Rambo

[WhiteKnight]

I'm not typically into writing reviews, but the viewing experience was so bizarre I felt compelled to share. I went to see it with a neighbor Friday night, and it's pretty much what you'd expect to from the genre. Minimal plot and dialouge and underwhelming acting.

What I didn't expect was to be in line for a 7:30 show with upwards of 150 people. I kept looking at the Marquee trying to figure out what people were in line to see. I couldn't sell myself on Cloverfield since I figure it's hayday was last weekend, and I definitely didn't think it was Rambo, so I went with Meet the Spartans instead. Then I made it to the ticket counter to have the attendant tell me there were only 5 tickets left for the 7:30, the only seats that left would be in the very front row and there was almost no chance my neighbor and I would have seats together. My reaction: "You've got to be fucking kidding me!"

I didn't even really believe it til I went into the cinema. Sure enough the only seats left were right in the front, and they were on opposite sides of the room. What was more was the number of 18-21 demographic in attendance. Best I could tell most of the people in the room weren't alive or were in diapers when Rambo III came out 18 years ago.

The movie itself doesn't offer a whole lot in the way of new tricks, but the tried and true ones still seem to hold water. The plot is, for all intents and purposes, the same as Rambo III, just with different bad guys and a different supporting cast. We've traded stick fighting for snake charming, and spend little time with exposition before we start to get down to business.

The film is alot bloodier than its previous incarnations, and the jury is out on whether it was effective or necessary. I'd like to go check it out again when I'm not sitting up in the very front row, having to look away every five minutes or so to make sure I don't spew in the isle or fall into one of the enormous pores visible in each and every actors face, but considering the pretty much horrible choice of seats I thrust upon myself for a movie I wasn't expecting much from I'd say it's worth your $.

Did anybody else see or hear of screenings of this film selling out?

[colmatrix]

When I went the theater was half-full, with mostly college age guys. I can't imagine that it's going to that great, is it?

[mckracken]

my guess is that after ROCKY BALBOA, people starting renting the Rambo movies again so they are aware of the character... kinda sad since First Blood is actually the best of the original three, but since the sequels dont share its title, its difficult for some to find the first one.

[WhiteKnight]

Originally Posted by colmatrix

When I went the theater was half-full, with mostly college age guys. I can't imagine that it's going to that great, is it?

You are apparently correct. It's not quite certain who took in the top spot at the box office according to the main page, but even so had Rambo been selling out nation wide I'd expect a more impressive take than 18 million. I guess my experience was sort of a freak accident or something. I guess I was just hoping Rambo would be a sleeper hit that would unseat Cloverfield as the top Jan. gross of all time only a week after it set said record. Don't get me wrong, Cloverfield was an entertaining flick, but I just don't think it was as good as the hype surrounding it. Much like that movie about the big boat that sinks back in the late 90's.

[fastcar]

Oddly enough, a parody of Rambo took the top spot over the real deal.

Meet the Spartans was number 1

http://www.the-numbers.com/charts/thisweek.php

[Jakester]

I haven't seeen Rambo yet, but I'm looking forward to it.

They hype surrounding Cloverfield was created not by Abrams, the cast, the studio, or the director, but by the movie geek crowd. They put up a few viral sites and occasionally updated content. We generated the buzz and hype ourselves, and then got pissed at all of the hype.

Titanic was hyped a lot, and considering that it was really expensive, very long, and the release got pushed back, it could have easily been a flop. But the story resonated with teenaged/young adult girls and it got a lot of repeat business. I'm sure Kate Winslet's boobs resonated with the teenaged boys, too. What happened with the success of Titanic, you can't engineer, even if you've made the best movie ever.

[WhiteKnight]

Originally Posted by Jakester

What happened with the success of Titanic, you can't engineer, even if you've made the best movie ever.

I'm hardly in a position to disagree, seeing as it's been at the top of the box office champion list for north of a decade now. I guess that's what pisses me off. I'd like the best product to win once in awhile instead of the most trendy.

Titanic wasn't horrible. Cloverfield wasn't horrible. There are just better films out there that deserve more recognition.

[Jakester]

Very true, but really, Heck, the special edition of The Abyss is a better movie than Titanic. But, Cameron isn't interested in churing out a product that he knows people will buy because he's adhered to some formula. Sure, he creates films with a bent towards the mainstream, but he also does things that interest and challenge him, and he really, honestly puts everything he has into making movies. I'm not going to fault him his success even if the major recognition came as a result of a movie that I don't think is his best.

[neglet]

Originally Posted by WhiteKnight

I'm hardly in a position to disagree, seeing as it's been at the top of the box office champion list for north of a decade now. I guess that's what pisses me off. I'd like the best product to win once in awhile instead of the most trendy.

Titanic wasn't horrible. Cloverfield wasn't horrible. There are just better films out there that deserve more recognition.

Well, "box office champ" by definition isn't going to be the best movie ever. It's going to be the most broadly appealing movie ever. And "Titanic" had romance for the chicks, massive boat destruction and Kate's boobies for the guys, Leo for the tweenie girls, and a feisty old lady and nostalgic "based on real events" vibe for the Geritol crowd.

"Rambo" could have been the best Stallone flick ever, the best action flick ever, and it still wouldn't attract as many paying viewers.

[mckracken]

Hmm... I dont think it actually showed Kate's boobies did it?