'King Kong' Bombing Big Time at Box Office

FoxNews ^ | December 16,2005 | Roger Friedman

[heldmyw]

'King Kong' Bombing Big Time at Box Office Friday, December 16, 2005 By Roger Friedman

What's happened? Peter Jackson's "King Kong" — a three-hour, $300 million extravaganza that wowed advance screening audiences — is a catastrophe in the making.

On Thursday, Kong's take was a measly $6,295,755 — off $35.5 from Wednesday's weak $9,755,745 opening day. Kong ranks now as the 21st best Wednesday opening ever — a dubious distinction.

Something is certainly wrong. It could be the movie's daunting length, or even a slow middle section that would have benefited from cutting. The leads are all solid actors — Naomi Watts, Adrien Brody, Jack Black — but none of them is a star attraction. That might be the trouble, but I doubt it.

In fact, Kong seems like a no-brainer. Great special effects, and a main character — the ape — that is more three-dimensional than a lot of humans in movies this winter.

But there's some kind of snafu, and if Universal doesn't figure it out shortly, "King Kong" could turn into a king-sized headache.

[SerpentDove]

>>Basically, I delight in other people's misfortune.<<

You must be a real joy to be around.

[rock58seg]

Oh I hope he can slip in Bombadill, one of my favorite characters in the LOTR books. He was written out of the LOTR movies.

I have a dvd of the early animated version of " The Hobbit". I too am looking forward to an LOTR treatment of it.

[birbear]

You must be a real joy to be around.

Most of my vict... er friends, seem to think so.

:-)

[MikeHu]

I'm pretty sure all the mainstream media critics were calling this movie "brilliant" and the "best they've ever seen," but that's also what their political analysts were calling John Kerry in the last election.

Hmmmmmm? You don't suppose they have a credibility problem, do you?

[rock58seg]

Fortunately, I won't be around in 2077 to see the Lord of the Rings remake.

But, I am sure we will all be alive for "Son of Rocky".

[rock58seg]

Fewer screens and in selected areas of LA, NYC, and SF, only, as I understand it.

[hattend]

Bareback Mountain was only in like 15 theatres. The people who really wanted to see it probably had to search for a screen and packed them (oops!).

[hattend]

Bareback Mountain was only in like 15 theatres. The people who really wanted to see it probably had to search for a screen and packed them (oops!).

[Fintan]

 

[rock58seg]

It's a "chick flick". They are the only ones "sensitive" enough to sit through it without going EEEEWWWWWW!!!!

[heldmyw]

Well... It seems to me that it's just wrong.

All this talk about ButtCrack Mountain and Cowboys and pudding and such...

I mean. It's Christmas, for pity's sake!



http://www.funnyjunk.com/p/0378-jpg.html

[indcons]

Makes more sense now....thanks.

[HairOfTheDog]

Not sure why we're talking about Bareback on a King Kong thread... maybe that's why King Kong isn't doing as good as everyone hoped.

Bareback's not a chick flick, it's a liberal progressive flick... It's appeal will be strictly political, by people who want to be seen as accepting of gays (even if they don't really want to see it, they want to be seen having seen it). Other than for squishy political reasons, chicks don't want to watch two guys together either.... not even lesbians... particularly lesbians.

[JeffAtlanta]

Doesn't surprise me. I really don't know of too many people who would willingly go see an overtly gay movie.

Agreed, but one overtly gay movie that was really good was Saving Face - it's about two good looking Asian American women that start a relationship.

It's kind of a comedy but not overtly. The funny part is that there is no "gay" message being preached.

[A Mississippian]

I saw King Kong yesterday afternoon with my 16 and 13 year olds. When it was over, I just sat there for a minute in stunned silence. The movie was SOOOOO good. The quality of the writing, the acting, the production was stunning. And, yes, at $8 a ticket (in my area) I will see it again, maybe this weekend. It is a dark movie and is very intense and violent at times. I would not and did not take my 9 year old to see it. There is a scene called the "spider pit" that makes you want to crawl out of your chair.

I know people are turned off because "I've seen King Kong before." But you have NOT seen this KK before !!! It is definietly a must see.

And no... I don't know Peter Jackson or work for Universal Studios... etc... I just thought it was the best movie that I have seen in a while. (Better than Narnia, which I saw last week).

[InvisibleChurch]

There is a scene called the "spider" pit that makes you want to crawl out of your chair.

there was a 'spider scene' in the original... it was cut because many people were throwing up/getting sick because of it

[Main Street]

When it comes down to it, people are just plain dumb and gullible. Hollywood knows they'll fall for anything. That's why I have no interest in going to see this movie, except for two questions that have stumped. One is, how the heck did they find a gorilla that big?! And how did they teach him to act?!

[holymoly]

How would LOTR have a holiday feel to it?

LOTR had elves, and so does Santa.

[Mr. Blonde]

Just got back from Kong. The biggest problem is it opened a week too early. Next Wednesday most colleges are out for Christmas as opposed to students cramming for finals. Not to mention they are having to compete with Narnia. I'm sure it will come around as the weekend is here and people will have time to watch a 3 and half hour movie. It is very good, but it is also very long.

[claudiustg]

--- It is very good, but it is also very long.---

I'm just not in the mood to watch a King Kong movie at Christmas, but I wouldn't mind seeing Band of Brothers again.