Apparently Daniel Craig is only gold as long as he is playing James Bond. Despite the love people have for him as Bond, his second straight no Bond film has flopped. The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo was supposed to generate about $26M in sales over the weekend and only got about half that. When a new movie has as much of a marketing push and solid fan base as Tattoo did and cannot beat two movies that have already been out for a week, then you know you have a real loser. Craig was also in that Cowboys And Aliens movie that did awful. Bond producers are trying to sign him to a long term deal and he better jump on that quickly.
Another even bigger bomb was We Bought A Zoo. No one went to see the new Cameron Crowe movie and that sucks because he is great but after the failure of Elizabethtown it took him this long to get another movie. He might not get very many more chances.
That sucks, I really wanted to see it and was hoping it was awesome. Anyone of you CDAN'ers see it yet?
ReplyDeleteI am an obvious fan of the books and characters (look at my name) I also enjoyed the Swedish versions but I think i was more put off by Rooney Mara, there's something about her that really grates on my nerves. I'll probably watch it when its on cable though.
ReplyDeleteFirst off, Merry Christmas everyone! And you too Enty, hope yours was bacon filled to the rim!
ReplyDeleteAs for Daniel Craig, I love the dude, loved his movie Defiance. But for the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, unfortunately, I'm like the many who saw the original trilogy with Noomi Rapace, and the trailers for the Daniel Craig one looked too much like a remake of the original, that was released not long ago. So I'll be waiting for the DVD to compare notes on both Lisbeths.
We Bought a Zoo looks like a Hallmark family movie. Not a superstar-must-go-spend-30$-at-the-movies type.
Still, Daniel Craig is hot. Hotter when he is all tense and naked.
This is wrong information. The film was expected 19,5 mil to take and it's R rated. It earned 21 mil.
ReplyDelete^As per Rotten Tomatoes, it made 13.0M in the US, while it was expected to earn $21M on first opening week-end.
ReplyDeleteI had no desire to see the remake. Noomi Rapace is a brilliant actress. seeing the remake would spoil the original for me. there is no way that roony mara is fit to tie noomi's shoe laces.
ReplyDeleteand enty, hope you had a wonderful xmass.
It was kind of surprising that they released this movie so quickly after the Swedish originals, I think there would be few people who hadn't seen the originals who would go see the remake.
ReplyDeleteI was going to see it today, then I was it is 180 minutes long. Add in 20 minutes of previews, and 10 minutes of commercials, and that is 3 hours sitting in a movie theater.
ReplyDeleteI cannot do that.
@parissucks... Don't forget the ticket holiday full price, and the loud idiots who'll be talking along the movie! More of them during the holidays.
ReplyDeleteThe original Swedish version is on PPV from my cable company. I watched it the other day and it was very good. I knew NOTHING about the story beforehand, and this American version feels unnecessary to me now.
ReplyDeleteRooney Mara, to me, seems too delicate & privileged to pull off Lisbeth the way Noomi did. Especially after hearing all her snooty comments about her previous jobs, I can't see her as Lisbeth. She really should have kept her mouth shut.
(btw, I think Fincher's Lisbeth looks more like a morose Tim Burton-esque character. Too much white make-up and too broadly drawn.)
I'm only interested in seeing the Swedish versions. Saw the first one in Swedish, must rent the other two.
ReplyDeleteI can't help being glad this bombed. I hate this attitude that Americans can't read a subtitle, and that American directors will do it better.
@figgy - the second one is bad, but necessary to lead you into the amazing final movie.
ReplyDeleteWe were planning to see it this weekend, but as we are staying with my mom in a small-ish midwestern city, we just couldn't find a showtime that fit our schedule. While there were tons of screens showing TinTin and New Years Eve, we could only find one local theatre showing Girl with a Dragon Tattoo and that only had two screenings. I have to think the subject matter is scaring theatres from committing to the movie, and I wonder if that's the case around the country. More conservative areas just aren't showing it. I also gotta think family films do much better over Christmas.
ReplyDeleteAt any rate, we'll see it next weekend after we return home. I've read the books and have seen the Swedish original. Still looking forward to seeing the Hollywood version. I like Daniel Craig and Rooney Maara seems okay to me.
Daniel Craig was also this year in "Dream House", which flopped.
ReplyDeleteApparently, both he and Rachel Weisz didn't give any interview about this one, not because of the questions they would have gotten about them hooking up on set, but mostly because they were dissatisfied about the movie.
wait a few!
ReplyDeleteDragon Tatoo can have strong legs and the oversea can be great(after all Xmas may not be the time for a graghic R movie)
I agree, pomme. This is more of a Summer movie to me, despite its cold gloomy location.
ReplyDeleteThe movies that are released so late in the year are either specifically for the whole family OR looking for Oscar nominations.
Saw it last night. I had not read the books or seen the Swedish version other than clips from a Charlie Rose interview with Noomi. I didn't think it was good or bad. It was just there. Indifference is probably the worst feeling you can have about a film.
ReplyDeleteCan't blame Craig for this one. All the actors were good. Fincher just has a way of sucking the life out of things. (I didn't enjoy The Social Network either.) Plus, who in their right mind wants to see a movie filled with murder and rape on Christmas? The only reason why I did is because I haven't seen a Tom Cruise movie since the first MI, and what else was there? We Bought a Zoo?
Dragon Tattoo will make 28m over the four day holiday weekend--it made 13 over the 3-day, so it picked up. This isn't a bomb--it's just a disappointment.
ReplyDeleteRead the books, and you're right @Rita, the second book wasn't so good either, but the third was great.
ReplyDeleteI think "We Bought a Zoo" suffers from Bad Title Syndrome.
I saw the Swedish movie not that long ago and have no interest in the remake, because what's the point?
ReplyDeletembagrrrl has it right. This isn't exactly a Christmas/Hannakuh feel good movie. Perhaps in the next week or two it'll pick up. However, movies like this I prefer to watch in the quiet of my own home so I'll wait until it's on cable or something.
ReplyDeleteWe bought a zoo reminds me of the Ohio guy who killed himself and released all the wild animals. Not exactly a feel good association.
ReplyDeleteDitto the lack of desire to see such a dark movie on Christmas weekend (tattoo). And I just saw the Swedish movie on Netflix, which sated my desire to see the movie. Finally, the press about Rooney Maras odd relationship with the director makes me queasy. I will stick with the Swedish movies.
I'm with Figgy -- hate that idea that Americans won't bother to see a "foreign film" (aka: movies with subtitles). As for the Zoo movie -- I personally hate movies with animals and I'm not that fond of "family" films either.
ReplyDeleteMy nephew saw the movie and said was good. I'll probably rent it only because we rarely get out to see movies. I'd rather see MI in the theater than this and I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Daniel Craig. I also really enjoy Cameron Crowe movies so I am sad to hear his new movie isn't doing. I agree with the bad name syndrome for that one.
ReplyDeleteI want to see this so bad, but might read the books, then see the Swedish versions first. By then this will be out on DVD. I've seen the trailers for both and they look identical.
ReplyDeleteI looked at the take per theatre and GWTDT seems to be doing very well considering that it isn't in as many theatres as the movies that have grossed more. I also think it will do really well on New Year's weekend. People probably didn't have the time to sit for 2 1/2 when there was still Christmas shopping to do.
I loved the books and the Swedish movies. Loved the actresses not being all botoxed up and looking natural.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to see the American version out of curiosity not because I think they will be better.
you see, we had already seen this movie. i had no interest in reiteration. the subtitles didn't bother me.
ReplyDeleteSaw all three Swedish movies and the new one on Christmas Eve. All of them were great! I was prepared not to like the new version but was greatly surprised. Christopher Plummer was excellent, as was Skarsgard! Rooney Mara was different than Noomi Rapace, but also was great! See it on the big screen if you can. The scenery is beautiful!
ReplyDeleteWow, Enty. You didn't note that the entire weekend underperformed expectations. It's been a lackluster month for the box office. Blaming it on Daniel Craig is a bit much. Especially when the advertising blitz has focused on Rooney Mara and not much on Craig himself.
ReplyDeleteMy husband and I loved the books. We are Daniel Craig fans and we did not see the original version.
ReplyDeleteWe saw TGWTDT on Christmas Eve day. We have no complaints, it was full of excellent talent, a good tight drama.
I hope the movie does well, if for no other reason than to get more folks to seek out the books.
Read people!
Okay, I'll say it...
ReplyDeletehaven't read the books and have no desire to see the movie.
These days I'm usually at the latest kids' 3D thing.
I haven't read the books nor seen the Swedish version but I want to see this.
ReplyDeleteI don't see why people can't enjoy both the Swedish and the American versions. There's no need to always pick.
@anita_mark - Because the American version was made only 2 years after the Swedish version, and 1 year after it hit North America.
ReplyDeleteIf they waited at least a decade, I think more would've been interested. This looked too much like saying, my version would be better than the Swedes'.
I'm with some of the others above... Christmas weekend, while there's plenty of spare time to go see movies, isn't typically the time you want to go see violent dramas. I'm looking forward to seeing this one later in the week.
ReplyDeleteNow, the zoo movie - if that one didn't do well this weekend, I doubt it will catch up. That's the type of feel-good family movie you're supposed to go see after you're tired of your relatives.
i couldn't get into the books...and have absolutely no desire to see the film. #sorrydanielcraigwhomiadore
ReplyDelete@Shopgirl, not all Americans eschew foreign films. The bigger issue is American release of foreign film. I swear with the crap H'wd spews out I would much rather see a foreign film because they seem so much more interested in plot and storyline, have a lack of car chases and extreme violence and don't ask me to constantly suspend my belief.
ReplyDeleteAnd the extreme violence is the main reason the Stieg Larson books/movies would not appeal to me.
Never read the books and no desire to see any of the films. I believe this movie should have come out over Memorial Day weekend and not Christmas week. Who wants to see that during the holidays? We Brought a Zoo seems cheesy. All I saw was the Muppets Movie, but I want to see the Marilyn Monroe movie, and I loved Tinker, Taylor, Soldier, Spy.
ReplyDeleteAs other people have pointed out, the problem with TGWTDT does not result from Daniel Craig: the movie is long, the Swedish version was released in 2009, women are turned off by the rape scene, it looks like a remake of the first film, and Christmas was probably not the right time to release an "R"-rated film (I read some place that it was the "feel bad movie of the season"). And it is underperforming, coming in at 4th place (behind Alvin, which everyone says is horrible).
ReplyDeleteLoved the books and loved the Swedish movies. We saw the movie last wed in the theater and we liked it but both thought Noomi Rapace was the shit. Rooney did good but we kept thinking about the Steelers and Giants when thinking about her
ReplyDeleteAm dying to see MI4 and Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Love my foreign films, but in my hometown our independent cinemas that used to screen them have shut down, so now I wait until they come on pay TV and watch them then.
ReplyDeleteOT, the weather in Australia has been wretched, we really haven't had a summer, but yesterday I went to the beach with my husband. It was so rough, just as we got to the flags the life savers planted a sign that said 'Caution!' in the middle of the flags. There were 5 life savers sitting next to one of the flags ready to race out and rescue people. We went in. We are very strong swimmers and sensible, but you couldn't stay in long because you were fighting the ocean every second. But I managed to get to the beach in 2011.
I didn't like the book or the Swedish film.
ReplyDeleteI don't understand the hype.
I loved the Swedish movies and I'm eager to see this one, too.
ReplyDeleteFWIW, I think the box office returns are a little disappointing, but I wouldn't call it a bomb.
I saw this weekend and it's good, not great. It's a bit too long, but it's a good film. I've read the books and seen the Swedish films, I think the failure of the film is that the they didn't make it appealing for people who have not read the books or seen the other films. The Harry Potter and Twilight films were made in a way that even if you didn't read any of the novels, you could still follow the story.GWTDT is a bit long and the story is a little convoluted.
ReplyDeleteMy honey and I went to see "War Horse" and we loved it! It's a three-hankie film, though. He thanked me after the show for "not crying TOO much" though LOL
ReplyDeleteBefore I read TGWTDT someone told me to "just get through the first 2 chapters and it gets really good". They were absolutely correct-not sure if it was getting used to the translation or the subject. Anyway keep that in mind if you want to read the book!
ReplyDeleteAlso, FYI, the Swedish movies are all available streaming (and disc) through Netflix. Loved those, and the books. Unfortunately I've worked with Fincher so I will wait for the DVD to come out!
It wouldn't suprise me if the movie had long legs going into January. Most people avoid the theaters during the holidays--too crowded, too loud. And some, like me, just don't go that often anyway. Word of mouth on TGWTDT seems to be good, so expect more money to come its way in a few weeks.
ReplyDeleteHowever, it does seems that this movie would have been released in October. Though not a horror film, the book and Swedish movie are so dark, and this one is supposed to be even more so.
I will see it eventually.....loved the books, but am not in a super hurry. I did see We Bought a Zoo though, and really like it. Very cute.
ReplyDelete@ nunaurbiz - I can't wait to see War Horse. It's supposed to be excellent. Did you really cry that much? It's girls night out, so do I bring a whole box of hankies?.. Some of us will be around that time of the month, so you know...
ReplyDeleteI am a speed reader, I read at least one book a week, and I don't care for subtitles. It has nothing to do with "being too lazy to read," it's that having to look down to read the subtitles ruins the experience of the film for me. I want to be drawn into the visual world, not distracted by always having to glance down. Movies are about living in a fantasy, and subtitles take you right out of the fantasy. I'm sure there are plenty of people who are too lazy to read them, but that's not the only reason some of us prefer movies in a language we know.
ReplyDeleteI plan to see Dragon Tattoo in the theater, but not right at Christmas time - who needs a downer right at the holiday?
nunaurbiz, I'm saving War Horse for dvd, because I know I'm going to go through boxes and boxes of kleenex!
ReplyDeleteRooney Mara is such a turnoff with her faux Goth-ish front lately. She's super duper above-1-percent rich privileged and preppy. I know I shouldn't hold it against her but this whole facade she's got going at the moment is too much to stomach. No interest in seeing her. Again, everything about her personally is just a total fake and a total turnoff, when a lead -- offscreen as well as on -- does sort of need to have a tiny bit of charisma and appeal and seem not quite so damn fake.
ReplyDeleteI was surprised to see Noomi Repace in the Sherlock Holmes film as the gypsy:-) That made me smile, I loved the original films (Girl with the drgaon tattoo)and will NOT be going to see the remake in English. But I will be going to see MI4? Whichever MI it is!!I'm going!!!
ReplyDeleteFUCKING EVERYTHING Libby and Figgy said- literally.
ReplyDeleteGlad it bombed
Don't get Fincher's Lisbeth creation
Think the idea American's cant read subtitles is THE MAIN reason this movie was shot.
Think it's obnoxious they made this so close to the FANTASTIC job the Sweds did with the movie a few years ago.
You will definitely need tissues if you see "War Horse."
ReplyDeleteI adore long, involved, intellectual novels. I prefer more "indie" films to the popcorn fluff Hollywood pumps out with increasingly and depressingly greater frequency. If a film is good enough, I don't think subtitles take from the overall viewing experience.
ReplyDeleteFrom what I've heard about Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (the novel), it's an overlong novel with an amazing obsession with certain topics. Apparently coffee is mentioned with great frequency in this novel, and in a major shocker for me, there are a whole lot of scenes about food. This is a major shocker because I let someone read my NaNoWriMo thing from this year and that was the same remark he made about my novel(la). Mind you, I cranked out those ~ 80,000 words from November 5 - 30 and I'm sure Stieg Larsson devoted many weeks to this novel, so that doesn't really bode that well for the source material.
I just can't help but be disappointed, though. Hollywood has become increasingly devoted to releasing incredibly stupid fare for all the filmgoers with minuscule minds and mentalities stuck in pre-adolescence, so I wanted something more intelligent to succeed at the box office. Unfortunately, it appears as though the time is over for mainstream films for adults (or those with adult tastes/mentalities), and those of us who don't want our intelligence insulted will have to wait until the obscure fare hits the Documentary Channel, Sundance, or IFC.
It really sucks, though. I'd really like to have that experience of going to a movie theater, ordering some popcorn and a drink, and enjoying a film on the big screen. And I know War Horse is still out there, but I'm super sensitive to the idea of a super-weeper like that. Where are the award season films? I mean, aside from the major coastal cities. Everywhere else, those films tend to last maybe two weeks on the big screen before being pulled. Like, that silent film -- I'd adore getting the chance to watch that, but I haven't had the chance to and I know the first chance I get, it'd be gone from our local art house cinema's lineup. OTOH, that stupid Alvin and the Chipmunks flick will still be sticking around, like an odious odor of stinky, rotting flesh.
*sigh* Anyway, sorry for the rant. I just keep on hoping the middle-of-the-road crowd can return to the standards of maturity and intelligence it held even as recently as the early 1990s, but little news tidbits like these make me begin to lose hope in that ever really happening.
Saw it, hated it. Never read the books, thought it was a porn with a hiddiousely ugly vomit inducing female lead.
ReplyDeleteSaw it, hated it. Never read the books, thought it was a porn with a hiddiousely ugly vomit inducing female lead.
ReplyDeleteDiane..I so agree with you. I hate the crap that H'wd cranks out and expect to see an award for "The Artist". If I want to see an art film I must drive into SanFran because all of our art houses closed. Most times I just wait for it to be released on Netflix but some never are (Tiny Furniture). Tragic.
ReplyDeleteIt's not bombing because of Daniel Craig, it's bombing because of Mara Rooney. If you've ever seen the original (which I have), there is no interest in seeing this one. Mara doesn't hold a candle to the original actress. The other actress was amazing and fit the character description to a T.
ReplyDeletehis other movie ghost house or whatever where he met his wife totally bombed too last year and let me say, it was absolutely terrible
ReplyDeleteThose who weren't bright enough to read subtitles got what they deserved, no?
ReplyDeleteSHUT. THE. FRONT. DOOR. I love, love, LOVE the movie Elizabethtown!! It's one of my all time favorite movies and I'll never understand how so many people don't like it. It's so beautiful with an incredible soundtrack and so many layers to it. FANTASTIC movie. Cameron Crowe is so talented and the only reason I considered seeing We Bought a Zoo.
ReplyDelete@Chasing Heaven - Ha! I know, my husband and I liked Elizabethtown. We still say "Lovin' each other 24/7." The music was SOOO good.
ReplyDeleteI am definitely waiting for this (TGWTDT) version of the movie to come out on DVD.
I saw War Horse yesterday. Cried throughout the entire movie. :-/