220 replies to this topic

[HildebrandRarity]

It's a rare occurence that a popular young actor dies after having poured everything into an iconic, memorable character which has been around for most of everyone's lives.

We are looking at a rare occurrence in motion picture history and it's completely different from, say, Gladiator where Oliver Reed was near the end of his life and out of the public's mind for a couple or so decades.

It's The Ledger Rarity.

[bond 16.05.72]

Watched it again on Saturday and blew me away again, The Dark Knight just keeps giving, I'd love Quantum to be better and who knows, we can't write it off yet like so many already have but Box Office DK will be king.

[ImTheMoneypenny]

You're not alone. Seeing Heath as the Joker, especially in his final scene made me quite sad. I really didn't want it to end at all. In fact I was the last one out of the cinema I stayed for the dedication, I actually said "Thank You Heath" and left the cinema, I know it sounds quite stupid, but I just had the urge to say it.

Don't forget that Ledger was filming Terry Gilliam's The Imaginarium of Dr Parnassus, and his portion of the role he was playing, Tony, will be left in tact, though completed by Johnny Depp, Jude Law, and Colin Farrell. You have one more film to see Ledger in, but you'll have to wait until 2009.

On topic, I really want QoS to do well, and I think it will be very successful. TDK had major buzz for a very long time, and it is one of those movies that appeal to wider audiences in the US and has good word of mouth going for it. QoS doesn't have the heavy promotion (everything from Fruit Roll Ups to Reese's candies and everything in between.) and the viral campaign, but that's not Bond's style. I wouldn't want it any other way. If that means it doesn't begin to touch TDK in the numbers, that's more than okay with me. It doesn't make QoS any less of a film.

[bonds_walther]

It's not all about the numbers for me. TDK is a brilliant film, but it's Batman, not Bond. There lies the difference - Bond films are always more special for me.

Edited by bonds_walther, 05 August 2008 - 12:06 PM.

[HildebrandRarity]

It's not all about the numbers for me. TDK is a brilliant film, but it's Batman, not Bond. There lies the difference - Bond films are always more special for me.

Yes. We can always aspire to wear a finely-tailored suit...or buy a Rolex...or possibly drive an Aston (or, more realistically, BMW)...or travel to Venice or The Bahamas with a pretty lady...but not all of us can prance around in a black rubber suit with cape and cowl and glide around tall buildings every night...

[Flash1087]

It's not all about the numbers for me. TDK is a brilliant film, but it's Batman, not Bond. There lies the difference - Bond films are always more special for me.

Yes. We can always aspire to wear a finely-tailored suit...or buy a Rolex...or possibly drive an Aston (or, more realistically, BMW)...or travel to Venice or The Bahamas with a pretty lady...but not all of us can prance around in a black rubber suit with cape and cowl and glide around tall buildings every night...

Not all of us, no. I once had a job interview with a good friend of mine who happened to manage a clothing store in the mall. He asked me if I had any hobbies, and I told him that I often put on a ridiculous costume and fought crime at night.

I was known as Batman around the mall for some time after that.

[SecretAgentFan]

QoS won´t be able to be the same box office bonanza as TDK is but it probably will do better overseas than TDK since Bond always travelled better than Batman.

Also, as I always said, QoS will do better than CR because of a shorter running time and therefore more showings. With the same amount of admissions you already have QoS be a bigger winner at the box office. And I guess everybody who liked CR wants to see QoS. Of course, repeat business is a factor as well. But with no big action film around at that time, QoS will certainly be a hit.

[Roger3229]

I'd say dark knight, for the reason that it opened in july and will have 22 weeks to rake in revenue as opposed to QoS which will only have 7

[Invincible1958]

I'd say dark knight, for the reason that it opened in july and will have 22 weeks to rake in revenue as opposed to QoS which will only have 7

It's only about the date a film opens.
The money that QOS makes in 2009 will be part of its 2008 gross.

Look at the worldwide numbers for 2003:

http://www.boxoffice.../...2003&p=.htm

"Return of the King" didn't make all of its $1.119,3 billion gross in 2003, but most of it in 2004. But it's still the most succesful movie of 2003, because it doesn't matter when the theatrical run ends, only when it opens.

[Publius]

I'd say dark knight, for the reason that it opened in july and will have 22 weeks to rake in revenue as opposed to QoS which will only have 7

In addition to what Invincible pointed out in the post above this one, CR made 95% of its final US gross in 7 weeks, so even if what you said is true I don't think it'd make much difference unless QoS and TDK were otherwise close, which doesn't seem like it's going to be the case.

[Mercator]

It looks bad for the Quantum of the Solace now, no?

[shady ginzo]

with i'd say only a matter of a couple of weeks left until Dark Knight overtakes Indiana Jones as the biggest international grossing film of '08, I'm struggling to see any reality in the idea that Quantum of Solace will top it financially.

the factors in Dark Knight's success have been discussed in great depth so i won't dream of repeating the combination of valid and invalid factors which raised batman's profile prior to release. but they are in general things which QOS has none of.

The unmentioned magic factor for me in The Dark Knight was the fact that it quite violently departed from the tone of the first film, transforming from action blockbuster in begins, to a brutal drama adove all when it came to The Dark Knight. this change in tone enhanced upon the first film and also earned it a whole new list of possitive press from critics and the general public as it seemed to transend numerous genres.

I don't know anyone who's expecting QOS to out-do it's predecessor in such a way, infact, despite adoring Casino Royale as a masterpeice of a movie in the franchise, i look forward to QOS with the idea in my head that I'm preparing myself for a degree of disappointment... so long as the publicity is done right, I think it will make every penny of Casino Royale's money and maybe some change too... but I have no belief what-so-ever it will break the records like Batman is, nor do I think it stands a chance of recieving the critical acclaim that is still driving audiences to the dark knight, and making that film the fastest earner in history.

[DR76]

Just saw The Incredible Hulk, and IMHO it's the film TDK wants to be but isn't: great leading man, great love story, fairly lean-and-mean main plotline but with lots of gratuitous action tossed in. I was moved at Banner/Hulk's plight like I wanted to be at Wayne/Batman's - but wasn't, and I had tons more fun and excitement like I wanted from TDK but also didn't get (blow up the Gothamites already, they don't need Batman's moral leadership so screw 'em). I'm kinda shocked it's as good as it is. Sometimes, being a solid B-movie beats being an effed up A-film. Minority opinion I'm sure, but TIH smash good, and for my money was the better film.

I saw THE INCREDIBLE HULK. And to be honest, I thought it suffered from the same flaw as THE DARK KNIGHT - a very unimpressive ending.

whaaaaat?? THe ending for Hulk was the Best part of the movie!

Whatever. To each his own.

[Publius]

It looks bad for the Quantum of the Solace now, no?

There's a difference between "bad" and "not one of those rare epic-grossing films that can rival the original Star Wars." QoS will still make a cool $600 million, probably more, and (like most Bond movies have) finish in the top five worldwide without being #1.

Will Batman Begins 3 make as much money as TDK? That's a toss of the coin, no pun intended. Will Bond 23 and 24 make as much as CR and QoS? Probably, if 40+ years of history is any indication.

Will there even be a Batman after the next one? Again, maybe not for a long time. But Bond will return, every other year or so, with the occasional hiatus like we saw before and after Brosnan's tenure.

Bond has been consistently solid in terms of commercial success. Batman has swung erratically from record-shattering (Batman '89, TDK) to rivaling that of Zyzzyx Road (Batman & Robin). Which would you prefer if you were a studio executive?

The unmentioned magic factor for me in The Dark Knight was the fact that it quite violently departed from the tone of the first film, transforming from action blockbuster in begins, to a brutal drama adove all when it came to The Dark Knight. this change in tone enhanced upon the first film and also earned it a whole new list of possitive press from critics and the general public as it seemed to transend numerous genres.

I think that's it. TDK was such a raging success because it featured an insane, over-the-top, bizarrely charismatic anarchist who actually managed to win over and over again in his campaign to seize control of an entire city and have fun playing with the Batman.

When a Bond movie has a cackling mad terrorist villain who repeatedly succeeds in killing innocent people and keeps Bond alive (albeit while breaking him) for his own amusement, then I think you'll see a similar level of excitement to see it.

It's the Empire Strikes Back effect of bad guys you look forward to seeing as much or more than the heroes, and maybe even root for despite their being capital "e" Evil.

I'm not saying this to put down TDK, which I absolutely love, but because I think its dark "good guys only come out on top in the end, and then only have a bittersweet victory" approach should be more commonly used in the genre.

[Skudor]

I guess QOS does have a decent shot at outgrossing TDK outside of the US - I thought TDK would do much better internationally (although it's still early days).

[shady ginzo]

I guess QOS does have a decent shot at outgrossing TDK outside of the US - I thought TDK would do much better internationally (although it's still early days).

aha! yes, this is something I definatly didn't consider. while I personally think the US contest is already over, the internation market could well go in Bond's favour.

[Harmsway]

aha! yes, this is something I definatly didn't consider. while I personally think the US contest is already over, the internation market could well go in Bond's favour.

Well, it's likely the international market will be ceded to Bond (otherwise QUANTUM will be seriously underperforming when matched against its predecessor), but the overall battle for box office dominance seems to have been won by THE DARK KNIGHT. Unless QUANTUM has the strength to surpass $800 million worldwide.

[Joey Bond]

How I see the 2 'rebooted' series finishing up.

1) TDK
2) CR
3) QOS
4) BB

Silly to assume QOS where it is without having seen it I know

[Skudor]

aha! yes, this is something I definatly didn't consider. while I personally think the US contest is already over, the internation market could well go in Bond's favour.

Well, it's likely the international market will be ceded to Bond (otherwise QUANTUM will be seriously underperforming when matched against its predecessor), but the overall battle for box office dominance seems to have been won by THE DARK KNIGHT. Unless QUANTUM has the strength to surpass $800 million worldwide.

Having said that - I watched TDK for the second time last night. A seven pm Tuesday night showing, weeks after release and it was PACKED.

[john.steed]

While TDK will "win" at the box office, I suspect the recent dropping of Harry Potter from the fall schedule should give Quantum an extra boast. For example. I usually catch a film with my brother-in-law when he comes to town for the Thanksgiving holiday. Without Potter around, I am certain that we will catch 007.

[dodge]

I've put aside any thought of QoS coming within a mile of TDK. Domestically, internationally...My devoutest hopes are these, that QoS:
1) Have a good long box office run and turn a respectable profit.
2) Step up the narrative game plan for (at least) a 3-film Craig run.
3) Allow Dan to nail his own take on James Bond while truly bringing him closer to 'the Bond we know and love.'

If QoS scores on these 3 fronts, I'll be a happy camper...and turn right around to see the film again.

[Publius]

Having seen the QoS trailer before TDK in the cinema there was a very negative vibe among the 500 viewers towards the new 007 flic. Something I noticed among quite a few people that went and saw CR too. CR was a new 007 with a new direction but in doing so it lost a bit of its iconic appeal for the folks that prefered the older version. Quite a few folks will perhaps watch it on dvd instead of cinema.

No offense, but you were also a voice of negativity going into CR and your experiences then proved to be part of a tiny minority, so I'm going to take your experiences now with a grain of salt.

[DamnCoffee]

The Dark Knight Worldwide Box Office:
$801,794,356

Top Domestic (US) gross:

1 Titanic Par. $600,788,188 1997
2 The Dark Knight WB $473,194,356 2008
3 Star Wars Fox $460,998,007 1977
It hasn't even finished it's run yet either


Comic Book Adaptations:
1 The Dark Knight WB $473,194,356 4,366 $158,411,483 4,366 7/18/08
2 Spider-Man Sony $403,706,375 3,876 $114,844,116 3,615 5/3/02
3 Spider-Man 2 Sony $373,585,825 4,166 $88,156,227 4,152 6/30/04
4 Spider-Man 3 Sony $336,530,303 4,324 $151,116,516 4,252 5/4/07



It hasn't even finished it's run yet either.
Bond will have a big job beating that.

[deth]

Bond WON'T beat that....

[Mister E]

QOS might get something like $610,000,000 but not even close to TDK's numbers

[DamnCoffee]

You never know, It might come close.

Die Another Day Worldwide Box Office Gross: $431,971,116
Casino Royale Worldwide Box Office Gross: $592 million

So If Quantum of Solace follows suite, it would gross a hundered million more than Casino Royale, so were looking around the $700 million mark for Quantum of Solace.

[Mister E]

You never know, It might come close.

I doubt that severely. OQS has no hype at all really, not even close to the level of TDK. Also the advertising campaign as been pretty lousy.

[DamnCoffee]

Just wait untill October.

[Mister E]

Just wait untill October.

I have to wait till November but be relasitic here, QOS has had nothing on TDK. No hype over a major preformance in the film and no creative advertising campaign. Two key factors that made the audience flood in. QOS had a good teaser but a few crappy posters aren't going to help things much.

Edited by Mister E, 21 August 2008 - 03:10 PM.

[DamnCoffee]

Think about it, we didn't have much of a campaign for Casino Royale, only a two trailers, a few posters, and some tie in ads. We are getting the same for Quantum of Solace. It'a a Bond movie, so I think it has a good chance of becoming a massive success.