Originally Posted By AutoPost This topic is for Discussion of <a href="http://www.LaughingPlace.com/Latest-ID-79662.asp" target="_blank"><b>Latest: Disney Expects a Loss of $200 Million on John Carter - Biggest Loss Ever</b></a> <p>Disney has released the following statement:</p> <p style="padding-left: 30px;">In light of the theatrical performance of John Carter ($184 million global box office), we expect the film to generate an operating loss of approximately $200 million during our second fiscal quarter ending March 31. As a result, our current expectation is that the Studio segment will have an operating loss of between $80 and $120 million for the second quarter. As we look forward to the second half of the year, we are excited about the upcoming releases of The Avengers and Brave, which we believe have tremendous potential to drive value for the Studio and the rest of the company.</p> <p>According to Deadline.com, that would make it the largest single film writedown ever exceeding that of 'Cuttthroad Island'</p>
Originally Posted By dagobert That's bad news! I'm going to see the movie today. There's only the Disney marketing department to blame. I don't know how it is in the US, but over here I didn't see any advertising. Although Austria is just a small country, we are served by TWDC Germany and combined we make a 100 mio people market. Since there is no adverising here, I assume there isn't a lot if advertising in Germany either.
Originally Posted By wahooskipper I haven't been watching a LOT of television lately but when I miss marketing on tv I usually catch in on the Internet. I can safely tell you that I don't know what the story is supposed to be about and I'm not sure I can name any stars. Part of me thinks that one of the kids from Friday Night Lights is in it? Yeah, I'd say a failed marketing strategy is part of the problem anyway.
Originally Posted By Goofyernmost There has been ample promotion here, but after seeing the trailer at the theater the other day, I cannot say that I saw anything that was even slightly entertaining. It reminded me of the early Japanese Godzilla movies. Didn't look real, didn't sound like a story line that even the best of those with voluntary suspension of disbelief could wrap their minds around. As a disclaimer...I am not a fan of Sci. Fi. anyway, but nothing that they made public was of any interest to me. And I have always thought that they were showing me the best during the trailers.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros In recent weeks, there was a big push in the volume of marketing, but I can't say that any of it was particularly great. Up until the recent push began, there was absolutely no buzz about the movie; after it began, there was still essentially no buzz. Not good, not bad, just nothing. In addition to the relative lack of volume, the ads themselves haven't been very good either. It did seem reminiscent of the old Godzilla movies, where there was just a lot of fighting, and no real story. They announced that it was the inspiration for Star Wars and other series, but I didn't get any semblance of a story from the trailers. Just that there were fights with weird-looking beasts in the desert. It seems that they pulled all ads about a week ago. I guess they figure that it's sinking rapidly with no hope, so don't bother throwing more money at it.
Originally Posted By DlandDug DIsney really fumbled the ball on marketing this one. I would say that at least 80% of the people I have heard or met who actually saw it said it was great. The rest either said it was good, or didn't care for it. But most people I know aren't seeing it, because they either have no idea what it is, or have no interest based on the marketing. General consensus is that the BEST trailer that has yet appeared was put together by a fan of the books, using all found material that was available on line previous to the opening of the film. Even Andrew Stanton, the director, has gone on record stating that this does a much better job of presenting the film. What do you think of this: <a href="http://insidemovies.ew.com/2012/02/22/john-carter-fan-trailer/" target="_blank">http://insidemovies.ew.com/201...trailer/</a>
Originally Posted By markymouse Dug Thanks for sharing that. I'm still not sure I'm going to see this movie, but that trailer did at least make it make sense. An oh that's what that movie is moment. Why some fan can do that on his laptop but the guys at Disney can't ....
Originally Posted By RoadTrip Yes, at least that trailer made some sense. I will probably buy it on DVD where I never would have otherwise. Memo to Disney: Stay the heck away from Mars. It never works out well for you.
Originally Posted By dagobert I saw the movie yesterday and it wasn't that bad, but it wasn't that good either. Honestly I expected more. However I don't understand why it's losing so much money. There have been so much more worse movies which made a lot of money. JC is so much better than Avatar and that one is the most successful movie of all time.
Originally Posted By mawnck >>I would say that at least 80% of the people I have heard or met who actually saw it said it was great.<< That's a very select group though. I could say that anyone who saw this marketing campaign and STILL went to see the movie probably doesn't have very high standards ... but I won't. ;-) I will say that the fan trailer still doesn't have me the least bit interested in it. Niche movies are a hard sell. Even big-budget ones.
Originally Posted By Goofyernmost I do have a theory about it and it is probably way off base here but the movie title absolutely sucked. Who the hell is John Carter and why should I care? Is he related to Jimmy Carter? Nothing about the title even remotely explained what the movie was about or why anyone should go see it. I don't think all the marketing in the world could have saved this turkey. When I first saw the title, I had no idea that it was a sci/fy and even after I don't know what John Carter was in relation to or connection to the style of movie. It would be like calling Star Wars...Galaxy! Is it about space or a Ford? Don't know.
Originally Posted By Goofyernmost Also would it be like calling Luke Skywalker, Irving Swartz? The name doesn't fit the time period for me. How about Anakin being little Jerry Smith instead? Or Darth Vader with a name like Tom Jones? Nothing to relate too, time wise!
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan >>I do have a theory about it and it is probably way off base here but the movie title absolutely sucked.<< I don't think that's off base at all. "John Carter" has to be one of the most generic-sounding titles ever. >>Also would it be like calling Luke Skywalker, Irving Swartz?<< May The Schwartz be with you!
Originally Posted By DDMAN26 Instead of John Carter and since A Princess of Mars wasn't used or John Carter of Mars I would have chosen John Carter and the Princess of Mars. It's a shame though the movie is really quite good.
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan I think they should have called it "John Carter of Mars... no, wait! Come Back, Moviegoers! We Swear It's Good! Give It a Chance!!!"
Originally Posted By oc_dean Okay .. I saw it. Yes, there are flaws .. but OVERALL .. I enjoyed it. Worth the price of admission! The only people who should be finicky about seeing it .. Is .. A) Your not into the sci-fi genre B) You don't have time, and have to be very finite in your movie choices C) You don't have much money, and have to be finite about your movie choices The movie is packed with action. Some cool concepts. The plot does not stop, it keeps moving, with a good pace, all the way through. The only reason it should go down as a flop ... is because Disney Marketing mishandled it!!
Originally Posted By oc_dean SPOILER ALERT ........... What I interpret as the flaws......... - John Carter's ability to jump high distances, because of the lower gravity field of Mars. All of a sudden ... It's barely a couple Mars' days .. and he can jump and make his landings ... with precision! Funny that! ;-) - The 4 different alien races. They are just a little too "human" .. in fact, "Modern Day" human. Mark Strong, in fact, .. very "Modern Day New York" human. ;-) lol Other than a couple other moments that came off a little too "pedestrian" .... I'm not complaining about spending 14 dollars for the 3D print I saw ... and had a rather VERY enjoyable 2 hours and 10 minutes. If a friend or family wanted to see it, and asked me to go with them (after already seen it) .. I'd spend the time and money again. As far as I'm concerned ... High entertainment value! And if people see movies according to ONLY what critics and movie-critic wannabes have to say... then you're missing out on a lot, BUBS!!
Originally Posted By Autopia Deb If Disney wanted this movie to do well, why dump it in the first quarter of the year? This is not exactly blockbuster season.
Originally Posted By oc_dean SPOILER ALERT .... forgot to add a couple more bits. When there were those two large hovercrafts going into battle .... John made the jump onto one craft (with ease) .. knew exactly where to land, near a weapon .. and knew exactly how to operate it within a second! But we'll give him credit ... for later in the film .. he more, REALISTICALLY, struggled to use a small 1-person hovercraft. The jumps he made: A single jump seemed to be close to 100 feet or more. Mars gravity is 38% percent that of Earth. So ... with the average person, who can jump 3 or 4 feet .. we can perhaps make a jump of 10-12 feet on Mars. But John was making leaps .. far GREATER than 10-12 feet. So .. not everything was based in better reality. They made the stretch ... would built on the fantasy concept .. So I eventually just overlooked some of these things. Despite some weaknesses ... Once again .... It was a JOY watching this widescreen spectacle. It had A LOT going for it!
