Text Messages Blamed For Poor Moives - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

YourNeverThere · 08-20-2003, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Texting blamed for summer movie flops
By Andrew Gumbel

18 August 2003

In Hollywood, 2003 is rapidly becoming known as the year of the failed blockbuster, and the industry now thinks it knows why.

No, the executives are not blaming such bombs as The Hulk, Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle or Gigli on poor quality, lack of originality, or general failure to entertain. There's absolutely nothing new about that.

The problem, they say, is teenagers who instant message their friends with their verdict on new films - sometimes while they are still in the cinema watching - and so scuppering carefully crafted marketing campaigns designed to lure audiences out to a big movie on its opening weekend.

"In the old days, there used to be a term, 'buying your gross,' " Rick Sands, chief operating officer at Miramax, told the Los Angeles Times. "You could buy your gross for the weekend and overcome bad word of mouth, because it took time to filter out into the general audience."

But those days are over, because the technology of hand-held text-message devices has drastically cut down the time it takes for movie-goers to tell their friends that a heavily promoted summer action movie is a waste of time and money.

Five years ago, when summer movies were arguably just as bad as they are now, the average audience drop-off between a film's opening weekend and its second weekend was 40 per cent. This summer, it has been 51 per cent. In some cases, the drop-off has started between the film's opening on a Friday night and the main screenings on Saturday. The upshot: unsuccessful films disappearing from cinemas so fast that there is no time for second opinions.

A 56 per cent drop over the first week of Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines was not what the studio moguls had expected. As Arnold Schwarzenegger himself might say, hasta la vista, baby.

that, is funny

Gman · 08-20-2003, 05:42 PM

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHA, oh my god....

Why don't they just start blaming the devil for their losses? It would make about as much sense. Text messaging.... hehehehe

Orionath · 08-20-2003, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Gman
Why don't they just start blaming the devil for their losses? It would make about as much sense. Text messaging.... hehehehe

Naww! It'd be easier to try to claim that text messaging cell phones violate the DMCA if used during the movie.

Mr.Deflok · 08-20-2003, 06:17 PM

I blame the poor quality of the rabbits foot lucky charms Hollywood has been importing from Taiwan recently.

Kaos · 08-20-2003, 06:54 PM

Yes, let's not blame the bad movie, let's blame the fact that people can warn others a lot faster to avoid movies like Gigli like the plague.

bundy · 08-20-2003, 07:08 PM

how about the producers of shitty films take a step back, have a good look at the crap they´re about to make... and then donate all of that money to charities.

the world would be a better place if the money behind such works of horseshit as Gigli (amongst many others) was given to medical research, or environmental protection.

and if these people are incapable of realising that what they make is horseshit, then how about we all pre-empt their actions with swift, cutting text messages.

they could read like,

´save your reputation, don´t make that next j-lo film, donate the money instead´

and,

´hey dickhead, we don´t want another sequel to Dude, wheres my car?, but there are starving people in Africa, think about it.´

numberfive · 08-20-2003, 07:47 PM

First the video games, now the text messages. Where will the finger point next?

Mr.Deflok · 08-20-2003, 08:46 PM

The decline in Spirograph sales has a direct correlation with the increase in Blockbuster failures.

nostalgic1 · 08-20-2003, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Why don't they just start blaming the devil for their losses? It would make about as much sense. Text messaging.... hehehehe

gman.. that literally made me laugh out loud... hillarious...

so so true..

YourNeverThere · 08-20-2003, 09:42 PM

Next they'll do like the RIAA and start sueing TM'img users for libel/slander

virus · 08-21-2003, 04:23 AM

well it's just like the last few years, the music industry has been blaming the Internet for lower sales (despite the fact that though there were lower store sales there were more than enough Internet sales to make up for it). and yet, grammy viewership keeps going down.

no, it's not the bad movie/music, it's the technology.

Charlatan · 08-21-2003, 04:39 AM

All they have to do is blame the fact that their industry is in decline because of terrorism then they can have Bush and company delcare it illegal to NOT go to the movies... meh

Gortexfogg · 08-21-2003, 07:38 AM

So this means they'll start making good movies again? Or will they just search everyone for cell phones before you go in the theater? Or maybe sramble all communications from inside the theater?

Baldrick · 08-27-2003, 04:28 AM

Yes, but using the "text messaging" logic, doesn't it work both ways? If the studio would make a (gasp!) good movie, wouldn't it work in their advantage?

Oh, wait... That makes sense... Can't have that!

Assclowns...

Macheath · 08-27-2003, 09:19 AM

Oh.my.God, people are communicating!!! Human beings...interacting...fuck...

I think that anyone who sees a blockbuster when it's first released should be herded into special camps until the opening weekend is over.

There, that little brainfart is sure to get me that key to the executive washroom...

spectre · 08-27-2003, 10:15 AM

Here's a thought, stop making shitty movies like "Gigli" and there won't be a problem.

MPower · 08-27-2003, 10:25 AM

That napster guy comes by in a black helicopter and tells me what movies suck and what cds not to buy.

agentsmith · 08-27-2003, 10:47 AM

text msging is evil...EEEEEEVIL!!

k what?

djflish · 08-27-2003, 11:22 AM

hopefully this will put more pressure on the studios to make better films

YourNeverThere · 08-27-2003, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by agentsmith
text msging is evil...EEEEEEVIL!!

k what?

What?

more fire · 08-27-2003, 05:06 PM

I don't know about you lot, but as soon as I saw the trailer for the hulk I knew it would be a piece of shit, I didn't need a text message to tell me that. Lucy Liu doing a burlesque routine almost tempted me to see charlies angels 2, but didn't. The point is if there was anything worth watching I'd go and see it. so today's lesson is stop making shit films.
Oh and what kind of name is gigli?

soopadoopa · 08-29-2003, 05:54 PM

You know, I've always wanted to just scream it to the world after watching a bad movie. Now I can before I even leave. Thanks for the idea. *wonders in the RIAA can trace TXT's*

cliv · 08-29-2003, 08:27 PM

Yup, text messaging is at fault...it couldn't possibly be bad writing, bad producing, bad directing, bad acting...nope, it must be text messaging

PredeconInferno · 08-31-2003, 11:01 AM

Personally, I wish they would quit bitching about it (pardon the language). If they want us to watch their movies, they should stop SUCKING. The hulk was a terrible movie. I wrote as much on my website http://predeconinferno.netfirms.com/blog/weblog.html
My opinion, start making movies worthy of seeing twice, then they'll make money.

JumpinJesus · 08-31-2003, 11:11 AM

What will happen is that Hollywood will continue to make shitty movies but will just shorten their run times in the hope that the film will be over before anyone in the audience can text their friends. Thus is the thinking of just about every producer out there.

Imagine Hollywood producers as doctors. You walk in with a pain in your leg. Instead of treating the leg, they stab you in the kidney and claim that now your leg isn't all that bad. When you complain about the pain in your kidney, they ask, "why didn't you mention it when you came in?"

Esoteric · 08-31-2003, 11:41 AM

Wow, that is just plain fuckin retarded.

t3m3st · 08-31-2003, 05:53 PM

i will one day be making these movies, and I pledge to you all that i will make better films than the smegma that is being pumped out by the industry right now.

thebigk · 09-01-2003, 07:25 AM

I knew Gigli got bad reviews, I went to see it anyway. If I hadn't wasted $12+ to get in, I wouldn't feel so compelled to tell other people how much it sucked.

The message? Lower ticket prices!

Xell101 · 09-19-2003, 03:24 PM

Tis a recurrent problem in society. Fix the problem? Nahh, just bitch about and blame random shit!

JusticeForPhat · 09-19-2003, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by thebigk
wasted $12+

Jesus, I thought the 9.50 i was paying was bad. The high prices and crap quality basically has helped me read a lot more books though.

EeOh1 · 09-19-2003, 08:42 PM

That's hilarious. Yes, what I like to do is pull out my cell phone and then use those annoying numbers to type.

It'd make more sense to blame easily accessible Internet reviews...but then you have reviews in your local Showtime. What the hell?

Infinite Hybrid · 09-20-2003, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mr.Deflok
I blame the poor quality of the rabbits foot lucky charms Hollywood has been importing from Taiwan recently.

That made me lol, but my roommate is still sleeping

Xiangsu · 09-20-2003, 10:26 AM

I liked Terminator 3 and The Hulk, but thats neither here nor there. Blaming cell phones is a little bit of stretch, thats just ridiculous.

DownwardSpiral · 09-20-2003, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by YourNeverThere
Next they'll do like the RIAA and start sueing TM'img users for libel/slander

If they did that, it woulden't surprise me one bit lol.

nightmare · 09-20-2003, 11:02 PM

perhaps the dickheads will make good movies instead

John Falcon · 09-25-2003, 01:19 AM

I wish people wouldn’t walk out of my restaurant and vomit on the sidewalk. Stuff like that makes my food look bad. In the old days, people would excuse themselves to the restroom and not scare away potential customers.

jwoody · 09-26-2003, 02:33 AM

This is like movie executives admitting that they have always made crappy films, only now their marketing schemes have failed.
Also, I wonder if they realise how many people are watching these blockbusters at home a couple of weeks before the cinemas get them?

08-20-2003, 07:08 PM	#6 (permalink)
bundy . Location: Tokyo	how about the producers of shitty films take a step back, have a good look at the crap they´re about to make... and then donate all of that money to charities. the world would be a better place if the money behind such works of horseshit as Gigli (amongst many others) was given to medical research, or environmental protection. and if these people are incapable of realising that what they make is horseshit, then how about we all pre-empt their actions with swift, cutting text messages. they could read like, ´save your reputation, don´t make that next j-lo film, donate the money instead´ and, ´hey dickhead, we don´t want another sequel to Dude, wheres my car?, but there are starving people in Africa, think about it.´ __________________ Ohayo!!!

08-20-2003, 07:47 PM	#7 (permalink)
numberfive You + Me = Us Location: California dreaming...	First the video games, now the text messages. Where will the finger point next? __________________ P.S. Always remember: to forget is a form of suicide. (If I could only remember to forget myself.)

08-20-2003, 09:42 PM	#10 (permalink)
YourNeverThere Practical Anarchist Location: Yesterday i woke up stuck in hollywood	Next they'll do like the RIAA and start sueing TM'img users for libel/slander __________________ The Above post is a direct quote from Shakespeare

08-21-2003, 04:39 AM	#12 (permalink)
Charlatan Getting it. Super Moderator Location: Lion City	All they have to do is blame the fact that their industry is in decline because of terrorism then they can have Bush and company delcare it illegal to NOT go to the movies... meh __________________ "My hands are on fire. Hands are on fire. Ain't got no more time for all you charlatans and liars." - Old Man Luedecke

08-27-2003, 04:28 AM	#14 (permalink)
Baldrick We are everywhere... Location: Barrie, Ontario	Yes, but using the "text messaging" logic, doesn't it work both ways? If the studio would make a (gasp!) good movie, wouldn't it work in their advantage? Oh, wait... That makes sense... Can't have that! Assclowns... __________________ You can be young only once, but you can be immature for the rest of your life...

08-20-2003, 05:42 PM	#2 (permalink)
Gman Insane Location: Down South In Louisiana	HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHA, oh my god.... Why don't they just start blaming the devil for their losses? It would make about as much sense. Text messaging.... hehehehe

08-20-2003, 06:17 PM	#4 (permalink)
Mr.Deflok Blood + Fire Location: New Zealand	I blame the poor quality of the rabbits foot lucky charms Hollywood has been importing from Taiwan recently.

08-20-2003, 06:54 PM	#5 (permalink)
Kaos Ssssssssss Location: Ontario	Yes, let's not blame the bad movie, let's blame the fact that people can warn others a lot faster to avoid movies like Gigli like the plague.

08-20-2003, 08:46 PM	#8 (permalink)
Mr.Deflok Blood + Fire Location: New Zealand	The decline in Spirograph sales has a direct correlation with the increase in Blockbuster failures.

08-21-2003, 04:23 AM	#11 (permalink)
virus Tilted Location: NYC	well it's just like the last few years, the music industry has been blaming the Internet for lower sales (despite the fact that though there were lower store sales there were more than enough Internet sales to make up for it). and yet, grammy viewership keeps going down. no, it's not the bad movie/music, it's the technology.

08-21-2003, 07:38 AM	#13 (permalink)
Gortexfogg I and I Location: Stillwater, OK	So this means they'll start making good movies again? Or will they just search everyone for cell phones before you go in the theater? Or maybe sramble all communications from inside the theater?

08-27-2003, 09:19 AM	#15 (permalink)
Macheath Junkie Location: Sydney, Australia	Oh.my.God, people are communicating!!! Human beings...interacting...fuck... I think that anyone who sees a blockbuster when it's first released should be herded into special camps until the opening weekend is over. There, that little brainfart is sure to get me that key to the executive washroom...

08-27-2003, 10:15 AM	#16 (permalink)
spectre Junkie	Here's a thought, stop making shitty movies like "Gigli" and there won't be a problem. __________________ "Fuck these chains No goddamn slave I will be different" ~ Machine Head

08-27-2003, 10:25 AM	#17 (permalink)
MPower Psycho	That napster guy comes by in a black helicopter and tells me what movies suck and what cds not to buy.

08-27-2003, 10:47 AM	#18 (permalink)
agentsmith Crazy	text msging is evil...EEEEEEVIL!! k what?

08-31-2003, 11:41 AM	#26 (permalink)
Esoteric Tired Location: Florida	Wow, that is just plain fuckin retarded. __________________ From a head full of pressure rests the senses that I clutch Made a date with Divinity, but she wouldn't let me fuck I got touched by a hazy shaded, God help me change Caught a rush on the floor from the life in my veins

08-27-2003, 11:22 AM	#19 (permalink)
djflish The Mighty Boosh Location: I mostly come out at night, mostly...	hopefully this will put more pressure on the studios to make better films __________________ Europes two great narcotics, Alcohol and Christianity. I know which one I prefer.

08-27-2003, 05:06 PM	#21 (permalink)
more fire Psycho Location: London	I don't know about you lot, but as soon as I saw the trailer for the hulk I knew it would be a piece of shit, I didn't need a text message to tell me that. Lucy Liu doing a burlesque routine almost tempted me to see charlies angels 2, but didn't. The point is if there was anything worth watching I'd go and see it. so today's lesson is stop making shit films. Oh and what kind of name is gigli?

08-29-2003, 05:54 PM	#22 (permalink)
soopadoopa Crazy	You know, I've always wanted to just scream it to the world after watching a bad movie. Now I can before I even leave. Thanks for the idea. wonders in the RIAA can trace TXT's

08-29-2003, 08:27 PM	#23 (permalink)
cliv Insane Location: New Jersey, USA	Yup, text messaging is at fault...it couldn't possibly be bad writing, bad producing, bad directing, bad acting...nope, it must be text messaging

08-31-2003, 11:01 AM	#24 (permalink)
PredeconInferno Reclusiarch Location: Unfortunately Houston, TX	Personally, I wish they would quit bitching about it (pardon the language). If they want us to watch their movies, they should stop SUCKING. The hulk was a terrible movie. I wrote as much on my website http://predeconinferno.netfirms.com/blog/weblog.html My opinion, start making movies worthy of seeing twice, then they'll make money. __________________ Samurai in Training Knowledge is power. Guard it well.

08-31-2003, 11:11 AM	#25 (permalink)
JumpinJesus Junkie Location: Chicago	What will happen is that Hollywood will continue to make shitty movies but will just shorten their run times in the hope that the film will be over before anyone in the audience can text their friends. Thus is the thinking of just about every producer out there. Imagine Hollywood producers as doctors. You walk in with a pain in your leg. Instead of treating the leg, they stab you in the kidney and claim that now your leg isn't all that bad. When you complain about the pain in your kidney, they ask, "why didn't you mention it when you came in?" __________________ "I can normally tell how intelligent a man is by how stupid he thinks I am" - Cormac McCarthy, All The Pretty Horses

08-31-2003, 05:53 PM	#27 (permalink)
t3m3st Vroom! Location: Toronto	i will one day be making these movies, and I pledge to you all that i will make better films than the smegma that is being pumped out by the industry right now. __________________ I do it for the rare drops

09-01-2003, 07:25 AM	#28 (permalink)
thebigk Insane	I knew Gigli got bad reviews, I went to see it anyway. If I hadn't wasted $12+ to get in, I wouldn't feel so compelled to tell other people how much it sucked. The message? Lower ticket prices!

09-19-2003, 03:24 PM	#29 (permalink)
Xell101 Junkie	Tis a recurrent problem in society. Fix the problem? Nahh, just bitch about and blame random shit!

09-19-2003, 08:42 PM	#31 (permalink)
EeOh1 Crazy	That's hilarious. Yes, what I like to do is pull out my cell phone and then use those annoying numbers to type. It'd make more sense to blame easily accessible Internet reviews...but then you have reviews in your local Showtime. What the hell? __________________ If life gives you lemons...throw them at someone.

09-20-2003, 10:26 AM	#33 (permalink)
Xiangsu Addict Location: Illinois	I liked Terminator 3 and The Hulk, but thats neither here nor there. Blaming cell phones is a little bit of stretch, thats just ridiculous.

09-20-2003, 11:02 PM	#35 (permalink)
nightmare Tilted Location: Sophies bike seat	perhaps the dickheads will make good movies instead __________________ License to kill gophers by the government of the United Nations. Man, free to kill gophers at will. To kill, you must know your enemy, and in this case my enemy is a varmint. And a varmint will never quit - ever. They're like the Viet Cong - Varmint Cong. So you have to fall back on superior intelligence and superior firepower. And that's all she wrote.

09-25-2003, 01:19 AM	#36 (permalink)
John Falcon Psycho Location: New York, CA	I wish people wouldn’t walk out of my restaurant and vomit on the sidewalk. Stuff like that makes my food look bad. In the old days, people would excuse themselves to the restroom and not scare away potential customers.

09-26-2003, 02:33 AM	#37 (permalink)
jwoody Shackle Me Not Location: Newcastle - England.	This is like movie executives admitting that they have always made crappy films, only now their marketing schemes have failed. Also, I wonder if they realise how many people are watching these blockbusters at home a couple of weeks before the cinemas get them? __________________ .