past since Craig is now very established)
5)It's not really a kids movie thus less tickets per viewing for a family especially during a holiday season.
6)Longer running time
I know everyone is looking at the inflation adjusted scale to compare but I personally don't. I understand why but I don't. The general public doesn't and the studios themselves really don't either. They always play the game in the now.
Titanic is touted as the Highest grossing movie of all time when in actuality, it's Gone with the Wind. But it's generally accepted that Titanic is the movie to beat. Plus you have to factor that there were DVDs or Videtapes during those periods as well as a longer waiting period before the movies are released on home video. The movies themselves play longer on the cinemas. As far as I'm concerned, the playing field is more or less the same - then and now. One of the reasons why I just see the Boxoffice and not the inflated adjusted one. Different factors in play. Heck, DAD is stated as the most successful when it's really Thunderball. So by that token, I'm accepting CR as the most succesful.
Even when you factor ticket prices a few years ago to the prices now, audience still went to watch CR despite the high prices. Good word of mouth boosted that. Few years back, it's an acceptable risk to use your hard earned cash to watch a movie you were not sure about. Cheaper tickets meant people will watch anything once. People are more choosy now so I'd say CR's boxoffice is a good indication of public acceptance and endorsement. All this for a first time and generally unknown actor as Bond. It's a success, allright.
If things go as well as they should (writing, production etc), I'd go so far as to predict it will have even bigger business with Bond22 using the template/history of Bourne Identity and Pirates of the Carribean 1 as a guide. Those movies came out and found new audiences and made a bigger splash the second time around.
CR found and grabbed the Bond aficianados as well as enticed new and varied fans to the fold. I'm pretty sure the next opening will be bigger than that of CR's opening day. To me, that would really be the indicator of how successful this whole endeavour was.
Sorry for the long post, just needed to get it out of my system. There's more points i wanted to make but I just forgotten it all. In anycase, less points to bore you with. Sigh.
Edited by ek5a, 01 January 2007 - 01:23 PM.
denial at this point. If CR has "failed" then all of Brosnan's films have, too.
