Originally Posted By skinnerbox <<And so, the movie can't seem to catch any sort of Avatar "yes the script is simplistic, but this world has incredible verisimilitude" buzz because there's these parenthetical apologies about young Jeff Bridges.>> Bingo. Avatar's story is simplistic, a Dances With Wolves fantasy of sorts. But the atmosphere and environment truly pull you in. My best IMAX 3D immersion experience is still Avatar. TRON simply doesn't cut it on that level.
Originally Posted By leemac <<I'd love to hear from leemac about how Burbank is reacting to this. Any mouse murmurings about TRON's disappointment yet, Lee?>> The inquest has begun. The box office performance internationally has been significantly below where the Studio needed the movie to be. It collapsed this past weekend (down 55%) and is still off the $100m mark. The movie opened very weak in the key Japanese market (didn't even make number one) and the gross in the UK was very average despite the IMAX and 3D premiums. It hasn't opened in all key international markets yet but the long term prognosis for this $300m turkey isn't good. The park-related stuff has all been shelved for now - that was done awhile back when the movie wasn't tracking well. A lot of folks (including myself) that saw early rough cuts questioned the story and whether there was a significant enough market for this type of movie so I don't think there has been much in the way of synergistic opportunities - DCP certainly didn't like it at all and couldn't get many vendors to sign up. Sean Bailey and Joe Kosinski may be talking up sequels but I don't think there is any chance of there being any follow-ups to this sorry mess. It looks like Q1 for Studio Entertainment won't be pretty. Nearly $750m on two features. How either this or Tangled got so out of control is a mystery to me.
Originally Posted By leemac <<I am sorry that it is not doing as well as other films (ie potter) but I don't think that the amount of people that go to see a movie means that that movie is bad or good. Those two factors have nothing to do with each other. There are many films that had enormous box office, that are now regarded as being fairly bad movies. >> Which is completely irrelevant. A studio would rather have a critical bomb that is a commercial success than a commercial bomb that is a critical success. Disney doesn't care two hoots about critical success - the studio has never won a Best Picture Oscar and probably never will. They care about commercial success - and the way the Company is set up these days it needs that success to fuel other lines of business. TRON: Legacy has been a monster disappointment so far. They aren't alone in that - Fox has had two turkeys to contend with (Narnia 3 and Gulliver's Travels) whilst Uni couldn't get Little Fockers up to estimates.
Originally Posted By Anatole69 ^^ Apart from Potter this has been a weak season commercially and the inclement weather in both Europe and the USA kept people away during the critical week leading up to Christmas. That said, I think the studio that released the Coen brothers True Grit must be pretty happy. So not everyone is about to fall on their swords at the major studios. lol. - Anatole
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA The biggest problem with Tron is that it has no old-fashioned, word-of-mouth buzz. Why? Because it's not a very good movie. So then, nobody wants to buy the expensive action figures, and the expensive New Era baseball caps because it's associated with a turkey. And why give a big, expensive movie (that has to do well) to a first time director!
Originally Posted By Anatole69 ^^ Being a bad movie never stopped any Michael Bay film from turning a large profit. 2012 has made over 700 million world wide. lol. - Anatole
Originally Posted By Anatole69 ^^ 2012 being directed by Roland Emmerich, director of Godzilla and ID4. Different director, same type of movie as Mr. Bay. >_< - Anatole
Originally Posted By brotherdave Well with the dissapointing box office, it will be interesting to see if TRON Legacy will have the same type of cult following that the original did over the years... Somehow I doubt it will be enough to offer a "third" installment, but who knows? If the right director gets interested down the road with a respected writer or two (read proven and profitable) get their crack at it, perhaps a third trip to the "Grid" isn't totally out of the question...
Originally Posted By Britain Thanks for the info, leemac! Any word on how this affects Tron Uprising? I thought that series was already well into production?
Originally Posted By Britain In fairness, I don't think the film was 'given' to a first-time director. Didn't Joe Kosinski go to Lisberger and Disney with the concept? Disney said, "Hmm... Not sure you're up to it, and not even sure there's enough interest... We sure would like another franchise though... do a test, show it at ComiCon." The explosive reaction at ComiCon is what sold the film to the studio and got it fast tracked. I think Kosinski's idea was great, his direction was good, but they should have waited on a better script. ...AND BETTER YOUNG JEFF BRIDGES FX!
Originally Posted By skinnerbox <<It looks like Q1 for Studio Entertainment won't be pretty. Nearly $750m on two features. How either this or Tangled got so out of control is a mystery to me.>> Will Burbank blame Cook for this? Thanks for the info, Lee.
Originally Posted By leemac <<Will Burbank blame Cook for this?>> He is too busy building his own studio to care I suspect. I'm sure Ross will point to Dick but Dick left 15 months ago - they have had plenty of time to turn around these movies - particularly TRON: Legacy that has reshoots earlier this year. The one person who can't escape criticism is MT Carney - she has been a disaster as the marketing chief. Both Tangled and TRON: Legacy have failed to resonate with audiences - despite huge marketing budgets. She can't hide from the fact that the slick marketing machine that was virtually created by Dick has been entirely broken up.
Originally Posted By skinnerbox <<Both Tangled and TRON: Legacy have failed to resonate with audiences - despite huge marketing budgets. She can't hide from the fact that the slick marketing machine that was virtually created by Dick has been entirely broken up.>> Marketing for both films has been terrible. I don't see this individual surviving much longer.
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper I think the name of this thread can be changed from "What if" to "Now what happens that".
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA I'm sure these new guys come in and think, 'well, how hard can it be?' 'You know, it's a cartoon -- just get it out there and appeal to the 'Shrek' crowd'
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<It looks like Q1 for Studio Entertainment won't be pretty. Nearly $750m on two features. How either this or Tangled got so out of control is a mystery to me.>> I haven't seen either yet, but do intend to. Still, I am pretty sure Ross will make sure the blame for both of these films falls on Dick Cook's shoulders. But he'll take all the credit for Alice, Toy Story 3 and even Iron Man 2 ... 'cause that's just the Industry way. "America can’t move forward until we once again believe...that everyone can enter Frontierland if they try hard enough, and that no one will be denied a dream because a private party has rented out Tomorrowland." Frank Rich, NY Times
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<Will Burbank blame Cook for this?>> <<He is too busy building his own studio to care I suspect. I'm sure Ross will point to Dick but Dick left 15 months ago - they have had plenty of time to turn around these movies - particularly TRON: Legacy that has reshoots earlier this year.>> Nah. He can just blame Lasseter's crew since the Pixar braintrust came in late and offered some 'advice'. Ross will deflect any and all blame and take any and all praise. This was his MO with Viacom and then Disney Channel. No different now, I'd volunteer. <<The one person who can't escape criticism is MT Carney - she has been a disaster as the marketing chief. Both Tangled and TRON: Legacy have failed to resonate with audiences - despite huge marketing budgets. She can't hide from the fact that the slick marketing machine that was virtually created by Dick has been entirely broken up.>> Funny though (I do agree on all counts) as she was praised a few weeks ago in THR's 100 Most Powerful Women in Media issue ... part of that was for coming in and 'turning around' Tangled and making it appealing to multiple demos. Although Disney is clearly looking to cut her already (see PoTC). "America can’t move forward until we once again believe...that everyone can enter Frontierland if they try hard enough, and that no one will be denied a dream because a private party has rented out Tomorrowland." Frank Rich, NY Times
