Jump to content

Mr March

Members
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    9190

  • Joined

  • Last visited

 Content Type 

Everything posted by Mr March

  1. Mr March
    WTF? Green Lantern did NOT see profitability. Listen folks, the studios aren't in the business of big summer tentpole movies for a return of pennies on the dollar. Use your head and be objective here; these studio's are massive corporations with thousands of employees, heavy expenses and massive overhead just to keep the lights on and the reels spinning. And never forget, almost every big $200 million picture can easily cost $50+ million to advertise. Search the internet and read about the infamous 2005 film Sahara to get an idea of the money spent after budget to get these big summer movies sold. The financials were publically disclosed as part of the dramatic legal proceedings that followed the film's disastrous release. But just so the point is drilled home, the wiki currently lists Green Lantern as #13 on the Top 50 Biggest Box Office Bombs of All Time, apparently posting a loss of over $90 million. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_box_office_bombs If some of you actually like Green Lantern, that's certainly your business but your affinity doesn't mean jack to the accountants. Save the snake oil for Batman v. Superman Now back to our regularly scheduled thread...
  2. Mr March
    Macross sure is a strange bird as far as settings. I don't think I've followed any other space opera franchise that places sequels so close to each other chronologically. The biggest gap has been 28 years and now this 8 year gap seems like the smallest between major productions.
  3. Mr March
    Oh wow! This may be your best work yet. A gorgeous painting. I love the setting and I like the use of SDFM-era background vehicles like the Sea Sergeant and LVT Avenger II. Great work!
  4. Mr March
    You're right that these big budgets are not earning back the money many hope. However, in this specific case the internet describes the latest X-Men: Days of Future Past as costing less money to make and earning more than Man of Steel, a difference that works out to nearly $100 million more revenue for the X-film. The X-films are far smaller budgets on average than the WB/DC movies, so I think Fox has a better handle on their comic book property than WB's do on the DC characters. I think budget is a big part of the problem that WB/DC fail to realize. Yes, when the big summer tentpole films hit, they can hit so big they make more money than a half dozen other big films combined. Warner Bros had the right idea with the Batman films, starting at $150 million for Batman Begins, then expanding to $185 million and a ballooning $250 million for The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Rises respectively. Luckily Batman was a winner and the two sequels pulled in over $1 billion a piece. But WB spend $200+ million on each of these super films hoping they'll hit as big and so far none of them since the Bat-films have hit as hoped. WB/DC have also suffered huge failures that Marvel have never had to endure. Green Lantern was a massive $200 million bomb. By comparison, the Marvel movies cost far less to make. Most are in the $140 to $170 million range and Marvel spends less marketing their films because they don't have to. The Marvel movies are almost selling themselves at this point, with each film featuring continuity footage/characters and sprinkling the credits with stingers that advertise and lead into the next Marvel movie. And Marvel only spends the big money on the projects that justify the expense (so far, the Iron Man sequels and The Avengers are Marvel's only $200 million movies). Because the Marvel business plan is tighter and smarter, they can take greater risks and hence make far better films. I also find it hilarious that Marvel can spend $50-100 million less on a film, yet their movies FEEL far bigger and more of a pop culture obligation for potential audiences than something like Man of Steel. I think post-Nolan, WB/DC are in for a rude awakening at the box office and nothing they've shown so far in their plans leads me to think they'll have anywhere near the success that Marvel Studios' currently enjoying.
  5. Mr March
    The net is saying Man of Steel did about $300 million domestically and about $400 million in the foreign markets. I'm pretty sure Batman vs. Superman will be a financial hit (though it won't be a record breaker), but I'm fully expecting an absolute disaster critically. And based on Snyders record to date, I'm fairly certain I won't like it, so I'm going to opt out for the theatre run. So I doubt this new film will stop any long term plans. THough I will agree with you that a few missteps along the way could hurt the later films much more so than a failure in Marvel's current cinematic outings might have done.
  6. Mr March
    You know, I'd really like to remain positive and believe that WB/DC are finally getting an intelligent plan together to do the films and the characters justice. But honestly, I'm not seeing it. Knowing Hollywood, they are planning an integrated universe because they are aping a formula for success that they've seen another studio do. Hollywood LOVES bandwagon jumping. Some rival studio has a successful young adult film series, they need a young adult film series. Some rival studio has a successful super hero franchise, they need a successful super hero franchise. Some rival studio has a hyperlinked film series with one film integrating characters/stories into each other...u got it. I also think WB/DC lack the good sense and careful plan that Marvel has. One of the reasons Marvel Studio's was so successful was working in steps and stages. They started small, took risks and then slowly built on success. This plan also had the advantage of introducing and then priming the audience to their cinematic universe. And at each stage, Marvel would go a little crazier with each new film so by the time Guardians of the Galaxy became a possibility, the movie going public was ready for almost anything Marvel would throw at them. By contrast, WB/DC is jumping way too fast into this, playing catch up and going way too big without building a proper foundation. I'm not saying it's going to fail, but I am saying they are going to suffer a lot more setbacks and more failures than Marvel did. I'm setting my expecations low for the DC flicks unless each individual project produces news that inspires confidence or interest (like the Flash).
  7. Mr March
    Agreed. Even Marvel is recognizing the need for diversification in their super hero portfolio, already flirting with off-beat ideas and melding genres to keep the movies as fresh as they can. The need to do that is only going to grow as more super hero films fill the multiplexes. Formula is going to be worn out fast if WB and DC don't recognize that.
  8. Mr March
    Oh, he'll bulk up for sure. Anyone can, you just have to be willing to put in the time and the work. Besides, every super hero film bulks up the actors, whether it's naturally buff guys like Henry Cavill or natural pudges like Chris Pratt. A certain super physique would definitely be a contractural obligation of accepting a project like this. Having said that, Ezra Miller at his largest would likely look more the "Spider-Man" physique as opposed to the "Captain America" kind of build. Muscled, but lithe; more Clint Eastwood, less Arnold Schwarzenegger. Which sounds just fine for a running man like The Flash.
  9. Mr March
    Wow, Ezra Miller as The Flash? That surprises me. I mean, this kid can out act almost anyone. He's one of the brightest rising stars of his acting generation. I'm just kinda surprised he'd be interested in doing the project. I will say I don't have much faith in the DC movies, but maybe Miller sees something in this project. I must admit his involvement has my interest.
  10. Mr March
    X-9 Ghost! Sharon Apple commands you!
  11. Mr March
    I really hate models that depict weathering and wear on the corners and edges of the mecha; it looks too realistic and detailed. I also hate the subdued colors and accurate lighting effects; it makes me think this mecha is a real robot. I think you're really going in the wrong direction with this model. I hate renders that look too good.
  12. Mr March
    Awwww, Kakizaki looks so cute
  13. Mr March
    Both look fantastic. Thanks for posting pics. I think I'm going to get the Amazon one.
  14. Mr March
    Brad Bird's projects always deserve my attention so I'm willing to give it a look. Plus the trailer is quite good and makes a solid impression, so I'm genuinely intrigued.
  15. Mr March
    LOL! But seriously, it is a disservice to Isolation to be in the CM thread. It doesn't deserve the same kind of scorn, but in all fairness the developers of each of these "Alien/Aliens" video games are banking on the association to the franchise. So perhaps for good or ill, the fate is just
  16. Mr March
    I've checked out your DeviantArt page and favorited several pieces. An impressive body of work.
  17. Mr March
    I don't know what it is, but I f-ing love it
  18. Mr March
    Very interested. Shankar's Punisher short film was the best live action Punisher footage that has ever been shot. Looking forward to what he can do here.
  19. Mr March
    These sketches are an interesting take on the characters. Well done.
  20. Mr March
    Very nice work!
  21. Mr March
    I like how windowboxing punishes you for having a proper HD television. Let's punish the folks that actually purchase their televisions intelligently and reward those that buy crap!
  22. Mr March
    I've not compared the two versions; it would be kinda hard since GitS 2.0 is such a visual departure from the original film that actually adds light bloom and blur as part of the stylistic "reinterpretation" of the original. But yes, you can clearly see the windowboxing, although like I said it is a thankfully mild example of it. Yes Marzan I agree that GitS demands a demo quality blu-ray. Such a classic deserves nothing less.
  23. Mr March
    Actually, reviews for Alien: Isolation from the legitmate/credible game blogs and websites (IMO, Polygon, Giant Bomb, Escapist, etc) have been respectable if not all that enthusiastic. The general consensus seems to be the game is punctuated by moments of genuine terror and features true innovative gameplay techniques (especially in the first half), but can't sustain any entertaining gameplay for it's 20 hour length, mostly due to poor implementation of it's core gameplay mechanics. Giant Bomb said it best: if you've not played any survival horror games, Alien: Isolation would be an ideal introduction into the genre with enough new, scary and fun gameplay to make for a generally fun experience; if you're already familiar with survival horror video games of the last 10 years, Alien: Isolation is barely above average and is nearly as likely to irritate veterans as it is to thrill them. I'd love to jump on the band wagon and trash Alien: Isolation, particularly in light of the legendary awfulness of Aliens: Colonial Marines. It's just not the case here. But as I've said before, in my opinion the Alien/Aliens video games can't be this "barely above average" quality if they want to excite me. This many decades into the "life cycle" of the Alien/Aliens franchise, we deserve nothing less than a great game from such an exploited property. What I expect...no, WHAT I DEMAND of an Alien/Aliens video game is nothing less than the likes of Middlearth: Shadows of Mordor. Shadows is a game that doesn't reinvent the wheel, but rather present a beloved franchise like Lord of the Rings in a game that expertly combines gameplay mechanics from Batman/Assasins Creed games with a highly innovative AI system we've never seen. The result is a perfect franchise exploitation game; infinitely fun game play merged with your favorite fictional franchise in such a way that allows you to adore all over again that which you loved about Lord of the Rings. I agree with Vepariga that IGN are practically impotent for video game reviews regardless of whether we're talking good games or bad games. At best, they are an unimaginative echo chamber for far more credible gaming websites. At worst, they are the poster children for compromised game coverage, playing the role of corporate shills that are simply another arm of triple-A game marketing.
  24. Mr March
    Good gawd these look amazing. I wish my work was half as good as this. I'd love to build each profile on the M3 using this multi-layered style. Love it all.
  25. Mr March
    The sense of scale is so wonderous. I love this thing. Amazing work!
×
×
  • Create New...