Aquaman and The Lost Kingdom - (2022)

[jye4ever]

Barely more than half what The Marvels made its first weekend?? Wow.

I can’t see how these big actors will continue to be paid those crazy salaries they’re really screwed like really really screwed.

Hollywood going to switch over to the Sofia Boutella’s and Godzilla Minus One actors going forward.

 

[Wor-Gar]

And the movie's will be better for it.

 

[Wor-Gar]

The Golden Era of Comic Book Movies is over...

 

[goatchumby]

Black Manta is hands down the best looking villain put on the screen in any comic book movie of the last 20 years. The black and chrome suit and those red bug eyes just look awesome. Shame he won't get the high end 1/6 figure treatment.

Mars Toys was working on an A1 Black Manta, though I don't know what the current status is on it.

 

[Mr.NoCredit]

The Golden Era of Comic Book Movies is over...

The Golden Era of Cinema is over. Movies used to be art with artists creating films.
Now movies are a business where you have corporations owning studios. You have corporate CEO’s making decisions on who “they” want in lead roles, the dialogue they want to hear etc. Movies are no longer artistic and are made to attract people who want nothing more than to see their favorite “action hero” in action. Who cares if he’s deaf and dumb as long as he wears a shiny suit and looks good. Movies are no longer what they used to be at any level.

 

[Wor-Gar]

Yes, theatrical movies have been "dead' for some time. The pandemic showed how quickly they are dispensed with. Corporate owning began a long time ago, in the 80's and before. But the real killer is the cross-pollination of "product" through all media -- music, books, TV, movies, games, toys,. etc. The marketization of movies drove actors salaries and consequently budgets to levels of ridiculousness.

Now they make Big Crap or little "important" films that basically cater to a very small minority of Hollywood elite. Few and far between are the classic B-movies we all grew up with and what really drove Hollywood in the 70's and 80's -- those smaller movies that surprised you. I'm not certain what the last genuine one was -- maybe Blair Witch so long ago -- but even those type movies have become cookie-cutter recipes (Paranormal, Wan world, etc)... and with action films its pretty much Liam Neeson Taken 12 or Fast and the Furious 13 or some variant with un-understandable Gerard Butler. They make a lot of movies about wolves chasing big names in the snow too. Not sure what that's about, but its very symbolic.

Gone are the days of Dirty Harry, Halloween, Jaws, The Thing, Star Wars, Terminator, Alien, Animal House, First Blood, War Games, Die Hard, and so many others. Half the movies above would never even be made now due to "content" and "representation".

 

[Khev]

Yes, theatrical movies have been "dead' for some time. The pandemic showed how quickly they are dispensed with. Corporate owning began a long time ago, in the 80's and before. But the real killer is the cross-pollination of "product" through all media -- music, books, TV, movies, games, toys,. etc. The marketization of movies drove actors salaries and consequently budgets to levels of ridiculousness.

Now they make Big Crap or little "important" films that basically cater to a very small minority of Hollywood elite. Few and far between are the classic B-movies we all grew up with and what really drove Hollywood in the 70's and 80's -- those smaller movies that surprised you. I'm not certain what the last genuine one was -- maybe Blair Witch so long ago -- but even those type movies have become cookie-cutter recipes (Paranormal, Wan world, etc)... and with action films its pretty much Liam Neeson Taken 12 or Fast and the Furious 13 or some variant with un-understandable Gerard Butler. They make a lot of movies about wolves chasing big names in the snow too. Not sure what that's about, but its very symbolic.

Gone are the days of Dirty Harry, Halloween, Jaws, The Thing, Star Wars, Terminator, Alien, Animal House, First Blood, War Games, Die Hard, and so many others. Half the movies above would never even be made now due to "content" and "representation".

I agree with a lot of that but really, haven't people been saying all that *since* the 80's?

I mean I can see people in 30 years saying "remember when we got Barbie/Oppenheimer, John Wick, Sisu, and Godzilla Minus Zero in the same year? And then Maverick and The Batman right before that? And where are the glory days of A24 horror? Movies suck in 2053!"

If War Games is your benchmark then cinema definitely still delivers that level and above each and every year.

 

[Wor-Gar]

You're lucky, Khev, you have broad tastes.

But yes, people have and always will be saying that... in some form or another. I suppose it has more to do with perspective that anything else.

 

[Khev]

You're lucky, Khev, you have broad tastes.

Ha ha, yes, but I deliberately mentioned films that are more universally loved as opposed to my personal favorites. As you know I'd put AWOW far higher than Barbenheimer, lol.

I suppose it has more to do with perspective that anything else.

Yes, we really are married to so much of what we loved as kids and teens and films are no exception.

 

[ironwez20]

The Golden Era of Comic Book Movies is over...

The golden era of anime and video game movies. Has just begun.

 

[Rambler]

I saw it over the weekend and thought it was a fitting end to the DCU. It tried too hard to be like Thor Ragnarok. A few laugh out loud moments that were not supposed to be funny. The one part that I laughed at was the one Marvel Agent guy pressing a button to transmit a signal and Dolph Lundgren's next scene or slurring his words about receiving a signal.

This movie should have come out two years ago. just glad its over

 

[e30ernest]

The lady henchman of Manta reminded me of Frau Farbissina from Austin Powers.

 

[moose]

So not even one figure from this line. The could at least make Black manta.

I

 

[Sassafras]

I agree with a lot of that but really, haven't people been saying all that *since* the 80's?

I mean I can see people in 30 years saying "remember when we got Barbie/Oppenheimer, John Wick, Sisu, and Godzilla Minus Zero in the same year? And then Maverick and The Batman right before that? And where are the glory days of A24 horror? Movies suck in 2053!"

If War Games is your benchmark then cinema definitely still delivers that level and above each and every year.

No - because, because, dunno, it just used to feel like, at least most summers, and then as I recall - 2010-12? there seemed to be plenty of blockbusters, plenty to go see even if it wasn't grade A - February was always a down month with silly romance comedies, but by summer movies would be vying for the top spot Memorial Day weekend, or that's what it felt like.

Now it's like a film like John Wick or Barbie is an anomaly. It's not like looking back at years full of good films - or even films you went to see more than once - it's more like what few films can be salvaged.

 

[freestyla85]

So not even one figure from this line. The could at least make Black manta.

I

no 1/6 Mera yet?? HT really don't want those millions do they?

 

[Khev]

Looks like this is actually doing pretty well overseas. I wonder if people from Alatar's country of origin are lining up to see it in droves.

 

[The Buffinator]

Looks like this is actually doing pretty well overseas. I wonder if people from Alatar's country of origin are lining up to see it in droves.

Yeah, it has already passed The Marvels worldwide and it's about to do so domestically as well. Not too surprising given the holiday release window - a lot of kids off school with time on their hands and no fun alternative releases. So @Zurdo95D can rest easy - the one challenger to Brie's movie being The Flop of the Year has failed to dethrone her!